Local News

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) natural gas customers will see a lower rate increase than originally proposed in the company’s pending regulatory rate review, as a result of a collaborative agreement reached with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), industrial customers and the NIPSCO Gas Supplier Group. The proposed agreement is subject to Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) review and approval, and new rates would be phased in over two years with the first phase occurring in the fourth quarter of 2018. “This is a great outcome for our customers, our communities and the company as we

Indiana’s Primary Election is right around the corner. Tuesday, May 8th is Primary Election Day – polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. If you cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, you can vote early in-person or absentee – but the deadline to request an absentee ballot is quickly approaching. To cast an absentee ballot by mail in the 2018 Primary Election, you must request an application from the county clerk’s office by 11:59pm on Monday, April 30th. Applications may be submitted in person, by fax, email or by mail. “Voting is

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today that Indiana is leading a 15-state coalition in support of a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland against various energy and manufacturing companies. Indiana is joined by Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming in the amicus brief. Attorney General Hill issued the following statement regarding the matter: “California localities cannot dictate national energy policy or curb economic activity that occurs outside California. Unfortunately, we have seen a trend of certain states drifting farther and farther

Indiana Auditor of State Tera Klutz, CPA, announced that for the Twenty-Fifth consecutive year, Indiana has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945 to encourage state and local governments to go beyond the minimum reporting requirement of financial data. The award was based on the 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) which details Indiana’s financial landscape and accounts for all state funds as of June 2017. The CAFR also includes other financial, demographic, economic

On Friday, The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the recipients of the State’s first-ever K-6 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Acceleration Grants. The awards will be used for important research efforts to provide Indiana leaders with evidence of impact from STEM activities happening in classrooms across the state. Grant funds are to be used for research, surveys, and related staff support initiatives. These activities will develop recommendations to improve elementary and secondary student achievement and participation in STEM subjects throughout Indiana. Additionally, this will improve coordination among the various STEM programs. Through this opportunity, IDOE will enhance student

Friday, Gov. Eric Holcomb issued a proclamation calling a special session of the 120th Indiana General Assembly Monday, May 14, 2018. The Constitution of the State of Indiana provides that the governor may call a special session at his discretion if he believes public welfare requires it. The governor’s to-do items were included in the final versions of 4 bills. Schools and School Safety: ·Deliver on the governor’s request for additional funding for the Indiana Secured School Fund by providing $5 million now and for fiscal year 2019. These additional funds will allow the state to provide increased financial support

Early Sunday morning, an Illinois man tried to flee from a trooper on the Indiana Toll Road but couldn’t outrun him. Trooper Alaa Hamed initially lost sight of the vehicle in question after an initial pursuit but four minutes later saw the Impala come from an alley adjacent to the intersection of Indianapolis Blvd and 115th Street. A pursuit began again and the driver eventually fled from the car at a dead end and jumped over the fence. Hamed caught and tackled him in a backyard of a residence and placed him in custody. Found next to the driver were

Early Saturday evening, an intoxicated driver lost control while trying to get onto the interstate and hit another intoxicated driver. A 2005 Toyota Highlander, driven by 21 year old Jacqueline Adan of Hammond, was north bound on State Road (SR) 249 when she exited to the on-ramp to I-94 west bound. Adan failed to negotiate the curve, ran off the roadway, went northeast through the grassy median onto the I-94 west bound to SR 249 exit ramp where she hit a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by 32 year old Leonard Scott, 32 of Michigan City that was slowing down

The Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter announced that the Walk to End Alzheimer's - Michigan City will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, at Washington Park. The event is a wonderful opportunity for local residents to rally behind a cause that affects more than 110,000 Hoosiers living with Alzheimer's and their 338,000 Indiana caregivers. Sign up as a team captain, join a team or register to walk as an individual at alz.org/walk or 800.272.3900.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is urging Hoosiers to get vaccinated and take other steps to protect themselves from hepatitis A if they plan to travel to states that are experiencing outbreaks of the disease. Kentucky and Michigan have reported significant outbreaks of hepatitis A, a highly contagious viral infection of the liver. Kentucky has more than 300 cases, the majority of which have occurred in the Louisville area, and Michigan has more than 800 cases, including 25 deaths. Indiana, which typically sees fewer than 20 cases of hepatitis statewide each year, has confirmed 77 cases since January,

