News

Indiana’s unemployment rate remains at 3.6 percent for April, and the national rate also stands at 3.6 percent. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of 1,349 over the previous month. This was a result of an increase of 29 unemployed residents and an increase of 1,320 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.41 million,

All Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) branches will be closed now through Monday, May 27 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Branches will resume regularly scheduled business hours on Tuesday, May 28. For a complete list of branch locations and hours, to complete an online transaction, or to find a 24-hour BMV Connect kiosk near you visit IN.gov/BMV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given another approval for a drug from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. The approval for Cyramza is for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. The approval is the fifth for Cyramza and the FDA has also removed the boxed warning from the drug's labeling. The treatment, which is administered through an injection, is given to patients who have reached a particular biomarker and have been treated with another drug, sorafenib.

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) recently welcomed student pages to the Statehouse. As House pages, these students toured the Statehouse, helped staff with daily tasks and met with Pressel to learn more about the legislative process. Students were from Boston Middle School, La Porte High School, New Prairie High School, Indiana Academy, a homeschooled student, and Soli Deo Gloria Academy, and there was a homeschooled student.

In observance of Memorial Day, the South Shore Line will operate a weekend/holiday train schedule on Monday. South Shore ticket offices will also observe holiday hours on Monday, with the Millennium Station ticket office open from 9:35 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other ticket offices will be closed. Bike-rack equipped train cars will be available on select weekend/holiday trains from May 25-27. To learn more about Bikes on Trains, including a list of available bike trains, visit https://www.mysouthshoreline.com/plan-your-trip/bikes-on-trains .

Attorney General Curtis Hill filed a lawsuit against members of the Sackler family, alleging that as owners and directors of Purdue Pharma the Sacklers have played a key role in worsening the opioid crisis in Indiana. Purdue Pharma is best known for making and marketing the painkiller OxyContin. In November of 2018, Attorney General Hill filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, alleging the company intentionally understated the health risks of long-term opioid use and deceptively marketed several drugs in ways that violated Indiana law. That matter remains pending in Marion Superior Court. In the lawsuit, the State of Indiana alleges

Pastor Nate Loucks of LaPorte was awarded the 2019 LaPorte County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award at Law Day ceremonies held on May 10th at the LaPorte Circuit Courthouse. The Liberty Bell is awarded annually by the Bar Association to a deserving LaPorte citizen recognized for community service and to a dedication to “good government and civic responsibility.” Pastor Loucks was nominated for the award by Circuit Court Judge Thomas Alevizos, Superior Court No. 4 Judge Greta Friedman and LaPorte attorney Shaw Friedman. Since 2010 in partnership with friends and family, he started the State Street Church and Pax Center.

The Michigan City Police Kiddie Parade will be taking place on Saturday June 22nd. This year’s theme is “Candyland”  so MCPD is urging participants up to age 12 to dress as their favorite candy or a candy theme entry. Trphies and ribbons will be awarded. A host of celebrity judges will present. After the parade ice cream will be served to all participants. Registration begins at 1pm at Healthlinc located at 7th & Franklin St. Treat bags will be given to all participants. Judging will be at 1:15 pm through 1:45 pm. The parade begins at 2pm and runs north

Registration is now available for diabetes education classes from June through September at Franciscan Health Hammond and Dyer. These three-day diabetes education classes are a covered benefit for most individuals with diabetes and are covered by Medicare and most commercial insurance plans. Participants each receive a meal plan individualized to their needs. This comprehensive class is recognized by the American Diabetes Association. For more information or to register, call Lisa Vanna, RN, at (219) 933-2144 or Ashley Kuiper, RN, at (219) 865-2141, ext. 42605. Class schedules are as follows: Hammond         June 4, 5, 6; 9-11 AM        July 9, 10, 11; 2-4

The Michigan City Yacht Club will have their Pancake Breakfast and Blessing of the Boats Memorial Day, Monday May 27th at the pavilion behind the Michigan City Yacht Club & Fish Camp from 8 a.m. – 11am. The Cost is $12 for Adults, $6 for children under 12. Come Together on Memorial Day to honor our lost sailors, bless our local boats, and enjoy the food. The Memorial Service and Blessing of the Boats starts at 10. If you don’t have a boat you may enjoy from the shore from shore. The Memorial Service conducted by Rev. Erika Kilbourne of

