News

Valparaiso Police stated that October is being celebrated as the first National Pedestrian Safety Month. The new initiative is geared to bringing awareness to the safety of those non-motorist we share the roadways with, who may be walking along our sidewalks and paths, or riding in the bike lane. As darkness arrives earlier in the evening, pedestrians are 30% more likely to be involved in a fatality crash between the hours of 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. from September to February, according to a recent NHTSA statement.  VPD says to please be careful and look closely for pedestrians along your

In St. Joseph County, officers were dispatched to a two vehicle crash that occurred at State Road 23 and New Road at approximately 10:08 Monday morning. Initial indicators are that a Chrysler Town and Country minivan was traveling northbound on State Road 23 with the right of way. This is a 2-way stop intersection where east/west traffic is required to stop and north/south bound traffic is not required to stop. A maroon F-150 pick-up was traveling eastbound on New Rd, with a stop sign. The collision occurred between the two vehicles in the middle of the intersection, involving the front

Mayor of La Porte, Tom Dermody said that five juveniles were arrested Sunday night after  damage was done in Patton Cemetery. Dermody said the juveniles drove over flat tombstones and wrecked flower plants and plant hangers. He also said there may be a lead on a juvenile vandalizing cars. Mayor Dermody thanked all residents in the Scott Street Area as well as the Police Department for their help.

Due to the La Porte County Courthouse construction project, 4th Street will be closed to west bound traffic from October 20th to October 28th.   Michigan City Transit will temporarily relocate the bus stop and transfer area at the Michigan City Library to Pine Street between 4th and 5th Street.

The Salvation Army of Michigan City has launched its annual Christmas assistance application process to assist local families this holiday season.  However, this year Christmas applications will be accepted online. Applications can be found at www.samichigancity.org.  Visitors to the site should scroll down near the bottom of the page and click on “Apply Online.” Any local family in need of help can request assistance of toys and/or food for Christmas.  All families who apply to The Salvation Army of Michigan City will receive food assistance; and families with children ages 12 and under will receive Christmas gifts. Official documentation showing

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that Indiana has joined with other states and the federal government to reach an agreement in principle with a Utah-based medical device manufacturer to settle allegations that the company offered unlawful kickbacks to health care providers in order to induce them to purchase its medical devices. Merit Medical Systems (Merit) will pay the states and the federal government $18 million – $5.58 million of which will go to Medicaid programs – to resolve civil allegations that Merit’s unlawful promotion of its medical devices caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs. As

In preparation of Halloween, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office initiated Operation Scare and Beware, which was a County-wide compliance check of all Sexually Violent Predators and Offenders Against Children.  The operation was conducted this past Thursday with deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, investigators from the La Porte and Michigan City Police, Michigan City Fugitive Apprehension Street Team (FAST), La Porte County Drug Task Force, Indiana State Police, Trail Creek Police, Indiana Department of Corrections Parole Agents and United States Marshals Service participating in the sex offender compliance check.  All 104 of the classified and registered Sexually

Thursday, Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed an executive order 20-46 extending the adjusted version of the Stage 5 Back On Track Indiana plan and extending the state’s face covering mandate until Nov. 14th.

The Valparaiso Fire Department’s 2020 Hiring Process is now open. The department has been awarded a 2020 SAFER Grant and will be adding an additional 5 firefighters and 4 firefighters due to retirement. Visit valparaisofire.org to download your hiring packet.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is now accepting public comments in a new online survey to update the Indiana State Rail Plan. The general public and rail stakeholders are encouraged to take the survey and share their opinions on today’s rail system in Indiana and what it could look like in the future. The online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/INSRP20) takes about 15 minutes to complete. A link to the survey can also be found on the INDOT website at www.in.gov/indot. For more on the state rail plan survey, project updates and events, visit www.rail.indot.in.gov.

Passengers are advised that the City of Chicago has added the State of Indiana to its Emergency Travel Order, effective Oct. 16, 2020. However, Chicago's Quarantine List exempts many individuals who are working in the City or traveling to the City for various personal reasons. The South Shore Line continues to operate regularly scheduled train service and will not be impacted by the order. A link to the Emergency Travel Order can be located here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html.

