Local News

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced the launch of INDOT4U, a new model for customer service that makes it easier than ever for customers to contact the agency and get questions answered and problems resolved. With a statewide customer service center in place, motorists now have a single point of contact to report a concern, obtain information, or provide feedback to INDOT via phone at 1-855-463-6848, online at www.indot4u.com, by email, or using the INDOT mobile app. "INDOT is making it easier for Hoosiers to ask questions and report roadway concerns while also reducing turnaround time on services like pothole

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced on Thursday that he has expanded his opioid legal team, which is investigating various options under consideration by the State of Indiana, including litigation. The national law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC will bolster the state’s legal analysis and litigation experience in this complex area of opioid accountability, Attorney General Hill said.   “Adding this firm to support our investigation is the next logical step in the multifaceted strategic approach we have employed over the past several months,” Attorney General Hill said. “From my first day in office, we have prioritized much of our

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office has received a number of calls recently from residents about a new scam targeting Porter County. Individuals have received calls from someone who indicates they are an officer with the Porter County Sheriff’s Office and informs them they have a warrant out for their arrest. Citing the names of local judges, these calls sound very realistic. They then ask that the person pay them with Visa or American Express gift cards. The Sheriff’s Office wants to assure you that they do not accept payment over the phone and would not accept payment in this format.

29 new firefighters representing 14 volunteer fire departments will celebrate the completion of a rigorous 6-month training program at the Multi Agency Academic Cooperative (MAAC) Foundation. According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly 70 percent of firefighters in the United States are volunteers saving taxpayers an estimated $139.8 billion per year. These men and women spent nights and weekends, at their own expense, completing the training necessary to become certified. The graduation ceremony will be held on: Friday, February 16th at 5:00 PM Wheeler High School Auditorium 587 W 300 N Valparaiso, Indiana 46385. For more information visit: www.maacfoundation.com.

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) met this week with President Trump at the White House along with a bipartisan group of 19 Senate and House colleagues to discuss trade issues. The Congressional delegation met with President Trump, Vice President Pence, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, and National Economic Council Chairman Gary Cohn to discuss the ongoing dual investigations into the effect of imports of steel and aluminum on U.S. national security. Senator Young reinforced to the President and his Cabinet the importance of both the steel and aluminum industries to Indiana, and urged a balanced

  As of 12:00 p.m. today, the parking restrictions that had been set in place last week by the City of Michigan City, due to the snow removal conditions, were lifted.   Normal parking rules and regulations are back in effect. Mayor Meer also thanked the citizens for their help and cooperation during the snow removal process.

The Portage Police Department has located the two individuals from their earlier press release. These subjects, both believed to be at least 18 years of age thought it would be a good idea to walk to the woods with Air Soft guns to shoot at targets. They appeared to have had no ill intentions, however one was arrested for False Informing and the other subject is being brought back to the Portage Police Department for further questioning. The police have recovered and confiscated their Air Soft guns. (Pictured Above) Today/Tonight would be a good time to have a conversation about

Most single Americans prefer to live alone if they can afford to, but most have trouble balancing the bills. Based on an analysis of millions of rental listings, The website creditloan.com broke down the best and worst cities and states in America for solo renters. Turns out, some places offer a significantly better value than others. The study's research found that the smallest percentage increase from living with a roommate to living alone was in Bloomington, Indiana with less than a 41% cost difference. The average cost of rent in Indiana is $701 a month, making it one of the

Mayor Ron Meer announced the first Mayor’s Night Out in Michigan City. Mayor Ron Meer and the City of Michigan City will be hosting this first Mayor’s Night Out on Thursday, February 22nd from 6-8pm at Edgewood Elementary School gymnasium. Mayor’s Night Out is all about community engagement. It invites residents to a town hall type meeting where they can ask questions and engage the Mayor and his Department Heads in informal conversations about city services, projects, budgets or any other topics related to city business. Mayor’s Night Out is a public forum that is open to all residents. One-on-one

On February 15th, 2018 at approximately 7:39 a.m. the Portage Police Department received several reports (calls and officers being flagged down) of two male subjects (initially stated as possibly juveniles 13-17 yrs old) walking in the area of Mulberry Avenue and Brown Street while carrying guns. One was described as carrying a rifle or shotgun and the other was carrying a handgun. Both were described as white males, one was described with long hair and wearing a yellow shirt, black jacket and blue jeans and the other subject wearing an orange shirt with a holster on his hip. The subjects

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the tragedy in Parkland, Florida. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents to lower their flags to half-staff until Monday.

