News

It is with profound sadness that the La Porte Police Department announces the passing of Police Service Dog Rambo “Bo” on Friday, March 15, 2019, after a courageous battle with lymphoma cancer. Rambo served the department for 5 years as a dual-purpose narcotics and patrol utility canine. Rambo, a German Shepherd Dog/Belgian Malinois mix, was born in the country of Belgium in 2012. He was acquired by the department in 2013 from Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania, and was assigned to handler La Porte Police Specialist Matt Drangmeister. The duo trained with Midwest K9 and was certified through the National

During the past several months, the La Porte County Drug Task Force has received multiple citizen complaints in reference to suspected drug activity that was occurring at 912 Ridge Street in La Porte, Indiana. The La Porte County Drug Task Force was able to infiltrate the drug trafficking organization that was being conducted out of the residence. A search warrant was obtained for 912 Ridge Street as a result of this investigation. During the early morning hours of Tuesday March 19th, 2019; the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed the search warrant at 912 Ridge Street.

The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) has received a favorable rating of Medium High for its West Lake Corridor Project. The rating was released Friday as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Annual Report. To advance to receive funding in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) Capital Investment Grant Program a project must receive a rating of Medium, or higher. NICTD is leading the effort with its funding partners from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority (RDA) and the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA). Over the next year, NICTD will select a firm to design the project, commence real estate

Get ready for the 21st Annual Michiana Humane Society Spring Fling. This year the theme is "Spring Time in Paris", and it will be held at Traditions Event Center at 2107 Welnetz Road, in Michigan City on Saturday, April 13. There will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and live music beginning at 5pm central, dinner by Froehlich's beginning at 6:30pm, and a live auction conducted by Scheerer McCulloch Auctioneers at 8pm. You can now buy tickets online at www.michianahumanesociety.org, mail your RSVP to the shelter, or call the shelter with your information. All proceeds benefit the homeless animals at Michiana Humane Society &

The Michigan City, Refuse Department will conduct its Annual Spring Clean-Up beginning on March 26, 2018. The Refuse Department requests that all residents separate the debris that is to be discarded into the following three (3) categories: Brush, limbs, shrubs, yard waste, and unpainted concrete (no black-top rubble); Rugs, lumber, furniture, mattress, and box-springs; and Appliances and tires.  Tires can be rimmed or un-rimmed, and appliances include items such as stoves, refrigerators, air conditions, water tanks, etc. Please keep the above items separated as described above.  Residents may place items on curbside or in the alleys, whichever is most convenient.

The Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department announces that beginning Mon, April 1, Washington Park 2019 parking stickers will be issued at the North Pointe Pavilion in Washington Park, 6 on the Lake, Michigan City, IN  46360. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 am-4 pm (excluding holidays), and on Saturdays from 9 am-12 noon beginning May 4th through July 27th. Stickers will be available at the Michigan City Senior Center FOR ONE DAY ONLY during their annual Trash & Treasure Sale to be held on Saturday, March 30th from 8am-12noon.  The Sale itself will continue until 1:00pm

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) will offer its first Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Summer Camp weekdays from Monday, July 8 through Friday, July 19 on the Hammond Campus. The PNW Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will host the camp, which will offer high school students the opportunity to learn AI/ML concepts and implement them in fun game-based programming platforms. Participants will discover the science and engineering that runs their technology, and see how AI/ML techniques have improved many professional fields and created a number of job opportunities in the last few years. Camp details. The two-week session will last from

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that nearly 3,400 Hoosiers will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 1,100 will die as a result of the disease this year. Screening and early detection can save lives, and screening does not have to be expensive or uncomfortable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is urging Hoosiers to get regular screenings and make healthy lifestyle choices to reduce their risks of developing the disease, which is the third-most commonly diagnosed cancer among

La Porte Hospital is opening the doors to its chapel for another “First Friday” concert.  On April 5, at noon, the musical ensemble, Knit Together will be playing and singing its popular southern gospel and folk music.  Instruments to be played for this performance include the soprano, baritone, and concert ukulele and a rain stick. Members of the group include Wayne and Lori Stefano, a local couple who have been married for nineteen years as well as Tammy Glanser who is married to her husband Gary.  The Glansers are proud parents of three children and many grandchildren. Selections for the

