(Indianapolis, IN) - State reimbursement monies are coming the way of local governments.

The State Board of Finance has approved the second round of reimbursements related to Governor Mike Braun’s temporary Gas Tax Holiday. The payments will cover revenue lost to suspended gas taxes. An initial round of similar payments was released last month.

“These reimbursements continue to ensure that counties, cities and towns remain financially whole under the temporary suspension, said State Treasurer Daniel Elliott. “Indiana’s sound fiscal footing allows us to maintain consistent support for local infrastructure while taxpayers receive relief at the pump.” 

The funds come out of state accounts covering funding for highways, roads, streets, and bridges.

A total of over $43.8 million is coming back to locals. Below is a breakdown of what municipalities in this area are getting. The first dollar amount comes out of the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund (MVH), and second from the Local Road and Street Fund (LRS).

LAPORTE CTY TREASURER                                377,334.35       87,262.47

LAPORTE CLERK-TREASURER                           53,432.36        24,675.03

MICHIGAN CITY CONTROLLER                         76,269.10         34,983.25

TRAIL CREEK CLERK-TREASURER                   4,898.34           2,329.95

LONG BEACH CLERK-TREASURER                    2,827.25          1,789.04

MICHIANA SHORES CLERK-TREAS                  727.62              647.56

POTTAWATTAMIE PARK CLERK-TREAS          575.44             324.97

BEVERLY SHORES CLERK-TREASURER           1,424.32          2,527.07

KINGSBURY CLERK-TREASURER                      451.79             248.70

KINGSFORD HEIGHTS CLERK-TREAS               3,174.41          1,892.36

LACROSSE CLERK-TREASURER                         1,319.70          716.78

WALKERTON CLERK-TREASURER                    4,983.94          2,866.06

WANATAH CLERK-TREASURER                         2,399.24          1,279.60

NEW CARLISLE CLERK-TREASURER                4,496.49          2,241.83

NORTH LIBERTY CLERK-TREASURER              3,859.23          2,077.17

KNOX CLERK-TREASURER                                  8,707.64          2,352.86

HAMLET CLERK-TREASURER                             1,838.07          579.20

NORTH JUDSON CLERK-TREASURER               4,415.64          1,193.41

WINAMAC CLERK-TREASURER                         5,511.82          859.66

PORTER CTY TREASURER                                   364,886.66      121,529.26

VALPARAISO CLERK-TREASURER                    81,205.49        43,042.80

PORTAGE CLERK-TREASURER                           90,181.82        45,304.84

CHESTERTON CLERK-TREASURER                   33,862.77        18,392.44

ST. JOSEPH CTY TREASURER                              508,953.12      181,823.45

SOUTH BEND CITY CONTROLLER                     245,994.29      125,818.25

MISHAWAKA CITY CONTROLLER                     121,419.45      57,859.02  

(La Porte County, IN) - A Chicago area man could face time in prison for allegedly driving impaired on drugs while heading the wrong way on the Indiana Toll Road in La Porte County.

Kamal Abdallah, 51, was arrested Wednesday night on charges of operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and possession of a controlled substance.

According to Indiana State Police, he was westbound in the eastbound lanes outside La Porte and heading toward a trooper monitoring traffic.  Several drivers had to take evasive action to avoid collisions.

During a traffic stop, police said pills identified as a controlled substance were found along with a THC vape pen.

(La Porte County, IN) - A company is going to court over its plans for a solar farm being rejected by the La Porte County Board of Zoning Appeals last month.

In its lawsuit, Hoosier Solar says the plans met all of the requirements but the BZA failed to list its reasons for turning down its request for a special exception to the current agricultural zoning by a 3 to 2 vote.

The company also argues the process was biased from having a board member and a county commissioner reveal their opposition to the plans before the vote.

In the lawsuit, Hoosier Solar said there was reason to believe BZA member Jeff Baltes has funded and participated in the distribution of signage opposing solar projects across the county.  The lawsuit claims Baltes had a sign posted at his home reading “No Industrial Solar Plants on Farmland” as recently as April 23.

The commissioners replaced Baltes with Lefeber as an alternate member of the BZA appointed to strictly vote on the special exception request.  But, the lawsuit alleges Lefeber attended a BZA meeting in May to speak against the request he was now empowered to vote on, a violation of state law that requires a neutral and unbiased fact finder in BZA –quasi-judicial proceedings.

The lawsuit also points to publicly made remarks from Holifield like one that describes Hoosier Solar as “outside carpet baggers” wanting a solar farm only to possibly obtain a federal tax credit, statements the company called false and disparaging to again try and illustrate how the process was not impartial and fair as required.   

The lawsuit is asking the court to order the BZA to approve the plans.

The proposed solar farm would be on about 300 acres of farmland in the eastern part of the county near the St. Joseph County line.

In response, Holifield said the best location for the solar farm is the mostly secluded Kingsbury Industrial Park.  He also defended his prior remarks against solar farms on farmland, saying he has a right to freedom of speech.

“I got my opinions, too, and we’re not allowed to have opinions?  I will stand and I will testify. I’ll do whatever I have to do to prevent this from happening,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - A man accused of killing his stepfather in La Porte is scheduled to stand trial next week.

Breon Ware, 37, is charged in La Porte Circuit Court with murder and other counts.

In October of last year, authorities said 58 year old Aaron Stingley was strangled at a home in the 1400 block of Jefferson Avenue.  Police said the two men were arguing when Ware was seen by someone inside the residence punching the victim and placing his arm around his neck.

Ware then went to his mother’s workplace in La Porte and told her she needed to check on the man, according to authorities.  She did and found him without a pulse.

Jury selection is expected to begin Monday for the trial expected to last a few days.  Ware could face a 45 to 65 year sentence on the murder charge.

According to authorities, Ware of Gary has a prior conviction for dealing cocaine from 2013.

(La Porte County, IN) - Beefed up patrols now exist until after Labor Day to help keep motorists safe.

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has had more officers on the roads since Wednesday under a national federally funded annual enforcement campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

Officers are working overtime to beef up patrols through September 7 with the focus on identifying and stopping motorists under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“As we enter the final weeks of summer, we are asking every driver to make responsible decisions. A sober ride is not just the safest option, it’s the choice that saves lives,” said La Porte County Police Capt. Derek Allen.

Last year, nearly 23-percent of Indiana’s traffic fatalities involved alcohol while over 41-percent involved drug impairment, according to preliminary data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

The enforcement campaign administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute is supported with federal traffic safety funds provided by the United States Department of Transportation.

(La Porte County, IN) - A traffic stop in La Porte County resulted in the arrest of the driver on gun and drug related charges.

Patrick Wright, 22, was being held in the La Porte County Jail on multiple counts, including Level 5 felony possession of a machine gun without a license and possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor.

According to Indiana State Police, the Chicago area man was pulled over Wednesday night on the Indiana Toll Road near the 50 mile marker for not having working taillights on his vehicle.

Police said an odor of marijuana from the 2017 BMW resulted in a search and discovery of a loaded handgun equipped with a switch that makes the semi-automatic gun function as a fully automatic weapon. 

The gun with an extended magazine came back as stolen out of Illinois, police said. An undisclosed amount of marijuana was also allegedly recovered from the vehicle.

(La Porte, IN) - A stretch of E. Lincolnway in La Porte was closed this morning because of a natural gas leak.

The state highway was closed between Philadelphia and Boston streets, according to the mayor’s office.

Firefighters at the scene were trying to shut off the leak and detect levels of natural gas inside nearby buildings.  Al’s Supermarket and CVS were evacuated and closed until further notice.

“Please stay clear of the area and allow our teams room to do their jobs safely,” said Mayor Tom Dermody.

(Three Oaks, MI) - One of the broadcasters for the Chicago Cubs will be in the area this weekend.

Alex Cohen will be at the public library in Three Oaks.

He will speak, answer questions and be part of a meet and greet with those in attendance, said Gary Lange, founder of the Biggest Little Baseball Museum, which is on the second floor of the library.

Cohen is an up and coming broadcaster now in his second year with the Cubs.

Lange said a colleague, Brian Johnson, expressed a desire to book Cohen for a speaking engagement and was able to secure his upcoming appearance.

“He made some contacts.  We’re looking forward to him being there,” he said.

Cohen will appear on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m. (EST) 

The event is free.

Cohen is a play-by-play announcer on select Cubs games for the Marquee Sports Network for two-years and has been the lead play-by-play announcer for the Iowa Cubs, the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate, since 2018.  

(La Porte County, IN) - A motorist with a cell phone helped La Porte County Police remove a very alcohol impaired driver from the streets in Michigan City yesterday.

