News

MERRILLVILLE — Unexpected capital expenses can put a strain on any budget, but thanks to the assistance of U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, the Merrillville Police Department secured nearly $1 million in federal Community Project Funding to upgrade vital radio equipment. Police Chief Kosta Nuses said the department’s former radios were well past their service life, and repair bills were becoming costly. He said the department began pricing new radios after learning the devices would become obsolete as Lake County Emergency Communications would eventually be operating on a different frequency. “This is where the panic kicked in,” Nuses said. “We quickly

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) LCC announced today that natural gas residential customers can expect an increase in their winter heating bills this season compared to last year. Based on current market projections and assuming normal winter weather, bills for natural gas residential customers are estimated to be 15 percent higher in contrast to cost at this same period in 2023, and 17 percent lower compared to the recent peak experienced in 2022. Each year, NIPSCO and other Indiana energy companies provide a forecast for home heating bills during the upcoming winter months. Projections are based on market forecasts,

MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana – Primary Care and Sports Medicine Physician Thomas Schmittdiel, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Michigan City and La Porte. Dr. Schmittdiel attended medical school at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Mo. and completed his residency Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. Dr. Schmittdiel’s fellowship in sports medicine was completed at Ascension Resurrection in Chicago. His clinical interests include concussion management, non-operative fracture care, musculoskeletal injury, evaluation, treatment and ultrasound-guided joint injections. Dr. Schmittdiel is accepting patients at Franciscan Physician Network Coolspring

The LaPorte County Drug Task Force (LCDTF), an Indiana HIDTA Initiative, announced the arrest of 47-year-old La Porte resident, Thomas Newgene Gill Anderson, for dealing in a narcotic drug as a Level 2 Felony. In the months leading to his arrest, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force began receiving community complaints and tips regarding Mr. Anderson distributing illegal drugs within La Porte. On Oct. 9, after months of investigative work and with the assistance of La Porte Police Department’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), a search warrant was executed at 912 Ridge Street, where Anderson was taken into custody. The LaPorte

Governor Eric J. Holcomb activated the Indiana National Guard to aid with hurricane relief efforts in Florida and help with route clearance, shelter management, supply distribution, and command and control. “Whether we’re aiding North Carolina recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, or assisting Floridians in the wake of Hurricane Milton, time and time again, when devastation strikes, Hoosiers of all backgrounds answer the call in helping those in desperate need," said Gov. Holcomb. "Indiana’s finest who serve in the National Guard, chief among them, will continue to provide critical help on the ground and air while we back here at home

Local first-responders will be conducting a joint exercise involving simulated aircraft crash this Saturday in Valparaiso. The following is a statement from the Town of Chesterton Facebook page regarding the exercise: "On Saturday, Oct. 12, local first-responders will be conducting a joint exercise within the confines of the Montdale Industrial Park in Valparaiso. "The purpose of this Emergency Preparedness Exercise, organized by the Porter County Local Emergency Planning Committee and both state and federally mandated: To evaluate sections of the Porter County Emergency Operations Plan. "PLEASE NOTE: This will be a full scale exercise, emergency equipment will be seen operating

Portage Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect from a case where several electric bicycles were stolen in Camelot Manor. Police provided a photo of the suspect on their Facebook page. Police are asking the public to email or call Detective Bryan Slatton with any information. Contact information: Bryan Slatton #145 | Detective Portage Police Department 6260 Central Ave. Portage, IN. 46368 (219) 762-3122 Ext. 5709 Email:  bslatton@portage-in.com  

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is hosting a free Family Day on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m. (Central), and all families are invited to attend. This free, drop-in event allows children and adults to use various materials to design their own hero or villain masks, as well as a kid-friendly scavenger hunt through LCA’s three galleries in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Family Days are particularly engaging for school-age children and their parents or caregivers, but all ages are welcome. Free snacks will be provided, and no advance registration is required.

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) Professor of Physics Neeti Parashar has been elected as a 2024 Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS). Parashar is recognized with the prestigious distinction from APS “for outstanding mentorship, teaching and leadership over two decades by creating and providing groundbreaking research and educational opportunities for minority students and young physicists from many nations, and for wide ranging contributions to the Compact Muon Solenoid program and its pixel detector at the Large Hadron Collider.” “This is one of the highest honors a U.S. physicist can earn, so it’s very gratifying to

A total of 55 non-profit organizations across Indiana and Chicago’s south suburbs will receive a boost through $448,000 in funding from Franciscan Health’s Social Impact Partnership Program (SIPP) for community health improvement programs. SIPP is a community health enrichment program that builds partnerships with nonprofit health and human service agencies providing services in at-risk communities served by Franciscan Health. The goal of the program is to foster long-term relationships with community providers to better address significant health issues among vulnerable populations. “This program honors the incredible work our partners provide to community members each and every day,” said Kate Hill-Johnson,

Today, paving preparation will commence on Beverly Court from Coolspring Avenue to Cleveland Avenue. Thursday paving will commence on Coolspring Avenue from Franklin Street to Earl Road and on Beverly Court from Coolspring Avenue to Cleveland Avenue. All road construction is weather permitting. Updates will be provided as they become available.

