Local News

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Superior Construction will conduct overnight lane closures on northbound I-65 to set up phase two of bridge work on I-65 between Ridge Rd and I-94 this week, which will then be in place through late June. This traffic configuration change is currently scheduled to occur the evening of Wednesday, June 11 from approximately 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. I-65 northbound will be in a new construction layout the following morning, with three lanes in each direction at 35th Ave but one lane closed in each direction north of the eastbound I-94 to southbound

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the recipients of the Expanding What Works grant, an opportunity designed to increase access to high-quality summer programming for nearly 7,000 Hoosier students. The grant encourages regional collaboration between community organizations, local nonprofits, municipal partners and/or local school corporations to expand the successful Indy Summer Learning Labs (ISLL) initiative across the state, specifically targeting students with the greatest academic need. “As a state, we continue to double down on solutions that are showing a proven return on investment for Hoosier students,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Last summer, students who

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Pediatric patients in Franciscan Health Crown Point’s emergency room and pediatric inpatient unit will now have stuffed animals and blankets to help make their hospital experience a little more comfortable, thanks to a donation by The Eva Martin Project. Representatives from The Eva Martin Project donated 724 new stuffed animals, 292 pediatric blankets and 59 baby blankets to the hospital last week worth a total of $7,596. Each item had a tag with the organization’s logo and a QR code with a personal message on the back. The tags contain wildflower seeds and are intended to

The Portage Police Department is welcoming the two newest members of the Portage Police Department. Officers Jonathan Krause and Theodore Uzelac were sworn in by Mayor Austin Bonta at this week’s City Council meeting. Officer Krause is a Portage resident who comes to us with three years of management experience in the RV manufacturing industry. Officer Krause also holds an associate in science degree from the College of DuPage. Officer Uzelac is a life-long Portage resident and Portage High School graduate who is nearing completion of his bachelor’s degree in psychology through Purdue University Northwest. Each officer will be paired

In Chesterton, Babcock Road—C.R. 200W—will close between C.R. 1050N and Fairway Drive, from 7 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 9. The Porter County Highway Department will be performing maintenance on that stretch of roadway in advance its re-paving later this season.

The Chesterton Fire Department has announced its participation in the Home Fire Campaign—an initiative of the American Red Cross—with the goal of preventing fire-related deaths and injuries and making the community safer. As part of the Home Fire Campaign, 10-year lithium-battery smoke alarms will be installed free of charge in the homes of any Town of Chesterton residents who request them. In addition, residents will receive home fire safety information, including on how to create an escape plan. The CFD and American Red Cross will provide this service for the low, low price of a phone call! Begin the process

The Town of Chesterton announced it will will cohost a ribbon-cutting with the Duneland Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the opening of the new public parking lots in Downtown Chesterton at 9 a.m. Friday, June 13. The ceremony will begin at the new lot in the 100 block of Grant Ave. and folks will then walk to the second lot, in the 100 block of East Indiana Ave. “This opens up a lot of new parking for Downtown businesses and Downtown events alike,” Chamber President Maura Mundell noted. “We’re thrilled to see continued investment in making Downtown more accessible.” The

INDOT maintenance crews will conduct seal coating operations resulting in the closure of State Road 25 between State Road 110 and State Road 19 for approximately three days beginning on or after Monday, June 9. Through traffic should utilize the official detour of State Road 110, U.S. 31, State Road 10 and State Road 19, or seek an alternate route. Local traffic should exercise caution and follow traffic directions carefully in the area where work is occurring. This work is weather dependent, and the schedule is subject to change. Learn more about the chip seal process on the INDOT website

SMALL TOWN -A tribute to John Mellancamp is back at the La Porte Civic Auditorium on Saturday June 14th   🎸 Get ready to "hurt so good!" 🎸 SMALL TOWN - A tribute to John Mellencamp headlines an amazing night of music, with La Porte's own Rich Hardesty opening, on Saturday, June 14, at the Civic Auditorium!   Small Town, comprised entirely of Hoosier natives, brings the musical catalog of John Mellencamp to life on stage, recreating his high energy shows and the music spanning over four decades. Rich Hardesty beautifully blends the sounds of Reggae, Americana, Country, Folk and

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have a lane closure on State Road 23 beginning on or after Monday, June 9. The right lane of northbound State Road 23 will be closed between U.S. 20/31 and Renewable Rd through late June for a culvert lining project. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully.

