News

Franciscan Health and Beacon Health System will break ground on the $21.6 million Franciscan Beacon Hospital at 9 a.m. CST (10 a.m. EST) Nov. 9 at the Beacon Medical Group building at 900 I St., LaPorte. The hospital is scheduled to open in early 2020. Franciscan Beacon Hospital will comprise 27,803 square feet of new construction and include a 19,086 square foot renovation of the current Beacon Medical Group building. The hospital will feature a full-service, 10-bed emergency department, eight inpatient beds, laboratory services and telehealth connectivity, as well as state of the art imaging and diagnostic equipment. Franciscan Health

The NFL announced The Bears home game on Sunday, November 18 has changed times. The Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears game will move from 1 PM ET to 8:20 PM ET / 7:20 CT.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on its review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Double Track NWI (DT-NWI) Project. This is a significant milestone for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) that gives them the green light to continue developing this regionally transformational Project. The Project will result in reduced travel time, more frequent train service, improved safety, and expanded connectivity between northwest Indiana and Chicago. The DT-NWI Project will provide NICTD with the ability to add trains to meet the demands of growing ridership

The 2018-2019 deer hunting seasons are as follows: Reduction Zone: Sept. 15, 2018-Jan. 31, 2019 (where open) Youth Season: Sept. 29-30, 2018 Archery: Oct. 1, 2018-Jan. 6, 2019 Firearm: Nov. 17-Dec. 2, 2018 Muzzleloader: Dec. 8-23, 2018 Special Antlerless: Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 6, 2019 (where open) A full list of season dates, bag limits, and legal equipment can be found on the deer-hunting question and answers page. ( https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/7389.htm ) A valid Indiana deer hunting license (see page 27 of hunting guide for license types), resident youth hunt/trap, or comprehensive lifetime hunting license is required to hunt for deer unless you meet

Attorney General Curtis Hill announced yesterday that his office, working in conjunction with the office of United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman of the Western District of Kentucky, has obtained a $5.1 million settlement with two dental firms. The settlement resolves claims that ImmediaDent of Indiana LLC improperly billed Indiana Medicaid for dental services in its nine dental practices in Indiana. The other firm involved in the settlement, Samson Dental Partners LLC, provides administrative and other support services to ImmediaDent. The companies are accused of submitting false claims for payment to Indiana’s Medicaid program between Jan. 1, 2009, and Sept.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced the wind-down of certain underperforming store locations as part of its ongoing strategic reassessment. To focus on its most profitable stores and improve the overall health of its store portfolio, the company will: -Close 20 U.S. stores. Most associates at these stores will be extended opportunities to transition to a similar role at a nearby Lowe’s store. The majority of impacted stores are located within 10 miles of another Lowe’s store. -Close 31 Canadian stores and other locations. Lowe’s expects to close the impacted stores by the end of the company’s 2018 fiscal year (Feb. 1,

Via ISHAA: "In the school’s first ever appearance in the state finals, North Judson-San Pierre made it count with a 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21) victory over Christian Academy of Indiana in the Class 2A championship match. At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, named Lauren Cox of North Judson-San Pierre High School as the winner of the Class 2A Mental Attitude Award. She becomes the first female student-athlete from North Judson to receive an IHSAA Mental Attitude Award and the first Bluejay since Matt Vessely won for Class A

The Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum features Robert Costa, a national political reporter for The Washington Post, at 4 p.m. CST, Sunday, Nov. 11 in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex located at 1401 S. U.S. Highway 421 on the Westville Campus. The doors open at 3 p.m. Hosting prominent speakers has been the cornerstone of the Sinai Forum's renowned 65-year history. Executive Director Leslie Plesac said The Forum is designed to give audiences a unique opportunity to hear noted speakers and pose questions in a town-hall style format. "Having a political journalist of Robert Costa's caliber

This past Friday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly highlighted a troubling new report from March of Dimes that shows significant geographical disparities in maternity care access in Indiana and across the country. According to the report, 52 Hoosier counties have limited access to maternity care, which means they have few hospitals offering obstetric care and minimal obstetric providers. Further, 25 of these counties are maternity care deserts with no hospitals providing obstetric care, no obstetric providers, and a high proportion of women without health insurance. This can result in Hoosier women being forced to drive long distances for care or unable

