News

News Release, La Porte County Sheriff’s Office: La Porte County Sheriff Ronald C. Heeg announces the release of the 2023 Annual Report. The report contains crime related and statistical information in the following categories: calls for service, offenses, arrests, crashes, citations, Warrants and Civil Divisions. “This year’s report reveals an increase in calls for service, but a decrease in violent crimes and major cases investigated.” “Throughout the report, there are reductions and increases in certain statistical areas,” stated Sheriff Heeg. The number of calls for service in 2023 increased by 15%. A total of 28,199 calls for service were answered

News Release, Franciscan Alliance: Franciscan WorkingWell’s La Porte office is currently operating out of a temporary location pending the opening of a new facility in early May. Franciscan WorkingWell is located on the second floor of the building at 900 I Street in La Porte from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are recommended but not required. Occupational health essentials currently available at the temporary location include drug screens (DOT and non-DOT), breath alcohol testing, DOT physicals, post-offer physicals, workers’ compensation evaluations and treatment. The new Franciscan WorkingWell location at 400 Legacy Plaza in La Porte is

The Award Winning XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix held in Michigan City IN, announced the 2024 Race Week schedule starting Tuesday, July 30, 2024, through Sunday, August 4, 2024. VIP Tickets go on sale, Monday, April 1, 2024. The full schedule is available online at https://greatlakesgrandprix.com/ Jack Arnett, CEO of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau who runs the Michigan City race states, “We are happy to announce that we have commitments from all twelve (12) race classes to come to Michigan City and join us for this year’s race. The race teams are once again telling us that Michigan

News Release, NiSource: NiSource (NYSE: NI) today announced that Vince Parisi, who was previously identified as the interim president of the Indiana-based subsidiary NIPSCO, has formally been named president and chief operating officer of NIPSCO, while Robert Heidorn will replace Parisi as president and chief operating officer of Columbia Gas of Ohio. “Vince has played a pivotal role in advancing a number of key business priorities on behalf of our customers and the communities we serve across Ohio, and we’re confident he’ll do the same in northern Indiana as we cement our position at the forefront of an industry transition

Two suspects and another person were injured Wednesday after a stolen vehicle crashed into a cement truck, according to the Portage Police Department. At around 11:00 a.m. an officer with the Portage Police Department was on routine patrol in the city’s northwest side when he received notification from the Flock Safety license plate reader system that a stolen 2020 Hyundai Elantra bearing Illinois license plates was in the area. The officer was able to locate the vehicle on County Line Road near Oak Avenue. When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver of the stolen vehicle initiated

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have overnight lane closures on I-65 between State Road 2 and State Road 10 in Lake County beginning on or after Monday, April 1. The right driving lane will be closed during the overnight hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting first on the southbound side and then transitioning to the northbound side after work southbound is complete. Work will include shoulder strengthening and widening in advance of three bridge replacement projects along this stretch of I-65 and will be ongoing through early July. INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near

La Porte County deputies were involved in a vehicle pursuit Tuesday afternoon that ended on the Chicago Skyway, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy received a Flock Safety Camera notification of a stolen vehicle traveling eastbound on U.S. 20 from U.S. 35.  The notification identified the stolen vehicle as a black sport utility vehicle with Illinois registration. At about 3:24 p.m., Deputy Clemons located a vehicle matching the description in the area of U.S. 20 and Wilhelm Road. The vehicle turned into Hunters Run subdivision where the deputy initiated a traffic stop shortly thereafter.  The vehicle

The City of Michigan City Refuse Department will conduct its Annual Spring Clean-Up Starting Monday, April 1, 2024. The Refuse Department requests that all residents separate the debris that is to be discarded into the following three (3) categories. All three (3) categories must be separate from each other. 1. Brush, limbs, shrubs, yard waste and unpainted concrete. (no black top) 2. Rugs, lumber, furniture, mattress, and box-springs. 3. All tires rimmed or derimmed can be placed out for pick up with white goods such as stoves, refrigerator, air conditions, water tanks, dehumidifiers etc. Residents may use curbside or alleys

Press Release, Office of Governor Eric J. Holcomb: Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed an executive order to support the anticipated needs of Indiana’s emergency response, transportation, communication and critical infrastructure systems due to the expected high-number of visitors traveling to the state to view the total solar eclipse. The executive order will allow Indiana to utilize resources from other states who are members of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Once a governor issues an order, EMAC members can and will share equipment and communications systems to help support state resources to ensure the safety, care and welfare of residents

