News

La Porte County residents can request holiday help for food and toys The Salvation Army is now accepting applications for assistance from individuals and families in La Porte County who need help with holiday food and/or toys this Christmas. Those needing assistance are encouraged to apply online at www.saangeltree.org now through December 5. In-person applications will also be accepted on select dates. At the La Porte location (3240 Monroe Street), residents can apply on Friday, November 7 and 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and on Friday, November 14 and December 5 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. At

Nurses and staff in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Franciscan Health Crown Point and the Family Birth Center at Franciscan Health Dyer are helping babies and their families get into the Halloween spirit with costumes and photo shoots for their little ones. Infants in the NICU at Franciscan Health Crown Point dressed up as a cow, Snow White, a fairy, Captain America, Rapunzel and a boxer. The newborns in the Family Birth Center at Dyer posed for “Our Little Boo” photos in a cauldron. Staff members work with families to provide costumes and take photos to celebrate the milestone of dressing baby

Burn 'Em Brewing and That Homegrown Halloween Show — at The Back Room. Come creep time & space this Friday, October 31st, with That Homegrown Halloween Show and Janky Limo for Burn ‘Em Halloween in The Back Room! COSTUME CONTEST between sets with a crowd sourced vote!! PRIZES 1st place - $250 CASH! 2nd place - $50 Burn ‘Em Gift Card 3rd place - Burn ‘Em stein! $10 COVER - TICKETS ARE LIVE AT https://burnembrewing.com/event/halloween/ Doors at 6:30 CDT Show at 7:00 CDT Address: 1215 E 2nd St, Michigan City, IN 46360 Phone: (219) 217-2337 Menu: burnembrewing.com

The Michigan City Street Department will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, November 3, 2025. Please see the flyer for more details!

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asks the public to report sightings of Mediterranean geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus), an exotic lizard species that is not dangerous and has been observed at several locations across the state. Please email sightings, especially those backed by photographs, to HerpSurveys@dnr.IN.gov, including the photograph(s). This will help the DNR track locations of this introduced species. Mediterranean geckos are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and northern Africa. They are 4 to 5 inches long and are tan or pink with brown blotches on their body. They can also be identified by their warty skin,

MUNSTER, Ind. -- Franciscan Health Munster is presenting a free suicide prevention course in November aimed at saving lives. The entry-level question, persuade and refer, or QPR Suicide Prevention Course, is based on a curriculum developed by the QPR Institute. The course aims to save lives and reduce suicidal behaviors by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one suicide taking place every 11 minutes. According to the QPR Institute, just as people trained in CPR

REMINDER from the La Porte Civic Auditorium about FREE Halloween fun this Sunday November 2nd   Make plans to bring your family to the FREE Trunk or Treat from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, November 2, at the Civic Auditorium parking lot, hosted by the The City of La Porte Police Department Public Relations Committee. #Halloween #LaPorteProud

A total of 100 rural and volunteer fire departments from 54 Indiana counties have been awarded $453,386 in Volunteer Fire Assistance Capacity (VFC) awards from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The awards will be used for training, radios, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public lands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given

HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Financial aid professionals will be on site at Purdue University Northwest’s (PNW) Hammond and Westville campuses during the statewide College Goal Sunday programs on Nov. 9. The free event will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. CST and will help college-bound students and their families apply for financial aid. College Goal Sunday programs provide assistance to students in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form is required for students to be considered for federal and state grants, scholarships and federal loans at most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools nationwide. 

