Local News

Michigan City & La Porte, IN – The Collective invites families to Farmed & Forged Market for a weekend filled with fun, learning, and fresh local food as they launch Curious Chefs, a new program designed to inspire kids to become healthy eaters and enthusiastic supporters of local food. Kids Weekend begins Saturday, July 12 in Michigan City and continues Sunday, July 13 in La Porte. Both events feature free activities, live demonstrations, and special giveaways designed to make the farmers market even more engaging for kids of all ages. Michigan City Market – Saturday, July 12 | 8 AM

In Michigan City, the long-awaited repair of the CSX rail crossing at Woodland Avenue has been scheduled, CSX officials confirmed to the city Wednesday. Weather permitting, repairs are expected to begin on Monday, July 14 and be complete by Saturday, July 19. That segment of Woodland will be closed during repairs, so motorists are advised to seek an alternate route of travel throughout the week.

Valparaiso, IN—Shirley Heinze Land Trust is proud to announce the achievement of a milestone in land preservation. Following the recent acquisition of the Big Eastern property in rural Starke County, Shirley Heinze Land Trust now protects more than 4,000 acres of land in northwestern Indiana. “For over sixty years, the Lucas family has treasured and provided stewardship for this fascinating and biodiverse sand country landscape,” said Marty Lucas, President of Big Eastern, Incorporated, on behalf of the Lucas family. “When we learned of the Next Level Conservation Trust program, we realized the time had come for us to pass the

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. says the department has received information about a couple of scams targeting Lake County residents recently. "Fraudsters have been pretending to be employees of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and demanding payment for phony warrants and jail bonds, Martinez said in a statement. Martinez also stated the following: "The Lake County Sheriff’s Department and/or Lake County Jail will NEVER: -Contact individuals by phone or email regarding warrants -Ask for payment for a warrant over the phone -Request payment for a warrant or bond using gift cards -Request payment for a warrant or bond through

Thursday, July 10 8:00 am: 4-H Dairy & Open-class judging 10:00 am - 7:00 pm: Curious Kids & Tractor Trail; Petting Zoo & Buildings open 11:00 am: Extreme Raptors 12:00 pm: Story Time with the Queen 1:00 pm: Carnival ($35 rides); Bear Hollow Carvers 2:30 pm: Extreme Raptors 3:00 pm: Silly Safari (Pioneerland) 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Johnny V (Entertainment Tent); Bear Hollow Carvers 5:00 pm: Silly Safari (Pioneerland) 6:00 pm: Supreme Showman Contest; Antique Tractor Parade 6:30 pm: Extreme Raptors 7:00 pm: Crawpuppies (Entertainment Tent); Silly Safari; Warren Zeiders w/ Austin Williams (Grandstands) 8:00 pm: Bear Hollow Carvers

Press Release by Unity Foundation of La Porte County: LA PORTE COUNTY, IN— Unity Foundation of La Porte County recently received accreditation with Community Foundations National Standards®, the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. This accreditation confirms that Unity Foundation meets the legal, ethical, and operational standards set for community foundations nationwide. “Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Unity Foundation of La Porte County demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.” The

Press Release by American Heart Association: Bill requires schools to have a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan at events The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, applauds Indiana legislators and Gov. Mike Braun for protecting students, families and staff members by requiring schools to have a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) for all school events. “Indiana is the latest in a growing number of states nationwide that are moving to better prepare schools and school athletic programs to respond to cardiac arrests with the creation of cardiac emergency response plans,” said Christina Cesnik, Indiana

La Porte — La Porte Community School Corporation is excited to announce that Elizabeth Wiesemann has accepted the position of Associate Principal at La Porte High School for the 2025-26 school year. Mrs. Wiesemann has been the Principal of Kingsbury Elementary School since July 2015. Before that, she served as the Assistant Principal at La Porte High School from 2014 to 2015 and began her career with the La Porte Community School Corporation (LPCSC) in 2006 as a fourth-grade teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Arts in

STATEHOUSE – Local students preparing to become teachers are among this year's recipients of the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, according to State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso). The scholarship program, established in 2016 through legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly, awards a renewable scholarship of up to $10,000 per year (up to $40,000 total) to high-achieving high school and college students who agree to teach in an eligible Indiana school for five years. A record-breaking 1,091 students applied for the 2025-2026 Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, with nearly 300 scholarships awarded. "Good teachers are essential to educating and preparing our

Here is your schedule for Wednesday July 09th at the LAPORTE COUNTY FAIR   Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Gates Open at 10am Sponsored by Keystone Cooperative   8:00am: 4-H Swine Judging Begins (Livestock Arena)   9:00am: 4-H Rooster Crowing Contest, and Turkey Gobbling Contest (Poultry and Pigeon Building)   10:00am Bear Hollow Wood Carvers (Entrance of Pioneerland)   10:00am -7:00pm: The Curious Kids Trail and Tractor Trail   10:00am: All Buildings Open, Petting Zoo Open   11:00am: Extreme Raptors Birds of Prey   12:00: Story Time with the Queen   1:00pm: Skerbeck Carnival Rides 4- $35 Unlimited Rides   1:00pm:

