Local News

In honor of National Drinking Water Week, LaPorte County Health Department is offering free In-Home Well Water Screening test kits. During the week of May 5th – May 9, test kits will be available. To participate, you will need to pick up the testing kit from the LaPorte office or Michigan City office during the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. A photo of a full statement with additional information can be found attached to this story. For more information, give us a call: (219) 325-5563 (219) 809-0515

Michigan City – Michigan City Area Schools will launch a new program in September that is designed to boost community engagement and give the public a deeper understanding of its operations. The MCAS Ambassador Program, which will be limited to 20 participants, is a seven-session series of interactive workshops that will give community members a behind-the-scenes look at district services, finances, operations, curriculum, instruction, and more. Ambassadors will meet once a month on a Thursday morning to hear from administrators, staff, and students and take part in hands-on activities at locations across the school district. “This initiative aligns with the

I-65 SB at exit 230 All lanes will be closed for an indeterminate amount of time due to the semi fire. Once it is safe, traffic will be escorted around the scene, but that won't be for a while. Driver's in the backup, please be patient and DO NOT drive NB in SB lanes! This cleanup is expected to last into the night due to the surface of the roadway being significantly damaged. Good news- driver of the semi was not injured. Thank you Indiana State Police Lowell Post. #wims

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis, history’s first Latin American pontiff who charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change, died Monday. He was 88. Bells tolled in church towers across Rome after the announcement, which was read out by Cardinal Kevin Ferrell, the Vatican camerlengo, from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta, where Francis lived. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of

The DNR is seeking the public's help to understand more about Kirtland snakes. The DNR asks the public to help them find out where Kirtland’s snakes live by submitting your photos to HerpSurveys@dnr.IN.gov. DNR biologists are studying the status and occurrence of state endangered Kirtland’s Snakes across Indiana and need your help. Kirtland’s Snakes are a small, harmless, and docile species, but they can be difficult to find because they live underground. They prefer open grassy areas with moist soil but also live in vacant lots and along ditches in cities and neighborhoods. They may be found beneath pieces of

Amy Hamann a 7-12th grades STEM teacher at Barker Middle School, Michigan City, has been selected as an Indiana Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Amy Hamann, a teacher in Michigan City Area Schools, is now one of four Indiana high/middle schoool STEM teachers eligible to receive a PAEMST award, the nation’s highest honor for U.S. K–12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and/or computer science teachers. The awards program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. State Finalists represent the most

– Registration is now open for The Salvation Army’s annual free summer camp opportunities. Children ages 6 to 17 who reside in Michigan City are eligible to attend camp through The Salvation Army, including six different camps that will take place at Hidden Falls Camp in Bedford, IN. The experience will be a four- to six-day overnight visit, depending on the camp. Kids Camp will be held June 13 to June 15 for children ages 6-8 (registration deadline is May 30); High Adventure Camp for children ages 13 to 17 will take place June 17 to June 21 (registration deadline

LaPorte County Parks is inviting the public to stop by Luhr County Park any time between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, May 16 to help the naturalist staff do spring cleaning on the native flower beds. "This is a great opportunity to learn about native plants while giving back to the parks," LaPorte County Parks exclaimed on their Facebook page. Gloves and tools will be provided, but you may bring your own.

NORTHWEST INDIANA – Newborn babies in the Family Birth Centers and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) at Franciscan Health Crown Point and Franciscan Health Dyer and their families had a bit of Easter spirit come their way recently with the help of their hospital caregivers. Franciscan staff members worked with families to create the photos of the tiny newborns – including two sets of twins – wearing “Freshley Hatched #NICU” onesies, bunny ears and tutus and posed with baby chicks, carrots, Easter baskets, Easter eggs and more. Franciscan Health understands the importance of marking milestones in the lives of the

In Lake County, 61st Avenue will have alternating lane closures on/after Monday, April 21 through early September for a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project over I-65. During phase one through early July, the outside right lanes will be closed, and traffic will be shifted to the left. Phase one will also result in the closure of the ramps from westbound 61st Avenue to southbound I-65 and eastbound 61st Avenue to northbound I-65. Motorists should utilize the ramps at Ridge Road or U.S. 30 as detours.

