Local News

Event Welcomes High School Students, Recent Graduates, and Young Adults to Explore Careers in the Trades VALPARAISO, IN — The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) and the Construction Advancement Foundation (CAF) are making final preparations for the 3rd Annual Porter County Construction & Skilled Trades Day on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. Started by CWI and CAF in 2017, Construction & Skilled Trades Day connects Northwest Indiana youth with hands-on experiences in the building trades. Hosted in partnership with Indiana Plan, Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, READY NWI, NextGen NWI, and We Build

Michigan City Festival of Lights Parade registration is open. Michigan City Special Events stated the following on their Facebook page: "The Michigan City Festival of Lights Parade is just around the corner! Registration is open and participation is FREE! Show off your Christmas spirit and be a part of the festivities! Simply fill out the registration and be a part of the fun! https://michigancityin.gov/.../michigan-city-special.../"

JOIN US FOR PANCAKE BREAKFAST  WITH MRS. CLAUS& BUDDY THE ELF! The Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club will host a “PANCAKE BREAKFAST WITH MRS. CLAUS” on Saturday, November 29th at George’s Gyros, 325 N. Calumet Ave. in Chesterton from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Come and enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage and meet Mrs. Claus and Buddy the Elf, and have photos taken with them! Mrs. Claus will let everyone know when Santa will be arriving during the Annual Hometown Holiday Parade later in the day. Both dine in and carry out meals are available. Guests are asked to bring canned goods or boxed

Kabelin Ace Hardware Joins Houchens Food Group – Keeping a Local Legacy Strong Through Employee Ownership A fifth-generation family business takes the next step to secure its future and gives employees the opportunity to share in the company’s success. November 14, 2025 (La Porte, IN) – Kabelin Ace Hardware, a local, family-owned hardware store that has served Northwest Indiana for more than 100 years, announced today that it has joined Houchens Food Group – one of the largest 100% employee-owned companies in the country. All 150+ employees will be retained in the transition, and Kabelin’s will continue to operate under

TURKEY GIVEAWAY at the Marquette Mall in Michigan City this Saturday November 15th right outside of Carson Pirie Scott- PLEASE ENTER THROUGH THE NORTH ENTRANCE OF THE MALL ON ST. JOHN ROAD-ARRIVE EARLY. REMINDER. TURKEY GIVEAWAY EVENT. This Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9 am to 10:30 am Central time, Food Bank of Northern Indiana will provide assorted food items offered free of charge. All items are pre-boxed and pre-bagged. First come, first served, while supplies last for those in need of food assistance. One box/turkey per household, 500 HOUSEHOLDS to be served. Citizens Concerned for the Homeless, Inc. will

Indiana families can now access tutoring grants through Indiana Learns, a statewide initiative that helps qualifying students strengthen their skills in English/language arts (ELA) and math. Enrollment is open through Friday, December 19, and families can begin scheduling tutoring sessions immediately. “As a state, we continue to make progress in both reading and math. Indiana Learns is just one example of our commitment to keeping our foot on the gas pedal and improving outcomes for students,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Indiana Learns specifically focuses on our most struggling students and provides them the opportunity to receive

The City of La Porte announced that "Letters from Santa" registration forms are available until Dec. 1. The city said the following on their Facebook page: "We've been rehired as special helpers for the holiday season! Santa's helpers are tasked with one of the most magical jobs at the North Pole - getting Santa's letters to the children on the nice list all around the world. We are determined to be the very best helpers of them all. Complete the form and your little one will find a very special parcel addressed just for them in the mailbox this holiday

Wednesday morning, the Indiana State Police (ISP) issued the 20 members of the 87th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy their first patrol vehicles. During the event, ISP  unveiled the new look that their patrol vehicles will be displaying going forward.  The 20 Probationary Troopers, all of whom just successfully completed their field training, received the very first of these new look Durangos. “As these new Troopers begin their service, they carry forward a proud tradition of protecting Hoosiers with integrity and courage. The new patrol vehicles are a fitting way to mark this next chapter—honoring our history while equipping the

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Mitch Roob Wednesday announced the recommendations of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Working Group, convened earlier this year to address the rapid growth and sustainability challenges of Medicaid-funded ABA therapy. ABA therapy is a widely used, evidence-based treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For many Hoosier families, it has been life-changing—helping children develop essential skills, reduce barriers, and increase independence. But while the therapy’s value is clear, the way Indiana’s Medicaid program has managed it since coverage began in 2015 has created serious challenges. “When Medicaid coverage for

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — The Indiana State Police  says they seized 11 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop during the recent snowstorm on Monday in Porter County. A trooper was on S.R. 49 when he observed a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling at a high rate of speed despite snow and ice-covered roads. The area where this occurred is also a construction zone. After initially failing to stop, the driver finally pulled over on the ramp to U.S. 30. The driver, 35-year-old Daniel Aguilar Ramirez of Knox, IN, presented a California driver’s license to troopers. During the traffic stop,

