Local News

NIPSCO has received an influx in calls from residential and business customers reporting several hundred cases of unknown callers claiming to be affiliated with the company and demanding payment through a prepaid card.   Some reports have indicated that scammers have appeared in person knocking on doors, while other reports have indicated that the company’s 1-800 customer service phone number was cloned to appear on caller IDs.  NIPSCO is proactively notifying customers to remind them of important safety tips to avoid becoming a victim and emphasize that these calls are not from, or affiliated with, the company. ·    

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers wishing to attend the Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show, to be held Jan. 10-14, 2018, at McCormick Place. The following weekday trains will make flag stops at the McCormick Place Station from Jan. 10-12: Westbound: Trains 14, 216, 116, 218, 18, 118, 220, 20 Eastbound: Trains 109, 209, 17, 119, 19, 121, 123 All weekend trains except Train 601 utilize McCormick Place as a flag stop. Passengers departing from McCormick Place must remain visible on the platform to be seen by train personnel.

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly spoke on the floor of the Senate calling for bipartisan action to address a number of pressing health care issues, including repealing the Medical Device Tax, reauthorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), funding for the Community Health Center Fund, and the need for more funds to combat opioid abuse and to address the shortage of treatment providers. Donnelly said in his speech, “I strongly urge my colleagues to work with me to quickly and meaningfully address the medical device tax... “We must reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program – also known as

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly applauded President Trump’s executive order today directing the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to develop a plan to ensure servicemembers transitioning out of the military and back into civilian life receive mental health care for a year. All active-duty and reserve servicemembers are required to have an annual mental health assessment, thanks to Donnelly’s Jacob Sexton Military Suicide Prevention Act, which has now been fully implemented.

Candidates seeking public office this year may begin filing their declarations of candidacy for the 2018 Primary Election tomorrow, Wednesday, January 10 with the Secretary of State or county election board. Filing will remain open until 12:00pm local time on Friday, February 9th. A candidate seeking nomination by a major political party may file, as well as independent or minor party candidates and state convention delegates. Candidates for U.S. Senate may begin filing petitions of nomination with county voter registration offices for verification of petition signatures. Further information can be found by calling the Election Division, or by visiting www.in.gov/elections.

Shortly after midnight Tuesday, Valparaiso Police officers responded to a female subject that had been involved in a physical disturbance which included threats being made with a handgun by her boyfriend. The female subject had fled the house immediately after the disturbance and called police. Police responded to the 300 block Garfield Ave to investigate the incident further. When police arrived the male subject inside the home refused to answer the door. Numerous attempts to make contact with the male subject were made and went unanswered. The Porter County Emergency Response Team was activated shortly after 1:00 a.m. Police obtained

The Valparaiso Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 76 has named their Patrol Officer, Investigator and Supervisor of the year for 2017. Each award is voted on by the members of the Valparaiso F.O.P Lodge 76. This year Officer Jonathan Watson was named Patrol Officer of the Year, Lt. Jerame Simpson was named supervisor of the year and Sgt. Dave Castellanos was named Investigator of the Year for 2017. Officer Watson has been with the department for 2 years. Sgt. Castellanos is a 16 year veteran of the department, and Lt. Simpson is a 11 year veteran of the department.

Indiana Conservation Officers on Monday were called to a rural area near Hanna, Indiana shortly after midnight regarding a serious injury snowmobile crash. The investigation revealed at around midnight, 38 year old Charles Zbuka was riding his snowmobile across a large field at approximately 40 miles per hour when he drove into a large ditch, striking the bank on the opposite side. Another snowmobile rider witnessed the crash and found Zbuka unconscious and in the water at the bottom of the ditch. The witness entered the water and held Zbuka’s head above the surface while he called 911. LaPorte County

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host East Chicago native and U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel at two Martin Luther King Jr. programs in January. Curiel's address will honor Dr. King's legacy and vision and reflect the programs' theme, "Together we win with love for humanity." The coordinating events will take place Monday, Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Westville and Hammond campuses, respectively. To obtain more information about these activities visit www.pnw.edu/MLK-celebration or call (219) 785-5545. To request a disability related accommodation for these events, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Hammond (219) 989-2163

On Monday Randy Novak, LaPorte County Council member for District 2, has announced that he will seek re-election for a second term as a Democrat for the District 2 seat on the LaPorte County Council. “It has been an honor to serve the Citizens of LaPorte County for the past 3 years. Together, we have accomplished a lot in the last three years, but we still have work to do. I hope that, through my efforts, I have earned your trust and ask that you support me for a second term.” Novak said. “My pledge to you: I will work

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers wishing to attend the Chicago Boat, RV & Sail Show, to be held Jan. 10-14, 2018, at McCormick Place. The following weekday trains will make flag stops at the McCormick Place Station from Jan. 10-12: Westbound: Trains 14, 216, 116, 218, 18, 118, 220, 20 Eastbound: Trains 109, 209, 17, 119, 19, 121, 123 All weekend trains except Train 601 utilize McCormick Place as a flag stop. Passengers departing from McCormick Place must remain visible on the platform to be seen by train personnel.

