Local News

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

Folks are invited to bring their “brown bag” lunch or snack and learn a little about gardening during four sessions presented by La Porte County Master Gardeners.  Three more sessions, two each in La Porte and one more in Michigan City, will focus on aspects of gardening from raising vegetables to taking care of trees and honeybees for your garden. Next session is: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Trees, What You May Not Know, La Porte Public Library meeting room, 904 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana More info at www.lpmastergardener.com .

General Insurance Services, Inc (GIS) announced a strategic partnership with U.S. and American Insurance Services of Hobart. GIS will be retaining U.S. and American Insurance Services’ Hobart location at 8085 Randolph Street, making this the fourth GIS office in the region. The addition of this new office provides GIS the opportunity to expand the agency’s footprint in Northwest Indiana, and strategically compliments their other offices located in La Porte, Michigan City, and Valparaiso. For more information on General Insurance Services, please visit https://www.genins.com.

Michigan City Fire Chief Randy Novak is proud to announce that two new members of the Michigan City Fire Department recently graduated from the South Bend Fire Academy, along with the recent retirement of Firefighter Doug Gardner. The Michigan City Fire Department would like to congratulate Firefighter Doug Gardner on his recent retirement. Firefighter Gardner served the community of Michigan City for 34 years. Doug Gardner was known for his dedication to the “Tried and true methods of firefighting”, know your truck and know how to use the equipment in it like the back of your hand! Doug was a

Financial aid professionals will volunteer at Indiana University Northwest and 39 other Indiana sites to help college-bound students and their families open the door to financial aid during College Goal Sunday, set for 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25 in Hawthorn Hall, Room 454. For more information about College Goal Sunday, call the Helpline at 800-992-2076 or visit www.CollegeGoalSunday.org.

As cold temperatures continue, NIPSCO is reminding customers to keep their electric and natural gas meters free of snow and ice. Although meters are designed to withstand winter weather conditions, heavy or hard-packed snow and ice, icicles falling from building eaves, or water dripping from a roof and freezing on the meter could create potential safety hazards. Snow and ice should be cleared around fresh air and exhaust vents to prevent equipment malfunction and buildup of toxic fumes and carbon monoxide. Customers are urged to use caution when clearing snow off flat roofs, particularly in commercial or industrial buildings. There

Michigan City Human Rights Commission (MCHRC) is pleased to announce its partnership with Studio M and “Dance with Me,” a creative movement class designed for people with disabilities to provide the opportunity to experience joy through the art of dance. The 8-week class will be held on Fridays at 5 p.m. at Studio M located at 703 Pearl Street (behind the MC Police Department) in Michigan City. The partnership was built with the disability community in mind but is open to ALL people so that everyone has an outlet where they can enjoy the freeing nature of dance and music.

Porter County Juvenile Services Center is looking for a part-time (male and female) Detention Officer. Detention officers are responsible for monitoring and supervising behavior and activities of assigned juvenile residents and manages specific areas of facility operation. Check out porterco.org/jobs for more on this opening.

Hunters can apply online for a reserved turkey hunt by visiting hunting.IN.gov and clicking on the "Reserved Hunt Info" link. The application period runs now through March 18th. No late entries will be accepted. The online method is the only way to apply. Applicants must possess a hunting license valid for the hunt for which they are applying.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is reminding Hoosiers that influenza activity continues to be high and widespread across Indiana and is urging people to take precautions against the illness, which has claimed 167 Indiana lives so far this flu season. According to ISDH’s weekly influenza report, emergency departments and outpatient providers continue to see increased visits from individuals with flu-like illness. Flu outbreaks also have increased in schools and long-term care facilities. To view the ISDH weekly flu report, go to https://www.in.gov/isdh/25462.htm.

IN.gov, announced that it has released an update to the State of Indiana’s Amazon Alexa skill allowing citizens to check on county-level travel statuses. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security compiles travel statuses through each county’s emergency management agency. To search for travel advisories, say "Alexa, ask Indiana for travel advisories". Alexa will ask for which county users are searching for. Users can initially ask for the status of a specific county when making the request. In addition to Travel Advisory, citizens can use Alexa to find contact information for state employees and information about state agencies all by saying,

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department announces that registration is now open for the Michigan City Youth Baseball League and the Girls Youth Softball League. Deadline to register for each is April 1, 2018. Registration can be done at the Park Office (lower level of City Hall) or online at www.mcparksandrec.com Cost is $30 for 5-6 year olds (with discounts for multiple immediate family members for T-Ball only). Cost is $50 for 7-15 year olds (with discounts for immediate family members for both Baseball and Girls Youth Softball). The season is from May through mid-July and includes 12 regular games with

On Friday, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson introduced the newly updated Indianavoters.com website. The newly updated website has streamlined the voter registration process, enables voters to share they are registered on social media, and will provide election night results. Voters who need to register for the 2018 elections can log on to Indianavoters.com today to register. To register to vote online, you must have a valid driver’s license or state identification card, be a citizen of the United States, be at least 18 years old on or before the next general election, have lived in your precinct for at

An Indiana State Trooper got his police car stuck in a snowbank Saturday afternoon but two residents came to his rescue. Trooper Anthony Potesta was making a turn in his 2016 Dodge Charger police car onto the 2200 block of Harrison Street in Gary when he hit a pile of slushy snow; this caused the Charger to go into a nearby snowbank and become stuck. Troopers Jason Pratt and Alissa Partyka were nearby and began to help Potesta shovel out his car. William (last name unknown) who was driving by stopped his car and began to help the troopers shovel.