Local News

Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.5 percent for September and remains lower than the national rate of 3.7 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 4,564 over the previous month. This was a result of a 337 decrease in unemployed residents and an increase of 4,901 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.39

At approx. 11:30 am Friday morning, Courthouse security Deputies Jon Keene and Aaron King were physically attacked by in individual who was later identified as 37 year old Joshua Duncan, from Michigan City. At approx. 11:30 am, Joshua Duncan walked into the courthouse and as he entered the security checkpoint, he without provocation or warning “sucker” punched Deputy Keene in the nose. He then turned toward Deputy King and began physically assaulting Deputy King. Deputy Keene drew his issued taser, deploying it on Mr. Duncan. as the fight continued, both deputies were eventually able to gain control of and handcuff

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and while escaping a domestic-violence situation is not easy for victims, immigrant survivors of abuse face especially difficult challenges. According to the C-D-C, every minute in the U-S about 20 people are physically abused by their partner, and experts say immigrant women are especially vulnerable. Kerry Hyatt Bennett with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence says language barriers, distance from family and friends, misconceptions about U-S law and financial instability make it difficult to get away. But Hyatt Bennett says immigrant survivors of abuse can get help from the police, the courts, and other

Financial aid professionals will be volunteering at 39 sites in Indiana to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday. The event is set for 2 p.m. (local time), October 28th. The free program assists Indiana students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and student loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. The FAFSA MUST be filed by April 15th to be eligible for Indiana financial aid. College Goal Sunday

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded the Center of Workforce Innovations on behalf of the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (NWIWB) and other partner cities of Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), with nearly $8 million in Trade and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker grant funding to help mature dislocated workers reconnect with employment in growth occupations and industries. The grant award will be used to coordinate and implement a regional strategy to recruit mature workers that have experienced a dislocation in sectors negatively impacted by technology and automation. Specifically, partners will use pre-apprentice and registered apprenticeship, customized, just-in-time training to develop best practice

The 2018 City of Hammond Veteran Appreciation Day Committee continues to celebrate Veteran’s Day through November 30 by requesting donations for deployed military personnel in conjunction with the Veteran Appreciation Day Parade.  Donations will be accepted at the Hammond Civic Center on Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm in the Business Office. There will also be a huge banner to sign to say thank you to deployed military in each of the five branches of the Armed Forces.  These banners will be available to sign in Hessville Park at the conclusion of the Veteran Appreciation Day Parade

The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a free and impartial counseling program for people with Medicare. SHIP is provided by the Indiana Department of Insurance and Administration on Community Living. SHIP is part of a federal network of State Health Insurance Assistance Programs located in every state. All of SHIP’s services are offered at no charge to consumers. SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company or agency and does not sell insurance. SHIP is staffed by a crew of volunteer counselors who have completed intensive training to offer Medicare beneficiaries objective assistance in complete confidence. With more

According to a press release, Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Stephen W. Robertson recently approved an average 7.6 percent reduction for Workers’ Compensation rates, effective January 1, 2019. The approved rate decrease will result in savings of approximately $62.7 million dollars for Indiana businesses. “The significant savings will help support Indiana businesses as they grow their companies,” said Indiana Department of Insurance Commissioner Stephen W. Robertson. Workers’ Compensation rates in Indiana have been on a downward trend for several years. This decrease in rates can be attributed to a drop in frequency of worker injuries. As was the case last

Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) , announced yesterday, the selection of three Indiana-based leaders to oversee key business functions aimed to further enhance the company’s efforts to improve service to the nearly 1.2 million electric and natural gas customers across northern Indiana. The appointments are effective immediately. Michael W. Hooper has been named senior vice president of regulatory and legislative affairs and strategy, responsible for the company’s regulatory and legislative activities and formulating NIPSCO’s strategic vision and plans. Hooper is replacing Frank Shambo who will be retiring at the end of

Wednesday, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a grant to the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana (CAF) under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The $133,510 grant award will assist the CAF with the creation and implementation of a Crystalline Silica Training Program for construction workers and employers in Northwest Indiana, with a focus on small business employers. The training will include the recognition and correction for exposure to respirable silica produced from certain uses of concrete and other construction material containing silica. Dr. Jim Arendas, Environmental,

U.S. 41 (Calumet Ave.) in Hammond will be closed once again on Oct. 23-24th at the bridge over State Street and the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad while crews pour a bridge deck.

