News

News release by Indiana Department of Transportation: JASPER COUNTY, Ind. — Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), public officials and contracting partners for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the newly-constructed Kankakee Welcome Center on southbound I-65 near mile marker 231 in Jasper County. “Indiana lives up to our destination as the Crossroads of America through our top-rated infrastructure and our commitment to getting Hoosiers and visitors to where they need to go,” said Gov. Holcomb. “Visitors passing through on I-65 will have a clean, safe and interactive experience.” The new welcome center replaces

LOWELL, Ind. –Governor Eric Holcomb was joined by Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter Tuesday to commemorate the completion of the newly constructed Lowell State Police Post and Regional Laboratory facilities. “This is another great day for northwest Indiana as we celebrate the opening of the new Lowell State Police Post and Regional Laboratory,” said Gov. Holcomb. “This project is years in the making and I’m grateful for state and local leadership that made it happen.” Indiana State Police Lowell Post and Forensic Laboratory The 40,000 square foot facility will replace the 8,000 square foot facility, which has

Press release by NAACP Michigan City LaPorte County Branch 3061: The 2023 NAACP Indiana State Conference Annual Convention will be held at Purdue Northwest, Westville Campus, November 2-5. Our theme is "Thriving Together." Michigan City LaPorte County Branch 3061 serves as host. Our Convention opens with a: Press Conference Thursday, 10 AM CST, November 2, 2023 Dworkin Center, Purdue Northwest, South Dr. entrance 1401 S. U.S. 421 Westville, IN 46391 Michigan City LaPorte County Branch President Wes Scully will welcome the press and public. Conference President Barbara Bolling-Williams will officiate. She said, "Our theme this year, 'Thriving Together', is a

Press release by Indiana State Police: Newton County - On Wednesday, October 18th, the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), along with the Newton County Sheriff's Office, conducted another traffic enforcement blitz in Newton County. This is the third traffic blitz in the last five months that was focused on commercial vehicle enforcement. The officers were primarily focused on trucks traveling on U.S. 41 and I-65 due to continued complaints of overweight trucks. The blitz shifted to I-65 when officers were alerted that trucks were changing their route due to the presence of law enforcement on U.S. 41.

Valparaiso Police are investigating a residential entry that occurred in the 200 block of Highland Drrive on Oct. 12, at about 5:30 p.m. During the incident, photographs of the suspects were captured on exterior monitoring devices and police are encouraging anyone with additional footage of these persons or knowledge of their identity to contact VPD at your earliest convenience.  The subjects fled the area after being confronted by an occupant of the home. Police say if you have information regarding the subjects or vehicle in the posted photos, please contact Detective Sergeant Chris Allison at 219-462-2135. Information can also be

The Ogden Dunes Police Department announced that Trick or Treat hours for the Town of Ogden Dunes will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Officers will be around town giving out candy and other goodies so be sure to stop and say hello along your trick or treat routes. Police are asking the community to remember to wear something reflective or that lights up so you and your children can be seen while on the street and be sure to watch out for vehicles. Police also say if you are driving through town during this

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning on Monday announced the Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund, part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda, to mobilize employers and communities to create or expand child care offerings that address the needs of working Hoosiers. “Employers know first-hand the critical needs of their employees, and are best positioned to partner in their communities to create child care solutions that will help build and retain their workforce,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This targeted grant program will boost Indiana’s economy and most importantly empower the state’s youngest

With the Halloween season upon us, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office urges parents to use online tools to know the identity of registered sex offenders in the area where they plan to trick-or-treat. An online sex offender registry is available for residents of La Porte County, allowing parents to conduct a search before trick-or-treating to prevent their children from visiting the home of a registered sex offender during door-to-door trick-or-treating. There are currently about 206 registered sex offenders residing in La Porte County. According to the United States Department of Justice, 80% of all addresses have at least one

A 24-year-old woman has been charged after she fired a handgun into the ground which then fragmented and ricocheted into another woman’s face, according to Michigan City Police. Last Wednesday, an officer was at 7th and Franklin Street when he heard a gunshot being fired in the area. Moments later, the Raven Gunshot Detection system confirmed the gunshot and determined it came from the 200 block of East 7th Street. The officer proceeded to the location and was assisted by other officers. Witnesses were located and police learned the gunshot was fired from in front of the 200 block of

The Salvation Army's annual coat drive, collecting new and gently used coats is ongoing through the month of October. The Salvation Army says these will be distributed to clients through their free clothing closet this winter. Consider donating at one of these locations: Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa, FOP Dunes Lodge #75 - Michigan City, or Saint Joseph Young Men's Society. Coats can also be donated directly at The Salvation Army, 1201 S. Franklin St., Michigan City.

