News

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will host its annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of cultural and academic events starting Sept. 13 and continuing through October. PNW’s Hispanic Heritage Month activities engage the campus community and the public with events highlighting the Latinx communities’ history, culture, cuisine, and contributions to the world. Information about event times and locations can be found at pnw.edu/hispanic-heritage-month. The celebration kicks off on Sept. 13 with a Mexican Independence Day celebration, hosted by PNW’s Spanish Club student organization, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Founders Plaza on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th

The La Porte County Health Department is sharing information on the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, called Bivalent. The health department says the vaccine is a new — authorized for use as a single booster dose — booster to individuals 18 years of age and older. Appointments available on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the La Porte county health department La Porte office 809 State Street, Ste 401 A, La Porte, IN 46350, 219-326-6808 ext. 2200. Appointments must be scheduled online at www.coronavirus.in.gov .

The South Shore Line has given a new update on the South Shore Line Double Track NWI project: GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. Work is underway at the new east lot. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) is closed, the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain open with some lane restrictions until September 14, 2022. Construction activities may occur on the shoulder of Old US 12/Dunes Hwy.  Construction

At the first-ever Indiana Educational Excellence Awards Gala in Indianapolis last Friday, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) awarded up to $4.21 million to schools across the state to celebrate their progress and achievement in supporting student excellence and growth. The gala brought together nearly 400 educators and guests from across the state. The event recognized the 2022 Indiana Teacher of the Year top 10 finalists, Indiana’s 2021 Milken Educator and also awarded the school corporation and teacher who engaged most with the Indiana Learning Lab, a professional development resource for Indiana educators. Additionally, IDOE awarded school corporations with up

Two Valparaiso High School students, Cameron Hosek and Katherine Stalmah, have been named to the Advisory Human Relations Council for the City of Valparaiso. Mayor Matt Murphy stated, “We welcome Cameron and Katherine to the Council and thank them for sharing their time and insight as students at Valparaiso High School. When we conceived the Mayor’s Youth Council last year, we were looking to encourage more youth to become engaged in the community. It’s exciting to see the interest of these young leaders.” Both Hosek and Stalmah are graduates of the inaugural Mayor’s Youth Council. Hosek will graduate from VHS

A traditional, yearly memorial the Duneland community has come to love and appreciate, has resumed its original format of placing 2977 small U.S. flags in the grassy area in front of the Chesterton High School Stadium along 11th St. in Chesterton. Each flag bears the name of a soul lost on Sept. 11, 2001 in the tragic attacks on America. The tradition of placing the small flags in the ground was altered over the past two years, and was replaced with a large flag on the fence during the pandemic. Each year since 2007, Chesterton High School students and staff

LaPorte County Parks has announced that the Pioneer Days Festival has been canceled.  They stated the following: “Due to a seasonal staff shortage, we will not be hosting the annual Pioneer Days Festival Scheduled for September 24 and 25 at Creek Ridge County Park. The maintenance staff had major projects to complete this year at Bluhm County Park. Without the help from seasonal staff, they had to do the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep at all the parks while completing these major projects.  They never complained and were able to keep all the parks maintained at a high level. By adding

Indiana, along with many other states, was affected by an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza earlier this year. Avian influenza declined through the summer months; however, some states have had a recent increase in wild bird deaths associated with the disease. DNR advises hunters to be aware of a potential resurgence of avian influenza as the waterfowl hunting seasons progress. Indiana DNR partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to test hunter-harvested waterfowl for highly pathogenic avian influenza during early teal season at multiple DNR Fish & Wildlife areas, including Goose Pond, LaSalle, and Jasper-Pulaski. Symptoms

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) has been recognized for its campus diversity and several undergraduate programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 annual Best Colleges rankings, released on Monday.  PNW is ranked in the top 20 of Midwest regional universities for campus ethnic diversity. Among only public institutions, PNW ranked third. Enrollment data shows PNW’s undergraduate population is over 25% Hispanic or Latino and almost 11% Black or African American. The U.S. News category shows the likelihood students attending a university or college will encounter other students from different ethnicities. PNW is additionally ranked among Midwest regional universities for social

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash involving a motorcycle and van that left one person dead and three people injured Saturday.  At around 4:04 p.m. deputies responded to the intersection of U.S. 421 and U.S. 6 for a crash involving a motorcycle and a van.  The initial crash investigation determined that a 1993 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, driven by 58-year-old Matthew W. Spicker of Valparaiso, was traveling westbound on U.S. 6.  A 2013 Chrysler van driven by a 37 year-old Wanatah resident, along with two passengers was traveling southbound on U.S. 421.   Police say the motorcycle failed to

