News

  La Porte Hospital and community officials turned over the first shovels of dirt where the new La Porte Hospital will be built over the next two years, during a community celebration with about 300 people in attendance. The momentous occasion marks the beginning of the first hospital to be built in La Porte since the current facility opened in 1972. Guided by the theme Look Forward, hospital, city, and community officials spoke about building on a legacy of healthcare in La Porte, and pledged to remain focused on building a healthy future for the community. “Today’s celebration is an

Attorney General Curtis Hill this week joined 51 other state and territorial attorneys general in a letter urging Congress to pass legislation aimed at curtailing overdoses caused by use of fentanyl analogues. The Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act aims to close a loophole through which drug traffickers may evade laws against fentanyl distribution by peddling substances that – while technically different in specific makeup from fentanyl – are designed to mimic the drug’s effects.

At its Annual Update Luncheon on September 12, 2018, Unity Foundation of La Porte County will support more than 80 local nonprofit projects by awarding over $138,000 in grant funding. Doors will open at 11:00 am for lunch and registration & the program will begin at 11:30 am. Unity board members will share a year in review and highlight milestone events that occurred with Unity’s help in 2017-2018. Guest speakers, Peggy Thomas, Principal at Edgewood Elementary, and Fonda Owens, Director at La Porte County Library, will share how Unity has impacted them and those they serve. Community “Power for Good”

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) this week in introducing legislation to improve the coordination of U.S. government efforts to reduce violence and instability in fragile countries. According to a press release, fragile states can often become threats to U.S. national security because their governments are seen as ineffective or illegitimate by their citizens. The risk of terrorism, violent conflict, criminal activity, and corruption are high in fragile states. Violent conflict also drives global displacement, with 68,500,000 people forcibly displaced around the world. S.3368, the Global

Last week, a 16 year old was detained and charged in Chesterton with Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass, arson, and multiple counts of burglary, all as a juvenile, after damaging and vandalizing the facility of the Residences Coffee Creek that was under construction. This occurred following two nights of vandalism at the same location. The third night officers stationed at the location pursued the subject who fled on foot and was apprehended.

Are you a caregiver for an older adult? Are you looking for helpful information? Lunch & Learn: Education Programs for Caregivers of Older Adults is sponsored by REAL Services, Inc. and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, a division of Real Services, Inc. This free series allows busy caregivers to learn about many caregiving topics and network with fellow caregivers. Monthly sessions will now be held on the first Tuesday of each month, from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. The topics in this series are: September 4, Navigating Medicare Part D and the Insurance Maze; October 2, Understanding Veteran’s Benefits.

With a dig of 12 ceremonial shovels, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) officially broke ground on its $40 million Bioscience Innovation Building Thursday (Aug. 23). University officials, along with local and state representatives, celebrated the monumental moment with students, faculty and staff as the fall semester began this week. State Rep. Hal Slager (R-Schererville), who made education one of his priorities since elected to the Indiana General Assembly in 2012, was one of the guest speakers. Slager championed the project at the statehouse, marshalling support of other lawmakers that eventually led to an appropriation of $35 million in state funds, making

Thirty-two year old Samantha Marie Elhassani, aka Samantha Sally, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, was charged on Aug. 22, in a two count indictment with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated terrorist organization, and aiding and abetting individuals in providing material support to ISIS. The indictment alleges that from the fall of 2014 through summer of 2015, Elhassani provided material support and resources to ISIS knowing that the organization was a designated terrorist organization, and knowing that the organization has engaged in and was engaging in terrorist activity and terrorism. Elhassani,

The South Shore Line will be busing weekday (Monday-Friday) passengers on Train 203 ONLY while they upgrade the Broadway Bridge near Gary Metro Center. This temporary busing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 27, through Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. During this temporary busing, Train 205 operating between Millennium Station and Gary Metro will be canceled. EASTBOUND: Train 203 will be bused and will operate from Millennium Station to Gary Metro, making stops at Hegewisch, Hammond, East Chicago and Gary Metro. The bus will not service Van Buren St. Station or Clark Road (Gary/Chicago Airport). Passengers will load the bus from the

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly helped the Senate pass a bipartisan appropriations bill that would fund multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill includes Donnelly’s bipartisan amendment that he introduced with Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), which would provide $1 million in funding for implementation of Trevor’s Law. Donnelly has been pressing the Administration to fully implement Trevor’s Law as it could be valuable in investigating potential cancer clusters in communities such as Franklin in Johnson County. Also, the bill would double the current level of funding for CDC’s efforts