Richard Specker, 35, of Westville was booked into the La Porte County Jail on Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

Police said officers about 4 p.m. responded to a call about a swerving vehicle on Franklin St. south of U.S. 20.  It wasn’t long before the suspected vehicle, a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, was located swerving from lane to lane while heading southbound. Police said the driver later identified as Specker pulled over after nearly causing a collision with a semi-truck.

His alleged blood alcohol level was .32-percent or four times the legal .08-percent limit.  Police said several empty alcoholic beverage containers were discovered in the vehicle.

(La Porte County, IN) - A candidate for La Porte County Commissioner has reactivated his campaign.

Jody Slabaugh says he’s back to knocking on the doors of voters. 

The Republican Party nominee for the seat now held by Connie Gramarossa, recently suspended his campaign.  Slabaugh says he did so because of a “difficult public confrontation” during a Republican Party event.

He provided no details about the confrontation but said his wife after they talked it over agreed with his decision.  Slabaugh says he decided to become active in the campaign again after hearing from a lot of his supporters.

He soundly defeated Gramrossa for the republican nomination in the May primary.

“I’ve decided the mandate from those primary voters matters more than one bad morning, so I’m back in and back knocking on doors,” he said.

Slabaugh is opposed in November by Angle Henzman, who easily won the Democratic Party nomination in the primary over Ron Meer, a former two-term mayor of Michigan City.

Henzman said her campaign is not impacted by Slabaugh’s decision because his name will be on the November ballot regardless of his campaign’s status.  The deadline for a candidate to remove their name from the ballot was July 15.

“I just want to get to as many voters as possible to earn their votes so I will continue as I plan to and keep doing the work,” she said.

(Merrillville, IN) - It’s been over a week now since some NIPSCO customers have been without power since Tuesday’s major rain and wind storm.

The numbers continue dropping, though.

According to NIPSCO, over 700 customers were still without power this afternoon in its La Porte service territory while that figure was just over 300 in the Michigan City service area.  NIPSCO also reports nearly 388 remaining outages in the Westville area.

There are more than 10,000 customers still without electrical service in Merrillville and Lake Station combined while the number is over 1,300 in Chesterton and Valparaiso combined.  NIPSCO said the number of outages throughout its northern Indiana service territory stands at over 83,000.

At one point, about 60-percent of NIPSCO’s 500,000 customers were without power, the most in recent memory for the utility company from a storm.

(La Porte County, IN) - Overnight lane closures are upcoming on a stretch of Interstate 94 in La Porte County.

According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, the overnight lane closures will occur between U.S. 421 and U.S. 20/35 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. over the next two weeks.

Lane closures will first occur for two evenings beginning on or after the night of Thursday, August 20.. Crews will be removing the work zone configuration currently in place to put traffic back into the standard three-lane configuration in both directions, as well as conducting guardrail repairs, INDOT said.

Overnight lane closures will occur for four nights starting on or after Wednesday, August 26 for raised pavement marking installation. I-94 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for this overnight work but will resume three travel lanes during daytime hours. 

According to INDOT, this work is in relation to the full bridge deck replacement on Bleck Rd over I-94 through the beginning of September, which includes restrictions on I-94. The work zone to the west of U.S. 421 will remain in place after construction at Bleck Rd concludes.

Motorists should be prepared for changing traffic patterns on I-94, especially during overnight hours. INDOT encourages drivers to consider safety for all by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when traveling in and around all work zones.

(La Porte County, IN) - The cause of a house fire in Mill Creek is under investigation.

Firefighters early Monday afternoon responded to the 2400 block of Taylor Road. According to La Porte County Police, the homeowner, Betty Hildebrandt told investigators she placed a pan containing oil and grease from cooking chicken nuggets on the stove.

Hildebrandt said she then covered the pan and left to pick-up a pizza.  Her son later discovered a fire in the kitchen.

Most of the damage was around the stove in the kitchen where the entire ceiling was blackened by fire and smoke, police said.  The entire livingroom floor leading into the kitchen was filled with water from extinguishing the flames.

(Michigan City, IN) - A judge has been sentenced for driving impaired just two days after his arrest in Michigan City.

Porter County Superior Court 4 Judge Christopher Buckley was placed on 180 days of probation for Class C misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.  He was also ordered into substance abuse treatment.

Buckley, 46, was arrested Saturday night near the city’s lakefront and stepped into a courtroom for a hearing on Monday wanting to plead guilty. 

La Porte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan said his office agreed with his request and the quickly negotiated sentence for reasons that include Buckley being a first time offender.  Fagan said the punishment was also standard for a first time OWI conviction without the involvement of major circumstances like injury or death.

“It made sense,” he said.

According to Michigan City Police, Buckley was stopped about 9 p.m. in the 200 block of Heisman Harbor for driving and parking in an area that he was not supposed to be in.

Buckley has since suspended his campaign for a second term as judge and released a statement.

“I feel strongly that officers of the court should be held to a higher standard of conducdt than an ordinary citizen, much higher than the standard of conduct I displayed this past Saturday night.  I can place no blame on anyone but myself for this weekend’s actions.  I am, however, grateful for the opportunity that this created to get help,” he said.

Buckley also said he has struggled with alcohol since his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. over 20-years ago.

(Berrien County, MI) - A driver was killed when hit by an Amtrak passenger train near New Buffalo yesterday.

According to police, the vehicle also burst into flames.

Paul Rizzo, 72, was identified as the driver and only occupant of the vehicle.

The Amtrak train was westbound at the East Road crossing near Red Arrow Highway just before 10 a.m. when Rizzo, who lives in that area, tried to cross with the warning lights at the crossing flashing, police said.

Amtrak said none of the 203 passengers or three crew members were hurt in the crash, which delayed the train for about two hours.  The train was heading to Chicago from Grand Rapids.

The crash is under investigation, authorities said.

(Michigan City, IN) - A teenage boy drowned in Lake Michigan at Michigan City yesterday.

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, a 911 call just before 2 p.m. indicated the male swimmer had gone under the water and failed to resurface. First responders from multiple agencies arrived quickly at the residential access point and initiated a search.

DNR said a Michigan City firefighter soon located the victim, entered the water and brought him to shore where lifesaving measures started immediately.

The victim, a 16-year-old from East Brunswick, New Jersey, was transported by ambulance to Franciscan Health hospital where he later died.

Indiana Conservation Officers and the LaPorte County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate.  The identity of the victim was not released.

Assisting agencies included the Michigan City Police Department, Michigan City Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department, LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, and LaPorte County EMS.

(La Porte County, IN) - Crop damage from the August 11 storm that packed up to 100 mile per hour winds seems rather limited for the most part in La Porte County.

At least one field containing over 100 acres near Kingsford Heights, though, had a lot of corn plants knocked completely to the ground or left leaning by the hurricane force winds of the storm in places that also brought heavy rains.

Farmer Mark Parkman said a small percentage of his corn plants on the outer edges of his fields had their stalks snapped below the ears and were left leaning.

Parkman said he hasn’t been deeper into his fields yet to know if there’s any similar damage toward the center of his fields but doubts it since the outside plants take the brunt of the winds.

“It could be worse inside than outside. Typically not, but it can happen that way,” he said.

Parkman, who also owns an excavating firm, said he hasn’t had a chance to try and get in his fields because he’s been helping remove the many fallen trees and limbs from the Westville area in what’s been an ongoing major clean-up.  His corn and soybeans were already struggling to a certain extent from the wet spring and the wet growing season before the storm and the additional rain that fell later in the week.

Farms in his area are slower draining because of heavy clay in the soil.

“It’s not going to be a bumper crop.  It hasn’t been all year long in my book.  It’s just one more thing that’s going to hinder the crop in our area,” he said.

Farmer Jeff Mitzner of Wanatah said there wasn’t much crop damage in his area with just a few broken and leaning corn stalks in his fields along with some with leaves stripped from the stalks by hail.

Mitzner said his crops could have been hurt some by the six inches of rain that fell last week but he hasn’t been out in his fields recently to determine moisture levels. He still likes the condition of his corn and soybeans, which have benefited from having more easier to drain sand in the soil.

Mitzner said he spent the weekend in downstate Tipton welcoming a new grandchild into his family and witnessed the devastating flooding the recent storms brought to that part of the state.  Some areas were below 20 feet of water in spots.

“If I had my choice, I’d take the wind damage over the water damage because at least then you still have your valuables at home.  There, houses were washed into the river,” he said.

Farmer Matt Schafer said his fields in LaCrosse and as far to the west as Kouts received anywhere from four to seven inches of rain last week.  He also reported just minimal crop damage but he could discover more once he goes deeper out into his fields at some point.

