Local News

Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne released a joint statement today following their meeting in Toronto: “Ontario and Indiana share a strong partnership — one that is vital to the success of workers and businesses in both our regions and to our economies. Today, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will enable Ontario and Indiana to work together even more closely to build on our economic growth, create a more competitive business climate, foster collaboration in research and technology, and create the good jobs that will help our people succeed in a rapidly changing

As primary elections approach, the Indiana Department of Transportation reminds Hoosiers that campaign signs are prohibited from state right-of-way according to Indiana Code 9-21-4-6.  INDOT personnel are required by state law to remove all unauthorized signs within the state right-of-way. Areas that should remain sign-free include: Intersections Interchanges Rights-of-way that run parallel to highways Where the right of way is not clearly marked, boundaries may be estimated as the fence line, the back of the ditch or behind utility poles. INDOT personnel will remove campaign signs and other illegal signs from right-of-way—pursuant to code —as they are encountered in normal

Barker Middle School seventh grade student Eric Wroblewski competed in the Hoosier State Science and Engineering Fair in Indianapolis on Saturday, March 24. He earned the "Pete Kissinger Entrepreneurial Spirit Award" in the Junior Division for his project, "Till - No Till," which explored the impact of tilling soil on corn yield. Wroblewski won second place in the Junior Biological Division at the Valparaiso University Regional Science & Engineering Fair before advancing to the state event.

The St. Joseph County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office has charged 18 year old Jermaine Newsome, with Robbery Resulting in Bodily Injury. He is charged in the March 22nd robbery and shooting of Dazhon Howard in the 1700 block of N. Elmer St., South Bend. The Prosecutor's Office wants to remind people to please be advised that the charges filed against the defendant are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Michigan City Area Schools will host a dedication ceremony on March 28th to celebrate the completion of a renewable energy project across the District. The project is distinguished as the largest for an Indiana school district and consists of ground-mount photovoltaic (PV) arrays and LED lighting upgrades at seven school property locations. The solar array locations include Joy Elementary, Niemann Elementary, Pine Elementary, Barker Middle School, Krueger Middle School, Michigan City Area High School and the MCAS Administration Building. The ribbon cutting event is scheduled to take place at Krueger Middle School at 9 a.m.

How the environment impacts the health of Americans has long been a heated topic of discussion, and an expert on the subject says the federal government isn't doing enough research on pollution or taking enough action to prevent children from being exposed to it. Lawrence Schell is the director of the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities. He recently lectured at Indiana State University about how pollution impacts the growth and brain development of children. He says scientists continue to find connections between toxins in the environment and adverse health impacts, but not enough is being done about

The St. Joseph County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office has charged 32 year old Luvell D Neal, with 4 Felonies in connection with a County Metro Homicide shooting investigation from the 300 block of W Marion St that occurred on March 22nd, Neal is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, attempted armed robbery, and dealing in cocaine. probable cause was found. He was ordered held without bail until his initial bail hearing and remains in the custody of the St. Joseph County Jail. He is scheduled to appear before a Magistrate for his initial bail hearing and arraignment this afternoon. The Prosecutor's

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is working with local health departments in southern Indiana to respond to a recent increase in hepatitis A cases, many of which are tied to a large outbreak in Kentucky. In the last month, 17 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed statewide, including 11 in Clark and Floyd counties. Since Jan. 1, ISDH has confirmed 40 cases of hepatitis A statewide. Typically, fewer than 20 cases are confirmed each year in Indiana. Many of the southern Indiana cases have involved inmates in the Clark County Jail. However, an elementary school in Clark

Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta requesting approval for a waiver that will allow the new Governor’s Workforce Cabinet to fill the role of Indiana’s federally-mandated state workforce development board. The Governor’s Workforce Cabinet was created this legislative session and outlines a smaller group with more authority to drive collaboration among employers and state and local partners. Highlights of Indiana’s waiver request include: A smaller and more nimble cabinet with the authority to align resources, programs and partners. More direct employer engagement. Finally, urgency and an expressed mission to prepare Hoosiers