The Salvation Army has partnered with Farmed & Forged Market for the Giving Market on Saturday, November 22. Families in need (with an EBT card): Stop by to receive a free "Feed a Family Box" of locally sourced food (while supplies last). Community members: Come shop the market, support local vendors, and help feed your neighbors this holiday season. Donations raised will help restock our food pantry and provide meals for families in Michigan City. Check out the event page for more details, or click here to donate: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/feed-a-family-4

Press Release, Michigan City Police: BERRIEN COUNTY, MICH. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Niles Post, in partnership with the DNA Doe Project, has identified the woman known for decades as “New Buffalo Jane Doe” as 71-year-old Dorothy Glanton of Chicago, Illinois. Glanton was reported missing after leaving her Chicago home on December 9, 1987. On April 8, 1988, her remains were recovered along the shoreline of Lake Michigan near New Buffalo. Despite extensive investigative efforts at the time, her identity could not be determined. In 2023, MSP investigators reopened the case and enlisted assistance from the DNA Doe Project, a

The Indiana Department of Health gave the following update on Wednesday: Update on ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula: Parents and caregivers should stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately. - If your child consumed ByHeart formula and is experiencing symptoms (poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression) seek immediate medical attention - If your child consumed ByHeart formula and is not currently showing symptoms, continue monitoring them and seek medical attention if symptoms develop

The DNR is reminding hunters that firearms deer season starts on November 15 and the DNR has a new license system. DNR is urging hunters to log in to the new system, verify their personal information, and purchase early. The DNR says if you’re planning to hunt deer firearms season, logging on now leaves plenty of time to contact DNR or visit a retailer if you encounter issues. DNR anticipates heavy traffic to the system on November 14 and 15, so help us help you get into the field. • Purchase Your License: gooutdoorsin.com/login • Help & Support: gooutdoorsin.com/help-support For

Northwest Indiana- The Indiana State Police Lowell Post and Regional Dispatch Center were nonstop yesterday on I-65 and I-80/94 during the Lake Effect Winter Storms. Between the overnight storm, and then the storm that hit the region just before noon, troopers responded to hundreds of calls for assistance consisting of crashes, slide-offs, flat tires, vehicles out of gas, dead batteries, and trucks that were just stuck and unable to gain traction on the ice-covered roads. Semis had a particularly rough go of it as dozens of trucks throughout the storms became disabled in the middle of the interstate when their

Press Release, Michigan City Police Department: On November 3rd, the Michigan City Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint of an adult male having sexual encounters with a child. Detective Corporal Adam Brinkman began working with the Indiana Department of Child Services and learned during his investigation that 66-year-old Michigan City resident, Billy Cannon reportedly had multiple sexual encounters with a child that was known to him. Detectives from the Investigative Division executed a search warrant at Cannon’s residence on November 7th where they took him into custody and located evidence to corroborate the allegations made by the

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is excited to announce a new special group recognition license plate that will be available through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Beginning in 2026, PNW alumni, students, faculty, staff and supporters will have the opportunity to showcase their school spirit while directly contributing to scholarships for PNW students. Proceeds from each specialty license plate registered will help fund scholarships at PNW, making higher education more accessible and affordable for students. By purchasing a specialty plate, supporters are helping to foster innovative education, relieve financial burdens and enhance opportunities for PNW students

There will be a free Food and Essentials Distribution next weekend in La Porte, (while supplies last), according to the Indiana Toll Road, who is a sponsor of the event. The 13 Black National Dunes Girls Volleyball Team is hosting a drive-up event with canned food, fresh items, and personal hygiene supplies for any family in need—no questions asked. When: Sunday, Nov. 16th | 11 AM CT Where: Dunes Volleyball Club, La Porte, IN

Press Release, Indiana Department of Natural Resources: The Indiana Rare Earth Recovery Council will meet on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Indiana Statehouse. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. ET in the House Ways and Means Committee Room, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, Room 404. The agenda is posted below. The council was created by Executive Order 25-62, issued by Governor Mike Braun in April. The council will work to spearhead efforts to reclaim rare earth elements and critical materials from legacy coal byproducts. Indiana is among the top coal producing states in the nation. Rare earth elements and critical

The following is a list of Food Bank of Northern Indiana Turkeys on the Table distributions for November: Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Starke County 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: North Judson United Methodist Church, 210 Center Ave., North Judson, IN  46366 *This distribution will serve 125 households.   Tuesday, November 11, 2025 - Starke County 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: Knox United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shield St., Knox, IN  46534 *This distribution will serve 150 households.   Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – St. Joseph County 9 a.m. –