Schafer also said he’s worried now about the potential for disease and other things that hurt yields developing because of the recent heavy rains and lack of hot weather to evaporate the moisture faster.

“We’re kind of in a wait and see mode.  In our particular area, it would seem as though we might have dodged a bit of a bullet,” he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - An 18-year old driver is facing major felony counts in connection with serious injuries to her passengers from a collision in Michigan City during a pursuit.

Jaelyn Maida is charged with Level 3 felony resisting law enforcement and three counts of Level 5 felony criminal recklessness.

Police said an officer Friday night tried stopping Maida for driving the wrong way down a one-way street on W. 11^th St., but she accelerated.  During a pursuit, police said she soon crashed into a guardrail.

All three of her passengers sustained life-threatening injuries, including an adult later flown to a regional hospital for more advanced care.  The remaining juvenile passengers were still hospitalized Monday at Franciscan Health, police said.

Police said investigators are waiting for the results of a blood test but suspect alcohol was a contributing factor in the collision.

The names of the injured passengers and other details were not released. 

Maida was being held in the La Porte County Jail on $15,000 bond.

(Michigan City, IN) - Help from the public is sought in trying to identify the driver of a vehicle who fled after striking a seriously injured pedestrian in Michigan City.

According to police, a black pick-up truck fled after striking the pedestrian about 8 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of Ramada Inn at 5820 Franklin St.

Police said the victim was taken to Franciscan Health hospital with life threatening injuries and later transported by helicopter to a regional hospital for more advanced care.

The name and age of the victim have not been disclosed.  Police said no further details will be released due to the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with additional information along with any witnesses are asked to contact Michigan City Police Capt. Greg Jesse at (219) 874-3221, Ext. 1008 or gjesse@michigancity.com.

(Union Mills, IN) – Another day, another delay for another La Porte County School.

On Sunday afternoon South Central Schools Superintendent Dr. Ben Anderson announced that the first day of classes will be pushed back to Tuesday, August 18.

While most of Hanna now has power, many Union Mills families do not. Also a few south county roads are still not accessible to school buses. For example, 900 S. between 600 W. and 700 W. remains blocked at this time, Anderson said.

“This has been a difficult balancing act as we try to be considerate of everyone's circumstances while also getting our students back to school,” said Anderson in a statement to the South Central Schools community. He also gave the following updates:

• Information regarding any make-up days will be shared at a later time.
• School picture day that was scheduled for the JH/HS on Tuesday will be postponed.
• The lunch menu will be as scheduled for this week, so what is on the calendar for each day is what will be served.
• Elementary families may drop off bagged and labeled (name/teacher) student supplies on Monday from 1:00pm-3:00pm.

Seniors will be welcomed back Monday, August 17, at least to the parking lot. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. those students will be able to paint their parking spots. Seniors should have received an email with details.

(La Porte County, IN) – It’s day six of being without power for thousands of northwest Indiana residents. Patience is wearing thin. Some people appear to have forgotten their manners.

According to La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield, on Saturday in an area near Johnson Road, police intervened on behalf of NIPSCO electrical workers. Said Holifield, “We had to send the Sheriff’s Department out. People were harassing and threatening linemen.”

Holifield said workers were temporarily blocking a roadway to install new equipment; meanwhile, "people were screaming and yelling at them." Holifield said he called local law enforcement, and a Sheriff’s patrol arrived to monitor the situation.

A more serious incident involving linemen happened Friday night in Gary, where a NIPSCO service truck was struck by at least two bullets. Work there was halted while authorities investigated. Indiana State Police have since dispatched extra patrols to Gary.

Holifield says he’s been out talking to electrical workers, many of whom have come to La Porte County from far away. “They’re getting tired, they’re getting worn out,” Holifield said. “They’re having a hard time procuring supplies. This is the worst outage they’ve ever seen.”

Holifield said ComEd crews have arrived to the area from Illinois with supplies. The National Guard rolled into La Porte on Saturday to help coordinate resources. “We’ve also got a couple of volunteer groups that have come through here,” Holifield added. “They’re going out basically to help move brush away from people’s yards. He stressed that all of these workers need to be given respect and cooperation.

According to Holifield, local leaders will meet at 7:30 Monday morning to discuss allocating new resources. He encourages anyone needing special assistance to text him at (219) 304-3164.

(La Porte County, IN) – Following declarations of emergency in La Porte, surrounding areas, and statewide, Governor Mike Braun has announced that federal aid is on the way. President Trump approved the Governor's request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration following a call between the two earlier in the day. The approval makes up to $5 million in federal assistance available to support emergency response efforts across Indiana.

On Saturday afternoon, La Porte County Commissioner Joe Haney confirmed that the National Guard has arrived in La Porte County. Utility crews assigned to them, he said, will assist with clearing roads, power lines, snapped poles, and related debris.

Haney also offered the following important reminders:

Brush & Debris Placement
County residents may place tree limbs and brush along the front of their property in the right-of-way for future removal. Please do NOT place anything in the street itself. Removal may take some time.

Use 211
It is ESSENTIAL that every resident report storm damage through 211. These reports help IDHS and FEMA unlock and allocate recovery resources.
Residents in at-risk populations—including the elderly, people with disabilities, veterans, and those living below the poverty line—are especially encouraged to report damage.

211 can connect you with qualified charitable organizations that provide free services such as tree and debris removal, basement flooding remediation, and more. Links in first comment.

Haney urged patience as recovery efforts continue. "Please understand that if your street looks good today, many areas in the County still look like a war zone," he said. "It is going to take a long time to get back to normal."

Fefillable Oxygen Supply Available

County Commissioner Steve Holifield told HTNN that Emergency Management Director Rob Sabie has been able to procure an oxygen truck. The truck is currently at La Porte’s Fire Station 3 on 710 Daytona Street. “If someone’s refillable oxygen tank is low, they can refill it there,” Holifield said.

(La Porte, IN) - School kids in La Porte did not go back to class this week, as planned, due to the extensive storm damage. The decision to start school on Monday, August 17 has now been pushed back another day.

La Porte public schools will begin Wednesday, August 19. Monday and Tuesday will be preparation days for staff.

School leaders said, as of Friday morning, six of the district’s school buildings and its transportation center were still without power. Even once all buildings come back online, they explained, food has to be moved back into schools, technology has to be tested and repaired, bus routes need to be adjusted for current road conditions, and building air systems have to be reset.

Open House hours on Tuesday, August 18 at La Porte Middle School, La Porte High School, and La Porte Alternative Education/Unity are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families and students from these schools, whose open house events were canceled last week, are welcome to come pick up schedules, walk the halls, and get comfortable before school starts.

In a statement to the community, school leaders expressed their commitment to starting off the year in the best way possible:

“Our goal is to have the first day of school at every building on the same day. This community cares about starting the school year together and celebrating it together, and we hope moving to Wednesday makes that possible. We will continue to assess our buildings every day and will let you know as soon as possible if anything needs to change.”

Because cell service and internet remain unreliable, they say to check ParentSquare or email, if possible, for Dr. Wood's full message, and share what you know with neighbors who may still be cut off.

(Michigan City, IN) - Michigan City area public school students were supposed to start on Wednesday. Their first day has been postponed until Tuesday, August 18, with power and internet expected to be restored across all buildings.

The district has updated the schedule for Back-to-School Nights on Monday, August 17. Here are the rescheduled locations and times:

Barker Middle School: 5:00-6:00

Coolspring Elementary School: 4:00-5:00

Edgewood Elementary School: 4:30-6:00

Joy Elementary School: 4:00-5:00

Knapp Elementary School: 4:00-5:15

Marsh Elementary School: 4:00-5:30

Pine Elementary School: 2:30-4:00

Springfield Elementary School: 4:45-6:15

Schools not listed have already hosted their Back-to-School Night events.

For more information, contact each school directly, or visit EducateMC.net.

(Michigan City, IN) - Tired of renting, living in Mom and Dad's basement? Interested in getting into real estate? Next week, the United Way of La Porte County will host a free symposium on all things housing.

The event is geared toward first-time home buyers, investors, those new to the community—in particular data center employees and construction workers— veterans, or anyone who may be asset limited.

The seminar will take place at Michigan City’s Blue Chip Casino on Thursday, August 20 and is completely free.

Doors open at 4:30 pm. There will be various sessions addressing topics related to home-buying and home-building, followed by a panel discussion. Free food and a free cocktail mixer is included in the evening.

Registration is required. You can register online through the United Way HERE.

