(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO with support from the NiSource Charitable Foundation has launched a new grant initiative that supports Indiana’s farming, rural and agricultural communities.

This new $100,000 grant program will support Indiana Future Farmers of America chapters across northern Indiana through investments in agricultural education, student leadership and career readiness.

Grant funding areas include:? work-based learning projects that help students gain hands-on experience, scholarships to help students attend leadership conferences and career development opportunities, supporting agricultural education programs with classroom materials and resources, providing students access to experiences that build confidence and career readiness and assisting students with travel expenses related to educational opportunities and competitions.

Eligible Indiana FFA chapters located within NIPSCO's 32-county service area, as well as Sullivan, Vigo and Gibson counties, are invited to apply for grant funding through the Indiana FFA Foundation.

Applications must be submitted by local FFA chapter students and teachers directly to the Indiana FFA Foundation by September 30.  Following the application period, the Indiana FFA Foundation will review submissions and provide recommendations to NIPSCO.

The grant review committee will evaluate submissions and finalists will be selected in October.  Grant funds are contributions from the NiSource Charitable Foundation.  For more information, visit NIPSCO.com/AgSupport.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Indiana will continue to have some of the cheapest gas prices in the nation.

That’s because the governor announced today the state has extended its gas tax suspension for another month.  The gas tax used for maintaining roads has not been collected since April.

The cost to state government, so far, is approaching $1 billion.

State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores said the price break is good for consumers, who should know the lost revenue will have to made up either through existing funds elsewhere in the budget to preserve road projects or cutting road projects.

“If this continues, we’re going to be down over a billion dollars in road funding,” he said.

Consumers here are paying about 60 cents less per gallon because of the gas tax suspension, which now runs until early November.  The gas tax suspension is an effort to keep down rising fuel prices nationwide resulting from things like the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran.

(Michigan City, IN) - She tried cashing a winning sports betting ticket at Blue Chip Casino even though she knew the winnings had already been paid to someone else.

Those are the allegations facing Amanda Czarny, who was arrested Tuesday and later posted bond.

Czarny, 36, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 4 with Level 6 felony cheating at gambling and Class C misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.

According to the charging information, the Valparaiso woman was at the Michigan City casino on September 18 with a man who won nearly $1,400 on a $400 sports wager.

The man later reported the winning ticket as lost but was still paid the winnings through a sports betting lost ticket process at the casino. 

Less than one hour later, authorities said Czarny walked away from the man and returned to the sports betting parlor where she presented the winning ticket for payment but was caught.

When approached by casino security, the woman dropped a pipe she admitted using to smoke methamphetamine, authorities said.

(La Porte County, IN) - A second person has died from a head-on collision near Westville last week.

88 year old Elvin Nuest of Francesville passed away yesterday from injuries suffered in the Friday afternoon crash.

He was in a vehicle driven by his son, Ronald. La Porte County Police said they were traveling behind a Fed Ex truck when their vehicle suddenly veered into the opposite lane and into the path of an oncoming driver, 36 year old Kayla Roche.

Roche of La Porte also later died. The 60 year old Nuest of Medaryville was seriously hurt but specifics on his condition have not been released.  Police said the crash remains under investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Invitational featuring some of the best young high school basketball talent in the nation is returning.

10 of the best high school programs from across the country, including La Lumiere, will play games over three consecutive days at the Civic Auditorium beginning January 8.

High school basketball fans can start counting down to another unforgettable weekend of hoops as the La Porte Invitational returns to the historic La Porte Civic Auditorium this January, according to La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody.

“This event brings together some of the best programs and brightest young talent in the country, and many of these athletes are on their way to competing at the highest levels of college basketball and even the NBA,” he said.

The historic feel of the near century old Civic Auditorium enhances the experience for players and fans.

“It’s a special experience, and one basketball fans won’t want to miss,” Dermody said.