Grab your picnic basket and drinks and join the LCSO for a FREE outdoor summer concert under the stars in Friendship Botanic Gardens at the Celebration Pavilion! Dr. Carolyn Watson leads the orchestra in a varied program of familiar favorites, as well as a preview of the upcoming LCSO concert season. Also featuring the 2024 Hoosier Star Youth Winner Sophia Grubbs and Adult Winner Alyssa Atkinson singing their winning songs. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of beautiful music in an equally beautiful setting!

Press Release, Indiana Department of Education: INDIANAPOLIS – This summer, Indiana students age 18 and younger will have access to free, nutritious meals and snacks at more than 1,000 locations statewide through the 2025 Summer Food Service Program. Households can find information about the meal types served and days of the week when meals are offered by using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meals Site Finder. The Summer Meals Site Finder will continue to be updated throughout the summer. Families can also call the USDA’s National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273), or text “Summer Meals” or

Milestone Contractors were at work Friday on the expansion of the Chesterton Police Department’s rear parking lot. The expansion is being constructed on a 30-foot strip of land acquired earlier this year from the owner of the property immediately south of the new CPD station. The area being paved will have an east-west lane for parallel parking at its southernmost edge and opposite that a row of angled parking. "When the project is completed, sufficient parking will be available at the station house for all of the vehicles in the CPD’s fleet," the Chesterton Police Department said on its Facebook

LA PORTE, IN—The La Porte Community School Corporation proudly announced recently that its Food Service Department has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in collaboration with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK). The department received the Innovative School Lunch Makeover Award for launching "The Creation Station"—a customizable, student-driven meal line at the high school. The team has significantly increased meal participation and student satisfaction by offering fresh, flavorful, and lower-sodium options like build-your-own sub sandwiches and burrito bowls while meeting all school

Lovers of Tex-Mex cuisine should start gearing up for the next event in the Friday Night Live series, according to Civic & Events Director Gregory Pietsch. The ever-popular Taco Fest will return to Downtown La Porte on Friday, June 20 from 6-10 p.m. Featuring local taco vendors, a beer garden and a live performance by the Latin-American musical group Latitude Music, this event is free and open to all ages. Given the popularity and growth this event has experienced over the last several years, Pietsch said he expects this year to be the best crowd yet. "The La Porte community

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. released the following statement regarding vehicle weight limit enforcement: As of June 2025, I have directed the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Traffic Unit to initiate enforcement operations targeting overweight vehicles which are damaging roadways and impacting driver safety along the state line in southwest Lake County. Beginning this month, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department will send more than 60 warning notices to companies and individuals operating vehicles in violation of weight limits. From this point forward, traffic citations will be issued to those continuing to ignore weight restrictions on county roadways. I urge anyone

Michigan City, IN – Administrators, staff, school board members, families, and friends cheered on adult graduates from across LaPorte County as they gathered at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center in Michigan City on Wednesday, May 29, to celebrate the achievement of an important milestone: a high school diploma. Of the eighty-seven adult education graduates who earned their High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas, thirty-two students opted to participate in this year’s commencement ceremony. Nine student speakers - Jaevianna Aldridge, Sunni Hendricks, Devante Jones, Angel McCarty, Diego Perez-Paz, Rema Reed, Keanna Reynolds, Katherine Roberts, and Misty Stotler each offered brief, heartfelt reflections

Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon wants the community to be aware of a scam that began circulating Wednesday throughout not only Porter County, but the entire State of Indiana. “We have attached a picture of the text message that was sent out to many citizens and want to confirm this is completely false and to not click on the link that appears to be legitimate beginning with in.gov. We’d also like to take this moment to again reiterate to be aware of the continuing scam of subjects impersonating Officers and demanding money to avoid an arrest.  We have attached some

News Release, South Shore Line: The South Shore Line, a commuter rail line operated by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), provides service between Millennium Station in downtown Chicago and the South Bend International Airport in South Bend, Indiana, with a total of 18 stops. The South Shore Line is inviting the public to participate in an important survey that will help shape the future of commuter rail service. Community feedback will directly influence project prioritization, transit accessibility improvements, and strategic investments in the region’s transportation infrastructure. Currently in its initial phase, the Strategic Plan will establish a long-term

Press Release, Health Foundation of La Porte: LA PORTE - Each year, Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) provides grants for life-saving AEDs (automated external defibrillators) to ensure the La Porte County community has access to these devices. HFL works in conjunction with La Porte County EMS, La Porte County E911, City of La Porte Fire Department, the Play for Jake Foundation, and the La Porte County Health Department to ensure our community has a safe, manageable, and efficient program to help people who are suffering a serious heart event have the best chance at survival and to help educate