INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana faces a longer stretch of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths, and the governor and top state health officials are pinning improvement on personal responsibility and the looming first arrival of vaccines, rather than reinstating statewide precautions.

MEDARYVILLE — As tens of thousands of sandhill cranes stop in Northwest Indiana, environmentalists are celebrating the conservation success of the once overhunted species, while spotlighting its vulnerability to climate change.

MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City Rotary Club is accepting nominations for the Paul J. Alinsky Excellence Award – looking for a community member who meets the criteria of “targeting excellence, innovation and service above self.”

La PORTE — With millions of Americans still feeling the financial bite from the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s food panties are playing a larger role than ever in combating food insecurity.

MICHIGAN CITY — A significant portion of the Michigan City Common Council’s meeting Tuesday was devoted to making sure city employees will be paid their proper salaries on Dec. 18, the last payday of the year.

La PORTE — When the La Porte County Symphony Orchestra presents its annual holiday concert, there will be some newer – and younger – faces among the performers.

WESTVILLE — There was no tossing of mortarboards in the air, no cheers from the audience, no hugs among friends and no walking across the stage.

VALPARAISO — A non-profit dedicated to resolving and preventing homelessness in La Porte and Porter counties served 1,155 people through all of its programs in 2020.

INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly all of Indiana remained in the greatest-risk categories for coronavirus spread in Wednesday’s state health department update that also showed a new high for average daily COVID-19 deaths.

MICHIGAN CITY — A trove of local history came to light on Tuesday when a pair of time capsules from the former St. Anthony Hospital were opened, one for the first time in nearly a century.

La PORTE — With the help of local service organizations, the Center Township Trustee’s Office will be offering a warm gesture to some La Porte families this Christmas.

MICHIGAN CITY — The city may initiate eminent domain litigation to acquire properties in the South Shore Station block downtown in preparation for NICTD’s Double Track NWI project, which will include a new station and parking garage on that site.

MICHIGAN CITY — The Salvation Army of Michigan City has launched an online auction to help support its annual Christmas Campaign.

La PORTE — The men and women who have kept the La Porte County government up and running through an unprecedented year may soon receive a reward for their efforts.

39 North Conservancy District to meet

UNION MILLS — Seeing the South Central girls basketball team in action has always put a smile on the face of Union Mills resident Linda Pardue.

MICHIGAN CITY – There was plenty of bad news to go around in 2020, including being the deadliest year for Lake Michigan drownings since tracking began in 2010.

MICHIGAN CITY — Former Michigan City mayor Ron Meer was arrested Monday in connection with a hit-and-run accident that occurred on the city’s west side on Nov. 21.

INDIANAPOLIS — The number of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana has nearly doubled for November from a month earlier as health officials continue adding to reports and coronavirus-related hospitalizations remain at their highest point during the pandemic.

MC Council Finance Committee to meet

MICHIGAN CITY — Michigan City will be among several municipalities in Northwest Indiana to benefit from a grant award to aid in the expansion of public electric vehicle charging stations.

MonoSol a ‘Best and Brightest’ workplace

INDIANAPOLIS — More than 200 cases of COVID-19 were reported in La Porte County over the weekend, raising the confirmed total to more than 5,000; and one more death was added to the toll, which is nearing 100.

MICHIGAN CITY — There will be holiday lights, Santa Claus and elves in Michigan City on Saturday, but no holiday parade.

La PORTE — The Pax Center served more than 500 Thanksgiving meals to those in need last week. And it wasn’t enough.

La PORTE — If you ask anyone with an interest in history or genealogy in La Porte County, they will thank the outgoing county historian for her years of efforts to expand the knowledge and recordkeeping in both fields.

MICHIGAN CITY — This holiday season, Boys & Girls Clubs of La Porte County invites community members to “Give the Gift of a Great Future” by making a donation to its 2020 Annual Campaign.

KANKAKEE TWP. — A man wanted on a warrant was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon following a traffic stop Friday on U.S. 20 near La Porte.

MICHIGAN CITY — It’s always a tough time for those forced to stay at a domestic violence shelter, but 2020 was especially hard for residents and staff of Stepping Stone Shelter for Women.

MICHIGAN CITY — In the season of gratitude, Franciscan Health is thanking the community for its generosity in making the fourth annual Diaper Drive the most successful ever, even in the midst of a pandemic.

MICHIGAN CITY — State environmental officials have turned down a request to conduct a third public hearing on NIPSCO’s plan to remove coal ash from ponds at its Michigan City generating stations.