This past Thursday, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan announced a federal grant award for the Hobart Police Department under the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program. According to the Department of Justice, the Hobart Police Department will receive $200,000 to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs. Congressman Mrvan stated, “Congratulations to the Hobart Police Department for successfully securing this federal funding to

The Town of Chesterton announced early voting information for the Chesterton, Portage and Valparaiso area. The following is early voting information from the Town of Chesterton Facebook page:   Early voting in the municipal election will begin on Monday, Oct. 23. days and times: *8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. *11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. *8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays. *Early voting will END at 12 p.m. Monday, Nov. 6. *Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.   Early Voting Locations: *Chesterton Town Hall, 726 Broadway. *North County Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, New Building,

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. - An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will move to the final phase of concrete restoration work on I-94 eastbound between State Road 912/Cline Avenue and I-65 on or after Wednesday, Oct. 25. There will be overnight lane closures on eastbound I-94 from around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 to move eastbound traffic to it's normal configuration, with all lanes of traffic to the right and the work zone to the left. Westbound traffic will remain unchanged. Work will occur in the median during the final phase. Temporary overnight ramp

A Coolspring Township man has been charged with murder following the death of a Michigan City man, according to Michigan City police. At 8:37 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were dispatched to a residence located in the 8600 west block of County Road 400 North in reference to a battery. While responding, deputies were advised someone had possibly been struck by a vehicle. An officer located a man identified as 25-year-old Travis S. Clemons of Michigan City, lying motionless near a vehicle. While personnel were rendering aid to Clemons, they discovered a gunshot wound to his torso. Emergency medical personnel arrived

Three people were transported to hospital on Wednesday morning, Oct. 18, following a three-vehicle chain-reaction accident on southbound Ind. 49, the Town of Chesterton said on their Facebook page. According to the Chesterton Police Department, at 10:20 a.m. a 71-year-old Michigan City resident was southbound on Ind. 49 when, while approaching the intersection of 1100N, she apparently “looked away” from the road for a moment and “was unable to slow down or stop before crashing into the rear end” of a second vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle, a 72-year-old Lake Station resident—who was stopped at the intersection for

The Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife announced that their online deer data is now up to date with information from the 2022-23 harvest season, as well as the latest After Hunt Survey and Annual Deer Survey. The division says this is the same data that the deer biologists, district biologists, Division of Fish & Wildlife, and DNR Law Enforcement administrators use to make recommendations for the next season’s regulations. It includes harvest data, population trends, deer-vehicle collisions, deer damage permits, public opinion on deer management, and other useful information at the county and statewide levels. You can find

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb joined the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today to break ground on the Lodge at Potato Creek, the first state park lodge in Indiana built since 1939. “There’s a reason why Indiana’s state park inns have the highest occupancy rate in the nation and continue to earn such high national rankings,” said Gov. Holcomb. “People come here from across the country and around the world because of the unparalleled experience and hospitality extended at our state park inns. Whether you’re out hiking a trail or sitting by the fire, our state parks offer an opportunity

Press release by Michigan City Chamber of Commerce: The Michigan City Chamber of Commerce (chamber) announced Johnny Roder as the Ambassador of the Quarter for the Third Quarter of 2023. “It’s an honor to be named ambassador of the quarter! Being able to volunteer in the community and network with business owners in Michigan City and Northwest Indiana has been amazing,” stated Roder. “It goes without saying that working with the other ambassadors is something I do not take for granted. Everyone has the same mindset of being a helping hand to the community and connecting individuals to the right

Franciscan Health Munster earlier this month dedicated and blessed a new mosaic depicting St. Francis during a ceremony at the hospital. The mosaic was commissioned by husband and wife Pete Nau Sr. and Debbie Nau, in memory of Pete’s parents, Mike and Patricia Nau. Mike Nau served on the St. Margaret’s Citizen’s Board of Directors and owned Hammond Machine Works. His family, who continues to run the business, wanted to honor and continue his philanthropic spirit with the commissioning of the artwork. The mosaic is the work of Chicago-based artist David Lee Csisko, a Hammond native. Csisko worked with husband

The National Park Service is planning to conduct five prescribed fires this fall of areas totaling more than 1,400 acres in Indiana Dunes National Park, according to a Facebook post from the Town of Chesterton. One of the burns is a carryover from last year, when unfavorable weather conditions precluded its completion. A list of the five burns is below: Tolleston East Prescribed Fire: 550 acres—the largest burn on the schedule—located immediately south and east of Ogden Dunes, with U.S. 12 to the north, County Line Road to the west, and Stagecoach Road to the south and east. Grand Blvd./Marquette