Over the years, the La Porte Invitational has welcomed more than 30 McDonald’s All-Americans and over 25 players who have gone on to be selected in the NBA Draft, including the 2025 first overall selection Cooper Flagg.

La Lumiere will be the hometown team with a talented roster that includes future Indiana University player Chase Branham.

One of the La Lumiere games will be televised live nationally on Fox Sports 1 (FS1 on Saturday, January 9 beginning at 1 p.m.  A full game schedule and ticketing information is available online at laporteinvitational.com.

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man could face major time in prison for allegedly seriously injuring a woman during a beating.

Aaron Combs, 50, is charged in La Porte Superior Court 1 with multiple counts including Level 1 felony attempted murder.

Authorities said Combs on September 20 punched, kicked and slammed the head of the woman to the floor multiple times while telling her he was going to kill her at a home on Superior St.  Combs also lifted the woman two to three feet up off the floor by her hair and threw her down in a beating where he landed a dozen or more punches to her face.

The woman was taken to the hospital with injuries like multiple facial fractures and bleeding from a deep cut above one of her eyes.  

Police said Combs and the woman have been seeing and living with each other for over 20 years.    The investigation shows Combs and the woman had been at a bar together and he was upset over her coming home after leaving the establishment with another individual, police said.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte woman was killed in a head-on motor vehicle collision.

La Porte County Police said 36 year old Kayla Roche was struck by an oncoming vehicle Friday afternoon on Indiana 2 near 900 West.

Ronald Nuest, 60, of Medaryville was traveling behind a Fed Ex delivery truck when he suddenly veered into the opposite lane of the two lane highway into the path of Roche, who was airlifted to a regional hospital but later died, police said.

He and his passenger, Elvin Nuest, 88, of Francesville were also taken by helicopter to a regional hospital for more advanced care of their apparent serious injuries.

Police said further details were not released because of the still ongoing investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Park Foundation will celebrate one of the community's most beloved gathering places during its annual fundraising gala on Friday, November 13, at the La Porte Civic Auditorium.

The La Porte Park Foundation Gala will take place from 6- 9 p.m.

This year, the gala will highlight the people, memories, events and experiences that have made Fox Park a cherished part of the community for generations.  The evening features a buffet dinner, silent auction, raffles, photo booth, a signature Fox Park cocktail and other themed experiences.

"Fox Park means something different to everyone," said Ben Konowitz, president of the La Porte Park Foundation.

"Whether it's LakeFest, Arts in the Park, Movies in the Park, a favorite trail, a youth ball game, a charity 5K or simply a place to gather with friends and family, Fox Park has a unique way of bringing our community together," he said.

Proceeds from the gala will support the foundation's mission of enhancing parks, programs and recreational opportunities throughout La Porte.

"Fox Park belongs to all of us. This year's gala is an opportunity to celebrate the role it plays in our community while helping ensure it remains a place where La Porte gathers, celebrates, plays and grows for generations to come," Konowitz said.

Tickets, reserved tables and sponsorship opportunities are available.  RSVP is requested by November 1.

For more information or to purchase tickets for the event at the Civic, visit: https://lpparkfoundation.org/events.

(East Lansing, MI) - Michigan farmers raising corn are hoping for an extended growing season because of historically low amounts of corn behind in maturity.

Just 10-percent of corn in the state had reached maturity as of September 21, according to USDA in its most recent crop condition report.                                       That’s far below the state’s five-year average of 34-percent maturity at this point in the season and, currently, last among the top 18 corn producing states tracked by USDA.                                                                                                        

In comparison, USDA reported the corn maturity rate was 69-percent in Illinois; 46-percent in Indiana and 32-percent in Ohio.                                                                                                                                                        Monica Jean, a Michigan State University Extension Field Crops Educator, was not surprised about the unusually high amount of late maturing corn.                                                                                                                                                                                      “It’s probably about right,” said.                                                                                                                                                        Jean said a major factor in the low maturity rate is having a lot of late planted corn because of a very wet and cold spring in many parts, including the southern part of the state.                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                      She said there still could be a decent crop this fall but the key will be a late frost to keep the late planted corn alive for an extended period and enough warm, sunny weather to give the corn time to mature at a time when the number of growing degree days in the season are becoming fewer.                                                                                                                                                       “It’s definitely a concern,” she said.                                                                                                                                 

(Lowell, IN) - Indiana State Police cracked down on aggressive driving and violent crime in Northwest Indiana last week.

