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The Valparaiso Police Department arrested two subjects yesterday, stemming from an investigation initiated by a traffic stop. The vehicle, operated by 43 year old Chad Prince, of South Bend was stopped for various traffic violations, including a loud muffler and illegal lane usage. During the contact, Prince was deceptive with officers regarding his actions and admitted having a suspended driver’s license. It was also learned that Prince had provided a false name to officers during the initial investigation. A department K9 was utilized and alerted to the presence of a narcotic odor emitting from the vehicle. The subsequent search of

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced yesterday  that the Senate has unanimously passed his legislation, the National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act. This bill will update and modernize the charter for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to better reflect agriculture education in the 21st Century. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act updates the FFA’s charter to allow for regional diversity among student officer vice presidents. Additionally, the legislation provides governing flexibility for national officers in order to reduce operational delays caused by vacant

This past Wednesday night, Officer Petrie was dispatched to the Save-A-Lot gas station, located at 1811 Franklin Street, in reference to a Robbery that had just taken place in the parking lot. Upon his arrival he located the 49-year-old female victim. She reported she had exited the gas station and had just returned to her vehicle when a man approached her and grabbed her purse. A struggle over the purse ensued which caused injury to her. The man ultimately obtained the purse and fled on foot to his vehicle which was parked a few blocks away. The victim was able

South Shore Line service updates will be in effect to accommodate passengers wishing to attend the Chicago Auto Show taking place Feb. 9-18 at McCormick Place.An eastbound passenger extra will run on Saturday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 16. The train will depart McCormick Place at 4:52 p.m., run non-stop to Hegewisch and make all local stops terminating at Carroll Avenue, Michigan City. This train will not serve Hudson Lake or South Bend. For information on weekday trains making flag stops at the McCormick Place Station from Feb. 11-15 and Feb. 18 visit the South Shore website by clicking on

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded nearly $23 million to support new homeless programs across Indiana. The amount awarded reflects an increase of nearly $3.4 million from the amount awarded last year. Last month, HUD also announced nearly $18.4 million in grants to renew funding to 82 of local homeless assistance programs throughout Indiana.  Combined, this funding represents a record investment to support state and local efforts across the nation to reduce and end homelessness. HUD Secretary Ben Carson made the announcement in Akron, Ohio Friday during a visit to the Battered Women's Shelter, a HUD-assisted local

Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor former U.S. Representative John David Dingell, Jr., the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history. Flags should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents across the state to lower their flags to half-staff to honor him.

This past Wednesday night, Officer Petrie was dispatched to the Save-A-Lot gas station, located at 1811 Franklin Street, in reference to a Robbery that had just taken place in the parking lot. Upon his arrival he located the 49-year-old female victim. She reported she had exited the gas station and had just returned to her vehicle when a man approached her and grabbed her purse. A struggle over the purse ensued which caused injury to her. The man ultimately obtained the purse and fled on foot to his vehicle which was parked a few blocks away. The victim was able

Sunny, with a high near 23 degrees. Partly cloudy, with a low around 14 degrees in the evening.

Honda Manufacturing of Indiana recently awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a grant for$7,500 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 processed meat will then be given to area hunger-relief agencies. Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry is asking area hunters and farmers to take their large game or livestock to a participating meat processor. The donation will be processed, packaged and frozen at no cost (plus, farmers may write off the fair market value on their taxes). Local hunger-relief agencies

Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced yesterday that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new toolkit to help support the deployment of high-speed broadband e-Connectivity in rural communities. The e-Connectivity Toolkit features 27 USDA programs that support broadband deployment. The easy-to-use resource is a simple guide that allows customers to identify their type of e-Connectivity project and locate resources the federal government offers for planning, equipment, construction, research and other e-Connectivity projects. Resources such as grants, loans and technical assistance are available from multiple Mission Areas at USDA, including Rural Development, National

