News

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

On July 31, 2025, Keith Allen Wilson, 58, was arrested on multiple child exploitation related charges after members of the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant in the 800 block of Ohio Street in LaPorte.  An investigation was initiated when detectives received a Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to the on-line activities of a specific Google account traced to Mr. Wilson and his residence. Mr. Wilson was taken into custody without incident early this morning. He was booked into the LaPorte County Jail where he

Press Release, Michigan City Police Department: On July 12th, 2025, at 1:26 am, the LaPorte County E-911 Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a person who was shot at BP gas station, located at 1302 East Michigan Boulevard. Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift III arrived and located 20-year-old, Jordan Rose, suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders provided life saving measures to Mr. Rose before he was transported to Franciscan Health Hospital in Michigan City, by LaPorte County EMS, for further medical care. Despite all the efforts by the medical staff, Mr. Rose succumbed to his injuries at

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has launched a collaboration with two Northwest Indiana high schools aimed at bringing impactful clean energy lessons into classrooms. The Clean Energy and Smart Grids program, supported by a grant from the NiSource Charitable Foundation and Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), will educate students and teachers at East Chicago Central High School and Hammond Central High School through on-campus learning sessions and site visits to energy facilities. The field observations and discussions will promote opportunities for young, eager learners to think critically about the impact of clean energy in

The Lake County Sheriff's Department says an officer-involved shooting where a man was fatally wounded occurred Wednesday morning. At about 7 a.m. Wednesday, detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department were requested to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Gary, Indiana. The shooting occurred at approximately 6:40 a.m. in the 600 block of Adams Street. A preliminary investigation indicates the Gary SWAT team was conducting an operation. An adult male was fatally wounded. The Lake County Detective Bureau and Lake County CSI are handling the officer-involved shooting.    

The City of Valparaiso announced that so far this year, solar panels installed on five City facilities have produced 1 million kilowatt hours, representing nearly $145,000 in operational savings. “Utilities are some of the City’s largest expenses, so this substantial savings is a real win for our residents,” said Mayor Jon Costas. The City of Valparaiso says it has added 772 solar panels, "which are expected to save taxpayers more than $5.2 million in electrical costs over the life of the panels – not including additional earnings based on surplus energy produced." The panels are located on the city’s three

In Marshall County, State Road 331 is closed between 18B Road and 19th Road through around Aug. 6 while railroad crossing work is conducted in this location. The official detour follows State Road 10, State Road 19 and State Road 25.

The Michigan City Police Department has issued the following statement on parking issues: With the large number of people visiting the lakefront area this summer, nearby residential streets have experienced an overflow of vehicles. In response, some residents have taken matters into their own hands by placing homemade “No Parking” signs, cones, chairs or other barricades on the public right of way near their homes. In some cases, the extreme measure of arranging unauthorized vehicle tows have occurred. The frustration of finding a parking spot in the Sheridan Beach/Lakeshore Drive area, especially near your home, is understandable. But placing unauthorized

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host the “Roaring Back to School” school-supply giveaway events from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7, on both the Hammond and Westville campuses. The events offer area K-12 students an opportunity to gather the supplies they need for a successful academic year. The events are free and open to families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade who are from local school districts in the surrounding communities. Attendees will be able to visit various supply stations to pick up essential items, including notebooks, folders, pens, pencils, crayons, glue

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 beginning on or after Thursday, July 31. 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. Overnight lane closures are scheduled for eastbound I-94 Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1. Westbound I-94 is scheduled to have overnight lane closures Thursday, August 7 and

UNITED WE RISE is a celebration of our collective commitment to uplifting La Porte County and a concerted effort to raise the funds necessary to help everyone in our community thrive. United Way of La Porte County provides funding to several local partner agencies whose commitment to HEALTHY COMMUNITY, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, FINANCIAL SECURITY, and COMMUNITY RESILIENCY is proven through dedicated work and impactful outcomes. Your support of UNITED WE RISE directly funds these organizations. You can choose to amplify a partner that is especially important to you by helping them complete exciting quests and challenges on social media that will

La Porte, July 29, 2025 - Link Up Program Participants will present a Live Concert, with teachers and students nationwide for the 2025–2026 season. In collaboration with Carnegie Hall the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is participating in Link Up The Orchestra Swings, a music education program provided by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), during the 2025–2026 season. The nearly 5,000 students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend a culminating concert on October 8, 2025 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium where they sing and play the recorder or the violin with the orchestra from their seats. This

VALPARAISO, IND. — The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is available in Porter County through the Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF). Three students will receive the scholarship beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) awards may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI)

In Newton County, there are lane closures on U.S. 24 between C.R. 150 W and C.R. 50 E. U.S. 24 is reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic during daytime work hours. Work is ongoing through approximately Aug.18 for small structure maintenance and repair. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when traveling through this area and follow traffic directions carefully.

A Gary man died after being struck by a vehicle on I-65 according to the Indiana State Police. On Saturday, July 26, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Troopers responded to a multi-vehicle crash on I-65, southbound lanes at the 254 mile-marker. This location is approximately one mile north of U.S. 30 and was under a multi-lane shift for a construction zone. Preliminary investigation shows that the driver of a black 2005 Cadillac had attempted to pull over to the right and was partially stopped in the right lane due to there being a lack of an emergency shoulder. The driver of

Press Release, City of Valparaiso: To promote neighborhood engagement and foster stronger connections within the community, the City of Valparaiso is hosting a Neighborhood Workshop & Summer Social on Tuesday, August 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Forest Park Welter Room, 1155 Sheffield Dr. This engaging event is designed for both established neighborhood leaders and residents who want to get more involved in their neighborhoods. In addition to a welcome from Mayor Jon Costas, the workshop will be interactive, with small-group discussions on key topics such as neighborhood improvement grants and resources, partnership- building and leadership development. “We’re

Press Release, Indiana Department of Education:  INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is pursuing a new opportunity to reduce federal red tape and increase state-level control over how federal education funds are used. Through a proposed waiver from the U.S. Department of Education (USED), Indiana is seeking flexibility from specific requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—with a continued focus on student progress and achievement. Before the waiver is formally submitted, Hoosiers are invited to review the state’s proposed plan and provide feedback. “As a state, we are uniquely positioned to work closely with our local schools

Gunfire-The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting in which two local 21-year-old men were targeted near a gas station The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting in which two local 21-year-old men were targeted near the BP gas station at 1302 E. Michigan Blvd. at around 3:25 a.m. on Saturday. Neither of the men was injured by the gunfire. However, the police station was struck multiple times, damaging the exterior door of the main lobby and a second-floor office window. Investigating officers verified no other people were injured or properties damaged in the shooting, which is