Local News

Two U.S. citizens, charged with federal violations, have been transferred from the custody of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to U.S. law enforcement custody and arrived Tuesday in the Northern District Indiana. One defendant, Ibraheem Izzy Musaibli, was transferred to face charges in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, Michigan. The other defendant, Samantha Elhassani aka Samantha Sally (hereinafter Elhassani), has been charged in the Northern District of Indiana with making false statements to the FBI and will have her initial hearing at the Hammond Federal Courthouse at a later date. Elhassani was accompanied by her four minor U.S. citizen

The City of Michigan City is excited to welcome back Roger Brooks for a public presentation on the progress of the Plaza.  Roger will also assess the City on our progress to implement thier Branding Master Plan. For all those who are participating in and tracking the progress of the Michigan City Comeback, this is a MUST ATTEND event. Please join them August 9th at 6:00pm for hors d’oeuvres, comments by Mayor Ron Meer and then the 6:30pm presentation by Roger Brooks. The event will be held at the future site of the Plaza at 7th and Franklin. The Plaza

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a hit and run motor vehicle/pedestrian crash that occurred on Saturday July 21st, 2018 at approximately 5:00 pm, near the intersection of CR 525 West and CR 300 North in Center Township. The 20 year old victim was jogging near this intersection when he was struck by a vehicle that was traveling south on CR 525 West; that vehicle failed to stop, and continued south towards Johnson Road. The victim was treated by La Porte County EMS, and transported to South Bend Memorial Hospital. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Department Investigative

Yesterday, Gov. Holcomb reported that 3,228 total handheld metal detectors have been requested by 369 school entities—including 94 percent of all traditional public school corporations. On July 9, the governor announced that the state would make the metal detectors available at no cost to traditional public, charter and private schools that request them. This program is one part of comprehensive approach by the state to bolster its school safety efforts. The program makes available one handheld metal detector for every 250 students in a school building. The 3,228 devices requested in this first round have been ordered and should arrive

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that a 15-state coalition led by Indiana has prevailed in its support of a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by New York City against five fossil-fuel companies. In its lawsuit, New York City claimed that the five corporations violated “common law” because they contributed to global warming – which, the plaintiffs said, constitutes a “public nuisance,” a “private nuisance” and “trespass.” In dismissing the lawsuit, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stated that the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency’s corresponding enforcement authority superseded federal common

State health officials are urging Hoosiers to protect themselves from ticks as cases of tick-borne disease continue to rise in the state. More than 100 cases of tick-borne disease have been reported so far in 2018, including one death due to ehrlichiosis in an elderly patient. Deaths from ehrlichiosis are rare in Indiana, with only four deaths reported in the last five years. Ticks are small, insect-like creatures that are found throughout Indiana in grassy and wooded areas. They tend to be most active during the late spring and early summer. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases, such as

Former FBI Director James Comey opens the Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Sinai Forum’s 65th season Sunday, Sept. 9. The Forum announced four other notable speakers joining this fall’s schedule, including a legendary college football coach, a national non-profit leader, an internationally known photographer and a national political reporter. The season runs from September through December, leading off with Comey at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana. The remaining programs are in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the PNW Westville Campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville. All programs will begin at 4

This past Thursday, two California residents were arrested for dealing heroin following a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road in Porter County. An Indiana State Trooper stopped a Nissan for several traffic violations on the Indiana Toll Road approximately six miles east of the Valparaiso/Chesterton exit. While the trooper spoke to the female driver, 37 year old Yudith Valenzuela, of Los Angeles, CA, and the male passenger, 31 year old Luis Garcia, age 31 of Los Angeles, he became suspicious of criminal activity. A vehicle search was conducted following a positive alert to the odor of narcotics by Indiana

The Michigan City Police received a report of a one car automobile accident that occurred at the intersection of Greenwood and Woodland Ave. on Friday just before 1pm. Additional information indicated that this was a personal injury single car accident with the vehicle on fire. First to arrive at the scene was Chief Mark Swistek and Day shift supervisor Corporal Jeff Piotrowski. As they were arriving to the vicinity of the accident, smoke and flames could be observed coming from the scene. Upon arrival they immediately observed a Chevy Trailblazer with a large tree limb across the front compartment of

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is announcing that Administrative Captain Derek J. Allen has been selected and approved to attend an upcoming session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA). In October 2017, Captain Allen was nominated by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office to attend the FBINA. Since then, Captain Allen has undergone a vetting process and recently learned that he has been selected and approved by the FBI to attend an upcoming session. The FBINA, established in 1935, is a professional course of study for United States and international law enforcement officials. Four (4) times