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened its first public comment period for proposed changes on deer rehabilitation in the (CWD) Positive Area. These proposed changes would require sick, injured, or orphaned white-tailed deer that are found in a CWD Positive Area to be given to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator only within that area or to a rehabilitator within the county where the deer was found. Changes are also proposed for permitted wildlife rehabilitators to release deer obtained from a CWD Positive Area only within that area. Currently, the CWD Positive Area includes LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, and DeKalb counties;

La PORTE, IN  – On Tuesday, September 24, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.5 million grant to the City of La Porte for water infrastructure to support manufacturing business growth in the city. “Since the beginning of our administration, we have searched for ways to battle a rapidly aging infrastructure that is crucial for, not only our residents, but the many businesses that choose to call the City of La Porte home,” Dermody said. “Our team has made it a priority and we are very grateful to the U.S.

Road repairs in the 1700 block of Franklin Street and the 300 block of Washington Street will be completed on Tuesday, Oct. 8 and Wednesday, Oct. 9. These repairs will temporarily close the northbound lanes on Franklin Street from Barker Avenue to Homer Street and the southbound lanes on Washington Street from U.S. 12 to Fourth Street. During the same period, the intersection of Washington Street and U.S. 12 will be closed temporarily, with eastbound and westbound turning lanes blocked. A detour will be in place for Franklin Street, redirecting traffic northbound via Pine Street to East Ripley Street and

CROWN POINT, Indiana – Franciscan Health Crown Point’s emergency department is the first in Indiana and only one of 13 in the nation to receive the American College of Emergency Physician’s Pain and Addiction Care in the Emergency Department (PACED) Gold Level accreditation. PACED is an ACEP-governed national accreditation program which seeks to improve pain management for patients in the emergency department. It recognizes the need for prompt, safe and effective pain management and treatment for patients in pain and/or addicted to pain medication. A Gold Level PACED accreditation is the highest possible. Led by a collaborative multidisciplinary team within

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – The Vibrant Michigan City initiative is a platform for national growth and development as a component of a new economic inclusive playbook. “Advancing Inclusive Development in Rural Towns,” was unveiled in Washington, D.C., by co-authors the Brookings Institution and LISC, after research, findings and results garnered from initiatives in three Indiana towns: Michigan City, Seymour and Warsaw. The Brookings and Local Initiative Support Corporation teams put their Community-Centered Economic Inclusive model into place in rural settings to spur collaboration and focused efforts to address economic stagnation and inequality in smaller towns. “While the Learning Labs and individual

TEAM WIMS with Dunebrook, Inc. at their Blue Carpet Event this weekend at the Holdcraft Performing Arts Center in Michigan Cty. It was WORLD PREMIERE of their 35th Anniversary Documentary. Congratulations to Glen and Kathy Lubeznik on winning this years Lester Radke Award. Thank you to all that support Dunebrook and all that they do. Check out www.dunebrook.org. Thank you our broadcast sponsors Dunebrook NIPSCO and Arnett Construction & Roofing #localradio #nwi #localradio #makingadfference.

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth Riley Construction will have lane closures and ramp closures between State Road 53/Broadway on I-94 eastbound to 61st Ave on I-65 beginning on or after Tuesday, October 8. The ramp from I-94 eastbound to I-65 southbound will be reduced to one lane, but all ramps at the I-94 and I-65 interchange will remain open and accessible. I-65 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between I-94 and 61st Ave. The ramps from northbound and southbound State Road 53/Broadway to I-94 eastbound and the ramp from Ridge Rd to I-65

2024 Stuff A Bus effort restocks The Salvation Army of Michigan City’s food pantry for the fall season. Donation results include 7,068 lbs of donated non-perishable food/hygiene items, 308 meat vouchers (valued at $5 each), and $6,040 in cash donations. Written by: Dorene Martinson, Marketing Director - First Trust Credit Union Saturday’s STUFF A BUS event went well, according to Dorene Martinson, Marketing Director for First Trust Credit Union.  First Trust has the lead role of organizing this event every year, and this year’s event did indeed restock the shelves of The Salvation Army of Michigan City’s food pantry.  “I’m

LA PORTE, IN — During Unity’s Annual Celebration on October 2, Unity Foundation staff and board members gave an update on the Foundation’s work over the past year, unveiled their 2023-2024 Annual Report to the Community and announced $210,000 in Power for Good Community Grants. Unity Foundation President Maggi Spartz spoke on the history of the community foundation, vision for the future, and impact stating, “We are grateful for the trust our donors and you have had in us for 32 years. We are humbled by the dedicated and amazing non-profits who work so hard to serve our communities. With