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.

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 the good will that radiates throughout Christmas. I bet some of the best times of your life happened during this joyous season.

Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two part series on La Porte County Historian Bruce Johnson’s Christmas adventure 50 years ago. It picks up after he was given a room on the roof of a hotel in Peru on Christmas Eve.

There is a fierce debate raging over healthcare reform, both within state legislatures and in the halls of Congress. One of the central problems is what to do about rising drug prices.

Holiday shopping will soon end as Christmas nears. Many consumers are searching for last-minute deals or shopping on a budget – and scammers are always looking to trick a savvy shopper.

Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part column on La Porte County Historian Bruce Johnson’s Christmas adventure 50 years ago.

Advent Calendars can be a fun way for the family to spend time together during the holidays and count down to the big day. But be careful, don’t get wrapped up in a scam instead.

Getting ready to travel for the holidays? Traveling may be different than in past years due to COVID-19 precautions and restrictions.

Black Friday on Nov. 26 is one the busiest shopping days of the year as consumers look for the best deals to fulfill their holiday gift needs.

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

South Bend schools and their teachers union have recently made the news for their annual collective bargaining, which determines teacher pay and contracts.

The holidays are right around the corner. That means it’s time to start thinking about decorating for the holidays.

On Nov. 11, 1918, Ralph Lindsey wrote from his hospital bed in France, “Armistice signed at 11 o’clock. Grand celebration all over France. War is at last over and I am still alive!”

The Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana has issued a warning for consumers about trading card company Panini America out of Irving, Texas.

Isamu Noguchi, the world-famous sculptor, furniture designer and landscape architect, was a graduate of La Porte High School.

Nov. 8 marks National First-Generation College Celebration, which recognizes the nation’s first-generation college students on the anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson’s signing of the Higher Education Act.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the American society shops, interacts and works. Many people are still working from home or working in a hybrid environment.

Ahhh! The wonders of fall, unquestionably my favorite season.

With society’s online presence growing since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, phishing scams have become more prevalent and sophisticated.

Bruce Johnson is the La Porte County Historian

Our community is mourning the tragic, violent death of a young 4-year-old boy this week. All of us want answers and justice. We want to know how this could happen to an innocent child.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and there are plenty of ways for consumers to ensure their cyber security.

Venmo has become a popular and relatively safe way to quickly send money to friends and family members. Even the safest websites, though, can struggle with scam artists.

Social media has become the new norm for catching up with friends and family members, or even making new friends. Unfortunately, scammers have caught up with that.

Indiana has a good reputation in many areas, but it doesn’t do well in two interrelated and very important areas: Voter turnout and providing fair and equitable representation for all Hoosiers.

As venues continue to reopen after the pandemic, scammers will be ready for a surge in ticket purchases. Many venues have reduced the number of open seats during a concert or event so tickets may be harder to come by.

It’s time to follow the lead of great Americans before us. We deserve to live free of school shut-downs, mass quarantines and canceled events. Vaccines will gain us that freedom. It is time to follow our patriotic American forefathers and take action on vaccines.

I have three daughters and one of the things I’ve taught them is that “No” is more than just a single word. “No” is a complete sentence. I don’t need to give any further explanation to someone sitting 700 miles away, unconstitutionally writing things down on a piece of paper and trying to im…

When working on large projects such as home remodels and building construction, many consumers look for reliable electricians to help complete the work.

Employment scams are nothing new and they come in many different forms. Many are used to target students or others looking for part-time work. A new version of the employment scam has con-artists posing as a friendly, trustworthy family looking for a part-time pet sitter.

As college students begin to gear up for the new school year, some might find they are short on financial aid. Last minute scholarships can help fill this gap and the sudden offer of one may feel like a dream come true.

FORT WAYNE — Some social media sites have begun requiring a selfie with a photo ID to confirm the identity of the user.

A year ago, August 2020, a huge crane lifted a solid steel holding cell door from the basement of the Superior Courthouse in Michigan City. It was thought that John Dillinger may have been held in that cell. The door was donated and installed near other artifacts pertaining to the history of…

When thinking about identity theft, you may think of protecting yourself, but what about the identities of your children?

Our nation is at an inflection point, with a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in both our infrastructure and our people.

The BBB Scam Tracker has had multiple reports of a new parking lot dent repair scam.

I wonder how many of you have songs running through your head. My brain is swamped by weird thoughts and songs of bygone days.

Summer vacations are still in full swing, and many are looking to RVs as a way to travel to their destination.

Following the last glacier of the ice age, deep pits were left behind that filled with the melting of ice blocks, forming hundreds of lakes in the northernmost part of Indiana.

Americans are planning trips as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down and the travel industry is beginning to take off again. As usual, with any phenomenon, scammers will be on the prowl.

In light of the recent tragedy in Surfside, Florida, where a building collapsed, many are searching for ways to help victims and their families. As with any disaster donations, beware of scammers preying on those looking to help.

The IRS recently announced that it will begin sending monthly direct deposit payments in July to those who qualify through the American Rescue Plan Act. This means that those who qualify will get up to half of their child tax credit in monthly installments and the other half when they file t…

Summertime brings sunshine and warm weather – but it can also bring damaging storms and tornados like those seen across northern Indiana over the last month.

As Americans navigate through unprecedented times, many consumers may turn to a psychic to help them understand what their future might look like.

Do you remember the motion picture “The League of their Own” with Tom Hanks, Madonna and Rosie Donnell? It was a story based on the Rockford Peaches of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, or AAGPBL. Geena Davis played a character in the film named “Dottie Hinson.” Dottie Christ …

The summer season is upon us, which means travel season is soon to begin, if it hasn’t already.