Local News

LaPORTE COUNTY – The Salvation Army of Michigan City and The Salvation Army of La Porte are excited to announce their intent to operate under one leadership, effective September 1, 2025. This strategic unification aims to provide services and outreach throughout La Porte County, fostering a stronger, more collaborative countywide presence. Majors Dale and Becky Simmons, who have served as Corps Officers in Michigan City since 2018 and are well-known throughout La Porte County, will assume leadership of both corps. Their extensive experience, including assignments in Lake County, Chicago, Missouri, and Kansas, equips them to guide this transition with compassion

CROWN POINT, Ind.-- Franciscan Health Crown Point is hosting a doula certification workshop over two weekends in July. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during and shortly after childbirth. A doula may help communicate a woman's birth plan, create a comfortable environment during delivery or simply provide the general support a family may seek during this pivotal time. A doula does not perform clinical tasks. The Franciscan Health Crown Point Family Birth Center offers free doula services to families through a volunteer doula program. The doula certification workshop will take

Chesterton, IN – The Duneland Exchange Club brought home top honors from this year’s Exchange Clubs of Indiana Convention, held in Fishers, Indiana. The club was proudly named Club of the Year, recognized for its exceptional member retention and growth. This prestigious award reflects the hard work and dedication of every member who continues to make a positive impact in the Duneland community. In addition to the club-wide recognition, several members received individual honors: Wendy Haas was named President of the Year Maria Bachuchin received Secretary of the Year Mary Talbutt was honored for her many years of service as State Treasurer “This was an incredible showing

𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 #𝟮 – 𝗨𝗦 𝟮𝟬 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗛 / 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 The #LCSO announces the arrest of 41-year-old Shawn Wesly Russell AKISON of Romeoville, Illinois in connection with yesterday afternoon’s serious bodily injury crash at US 20 and Fail Road. The initial stages of the investigation determined the St. Joseph County Police Department received a report of a box truck traveling westbound on SR 2 in a reckless manner. A St. Jospeh County Deputy located the box truck in the area of SR 2 and Timothy Road. A traffic stop was attempted, however the box truck failed to yield, and continued traveling

MICHIGAN CITY, IN – Letter carriers across the country will be picking up more than mail on Saturday, May 10. This weekend marks the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, an event organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers. City residents are encouraged to leave donations of non-perishable food items by their mailboxes on Saturday, May 10 to be collected by the letter carriers. The Salvation Army of Michigan City is pleased to be the local recipient of these donations, filling the shelves of its food pantry with the items given so generously by the community. These items stay

The Ogden Dunes Police Department is reminding residents that parking restrictions are currently in effect through September 30. Permits are required to park within the restricted area. Town Hall Hours are 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. No permits will be issued after 3 p.m. ~ Officers will not issue permits. Stop at Town Hall to get your permits. Permits will not be automatically sent to you. • ODHA Dues - $125.00 (One (1) permit w/dues) • Additional Permits when dues are paid - $50.00 • Golf Cart Permit $35.00 • Watercraft Permit $20.00 • Dog Tags $5.00

LA PORTE, IN—The La Porte Community School Corporation proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Teachers of the Year and Employee of the Year Recognition Program, which honors exceptional staff members who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to education and student success. The 2025 honorees are: ● Elementary Teacher of the Year: Martin Briggs, Crichfield Elementary School ● Secondary Teacher of the Year: Christine Rosenbaum, La Porte High School and Kesling Campus ● Employee of the Year: Jenny Hartson, La Porte High School All three recipients will represent La Porte Community School Corporation at the state level for their respective categories

Michigan City Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offense SOUTH BEND –  Timothy Hampton, 50 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Hampton was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in August and September 2024 Hampton distributed high-purity methamphetamine to buyers. A search warrant executed at Hampton’s home resulted in the recovery of additional methamphetamine along with scales and

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared. The Warsaw Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Alicia Marshall, a 24 year old white female, 4 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds, brown hair with brown eyes, last seen wearing a gray Hoodie sweatshirt with Hurley on the front, black leggings, white Nike Air Force Ones, and a pink backpack. Alicia is missing from Warsaw, Indiana which is 120 miles north of Indianapolis and was last seen on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 2:00 pm. She is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance. If you have

