Local News

LA PORTE COUNTY, IN—The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available on the Unity Foundation of La Porte County website, uflc.net. Applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on September 10, 2025, to be considered. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP), administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in La Porte County by Unity Foundation, will provide scholarships to two La Porte County students. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the

In Portage, Hamstrom Road between Main Street and Venus Avenue will be closed to through traffic beginning today August 5 through Friday, August 8, beginning 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. (weather permitting) for pole replacements. See the Portage Indiana Government Page for updates.

Firefighters performed a highly technical rescue of a man who fell and injured himself in the attic of the Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday morning, July 31, the Chesterton Fire Department and Town of Chesterton are reporting. Just after 10:40 a.m. firefighters responded to the Hilton Garden Inn, 501 Gateway Blvd., after an employee checking for an air leak in the sprinkler’s dry system lost his balance and fell onto his lower back. A firefighter gained access to the attic through a “scuttle hole” on the east side of the building’s third floor, then wended his way “through a maze

Press Release, Drive Clean Indiana: Saint John, IN - GOEVIN (Go Electric Vehicle Indiana) announces the award recipients for the GOEVIN Charging Infrastructure Funding Opportunity, aimed at expanding publicly accessible direct current fast charging infrastructure (DCFC) and Level 2 charging infrastructure across Indiana. The GOEVIN team received over 95 intake forms in response to this funding opportunity, which closed on June 30, 2025. The funding will support 18 DCFC projects and 18 Level 2 charging infrastructure projects. All DCFC projects will be completed along Indiana’s Designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. The 18 awarded DCFC projects will all be publicly accessible with

Passengers are advised that free shuttle service will be provided to those attending the Gary Air Show Weekend, taking place from 11am-3pm, Aug. 9-10, 2025, in Marquette Park (1 North Grand Boulevard, Gary, IN). Passengers can take the South Shore Line to Miller Station, where free shuttle buses provided by Gary Public Transportation Corp. will operate every 10-15 minutes between 10am-4pm, Aug. 9-10. Shuttles will transport passengers between Miller Station and the Gary Air Show. Please click here for additional Gary Air Show details and information.

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen & Associates LLC will be moving into bridge demolition and reconstruction of the southbound U.S. 6/State Road 51 bridge over I-94. I-94 eastbound and westbound will have overnight lane closures in this area during the hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for approximately three nights beginning Tuesday, August 5 to address conflicting overhead signage for the upcoming bridge work at U.S. 6/State Road 51. Additional overnight lane closures will take place Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12. U.S. 6/State Road 51 will have alternating lane

MICHIGAN CITY – The Salvation Army of Michigan City is experiencing a significant increase in demand for service, which has left a shortfall in the budget, so the non-profit organization is turning to the public for help. Affected programs include the food pantry and basic assistance programs as local families continue to face economic challenges. Over the past several years, the number of households served by The Salvation Army of Michigan City has grown dramatically, from approximately 3,300 households in 2018/2019 (Oct. to June) to nearly 4,800 households in 2024/2025 (Oct. to June). The total number of individuals served has

The South Shore Line (SSL) is pleased to announce an exclusive week-long promotion celebrating grandparents and their grandchildren. From August 10th through August 16th, 2025, grandparents can ride the South Shore Line for free when accompanied by their grandchild(ren). This special promotion provides an ideal opportunity for grandparents to spend quality time with their grandchildren while enjoying a comfortable and convenient trip on the South Shore Line. The promotion applies to all SSL trains operating between South Bend and Chicago, allowing families to explore countless destinations along the route, from museums and parks to shopping districts and restaurants. “We value

The Indiana Department of Health says the state is working on a statewide Food Vision, a roadmap to build a "stronger, more nourishing food system for all Hoosiers". Based on community feedback so far, they've identified strategies for each goal and they want to know which ones matter most to you. Take a few minutes to rank them in this short survey by midnight ET on Sunday, Aug. 17: https://newventureadvisors.qualtrics.com/.../SV...

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction will have traffic restrictions on State Road 55/Main St between 97th Place and Lewis St beginning on or after Monday, August 4. State Road 55 will maintain two lanes in each direction, but the center turn lane will be closed and southbound traffic will be shifted to the left to make room for the work zone. Overnight lane closures will be utilized at the start of the project to deliver materials and equipment and at the end of the project to remove them. Construction will be ongoing through mid-October

There is free parking and continuous shuttle service available from Blue Chip Casino Hotel & Spa (Semi Lot along Hwy 12) to make getting to the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix action easy and convenient. See the flyer for more information. Each August, the award-winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix roars into action, showcasing the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore boats. Watch these high-speed vessels race along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, with stunning views from Washington Park Beach and shoreline. Get up close with boat owners, racers, and teams stationed throughout Washington Park. This free, adrenaline-filled week