(Merrillville, IN) - There are still a lot of power outages from Tuesday’s hurricane-like storm but NIPSCO is making progress.

According to NIPSCO, the number of customers without power in its La Porte service territory has dropped from over 16,000 to just under 9,000 early this afternoon.  In the Michigan City area, NIPSCO reports customer outages have dropped from more than 9,000 to just over 2,600 by 1 p.m.

According to NIPSCO, it might take until Tuesday night to restore power for 90-percent of its storm impacted customers and next Friday night before all customers have electrical service back on.

So far, no estimated restoration times have been given for specific neighborhoods. Periodic updates will be given on estimated power restoration times, NIPSCO said.

(La Porte, IN) - La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody has declared a state of emergency for the city because of the widespread damage from Tuesday’s hurricane-like storm.

While covered under the declarations by county government and the governor, Dermody said the state of emergency for the city is an effort to maximize the resources and assistance available to the city from resources like the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Dermody also asked motorists to stay off the roads, if possible, to give crews space to cut and clear trees and to call 911 for any immediate assistance or call Indiana’s 211 hotline to be connected to resources like meals and showers.

He also urged residents needing help to contact him on his cell phone at (219) 363-7293.

At one point, the mayor said over 14,000 residents of the city were without power from a storm that toppled more than 1,000 trees in the community.

(Lake Forest, IL) - The name Chicago Bears will not change if the team builds a stadium in northwest Indiana.

That’s according to Bears’ chairman George H. McCaskey during his annual training camp address on Thursday.

“We will be the Chicago Bears whether we're in Arlington (Heights, Ill.) or whether we're in Hammond," he said.

He went on to say “our focus is on Hammond.  That's where we're advancing our efforts and that's where the bulk of our time, attention and resources are being devoted."

McCaskey said he’s still confident fans will support the team if a new stadium is built in Hammond, despite polls that show many fans would be less likely to go to home games across the state line.

(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Police Department has what should be a very fun upcoming fundraiser.

A car show will be held to raise money for the department’s SWAT team.  SWAT teams consist of officers trained in resolving high-risk situations like shootouts, hostage takings and raids.  

Sgt. A. J. Jaskowiak said the proceeds will be used to help purchase equipment and pay for training officers to become members of the SWAT team.  He said just over 100 car owners showed up in their antique vehicles last year when the fundraiser was held for the first time.

“It was pretty successful last year.  We had a really good turnout,” he said.

There will also be music, a bounce house and a 50/50 drawing. 

The car show is scheduled August 22 at Sauers GMC at 1900 E. Lincolnway from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vehicle owners can register for the event on site from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.  The show will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jaskowiak said about $5,000 was raised from last year’s car show.

(Michigan City, IN) - A semi-truck driver used his rig to stop a suspected Michigan City shoplifter during a high-speed pursuit last evening.

Royale Murphy, 27, was booked into the La Porte County Jail for resisting law enforcement, theft, reckless driving and other counts.

According to La Porte County Police, the South Bend man was caught by a store security officer at Walmart with nearly $200 in clothing he failed to pay for at a self-checkout lane.  Police said a sheriff’s deputy chased him on foot in the parking lot but Murphy was able to get into a vehicle and while speeding away slammed into a shopping cart holder.

Murphy then made the short drive to Interstate 94 where the officer pursued him as the suspect kept switching lanes in moderate to heavy traffic.  Eventually, the fleeing pick-up truck veered into the opposite lanes of Indiana 49 at Chesterton.  

Police said Murphy was in the process of returning to Interstate 94 when the truck driver pulled across a ramp the suspect was on.   The maneuver prevented the suspect from continuing on any further and he was taken into custody at gunpoint.

Murphy was being held on $15,000 bond.

(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO has shed first light on when customers can expect to have their electrical service restored after Tuesday’s major storm.

According to NIPSCO, preliminary estimates indicate 90-percent of customers who lost power will have their service restored by no later than next Tuesday night.  Service will be restored for remaining customers by no later than Friday night, August 21.

Further specifics on the projected restoration times were not provided. 

About 60-percent of NIPSCO’s half million customers throughout northern Indiana had their service knocked out, an all-time record for storms in recent memory for the utility company.

NIPSCO said it will give restoration updates on a regular basis at NIPSCO.com/outages.

(La Porte County, IN) - Two semi-trucks collided last night, killing one of the drivers in La Porte County.

The victim, Johnny Rodriquez, 32, of Lakeland, Florida struck the back end of a tractor-trailer at U.S. 30 and Indiana 39 just east of Hanna, according to La Porte County Police.  

The rear-ended driver from southern California had stopped for a traffic light not working apparently from a lingering power outage linked to Tuesday's major storm. 

Police said Rodriguez failed to slow down prior to the collision, which occurred after 10 p.m.

No information was available on the condition of the other driver. 

(La Porte County, IN) - A lot of donated food, including meat from animals shown during the La Porte County Fair, is being used to help fight hunger.

Operation Feed La Porte County this week gave about 15,000 pounds of meat to nearly 30 food pantries and soup kitchens countywide, said Steve Mrozinski, president of the fair board.  

A lot of the meat came from animals 4-H youth had in the show ring during the fair. Some of those animals were purchased during the fair auction and donated to the cause while the remainder came from local farmers.

Mrozinski said the animals were processed into mostly one-pound packages of ground beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb and goats.  He said donations of produce and over five tons of canned food collected during the fair were included in the giveaway.

“It worked out great,” he said.

Mrozinski said it was the most food given away in the history of Operation Feed La Porte County, which has existed for several years.

(La Porte County, IN) - Fire heavily damaged a house in Michiana Shores yesterday.

Emergency responders just after 6:30 a.m. were called to 5701 Birchwood Trail. According to La Porte County Police, the owners of the home live in Chicago and use the dwelling as a vacation rental.

Police said the house was unoccupied at the time of the fire because the last guests left on Tuesday due to power being out at the residence from the major storm that greatly impacted the area.

A maintenance man told investigators everything seemed fine with the house when he walked through it after the guests departed the property.

Police said fire damage was confined around a bedroom and bathroom on the lower level of the home.  The damage included a heated concrete floor above the bedroom collapsing.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - Professionals are extremely busy removing trees from homes after Tuesday’s storm, which produced what some people believe were hurricane force winds.

Kyle Russell with Forrester’s Quality Tree Experts said his office received dozens of calls from people needing fallen trees removed.

“We’ll be out and about the next couple of weeks at least,” he said.

Russell and other members of his crew this morning were about finished removing a large tree from a house at B and 4^th streets in a job that began last evening.

He said it took longer last night to drive back to the shop a few miles west of La Porte from having to find other routes from so many streets blocked by fallen trees.

“They came down fast and hard,” he said.

(La Porte, IN) - A La Porte man is one of many residents with a tree on their house following Tuesday’s heavy rain and wind storm.

Alex Page has obvious damage to his roof at Maple Ave. and Tyler St., but it’s too early know the full extent of the necessary repairs.  Page said he was home when the late morning/early afternoon storm hit.

“We heard a big snap,” he said.

Page said he thought a branch came down but was shocked to see a large uprooted tree on his roof when he went outside.  His reaction was “oh, God.  It’s the whole tree.”

Right now, Page, who hasn’t discovered any holes or cracks in his roof yet, continues to live in the home and plans to contact his insurance company soon about removing the tree and fixing the damage.

Page also has no power like thousands of other La Porte residents, but he does have a water heater and stove that operates on natural gas.

(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO says the number of power outages from Tuesday’s storm is the most ever in the history of the utility company.

According to NIPSCO, over 300,000 of the utility company’s 500,000 customers throughout northern Indiana were without service at one point.

Currently, the number of outages stands at over 270,000 with over 15,000 of those remaining in NIPSCO’S La Porte service territory and more than 9,000 in the Michigan City area.

“Crews continue to work around the clock to assess damage, repair critical infrastructure, and restore service safely. While thousands of customers have been restored since the storm, the unprecedented extent of the damage means restoration progress may vary by community,” NIPSCO said.

Before power can be restored to individual neighborhoods, NIPSCO said crews must first repair major transmission and distribution facilities that serve large numbers of customers. As those repairs are completed, restoration efforts are expected to gain momentum.

Overnight, crews focused on responding to safety hazards, clearing downed trees, repairing critical infrastructure, assessing damage, and preparing work locations for restoration activities today. Much of this work is required before larger numbers of customers can be safely restored.

Restoration times are not yet available as damage assessments continue.

“This is the largest outage event in NIPSCO's history, affecting approximately 60% of our electric customers at its peak and causing extensive damage throughout the electric system,” NIPSCO said.

