News

Yesterday, the Indiana State Department of Health and Indiana Family and Social Services Administration acted on direction from Governor Eric J. Holcomb to improve access to and the affordability of tobacco cessation products for Hoosiers wanting to quit smoking or using tobacco.Monday morning at Eskenazi Health Center West, 38th Street, State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, issued a standing order effective Aug. 1 allowing Hoosiers to purchase tobacco cessation products at Indiana pharmacies without having to obtain an individual prescription. Indiana becomes only the 12th state with a policy or standing order allowing pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation products,

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security announced that it’s now accepting applications for the Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG), a matching state grant dedicated to safety initiatives at Hoosier schools. The grant application is open through Aug. 2. Public school corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools or a coalition of school corporations and/or charter schools applying jointly are eligible to apply for the matching grants of up to $100,000, based on the average daily membership of the school entity. To apply by the Aug. 2 application deadline, schools first must identify a system administrator for the IntelliGrants grant management system

The Unity Foundation of La Porte Presented the annual Clarence Weinkauff, Jr. award winner. This year The Weinkauff Family celebrated 20 years of presenting the award. The Clarence Weinkauff, Jr. Grant Fund promotes the 4-H swine program and the breeding of swine in La Porte County. Each year, the fund awards a $500 grant to a 4-H member to reward the extra effort and passion that goes along with breeding and raising swine – even if the livestock does not win the competition. Students apply for the award through an essay submitted to the local 4H extension office prior to

Indiana State Police responded to a 911 call of a crash at the 3 mile marker of Interstate 80 eastbound.  Preliminary Investigation by Trooper William Stancy indicates that a 2001 Toyota Sienna minivan, being driven by Kylie Justice, 22, of Gary, was traveling eastbound when for unknown reasons it swerved and struck the concrete barrier wall near the 3 mile marker in Hammond, Indiana.  Judging by tire marks and other evidence from the scene, it is believed that after striking the center barrier wall, the vehicle traveled back into the roadway and across all 5 lanes before hitting the outer

On Saturday night, Trooper Alissa Partyka made a traffic stop on a 2000 Chrysler Sebring on U.S. 12 and Clay Street in Gary for a traffic violation. The Sebring initially stopped in a gravel lot east of Clay Street but then slowly began to drive away. 43 year old Arthuro B. Smith of Gary, drove around the police car and then fled east on U.S. 12. As Smith was east on U.S. 12 he drove into the westbound lane and Partyka pulled her police car alongside the Sebring. Smith steered his car to the right and hit Partyka’s police car

Following a meeting held with department heads and elected officials Friday morning, LaPorte County Commission President Dr. Vidya Kora announced that “decryption” of the county’s data began late Thursday and steps are being taken to reduce the chances of any future “ransomware attack” as occurred on Saturday, July 6th. Said Dr. Kora, “this particular virus – RYUK – that was used by the bad actors in this attack was particularly insidious in that it jumped over all our firewalls and was able to penetrate backup servers. Even after conferring with the FBI’s cyber security unit to determine if their decryption

INDOT announced that paving operations will begin Monday on State Road 933 in South Bend. Crews will start Monday on the section between Angela Boulevard and Douglas Road, beginning with right lanes both northbound and southbound. Tuesday, work will be on the left lanes in both directions and Wednesday crews will pave the center turn lane. Following that section, the operation will move north with paving to be done in the same format between Douglas Road and Cleveland Road. Following that, crews will pave the area between Darden Road and Auten Road. These three sections are anticipated to fully wrap

INDOT announced that State Road 51 in Lake County is closing Monday at the intersection with U.S. 30. Crews will be making drainage repairs from U.S. 30 to about 500 feet north of U.S. 30. Traffic on U.S. 30 will not be affected by the closure. The road is anticipated to reopen by early August.

Some northern Indiana youth are set to learn environmental awareness and skills thanks to the C.O. Mollenhour Conservation Camp on McClures Lake near Silver Lake. Indiana conservation officers along with a council of dedicated volunteers will help host the event, which will be divided into boys and girls camps. The boys camp will run through July 19, and girls camp will be July 21-26. The camp was established in 1938 and is celebrating 81 years of educating young people on environmental and conservation awareness. While at camp, each participant will be certified in hunter and boater education, learn tree stand

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 2500, a partisan version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would harm military readiness: “Congress’ most important responsibility is to provide for the national defense and support our brave men and women in uniform. Sadly, the NDAA passed by the House today falls short of these goals and breaks a longstanding tradition of bipartisan cooperation. “While the Senate passed its bill with overwhelming support from both parties, House Democratic leaders offered a partisan proposal that underfunds our national defense, undercuts military readiness, and reverses prohibitions on

Indiana’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program continues to shine as a national leader among its peers, earning a prestigious award for the fifth consecutive year.JAG Indiana, which is administered by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), received the “5 of 5” Award July 10 at a national JAG conference in Orlando, Florida. The award recognizes the Indiana program for exceeding five goals set at the national level relating to graduation rates, post-secondary education, job placement and other significant milestones.

