COVID-19 has been the culprit of many canceled or postponed events, but as things begin to open back up, the joyous events are happening again.

COVID-19 has devastated many families and in the wake of grief, many government-funded programs are being created to offer relief to those most affected by the pandemic. Of course, with a new government program comes scammers.

As summer inches closer and the weather begins warming up, it may be time to make sure your HVAC system is up to date. You don’t want to wait until the height of the summer to decide whether your current system needs upgrading or not.

In 1901, when two journalists from The La Porte Herald went to interview Mrs. Ferdinand Reese in Hudson Township in La Porte County, she was 107 years old! At the door of the two-room cabin, her husband met the reporters with a revolver for fear the guests were robbers! The couple was also a…

As the semester comes to an end, assignments get harder and finals are just around the corner. This is the time of year college and high school students find themselves struggling to finish strong, and they may want to seek outside help.

FORT WAYNE – Spring is a great time to start those home inspections after winter.

At the last La Porte County Commission meeting on March 17, Commissioner Joe Haney stated his intent to introduce a Whistleblower Protection Policy at a future meeting.

Survey scams are a frequent con that pops up every so often but in different forms. Currently, this scam is taking the form of a phony text or phone call claiming to be from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, with questions about their COVID-19 vaccine.

The tone of the 2021 budget session of the Indiana General Assembly has been quite different from the last budget session in 2019, when K-12 public education leaders stood with legislators to announce $763 million in new funding for public education.

Multiple Grandparent Scams have been reported to the BBB in the last three months. These scams target well-meaning seniors, tricking them into thinking that their grandchild is experiencing an emergency and in need of money to get to safety.

It’s that time of year again when consumers are looking to spruce up their lawn for spring. Having a beautiful, well-kept lawn can be a hassle, so many homeowners turn to hiring professionals to take care of their landscaping.

Almon B. Strowger was born in Penfield, New York, in 1839. At first, he was a teacher in schools throughout the Midwest, but in 1886, he became a professional undertaker and started a funeral home in Kansas City, Missouri.

President Biden and the Democrats have delivered on their promise to fight COVID-19 and improve our lives.

When government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.”

BBB Scam Tracker has seen a rise in cons involving scammers who convince unsuspecting job seekers to wrap their car in support of a popular drink or food brand. Though many are struggling to find a job amid the COVID-19 pandemic, be sure not to fall for this scam.

During a natural disaster, everyone looks for a way to help those in need. Donating money is the quickest way to help and provides charities the flexibility to channel resources to impacted areas.

Tax season is officially here, and that means scammers are on the loose. Every year, con artists take advantage of tax filers by stealing Social Security numbers, filing phony tax returns and stealing refunds.

Indiana is on the brink of losing most of what remains of one of its most precious natural and economic resources – one that purifies water, reduces flood damage, provides fish and wildlife habitat and boosts our economy.

I would like to address House Bill 1005 and related bills currently working their way through our State Legislature.

In an effort to help many Americans left unemployed and uninsured during the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reopened Healthcare.gov for a special enrollment period from Feb. 15 to May 15.

Hazel Lucille Harrison was born May 12, 1883, the only child of Hiram and Olive Jane Harrison. The family lived at 1306 Clay St. in La Porte.

Many people are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and some are so excited to receive the double shots that they’re posting pictures of their vaccination card on social media.

Receiving messages about free government money? If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a common grant scam.

During the winter, staying inside and binge-watching Netflix is always a popular, feel-good activity, but this activity has become more prevalent with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although participation increased in the 2020 General Election in Indiana and across the country, voter turnout is (or should be) a major concern.

The new year might mean that for some, it’s time to declutter. When selling used items, the quickest and most efficient way could be an online forum like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

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.