The American Red Cross urges all donors to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply strong this summer. Type O blood products are most needed on hospital shelves – especially in the face of summer challenges that can quickly cause blood and platelet reserves to drop.   In addition to summer fun and holidays, severe summer weather can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets. Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial this month to ensure blood products are constantly available in the weeks to come for all patients, including those in

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews are conducting seal coating operations resulting in the closure of State Road 14 beginning on or a3fter today, July 8. State Road 14 will be closed between I-65 and U.S. 421 for approximately two days. The official detour for this closure will follow I-65, State Road 114 and U.S. 421. Through traffic should utilize the detour or seek an alternate route. Local traffic should exercise caution and follow traffic directions carefully in the area where work is occurring. This work is weather sensitive so the schedule is subject to change. 

Here is your schedule for Tuesday July 8th for The LAPORTE COUNTY FAIR ****Veterans Day - All Active Military and Veterans Free with ID Tuesday, July 8, 2025   Gates Open at 10am Veterans Day - All Active Military and Veterans Free with ID   8:00am: 4-H Beef/Dairy Judging Begins (Livestock Arena)   10:00am - 7:00pm: The Curious Kids Trail and Tractor Trail   10:00am Bear Hollow Wood Carvers (Entrance of Pioneerland)   10:00am: All Buildings Open, Petting Zoo Open   10:15 Opening ceremonies for Veterans Day (Main Gate)   10:15-2:00- Veterans Day Booths and Card Making (FMEC Event Building)

Tune into "Well Beings" with Debbie Tatum from The Franciscan Health Foundation on Wednesday July 9th at 9:10am. You can hear it on AM 1420, 95.1FM, and 106.7FM in Valparaiso plus we stream at wimsradio.com. This week's show is brought to you by Captain Ed's Furniture & Mattress in Michigan City. #wims #nwi #localradio

SOUTH BEND – James E. Burch II, 38 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Burch was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in August 2024, police were summoned to a residence where Burch was both seen and photographed pointing a .357 caliber revolver. When police arrived, they located the firearm and arrested Burch.  Burch’s criminal

TRAFFIC ALERT-Overnight Closures on I-94 construction between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 Monday, July 7 through Saturday, July 12.moving to phase two   LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Dunnet Bay Construction Company will conduct overnight lane closures on I-94 between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 Monday, July 7 through Saturday, July 12.   Lane closures will take place during the overnight hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. I-94 is currently reduced to two lanes through the work zone so this will further reduce traffic to one lane during these timeframes. There will also be

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Franciscan Health is embarking on a project, in collaboration with community partners, to further transform the former Franciscan Health Crown Point hospital campus.   Franciscan Alliance donated more than 12 acres of land adjacent to the former Franciscan Health Crown Point property at 1201 S. Main St. to its neighbor at the Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA. Work is already well underway by Tonn and Blank Construction to build the YMCA Sportscenter at Crown Point. The Sportscenter will contain dedicated courts for basketball and pickleball. The YMCA Sportscenter is expected to open in January 2026.

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - NIPSCO will close the intersection of U.S. 231 and Cline Ave for approximately one month beginning on or after Wednesday, July 9. This closure is for utility relocations ahead of roundabout construction at this intersection, which is scheduled to begin in 2026. Motorists should seek alternate routes. The detour will follow 101st Ave, Parrish Ave, 117th Ave, Burr St and Fathke Rd.

Here is your schedule for Monday July 7th for the LAPORTE COUNTY FAIR TODAY is SENIOR DAY   Monday, July 7, 2025   Gates Open at 10am Senior Day   9:00am: 4-H Horse and Pony Judging begins (Horse and Pony Arena)   10am-2pm- Senior Day Booths (FMEC Event Building)   10:00am Bear Hollow Wood Carvers (Entrance of Pioneerland)   10:00am -7:00pm: The Curious Kids Trail and Tractor Trail   10:00am: All Buildings Open, Petting Zoo Open   11:00am: 4-H Rabbit Show (Rabbit Barn)   11:00am: Queen City Circus (Grandstands)   11:00am: Extreme Raptors Birds of Prey   12:00: Pioneerland Opens

Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are investigating an incident that resulted in a father and son drowning in Lake Michigan. At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, conservation officers and Indiana Dunes National Park rangers responded to a report of an active water rescue on the lake near the town of Dune Acres. Conservation officers responded using off-road vehicles and a patrol boat to reach the remote area. When conservation officers arrived, two men had been removed from the water by a good Samaritan. Conservation officers and rangers boated the men to Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor while performing CPR. The two