According to police,  62 arrests were made during the three day operation and seven of those individuals had a significant criminal history.

Police said 10 high speed pursuits also took place, including two that went across state lines.

53 motor vehicle crashes were also investigated by state police, which also handed out nearly 1,000 citations during the crackdown.

(La Porte, IN) - A man has been sentenced for strangling his stepfather in La Porte.

Breon Ware received a 57 year prison sentence in La Porte Circuit Court on Friday.  A vast majority of the sentence was for murder.

According to prosecutors, the victim, 58 year old Aaron Stingley complained to Ware about the volume of the music he was playing in a home last October in the 1400 block of Jefferson Ave.

A key piece of evidence was the testimony of a nine-year old boy, who reported hearing the two men arguing from his upstairs bedroom.  The boy said he went downstairs and saw Ware punch the victim then put his arm around his neck, according to prosecutors. 

The boy said he went back upstairs but soon returned to the main level to find Stingley lying motionless on the couch.

An autopsy revealed he had been strangled.

(La Porte County, IN) – A Warsaw woman was killed in a car collision Saturday afternoon in Kankakee Township.

According to information provided by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened at 12:15 p.m. Saturday in the 2900 north block of Fail Road. Police said a black 2014 Toyota, driven by Aaron D. Keen, 38, of La Porte, was traveling north on Fail when it veered into the oncoming lane of traffic.

The Toyota collided with a silver 2024 Kia driven by John W. Pratt, 71, of Warsaw. Pratt was transported to a regional hospital for treatment of his injuries. His wife Lana, 77, was taken to an area hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Keehn was transported to a regional hospital for treatment of an upper body injury. Toxicology test results are pending, and police continue to investigate.

(Michigan City, IN) – The license branch in Michigan City has a new home. It’s only a few thousand feet west of the previous location.

The BMV is moving to 1551 S Woodland Ave. That’s at the corner of Woodland and U.S. 20.

The new branch opened on Tuesday, September 22. It has the same hours of operation.

(La Porte County, IN) - Phone scammers may be sinking to a new low, now spoofing the local library.

The La Porte County Public Library issued a statement recently saying a patron received a suspicious text message with a link to renew overdue items.

Problem is, the library doesn’t do that. They generally renew items automatically. They say their texting capabilities are actually quite limited, so a text looking to come from them may just be fishing for you to click something you shouldn’t.

For future reference, the library says, their texts are sent from notifications@laportelibrary.org and will not ask you to click any links. If you have opted to receive texts for account notifications, they will include familiar information, such as the title of an item you have borrowed or put on hold.

You can verify texts or emails from the library by logging into your account or giving them a call at (219) 362-6156.

(La Porte, IN) - An upcoming tour of Patton Cemetery in La Porte has been cancelled due to damage from the major storm last month.

It was supposed to be on October 3rd. However, the Derecho storm on August 11 greatly damaged the cemetery.  Despite efforts to remove a huge number of fallen trees and debris, caretakers report the cemetery is still not safe for the public to enter.

People who already purchased tickets for the tour were given refunds.  The hope is to have the tour again in the future at the cemetery.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County woman is facing potential time in prison on allegations of physically hurting a toddler she was babysitting and engaging in sex acts with the child in the same room.

Miah Trute, 18, of Kingsford Heights is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with Level 5 felony battery and Level 6 felony conducting a performance harmful to minors, a Level 6 felony.