The following is a joint statement being released by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office and the New Prairie United School Corporation: "This afternoon at 3:16 PM, deputies responded to the intersection of US 20 and Fail Road reference a multi-vehicle crash. "A total of four vehicles were involved in the crash - two New Prairie United School Corporation ‘mini-buses’, one commercial motor vehicle, and a single axle box truck. "The ‘mini-buses’ were transporting members of an athletic team. "Several subjects were injured and transported to area hospitals for treatment. "The crash is under investigation and no further information is

We have a NEW POPE. Robert Francis Prevost. God Bless. First American Pope. Pope Leo XIV #wims

The City of Portage says their paving contractor has placed no parking signs throughout the Swanson North subdivision in preparation for a paving project. The City of Portage says for the next week or two, they are removing and replacing the existing curbs and sidewalk ramps with new ADA compliant curbs and sidewalk ramps. Once the concrete work is completed, they will start the milling process and laying new asphalt in the neighborhood.

On the weekend of April 25, Michigan City High School band and choral students participated in their respective Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) concert festivals. Students performed exceptionally well, and their gold ratings marked important honors within the history of both departments. On Friday, April 25, the MCHS Band Department competed at Elkhart High School, where both the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band earned Gold Ratings from all three judges. The Wind Ensemble also received a Gold Rating in Sight-Reading. As a result of their consistent high-quality performances, the Band Department was awarded the ISSMA All-Music Award, recognizing Gold-level

The La Porte County Sheriff Office is inviting the public to attend this year’s La Porte County Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on May 9th at 11 a.m. at FOP #75 - 416 U.S. Highway 20, Michigan City, IN. Agencies will come together to honor and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, including the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office’s own, Patrolman Neil G. Thompson.  

The Elkhart Toll Plaza, EXIT 92, is fully closed now through Sunday, May 11. There will be no access to the plaza during this closure. The plaza will reopen on Monday, May 12, at 6:00 AM ET. Detour: Motorists are advised to detour to the Elkhart East Toll Plaza, EXIT 96.

CROWN POINT, Ind. – Families with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Franciscan Health Crown Point now have a variety of children’s books to read to their little ones thanks to a generous donation from the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council. The new mobile lending library was officially donated this week by members of the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council. Dr. Sharon Pratt, associate professor of elementary and literacy education at Indiana University Northwest and treasurer of the Northwest Indiana Literacy Council, helped spearhead the project. Pratt said she wears many hats, including as a professor, Northwest Indiana Literacy

Michigan City, Ind. - LaPorte County Staff, Students, and Community members gathered to celebrate the opening of the LaPorte County Career and Technical Education (CTE) program’s new South Campus building at 1001 US Hwy 20. The $13.5 million LPCCTE South Campus is home to essential programs, including Automotive, Construction, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood, Health Careers, Precision Machining, Smart Manufacturing, and Welding. MCAS Superintendent, Dr. Wendel McCollum expressed, “This new facility is a testament to our commitment to preparing students who are truly college- and career-ready,” said Dr. Wendel McCollum, Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools. “There’s been a lot of

CHESTERTON, Ind. -- Over the past few days, the Chesterton Police Department has taken several reports of suspicious individuals walking through neighborhoods during nighttime hours and checking car door handles. When they find unlocked vehicles, they are rummaging through them and stealing items. Reported areas include: ▪️2000 Block of Texas Street ▪️100 Block of Washington Street ▪️100 Block of Westchester Court   The Chesterton Police Department  says they have obtained video footage of one possible suspect. In the video, the individual is wearing “a 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞), 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬”. “The suspect appears to meet with

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Fish & Wildlife has made changes to previously announced rainbow trout stocking plans because of a shortage of that species at the hatchery. Nineteen streams across 13 counties were stocked with trout before April 26, the opening day of trout season, but some locations didn’t receive the planned amount of rainbow trout. Some were supplemented with brown trout. The streams affected will receive no more rainbow trout this spring; however, nine of them will be stocked with brown trout this month. The brown trout to be stocked range from 8 to 12

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — May is National Electrical Safety Month, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (“NIPSCO”) is committed to helping the public stay safe by sharing essential electrical safety tips and guidelines. Electrical Safety Month is a time to raise awareness about the importance of preventing electric-related injuries, deaths and fires. “It’s essential to remember that electrical safety begins with education,” said Orville Cocking, Senior Vice President of Electric Operations at NIPSCO. “Awareness and quick action can prevent injuries and save lives at home and in the workplace.”   What to Do if You Find a Downed Power Line