A wrong-way driver caused a serious crash on the Indiana Toll Road, near the 3.8 mile marker eastbound, early Thursday morning. The preliminary investigation indicated that around 4:48 a.m. a Dodge passenger car was travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road near mile marker 3.8. A Honda SUV driven by 43 year old Juan Salazar of Chicago was travelling eastbound in the far left lane when the Dodge collided head-on with the Honda, blocking all eastbound lanes. Salazar was transported to St. Margaret’s Hospital in Hammond, IN with non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the Honda, 52

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced yesterday that the Senate has unanimously passed his legislation, the National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act. This bill will update and modernize the charter for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) to better reflect agriculture education in the 21st Century. The legislation now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The National FFA Organization's Federal Charter Amendments Act updates the FFA’s charter to allow for regional diversity among student officer vice presidents. Additionally, the legislation provides governing flexibility for national officers in order to reduce operational delays caused by vacant

Last Friday evening, Franciscan Health Hospital, Michigan City campus, contacted the Sheriff’s Office regarding an injured 8 week old infant. Hospital officials advised the infant was being transported to the University of Chicago Medicine – Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office were immediately notified and activated. Throughout last weekend, detectives continued to investigate the matter surrounding the injury to the infant. On Tuesday, it was medically determined the infant had no brain activity and officially declared dead at 11:41 AM. Detectives continue to investigate, and the matter is now being

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred during the late evening hours on Wednesday. Just after 10 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the Family Express, located at 7687 West US 20, (this is at the corner of Johnson Road) for an armed robbery. Three subjects approached the front of the business. One subject held the door open while the two other subjects entered. The two subjects jumped onto the counter and then over into the employee area. One of the subjects was armed with a hammer. The subjects ordered the clerk to open the

The Indiana State Board of Education (Board) met yesterday for its monthly business meeting.The Board considered intervention for Wendell Phillips Elementary School. The school, part of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), is known as Matchbook Learning at Wendell Phillips 63 and has received six consecutive F ratings. The Board unanimously approved IPS’s proposed plan to improve the school through the creation of an innovation network school operated by Matchbook Learning.Members voted unanimously to approve Gov. Holcomb’s request to name Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski as executive director of the Board. She will serve in a dual role, continuing her work as senior

Oral health is a key component fighting the opioid epidemic, and dental professionals and their patients in Indiana are encouraged to take a more proactive role in prevention. Dentists and oral surgeons write 12 percent of all opioid prescriptions. While often necessary to combat dental pain, opioids come with a high risk of misuse and addiction. That's why UnitedHealthcare Dental is focusing on reducing painkiller prescriptions and promoting proper use. As Chief Dental Officer for the company, Dr. Ted Wong explains there are other alternatives to manage pain. Following C-D-C recommendations, first-time opioid prescriptions written by UnitedHealthcare Dental health professionals

A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -10. 

The Michigan City Police Released the following information and statement on strategies towards reducing neighborhood gun violence:“The Michigan City Police Department announces our strategies towards reducing neighborhood gun violence. To accomplish this mission it is very important that we mobilize the community to accomplish this goal. We ask that city residents assist us by reporting suspicious behavior. Outlined below are strategies that we have implemented. Please share your thoughts, thank you.” 1. Citywide strategy involving Law Enforcement personnel, government officials, schools, minister / pastor alliances, and most importantly family engagement through responsible parenting. Family engagement is a very important component

South Shore Line will be offering 10% discounts on monthly passes during the month of March.During the polar vortex, South Shore Line services were suspended for several days due to the extreme temperatures. Crews ran tests throughout the day and night during this time to determine whether rail lines were safe. Unfortunately, the record-breaking temperatures caused problems ranging from downed electrical lines on South Shore Line’s tracks to damage on Metra Electric District tracks that the SSL runs on in Illinois, resulting in cancelled service on both train lines. Metra and South Shore Line crews worked around the clock to

Portage Police say they received a report of some form of a disturbance involving a gun at a residence on Airport Road, arriving police observed that Kyle Elementary had students at recess and instructed the school to bring the kids inside and initiate a lockdown. They also established a line of police officers across the edge of the school grounds. Chief Troy Williams stated, “ It’s my understanding PTS instructed their other schools to also go on lockout.”After speaking with a woman and her brother, another male subject who was initially reported to be present had left prior to officers'