News

Tax season is upon us and while that may sound scary to many, dealing with a ghost tax preparer is downright frightening. Ghost tax preparers are dishonest individuals who mislead innocent taxpayers to unintentionally commit tax fraud. Often, ghost preparers promise a big refund or charge fees based on the percentage of the refund, by claiming fake deductions or filing false information to make a quick profit.How does it work? A ghost tax preparer completes a tax return for a customer but will refuse to sign it electronically or manually using their Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Preparer Tax Identification

Several of Indiana's state parks, state-forest and state-recreation properties are looking for volunteers to serve as campground hosts in exchange for free camping during their service.Hosts work a minimum of 20 hours per week. The volunteer period length varies at properties based on the number of applicants and on the amount and type of work required.Properties are looking for dedicated campers who enjoy working outdoors, as well as with people and DNR staff. A complete list of site availability and detailed information about hosting duties is online or you can contact the property where you would like to serve as

In advance of the U.S. 35 (Simcox) overpass deck reconstruction starting next week, INDOT will be temporarily closing northbound lanes on the overpass starting at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, March 1, 2019. The closure is expected to last a couple of hours while they access a manhole.Northbound and southbound traffic will be routed down to one lane each during this time. Trucks and arrow lights will be present to direct traffic. Motorists traveling in the area should anticipate traffic congestion and delays. Drivers are encouraged to take alternate routes.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is announcing two significant recent arrests, both of which occurred on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, along US Highway 20. Just after 1 AM, Deputy Austin Wells initiated a traffic stop on a passenger vehicle on US 20, just east of State Road (SR) 39. Upon Deputy Wells making contact with the three occupants of the vehicle, he summoned a K-9 to the scene. Deputy Andrew Hahn and his K-9 partner Hokie arrived and conducted an investigation resulting in several drugs, and items associated with dealing drugs, being located. All three occupants of the vehicle

All LaPorte County public schools celebrated the National Week of Code December 3rd - 7th by conducting coding activities at every grade level from Pre- K to High School Seniors. Nearly 12,000 students, which is almost 70% of all students in LaPorte County, participated in some capacity! The Hour of Code started as a worldwide effort designed to introduce students to computer science and demystify "computer coding." For the past three years, talented teachers in each school corporation, have participated in some type of coding experience.This year, for the first time, all LaPorte County public school corporations coordinated efforts and

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and other Foreign Relations Committee members on a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan.The letter calls for answers regarding recent media reports that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) transferred U.S. origin weapons to dangerous Yemeni militias, including groups aligned with al Qaeda. If accurate, Saudi Arabia and the UAE could be in violation of U.S. law and be endangering the lives of American service members. The senators requested an immediate

Purdue Northwest will host its 11th annual Senior Academic Super Bowl Invitational for nine Porter County high schools on Wednesday, March 6th on the Westville campus. The event is free and open to the public.The competition will be in the Great Hall at the James B. Dworkin Student Activities Center. Students from nine public Porter County High Schools will compete in the senior-division event. Participating schools are: Boone Grove High School, Chesterton High School, Hebron High School, Kouts High School, Morgan Twp. High School, Portage High School, Valparaiso High School, Washington Twp. High School, and Wheeler High School.The competition theme

On Dec. 28, 2018, Attorney General Curtis Hill announced that Wells Fargo Bank N.A. will pay $575 million to resolve claims that the bank violated state consumer protection laws. As part of a settlement involving all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Indiana will receive $5.2 million. (See earlier release.)Today, Attorney General Hill announced that Wells Fargo has begun a consumer redress review program through which consumers who have not yet been made whole through other remediation programs already in place can seek to have their inquiry or complaint reviewed by a Wells Fargo escalation team for possible relief.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb will lead an economic development trip to Europe next week, visiting key international partners in France, Belgium and Germany. This trip comes after a record-breaking year for international economic development in Indiana, with 47 foreign-owned businesses committing to locate or grow in Indiana, creating up to 6,521 new jobs and investing $3.2 billion – a more than 300 percent increase from 2016 – in the Hoosier state. Indiana is home to 450 European businesses that support more than 113,200 Hoosier jobs across the state. In 2017, businesses exported $9.6 billion of Hoosier-made products to Europe, accounting

Troopers Kevin Doyle and Ala’a Hamed were involved in a pursuit, early this morning, afterwards the alleged driver denied being the driver but keys belonging to the car were found in his underwear. Just before 3 A.M.,Wednesday morning, while patrolling I-80/90 (Indiana Toll Road) east bound near Calumet Avenue they saw an Audi A8 weaving and make several unsafe lane movements.  When they tried to make a traffic stop on the car, it refused to stop and picked up its speed to 140 miles-per-hour. The Audi exited off at the Cline Avenue exit onto west bound Gary Avenue and continued

