News

News release by Franciscan Health: Franciscan Health is offering prediabetic patients the opportunity to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with its year-long Diabetes Prevention Program. Franciscan Health’s 12-month virtual, online Diabetes Prevention Program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S., impacting more than 37 million American adults. Few realize type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes, like those implemented through the Franciscan Health Diabetes Prevention Program.

In Portage, soil borings are taking place along Swanson Road between Birch Avenue and Redwood Avenue. Expect traffic control involved and a single lane closure at each individual boring site till Wednesday, April 19 (weather pending). The City of Portage is asking motorists to drive with caution.

Now through approximately May 17 in Portage, Central Avenue, between Swanson Road and Willowdale Road will be down to one lane from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily due to the relocation of NIPSCO lines for the Central Avenue West project. There will also be periodic full road closures as the utility crosses the road. The City of Portage is asking motorists to drive cautiously and to expect delays.  

Residents are once again invited to enjoy breakfast with their local firefighters this month, according to La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder. For its second year in a row, the City of La Porte Fire Department is hosting a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29 at Fire Station 1. Tickets include all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and eggs, as well as an entry into their $100 cash giveaway. Snyder said the department will also be selling $1 raffle tickets for a wide variety of prizes donated by local businesses, including memberships, gift baskets and the chance to be “Firefighter

Press release by Franciscan Health MICHIGAN CITY – Franciscan Health Michigan City is offering comfort and support to families who have suffered the loss of a pregnancy or newborn with a memorial service. Remembering Our Babies will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery, 1015 Greenwood Ave. in Michigan City. Franciscan Health Michigan City conducts perinatal memorial services twice a year. The services support the values of the Franciscan Health ministry, which include compassionate concern and respect for life through all stages, including unborn and newborn children, their parents and their extended families. For

Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Inc. is hosting the 2023 Little Black Dress Signature Event this April 20th, at the NEW Four Winds Event Center in South Bend. The event features a pop-up boutique at 4pm, dinner and a fashion show at 5:30pm. All boutique clothing, purses and jewelry are hand-picked from Michiana Goodwill Retail stores and for a good cause – with purchases furthering the mission of Goodwill’s programs, to strengthen communities by empowering individuals and families through education, training and job placement. The MC’s for the evening are Jennifer Copeland, WSBT news Anchor and B100’s Deb Miles. Goodwill is

Portage Police officer Lieutenant Janis Crafton is retiring from the department after 27 years of service. Lieutenant Crafton began her law enforcement career in 1992 when she became a member of the department’s Civil Defense Unit as well as working as a telecommunications dispatcher (911) for the agency. In 1996 Lieutenant Crafton was hired as a full-time officer and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy with honors later that year. Lieutenant Crafton went on to spend thirteen years as a detective where she specialized in crimes against children. Near the end of her career Lieutenant Crafton returned to the

Walsh Construction has given the following upcoming road closure information related to NICTD’s Double Track Northwest Indiana Project: Sheridan/10th – TBD – will be a 5-day closure 10th and Huron at Amtrak crossing – TBD Chicago Street- May 15 Open Day Ohio/11th – close 5/16/23 open 5/30/23 Wabash/11th – close 6/9/23 open 7/7/23 Washington/11th – close 5/15/23 open 6/9/23 Franklin/11th – close 3/20/23 open 5/15/23 (work at 10th and Franklin will happen simultaneously) Lafayette – close 4/3/23 open 4/19/23 Michigan Blvd/11th – TBD Michigan Blvd/Vail St – TBD Michigan Blvd/School St – TBD Michigan Blvd/Carroll Ave - TBD    

The Indiana Department of Transportation has issued an update on the work ongoing at the U.S. 31/20 interchange. The west loop ramps (dashed red lines on map) will be closed for approximately 3 days starting on/after Monday, April 17. This is to add pavement for southbound U.S. 31 to be converted to two-way traffic. The traffic conversion of U.S. 31 southbound to two-way traffic will occur on/after the evening of Saturday, April 22. With the northbound lanes closed for construction, the two east loop ramps (solid red lines on map) will close. Traffic will be in this configuration through June.

