News

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction Co. will begin a roundabout project in Westville at the intersection of U.S. 6 and State Road 2 on or after Tuesday, May 31. Construction will be conducted in three phases, with the intersection of U.S. 6 and State Road 2 partially closed during the first two phases. The project will be ongoing through late October. Phase one will be in place through early August, with the north and west portions of the intersection closed. U.S. 6 will be closed between State Road 2 and Lowman Lane, with an official detour following State

The 13th Annual Award-Winning Great Lakes Grand Prix, featuring some of the world’s fastest and most exciting powerboat racing, will be back August 3-7 at Michigan City’s Washington Park, it was announced earlier this week by Jack L. Arnett, CEO of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The event will again present teams from all seven continents racing across the waters of Lake Michigan in some of the world’s fastest powerboats, reaching speeds nearing 175 miles per hour. Along with the boat races, Arnett announced other weekend highlights – the downtown Boat Parade and Block Party on Saturday night

Michigan City Area Schools announced the Multisensory Environment (MSE) room at Pine Elementary was officially dedicated Monday.  Pine says the room features special equipment such as a crash pad, swing, bubble tubes, and much more. A video for more information about the MSE at Pine and similar rooms across the district can be found here.  

Four people were arrested Tuesday morning during a narcotics search warrant in Cedar Lake, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. At around 9:15 a.m., officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Drug Task Force and SWAT Team and Cedar Lake Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at a home in the 7200 block of W. 129th Lane in Cedar Lake. Officers had received information that methamphetamine was dealt from the home. Seven individuals were detained during the search of the home. Officers arrested 30-year-old Ty Pozza and 20-year-old Jordan Fletcher, both of the residence in Cedar Lake. Police

A Silver Alert that had been issued for a missing 17-year-old was canceled on Tuesday. The original Silver alert was declared this past Friday for Amari McDade out of Merrillville. The Indiana State Police did not provide any further details.  

The following is an update from NICTD on the South Shore Line (NICTD) Double Track NWI Project construction that is ongoing: INFORMATION UPDATED 5/24/2022 GARY- MILLER STATION AREA All buildings have been demolished for the construction of the station and parking lots in Miller. New sewer work has begun in both the west and east parking lots. Parking is available but temporarily restricted while work near Miller Station progresses. Vehicular and pedestrian access from Melton Road (US 20) will be closed, and the driveway from Old US 12/Dunes Hwy will remain open. Construction activities may occur on the shoulder of Old

The Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City announced Monday the release of a new website for the zoo.  The Zoo said on its Facebook page, “Washingtonparkzoo.com is designed to provide an excellent user experience with even more features to come that will continue to enhance the site's educational value and make planning your next visit simpler than ever.” See more zoo updates on the Washington Park Zoo Facebook page.  

INDOT has provided an update on work being done on U.S. 41 near St. John. "Work continues on U.S. 41 after several conflicts with local utilities pushed project completion into this year", INDOT stated. INDOT says road resurfacing should be complete by the end of this week, with work on a box culvert across from Target continuing through possibly July.  

The Michigan City Police Department, along with other agencies across Indiana, will be increasing patrols as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign ahead of Memorial Day weekend. For the next three weeks, officers will be out in full force making sure drivers and passengers are buckled up and children are properly secure. Their goal is to reduce the number of traffic injuries and fatalities from lack of seat belt use, a continuing concern. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with grants administered by ICJI. Police say vehicle collisions continue

A pedestrian was injured early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle on Franklin Street in Michigan City.  At around 1:00 a.m., dispatch received a report of a serious bodily injury crash at the intersection of Franklin Street and Westwind Drive. Officers located a Toyota Corolla stopped on Franklin Street in the center turn lane, facing south, and a female lying on the ground near the front of the vehicle. Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS personnel quickly arrived on scene and began with patient care. The pedestrian, later identified as Casey Wallace, was then transported to Franciscan

Franciscan Health Crown Point and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago announced a new partnership that the two organizations say will bring one of the nation’s top neonatology programs to Northwest Indiana. Beginning September 2022, Lurie Children’s neonatologists will staff the 20-bed Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Franciscan Health Crown Point, caring for the most vulnerable babies and their families close to home. “Lurie Children’s is excited to partner with Franciscan Health Crown Point on creating a regional center of excellence for neonatology in Northwest Indiana,” said Tom Shanley, MD, President & CEO of Lurie Children’s. “Infants