The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) is warning taxpayers to be on alert when getting phone calls claiming they have unpaid tax bills. These phone calls are often scams designed to threaten individuals with some sort of law enforcement or legal action in order to get them to send money towards bogus tax bills. The federal government’s Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reports that 14,700 victims have paid more than $72 million as a result of phone scams since 2013. Customers should be aware that DOR and the IRS will never: Call demanding immediate payment using a specific

The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) launched a joint Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign addressing a nationwide telephone impersonation scheme. Social Security and the OIG continue to receive reports from across the country about fraudulent phone calls from people falsely claiming to be Social Security employees. Calls can even “spoof” Social Security’s national customer service number as the incoming number on the caller ID. The new PSAs will air on TV and radio stations across the country to alert the public to remain vigilant against potential fraud. Social Security employees do occasionally contact

Nearly 200 high-school students from across the state competed in 10 different categories at the 11th annual Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Career Development Conference in Indianapolis on March 15.The event was the culmination of months of regional competitions, which focused on several disciplines critical to future employment. The top students in each category from the regional competitions advanced to the state competition in Indianapolis for a chance to earn monetary awards by showcasing the employability skills they have learned through the program. JAG is a state-based, national not-for-profit organization that assists high-school students by helping them overcome academic challenges

The South Shore Line advises passengers it will be re-configuring and re-striping the East Chicago Station parking lot this Saturday, and possibly through Sunday. During this time, the western portion of the East Chicago parking lot (including the Indianapolis Boulevard entrance/exit) will be closed for pavement re-striping. During the closure, passengers must use the Michigan Street parking lot entrance/exit, as parking will only be available in the eastern portion of the lot. Beginning Monday, March 25, a new parking configuration will be in effect in the area directly south of the station, and passengers are advised to use caution and

Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness, law enforcement, and road construction industry partners yesterday to kick off the 2019 Next Level Roads construction season. The kickoff event was held at INDOT's Office of Materials Management in Indianapolis. The office develops, inspects and tests materials used to construct and maintain highways to ensure products used are efficient and effective. INDOT is embarking on its second full year of delivering Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Roads plan, which leverages long-term, sustainable funding to make record-setting investments in Indiana’s transportation system. More than 1,100 projects are scheduled for

From the Michigan City Police “There has been some misinformation regarding sharps or needle disposal in LaPorte county. Unfortunately although we collect unwanted and unused prescription we cannot accept sharps or needles.” The MCPD Facebook post provides a list collection sites that are free to all LaPorte county residents. MCPD also stated “If you have sharps it is preferred that you collect them in empty detergent bottles until the collection dates come around.”

The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced yesterday that several of its creative placemaking initiatives are highlighted in a report from the National Governor’s Association (NGA). Rural Prosperity through the Arts & Creative Sector: a Rural Action Guide for Governor’s and States, describes in detail the principles of arts-based rural development. The publication highlights successful, high-profile examples of rural communities and regions that have become more economically resilient through creative sector initiatives. Specifically, the report features examples of creative sector initiatives attuned to the assets and needs of rural communities; initiatives that work best as part of rural area economic development

Yesterday, Indiana American Water announced an all -party settlement agreement regarding its rate request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) . The agreement is subject to approval by the IURC. Indiana American Water has invested more than $542 million in its water systems across the state to ensure reliable service to its customers. The agreement includes a 7.9 percent overall increase in operating revenues, primarily based on that investment. If approved by the IURC, the increases to water rates will be implemented in steps, with the first increase this summer of 1.73 percent and a second increase in mid-2020

Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell Post will be conducting a sobriety check point at an undisclosed location in Lake County on Thursday, March 21st, 2019. Drivers passing through the checkpoint area should have their license and registration available and will only wait briefly while troopers determine whether further investigation is necessary. Hoosiers are asked to help do their part in making Indiana roadways safer by observing the following tips: Plan ahead and always use a designated driver. Don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle if you’ve been consuming alcoholic beverages. Instead, call a taxi, a family member