State Road 152 will be reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic between Carrol Street and Summer Street in Lake County from the hours of approximately 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 17 and Tuesday, April 18. This project is for bridge joint work. INDOT says to expect delays during peak times.

News release by Purdue University Northwest: HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Ten Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty members received approval for promotions starting in the 2023-24 academic year today (April 14) by the Purdue University Board of Trustees. Their promotions are effective Aug. 14. “I congratulate these remarkable faculty colleagues for their outstanding contributions in learning, discovery and engagement, as well as their dedication to the entire PNW community,” said Kenneth C. Holford, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “We look forward to their future accomplishments through academic research and impactful change for PNW and our region.” Academic tenure

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that beginning on or after Saturday, April 15, the right turn lane from southbound State Road 49 to the Indiana Toll Road ramp and the right turn lane from the Indiana Toll Road ramp to southbound State Road 49 will be closed. Expect delays during peak times. These closures will be in place through early June for phase 1 of an intersection improvement project with added turn lanes.

The Valparaiso Police Department announced K9 Ryker will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Ryker’s vest is sponsored by Robert and Rosann Gordon of La Porte, Indiana and will be embroidered with the sentiment “Honoring those who served and sacrificed”.  Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. “This

The Michigan City Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Tuesday evening at Washington Park. Just before 7 p.m., multiple officers were dispatched to Washington Park Lot 1 in reference to a shooting. Additional incoming information indicated a person had been shot in the leg and was being transported to Franciscan Hospital by friends. While the first officers arriving in Washington Park secured the crime scene, other responding officers located the vehicle the victim was traveling in and escorted that vehicle to the hospital to expedite him receiving emergency care. The 23-year-old victim’s gunshot wound was determined to be

Fire Danger remains high for Porter County and surrounding areas as of the latest release from the National Weather Service, according to the Liberty Township Volunteer Fire Department. On Thursday, firefighters worked to contain a wildfire in the area of County Road 75 West and U.S. Highway 6 in Liberty Township late afternoon on Thursday after embers escaped from a homeowner burning trash. Preliminary investigations found approximately 2 to 3 acres on fire during the initial attack. The National Weather Service had issued a Level 3 Fire Weather Risk for elevated fire danger given the recent dry weather, grass, brush,

Press release by Franciscan Health: MICHIGAN CITY, Indiana – Franciscan Physician Network is offering a free, educational seminar on gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD highlighting a new program offered by Franciscan Health Michigan City. The Goodbye to GERD event will take place on Thursday, April 27 at the Woodland Health Center, 8865 West 400 North in Michigan City. The doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the presentation scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The new GERD program provides a multidisciplinary approach with faster diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from GERD. Patients with heartburn, difficulty swallowing, regurgitation or stomach contents

An Air Quality Action Day has been declared by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for La Porte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Huntington and Allen counties in Indiana...and is in effect for Friday April 14. Ozone levels are expected to be in the Orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups range. People and businesses are urged to avoid activities which lead to ozone and fine particulate formation. These activities include refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling, using gasoline powered lawn equipment and using charcoal lighter fluid. Positive activities include car pooling, biking to work, delaying or combining errands and using water

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced that U.S. 41 will be closed to through traffic between State Road 2 and State Road 10 from approximately 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 14. The work is for resurfacing near the bridges over Singleton Ditch and Brown Ditch. INDOT says motorists should seek an alternate route.

Update: Indiana State Police have identified the victim and front seat passenger in the fatal crash on the Indiana Toll Road Tuesday as 66 year-old Dora Carmen Natella of Granger. The investigation remains an ongoing investigation. Original story:  One woman died in a crash Tuesday morning near the 79.6 mile marker on the Indiana Toll Road. Just after 11:10 a.m., troopers began to receive calls of a serious crash between an UPS semi with double trailers and a silver Toyota SUV in the westbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road, which is approximately three miles west of the Mishawaka exit.