A dog that was reported missing along with her owner assisted the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office find her owner, police said. The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office said that several deputies responded to a residence Friday afternoon to assist a case manager in locating a missing and endangered adult female and her dog, Delilah. As deputies investigated, Delilah showed up, but darted off to an area behind the residence. Deputies checked the backyard, exterior buildings and along the roadway, without success. While waiting for additional assistance, deputies spotted Delilah running in a nearby pasture. Delilah ran towards an area

Thursday afternoon, deputies participated in the 100th birthday celebration of Mr. Wilbur Lawson, a rural La Porte County resident. Lawson is a World War II veteran and gunner of a B17. To help commemorate his 100th birthday, there was a flyover from a vintage military aircraft and he was presented with a proclamation from the State of Indiana.

The La Porte County Health Department is informing the public that children aged 5-11 can now receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The booster can be administered 5 months after receiving the second dose of vaccine. Children aged 5-11 who are severely immunocompromised should receive a booster 3 months after their second dose of vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine is currently the only vaccine available to children aged 5-17. The La Porte County Health Department COVID vaccine clinic is located at 901 Lincolnway in La Porte. The current hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Walk-ins

Governor Eric Holcomb announced he will be discussing Indiana’s investment in advanced manufacturing at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland on Monday.   “Davos 2022 facilitates conversations between global thinkers, international dignitaries, government and business leaders to share their visions for the year ahead,” Gov. Holcomb said. “I’m proud to represent Indiana on a world stage to discuss all the innovative ways Hoosiers can be part of the solution regarding the myriad of challenges facing our state and world today.” Holcomb will deliver remarks at the The Augmented Manufacturing Experience panel which feature panelists Sharan Burrow, Belgium General

A Statewide Silver Alert has been declared for a missing Merrillville teen.  The Merrillville Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 17-year-old Amari McDade, described as a black female, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 140 pounds, black hair with brown eyes, and last seen wearing a burgundy jacket, black pants, and black shoes. McDade is missing from Merrillville and was last seen on Thursday, May 19, at 11:46 a.m. She is believed to be in extreme danger and may require medical assistance.  Police say if you have any information on Amari McDade, to contact the Merrillville Police Department at 219-660-0001

Michigan City's Washington Park Zoo said on Friday that there has not been a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within 100 miles of the zoo in the past 30 days, which means they can start reducing quarantine measures for some of their bird areas. Parrots, upper aviary, Red Barn birds, and some raptors are now back in their exhibit outdoors. The zoo said its island ducks, parakeet aviary, and many of the raptors will be staying in their holding areas for a bit longer, as the zoo continues to monitor reports from the surrounding area and carry on

Michigan City Area Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, received the Lifetime Achievement Award Friday from the Michigan City chapter of the Indiana Black Expo at its annual awards luncheon. Also honored were MCHS students Jaden Smallwood and O'Marion Hatch, who were recipients of $1,000 IBE scholarships, and MCHS 2005 alum William Walker, who received the "I" Rise Award. Former MCAS employee and community pillar, Arthur Payne received the Community Spirit Award, and introduced Eason-Watkins at the luncheon.  

An motorcyclist died Thursday afternoon in Rolling Prairie after a crash. Thursday at 4:20 p.m., a deputy was near the intersection of U.S. 20 and Michigan Street when suddenly, they heard sounds associated with a crash at the intersection. The deputy located a crash scene involving a sport utility vehicle and a motorcycle. The initial crash investigation completed by deputies determined a 2018 Subaru SUV, had been traveling eastbound on U.S. 20. The SUV was stopped in the eastbound passing lane and yielding to westbound U.S. 20 traffic when his vehicle was struck from behind. A 2012 Triumph Tiger motorcycle,

Eight K-9 teams that completed the DNR Division of Law Enforcement’s nine-week K-9 Resource Protection program were recognized during a graduation ceremony held Friday on the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse. Graduating teams came from the states of Indiana, Virginia, Kansas, and Washington, as well as from the African country of Zambia. The two participants from Africa are handlers for the Zambia Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Both handlers have countrywide wildlife authority in Zambia. The new teams will focus on detecting bush meat, elephant ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales, firearms, and ammunition. Indiana’s K-9 program started in