News

Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) presented statewide data showing that thousands of Indiana students are advancing to fourth grade each year "without foundational reading skills." The data is the focus of a new data visualization tool, which was previewed to the State Board of Education (SBOE) on Tuesday and will soon be available to the public. “First students learn to read, and then they read to learn,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “Today data show that one in five Indiana students have not mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade, and most

LA PORTE, IN — Megan Lambert and Stephanie Leon are recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for La Porte County. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. Both recipients are seniors at La Porte High School. Lambert has demonstrated outstanding leadership in several volunteer, extracurricular and athletic activities. She has participated in mission trips, Leadership La Porte County, newspaper, cross country, track and field, National Honor Society and more. She has excelled academically, including in advanced placement, dual credit and honors courses, and is ranked at the top of her

City of La Porte firefighters will once again be teaching a free courses on CPR. The classes, instructed by the department's very own firefighters at Fire Station #1, are approximately four hours long and offered on December 17 @ 8 a.m. and noon. The program is made possible in part by the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte. Those interested can learn more and sign up by contacting lpfdcpr@gmail.com or 219-362-3456.

News release by Indiana DNR: Registration is open until March 1 for the return of the Happy Little (Virtual) 5K, which the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation (INRF) welcome back after last year’s Indiana debut. Race participation is open to everyone, and registrants can complete their 5K anywhere outdoors – on foot, or by bike, skate, paddle or using a mobility device – anytime between Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 22 and 26, respectively. For $36 per person, each participant will receive a keepsake Happy Little T-shirt, a commemorative bib number and

The City of La Porte in conjunction with residential developer Park Street Community, LLC, has announced plans for a $12 million capital investment in townhomes and single-family homes on the City’s east side. Based out of Indiana, Park Street Community LLC will develop 34 acres adjacent to the Thomas Rose Industrial Park that were recently annexed into the city limits of La Porte. Park Street Community LLC plans to build 118 townhomes and 19 single family homes on the property. The cost of said homes will be in the $340,000-405,000 range. La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody said this project will

Board-certified family nurse practitioner Tana Kish is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Winfield. Tana Kish, NP, earned her master of science degree in nursing at Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Ind. and her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. In addition to family medicine, her clinical interests include acute and chronic conditions, collaborative patient care, patient education and preventive care. Kish is accepting new patients at the Winfield Health Center, 11161 Randolph St. in Winfield. In person and virtual visits are available. To make an

Income-eligible customers, seniors, active military and veterans experiencing financial difficulty paying their gas utility bill may apply for additional NIPSCO energy assistance programs. Available programs include NIPSCO Hardship, SERV (Supply Energy Resources to Veterans) and SILVER (Seniors in Indiana Low-Income and Vulnerable Energy Resource) that will allow customers to receive a one-time benefit of up to $400 per year if they qualify. The programs are open now through May 31, 2024. “We recognize that NIPSCO natural gas residential customers may see an estimated 24 percent decline in their winter heating bills this season in contrast to last year due to

In Chesterton, the northbound lane of South Calumet Road, in the 700 block, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today (Tuesday, Dec. 5) according to Chesterton Assistant Street Commissioner Dan Moy. A NIPSCO contractor will be doing restoration work in the area, following the relocation of a NIPSCO pole earlier this fall. The southbound lane of South Calumet Road will remain open and flaggers will be on site to direct traffic.  

The South Shore Line (SSL) announced it will host a multi-team emergency preparedness drill today (Tuesday, Dec. 5) on its tracks just west of Sheridan Avenue in Michigan City. The South Shore Line says the federally mandated drill is a key component in the SSL’s continuing efforts to familiarize first responders with railroad crisis response procedures. It is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and expected to last until approximately 12 p.m. The event will not impact any scheduled train service, although train passengers and passers-by may notice multiple emergency vehicles and personnel in the area of the drill. The

