News

Instrumental music students from several Michigan City Area Schools took part in the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) solo and ensemble contest on Jan. 28 at Kankakee Valley Middle School, with nearly 50 receiving gold and silver ratings. Four students from Michigan City High School earned gold ratings on music of the highest difficulty level and will now advance to the ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble competition at North Central High School in Indianapolis on Feb. 25. These students are Sophia Barczak, Emray David, Kyra Krachinski, and Ashley Sparks.

 During the ISSMA event on Jan. 28, Krachinski received gold

The Indiana Department of Health has awarded nearly $8.5 million in grants to organizations working to improve Hoosiers’ health as part of the Health Issues and Challenges program, which was established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2021 with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. This is the second round of grants through the program and follows $35 million that was announced last June. “Public health is built on a foundation of prevention and accessibility, and we are grateful to be able to use the remaining funds that our legislators allocated to support programs that will help improve Hoosiers’

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a phone scam involving someone claiming to be a local utility service provider. The scam is offering an 85% reduction on gas bills. “Of course with the ever so enticing special offer, come the additional questions where some citizens become victims, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office said on their Facebook page. “Do not entertain this goof! Please terminate the call and carry on with your law-abiding day.”

A Munster police officer opened fire Wednesday on a man who reportedly rammed a stolen vehicle into police cars at a gas station, Indiana State Police reported. The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division Lowell Post was requested by the Munster Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting.  Preliminary investigation shows that at around 7:40 p.m., officers with the Munster Police Department were in the area of Ridge Road and Manor Avenue attempting to locate a stolen vehicle. Officers located a stolen 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the Mobile gas station located in the 300 block of Ridge Road.

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife stocked roughly 4,500 brown trout into northern Indiana streams in early January. Most fish ranged between 8 to 14 inches at the time of release. Indiana obtained the trout from Illinois last year when they were approximately 3 inches long. Mixsawbah State Fish Hatchery in Walkerton raised the trout until they were close to an average of 10 inches long. The DNR stocked six streams including the Little Kankakee River in LaPorte County, Pigeon River (Steuben/LaGrange counties), Solomon Creek (Elkhart County), Little Elkhart River (LaGrange/Elkhart counties), Rowe Eden Ditch (LaGrange/Elkhart counties) and Cobus

Get ShakIN' during Earthquake Awareness Month February is Earthquake Awareness Month Earthquakes in Indiana may seem unusual or unlikely, but the reality is the state is near two seismic zones. Both seismic zones have the potential to produce major earthquakes and many small quakes. About 2,000 tremors occur daily in the central United States, underscoring the need for all Hoosiers to know earthquake safety. Hoosiers need to Get ShakIN' to be aware of the risk and prepare for a substantial quake. If an earthquake were to strike, Hoosiers should stop what they are doing and: Drop where they are, onto their hands and

Attorney General Todd Rokita invites Hoosiers to visit IndianaUnclaimed.gov or text CLAIM to 46220 to see what types of treasures await you on National Unclaimed Property Day.    “Protecting Hoosiers’ liberty is my office’s top priority,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Returning unclaimed property to the rightful owners is just one way we carry out this larger mission. Who knows — you might find $5 or $1,000, but it’s worth a look.”   Indiana is the only state where the attorney general oversees unclaimed property.   Last year, Attorney General Rokita’s Unclaimed Property Division returned over $61 million to Hoosiers.   Here are the types

Families welcoming a new baby via cesarean section are now able to have a birthing experience that more closely mirrors traditional vaginal births thanks to a new practice being offered at Franciscan Health Michigan City. “During a cesarean section, once the baby is delivered, we hand over the baby first to the nurse or the pediatrician and then a good amount of time lapses before the mother actually gets to see and hold the baby” Franciscan Physician Network OB/GYN Dr. Sharmilee Thota, MD, said. “The mother and her partner miss out on having the first glimpse of their baby, touching

Residents of Michigan City, La Porte, and surrounding communities are invited to clean out their closets for a good cause this month. Deals on Wheels (2114 Franklin Street, Michigan City) will host a “Drive-Through Shoe Drive” collection of gently worn used and new shoes on Saturday, February 18, from 9am to 12pm. Proceeds from the sale of the collected shoes will help a free community kids’ playgroup based at St. Luke United Lutheran Church in Trail Creek. The church will earn funds from the nonprofit Funds2Orgs based on the total weight of the pairs of shoes collected. Donated shoes will

A 23-year-old man faces criminal charges after leading police officers on a two-state pursuit in a stolen vehicle and crashing into two police patrol units. Shortly before 1 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2023, a Lake County Sheriff’s Department officer observed a light blue Honda crossover SUV traveling at a high rate of speed on Broadway in Gary.  The officer ran a check of the Illinois license plate, which revealed it had been reported stolen. The officer followed the SUV as it pulled into a gas station and parked at 15th & Broadway. Officers positioned two Lake County Sheriff’s Department patrol

