News

Congressman Frank J. Mrvan announced his Community Conversations to be held throughout Indiana’s First Congressional District on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Congressman Mrvan stated, “I invite residents to attend one of my Community Conversations that I will be holding on April 24, 2025.  I believe these opportunities allow me to hear directly from constituents and better represent our collective interests in our nation’s capital.  Additionally, I will provide a brief update on the 119th Session of Congress and my work on the House Appropriations Committee.” Thursday – April 24, 2025 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Michigan City - City

Press Release, Franciscan Health: Agreement gives city employees access to multiple healthcare services LA PORTE, Ind. – The City of La Porte’s Board of Public Works and Safety on Tuesday approved a partnership with Franciscan’s HEALTHeACCESS to give city employees and their families access to a variety of healthcare services with no out-of-pocket costs. “The care and wellbeing of our employees is a top priority for our team,” La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody said. “In the ever-changing world of healthcare, it is important to identify dependable partners. I believe we’ve found that in Franciscan with their HEALTHeACCESS program and I

Registration is now open for the Franciscan Health Produce Prescription Program in Olympia Fields, Ill., Crown Point, Ind. and Michigan City, Ind., which aims to assist with chronic disease management. Upon successful completion of the free, four-week program, participants will receive produce vouchers for fresh produce every month for six months. Participants must have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, heart disease or cancer and have moderate to high food insecurity as determined by a screening process and complete a four-week Cooking Matters course. They need not be patients within the Franciscan Health system to participate. The program will meet

Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch announces the return of the Michigan City Easter Egg Hunt, to be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Fedder’s Alley at Washington Park for the youth of Michigan City.     “The Easter Egg Hunt is a joyful tradition that brings families together and reminds us of the power of community,” said Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. “We’re proud to host this event each year and grateful for the many partners and volunteers who help create a safe, fun, and inclusive experience for all our children.”   “This is a great event for our community and

Michigan City is offering a Tire Amnesty Day on Saturday, April 19. Local residents (verifiable via driver's license or state ID) can bring up to FIVE tires to the Michigan City Sanitary District, 1100 E. 8th St., between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. that day to scrap them free of charge. Some exclusions apply (see attached image). Call 219-874-7799 for more information. • Michigan City residents only. Must bring your driver’s license for verification. • Up to five (5) tires per person. • Car, SUV, and Light Truck tires ONLY. • NO rims. Tires with rims will NOT be accepted.

DYER, Ind. – Franciscan Health’s Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults (VASIA) program is hosting free training sessions this spring for those interested in becoming court-appointed guardians. The Lake County courts collaborate with Franciscan Health to provide trained, supervised volunteers to serve as court-appointed agents to assist elderly and incapacitated adults. The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services. Volunteers are vetted through an application screening process. Once approved, volunteers must complete 30 hours of initial training and

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed five additional cases of measles in Indiana, bringing the total to six in 2025. The newly reported cases are three minors and two adults in Allen County. The initial case was reported earlier this week. All six cases are connected to each other but at this time there are no known links to outbreaks in other states. The four minors were unvaccinated and the adults’ vaccination status is unclear. All are recovering well. State and local public health officials are working together on the investigation to contact those with known exposure to

Here is the latest from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. about an officer involved shooting that happened this morning involving a 1 year old The Lake County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened in Gary this morning. The suspect in an armed hostage situation exited an apartment holding a 1-year-old boy and waving a gun. The suspect was then fatally wounded. At approximately 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 8th, police officers with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department responded to an apartment in the 2200 block of Carolina Street to assist Gary police with

On February 3, Deputy Xavier Biggerstaff responded to Franciscan Health – Michigan City Campus regarding a case of child abuse / neglect involving a 7-week-old infant who was being treated for injuries. Upon gathering the initial information, Deputy Biggerstaff learned the infant was awaiting transport to a regional children’s hospital due to the severity of the injuries. The following day, Detective Derrick Deck was assigned the case for further investigation. The infant’s parents, Kaitlyn M. WEISSERT (23) and Kyle A. HOLLIHAN (26), both of Michigan City, were identified as suspects of causing injuries to their child. Detective Deck’s investigation findings

The City of La Porte announced Monday that world-famous pop star Jesse McCartney will headline this summer’s LakeFest, according to Park Superintendent and LakeFest Committee Chair Mark Schreiber. The “Beautiful Soul” and “Leavin’” performer will play a free live show on Saturday, July 26, at the Dennis F. Smith Amphitheater in Fox Park. McCartney will be preceded by the Midwest’s premiere 2000s cover band Y2K, as well as a fireworks show over Clear Lake. McCartney’s career has included three Top 15 albums in the Billboard Top 200, with his most recognizable single “Leavin’” cracking the Top 10 list of Billboard’s

