News

The National Park Service is planning to conduct 5 prescribed fires this spring. Approximately 1,280 acres are planned to be burned as part of the park’s natural resources and fuels management programs. In Gary’s Miller Neighborhood, the park will burn 16 acres of land immediately surrounding the Douglas Center for Environmental Education on North Lake Street. The purpose of this burn is to reduce the threat of wildfire to the education center by creating defensible space around the structure. Immediately west of the Douglas Center, another 211 acres of wooded dune and swale are planned to be burned. Also in

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed a case of measles in a Lake County resident. The department says the risk to the public is low, but IDOH continues to investigate the case along with local public health officials. No other information about the case will be released to protect patient privacy. This is the first case in Indiana since 2019. “Measles is easily spread and can be serious, especially for young children. About one in five unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles is hospitalized, and 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles

Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Toth, who serves LaPorte County, has been selected as the 2023 District 10 Officer of the Year. Toth has served as a conservation officer since 2017. In addition to his normal duties as a field officer, he also serves as a scuba diver, use of force instructor, firearms instructor, field training officer, and passenger for hire inspector. District 10 includes Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski counties in northwest Indiana. The district award puts Toth in the running for the Pitzer Award, which is given to the top overall conservation officer in the state

The Valparaiso Police Department announced the addition of six Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) to the EMR Program within the department. Valparaiso Police Officers John Cordova, Jacob Schleyer, Craig Lundy, Doug Balon, and James Bilder, along with Valparaiso Police Social Worker Natalie Kasberger, successfully completed the three-week course taught by the Valparaiso Fire Department. The EMR Program originated in 2020 at the Valparaiso Police Department and has resulted in a total of twenty-two officers becoming certified EMRs. Each officer is equipped with an advanced medical kit, to assist with critical medical emergencies prior to the arrival of an ambulance. “The Valparaiso

The Michigan City Police Department announced parking restrictions that will be in place for the Shelf Ice Brew Fest. There will be parking restrictions starting through Sunday for the following area due to the Shelf Ice Brew Fest: Through Sunday 12 p.m. – 7th Street between Washington Street and Pine Street Through Sunday 12pm – Franklin Street between 8th Street and 6th Street These areas are closed to parking during these times and vehicles parked in the area will be towed. “No Parking Police Order Tow Away Zone” signs have been posted in the area and will be enforced. Police

Press release, City of Valparaiso: Valpo Parks and the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission have partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and others to restore more than 50 acres of diverse native prairie that will provide valuable wildlife habitat on Valpo Parks properties, announced Mayor Jon Costas. “Preserving the ecology of our community makes excellent sense for all of us,” said Costas. “Valparaiso has long demonstrated a respect for our environment, and we’re pleased to showcase these native habitats with nearby trails, allowing us to both preserve and connect with nature,” he said. These habitats provide and essential ecological

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales is reminding Hoosiers that they need to register to vote and vote in the upcoming Election. Hoosiers should note important upcoming dates ahead of Indiana’s May Primary Election. The 2024 Election season is underway, and the May Primary is just 11 weeks away. The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office has taken several initiatives aimed at increasing voter participation and election integrity such as community outreach efforts, cybersecurity enhancements, and poll worker recruitment. “As Indiana’s Chief Election Officer, I’m putting a call out to every eligible Hoosier: Now is the time to register to vote!

A South Bend man took police on a pursuit Wednesday night, according to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office. At about 10:42 p.m., a La Porte County Sheriff’s Office deputy was traveling eastbound on State Road 2 near County Road 400 East when he observed a vehicle traveling westbound.  The deputy’s in-car radar unit determined the vehicle was traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle along State Road 2 near County Road 300 East.  However, the driver failed to stop resulting in a motor vehicle pursuit.  The pursuit

The Catholic Diocese of Gary announced Friday that Katie Collignon will serve as Marquette Catholic’s next principal. The move erases the interim tag on the position she has held since August 8th, 2023. “The hiring committee and I are ecstatic that Mrs. Katie Collignon has agreed to be the next principal of Marquette Catholic High School. Her spirit of collaboration, diverse skill set, and dedication to Marquette’s mission make her the perfect candidate to lead the school. During this year as interim principal, Collignon has grown enrollment, increased fundraising, expanded the school’s leadership structure, and advanced school offerings for students,”

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) announced today it will hold a public meeting on tonight at 6 p.m. CST to discuss the TV Renewal for BP Products North America Inc Whiting Business Unit.  IDEM staff will describe the draft air permit and answer questions from citizens in an informal setting.  The public meeting will not include formal presentations, but will give the public an opportunity to ask questions, make statements, and discuss air pollution concerns with IDEM staff. In the event of inclement weather, the public meeting may be rescheduled. A twenty-four (24) hour-notice will be posted on