During the early morning hours this past Monday, La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputies were summoned to a residence in rural Wills Township, in reference a suicidal subject. Responding Deputies learned the thirty-eight (38) year old male subject had overdosed on medicine and fled the residence. Deputies began a search of the area and discovered the subject had fled into a nearby wooded area. Upon confronting the subject, he repeatedly refused to follow verbal commands provided to him by the deputies on scene. Deputies made attempts to verbally deescalate the situation. However, the subject placed a liquor bottle in a position

The Michigan City Marquette girls basketball team will be playing on Saturday in Valparaiso at 1 pm central time against Tri Central in a semi-state matchup. If the Blazers win they will be in the state Championship. Marquette set a program record for wins in a season. Go Blazers!

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly renewed his call for bipartisan action on infrastructure, as President Trump announced his plan on Monday. Donnelly last week introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that Indiana receives a fair share of federal highway funding. Currently, each state is guaranteed a return of at least 95% of its tax contributions to the Highway Trust Fund. Federal highway programs, however, are no longer exclusively funded by Highway Trust Fund contributions so the 95% guarantee only applies to a portion of the total expenditures. As a result, Indiana receives about 92% in return on its contributions to the Highway

A bill aimed at strengthening the Americans with Disabilities Act may not be what it seems. The U-S House could vote this week on The A-D-A Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), which would give businesses accused of not complying with the law a grace period to fix alleged infractions on their properties before they are subject to litigation. Proponents claim it will curb frivolous lawsuits. But Marilyn Golden with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund argues most lawsuits filed under the A-D-A are not about money but instead well-meaning efforts to make buildings more accessible. A-D-A

Lubeznik Center for the Arts invites artists to apply for its annual art festival featuring fine art and fine craft exhibitors, plus contemporary art galleries, interactive family art activities and food. A non-refundable application fee of $35 is required. Application deadline is March 15, 2018. For more information and to apply online to Lubeznik Arts Festival please visit www.lubeznikcenter.org. The application fee is $35 and exhibiting artists will pay a $200 booth fee if accepted.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Bolt For The Heart (BFTH) foundation continued to deliver on the promise to equip Indiana State Police patrol vehicles with lifesaving Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) with the gift of 90 additional AED’s at the presentation event, held at the State Fairgrounds’ Indiana Farm Bureau Building. This brings the total number of AEDs donated to the state police to 305 since the first donation was made in 2014. For more information about Bolt for the Heart visit: https://boltfortheheart.com/

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) met with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday along with a group of House and Senate colleagues to discuss trade issues, including actions the administration is considering in response to investigations into the domestic supply of steel and aluminum. “Businesses and workers in my district and across the country are already seeing tremendous benefits from the tax cuts and regulatory reforms Congress and President Trump have enacted,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Finding a careful and balanced solution to Chinese overcapacity is critical to further strengthening our economy and supporting American manufacturing jobs. I’m grateful

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced that Captain Derek Allen has been named as the Department’s new Public Information Officer, replacing recently retired Captain Michael Kellems. Captain Allen had most recently served as Jail Commander and will now assume the role of Executive Captain. In this position, he will oversee the Patrol Division, the Warrants Division, the Department’s School Resource Officers as well as serving as the Department’s spokesman. Captain Allen is a 17 year veteran of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, having been hired in 2001. He has served as patrol deputy, Detective Sergeant, Assistant Detective Bureau

The Michigan City Police began receiving information through numerous sources at approximately 6:30pm on February 12 that a Michigan City High School student had posted messages of an alarming nature on social media. These posts by the male juvenile, which included a photo of a gun and a threat that a shooting would take place at the high school on February 13, were taken extremely seriously. The Michigan City police then began actively and aggressively investigating the case as more information began to surface from concerned students, friends and parents.  The postings indicated that an argument between two students was