Michigan City Parks & Recreation Department is currently looking for a supervisor at Patriot Park for the late Spring/Summer Season of Youth Baseball! If you're interested, please reach out directly to Abigale : athayer@emichigancity.com

First Trust Credit Union will once again award EIGHT $1,000 scholarships this year to graduating seniors, based on the geographic location of their high school. Scholarship applications are now available for 2019 graduating seniors pursuing four-year degrees, as well as graduating seniors pursuing an Apprenticeship, Associate Degree, or Certification in a selected field. For a copy of the scholarship application or more information, visit www.firsttrustcu.com/scholarship-information/ or visit a FTCU office.Applications must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee via email to scholarships@firsttrustcu.com or mailed to The Scholarship Committee, c/o First Trust Credit Union, 950 E US Hwy 20, Michigan City, IN 46360, or hand deliver

Tuesday evening at approximately just before 9:30 PM, Deputy Ryan Doperalski was dispatched to the 5000 east block of Miami Trail, reference a suspicious person call for service. During the investigation of Deputy Doperalski, he located a suspicious vehicle possibly associated with the complaint. Deputy Doperalski attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. However, the vehicle fled, and a vehicle pursuit ensued along CR 500 East, CR 1000 North and CR 650 East. Once the vehicle pursuit crossed the Michigan/Indiana state line on CR 650 East, it was terminated.Just before 9:40 PM, Sergeant Jonathan Burger was traveling east

Mayor Ron Meer is proud to announce the City of Michigan City’s recent inclusion in the State of Indiana’s Lead-based paint remediation program which is sponsored by Medicaid and administered through the Indiana State Department of Health. Home owners, Landlords, and Renters who live in a home, or own a home, built before 1978 can receive a free home inspection to determine if the residents are being exposed to lead-based paint hazards. Homes providing child care are also eligible for this service. If lead-based paint exists, this program will also pay for removal of the lead hazard. To be eligible

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that a bridge deck replacement project is set to begin March 4 on U.S. 35 in the City of LaPorte. The bridge, which is adjacent to the courthouse in downtown LaPorte and just north of State Road 2 (Lincoln Way), will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction for the duration of the project. During the first phase, traffic will use the southbound side of the bridge while crews work on the northbound side. The eight-span bridge is approximately 1,100 feet long. The $9.3 million project is set to finish by the

Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) invites artists to apply for its annual art festival. Currently in its 38th year, the Lubeznik Arts Festival (LAF) will take place on August 17th and 18th. This event features fine art and fine craft exhibitors alongside contemporary art galleries, food and interactive family activities. LAF takes place on LCA’s grounds to connect festival-goers to its dynamic programming and exhibitions. All proceeds from this event are invested back in the community. LCA’s galleries are open to the public at no charge, and its programs serve more than 2,000 children each year. LCA will be

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) and Enbridge are partnering to offer summer enrichment camps for middle and high school students interested in learning more about engineering disciplines.The Purdue Northwest Enbridge Summer Engineering Camps will take place in June on the PNW Hammond Campus and will introduce students to fundamental concepts of civil, mechanical, electrical and computer engineering through hands-on, laboratory and classroom experiences. PNW offers engineering degree programs in all four disciplines.Student participants will not only engage in activities that explore various areas of engineering, but learn team building, computer-aided engineering, and decision making. All materials will be provided and attendees

Yesterday, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) reintroduced the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act to address the driver shortage in the trucking and logistics industry, and enhance safety training and job opportunities for young truckers. Five U.S. Senators joined as cosponsors of the bill.Though many states allow individuals to obtain a commercial driver’s license at the age 18, federal law currently prohibits those operators from moving goods from state to state until they are 21. The DRIVE-Safe Act establishes an apprenticeship program that would allow for the legal operation of a commercial motor

College graduates have just over a month to apply for the 2019-2020 Governor’s Fellowship. Applications will be accepted through March 31.The Governor’s Fellowship is a highly selective program that provides a unique look at Indiana state government by placing fellows in various state agencies throughout the year.The program is a paid, full-time fellowship and is open to college graduates who receive their bachelor’s degrees in either the fall 2018 or spring 2019.The application and submission guidelines can be found online at www.in.gov/gov/fellowship.htm. To be eligible for consideration, the application and all supporting materials must be postmarked or submitted via email by

Wanatah resident 54 year old Patrick Devereaux, pled guilty to unemployment insurance fraud in LaPorte County Circuit Court on Jan. 23rd. Through the use of agency records, an Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) employee began an investigation and determined that Devereaux was working and receiving wages while claiming unemployment insurance benefits. Devereaux was sentenced to 30 months of probation and ordered to repay DWD $11,941 for the benefits he fraudulently collected.DWD receives wage reports and new hire data from Hoosier employers documenting who is employed and receiving compensation. The agency uses this information to ensure people are not collecting