Indiana State Troopers are investigating a single-vehicle crash on the Indiana Toll Road that left one person dead early Sunday morning. At about 5:58 a.m. deputies with the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to reports of a vehicle that crashed into a wooded area near the County Road 10 overpass for the Toll Road.  When deputies arrived, they discovered a 2021 Dodge Ram in the trees that appeared to have come from the Toll Road, prompting a response from Indiana State Troopers. Preliminary investigation indicates that the Dodge was traveling westbound on the Toll Road when it ran off

Indiana State Police K9 Koda has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Koda’s vest was embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Falco, Gary, IN- EOW 7/13/23”. In July, K9 Falco was shot and killed during a canine apprehension of a subject wanted for aggravated battery and reckless endangerment. K9 Falco had served with the Gary Police Department for eight years. Koda and her partner, Trooper Hunter McCord, are assigned to the Indianapolis District and typically patrol in Marion County on the evening shift.

The South Shore Line announced it will be extending its “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” monthly ticket promotion. Due to the ongoing busing and construction related to Double Track, the BOGO monthly ticket will be extended through June 2024, when full train service is expected to be up and running. All monthly tickets purchased for the month of January 2024 will remain valid for February 2024. Passengers purchasing a paper January monthly ticket should plan to keep that ticket and use it through February, and passengers purchasing a digital January monthly ticket via the mobile app will see a February

One person was injured in a T-bone crash at the intersection of southbound Ind. 49 and Voyage Boulevard in Chesterton on Thursday afternoon, the Chesterton Fire Department is reporting. The Town of Chesterton said on its Facebook page Friday that the Chesterton Police Department had not yet completed its investigation of the accident. According to the CFD it occurred at 2:38 p.m., while the crew of Engine 510 was on its way to a scheduled walk-through of the new Chipotle at Coffee Creek Center. Firefighters arrived at the scene almost immediately after impact. They found one patient in a Jeep

The Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife is informing hunters of an error in their Hunting & Trapping Guide and season dates. They informed that fall turkey season runs from Dec. 9, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024. Their Hunting & Trapping Guide inaccurately lists the season as Dec. 2, 2023 – Jan. 7, 2024. Those with any any questions can email DFW@dnr.IN.gov.

Chesterton Police Officer Jorge Perez assisted in the apprehension of a suspected auto thief on Thursday afternoon, following a pursuit which began in LaPorte County and ended in Lake County, the Chesterton Police Department reported on their Facebook page. According to police, at 2:06 p.m. Perez was running stationary patrol facing eastbound in the parking lot of Complete Family Dental, at 175 U.S. Highway 20, when he heard Indiana State Police scanner traffic advising of a “fresh auto theft” in the Michigan City Police Department’s jurisdiction. The suspect vehicle was a white Hummer. Officer Perez said that a few moments

Press release by City of Valparaiso: The City of Valparaiso will extend its curbside leaf pick-up for an additional week until December 8, due to the recent colder temps and inclement weather, announced Mayor Matt Murphy. The additional week of pick-up will allow residents to do one final rake of leaves to the curb and the leaf pick-up crews to make one final lap around the City. After this final pass, leaves will need to be bagged in biodegradable bags for collection. Valparaiso City Services Department of Public Works has collected leaves for almost six full weeks and has collected

The Chesterton Police Facebook page announced that North Mineral Springs Road between Planet Court and U.S. 20 is closed indefinitely. The Town of Porter announced the indefinite closure of North Mineral Spring Road between Planet Court and U.S. Highway 20, which began Friday (Dec 1). Following a just completed inspection, Porter County authorities have found the bridge over the Little Calumet River—located between Planet Court and U.S. 20—unsafe for traffic due to the deterioration of its steel beams. The bridge is scheduled for replacement soon.

Each year during National Police Week, Portage Police Officers have the opportunity to make donations, in lieu of having their vehicles inspected during their annual memorial. This year on “giving Tuesday” police were able to donate $1,000 to the Portage Township Food Pantry”, due to their donations. While at the pantry, police say they learned a bit more about the great work they are doing, how many families they are helping, and the high costs involved. Police say they’re hopeful this donation can provide some extra help during the holiday season.