Thirty-four year old Portage resident Javan Comer, pled guilty to unemployment insurance fraud in Porter County Superior Court 2 on July 9, 2018. Through the use of agency records, an Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) employee began an investigation and determined that Comer was working and receiving wages while claiming unemployment insurance benefits. Comer was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to repay DWD $10,140 for the benefits he fraudulently collected. DWD receives wage reports and new hire data from Hoosier employers documenting who is employed and receiving compensation. The agency uses this information to ensure people

From July 23-27, the South Shore Line will temporarily be busing weekday (Mon-Fri) passengers between Carroll Ave. and the South Bend International Airport while they upgrade sections of track and overhead wire. During this period, there will be no train service to or from Hudson Lake, and Trains 401, 422 and 424 between South Bend and Carroll Avenue will be canceled. No bikes will be transported via bus for Trains 6 and 11. Train service between Carroll Ave. and Chicago will not be impacted.

Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.3 percent for June and remains lower than the national rate of 4.0 percent. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 14,948 over the previous month. This was a result of a 3,785 increase in unemployed residents and an increase of 11,163 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.36

Former FBI Director James Comey opens the Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Sinai Forum’s 65th season Sunday, Sept. 9. The Forum announced four other notable speakers joining this fall’s schedule, including a legendary college football coach, a national non-profit leader, an internationally known photographer and a national political reporter. The season runs from September through December, leading off with Comey at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, Indiana. The remaining programs are in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the PNW Westville Campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville. All programs will begin at 4

This past Thursday, two California residents were arrested for dealing heroin following a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road in Porter County. An Indiana State Trooper stopped a Nissan for several traffic violations on the Indiana Toll Road approximately six miles east of the Valparaiso/Chesterton exit. While the trooper spoke to the female driver, 37 year old Yudith Valenzuela, of Los Angeles, CA, and the male passenger, 31 year old Luis Garcia, age 31 of Los Angeles, he became suspicious of criminal activity. A vehicle search was conducted following a positive alert to the odor of narcotics by Indiana

The League of Women Voters of La Porte County will present Joie Winski, Auditor of La Porte County, on Tuesday, August 14th for Lunch With The League. Reservations are not required, but for non-members, a donation is requested. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 11:30 a.m. and may purchase a lunch of their choice from the menu, in time for the 12 noon presentation. Patrick's Grille is located at 4125 Franklin Street, Michigan City. Lunch/Dinner With The League presents timely and relevant discussions about local issues every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Patrick's Grille. All information about the League's

29 year old Joseph Antonio Williams of Michigan City, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and having possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch II. Williams was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release. According to documents in the case, a controlled buy was set up with Williams. During the buy, Joseph Williams was caught selling 1.7 grams of cocaine. After the buy, law enforcement saw Williams remove a screen from a window on the side

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly continued his fight for quality, affordable health care coverage for Hoosiers with pre-existing conditions by joining a resolution that would allow the Senate’s Legal Counsel to represent the Senate in Texas v. United States. This would enable the Senate to defend protections for Americans with pre-existing condition against the current lawsuit seeking to make this provision unconstitutional. In February, the State of Indiana filed a lawsuit with 19 other states arguing that the health care law should be struck down, including essential coverage. The Department of Justice filed a brief in federal court in June arguing

The first progress report for the state’s new Next Level Indiana Trust Fund was posted yesterday by the fund’s Investment Board. The report, submitted by the program administrator 50 South Capitol Advisors, LLC, shows that as of June 30th, two funding commitments have been made—one to Indianapolis-based High Alpha Capital and another to the Foundry Group, based in Boulder, Colo. The fund administrator will provide these updates twice per year to the Next Level Indiana Trust Fund Investment Board. Review the first progress report online at www.in.gov/tos/2344.htm. The Next Level Indiana Trust Fund was a key component of Gov. Holcomb’s 2017

Indiana is making progress in moving the needle on college completion, according to state education officials. The 2018 College Completion Report released this week reveals an increase of 14-percentage points over the past five years in the number of college students graduating on time, which is now about four in ten. Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers says it's a record high, and a reflection of the efforts of colleges and universities, as well as the support of elected leaders. The report shows improvements in college completion rates across all Indiana campus types, with nearly half of all students