News

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

Nearly a dozen Fire Science students in the La Porte County Career and Technical Education program will be certified in CPR, thanks to instruction by local firefighters. Three firefighters from the Michigan City Fire Department spent Tuesday morning at the A.K. Smith Career Center teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to students who are learning the basics of firefighting. Training included proper chest compression techniques, how to use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and bag-mask devices, as well as the difference between performing these measures on adults, children, and infants. “This is a skill that is required for any career in the health

The intersection of State Road 2 and U.S. 6 in LaPorte County will be closed for ongoing roundabout construction on or after Sept. 14. It is expected to reopen by the first week of October. To access both S.R. 2 and U.S. 6 during the closure, drivers should use the approved detour of U.S. 421, U.S. 30 and State Road 49, or seek an alternate route.

An interventional cardiologist has joined the Franciscan Physician Network at the Franciscan Health Heart Center Michigan City. Kamel Sadat, MD, received his training at INESSM Algiers, Algeria. His residency was at St. Joseph Hospital, University of Illinois at Chicago and his fellowships were at West Virginia University, the University of Birmingham at Alabama, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and Houston Methodist Hospital. His clinical interests include advanced heart failure, ventricular assisted devices, heart transplant, advanced cardiac imaging, complex stenting, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and structural heart disease. The Franciscan Health Heart Center Michigan City is located

In August, NIPSCO employees were honored to participate at volunteer events across northern Indiana and make a difference through the company’s 12th annual Charity of Choice campaign. Charity of Choice is NIPSCO's annual employee-driven, company-wide effort focused on meeting the needs of a variety of nonprofit groups throughout NIPSCO’s service area. In partnership with the NiSource Charitable Foundation and Besa, an organization that helps connect people and companies with nonprofits, 126 NIPSCO team members volunteered nearly 500 service hours across 26 projects for local organizations. Organizations NIPSCO supported in the month of August include: • Family Services Association of Howard

This past week, the Valparaiso Police Department hosted a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Physical Security Assessment Training. The 3-day program helps train officers in how to conduct physical security assessments of schools, houses of worship, and other critical infrastructure. Nine communities joined the Valparaiso Police Department in learning more to keep their cities safer.  

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is informing the public about light pollution disrupting songbird migration. The DNR says that, "As the sun sets, songbirds are lifting off and flying over us, navigating by the moon and stars on their south-bound migration. They need your help." Artificial lights disorient the birds, and the DNR says millions of birds that get trapped in the bright lights around urban areas each year won’t make it out alive. You can help by turning out unnecessary lights at night and by encouraging local government and building managers to follow proven methods of reducing light

There will be lane closures on U.S. 41 in Highland for bridge construction next week. Crews will be working on the bridge by the water tower over the railroad tracks starting on or after September 13, with work expected to be complete by the end of the week. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change. During the work, crews will first shut down the east side of the bridge and one lane of traffic in each direction will use the west side. Once the east side is complete, traffic will then have one lane open in each

Michigan City High School students recently learned about digital safety at a presentation with Cathie Bledsoe of the Indiana State Police. During the presentation at MCHS, Bledsoe told students, “When I look around this room, I see potential victims, and potential predators.” Bledsoe is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force of the Indiana State Police, and was visiting MCHS as part of a proactive approach to discuss digital safety. She is a former computer teacher who now uses her tech knowledge to fight against online solicitation, human trafficking, and other crimes targeting children. To demonstrate how

Two La Porte County Sheriff's office deputies are being praised for performing life saving actions recently. On Sept. 1, at 10:51 PM, Deputy Austin Wells responded to a motor vehicle crash located in the 3100 block of Monroe Street. He arrived to find that a single vehicle had crashed into the front of the residence. The vehicle had completely entered the residence. Deputy Wells entered the residence to check the welfare of the occupants and the status of the driver. He learned the residents had already exited, but the driver was trapped inside the vehicle. As Deputy Wells approached the