Valparaiso, Indiana – First responders dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, often facing immense physical and mental challenges in the line of duty. In recognition of the need for comprehensive mental health support, the MAAC Foundation and Responder Strong are proud to announce the First Responder Mental Wellness Conference, taking place on Friday, April 25, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM CST at MAAC Foundation 4203 Montdale Park Drive, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. Doors will open at 8:00 AM CST. Visit bit.ly/maacmentalhealth2025 and register today. “First responders face incredible challenges every day, often carrying the weight of those experiences

Michigan City, IN – Harbor Country Adventures, in partnership with the Michigan City Department of Special Events, proudly announces the inaugural MC Food and Music Festival, set for Memorial Day weekend at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater. The festival will take place on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, from 11 AM to 7 PM each day. The MC Food and Music Festival aims to celebrate the vibrant culture of food and music, bringing together residents and visitors for a weekend filled with enjoyment. Attendees can expect a diverse lineup of local and regional food trucks each day, offering a

LaPorte County Parks will be hosting “Spring Flower Tea Time on Wednesday, April 30 from 1-3 p.m. at Bluhm County Park. Go for a short hike on paved trails to admire native spring woodland flowers. Then join them for tea time with an English tea set complete with scones and elderberry jam.

Check out Tom Lounges' Record Bin FUN Easter Sunday with MIDWEST BEAT BLUES from 3p-5p and NEEDLE DROP from 6p-9p right here on WIMS. You can listen on AM 1420. 95.1FM, and 106.7FM in Valparaiso or stream us 24/7 at wimsradio.com. #wims #nwi #loclaradio

News Release Indiana DNR: Every year more than 12,000 volunteers across the state contribute countless hours on Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) properties. During National Volunteer Week, April 20-26, the DNR will thank and recognize those volunteers for caring for Indiana’s natural and cultural resources and salute their accomplishments on its social media accounts. To follow DNR official social media accounts, see on.IN.gov/dnrsocial. Hoosiers can connect with Indiana’s natural and cultural heritage and the DNR volunteer community by donating their time and talents at their favorite DNR property. To find out how you can help DNR properties and become

The Ogden Dunes Town Council have given a beach closure update. The town beach and accessways are re-opened to the public. There are two areas where equipment and rocks are staged, and they will be taped or fenced off for safety and security reasons. They are located near accessways #18 and #11. The Town says to please avoid entering these secured areas and do not climb on the equipment. Stairs at access #7 will be reinstalled as soon as possible. Further updates will be shared as they become available.

Portage Police are warning of a scam Facebook post that is being shared locally. The person the page belongs to was hacked and no longer controls the page. Police say the "seller" is asking a enticingly low price for a used vehicle but says he cannot meet to complete the sale face to face for a few days. The seller then asked the potential buyer for a downpayment to be sent using Zelle or Apple Pay, promising to hold the vehicle for them even though there is not actually a vehicle for sale.

On April 18th at 12:20 A.M. is when the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a person who was shot inside building 12 at the Garden Estates West apartment complex. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift III arrived and located a 15-year-old juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders provided life saving measures to this juvenile before they were transported to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City by LaPorte County EMS for further medical care. This juvenile eventually succumbed to their injuries after arriving at the hospital. Detectives from the Investigative Division were summoned to

The Porter County Sheriff's Office are introducing their newest K9, Quinn The department thanked Jacki Stutzman for a donation helped them get Quinn. Quinn is a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever from Project One Retrievers. She is certified in obedience, explosive detection, and tracking. Officer Peiffer and K9 Quinn recently completed an Advanced Military Working Dog Training as well as a specialized Explosive Detection Course.

Watch for overnight lane closures on i-65 between U.S. 30 and 61st Avenue during the hours of 10 p.m.-6 a.m. The project began on Wednesday and is ongoing through next week for pavement patching operations. Motorists should be alert for road crews and changing traffic patterns in the area.