(La Porte County, IN) - Shoppers at Walmart in La Porte and Michigan City will have a chance to purchase school supplies for needy families.

Walmart is teaming up with the Salvation Army on what’s called the “School Supply Drive.”

On Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m, shoppers can purchase school supplies and drop them into Salvation Army collection bins at the front of each store.  The supplies will be turned over to the La Porte and Michigan City school districts for distribution to students.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, many parents are finding it harder than ever to afford the basic supplies their children need for school,” said Major Becky Simmons, who helps run the Salvation Army locations in La Porte and Michigan City.

(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County government offices are closed today because of yesterday’s storm.

County Commissioner Steve Holifield said the primary reason is some county government offices were still without power this morning.  County employees were allowed to leave work after the mid-day storm hit due to power outages and numerous fallen trees and power lines.

According to NIPSCO, the number of customers without power in its La Porte service territory dropped from over 16,000 yesterday to more than 14,000 this morning while outages in its Michigan City service territory remained at over 7,000.

NIPSCO has still not given any estimates on when power will be restored for all of its customers.  A number of Indiana Michigan Power Company customers are still without electrical service this morning.

According to the utility company, about 1400 of their customers are still without power in northern La Porte County.  Those outages are in areas like Springfield Township, Rolling Prairie and just north of Mill Creek.

Just a handful of gas stations in La Porte were open after the storm, creating long lines where pumps were still working at places like Kroger and Family Express on E. Lincolnway.

There was also a natural gas leak in the Holcomb street area in La Porte.  The leak caused by a fallen tree has since been repaired.

(Merrillville, IN) - NIPSCO is unable to estimate right now when customers who lost power during today’s powerful storm will have their service restored.

NIPSCO Communications Director Jessica Cantarelli said an estimate will be given at some point but crews need time to assess the situation with over 300,000 outages throughout its entire northern Indiana service area.

“Please be rest-assured, that is our priority to get that information to folks,” she said.

Cantarelli said the number of outages is among the worst from a storm in the history of the utility company.

According to Indiana Michigan Power Company, nearly 3,000 of their customers in northern La Porte County were without electrical service late this afternoon. 

A La Porte man is facing drug and alcohol related charges after discovered unconscious behind the wheel of a running but still parked sport utility vehicle yesterday.

Michael Shannon, 44, was booked into the La Porte County Jail on Level 5 felony possession of methamphetamine and Class C misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

According to La Porte County Police, the La Porte man in a parking lot in the 8600 block of W. U.S. 20 didn’t wake up until after several taps by an officer on the window of the SUV.

Police said Shannon had symptoms of impairment and told the investigating officer he’s been struggling to stay free of methamphetamine.  He was allegedly found with a bag of methamphetamine while being processed into the jail.

(La Porte, IN) - A mid-day storm packing strong winds and heavy rains has caused thousands of power outages throughout the area along with numerous fallen trees and power lines.

According to NIPSCO, there were more than 16,000 customers without power in its La Porte service territory at 1 p.m. and more than 7,000 outages in its Michigan City service area.

La Porte County government employees were sent home for the rest of the day because of power outages at both courthouses and other buildings.

La Porte County Commissioner Steve Holifield is asking drivers not to travel, if possible, due to the safety risk posed by the number of fallen trees, utility poles and power lines.  He said utility company crews also need space to begin the task of restoring power.

“If you don’t have to be on the roads, stay home,” he said.

Mike Kellems, a police officer who lives in La Porte, said there were fallen trees and branches along with property damage where he was at during the storm on the west and south sides of the city.  

“The damage is very widespread and significant,” he said.

There were tornado warnings out during the storm but no confirmed touchdowns yet.

Michigan City resident Bob Johnson said about 1.6 inches of rain fell during the storm, which lasted for about 30 minutes.  At one point, Johnson said he had difficulty seeing his barn just 40 to 50 feet from his residence.

“It was sheets of rain.   I could barely even see it because the wind and the rain was coming down so hard,” he said.

(Michigan City, IN) - Two people were taken to a hospital Monday after waking up to their home on fire in Michigan City.

Firefighters about 3:40 a.m. were called to a residence on William St. and found heavy smoke and flames, said Michigan City Fire Department spokesperson Tia Eckwood.

Eckwood said the investigation revealed both residents were asleep on the second floor when one of the residents woke up to a bad smell and went downstairs to discover the fire.  A neighbor who happened to be awake at the time put a ladder up to the second floor balcony of the home to help the other individual escape.

One of the residents suffered burns while both of them wound up with smoke inhalation, she said.  A firefighter was also transported to a hospital and later released.

Eckwood also said there were no working smoke detectors in the home.   

According to investigators, the fire began somewhere in the living room but exactly where and the cause remain under investigation.

(La Porte, IN) - The Kiwanis Club of La Porte is partnering with the local YMCA to launch a new program for youth outreach.

Kiwanians have contributed $25,000 to create Y on the Move, a mobile initiative designed to bring free programming, resources, and enrichment opportunities directly to children and families.

The program will include activities in areas like sports, science and technology (STEM), and healthy living. The Y on the Move mobile unit will serve as a traveling hub for youth programming, bringing resources to neighborhoods, community events, and other gathering places throughout La Porte County. The program is designed to help reduce barriers and provide more opportunities for children to participate in engaging experiences.

The Kiwanis Club of La Porte is part of Kiwanis International, a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. “We are proud to partner with the YMCA on this exciting initiative,” said Trudy Menke, president of the local chapter. “Y on the Move represents exactly the type of community-focused project that aligns with Kiwanis’ mission. By bringing opportunities directly to children and families, we can help create positive experiences that encourage learning, connection, and growth.”

Scott Helmkamp, CEO of the La Porte County Family YMCA, said the project will fit well with his organization’s mission. "Expanding access to health and wellness opportunities is one of our strategic priorities," said Helmkamp. "The generous support and partnership of the Kiwanis Club of La Porte makes Y on the Move possible, allowing us to bring healthy activities and youth programming directly into neighborhoods across La Porte County. Together, we are creating more opportunities for every child to live a healthier, more active life."

(Michigan City, IN) - The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a project in Michigan City Harbor. Barges arrived last week with materials to rebuild the north end of the lighthouse pier.

Harbor Master Tim Frame explained the work at a recent Michigan City Port Authority meeting. He said engineers started by pulling existing stones away and on three sides are installing sheet pile, interlocking sheets of steel that form a kind of barrier against the water. “Then they are going to backfill that with stone and grout to solidify that end,” he explained, “and pour a new top on it, and then put all that stone back.”

According to Frame, engineers will have at least two large barges going back and forth with cranes. They expect to conclude the project by the end of September.

After work on the pier is done, the Army Corps will add 1,300 tons of stone on the outer breakwater. Frame said the east and west ends of the breakwater have already been reinforced with stone. Soon, sometime in October, engineers will fill in the middle section with material coming in from Wisconsin.

(La Porte County, IN) - A Union Mills man ended up nearly drowning following a bizarre police chase.

On Thursday afternoon a La Porte County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a GMC SUV on U.S. 20 near Michigan City. Police quickly realized that the driver, 30-year-old Jacob A. Gilmore, was wanted for two previous charges, Invasion of Privacy and Domestic Battery.

Before an officer could question him, Gilmore took off, heading south on County Line Road. He led police on a chase of over 26 miles across La Porte County to a rural area just south of La Crosse along Horseshoe Bend Road, also known as Millers Lane. The SUV left the roadway and plunged into an offshoot of the Kankakee River.

Police say for a time Gilmore remained in the partially submerged SUV, refusing to get out, even at one point lighting up a glass pipe. When he was done with his smoke, Gilmore apparently decided to go for a swim, entering the stream’s murky waters. Three officers went in after him after Gilmore disappeared under the water and did not resurface. According to reports, Deputy Austin Wells rescued Gilmore and brought him to shore, where the suspect was revived. Police say even after the ordeal, Gilmore again tried to run.

He was booked on four felonies, including Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Cocaine, and four misdemeanors, and is being held at the La Porte County Jail. According to court records, Gilmore has collected a multitude of charges in recent years, including Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm, Criminal Confinement, and Domestic Battery Against a Pregnant Woman, among others.

(La Porte County, IN) – The Indiana Department of Transportation has a number of construction projects in the Westville area.

Road work is continuing on various sections of SR 2 between Westville and Valparaiso.

Starting Monday, August 10, SR 2 will be reduced to one lane between C.R. 600 N and Old SR 2 for bridge deck work over CSX Railroad. Temporary signals will be installed to direct traffic, and the road will be reduced to one lane through late October.