Shortly after midnight Thursday morning, Travis Hornett, an Indiana Department of Corrections offender, who walked away from custody in the afternoon of July 10th was captured. Hornett had in his possession, when he was captured, a backpack that he acquired by unknown means while he was fleeing. It is believed he came into possession of the backpack from one of the local beaches in the area. Indiana State Police Detective Mike Bailey is asking anyone who may be missing a backpack and the contents inside please contact him at 219-690-0039. Hornett, was ultimately tracked to a vacant home he had

The Michigan City Urban Enterprise Association will be holding their monthly board meeting on Monday, July 15, 2019 at 6 pm.  It will be held at 601 Franklin Street, Suite 100, Michigan City, Indiana. The public is invited to attend.

In outlining Indiana’s 2019 Year-End Report, which highlights the state’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, Auditor of State Tera Klutz, CPA, announced Indiana ended FY19 with a budget surplus of $410 million allowing the state to close the books without utilizing reserves.The Year-End Report, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, shows Indiana maintaining reserves of approximately $2.3 billion or 13.9% of current year expenditures, representing an increase from FY2018. 

Governor Holcomb recently proposed using nearly 300 million dollar to pay down debt and make major project investments according to a press release. Holcomb wants several one-time capital projects and to finish the free-flow of U.S. Hwy. 31 from South Bend to Indianapolis. According to the statement, the state would maintain fiscally responsible reserves of nearly $2 billion or 12.2 percent of expenditures after putting aside money for the following capital projects:         $50 million for the swine barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds        $73 million for the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine teaching

In the Portage area beginning at 6:00 am on Monday, July 15th a crew will be closing down the north and south bound drive lanes (lanes closest to the curb) on Willowcreek Road from Central Avenue all the way to U.S. Hwy 6.They will be removing the curbing and approaches at all the intersections to install handicap ramps.There will be traffic congestion due to the work/upgrades and lane restrictions. 

La Porte Hospital is hosting another Taste of Wellness Event, this time at its Lifeworks Campus at 3777 Frontage Road in Michigan City.  This free event, open to the community will be held on Thursday, August 1 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The interactive health and wellness event will include healthy food tastings, ask-a-doctor booths, free health screenings, interactive demonstrations, and other health education opportunities.  Participants will also have an opportunity to meet some or the newest members of La Porte Physician Network.  Registration is encouraged but not required.  Register by calling 888-840-8204 or visit laportehealthfair.comThis community health education event is

According to a press release sent out Thursday, Mayor Ron Meer and the Project Steering Committee have heard concerns and points of view about the Michigan City Plaza that "need to be taken into consideration before moving forward" and because of this, Mayor Meer has asked for the resolution for the bonding of the Michigan City Plaza be withdrawn at this time. The statement says they will continue their outreach and community wide discussions regarding the Michigan City Plaza for all to be heard.  They also stated they will engage additional community partners to ensure financial sustainability of the project and

Gov. Eric Holcomb has proclaimed July 2019 as Lakes Appreciation Month. Lakes and reservoirs are among Indiana’s most valuable natural resources and need to be protected for future generations. They provide drinking water, irrigation, energy, recreation, scenic beauty and wildlife habitat. You can assist Indiana and its partners by participating in the Secchi Dip-In, which helps to track water transparency trends and changing water quality. If you would like to participate in the celebration of Indiana’s lakes, check out the North American Lakes Management Society website: www.nalms.org

On July 11th, at around just after 12:30 pm, Chief Todd Taylor, of the Chikaming Township Police Department was dispatched to an address on Victor Ave., concerning a recovery on the beach of Lake Michigan. Chief Taylor arrived on scene and met with Deputy Andrea Crosby, of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, New Buffalo Township patrol, on the beach. On the beach was the body of an unidentified black male subject. While conducting the investigation, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Officer Tyler Brock arrived on scene and identified the body as the missing 17-year-old subject, Rahem L. Mason, who