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The Indiana State Department of Health Wednesday updated the weekly COVID county advisory levels. All counties in the area are at a red level which is the highest score of 3. Positivity is up in all counties in the area. Lake County has the highest 7 day all tests positivity rate with 34.91%, followed by LaPorte with 30.47%, Porter with 30.09%, Newton with 27.41%, St. Joseph with 24.58%, Jasper with 23.08% and Starke County with 20.95%.

Indiana State Police say Wednesday there was one fatality after a Freightliner crash on I-94 in LaPorte County. A trooper was dispatched around 2:24 a.m., to a single vehicle crash located on I-94 eastbound at the 44.9 mile-marker. Initial investigation by the trooper showed that the vehicle, a 2020 Freightliner tractor pulling one trailer, had left the lanes of travel and struck the outside guardrail. After striking the guardrail, the vehicle then drove off the shoulder and into the right ditch where the vehicle came to a stop. The driver of the semi, 59 year-old Daniel Ray Clark, of Marshall,

For the fifth year, the Cardinal Flahiff Chapter of the National Honor Society from Andrean High School raised money to benefit breast cancer patients. “Annually, Andrean's National Honor Society members participate in a community engagement project to support breast cancer research and treatment. NHS members design and sell a sweatshirt in which the proceeds are donated to the Franciscan Health Breast Care Center. The "Stronger Together" sweatshirt was a huge success and Andrean's NHS was able to donate $1900,” said NHS Sponsor Dr. Melissa Miller. Franciscan Health Crown Point Breast Care Center Nurse Navigator Joan Filipowski said the donation will

Michigan City Area Schools released the following statement on Tuesday night regarding new guidelines for COVID-19 isolation and quarantine: “Dear MCAS Staff and Families: Tonight our School Board approved an update to our district’s COVID-19 Response Plan. This update ensures that our plan is aligned with the most recent recommendations of the Indiana Department of Health. It also aims to minimize the time that students and staff must miss school due to isolation and quarantine. There are two important changes to our procedures, based on this update: ISOLATION Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be directed to stay home

Indiana State Police are looking for a carjacking suspect after a carjacking that occurred on I-65 in Lake County this past weekend. On Saturday, at around 12:15 a.m. troopers responded to a rollover crash on I-65 northbound lanes at the 254 mile-marker, north of U.S. 30. While troopers were responding to the scene, they received information that a good Samaritan who had stopped to assist the driver, had been carjacked. Troopers quickly located the vehicle that was carjacked but were unaware that the victim was driving the vehicle while the suspect was in the passenger seat. A pursuit was initiated,

A 24-year-old man has been charged with murder after a police investigation into a Christmas Eve shooting in Michigan City.  On Christmas Eve just before 3:40 pm, police began to hear gunfire in the area of 10th and Wabash St. While on their way to the area, dispatch advised the officers that they were receiving reports of a gunshot victim in the area of West 11th Street and Wabash Street. Police and other first responders found 20-year-old London Long lying on the sidewalk on the west side of Wabash Street just north of West 11th Street. Long was determined to

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Broadband Office announced Tuesday that La Porte County is now designated as an official Broadband Ready Community. The Broadband Ready Communities Program was created as a tool to encourage broadband development throughout Indiana. The Broadband Ready Community certification sends a signal to the telecommunication industry that a community has taken steps to reduce barriers to broadband infrastructure investment.  The certification was approved by the Indiana Broadband Office following the La Porte County Commissioners adoption of a Broadband Ready Community ordinance. According to Earnie Holtrey, Project Manager at the Indiana Broadband Office, La Porte

Governor Eric Holcomb addressed a joint convention of the Indiana General Assembly on Tuesday as he delivered his 2022 State of the State Address. The Governor’s progress report celebrated accomplishments and focused on next steps to enhance the quality of life for all Hoosiers by strengthening the economy, reskilling the workforce and expanding the state’s infrastructure. The Governor’s Office released a statement with highlights including:  The 2021 state fiscal year closed with $3.9 billion in reserves resulting in an automatic taxpayer refund and reduction of pension obligations. The Governor reported the state is experiencing its lowest unemployment rate in 21