SR 2 will fully close in that area on August 17 for a pipe replacement project. There will be no through access at that time. This closure will be in place through early September, and the detour will follow SR 49 and U.S. 6. 

INDOT says SR 2 remains reduced to one lane between C.R. 1100 W and C.R. 600 E through early September for bridge work at Forbes Ditch. Temporary traffic signals are installed to direct traffic.

Another project involves U.S. 421 south of Westville which will be closed for much of the upcoming week.

The closure will be between U.S. 6 and C.R. 700 S for repair to a rough railroad crossing. The work is scheduled to begin Monday, August 10 and last about six days. Local access will be maintained, but through traffic should seek alternate routes, INDOT says. The official detour will follow U.S. 6, SR 39, and U.S. 30.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Girls’ high school flag football is closer to becoming a full-fledged sport in Indiana.

The Indianapolis Colts have announced that they’ve reached their goal of recruiting 100 high school flag football programs. That’s the number needed for the IHSAA to consider making it an official high school sport. A vote to do so could come as early as next May.

"Reaching more than 100 participating schools is a tremendous milestone for girls flag football in Indiana and it reflects the growing enthusiasm for the sport across our state," said Paul Neidig, IHSAA Commissioner. "We appreciate the Colts for their vision, leadership, and investment in creating new opportunities for young women. This achievement marks an important step in the IHSAA's process toward potential championship recognition, and we look forward to seeing the continued growth of girls flag football in Indiana."

Three years ago the Colts launched a statewide girls’ flag football league with eight teams, which grew to 27 teams in 2024, when it officially earned emerging sport status by the IHSAA. Next year, 108 teams will hit the field. Costs associated with launching a team typically range from $5,000 to $8,000 for equipment, uniforms, training and coaching stipends. To help offset that cost, the Colts invested up to $10,000 each in the schools that joined the Road to 100.

"Girls flag football provides another pathway for girls to learn, play and love our great sport, as well as all the other opportunities and benefits that come from playing youth sports and being a part of a team," said Kalen Jackson, Colts Owner & Chief Brand Officer. "The Colts are proud to help lead this effort to make football more accessible and inclusive for all, and this is only the beginning for girls flag in Indiana."

The sport has already taken off at New Prairie High School, which just kicked off its second season. In October their girls’ flag team was among eight finalists to vie for the sport’s first state championship down in Westfield.

Two New Prairie flag players, Shai Manly and Ellie Harris, recently participated in the North/South All-Star game. Another player, Andrea Loza, won an $8,000 scholarship from Toyota at the NFL Flag Championships last month.

(South Bend, IN) - About a year ago American Airlines starting offering passengers in this area a way to fly out of Chicago without driving there themselves. They introduced a shuttle service by bus from South Bend International Airport (SBN) to Chicago O’Hare (ORD). Now they’re upgrading passengers to an actual aircraft.

The airport has announced that American Airlines will soon fly passengers between airports. Flights will be three times daily on a regional CRJ-700 aircraft with dual-class cabins and 65 seats.

The SBN-ORD route will continue to be operated six times daily on a 35-seat luxury motor coach through Sunday, October 4, with the airplane shuttles taking off October 5.

Passengers that have already booked between SBN and ORD on American will be automatically rebooked and will receive an email notification from the airline, the airport says.

(La Porte County, IN) - Expect traffic delays on U.S. 35 between La Porte and Michigan City starting this weekend.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says lane closures between SR 39 and U.S. 20 will be ongoing over the next month for patching and resurfacing operations.

In a statement, INDOT authorities explained the scope of the repairs. “Full and partial depth patching involves replacing to a farther depth than the resurfacing will,” they said. “Areas with structural issues are identified and the road is replaced down to the base for durable, long-term repairs. When the resurfacing is done, the area will still be resurfaced to ensure a smooth driving surface with the adjacent area.”

35 was previously closed for much of July between C.R. 400 W and Schultz Rd for a structure replacement.

According to INDOT, this phase of work will reduce 35 to one lane in stretches of a couple of miles or longer, with flaggers directing traffic. Motorists should expect significant traffic delays or consider seeking alternate routes, INDOT said. Patching and resurfacing will be ongoing through the end of October.

(La Porte County, IN) - A longtime member of the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office Maintenance Garage is hanging up his wrenches.

Chief Fleet Technician Bob Parks has retired after 43 years of service. Parks began his career with the Sherriff’s Department in January of 1983. Over the course of four decades, the department said, he completed thousands of oil changes, brake jobs, tire replacements, and countless other repairs that come with maintaining a busy law enforcement fleet. Parks served under six different sheriffs and helped oversee the transition into a new service facility on Zigler Road.

Beyond the daily operations of the garage, Bob worked tirelessly to coordinate the purchasing, outfitting, striping, wiring, and preparation of hundreds of new agency vehicles. While much of Bob’s work occurred out of the public eye, every deputy who climbed behind the wheel of a patrol vehicle benefited from his dedication and craftsmanship. The Sherriff’s Office said Parks made himself available to the Patrol Division 24 hours a day, seven days a week. His commitment to the agency never stopped when the workday ended.

“Through it all, one principle never changed—” said the LCSO in a statement, “no vehicle left the garage if it still had a safety issue. Ensuring deputies had safe, reliable vehicles to perform their duties was always Bob’s highest priority.”

Major Patrick Cicero praised Parks’ efforts. “Bob’s commitment cannot be measured simply by the years he served,” Cicero said. “He took tremendous pride in his work, always putting the safety of our deputies first, and was someone we could depend on at any hour of the day. His experience, work ethic, and dedication will be greatly missed.”

Sheriff Ronald C. Heeg also expressed his gratitude. “Bob devoted more than four decades to keeping our fleet safe, reliable, and mission ready. His professionalism, integrity, and dedication have had a lasting impact on this agency and every deputy who has driven one of our vehicles. We are incredibly grateful for his service and wish Bob and Patti nothing but the very best in retirement together.”

Parks and his wife Patti plan to spend the days ahead working on Bob’s to-do list around the house, attending grandchildren’s activities, and traveling.

(Indianapolis, IN) - The menu for Medicaid-covered medications in Indiana will soon include GLP-1s.

Recently Governor Mike Braun directed the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to opt into the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation’s BALANCE demonstration. BALANCE (Better Approaches to Lifestyle and Nutrition for Comprehensive hEalth) is a federal pilot program targeting obesity.

Soon certain Indiana Medicaid recipients will be eligible for GLP-1s, a popular hormone treatment that regulates blood sugar, slows digestion, and controls appetite. GLP-1s treat conditions like Type 2 diabetes and support weight management.

"Obesity is a serious, chronic disease, and addressing it can open the door to better health," said David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, citing a statistic that 71% of adult Hoosiers are living with obesity or overweight. “This toll on our state's health is also a toll on our economy,” he added, “costing an estimated $10.7 billion a year, or nearly 2% of state GDP.”

Under the terms of the partnership, pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Indiana’s own Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, will make select GLP-1 medications available to Indiana’s Medicaid program for $245 per member per month, which will reduce to a little over $85 per month after a federal contribution is applied.

“Indiana is proud to expand access to essential treatment for eligible Hoosiers,” said Braun. “This agreement reflects our commitment to Make Indiana Healthy Again by pursuing practical solutions that increase healthier lives." His administration said further details will be released soon.

(Porter County, IN) - A Portage man was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Indiana Toll Road early yesterday morning.

According to the Indiana State Police, the accident happened around 4:30 a.m. Thursday on the east side of Portage in the eastbound lanes of the tollway.

Police say Martin Meschede (25) was riding a gray 2024 Yamaha motorcycle when it left the roadway and hit a guardrail. Meschede was thrown about 144 feet and was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorcycle remained upright and travelled another 1,000 feet from where it first hit the guardrail.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the crash. Eastbound lanes of the tollway were closed until just before 7:00 a.m. Friday morning for an investigation.