An argument lead to gunfire Tuesday morning in Valparaiso, resulting in two arrests according to the Valparaiso police department. Tuesday morning, Valparaiso Police responded to the area of Garfield Avenue and Union Street in reference to a disturbance between two men. The argument began after a man was discovered sleeping in a vehicle that did not belong to him. During the altercation, one subject fired a weapon at the other, resulting in no serious injuries to either party. Both parties were transported to the Valparaiso Police Department, where they spoke with investigators. A 61-year old Hobart man was arrested on

The City of Valparaiso will be hosting a Neighborhood Workshop – an opportunity for neighborhood representatives to connect, learn from each other and become familiar with neighborhood services. The workshop will take place on April 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall. The April agenda includes a welcome from Mayor Costas, update on the Valpo Parks rePLAY initiative, discussion of a New Neighbor Guide and more. RSVP at MClifton@valpo.us.  

Press Release, Humane Indiana: Chesterton, IN — Humane Indiana Wildlife is proud to announce a special collaboration with Kristina Knowski, acclaimed watercolorist and owner of Ancillaerie in Chesterton. Known for her evocative depictions of birds and meticulous attention to detail, Kristina was selected as the commissioned artist for the “All Along the South Shore” poster series, an ongoing project of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority. The latest poster in the series, sponsored by Commissioner Jim Biggs, features Freya, a great-horned owl from Humane Indiana Wildlife, captured in Kristina’s signature style that blends artistic precision with an emotional narrative. As an avid birder

Third Annual Ivy Tech Day on Tuesday April 8 to Unite NWI Alumni and Community in Support of Student Success Valparaiso, IN – A day can mean everything for a student with dreams of a great career. That’s what Ivy Tech is all about, and the third annual Ivy Tech Day will help more than 200,000 students across 19 campuses, including more than 11,000 enrolled at Ivy Tech Valparaiso prepare for careers that will impact Indiana communities for years to come. Our day of giving will kick off at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8. For 24 hours, you can

In observance of National Safe Digging Month this April, Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (“NIPSCO”) is reminding homeowners and professionals to contact Indiana811 before starting any outdoor digging projects. A recent national survey found that more than 27 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging and excavation projects will not call 811, which puts themselves, their neighbors and essential utility services at risk. Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can lead to serious injuries, service outages and expensive repairs. Accidentally striking gas, electric, communications, water or sewer lines can cause significant disruptions to homes and businesses. A free 811

INDIANAPOLIS — Officers with the Michigan City Police Department are on high alert as they participate in an annual traffic safety campaign looking for people speeding or driving while distracted. Distracted driving and speeding caused over 17,000 thousand crashes across Indiana in 2024, resulting in 230 deaths. To help save lives, the Michigan City Police Department is participating in a traffic safety campaign from April 5 through April 19. During the campaign, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, motorists should expect to see an increase in roving

Nine Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty members received approval Friday (April 4) by the Purdue University Board of Trustees for academic promotions starting in the 2025-26 academic year. The faculty members’ promotions are effective Aug. 18. Academic tenure is acquired on promotion to the rank of associate professor. Candidates promoted to this level have demonstrated a record of accomplishment as a faculty member and show promise of continued professional growth and recognition. Faculty members promoted to the rank of professor have achieved a significant record in learning, discovery and engagement. PNW faculty members promoted to the rank of professor: Christopher

Ten Michigan City High School students at the 2025 Japanese Olympiad of Indiana (JOI) at Depauw University on February 22, 2025. They showcased their dedication and skill while competing against nearly 100 students from 9 high schools. Several teams finished just shy of the finals. Their impressive performances, particularly at the highly competitive Level 2, highlight a promising future for the program. At Level 4, City was represented by Natalie White and Zoe Brooks on one team, and Nathan Groszek and Vivian Taylor on the other. Both teams performed well, securing 5th and 6th place. The Level 3 team of

The next Volunteer Day at the Michiana Humane Society will be April 19 from 11:30am-12:30pm CT to help them prepare enrichment opportunities for their shelter pets. Michiana Humane Society says that daily enrichment activities can bring their stress levels down dramatically and make a noticeable difference in their lives while they are with MHS. You don't need to RSVP, all ages are welcome (16 years and under must have an adult present). The event is open to the public. Feel free to call MHS at 219-872-4499 with any questions. More information is available on the Michiana Humane Society Facebook page.

From the Washington Park Zoo FACEBOOK page- We are sad to announce that we had to say goodbye to Stripes, our 20-year-old Bengal tiger. Stripes, a 20-year-old Bengal tiger who captivated visitors since his arrival, was peacefully euthanized due to age-related health issues. Stripes had been successfully receiving veterinary care pain management and medication for kidney disease and arthritis, but he recently had shown a rapid deterioration in his health. With his appetite diminished and his activity levels declined, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize, before his quality of life worsened. Final pathology reports would later discover that