News

The Indiana State Department of Health has updated the weekly COVID county advisory levels. LaPorte, Porter, Starke, Jasper and Newton counties remain at the highest score of 3, red level. Lake County has moved up from a score of 2.5, orange level to a score of 3, red level. St. Joseph County has moved down from a score of 3, red level to a score of 2.5 orange level. In the past week positivity has risen in Lake and Newton counties and has lowered in LaPorte, Porter, Starke, Jasper and St. Joseph counties.

The Franciscan Health Hammond Emergency Department Serenity Room has been rededicated in memory of a patient who was both born at the hospital and died there last year. Tina Flynn provided the gift to refurnish the room as a memorial to her late husband, Gerald Kray, who passed away in August 2020 after a battle with cancer. Tina was grateful for the compassionate care Gerald received in the Emergency Department. Tina had also been a patient in the Hammond Emergency Department and as a former nurse, said she was impressed by the care provided by the physicians and nurses at

Update: Hammond Police say Valerie Jones has been safely located in Chicago and has been safely reunited with her family. Original: The Hammond Police Department is investigating the disappearance of Valerie Jones, described as a 59 year old black female, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 220 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Jones was last seen wearing a pink shirt, black coat and black leggings, and driving a gray 2013 Nissan Rogue with Indiana registration RHC564. She was last seen on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at 11:00 am. Police say she is believed to be in danger and may

The American Red Cross says blood supply is at historically low levels and it continues to decline. The Red Cross says if more donors don’t come out to give, hospitals may be forced to delay care to patients relying on blood transfusion. In thanks, the Red Cross says all who come to give through Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. Those who come to give in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a getaway to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles and will also be automatically entered to win

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is welcoming Samantha Bean as their new marketing manager. Samantha is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, where she double majored in journalism and communications. Most recently a member of Franciscan Health’s marketing department, she brings 10 years of marketing and communications experience to LCA. Lubeznik says that with a strong background in graphic design, writing, public relations and project management, Samantha will give a fresh approach to interactions with local communities; marketing exhibitions, education and events; and LCA’s branding. In addition, she will oversee the efforts of the front desk and Gallery Shop

Mayor Duane Perry of Michigan City made an executive order Wednesday to adjust salaried positions biweekly wages of salaried city employees to reflect the 27 pay periods for the city for 2021. According to the order, wages for salaried positions were originally calculated based on 26 pay periods as opposed to the 27 actual pay periods. The bottom of the order states that "1 I.C. 36-4-7-3 only applies to appointive officers, deputies, and employee of the city. I.C. 36-4-7-2(c) states that "the compensation of an elected city officer may not be changed in year for which it is fixed...," thus,

From the Long Beach Police Department: The Long Beach Police Department during the year-end Holiday luncheon honored two Deputies for their exceptional Life Saving efforts this year. Deputy Marshal Tobin “Toby” Babcock and Deputy Marshal Jason Yagelski were presented with “Life Saving Awards” for the below incidents. On Tuesday April 27, 2021 at approximately 4:22 am Deputy Marshal Jason Yagelski responded to the 3500 block of West 1000 North in Springfield Township to assist the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department with a drug overdose. Just prior to his arrival the LaPorte County E-911 Dispatcher advised that the unresponsive male was now

Annette Loeffler has been named the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP) Outstanding Partner of the Year, the La Porte City Council announced Monday night at their meeting. Annette began her time with the City in 1991 and other than four years in the middle, she has worked with the City ever since. The City of La Porte stated, “She is lovingly called “The Glue,” as she truly is what holds this team, administration and city together. Her institutional knowledge and can-do attitude make her an invaluable asset to both in her role and to this community, and we are

The Michigan City Transit Department will be closed on Christmas Eve this Friday and Christmas Day this Saturday. They will resume their regular schedule on Monday. They will also be closed on Friday for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and will resume on Monday, Jan. 2.

Monday the Great Lakes Fire Management Zone, based at Indiana Dunes National Park, received a new piece of equipment for their firefighting fleet. This new engine is one of 8 new Wildland fire engines recently delivered to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Fire staff received a new Type 3 Wildland fire engine. The off-road capable engine built on a Freightliner Trucks chassis has an 800 gallon water tank with a Waterous Class A firefighting foam system and an eDarley.com fire pump. The new engine, designated Engine, replaces a 2008 Type 3 engine. The new engine carries more water in

Indiana state police say a cattle hauler crash Monday caused gridlocks on westbound I-80/94 in Lake County. Police say a tractor trailer was attempting to enter the westbound lanes of I-80 from the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) Monday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. when the crash occured. Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver entered the curve at a speed too fast and lost control of the truck. The truck, operated by Kash Livestock Express LLC, and trailer then entered the westbound lanes of I-80/94 where it rolled over. The vehicle rolled into the path of a van which resulted in

Indiana DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW) has increased fees for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for the first time since 2006. Commercial license fees also increase, some for the first time since the 1980s. The increases will be applied to personal licenses starting with the 2022-2023 license year (April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023) that will go on sale in January. The fee increase does not affect licenses for the remainder of the 2021-2022 license year (April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022), even if those licenses are purchased after Jan. 1. The new fees allow DFW

  Rich Mrozinski, President of The LaPorte County Board of Commissioners released details on the Commissioners' ARP Plan for lump sum Retention Stipends to be paid to employees. Mrozinski attached copy of a Nov. 5 request of Commissioners for Pandemic Pay, which can be seen in the photo along with this story. The County Council is holding a special meeting on Tuesday. A statement from Shaw Friedman, LaPorte County Attorney, which is dated December 16, 2021, was released and states the following: “I want to emphasize for the record as I did at last night’s County Commission meeting that thanks

Two people were arrested after a police pursuit Thursday afternoon in La Porte. Trooper Jacob Raupp observed a Ford Taurus traveling 80 m.p.h. At around 3:20 p.m. on State Road 2 east of La Porte. Raupp caught up to the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on it, however, as the officer exited his patrol vehicle and walked towards the Taurus, the driver sped away and drove westbound towards La Porte. The trooper then called out a vehicle pursuit and followed the vehicle as it fled. The suspect attempted to turn onto Clay St. from SR 2 in downtown La