The Chesterton Police Department will have a new assistant chief after former Assistant Chief Dan Rocha left the department after 21 years to pursue an opportunity in the private sector, the Town of Chesterton is reporting. At its meeting Thursday afternoon, Sept. 8, the Chesterton Police Commission voted unanimously to authorize Police Chief Tim Richardson to make Sgt. Francisco Rodriguez of the Porter Police Department, a job offer, starting Monday, Sept. 26. Immediately on his swearing in that morning Rodriguez was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief. Rodriguez was also formerly part of the Michigan City Police Department for

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is addressing incidents where several animals were dropped off unattended at the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control and Adoption Center. Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. announced on Friday that over the past week and a half, seven animals had been dropped off outside of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control and Adoption Center and left unattended. Martinez stated. “We truly care about pets. People who abandon them put them at risk of attack by predators, wandering into traffic or getting hurt or killed in various other ways. Anyone who wants to leave pets at

Michigan City Area Schools have announced a new ‘Behavior, Attendance, and Grade’ (BAG) report will be coming soon to parents/guardians of all students in Grades 5-12. The report will provide families with up-to-date information about how their student is doing. The BAG reports will be emailed home four times a year, halfway through each grading period. The first one will be sent out on Monday, September 12. MCAS asks parents and guardians, to check their email for more information.

In partnership with Indiana Operation Lifesaver, the South Shore Line will again be participating in National Rail Safety Week, taking place Sept. 19-23, in which their teams will continue to spread awareness of rail safety to the surrounding communities in which they operate. During Rail Safety Week, SSL representatives will be present at Millennium Station and Sept. 21, at East Chicago throughout the morning commute educational materials about train and grade- crossing safety, answering any questions, and distributing listening to commuters' safety concerns. The blitzes are part of ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation on Thursday, to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Mishawaka, the “Jackie Walorski VA Clinic.” The bill, supported by the entire Indiana House delegation, passed the House of Representatives last month and will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. On August 3, Rep. Walorski died in a tragic car accident while traveling in Indiana’s second district. Rep. Walorski served on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Her work on behalf of veterans included helping to secure the new Mishawaka VA clinic, which opened in 2017.

Governor Eric Holcomb is directing flags in the State of Indiana to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II. Per President Biden's order, flags should be flown at half-staff immediately until sunset on the day of interment. Holcomb is asking businesses and residents in Indiana to lower their flags.  

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration on Thursday received approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to continue its practice of extending postpartum coverage for Hoosiers receiving Medicaid during pregnancy from 60 days to one year. Indiana has been providing this extended coverage since April; Thursday’s federal announcement will allow it to continue. Previously, postpartum Medicaid coverage ended after 60 days. In May, Indiana’s Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning asked CMS for approval to extend the postpartum coverage period for traditional Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan Maternity and Hoosier Healthwise members. This will apply to all

Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) fall 2022 enrollment figures show positive trends of first-time freshman enrollment and increasing diversity at the university. PNW’s undergraduate student population now is comprised of more than 25% Hispanic students and 56% first-generation college students. Fall enrollment data show 91% of undergraduates are full-time students, with 81% who are age 25 or younger. PNW Chancellor Thomas L. Keon said this fall they welcomed one of thier largest classes of first-time college students. PNW enrolled 1,292 first-time freshmen for 2022-23, up by 225 compared with fall 2021 and also representing an increase from the pre-pandemic year of

As part of the Double Track project, in Michigan City on 11th Street, a barrier wall is being installed south of the tracks. The wall will separate 11th Street, which will permanently convert to one-way eastbound traffic after construction, from the tracks. NICTD says this will enhance safety. Michigan City is funding the effort to create a more decorative brick pattern, and will soon select a final stain color as well.  

RUSH and Franciscan Alliance, Inc., are partnering to jointly develop and provide clinical services to improve the availability of health care to patients in Northwest Indiana. The partnership includes RUSH (Rush University System for Health) and Franciscan Health hospitals in Crown Point, Dyer, Hammond, Michigan City and Munster. Patients now have streamlined access to subspecialty care offered by RUSH providers, while staying connected and receiving many services in their own communities. The agreement establishes coordinated care between RUSH and Franciscan, with direct collaboration between providers to ensure that patients receive the highest-quality care in the most cost-effective way possible, while