Press release, AMKUS Rescue Systems and MAAC Foundation: AMKUS Rescue Systems, a leading provider of hydraulic rescue tools, has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the next generation of firefighters and rescuers by generously donating equipment to the Fire and Rescue High School Program at the MAAC. The donation includes a DeWalt Cut Off saw, renowned for its reliability, precision, and efficiency in emergencies. This equipment will play a crucial role in enhancing the hands-on training experiences of students enrolled in the Fire and Rescue High School Program, equipping them with the tools they need to develop essential skills for a

Did you know that you can “check out” Wi-Fi or a Chromebook for free? Thanks to the Friends of the La Porte County Public Library’s Digital Navigators program, La Porte County residents have access to technology resources beyond the walls of the library. The program, initially supported by a grant from Health Foundation of La Porte, aims to increase technology literacy in our community by making it easy for folks in need to access the internet at home, outside of the hours the library is open. Through the Digital Navigators program, library staff first meet with community members to assess

Press release, La Porte County Public Library: You have interesting photographs of a grandparent’s business, your ancestral home, street scenes, childhood snapshots, and other historic images in a closet and photo albums at home. Maybe you collect postcards of Indiana. The public won't find them in your attic. That’s why the Union Mills Branch of the La Porte County Public Library is hosting a Scan-A-Thon with Indiana Album to bring Hoosier history to the public -- one image at a time. The Indiana Album, a non-profit organization, makes Indiana's hidden gems available to historians, researchers, and the public by scanning,

Community Partners, a family service program of Geminus Corporation, requests grant proposals for child abuse and neglect prevention services. The call for proposals supports the Geminus partnership with the Indiana Department of Child Services to provide community-based social services to families and children in Benton, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and Newton counties. Grant awards cover services between July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Applicant Criteria Nonprofits in Benton, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and Newton counties Prevention services supporting families and children in aforementioned counties Submission Criteria Applications are due April 12, 2024, at 3:00 p.m.

Two people died and two others sustained severe injuries after a crash last Friday, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. At around 3:08 a.m. on Feb. 16, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office received an automated notification regarding a vehicle crash in the vicinity of County Road 1200 N., near County Road 900 W., where an occupant wasn't responding. Deputies from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office and an Officer from the DeMotte Police Department went to the scene. Upon arrival just minutes after the initial report, the DeMotte Officer discovered a vehicle that had veered off the north side of

The Indiana State Police is seeking witnesses to a shooting on I-80/94 in Lake County on Saturday night, Feb. 17, the Town of Chesterton reported on its Facebook page. At approximately 5:15 p.m. the driver of a 2009 Ford Escape lost control of his vehicle on I-80/94 near Burr Street. Investigators have determined that the driver was “struck by gunfire and, as a result, crashed the vehicle into the median wall,” the ISP said. “The driver was transported to a local hospital for treatment.” Anyone who witnessed the accident or recorded in-car video of the incident is asked to contact

Mayor of La Porte Tom Dermody says that continued train horns are being addressed. Dermody said on his Facebook page that after numerous calls, Norfolk Southern informed the city that they will be out this week installing whistle post signs along the tracks to alert train engineers that La Porte is a quiet zone. Dermody said train horns will hopefully stop after that. Residents can report train horns at this link: https://www.fra.dot.gov/app/violationreport

News release, Purdue University Northwest: The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest (PNW) will host the inaugural Uthiverse StartUp Madness Business Pitch Tournament during a live event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 30 inside the Fitness and Recreation Center gymnasium at PNW’s Hammond campus. The Uthiverse StartUp Madness is an innovative pitch competition designed to give high school students participating in a diversity of entrepreneurship programs an opportunity to win $2,500 in seed money. Thirty-two teams will be selected from regional applicants to compete live in a bracket-style pitch tournament. Winners can use the seed funding to

News release, Northern Indiana Public Service Company: For the ninth consecutive year, NIPSCO is accepting applications for its Environmental Action Grant to support local nonprofit organizations with their environmental restoration and education projects throughout northern Indiana. “NIPSCO employees are dedicated to contributing to the communities we serve, and we look forward to launching this grant program every year,” said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development. “We are proud to support local organizations who are focused on improving our environment and providing educational opportunities surrounding this important topic.” Since 2016, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant helped 124 projects

Press release, Franciscan Health: Franciscan Health Family Birth Center Dyer is aiming to improve maternal health outcomes with its new “I Gave Birth” initiative, which uses bracelets to help identify post-partum women. The program first launched in 2021 at the University of North Carolina Collaborative for Infant and Maternal Health. Other hospitals across the country have developed their own programs based on that model, including Franciscan Health Dyer. Post-partum care is of particular concern in Indiana, which has one of the top 10 worst maternal mortality rates in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Locally,