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) honors its 2018 class of spring graduates with four Commencement Exercises on the Hammond and Westville campuses on May 4, 5 and 7. Ceremonies will be held at PNW’s Hammond Campus in the Fitness & Recreation Center at 3 p.m., Friday, May 4 for graduates of the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences; at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 5 for the College of Business and College of Nursing; and at 3 p.m. for the College of Engineering and Sciences and College of Technology. The fourth ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., Monday, May 7

For a second year, several organizations are partnering on a “Week of Code” initiative in Michigan City. The effort will spotlight computer coding and related technologies that are fostering a “maker” culture of innovation in the region.   Michigan City Area Schools, in partnership with the Economic Development Corporation of Michigan City (EDCMC), will host the community-wide Week of Code May 4 - 11. Additional sponsors and partners include Safe Harbor, the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County, the Michigan City Mainstreet Association, the LaPorte County Public Library, the Michigan City Public Library, the Boys and Girls Club of Michigan City,

Friday, The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced the recipients of the State’s first-ever K-6 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Acceleration Grants. The awards will be used for important research efforts to provide Indiana leaders with evidence of impact from STEM activities happening in classrooms across the state. Grant funds are to be used for research, surveys, and related staff support initiatives. These activities will develop recommendations to improve elementary and secondary student achievement and participation in STEM subjects throughout Indiana. Additionally, this will improve coordination among the various STEM programs. Through this opportunity, IDOE will enhance student success

The Association of Indiana Counties (AIC) and Bliss McKnight, Inc. have named a local fourth grader as the National County Government Week essay contest winner for the AIC’s Northwest District. Madeleine McCarther’s essay was chosen over entries from other fourth graders across the district. McCarther, a student at Saint Stanislaus School, received $100 for winning the contest. One winner was chosen in each of the AIC’s six districts from among several hundred submitted from across the state. This year’s theme was ‘Keeping Indiana Safe: County Law Enforcement.’ Essays were judged on how well students discussed the county’s role in local

Today through Friday and April 30th-May 4th, the South Shore Line will temporarily be busing weekday (Mon-Fri) passengers between Carroll Ave. and the South Bend International Airport while crews upgrade sections of track and overhead wire. During these periods, there will be no train service to or from Hudson Lake, and Trains 401, 422 and 424 between South Bend and Carroll Ave. will be canceled. NOTE: No bikes will be transported via bus for Trains 6 and 11. Train service between Carroll Ave. and Chicago will not be impacted.

Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2 percent for March and remains lower than the national rate of 4.1 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 7,513 over the previous month. This was a result of 2,077 unemployed residents no longer seeking employment within the past four weeks, and a 9,590 increase in residents employed. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and

An annual report from the Virginia-based American Legislative Exchange Council Center for State Fiscal Reform ranks Indiana's economic outlook among the best in the country. The Rich States, Poor States index ranks states based on 15 variables, such as highest marginal personal income tax rate, property tax burden and worker's compensation costs. The report focuses on the economic competitiveness of states. Indiana ranks third on the list, behind only Utah and Idaho. The report also looks back to measure states' performances to-date with its economic performance ranking. Indiana comes in at number 30 in this year's list, including cumulative GDP

A roll over crash late Wednesday night sent the driver and passenger to the hospital. Preliminary investigation by Trooper John Landowski revealed that a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 20 year old Jordyn Windsor of Portage, IN was westbound on I-80/94 in the left middle lane just east of Lake Station exit when she began to change lanes. Windsor lost control of the Malibu, going northwest across all west bound lanes, went off the roadway into the grass, rolled over and came to rest in the ditch on its roof facing northwest. Windsor and her passenger, 21 year old Tiera

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) spoke at a briefing hosted by the U.S. Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus focused on the benefits of CTE for veterans. Senator Young, a co-chair of the Senate CTE Caucus, highlighted how veterans transitioning into the workforce face many challenges, especially with applying the skills learned in military service to civilian jobs. Career and technical education offers veterans a chance to capitalize on their skills by obtaining a credential, whether that be a certificate, associate’s degree, or other type of degree. “Career and technical education programs help ensure every Hoosier has

The LaPorte County Election Board announced that Absentee Voting is now taking place at the Courthouse in La Porte and the Courthouse in Michigan City. The hours for Absentee Voting are as follows: Monday through Friday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Saturday April 28th and Saturday May 5th: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and Monday May 9th: 8:00 am to 12 noon.