Food Bank of Northern Indiana will have mobile food distribution events at the locations below: Monday August 4, 2025 - Starke County 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CT *While supplies last. Where: Knox United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shield St., Knox, IN 46534 *This distribution is sponsored by Indiana OCRA and will serve 150 households.   Tuesday, August 5, 2025 – Elkhart County 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET *While supplies last. Where: Maple City Chapel, 2015 Lincolnway E., Goshen, IN 46526 *This distribution is sponsored by Indiana OCRA and will serve 150 households.   Tuesday, August 5, 2025 –

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — As Michigan City continues to experience unprecedented development and job growth, Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch’s administration is taking a deliberate step to ensure residents are first in line to benefit. In partnership with Indiana Plan, the city is proud to launch a new Apprenticeship Readiness Program for Fall 2025. This hands-on, in-person training will be free for Michigan City residents, who are invited to attend an open house to learn more on Aug. 12 from 5-7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 E. Michigan Blvd. The program reflects Nelson Deuitch’s commitment to growing the City from within—by

In St. Joseph County, an INDOT contractor will close the ramp from U.S. 20 westbound to State Road 331/Bremen Highway beginning on or after Monday, August 4. The ramp will be closed through early October for a small structure replacement. Motorists should seek an alternate route. The official detour will be to continue westbound and utilize the ramps at U.S. 31/Michigan St to turn around.

The following information is from the La Porte County Health Department: Swim advisory high bacteria notice: Swim advisories are issued when water samples show bacteria levels exceeding the state water quality standard (235 mpn/100mL). These advisories are typically temporary and are lifted once the bacteria levels return to a safe level. Here are some recent swim advisories due to high bacteria levels: Stone Lake Beach and Upper Fish Lake Beach: Advised to avoid swallowing water and to shower immediately after returning from the lake due to high bacteria levels. Beach Alert website: https://portal.idem.in.gov/beachalert/

Each August, the award-winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix roars into action, showcasing the world’s fastest and most powerful offshore boats. Watch these high-speed vessels race along the southern shores of Lake Michigan, with stunning views from Washington Park Beach and shoreline. Get up close with boat owners, racers, and teams stationed throughout Washington Park. This free, adrenaline-filled week features a boat parade, lively block party, golf outing, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, festival food and drinks, and the thrill of powerboat racing at its finest!  For more information visit www.greatlakesgrandprix.com. This weekend- WASHINGTON PARK, MICHIGAN CITY, IN. Thank you to

U.S. 35/Indiana Ave will close between Marion St and Crescent Dr/18th St beginning on or after Monday, August 4 through the end of November. The official detour will follow State Road 2, State Road 39 and U.S. 6. This closure is for reconstruction of the intersection of Kingsbury Ave, Woodlawn Dr and U.S. 35 and road reconstruction of U.S. 35 through this area. Road reconstruction will include pavement replacement, storm sewer, water main, and sanitary sewer work. This is part of the U.S. 35/Indiana Ave pavement replacement and utilities project from Boyd Blvd to State Road 2/Lincolnway. Construction will continue

LA PORTE COUNTY, IN— Unity Foundation of La Porte County is awarding nearly $325,000 in scholarships to 173 local students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The recipients will attend 51 colleges and universities across the country, and one in the United Kingdom. Since 1992, Unity has awarded approximately $5 million from more than 60 scholarship funds to help La Porte County students advance their futures. These scholarship funds were established by community-minded donors who believed in the transformative power of education. “Receiving a Unity scholarship is more than just financial help. It’s a vote of confidence,” said CC Payne, Director

Portage, Ind. -- Leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District, the City of Portage, and U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan (IN-01) gathered July 29 to celebrate the completion of the Portage Interceptor Rehabilitation Project – Phase II. The $3.47 million project, completed under Section 219 of the Water Resources Development Act, rehabilitated more than 1,900 feet of existing sewer infrastructure to reduce excess flow and the risk of sanitary sewer overflows near wetlands and residential areas. The City of Portage provided $916,166 in non-federal funding, including a 25% cost-share match and additional contribution, while the federal investment

The Michigan City Police Department are investigating a shooting that left one person in serious condition. On Thursday at 11:37 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of 5th/Michigan Boulevard reference gunshots being fired. Moments later, the dispatch center received information that one person had been shot at 5th/Michigan and was being transported to Franciscan Hospital in a personal vehicle. The initial investigation determined that a Michigan City resident, was on break from his employment at a local business. During this time, he and another employee had an argument which culminated in the Michigan City resident being shot. The man