(La Porte County, IN) - New Prairie is the first La Porte County school district to begin a new school year. The Cougars headed back to class Wednesday. Other La Porte County students can still enjoy a few more days of summer. Here’s a rundown of when other area schools will start:

Wednesday, Aug. 5

• New Prairie United School Corporation
• Knox Community School Corporation
• Career Academy Schools (South Bend)
• North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation

Thursday, Aug. 6

• Oregon-Davis School Corporation

Tuesday, Aug. 11

• Tri-Township Schools
• Culver Community Schools
• Marian High School (Mishawaka)

Wednesday, Aug. 12

• Michigan City Area Schools
• South Central Community School Corporation
• St. John’s Lutheran School
• Metropolitan School District of New Durham Township (Westville)
• John Glenn School Corporation
• LaVille Community Schools
• Plymouth Community School Corporation
• St. Joseph High School (South Bend)
• School City of Mishawaka

Thursday, Aug. 13

• Elkhart Community Schools

Friday, Aug. 14

• La Porte Community School Corporation
• Marquette Catholic High School (Michigan City)
• St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic School (Michigan City)

Monday, Aug. 17

• Culver Academies
• Sacred Heart Apostolic School (Rolling Prairie)

Wednesday, Aug. 19

• Queen of All Saints (Michigan City)
• Notre Dame Catholic School (Michigan City)
• Corpus Christi Catholic School (South Bend)
• Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
• South Bend Community School Corporation
• Trinity Academy (South Bend)
• St. Thomas More Academy (South Bend)

Thursday, Aug. 20

• Queen of All Saints (Michigan City)

Friday, Aug. 21

• Stanley Clark School (South Bend)

Monday, Aug. 31

• River Valley School District (Michigan) - half day

Tuesday, Sept. 8

• New Buffalo Area Schools (Michigan) - half day

(Lake County, IN) - Indiana State Police made a substantial drug bust in Lake County recently.

Last Friday around noon, troopers pulled over a Ford Escape on I-65. Officers used translation software to communicate with the two suspects, who claimed they did not speak English. Police said both men gave inconsistent travel explanations while exhibiting signs of nervous behavior.

Meanwhile, a K9 sniffed out something suspicious in the vehicle. In the back of the Escape, police found a firepit wrapped in plastic. Inside the firepit they found 34 wrapped packages of suspected methamphetamine, weighing 21 pounds.

The two men, both in their 20s and from the Chicago area, were taken to Lake County Jail and booked for dealing meth.

(Indianapolis, IN) - Indiana Governor Mike Braun has issued a last-minute stay of execution for the state’s gas tax holiday.

The suspension of gasoline taxes, which saves Hoosier motorists about 62 cents per gallon, was set to expire Thursday night. The governor put it into effect in April to counteract market factors largely driven by the conflict in Iran. Braun extended it multiple times throughout the summer, reaching the limit of his executive power.

After Thursday, Braun’s only recourse was to appeal to the state legislature or declare an emergency. He has done the latter.

According to a statement issued by the governor’s office, disruptions to global oil shipping lanes caused by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Canadian wildfires “have created new pressures on fuel prices that are driving the price of gas for Hoosiers to unnatural levels outside the norm of standard economic conditions.”

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita backed the governor’s move. “Nothing in Indiana’s emergency powers statutes prohibit the Governor from declaring separate emergencies based upon different factors,” Rokita said. “It is within the Governor’s authority to give Hoosiers temporary and much needed relief at the pump based upon changed conditions. Frankly, the General Assembly really needs to update this law so it can be better utilized by the Governor and enforced by the Attorney General in the future.”

Braun’s office says the governor has reached an agreement with House and Senate fiscal leadership, repeating the claim that there is enough money in state reserves to cover expenses and replace local lost revenues. The reserve balance is reportedly on track to be over $5 billion.

“Affordability is my top priority, and my gas tax suspensions delivered the cheapest gas in America for Hoosiers all summer,” said Braun. “I’m keeping those savings going for Hoosier families, and my recommended budget will tap our reserves to keep state and local infrastructure projects fully funded.”

The new order will take effect Friday and last until at least September 5. It could be renewed for as long as 120 days.

(Rolling Prairie, IN) - Congressman Rudy Yakym (R) kicked off his summer “Hoosier Heartland” tour in La Porte County yesterday. Throughout August Yakym will visit all 11 counties in Indiana’s Second Congressional District multiple times to meet with Hoosier constituents.

Yakym’s first stop on the tour was Keystone Cooperatives in Rolling Prairie, where the focus was farming. Yakym acknowledged that prices of fuel and fertilizer are putting farmers in a pinch. He explained that the conflict in Iran is challenging, becasue the regime there has every incentive to drag things out. Congress is doing what it can, he said, to help the Trump administration open the Strait of Hormuz for good.

“That’s a critical component for global economic security,” Yakym told HTNN. “The President has come to us with requests from a funding perspective for additional things for the military that he needs, and we’re looking at those funding requests right now.”

Some local farmers, like Mark Parkman, have their eyes on other legislation. “We expressed our view that everything’s expensive in our business,” said Parkman. “Right now our commodities are down a little bit, but hopefully the Farm Bill gets passed, and we can get through all this.”

The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, which drives agriculture policy, is currently operating under an extension running through September. Different versions from the House and Senate are vying for passage. Yakym voted in favor of the House bill when it was passed in April. “Rudy’s a good man, but he’s only one man, so we need more people to think that way,” said Parkman.

In the meantime, Yakym is back in his district getting feedback from voters. “We’ll listen to Hooisers, hear what their concerns and issues are,” he said, “and then come September, get on a plane, go to Washington, D.C. and fight for them.”

(Indianapolis, IN) - The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has released an energy affordability report.

The IURC has received thousands of complaints this year about energy costs, way more than usual. They set up ten listening sessions recently to better understand factors driving up those costs.

Leading their 10-page report is news that the IURC has launched two separate investigations into utility company profit margins and their rate adjusting methods.

The report also gives a series of directives to power companies and the state legislature to reduce costs and increase values for customers. One suggestion—having the most immediate impact, they say— is to remove the 7% sales tax on energy use. Another is to create an incentive-based system to reward, or penalize, utilities for performance.

The IURC stresses that there is no "magic bullet" to fix rising costs, so they will continue to push for change.

You can review the entire report HERE.

(Michigan City, IN) - A traffic stop ended up in drug charges for a Michigan City man.

A little after 4 pm Sunday afternoon, a Michigan City police officer pulled over a Chevy Malibu with an improperly displayed license plate on Poplar Boulevard near East Michigan Avenue. A certain smell from inside the vehicle told the officer that further investigation might be warranted.

While the driver, Marvin White Jr. (21), and his pregnant passenger waited outside the vehicle, police searched it. They allegedly found 24 pills suspected to be ecstasy, over 870 grams of marijuana, other THC products, a scale, plastic baggies, and a loaded Glock 17 with a chambered round. Police said, according to receipts inside the Malibu, the marijuana was purchased from a dispensary in New Buffalo. White told officers the gun was his mother’s, and he didn’t know the drugs were in the vehicle.

Police discovered that White has multiple other drug-related felony charges pending against him in two other counties. He has also been charged in Illinois, police said. White now facing three more drug charges, along with Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, in La Porte Superior Court 1.

(Michigan City, IN) - Experts estimate a local economic impact of about $30 million from the Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City. But one organization in particular has seen a direct impact from one of the boat racers.

Located not far from where the races are held, the Washington Park Zoo announced that racer Billy Mauff has supported them once again, this time with a $12,500 contribution. Mauff has made similar donations in past years to fund projects. According to the zoo, recent donations enabled them to enhance the Predator Ridge habitats and the Grey Wolf exhibit, as well as take in two confiscated rescue Canadian Lynx this year. He also helped build the Big Cat Canyon lion and tiger exhibit.

For many years, Mauff has rescued huskies, whose names he displays on the side of his #5 bright yellow boat.

Known as “The Plumber” because he owns a union plumbing company in Long Island, New York, Mauff has seen hall-of-fame-worthy success in his 50-year career, winning 18 world championship titles and nine national titles.

The Washington Park Zoo is grateful that Mauff’s love of animals is as great as his passion for racing. “Billy’s commitment to the Washington Park Zoo goes beyond financial support— it reflects his deep passion for animal welfare, conservation, and enriching our community,” the zoo said in a statement. “Every gift he makes directly benefits the animals in our care, allowing us to provide engaging environments where they can thrive and inspire all who visit.”

(Michigan City, IN) - A Michigan City man is facing felony charges, including two counts of Attempted Murder, following a shooting last month.

According to police, around 8:20 am on July 11, officers responded to Franciscan Hospital for a person with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim told police that sometime overnight he had been in a parked white 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the BP gas station on East Michigan Boulevard while a female companion entered the store. While leaving, the victim said he heard two or three gunshots from an unknown assailant, along with shattering glass. He told police he was unaware of his injury, a bullet graze to the head, until later.

After studying surveillance footage, investigators determined that a gray Buick sedan had pulled alongside then in front of the Jeep. A light-skinned black man went to the Jeep’s driver’s side brandishing a handgun. As the SUV pulled away, the assailant fired shots, shattering the Jeep’s back window. Police said another black man exited the back of the Buick, grabbed a gun from a front passenger and chased the Jeep.