Franciscan Health Foundation, on behalf of Franciscan Alliance, has been awarded a three-year, $1.57 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder at Franciscan Health hospitals in Marion and Lake counties. Franciscan Health Foundation has partnered with Prevention Insights, part of the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, on a project to support and expand medication-assisted treatment of patients addicted to opioids. Franciscan stated “MAT is the gold standard of care for patients with opioid use disorder, combining counseling and behavioral therapies with the use

Yesterday,, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) announced the introduction of the Stop for School Buses Act of 2019 (S. 1254). Last year, in Rochester, Indiana, a driver struck and killed three young siblings and injured a fourth student while they were boarding a school bus. This bipartisan legislation requires a comprehensive evaluation of methods to prevent the dangerous and illegal passing of school buses at loading zones. U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives last month. The bipartisan Stop for School Buses Actwould require the National Highway Transportation Safety (NHTSA) to review and

The 2019 Jan Nona Environmental Stewardship Award has been awarded to Daisy Lee, an Environmental Science teacher at Krueger Middle School.  As Director of the Krueger Environmental Learning Center (KELC), Lee has helped students gain hands-on experience with planting trees, preparing walking trails, and collecting soil samples from nearby streams.  KELC has also helped Krueger Middle School reduce their waste from an average of 11 bags per day down to 2 with their compost/recycling program. Lee is helping our future community leaders learn and understand more about our environment and how they can have a hand in helping protect it.

Pete Visclosky is holding Military Academy Night on May 28th 6pm to 8pm at Indiana Northwest Arts and Science Building on the 1st floor, room 1041. Applicants who are from the First Congressional District and interested in military service or attending a U.S. military academy. Students will learn about the educational opportunities and the application process for the following institutions: U.S. Military Academy at West PointU.S. Coast Guard Academy at New LondonU.S. Naval Academy at AnnapolisU.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings PointU.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs Members of the Congressman’s Academy Nomination Board will be available to answer

Porter and LaPorte counties, received the first of their two applications of Gypsy Moth Treatment last week and will receive their second application this week, weather permitting. Weather could delay treatments until the following week. Treatment begins shortly after sunrise but could be delayed until later in the morning or to the next favorable day due to unfavorable weather condition such as morning fog or rain.  Treatment should take about an hour. Detailed maps of the treatment sites and to determine if your property is in the treatment areas and for more information about gypsy moth, see gypsymoth.IN.gov .

The South Shore Line announced that construction is set to begin that will add a second entrance/exit to the East Chicago Station platform. The project is expected to continue through December 2019, and will help accommodate the large influx of passengers at East Chicago Station. The improvements include converting the low-level platform to the east of the station into a covered walkway to access a new head house, stairwell and tunnel leading to the eastern parking lot. Additionally, other East Chicago Station projects include improvements to the existing head house, and the installation in 2020 of higher speed track switches

Now through late June, Eastbound Train 205, departing at 6:48a from Millennium Station to Gary Metro Center, will be canceled due to construction near the East Chicago Station that will impact track availability Recommended alternative service during this period includes eastbound Train 203 or Train 207. 

Effective on July 1st a new Indiana law (S.E.A. 333, P.L. 224) establishes a procedure authorizing licensed medical personnel to obtain a body fluid sample or to retrieve contraband from the body cavity of an individual as part of a criminal investigation, and, grants, with certain exceptions, immunity to medical personnel. Provides a method for certain emergency medical services providers and law enforcement officers who have been exposed to blood or body fluids to obtain the results of a test for a dangerous communicable disease. Establishes a procedure for a court to issue an emergency ex parte order for a

Governor Holcomb announced that Office of Management and Budget Director Micah Vincent will depart from his position and Cris Johnston, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, will replace him. The change is effective June 30. As previously announced, Friday was Jason Dudich’s last day as state budget director. Vincent will take over those responsibilities on an interim basis until a replacement is named. Vincent has accepted a position as vice president, strategy+M&A, with The Heritage Group, in Indianapolis. Among key successes, Vincent assisted with the development of the transportation infrastructure plan approved by the General Assembly in 2017 that fully

The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) honored its cadets with an awards ceremony at MCHS on May 16th. Representatives from numerous organizations presented awards to cadets for accomplishments on their Military Drill, Shooting and Cyber Patriot teams. Additionally, cadets who had excelled scholastically, athletically, in other MCHS extracurricular activities, and in participating in community service and parades and ceremonies were recognized. May is a busy month for the cadets. They have already worked the Barker Craft Show, the Barker Dance, the Pine Elementary Carnival, the Unified Track meet, and the MCHS Senior