On January 20th, 2023, numerous staff members from the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department and the LaPorte County Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to 824 W 6th Street for an unresponsive three year old child. Despite the efforts of immediate family, first responders and medical professionals, the child unfortunately passed away. The Investigative Division was summoned to the scene and worked in conjunction with the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office on this matter. When tragedies like this occur, information such as the dispatch and call type are released as public record by law. Detailed information about the case

Firefighters, retirees and officials at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) recently celebrated the arrival of two new aircraft rescue firefighting apparatus, which included ceremonial traditions practiced among firefighters dating back to the 1800s. The event demonstrated the fellowship and team connection candidates looking to serve among Indy airport first responders can expect to find.   “These are age-old traditions that signify teamwork, camaraderie, respect for the job and appreciation for the right resources to do that job,” said Chief Fred Pervine of the Indianapolis Airport Authority fire department.   The event kicked off with a wet down, a tradition of

If you saw all the Law Enforcement vehicles from multiple jurisdictions in the area of the Northern Indiana Education Foundation building this week, it was not a SWAT call or hostage situation. As a result of an Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction Community Catalyst grant and support from Indiana NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) and the Unity Foundation Power for Good, the first cohort of 25 participants completed the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team C.I.T. training. These officers volunteered and became certified as C.I.T. Officers and earned 40 hours of Law Enforcement Training Board, LETB training hours. In

The City of Valparaiso and the City of Portage announced the following organizations are serving as warming centers: Valparaiso: ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????? (219) 462-4185 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr. - Open Mon – Fri 5:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sun 11:00 am – 6:00 pm ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????????, ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? (219) 462-0524 103 Jefferson St. - Open Mon – Thurs 9:00 am – 8:00 pm., Fri 9:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sun 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm ???????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????? (219) 548-2800 2001 Calumet Ave. - Open Mon – Fri

In recognition of National Energy Assistance Day on Wednesday, February 1, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is raising awareness about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other financial support to help customers with their utility bills. Approximately $4.5 billion in LIHEAP funding was released nationally in November 2022. Of that amount, more than $94 million was allocated for eligible Indiana residents. Customers experiencing financial difficulty paying their energy bill are encouraged to find out if they qualify for LIHEAP and explore other assistance options available to meet their individual needs. “We exist to deliver safe, reliable

The Porter County Sheriff’s Police is seeking the public’s help in connection with a shooting Sunday night, Jan. 29, in South Haven, the Town of Chesterton said on its Facebook page. According to police, at 7:08 p.m. officers responded to the 700 block of Ind. 149 in Portage Township following a report of a person with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers located a man who had been shot. The man was transported to hospital for treatment and his condition was not known Monday morning. An investigation is ongoing.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. is alerting the public about a scam where one suspect attempts to lure a homeowner outside or distract them while another suspect breaks into the home to commit a robbery. In the latest incident, Martinez says, a suspect knocked on a Lake County homeowner’s front door and told him his family had performed repairs at the property many years ago. “He asked the homeowner for permission to install a sign advertising his business on the lot,” Martinez stated. “Then, he asked the homeowner to come outside and indicate where his property line was for

A traffic stop on U.S. 31 in St. Joseph County led to the arrest of a Ft. Wayne woman and South Bend man for drug charges Sunday afternoon, according to the Indiana State Police. At around 2:00 p.m., an Indiana State Trooper stopped a Pontiac after observing a violation as the Pontiac traveled northbound on U.S. 31 near Kern Road.  While the Trooper spoke to the driver, 21-year-old Alaysha Rau of Ft. Wayne and passenger, 22 year-old Deyquawn Fitch, of South Bend, he smelled the odor of marijuana, according to police. A search of the Pontiac resulted in troopers finding

This past week, several La Porte County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with officers from the La Porte Police Department, Michigan City Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Department and personnel from the La Porte County E911 Center, attended and completed a 40-hour crisis intervention training (CIT) course. CIT is grant-funded and provides advanced training in dealing with individuals suffering a mental health crisis, the LCSO says. Course attendees received training from fellow law enforcement officials, community mental health providers, doctors, social workers, and interacted with individuals living with various mental health diagnoses. The goal of the grant

The DNR is hosting two virtual public meetings Monday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to discuss proposed spongy moth treatments. An invasive insect, Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), causes tree defoliation and kills trees. While open to the public, meetings are geared towards proposed treatment area residents including LaPorte, Kosciusko, Fulton, Marshall and Starke counties. To get a list of times, dates and map of treatment areas, see on.IN.gov/spongymoth and click on '2023 Indiana Spongy Moth Treatment Program'.