The Indiana Adoption Program and Department of Child Services are partnering with the Indiana Supreme Court to share stories of children finding loving and permanent homes across the state.     Each November, in honor of National Adoption Month, state agencies work to spread the word about children waiting to find their forever homes. Again this year, the Indiana Supreme Court has authorized judges across the state to open their courtroom doors to cameras to allow the public to witness and celebrate adoptions being finalized. Most of these special events will take place on or around national adoption day on Nov. 17, 2018.    “The month of November is an

The Indiana State Police are investigating by the request of the Michigan City Police Department an alleged threat to the Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer On Friday November 2, 2018, at approximately 2:12 p.m., the Michigan City Police Department was dispatched to City Hall, located at 100 E. Michigan Boulevard, reference an emergency 911 call that was received from the mayor’s office Officers (Michigan City, Trail Creek and Long Beach Police) upon arrival were advised by Mayor Meer that Rodney McCormick, 51 of Michigan City, had made verbal threats to him while he was present in the hallway of city

All veterans are invited to ride the South Shore Line for free through the weekend of November 9-11, 2018, and on Veterans Day (November 11), observed November 12. As train personnel walk through the train, please let them know that you are a veteran or active military personnel, and they will provide you a ride at no charge. No identification will be required. On Veterans Day, Monday, November 12, trains will follow the regular weekday train schedule. Up to three children 13 years of age and under may ride free with each veteran on off- peak weekday and all weekend

The Unity Foundation of La Porte County has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a grant totaling $1,500 to fund processing fees on donated large game and livestock. This grant was made possible through the generosity of the Fred & Helen Brust Community Fund. These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for donations of large game and livestock within La Porte County. Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to the “Meat” the Need program, raises financial support to pay processing fees on these donations,

This past Friday U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) applauded new policies announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to address the opioid crisis by encouraging the use of non-opioid alternatives. “The opioid epidemic is a serious crisis that impacts every community, which is why I’ve been working to find commonsense solutions like improving access to non-opioid alternatives,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Last week, the president signed bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid epidemic, including my bill named in honor of Dr. Todd Graham. Today’s announcement is an important first step to build on Dr. Graham’s legacy by breaking

Shortly before 12:30 pm on Friday, police agencies in Clark County were alerted by residents near Borden, of a possible plane crash in a wooded area nearby. Emergency Responders arrived at the rural wooded area to find a debris field from the reported crash. After it was determined there were no survivors at the crash site it was secured by police officers. The National Transportation Safety Board, (NTSB), and Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), arrived to assume the lead role in the crash investigation. The Clark County Airport located in Sellersburg, confirmed a flight left their airport at 11:24 am, enroute

Beach access at Portage Lakefront is closed due to the trail to the beach being washed out by storm waves. However, all other areas at Portage Lakefront & Riverwalk remain open.

According to the Michigan City Police, Michigan City Animal Control Service Kennels located on MC Central Maintenance property, the gate to access the Drop-Off Cages on the exterior of the kennels will be locked between 3pm-7am Monday - Friday, and closed on weekends, if you or someone you know found a dog or cat and intended to drop-off and it's during these hours, please bring the animal to the Michigan City Police Department, either the police or Animal Control staff will make arrangements for care & transport.

Indiana American Water is joining Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson today to break ground on an $8.5 million large-diameter transmission main project in Gary, Ind. Company officials are providing information on more than $127 million of water system infrastructure investment in northwest Indiana.

The Unity Foundation of La Porte County has awarded Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry a grant totaling $1,500 to fund processing fees on donated large game and livestock. This grant was made possible through the generosity of the Fred & Helen Brust Community Fund. These funds will be used to assist Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry in paying processing fees for donations of large game and livestock within La Porte County. Founded in 2011, Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry encourages the donation of large game and livestock to the “Meat” the Need program, raises financial support to pay processing fees on these donations,

The Exchange Club of LaPorte County Indiana, Sauers Buick, Big Ford, and LaPorte Chrysler have partnered to support the housing of homeless veterans in Indiana. Through Veterans Matter and the Exchange Club of LaPorte County Indiana, each dealership will donate $11.00 per car sold for the month of November. Veterans Matter is a nationwide Non-Profit organization that works with the Veterans Administration (VA) to house homeless Veterans and their families. Here in Indiana, over 200 Veterans and their families have been housed due to the leadership of the Indiana Chair Person, John Mellencamp. The same day Mellencamp became chairperson of