Indiana Conservation Officers and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a double drowning of two young children yesterday at LaSalle Fish & Wildlife Area along the Kankakee River and Stateline Road, in southern Lake County near Schneider. Two fisherman were fishing near the historic bridge and contacted 911, at 4:35pm, to report their concerns of two men in the area with two young children and their well-being. Newton County Officers were immediately dispatched to the area. While the officers were responding to the scene, the fishermen had lost sight of the children and began looking for them. One of

The public is encouraged to watch La Porte County roads for closures on Saturday, August 25th and to take caution and watch for cyclists on Sunday, August 26th during the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte’s (HFL) 17th Annual Tour de La Porte (TdL) bike, run and walk event to benefit local cancer patients.TdL is a three-day event held in August each year. More than 1,500 community members come together to participate in, volunteer at and/or sponsor this event, with the goal of providing the resources that people in our community need after a cancer diagnosis. Temporary road closures are necessary

The Valparaiso Police Department and Valparaiso University are partnering to provide a preparation course for potential law enforcement candidates. The course will help candidates better prepare themselves for the hiring and testing process to begin a career in law enforcement. The course will assist applicants to better prepare them for the physical agility test, written test, interview process and general information about the hiring process for the majority of law enforcement agencies. Instructors from both Valparaiso University and Valparaiso Police Department will conduct the training. The course is available to all and any law enforcement potential applicants (not just for

On Tuesday, night just after 10 pm, La Porte County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to the intersection of US 6 and County Road 400 West, in rural Noble Township, reference a two vehicle crash.  Upon the arrival of the investigating deputy, other emergency personnel were already on scene treating both drivers. The crash investigation revealed that a 2005 GMC Envoy, driven by 20 year old Zachary S. Holland, of Valparaiso, was traveling north on CR 400 West.  A Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 50 year old Lewis K. Obrien, of Westville, was traveling east on US 6. The investigation determined

At its Annual Update Luncheon on September 12, 2018, Unity Foundation of La Porte County will support more than 80 local nonprofit projects by awarding over $138,000 in grant funding. Doors will open at 11:00 am for lunch and registration & the program will begin at 11:30 am. Unity board members will share a year in review and highlight milestone events that occurred with Unity’s help in 2017-2018. Guest speakers, Peggy Thomas, Principal at Edgewood Elementary, and Fonda Owens, Director at La Porte County Library, will share how Unity has impacted them and those they serve. Community “Power for Good”

The Indiana State Police is now accepting applications for Motor Carrier Inspectors. Our Motor Carrier Inspector will work at one of the following permanent scale facilities. These permanent scale facilities will include the following positions; (1) Position in Lowell –Location I-65 SB @ 241mm &/or I-94 EB/WB @ 29mm (2) Positions in West Harrison—Location I-74 WB @ 170mm (2) Positions in Terre Haute –Location I-70 EB @ 1mm (2) Positions in Seymour—Location I-65 NB @ 51mm For a total of 7 open positions. Inspectors enforce both state and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicles operating within the State of

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces that State Road 39 will be closed Wednesday and Thursday in Starke and Pulaski counties for a chip seal project. The road will be closed between State Road 10 and State Road 14. SR 39 is currently closed for a portion of that stretch due to a bridge project. Detours will be posted.

A Gary woman was injured Monday evening when she rear ended a semi on the interstate. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Dodge, driven by 44 year old Kimberly Kennedy of Gary, IN, was in the right lane on I-80/94 west bound when for unknown reasons rear ended a semi-trailer that was in front of her. Kennedy, whose license was suspended, had to be extricated from her vehicle and was taken to Northlake Methodist Hospital in Gary with non-life threatening injuries. Forty-nine year old Rogelio Yado of Brownsville, Texas, driving a 2000 Kenworth pulling a box trailer, owned by T and

The NWS has issued a beach advisory for beaches along Lake Michigan in our area from through Wednesday evening. The lake will produce high waves, and strong rip currents. La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is reminding citizens to please stay out of the water for your safety, as well as the safety of emergency workers.

A state law allowing DNA samples to be collected from those arrested for a suspected felony helped produce a higher number of matches to crimes than ever before, according to State Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon). As of this year, a DNA profile is taken from anyone arrested for a felony crime and then compared to others in a nationwide database called the combined DNA index system, or CODIS. Since the law took effect, CODIS has confirmed more than 500 total DNA matches, many of which would likely not have been secured without the new law.