With the Halloween season upon us, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to use on-line tools to know the identity of registered sex offenders in the area where they plan to trick-or-treat. An on-line sex offender registry is available for residents of La Porte County allowing parents to conduct a search prior to trick-or-treating to prevent their children from visiting these homes during door-to-door trick-or-treating. There are currently about one hundred ninety-nine (199) registered sex offenders residing in La Porte County; sixty-eight (68) of which are Sexually Violent Predators and twenty-one (21) of which are classifiedas Offenders

With the Halloween season upon us, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is urging parents to use on-line tools to know the identity of registered sex offenders in the area where they plan to trick-or-treat. An on-line sex offender registry is available for residents of La Porte County allowing parents to conduct a search prior to trick-or-treating to prevent their children from visiting these homes during door-to-door trick-or-treating. There are currently about one hundred ninety-nine (199) registered sex offenders residing in La Porte County; sixty-eight (68) of which are Sexually Violent Predators and twenty-one (21) of which are classified as

Michigan City's home football game vs Crown Point Friday is canceled (due to Crown Point being on quarantine).Wolves fans can still cheer on the Volleyball team as MCHS is hosting volleyball sectionals this weekend. MCHS plays at 6:30pm tonight, and if they win will play again Saturday at 11:30. If that game is won they will also play Saturday at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at the door for $6.00. (Masks and physical distancing required.)

Dealers responsible for $185M scheme targeting elderly investors The Office of the Indiana Secretary of State, Indiana Securities Division and Office of the Indiana Attorney General announced that they are participating in a consolidated nationwide enforcement action to halt a fraudulent precious metals scheme that has solicited $185 million from at least 1,600 seniors and other investors. The offices announced that they have joined the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and 29 other states in filing a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alleging Metals.com and Barrick Capital Inc. defendants solicited $185 million from seniors and

The Porter County Health Department has announced updated COVID-19 testing site information: The Porter County Expo Center, located at 215 E Division Rd in Valparaiso, opening Oct. 15th. Porter Regional Hospital Clinic, located at 6040 Lute Rd. in Portage, opening late October The current Portage site at 3564 Scottsdale Ave. is currently serving residents. Pre-registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information and to schedule testing, visit https://www.porterco.org/1614/COVID-19-Testing-Information

Sera Group has announced a local marketing grant initiative tohelp small businesses and non-profits sustain their online presence and customer base throughout Northwest Indiana during these challenging times. “Now more than ever, increasing brand awareness and maintaining a strong digital presence is essential for local businesses to succeed,” said Seth Spencer, Founder & CEO, Sera Group. Sera Group will be donating up to $25,000 worth of digital and creative services to Northwest Indiana small businesses affected by the COVID-19 virus. Sera Group believes that this will help businesses stay strong during these times and give them a chance to improve

Northwest Health announced the addition of Dr. Daniel De Gala, Internal Medicine physician to Northwest Medical Group. Dr. De Gala is accepting new patients at his office at Northwest Medical Group’s Primary Care practice located at 401 New Porte Boulevard in La Porte. “We are pleased to have Dr. De Gala, join Northwest Medical Group” said Ashley Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer of Northwest Health – La Porte “His experience, skills, and compassion are a perfect fit for our organization as we expand to fill gaps in care in the La Porte area.” Dr. De Gala obtained his medical degree from

On Monday October 12th at approximately 2:00 A.M., the La Porte County Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 call in which the caller reported hearing gunshots in the area of the 3300 Block of Franklin Street. MCPD Shift 3 Patrol Officers arrived and quickly located the residence in which the gunshots had originated. Officers soon discovered 34 year old James L. Grott deceased within the residence from a suspected gunshot wound. Officers secured the area and called the MCPD Detective Bureau who arrived to take over the scene. Detectives worked tirelessly throughout the morning and into the afternoon hours. The

Attorney General Curtis Hill today applauded a federal court ruling that upheld against a due process challenge many critical abortion laws enacted by the Indiana General Assembly. Last week, in response to a lawsuit filed by abortion provider Whole Woman’s Health challenging Indiana’s most significant abortion regulations, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana upheld many statutes and regulations under the Due Process Clause. The laws the judge upheld include those: requiring abortion clinics to be licensed;requiring abortion providers to report abortions;requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals (or to have