The Mobile Health Unit of La Porte Hospital will be out in the community throughout January to provide free body mass index and blood pressure screenings, as well as cervical cancer education and information how to be prepared for winter weather. Wellness Outreach Screenings are made possible with funding from the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte. Dates and times of the Mobile Health Unit visits are: from 9-10:30 a.m., Jan. 9, at Good Will Industries, 1509 E. Lincolnway, La Porte and from 11 a.m. – Noon, Jan. 9, at the Salvation Army, 3240 Monroe St., La Porte.

About 63 million, or 16-percent, of U-S residents live in rural America and, while they increasingly embrace digital technology, they still rely on local newspapers to provide them with news the Internet can't. Al Cross, who heads the Institute for Rural Journalism, says rural residents are 10-percent less likely to have broadband and smartphones than city-dwellers. And while many don't believe all the information they read on the Internet, Cross says trust in the local newspaper remains high. Cross says rural residents no longer expect to get national and international news from their local paper, but want school, police and

The League of Women Voters of La Porte County and the Better Government Study Group are joining with the La Porte County Chapter of the NAACP and Leadership La Porte County to co-sponsor a conference on Enhancing La Porte County Electoral and Political Processes on Saturday, January 27 at Purdue University Northwest at Westville. Matthew Presley, Co-Chairman of the English Department at La Porte High School, will moderate the session, which will include two multi-generational panels that explore issues that impact political and electoral processes in the county and then focus on action steps that should be considered to enhance

La Porte Hospital offers a variety of diabetes education and programs to the community, some free of charge. For Free Pre-Diabetes Classes: Come learn about the risk factors for diabetes and steps to manage pre-diabetes. This class is perfect for individuals who may have had an abnormal blood sugar reading, or whose doctors have expressed concerns about the possibility of developing diabetes. All are welcome; registration is not required. Classes meet from Noon - 1p.m., the third Monday of every month at the Heart & Vascular Conference Room, first floor of 901 Lincolway, La Porte. The next class is Jan.

The Duneland Chamber has partnered with the Town of Burns Harbor to bring their European Market on the Road to their Food Truck Square. The Burns Harbor Food Truck Square is an established event that continues to grow. Their market is held every Wednesday night from May through September. From 5 pm to 8 pm. The market is located at the former site of the Westport Community Club. Off of Rt. 149. For more information, call the Chamber at 219.926.5513, or email jacqueline@dunelandchamber.org

The LaPorte Co. Sheriffs Office wants to remind the public the regulations concerning medication that is dropped off in their lobby. They ask that before you bring your medication in that you remove the medication from their bottles and place them into a zip-lock bag. The office is asking to please not leave them in their original bottle. They also ask that no sharps be left in the drop-off box. Finally, the LaPorte Co. Sheriffs Office asks that no pressurized containers, ie; inhaler’s, be left in the drop-off box.

With cryptocurrencies continuing to attract headlines, Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson reminded Hoosier investors to be cautious about investments involving cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies are a medium of exchange that are created and stored electronically in the blockchain, a distributed public database that keeps a permanent record of digital transactions. Current common cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Unlike traditional currency, these alternatives have no physical form and typically are not backed by tangible assets. They are not insured or controlled by a central bank or other governmental authority, cannot always be exchanged for other commodities, and are subject to little

PFLAG of Michigan City & LaPorte County’s next meeting is on Tuesday, January 9th, at 6:30 pm. They welcome everybody who are allies including everyone in the LGBTQA+ community. They will explore transgender issues with Meghan Buell, Founder and Executive Director, TREES (Transgender Resource, Education, & Enrichment Services). She will discuss the importance of family support for trans youth and how a strong support structure is vital to a healthy, enriched life for trans/gender nonbinary persons. The meetings are for those 18 years of age and over are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm and will

The cancelled Michigan City basketball games from over the weekend have been rescheduled to the following dates: Tuesday, January 9 5:30/7 Girls JV/Varsity v Crown Point Tuesday, January 23 5:30/7 Boys JV/Varsity v Crown Point