Police used Flock technology to identify the vehicle and the primary shooter, 24-year-old Daryl Rhodes II, who was later taken into custody. Further review of surveillance video allegedly detected a woman in the vehicle saying, "OC, why are you doing stupid sh--?" Police said Rhodes is known to go by the nickname O.C. Charging documents did not mention the identities of the others involved, but police allege, based on previous evidence, that the woman in the vehicle with the victim has been in an on-and-off-again relationship with Rhodes.

Rhodes is currently charged with five felonies, including two counts of Attempted Murder, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Recklessness, and Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun. He had an initial hearing last Tuesday in La Porte Superior Court 1, where a $100,000 cash bond was set.

(Michigan City, IN) – The weather didn’t cooperate with powerboat racing in Michigan City this weekend, but it wasn’t a complete washout.

Rough waters made for some Dukes of Hazard-like racing on Saturday, with four boats going down in the water. Race organizers weren’t about to risk injuries when conditions were even worse Sunday, so they cancelled racing for the day. Waves six to nine feet high posed too great a danger for racers and first responders alike.

Jack Arnett, CEO of the La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it had to be done. “I was really relieved when they called it,” he said. “If we had tried to race on Sunday, there would have been a chance for injury, and we don’t want to push that at all. It was the right call, not a hard call at all.”

Arnett said in 17 years of powerboat racing in Michigan City, this was only the second time that races have been cancelled.

Despite some rain, Saturday night’s boat parade went on as planned, and Arnett said there was still a good crowd at the lake Sunday enjoying themselves. “From a local standpoint, we got in a good week of activities,” Arnett said. “A lot of folks visited, there were 80 race teams that visited our community and spent a lot of money, so there’s still an economic impact.”

Racers didn’t seem too disappointed and had some thrills while racing lasted.

Mike and Sarah Howe operate Howe2Live Racing out of Biddeford, Maine. Despite Sunday’s disappointment, they said Saturday was one of the best days of offshore racing their team has ever had, especially considering a serious mechanical issue which they dealt with earlier in the week.

Mike said he nearly got seasick while circling in the choppy waters prior to the race. Sarah, who was filming the action from shore, said all the boats were disappearing in the waves. During the race, Mike said his boat hit a wave and went vertical. Luckily Howe landed flat, but the racer behind him rolled over.

According to Howe, super catamaran powerboats don’t flip easily, but on Saturday, they could hardly make a full lap without someone overturning.

The Howes were impressed with Michigan City Grand Prix. “This has got to be one of my favorite venues,” Sarah said. “The fans have been awesome, the race organizers have been awesome. All the food and merch trucks that are right here in our pits, all the events that they arranged for us. I mean, really, it was so well done.”

“But at the end of the day, Mother Nature is going to do what She’s going to do,” Mike added.

(La Porte County, IN) - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is losing a loyal officer to retirement.

The department has announced that K9 Bosco, effective July 28, has ended his policing duties and will focus on a perhaps more important career path.

Bosco, a ten-year-old Belgian Malinois, joined the force in 2018 and has put together one of the most impressive careers in department history. Known to many as the “Million-Dollar Dog,” Bosco has earned a highly respected reputation throughout the Midwest in the area of highway interdiction. If Bosco had a baseball card, the back of it would showcase some hall-of-fame numbers:

- Drug-associated currency seized: $3,378,477
- Cocaine/Crack Cocaine: 55.66 kilograms
- Methamphetamine: 173.73 kilograms
- Heroin: 10.37 kilograms
- Fentanyl: 12.59 kilograms
- Marijuana: 2,093.49 pounds
- THC cartridges: 5,113

- 13 one (1) ounce gold bars
- Vehicles seized: 2

According to a LPCSO statement, discussions began earlier this year about retiring Bosco, who had previously transitioned to a single-purpose narcotics detail. Although still performing at a remarkably high level, Bosco had begun showing subtle signs of aging.

His handler, Deputy Jon Samuelson, agreed this spring to take on another K9 partner.

Then May 22nd happened.

Samuelson was shot three times and critically injured during a violent encounter in the emergency room at Franciscan Health in Michigan City. According to Sheriff’s Captain Derek Allen, Samuelson was on his way to training that day, and Bosco was not with him.

The faithful K9 was able to visit Samuelson in the ICU and has been cared for recently by other members of the department. Now Bosco is ready to focus on just being a member of the Samuelson family.

(Cass County, IN) - A juvenile drowned in a Cass County swimming lake over the weekend.

On Saturday evening conservation officers received a call about a missing swimmer near France Park west of Logansport. According to initial reports, a group had been swimming near a deeper section of the lake. Three individuals entered an area where they could no longer touch the bottom and began struggling to stay afloat. Bystanders assisted two of them back to shallower water, but one juvenile did not resurface.

A short time later, a recreational diver located the juvenile, unresponsive, in the water. Lifesaving measures were immediately initiated but were unsuccessful. The juvenile was pronounced dead at Logansport Memorial Hospital.

The incident is still under investigation.

(Starke County, IN) - SR 39 South of La Porte is getting lots of attention from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Starting today crews are sealing a stretch of 39 south of U.S. 30 and also just south of North Judson. That work will take place for most of the week. INDOT is encouraging local traffic only.

Right in between those work zones, SR 39 in Starke County will be closed for nearly two months starting today. The closure is between SR 8 and C.R. 50 S. That’s a couple-mile stretch west of Knox.

Work will be ongoing through late September for a bridge deck overlay maintenance project over the Yellow River. The official detour will follow SR 8, U.S. 35 and SR 10.

(South Bend, IN) - Operators of a Michigan City-based internet company have been sentenced in federal court for fraud.

Matthew J. Kawa (48) of Grant Park, Illinois, and his sister Jennifer L. Stechkober (32) of Michigan City were sentenced in South Bend’s U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to selling unapproved drugs and misleading the public.

The pair ran Paradigm Peptides, an online distributor of performance enhancers. The company claimed to be FDA approved, selling safe, pure, and tested products. According to federal prosecutors, this was not true. Investigators say their products contained known and unknown substances that were illegally imported from China, India, and other countries.

Consumers reported severe negative effects on their physical and mental health. In particular, the products reportedly caused skin irritation and chronic acne, drops in natural testosterone requiring testosterone replacement therapy, cardiac health issues, as well as stress, anxiety, and other psychological issues, even leading to suicidal tendencies.

U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred said the company’s fraudulent activity was as extensive as it was dangerous. “Stechkober worked in the business’s location in Michigan City,” said Mildred, “where they packaged and shipped products to customers. Kawa continued to sell these products online despite receiving letters in 2020 and 2022 from the FDA warning him that he was marketing and selling unapproved drugs in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. From 2019 to 2024, he sold products to more than 54,000 customers in each of the 50 United States and throughout more than 80 countries worldwide.”

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. “The FDA’s requirements help ensure that individuals receive safe and effective drugs. Evading the FDA process and distributing unapproved drugs to consumers poses a serious risk to public health and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office. “FDA will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who traffic in unapproved drugs.”

Kawa was sentenced to 70 months of prison followed by one year of supervised release. Stechkober was sentenced to 16 months of prison followed by one year of supervised release. Both defendants were ordered to pay $78,317.52 in restitution. The Court also entered a money judgment against Kawa in the amount of $5 million, equal to the company’s proceeds from the illegal sales.

(Elkhart County, IN) - A veteran dating back to the time of the Revolutionary War has been honored in northern Indiana.

William Tuffs is the only known Hoosier to have taken part in the Boston Tea Party. Of course, Tuffs wasn’t a Hoosier at the time he protested against British taxation on December 16, 1773. Born in Boston, Tuffs was a 23-year-old working with his father as an innkeeper when he took part in the historic event. He later recounted that he disguised himself by sticking feathers in his hat and smudging his face with paint. His job was to assist in lifting the chests from the cargo hold to the other participants above deck.

Tuffs went on to serve in the Revolutionary War. Somewhere along the line, he moved west to Elkhart County, Indiana, where he lived out the rest of his days on a farm near Middlebury. Today the William Tuffs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Elkhart carries on his memory.

Recently at the cemetery in Bristol where Tuffs is buried, representatives from the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum paid a visit to place a commemorative marker on his grave. The museum has set more than 120 similar markers at sites across the country since 2018.

(Walkerton, IN) - A manufacturing facility in Walkerton is closing.

Company leaders at Owens Corning have notified the town that their plant there will permanently close, at the cost of about 130 jobs. According to Owens Corning, layoffs will begin on September 19 and continue through October, as operations at the facility wind down.

No reason was given for the shutdown. The Walkerton Owens Corning plant is a non-union facility.