According to the charging information from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began on August 31 in response to a child abuse complaint.

Investigators received a video that shows Trute while babysitting at a home near Rolling Prairie allegedly pinching a one year old boy with all four fingers on her right hand hard enough to make him cry and leave red marks on the side and under his left thigh, police said.

Police said the video also shows her and a man engaging in various sex acts while the toddler was in the room with them and Trute attempting to have the child engage in the activity.

Trute is also on video placing her buttocks on top of the child’s face several times while she was fully dressed, police said.

The man, Cole Horvath, 25, of Taylor, Michigan is also charged with Level 6 felony conducting a performance harmful to minors.

Trute, who was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on Monday, was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $755 bond while Horvath has posted bond since his arrest on Wednesday, according to court records.

(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County man is recovering from injuries sustained when a tree fell on him.

Karl Creech, 56, was transported to a hospital by helicopter about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to La Porte County Police, the man was doing some landscaping at his Rolling Prairie area home when a tree fell on him.

Police said he called his wife who went to where he was and he tried sitting up but couldn’t due to severe pain in his stomach.  According to police, emergency responders discovered him on his back next to a tractor and surrounded by several individuals.

Specifics about his condition were not available.

In a social media post, his wife, Verali, stated she thought she lost her husband, initially, but he’s doing good now.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Kingsbury man is facing allegations of child molesting.

Matthew Lukac, 40, could face up 20 to 40 years on one of two child molesting counts filed in La Porte Circuit Court.

La Porte County Police said his arrest followed about a three week investigation brought on by a report of abuse and neglect from the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Lukac was taken into custody on a warrant yesterday at a house in South Bend, police said.   

He’s currently being held on $100,000 cash only bond.  So far, more specifics surrounding the allegations have not been released.

(La Porte, IN) - The fall clean-up has been scheduled in La Porte.

Officials said Waste Management will pick up items along the curb during the week of October 6.  All loose items must be placed in bags or cans.  Piles will be left behind.

The pick-up is strictly for residential customers, officials said.

Here’s a list of guidelines for people to follow: 

          Bags must not exceed 35 lbs, and cans must not exceed 50 lbs; 

• No individual items over 5 ft in length, 3 ft wide, 3 ft high or weighing over 100 lbs will be taken; 
• Mattresses must not be larger than Queen-sized and should NOT be wrapped in plastic; 
• Sofas should not exceed 80 inches in length, should not be sleeper/hide-a-beds, and should NOT be wrapped in plastic; 
• Rugs/carpeting must be rolled and tied, and must not exceed 50 lbs;
• Windows, glass and mirrors must be less than 3 ft by 4 ft in size, and broken glass must be securely enclosed in a box and clearly marked; 
• Gas grills must have propane tank removed prior to disposal; and
• Push lawn mowers must be drained of oil and/or gas prior to disposal. 

WM will not accept: 

• Auto parts, engines, tires or batteries; 
• Electronics, including televisions, computers, printers, fax machines, etc.;
• Construction materials, including lumber, plaster, drywall, paneling, siding, roofing, etc.;
• Chemicals, pesticides, pains, solvents or other household hazardous waste items;
• Propane tanks/gas tanks;
• Ashes;
• Dead animals; 
• Fencing; 
• Concrete, bricks, dirt, rocks, sod or stumps; 
• Iron or steel;
• Medical waste; or
• Appliances containing Freon, including air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, etc. (unless the appliance bears a certification sticker indicating that the Freon has been removed by a certified technician). 

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City officials are inviting residents to participate in continued efforts to grow and maintain the community’s urban forest.

There are plans to plant 100 new trees in the spring through funding from the U.S. Forest Service.  As preparations begin, the city’s forester, Phil Graf, said he’s seeking potential locations for planting.

The initiative builds upon the city’s ongoing urban forestry improvements such as the 350-tree removal and stump-grinding project that began last year.  A local contractor will place grass seed and straw where tree removal and stump grinding have occurred in the next two to three weeks, officials said. 