The South Shore Line announced the end of temporary busing between Gary Metro Center and Dune Park stations to be effective Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Long-term temporary busing substitution between stations has been in effect since February 2022 in order to accommodate the Double Track NWI Project. The culmination of this work and completion of this segment allows for full train service to return to all SSL stations on April 9. Train service will operate using the current schedule implemented in October 2023. All previously relocated station pick-up areas will be returned to their permanent locations, including the newly built

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will begin a bridge replacement project on U.S. 30 over Crooked Creek, east of Valparaiso on or after Monday, April 1. Motorists should be prepared for alternating lane closures and changing traffic patterns on U.S. 30 between County Road 450 East and County Road 575 East through late October. Work will start with the outside shoulders closed to strengthen the shoulders for future phases of the project. On or near April 11, the inside lanes will be closed to traffic. Work will switch to the outside lanes around early August. INDOT encourages drivers to

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a national high-visibility enforcement effort this April to deter distracted driving. "Distractions behind the wheel can have devastating consequences,” said Devon McDonald, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Executive Director. “We urge all motorists to focus on the road and avoid any activity that takes their attention away from driving safely." Law enforcement officers nationwide will work together to enforce texting and distracted-driving laws and remind people to put away distractions while on the road. “People know using their phone while driving is dangerous and often illegal, but they

Lake County Sheriff’s Department detectives are investigating a complaint of a possible home invasion Tuesday in the Lake Dalecarlia area in the southern portion of Lake County. A resident tells police two male subjects posing as NIPSCO employees forced their way into her home and restrained her then “ransacked” the home. The resident has been evaluated at a local hospital. The suspects are described as: -White male, stocky with a large stomach. Wearing a yellow and orange reflective vest, a white mask and tan work boots. -Black male, slender. Wearing dark, loose blue jeans and white medical mask. His hair

There will be lane closures on U.S. 20 between County Road North 400 West and Springville Road in LaPorte County beginning on or after Tuesday, April 2. During phase one, the westbound lanes of U.S. 20 will be closed for construction, and the eastbound lanes will be converted to two-way traffic. Traffic will shift to the westbound lanes during phase two, with the eastbound lanes closed for construction. Traffic on County Road North 300 West will not be able to access U.S. 20, and a local detour will be posted. Lane closures will be in place through July. Work will

The driver of a stolen vehicle led police on a pursuit through multiple counties in northwest Indiana, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Shortly before noon Tuesday a police officer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department received an alert about a possibly stolen vehicle on their License Plate Reader Network. The vehicle was eastbound on the Borman Expressway. After locating the vehicle, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled, resulting in a high-speed pursuit. The fleeing driver traveled through Gary, and Lake Station, then continued into Porter County.  The driver headed south on State

An INDOT contractor will reduce State Road 55/Taft Street to one lane between 65th Avenue and 73rd Avenue on or after Monday, April 1. State Road 55 will be reduced to one lane at Turkey Creek, with traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals through mid-May. Crews will be conducting a bridge deck overlay preventative maintenance project. INDOT urges drivers to stay alert near crews and be prepared to wait for the temporary traffic signal. INDOT says motorists are encouraged to allow extra time when driving through this area and should slow down and drive distraction-free through all work zones.

The La Porte County Election Board will hold a Public Test of the Microvote Voting Machines for the 2024 Primary Election. The Public Test will place on Monday, April 1, 2024 at 10 a.m. in the Elections Room of the La Porte Courthouse located at: 813 Lincolnway La Porte, IN 46350.

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have lane closures on State Road 49 between County Road 1100 North and Porter Avenue beginning on or after Monday, April 1. Motorists should expect alternating lane closures through late October for a bridge superstructure replacement over Coffee Creek. During phase one, the inside passing lanes will be closed for work, and the outside driving lanes will be open for traffic. Traffic will switch to the inside passing lanes in phase two around mid-July, with the outside driving lanes closed. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and

Press release, Porter County Community Foundation: The Porter County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of six new board members: Dean Cobble with GW Berkheimer, Jung Lee with Indiana Beverage, Lauren Kroeger with Hoeppner, Wagner & Evans, John Montgomery with Blox Digital, Rachel Stoner with East Porter County School District and Kari Zehner with Kittredge & Zehner CPA. "We are incredibly fortunate to have attracted such talented and passionate individuals to our Board," said Bill Higbie, President and CEO of PCCF. "Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to work toward strengthening Porter County

An Indiana Department of Transportation contractor will have lane closures on U.S. 20 between Salt Creek Road and State Road 149 beginning on or after Monday, April 1. U.S. 20 will have alternating lane closures through early May for a box culvert replacement. A detour utilizing I-94 will be in place for wide loads. INDOT encourages drivers to allow extra time when driving through this area and follow traffic directions carefully. INDOT says motorists should slow down, exercise caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones.