News

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb ceremonially signed school safety legislation Friday alongside a group of teachers, students and community members at Mt. Vernon High School.HEA 1004, a Next Level Agenda bill, stemmed from recommendations in the Governor’s school safety report. It provides access to more funding for safety equipment, facilitates partnerships with local law enforcement and requires threat assessments in schools among other things. SEA 325 allows for schools to create support services to work with children and their parents to support their mental health and well-being.

Donors are sought for the Versiti Blood Center blood drives at Franciscan Hammond Clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 14, Franciscan Health Munster on Thursday, Aug. 15, Franciscan Health Crown Point on Monday, Aug. 26, Franciscan Health Hammond on Tuesday, Aug. 27 and Franciscan Wellness Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28.Details are as follows:         Aug. 14: 9AM to 2PM at Franciscan Hammond Clinic, 7905 Calumet Ave., Munster.        Aug. 15: Noon to 4PM at Franciscan Health Munster St. Clare Conference and Education Center, 701 Superior Ave.        Aug. 26: Noon to 5PM at Franciscan Health

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Indiana Michael Dora announced last week that Harrison REMC has been selected to receive funding of $15,500,000 for rural electric infrastructure improvements.Dora’s announcement is in coordination with the recent announcement made by Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chad Rupe Friday announcing that USDA is investing $181 million to upgrade rural electric systems in 10 states. USDA is providing financing for 12 projects in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin through the Electric Loan Program. The funding will help build and improve 1,354 miles of line to

United States Attorney Thomas L. Kirsch and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent In Charge Grant Mendenhall in coordination with LaPorte County Prosecutor John Lake announced that 50 year old Michael Christianson, of LaPorte was charged with transportation of child pornography. The criminal complaint alleges that on or about July 2, FBI Agents from the Charlotte Division responded to a complaint by a book publisher about material contained inside three books submitted for publication and authored by Christianson. The lead was distributed to Indiana FBI agents.  The books appear to be geared toward children as they use large fonts, simple

Shirley Heinze Land Trust will host a series of volunteer workdays at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve on the last Wednesday of the month from now through November, from 9:00am to Noon eastern time. The preserve is located at 25898 US HWY 20 in South Bend.Lydick Bog Nature Preserve protects 178 acres of wetlands, interspersed with high ridges and islands of upland forest.  The preserve is in the early stages of restoration efforts, and volunteers are needed to help with improvements.Participants will use hand tools to remove invasive plant species, such as multiflora rose and bush honeysuckle, and will also pick

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) has recently distributed 1,000 new RADAR and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) speed measurement devices to police agencies across Indiana.  ICJI has graciously provided the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office with 5 RADAR units and one (1) LIDAR unit. The devices were purchased by ICJI using federal dollars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).     The certified dash mounted moving/stationary RADAR units, equipped with front and rear antennas, will measure the speed of the motoring public in the same and opposite directions.  The certified hand-held LIDAR device will detect speeding vehicles at extended distances

This past Friday, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded grants through the Port Security Grant Program to assist the Port of Indiana – Burns Harbor.In general, the Port Security Grant Program aims to support port security services and plans of port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies, and at least 25 percent of the funding for grant recipients is required to be used for terrorism prevention activities. This $220,262 in grant awards will be used by the Port of Indiana - Burns Harbor, the Indiana State Police, and the Indiana Department of

Whitetails Unlimited recently awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a $2,500 grant to be used to serve Indiana residents. These funds will help Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry pay processing fees for large game and livestock donations within Indiana. The grant provided by Whitetails Unlimited will pay to process about 2,050 pounds of donated large game and livestock – providing almost 8,200 more meals through area hunger-relief agencies to residents in need within our communities,For more information on the Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry program, its services and to find participating meat processors in your area, or to find out how you can

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, will host a series of Academy Day events to serve as informational sessions for current high school students interested in attending one of the U.S. Military Service Academies. For complete details on the academy nomination process,Locally there will be an Academy Day on Thursday, August 29 in South Bend, from  5:30 - 7:30 PM. at the Indiana National Guard Armed Forces Reserve Center, 1901 Kemble Ave.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is joining about 230 law-enforcement agencies across Indiana and thousands nationwide in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. From mid-August through Labor Day, police will be working overtime to arrest impaired drivers. Expect to see increased sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols.The annual Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign includes the Labor Day weekend, with thousands upon thousands of Hoosier families taking to their cars for end-of-summer barbecues, football games, lakes and pool parties. Sadly, it is also one of the deadliest times of year for impaired-driving deaths.With all

In an update to the June 23rd fatal shooting of 27 year old Brandon D. Williams of Niles, Michigan, 28 year old Tyler Crawford has been identified as a person of interest. The shooting occurred outside Kelly's Pub in South Bend. The County Metro Homicide Unit would like to speak to him regarding this investigation.Crawford has links to South Bend and Michigan City. Crawford was identified as being present at the time of the murder and is sought for questioning.Crawford has an outstanding warrant for an unrelated matter.Investigators are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident, or anyonewith information

The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross, with the help of its partners, reached at least 26 lives saved in Indiana through the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. Since its launch in 2014, the Home Fire Campaign saved at least 610 lives across the country and made more than 770,000 homes safer through efforts to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires, which take an average of seven lives each day in the U.S. The number of lives saved in Indiana that can be attributed to the Home Fire Campaign jumped from 17 to 26, after the following

On Thursday, Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced $22.1 million in funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects across the state as a part of the initial round of the Next Level Broadband program. This funding will provide broadband infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties. The $100 million Next Level Broadband program is the largest single state investment in broadband. For the initial round of funding, service providers could apply for up to $5 million per project to expand service to unserved areas if they provided at least a 20 percent match. Unserved areas are

Attendees will learn about therapeutic horseback riding, how to groom, tack and lead horses, and how to help riders during therapeutic riding lessons. Volunteers offer riders confidence, friendship, guidance and encouragement, AND they get to work with horses! This is just the beginning, though. Reins of Life volunteers help with events, horse schooling, mini-visits, nuzzles and snuggles program, vaulting and driving, veteran programs, and school programs. And, yes, barn work too! Reins of Life riders and volunteers come from all over the Duneland area. Training will be at the Reins of Life barn located at 9375 W 300 N, Michigan

The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra (LCSO) and Interim Music Director, Charles Steck , announced auditions for the 2019-2020 season. Auditions will take place August 27, 2019 from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM at the La Porte High School (Door 15) located at 602 F Street. The Orchestra is seeking qualified musicians to fill several vacancies. ALL Instruments available to audition for subbing and/or future LCSO opportunities. The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra is a per service orchestra offering contracts on an annual basis. All positions are paid and mileage is paid for non-La Porte County residents. The 60-piece orchestra includes

The Office of the Attorney General has received multiple complaints this summer about home-improvement contractors. As Hoosiers consider tackling home-improvement projects during the remainder of the warm-weather months. The Indiana Home Improvement Contracts Act requires home improvement contracts exceeding $150 to be in writing. The contract must also contain certain information, including: contact information for the home improvement supplier; a description of the work to be done; the approximate starting and completion dates for the work; a statement of contingencies that may change the completion date; and the contract price. This Friday is Consumer Protection Day at the Indiana State

Applications are now open for the Indiana House Republican Internship Program during the 2020 legislative session, according to State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie). Pressel said the internship program is a unique opportunity for college and graduate students, and recent graduates to gain valuable hands-on experience and apply skills in a real-world setting. He said the paid internship is full-time and takes place during the spring semester at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. Internship positions are open to college sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and recent graduates of all majors. Students can apply for internships in a variety of areas, focusing

Four months after dedicating the first Safe Haven Baby Box at a hospital in Indiana, Franciscan Health celebrated the installation of a baby box at its second hospital. The formal blessing on Wednesday at Franciscan Health Hammond also marked the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Lake County. Like the one at Franciscan Health Michigan City, the baby box in Hammond is aimed at preventing the death of an unwanted infant. The box is available to new mothers who wish to utilize Indiana’s Safe Haven Law, which enables a person to give up an unwanted infant anonymously without fear of

After closing thousands of stores over the years, and nearly six months after emerging from bankruptcy with about 425 stores, the two retailers' parent company announced Tuesday that 21 Sears and five Kmart stores will close in late October. According to the statement, liquidation sales are expected to begin around Aug. 15, and eligible associates "will be offered the same number of weeks of severance as offered to employees of Sears Holdings Corporation prior to that company’s Chapter 11 filing in October 2018.” This is the first list of closures the company has posted on its corporate website since Dec.

The South Shore Line plans to periodically bus weekday (Monday-Friday) passengers between Carroll Ave. and the South Bend International Airport while they upgrade track and segments of overhead wire between Michigan City and South Bend. The temporary busing periods will occur Monday, Aug. 12, through Friday, Aug. 16. During this time, weekday train service between Carroll Ave. and South Bend will be suspended, with buses arriving and departing with passengers to match the published Monday-Friday train schedule between Carroll Ave. and South Bend. Busing availability at the South Bend Airport will be limited, therefore westbound passengers are encouraged to board at Carroll Ave.