The city encourages residents to take advantage of the tree planting  opportunity and contribute to a greener community for generations to come.

Residents interested in requesting a tree may contact Graf at pgrafemichigancity.com or (219) 380-9770.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Westville area man stepped out of his vehicle to speak to a police officer, who arrested him for operating while intoxicated.

That’s according to Westville Police, who took him into custody outside the police department.

Jimmy Pitman, 71, is facing felony allegations because the charge filed in La Porte Circuit Court was upgraded from a misdemeanor due to him having a prior OWI conviction, authorities said.

According to the charging information, Pitman about three weeks ago walked up to an officer in the parking lot of the police station to voice an undisclosed complaint. The officer noticed Pitman had an odor of alcohol on his breath and exhibited symptoms of impairment.

His alleged blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

(La Porte, IN) - A car struck a house in La Porte yesterday and came to rest on the home’s outdoor natural gas meter.

With gas leaking, firefighters used inflatable bags to safely lift the car off the meter and shut off the gas.

Assistant Fire Chief Zach Kanney said the gas could not be turned off until after the car was removed because the shut-off valve wound up buried in the ground from the impact and weight of the vehicle.

He said the car was lifted to prevent any sparks that might occur from the metal on the car and meter rubbing against each other, which would carry a risk of igniting the low to moderate amount of natural gas escaping into the air from a break in a service line.

“That’s how we were able to do it successfully with the help of others,” he said.

Kanney said the driver was not injured.  The collision happened about 3 p.m. in the area of Briarwood Circle and 18^th St.

Kanney said inflatable bags are carried on the fire trucks just in case they’re needed at a moment’s notice but vehicles coming to rest on a gas meter happens just occasionally.

The collision caused only minor damage to the structure.   Further details about the accident were not readily available from La Porte Police.

(Hammond & Westville, IN) - Financial aid professionals will be at the Purdue University Northwest campuses in Hammond and near Westville during the upcoming College Goal Sunday.

It’s scheduled October 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for college-bound students and their families to apply for financial aid.

College Goal Sunday provides 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.

“Completing the FAFSA application is one of the most important steps to be considered for financial aid that can assist in paying college expenses,” says Tanika House, Associate Director of Financial Aid at PNW. 

College Goal Sunday is a free event with one-on-one assistance to help families complete their FAFSA application.  Attendees are often eligible to enter drawings for additional educational prizes or scholarships simply for participating.

The PNW Hammond campus event will be held in Room 200 of the Student Union and Library Building, 2200 169th St., Hammond, Ind. The PNW Westville campus event will be held in in the Cyber Café, Room 114, in the Library-Student-Faculty Building, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, Ind.

Financial aid professionals and Spanish interpreters will be available at both locations to answer questions and help students complete and file their forms.

Vendors are being invited for the first time to the annual trick or treating in downtown La Porte.

Lindsay Kneifel, Director of Communications for the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, said vendors from the Sunflower Fair rained out last Saturday were informed they could set up during Spooktacular to make up for the cancellation.

“This is just kind of the way we can show them, hey, we would love to have you in downtown La Porte.  Here’s another opportunity,” she said.

Vendors will be allowed to set up on Monroe St. just north of Lincolnway.  Spooktacular is scheduled October 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Children will go to participating downtown businesses to receive candy and, perhaps, other treats.  The popular Sunflower Fair rib cook off will occur during Spooktacular close to the vendors. 

(New Carlisle, IN) - Authorities are investigating the death of a woman in New Carlisle.

The body of a woman in her 40’s was discovered Monday afternoon near some railroad tracks by Walnut Road.  Investigators believe she either fell from a train car or was hit by the train.

How long she had been there, so far, is not known.

Authorities know the identity of the woman but are not releasing her name right now because family members are still trying to be located to notify them of her passing.