The LaPorte County Judiciary announced today that they have chosen attorney John A. Link of LaPorte to serve as the new Magistrate in LaPorte Superior Court No. 4, replacing retiring Magistrate Nancy Gettinger.  A lifelong resident of LaPorte, Link has some twenty three years’ experience as a practicing attorney,  the last thirteen years of which he served as a litigation attorney for State Farm Insurance in their Crown Point , Indiana offices.  Previously, Link worked in private practice with firms in LaPorte County and served with the LaPorte County Public Defender’s office where he defended indigent clients facing prosecution on juvenile,

On Saturday morning, La Porte County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to a single vehicle crash that had occurred in the the 2600 north block of County Road 700 East in rural Wills Township. Fireman from the Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department were the first emergency personnel to arrive on scene. The driver of a blue Chrysler mini-van was unresponsive. The driver was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by the La Porte County Coroner's Office. The crash investigation conducted by Sheriff's Deputies, determined the 2014 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van had been traveling south on CR 700 East in

The Indiana Department of Workforce development released new employment and unemployment data. Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2 percent for February and remains lower than the national rate of 4.1 percent. Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 2,495 over the previous month. This was a result of 2,243 unemployed residents no longer seeking employment within the past four weeks, and a 4,738 increase in residents employed. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.31 million, and the state’s 63.7 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture have presented the Hoosier Homestead Award to 65 Indiana families. The award is presented in recognition of the recipients' commitment to Indiana agriculture. To be eligible for the Hoosier Homestead Award, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products annually. There are three categories for the award, including the Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, the Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for

More than $9 million in conditional state funds have been approved for a proposed $40 million data center and incubation space in Hammond. The project involves transforming the former State Line Generating Facility along the Lake Michigan shoreline into a 400,000 square-foot campus. The state funding is from the IEDC's DINO industrial recovery tax credit program, which provides incentives for former industrial sites that need significant rehabilitation work. The funds will only be released when qualified, proven investments are made.

 A number of measures that U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly has either introduced or supported to combat the opioid abuse epidemic were signed into law by President Trump on Friday as part of the bipartisan government funding bill. The law includes funds to support the addiction treatment workforce through National Health Service Corps, which Donnelly advocated for as part of his Strengthening the Addiction Treatment Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). That funding will help recruit more substance use disorder providers to serve in underserved communities. The law includes $4 billion in funds for grants to states this year

On Friday, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb signed SEA 236 at Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, making the Say’s Firefly Indiana’s state insect. “The perseverance shown by these Hoosier students is inspiring—to kids and adults alike. After years of advocating for this bill, we’re all aflutter to make it official today,”  Gov. Holcomb said. “For the students, this has been an immersive experience that’s taught them about our government, science, art, public speaking and more. I hope they take what they’ve learned in advancing this legislation and put it to work in their communities throughout their lives. Their futures are

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit (CMHU) continues to actively investigate Saturday morning’s call out to Oak Road, South Bend. The deceased individual has been positively identified as Jessica Nacole Yost, 23 years old of South Bend. An autopsy for Ms. Yost is tentatively scheduled for Monday. A second individual, 25 year old Maximilian Kleiman, was taken to the hospital and was treated for non life threatening stab wounds. This remains an active and ongoing investigation and we will update the media as we are able to do so. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC  has awarded the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry’s “Meat” the Need program a grant in the amount of $7,500.00. These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for donations of large game and livestock. Hunters and farmers may donate, at no cost to them (and farmers may write-off fair market value on taxes), by taking large game or livestock to a participating meat processor in their area. The donation will be processed, packaged in 1- to 2-pound packages, and frozen, or canned. Local hunger-relief agencies will be contacted for

The St. Joseph County (Indiana) Prosecutor's Office released an update Friday regarding the investigation in which two individuals were shot and injured in a parking lot in the 300 block of West Marion Street, South Bend, Thursday evening. One individual, 25 year old Gage Burger, was taken to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. At the issuance of this release, he remains in critical condition. The second individual, 32 year old Luvelle Neal, was treated and released from the hospital. He was subsequently booked into the St. Joseph County Jail on an outstanding warrant

On Saturday, March 24th, 2018 at approximately 5:53 AM (CST), La Porte County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to a single vehicle crash that had occurred in the the 2600 north block of County Road 700 East in rural Wills Township. Fireman from the Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department were the first emergency personnel to arrive on scene. They determined the driver of a blue Chrysler mini-van was unresponsive. The driver was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by the La Porte County Coroner's Office. The crash investigation conducted by Sheriff's Deputies, determined the 2014 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van