When starting a fitness journey, many consumers begin with finding a new gym, but 2021 may be different for some. With the COVID-19 pandemic still a concern, many consumers are looking at achieving their fitness goals from home.

Businesses and social media influencers post lavish giveaway prizes such as designer clothes or bags, make-up, gift cards and other hot-ticket items.

Since 2020 has presented many sets of unexpected challenges and hurdles, one shift has been to an ever-increasing digital marketplace with online purchases and payments more common than ever before, and virtual events and virtual pop-up shops becoming the new normal.

The holiday season is a popular time to adopt a new pet into the family, as many tykes dream of a new furry friend under the Christmas tree.

It’s that time of season when I worry I might morph into one of Santa’s elves. I really enjoy the Christmas holidays – the time of year for optimism and good will. I bet some of the best times of your life happened during this joyous season.

The holidays are usually filled with a host of events, from holiday parties to pop-up gift markets and craft shows.

Nearly all can agree that it is time to put 2020 in the rear-view mirror. But we can’t close the books on what we must do to make the new year as healthy and prosperous as possible.

As consumers continue to check items off their shopping lists, BBB encourages them to keep small businesses in mind as the place to shop.

As consumers are checking items off their holiday shopping lists, they may be in search of the hottest “must-have” toys of the season. While children’s toys may seem harmless, scammers can use them as an opportunity to trick parents out of big bucks.

This is the time of year when consumers around the world begin ordering gifts for holiday celebrations.

Some things just don’t sit well with me. I was shopping at one of the big box stores on Nov. 1, and Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and other holiday tunes were already being played.

We are dealing with a crisis and headed toward a potential catastrophe. This reality has become clear during the last few weeks as our hospitals have reached or exceeded capacity.

To play or not to play winter high school sports and other activity programs – that is the decision being considered by state high school associations, state health and education departments, and state governments.

With holiday shopping moving full steam ahead as we approach Thanksgiving, nearly 60 percent of shoppers say a gift card is at the top of their Christmas wish list, according to the National Retail Federation.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting La Porte for the first time since I was installed as chancellor of Indiana University South Bend. I spoke to a group of leaders and shared the good news about how IU South Bend is serving your community.

With the 2020 holiday shopping season quickly approaching, COVID-19 has us filled with uncertainty on how that shopping will look.

Force should be applied in the apprehension of armed and dangerous fugitives. Impacted communities need your help locating “dangerous fugitives” who are wanted for violating the health standards for clean air, water and soil.

The final week of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month last week touched on the future of internet-connected devices.

When COVID-19 hit in March, never did I imagine that I would be contemplating at the beginning of the next school year whether or not I would send my kid back to school in person, or keep him home to do virtual learning.

We’re working from home, doing more shopping online, video-chatting with friends we haven’t seen since before COVID, and increasingly, we’re even visiting the doctor electronically.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take some time to think through the way your devices are secured at both work and home. If you’re like many Hoosiers, work and home may share the same roof, which makes it even more critical to secure your spaces.

MERRILLVILLE — Robocalls are a familiar nuisance for Americans. Consumer Reports found that in 2019, 70 percent of Americans do not answer the phone if they don’t recognize the caller ID and 62 percent let most calls go to voicemail.

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, and as we become digital citizens more and more, it’s important to remember the basics of keeping yourself secure online. One of those basics: check your links.

You’ve heard the old adage that curiosity killed the cat; well, scammers are counting on it.

Jubilee College, which was located in Peoria, Illinois, became part of La Porte County in 1910.

As the pandemic has carved out a new normal for most of us, more people are doing the bulk of their shopping online.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we live. Americans are spending more time in our homes – working and living inside as a way to keep each other safe.

As a lifelong Republican and former county party chairman, I resonated positively to the plans that Donald Trump outlined for his first four years.

Scammers constantly evolve their tactics to make more money, con more people and get away with more of your hard-earned cash.

As more states and municipalities make masks mandatory in public settings, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Better Business Bureau have issued a warning about flyers or cards stating that the owner is exempt from wearing face masks.

The corner at the intersection of I and 10th streets in La Porte is probably best known for the activities that reportedly occurred in the Andrew house.

Believe or not, the kids of yesteryear had plenty of pastimes to occupy their downtime – many had rules which were made up at the time, and the rules changed regularly, depending on the participants.

Never in a million years would I think that my small town would take part in something so big. On June 5, La Porte played host to a protest in response to the death of George Floyd, a Minnesota man whose death sparked national outrage.

Just recently, one of the “regulars” at the Oasis Ballroom in Michigan City passed away – Martha Keserich Vance, known to most as Martha Nash. I thank Patty Nocek of the La Porte County Health Department for sharing Martha’s obituary. Martha sang regularly at the Oasis Ballroom in Michigan C…