DYER, Ind. – Rheumatologist Ailia Ali, MD, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Dyer. Dr. Ali earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. She completed her residency in internal medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Health Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. and her fellowship in rheumatology at the University of Chicago School of Medicine in Chicago. Her clinical interests include rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis and integrative medicine. In addition to English, Dr. Ali is fluent in Urdu. Dr. Ali is accepting new patients at Franciscan

Early voting is taking place now through Monday November 3rd, according to the Town of Chesterton. Voters may vote at either location. Early voting locations: Duneland School Corporation - Trojan Learning Center Annex 411 S 5th St Chesterton, IN 46304 Located across the street from the pickleball courts and baseball field.   Porter County Administration Building 155 Indiana Ave Valparaiso, IN 46304   Hours for both locations: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday: 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM Tuesday & Thursday: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM Monday November 3rd: 8:30 AM - Noon

Franciscan Health released the following statement on the demolition on portions of the former Franciscan Health Crown Point Campus: Demolition is slated to begin as early as next week on portions of the former Franciscan Health Crown Point campus as part of the overall transformation project.As originally announced in early July, the former bed tower and a portion of the first floor of the main hospital building are slated for demolition by Tonn and Blank Construction. Contractors on site will limit their work to daytime hours and employ dust control measures as work is underway.The partial demolition is just one

Stop by the Holiday Market at St. Maria Goretti Parish, inside Goretti Hall at 500 Northgate Drive in Dyer with Hospice of the Calumet on Saturday November 8th from 9:30am-4pm. For more information call 219-779-8081. #wims

The La Porte County Family YMCA will host offer free heart-healthy nutrition education seminars for the whole community. The YMCA says those attending will learn how to make smart food choices that support your heart, manage cholesterol, and boost overall wellness. The YMCA says these seminars are perfect for anyone looking to improve heart health through nutrition, build sustainable healthy habits, and make informed choices for you and your family. The seminars will be at Michigan City Elston- Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.  and at La Porte - Nov. 21- Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. The seminars are free for

The City of Valparaiso says if your neighborhood isn’t on the Valparaiso Neighborhood Map, they encourage you to send a representative to their next Neighborhood Workshop, Nov. 5, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Forest Park Welter Room, 1155 W. Sheffield. This session will feature a panel of neighborhood leaders sharing why they got involved, stories of success and key lessons they’ve learned along the way. They'll also provide an overview of how to start a successful neighborhood group and connect with city resources that can help - including neighborhood grants of up to $20,000. RSVP to Community Engagement Director

In Portage there will be an emergency sewer repair at Blake and Concord Road from Oct. 27 - Oct. 31. See the statement below for more information.

Michigan City Police say they engaged in a pursuit of a fleeing vehicle at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Friday. The incident concluded near U.S. 20 and North 200 East. Police say no civilians were harmed. MCPD says the investigation is ongoing, and additional information will be shared when available.

Check out The Barker Mansion -Mansion After Hours: Gothic Tales in the Gloaming   October 29 | 6:00 PM Step into the shadows of the Barker Mansion for a chilling evening of dramatic readings spanning 200 years of Gothic literature. Presenter Grant Fitch brings to life the haunting paranoia of The Tell-Tale Heart, the eerie twist of The Monkey’s Paw, and other works by masters such as Poe, Lovecraft and Hitchcock. A spine-tingling evening not for the faint of heart.   For more information and tickets visit www.barkermansion.org or 219.873.1520.   Newly Extended Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm, Friday 10:00am-6:00pm.

The Porter County Sheriff’s Office says they have received information that family and friends of recently arrested people are getting telephone calls from supposed Law Enforcement to come to various businesses to pay a bond and also to pay a fee via an electronic payment for an ankle monitor. “This is a complete scam - please spread the word!  If something doesn’t seem right it most likely isn’t,” PCSO said.  “Our Department members will not call you for a bond, fee, ankle monitors, or any payment to avoid an arrest. When in doubt hang up and call our Department direct. 

Michigan City, IN – October 23, 2025 – Parents, friends, teachers, and other supporters filled the Michigan City High School auditorium on Wednesday, October 22, as 44 juniors and seniors were inducted into the National Honor Society. NHS President Ana’Leesa Toney led the induction ceremony, which also involved 33 MCHS seniors who were inducted as members last year. The event featured remarks from Michigan City Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Wendel McCollum, MCHS Principal Dr. Mo Mroueh, and NHS sponsor Kristen Freitag. NHS Vice President Makenna Nowatzke and Secretary Riley Emshwiller-Sowards introduced the student speakers, who addressed the four pillars of