On January 10th, 2022 at approximately 2:30pm, the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center, dispatched Officers from Uniform Patrol Shift 2 to the 5800 Block of Franklin St in reference to shots being fired. With the assistance of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Officers canvased the area and began gathering evidence and obtaining statements. Several witnesses were interviewed by officers on scene to gather more information regarding this incident. Officers learned the suspect was a black male, wearing a red, white, and blue jacket, and had possibly fled on foot towards Super 8 Motel. As officers continued their investigation, they located a suspect matching the description of the shooter along

The La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership is pleased to announce a new program launch for 2022. To help local job seekers and our local business partners, LEAP is committed to providing childcare assistance on behalf of qualified individuals within the City of La Porte who have been unable to return to work or find new employment due to obstacles related to childcare. The qualified candidate must demonstrate and provide proof that they have actively pursued and obtained full-time employment in the Greater La Porte area to be considered. A LEAP representative will work with the employer to confirm employment status and eligibility. If

The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in more than a decade. Dangerously low blood supply levels are posing a concerning risk to patient care and forcing doctors to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more products become available. Blood donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments, and donors of all blood types – especially type O − are urged to make an appointment now to give in the weeks ahead. In recent weeks, the Red Cross had less than a one-day supply of critical

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department is asking residents if they would like a “dog beach” at Washington Park Beach. Potential rules are posted on the survey and a map of where this section of the beach would be. The entrance would be from Fedder’s Alley parking lot using the east public access beach path. The dog beach would be 400 feet wide by 50 feet deep or 20,000 square feet.  Take the survey here.  

The Porter County Government announced that you can now get the Porter County Highway Department’s winter weather road conditions updates sent to your email inbox and/or phone. Go to the link on the bottom of this story, enter your email address, click Sign In, choose whether you want them sent to your email address and/or phone, then scroll down to the Alert Center section and click on the email or phone icon next to Winter Weather Road Conditions Updates. Porter County Government says you might want to sign up for Travel Alerts while you are there.  Get started at: https://www.porterco.org/list.aspx

Michigan City is in need of Lifeguards at the Washington Park and Beach. See flyer for more details.

Indiana’s top two public research universities are joining forces to keep more graduates in the state and fill the Hoosier talent pipeline with highly skilled workers. Purdue University and Indiana University have partnered with Ascend Indiana, the talent and workforce initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. Through the Ascend Network, the initiative’s online job matching platform, Purdue and IU will be able to more effectively connect students with Indiana career opportunities that match their skill sets and interests, as well as offer increased one-on-one career guidance and job search support. This partnership provides Indiana’s leading employers with a unique platform for

Michigan City Area Schools is partnering with HealthLinc to host another COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.  The clinic will be at Joy Elementary School on Thursday, Jan. 20 from 3:15pm to 6:15pm Pfizer vaccines and booster available. Anyone ages 5 and up are welcome. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Call (219) 872-6200 ext.3400 to schedule your appointment.

The Engineering & Technical Education classrooms at Portage High School will be receiving a makeover thanks to a grant in the amount of $1000,000 from the City of Portage Redevelopment Commission.  The grant will outfit the PHS Manufacturing Lab, Construction Lab, and STEM Multi-Lab. Upgrades to the labs include tools, machinery, and technology to benefit the manufacturing, construction, Project Lead the Way, engineering, computer integrated manufacturing, industrial technology, advanced manufacturing, and automation and robotics pathways and courses. There are 1,700 students enrolled in these courses in grades 6-12. Additional details and information can be found on the Portage Township Schools

The Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) has announced the opening of its grant portal for 2022 Cycle 1 grants. To advance its mission and vision, HFL invites grant proposals for health and wellness projects and programs, through Feb. 25. The HFL says their mission is to empower La Porte County residents to live healthy and well to achieve the vision of La Porte County becoming one of the 10 healthiest communities in Indiana by 2030. For more information, contact HFL at 219.326.2471 or contact@hflaporte.org, or visit HFL’s website at hflaporte.org.