Monday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly received the ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ award in Indianapolis. Donnelly was recognized by the Indiana Farm Bureau for his efforts to advocate for Hoosier farmers and rural communities. During the 115th Congress, Donnelly, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has reduced the regulatory burden on farmers, led efforts to expand the use of biofuels, successfully included a number of Hoosier priorities in the 2018 Senate-passed Farm Bill, and pushed the Administration to end the harmful impacts that tariffs have brought on Hoosier farmers. Donnelly has received the ‘Friend of Farm Bureau’ award for each

Beginning on Monday October 22, 2018, City of Michigan City Departments will be picking up leaves in all areas of the city. Leaf pick-up will occur daily, Monday through Saturday, until all leaves are picked up. All residents are encouraged to rake, blow, and/or place their leaves near the street curb along the front of their property. Compost will also be picked up along with the leaves starting on October 22, 2018. If citizens have branches that need to be picked up, you are asked to please call in your requests to the Central Service Department at 873-1500. The Street

As crews move into the final phase of Ohio Street reconstruction they will be switching traffic patterns. Starting Friday (10/19/18) @ 6:00 AM Ohio Street will be closed to ALL Traffic from just south of Southwind Drive to US Highway 20. Prior to this closure crews will open everything from 400 North (Kiefer Road) to just south of Southwind Drive to two way Local traffic only. During this portion of work they will also be working on residential driveways and sidewalks between South Court and Southwind Drive. D&M stated they are working to finish this project before winter.

A check for $5,000 was presented to Harrison Holtkamp of Interfaith Community PADS, a faith-based organization providing food, shelter, and resources for the homeless population in the Michigan City community. The check was presented to Holtkamp by Father Kevin Huber and the Golf Committee at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. The committee was able to raise the funds through their annual event, which included prize baskets and ticket sales.

This Halloween season, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to use online tools to know the identity of registered sex offenders in the area where they plan to trick-or-treat. An on-line sex offender registry is available for residents of La Porte County allowing parents to conduct a search prior to trick-or-treating to prevent their children from visiting these homes during door-to-door trick-or-treating. There are currently about one hundred seventy-three (173) registered sex offenders residing in La Porte County; fifty-six (56) of which are Sexually Violent Predators and thirty-two (32) of which are classified as Offenders Against Children.

Yesterday, U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.) called on United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to establish a process that allows U.S. companies to request an exclusion from the recent tariffs imposed on $200 billion of Chinese imports. This process would help U.S. companies retain global competitiveness, and would help target the effects of the tariffs on China, rather than on U.S. companies and consumers. Exclusions were established for all previous rounds of tariffs, but have been neglectfully omitted for the most recent tariffs. Reps. Walorski and Kind were joined by a bipartisan coalition of 167 Members

Portage Police say they had a pursuit Monday afternoon. The suspect, a 43 year woman from Lake County was attempting to pass stolen checks at Centier Bank. As the officer arrived the suspect fled north on Willowcreek Road. She drove through the Walgreens parking lot, blowing a tire in the process and then through the city hall parking lot and into the Strack & Van Tils parking lot and then back onto Willowcreek Road. She made a left onto McCasland and lost control when she attempted to turn onto to Swanson Road, which caused her to drive into a resident’s

Chief Mark Swistek and The Michigan City Police Commission, made up of President Michael Palmer, Vice-President Michael Buda and Secretary John Pliske, are proud to announce the hiring of two new officers. Sworn in by City Clerk Gale Neulieb, and Chief Mark Swistek during a ceremony in the Community Room were Officers Isaac Murray and Mark Galetti. Officer Isaac Murray age 22, is the son of Timothy and Cynthia Murray, and is from Wadsworth, Illinois. Officer Murray is currently serving as a Reservist in the United States Air Force as a Senior Airman with two deployments to Turkey. Isaac was

Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry would like to remind ALL hunters and landowners about their deer donation program. After you’ve filled your freezer, you can help to feed those in need in your area by donating to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s “Meat” the need initiative. Just take your deer in to your local meat processor/butcher shop and tell them you would like to donate it to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry. There is NO charge to you! Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry partners with 82 meat processors statewide and encourages the donation of large game and livestock to their “Meat” the Need initiative,