Residents, faith leaders, social and environmental justice groups, and elected officials condemn NIPSCO’s refusal to clean up the toxic mess they’ve created on the shore of Lake Michigan and implore the IURC to take action against the proposed electric rate hike.

The matter of La Porte County having its A+ bond rating withdrawn by S&P Global was simple and straightforward, and not at all as County Attorney Shaw Friedman has represented it.

If your driveway needs paving or repairs, don’t trust just anyone to do the job. BBB Scam Tracker has received numerous reports of unscrupulous contractors who trick homeowners with supposedly good deals.

Having access to clean water and air is an essential right. Protecting the environment is also a vital component to achieving long-term economic viability for any community.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is probably the biggest opportunity for Michigan City to revitalize and expand our downtown in more than 20 years. It will provide $100 million of public investment just inside Michigan City alone.

With the rising prices of gas and seemingly everything else, restaurants, travel companies, rideshares and other businesses are tacking on new fees to the basic costs of their services.

When the state of Indiana officially closed our fiscal books on June 30, we collected $1.24 billion more than was last forecasted, which has created over $6 billion in reserves. In short, Indiana’s economy continues an unprecedented growth rate, thanks to employers and employees investing th…

Did you know that July is designated as Military Consumer Month? According to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Military Consumer Month is an annual observance to increase awareness of consumer protections and financial readiness for service members, veterans and military families.

The man responsible for pitching the only no-hitter in the history of the World Series originated from Michigan City.

Many college students are looking for flexible, part-time employment to help cover school expenses. Finding a job can be difficult, and students feel pressure to find work quickly. If this situation describes you or a student in your life, watch out for scams.

In 2010, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating June as National Internet Safety month and calling on internet safety organizations, law enforcement, educators, community leaders, parents and volunteers to increase efforts to raise the level of awareness in the U.S. regarding the ne…

With COVID-19 restrictions easing up, many people are looking forward to fun festivals this summer. As usual, scammers are finding ways to take advantage of this building excitement. This time, they are cashing in with phony events.

Between 1840 and 1930, more than 1 million Swedes immigrated to the U.S. That was 1/4th of Sweden’s population in the late 1800s. The largest numbers came from the south-central area of Sweden called Smaland, which is where all of my ancestors had lived.

Each June, the U.S. observes National Homeownership Month, a celebration of the American Dream.

BBB Serving Northern Indiana recognizes that in the aftermath of the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, many people will want to help in any way possible, and that often means contributing to fundraisers to help survivors and families of the victims.

On Memorial Day, 1945, the war in Europe had ended but the fighting in the Pacific continued. Lt. Gen. Lucian Truscott spoke at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery at Nettuno, Italy.

A couple of weeks ago, three of my old pals flew into town. After a forgettable round of golf we settled into a local watering hole where drinks, cigars and stories of our sordid pasts were passed around.

As the job market continues to fluctuate, scammers continue to find new ways to spice up old tricks. A new scam has surfaced tricking job hunters into believing they have an interview offer from a recruiter.

Captain Lucius T. Harding was a farmer, dairyman, stockman and one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens in La Porte, but he was most well-known for operating his hotel, summer cottages and his famous steamboats that traveled through La Porte’s channels and lakes.

Many students are looking forward to walking across the stage soon to receive their degrees and start their lives after college soon. However, shortly after graduation, student loan payments often come due. This daunting idea has become a possible payday for scam artists.

Like many young people, I once dreamed of being a police officer. The thought of chasing bad guys, wearing a uniform and driving a fast car with sirens wailing was exhilarating.

Shopping local in a post-COVID-19 world is even more vital than before. Small businesses are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic and need the support of their community members.

As April’s Financial Literacy Month comes to a close, it’s a good time to review tips for consumers to improve their financial literacy.

Buy Now, Pay Later loans are becoming a popular way to buy large items with bite-sized payments. BNPL is a type of loan that allows consumers to take their item home immediately while paying for it in bi-weekly installments.

With donations to Ukrainian causes rising – scammers aren’t very far behind. The Ukrainian government has been accepting cryptocurrency as a form of donation, but with the uncertainty and confusion behind cryptocurrency and the war, scammers have quickly latched on to create a scam to pull o…

With the passing of House Enrolled Act 1003 by the Indiana State Legislature, the Nursing Indiana Back to Health law, several barriers have been removed to filling the nursing shortage in Indiana.

In the discussion over a potential increase in the local income tax (LIT), I feel clarification is needed.

William Adrian Jones was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 23, 1849, to Nathan and Sarah Gilman Jones. His parents both died when he was a child.

In a new social media scam, con-artists are not only trying to get into victims’ Instagram accounts – but their emails too.

There were a record number of home purchases in 2021 and homebuyers are still on the hunt.

Brewster Higley VI, the third child of Brewster Higley V and Achsah Everts, was born in Rutland, Ohio, on Nov. 30, 1823, three months after the death of his father.

Internet auctions are becoming more common, and more accessible. An online auction can offer a variety of items such as cars, motorhomes, boats, designer goods and other high-priced items.

I discuss the topic of leadership a lot in our home. It isn’t a surprise as my wife and I have multiple combat tours between us. Together, we have over 40 years of collective military leadership experience and the honor of leading troops into combat.

Imposter scams can take many shapes and forms to lure in unsuspecting victims – but now they’ve entered the workplace in an attempt to take advantage of employees.

After the holidays and Valentine’s Day is always a busy time to buy and sell jewelry. But, just as with any sought-after items – scammers aren’t far behind.

As the world seems increasingly uncertain every day, it is no wonder that many young people are worried about their future and the decisions they are facing as they graduate high school.

Did you get engaged on Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re newly engaged or not, planning your wedding can seem like a monumental task and involves making very important decisions together as a couple.

One of the favorite scenes of La Porte is the view from Fox Memorial Park of the three bald cypress trees in Clear Lake. Generations of La Porteans have admired them through the seasons, especially when their long, needle-like leaves would turn copper red in autumn. Some people call the tree…

Many avid readers may have noticed a social media post circulating about a book exchange with other book lovers from around the world. The post advertises sending one book and, in return, receiving dozens of books from people from different backgrounds and genre interests.

One of Northern Indiana’s greatest competitive assets is the advanced and extensive broadband network serving the region.

Usury is an old-world term for making illegal or immoral loans that enrich the lender by taking advantage of the misfortune of the poor.

Social media can be a great tool to help find lost pets. A post can be shared by people in the area, or even shelter and rescue sites, to better help spread the word. More eyes on a lost pet is always better right? Not always.

Tax season is coming, and many COVID-19 related tax laws are still very confusing. This will lead many to visit a tax preparer to help them navigate new circumstances. In a time of confusion, scammers are on high alert.

Bruce Johnson is the La Porte County Historian.

Canceled and delayed flights due to COVID-19-related issues and staffing concerns continue to follow us into the new year.

COVID tests are beginning to become limited for consumers. With a rise in COVID-19 cases and a shortage of rapid tests, the Indiana State Department of Health recently announced it is limiting rapid testing at its sites.

The holidays are coming to a close and for some, that means working through holiday credit card debt. Going into a new year with new debt or depleted savings can be stressful, so let the new year be a time for new financial goals.

Often at this time, we wonder how we arrived at the start of another year so quickly. It seems like yesterday we were entering 2021 and – just like that – we again watch the calendar turn to a brand new year.

The holiday season will soon end, and that means tax time is right around the corner. With so many sites advertising free tax preparation with minimal work, it’s easy to fall into a trap.