Homes found for every puppy abandoned on State Park Road

VALPARAISO | All of the 17 puppies dumped Friday night along State Park Road in Porter have families lined up to adopt them.

Police seek public's help identifying person who dumped puppies

PORTER | Karen Read stopped late Friday night when she saw a set of eyes in the road, reflected in her headlights.

Porter County election official calls Facebook polling numbers 'fabricated'

VALPARAISO | A Porter County election official expressed concern Tuesday afternoon about a post to a Facebook page purporting to report the midday status of the Union Township school referendum vote.

Valparaiso gas leak

NIPSCO workers discuss the gas line break along Weston Street in Valparaiso on Tuesday after city workers hit a natural gas line. The gas leak prompted officials to evacuate Ben Franklin Middle School.

Valparaiso gas leak

NIPSCO workers line Weston Street in Valparaiso on Tuesday after city workers hit a natural gas line. The gas leak prompted officials to evacuate Ben Franklin Middle School.

SUV plows into upholstery store in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | Charles Randle had just walked out of his upholstery business Thursday morning and walked past an SUV as it pulled into the parking lot.

SUV plows into upholstery shop

Charles Randle stands inside his business Thursday that was damaged when an SUV was driven through the front wall. There was no one inside the the business, Upholstery by Charles, at 1202 Formula Drive. No injuries were reported.

SUV drives into upholstery shop

An SUV drove into the front of an upholstery store at 1202 Formula Drive in Valparaiso on Thursday morning April 25, 2013. No one was injured.

Pope, like saint, marks turning point for church

"Francis and the Leper" can be seen in the foyer of First Methodist Church in downtown Valparaiso.

Valparaiso Public Works

A Valparaiso Public Works truck pulls into the current Public Works facility on Don Hovey Drive at Axe Avenue. City officials are considering moving the Public Works Department to a new campus near the city's wastewater treatment plant on the city's west side.

Police: Men date same woman, stab each other

PORTAGE | Two Portage men involved in a stabbing incident last week, which prompted the call-out of the Portage SWAT team, have been arrested.

Portage police arrest suspect in 3 armed robberies

PORTAGE | Tips from the public, along with a good vehicle description from surveillance video led to the arrest Friday of a suspect in three armed robberies in Portage in the last week.

Doctor accused of sexually assaulting patient in Valpo

Dr. Jose Agusti, who practices in this office at 60 S. Valparaiso St., in Valparaiso, was arrested Thursday and charged with sexual deviate conduct and sexual battery.

Porter County coroner: Suspected heroin-related deaths on the rise

VALPARAISO | Friday's death of a Valparaiso man appears to be the latest in an alarming increase in the number of heroin-related deaths in Porter County, Porter County Coroner Chuck Harris said.

Family 'leaning' toward rebuilding at site of fire

Firefighters continued to douse the rubble at 204 Lincolnway in Valparaiso on Tuesday, while demolition workers continue to take down the east wall of the 1901 building that caught fire Monday.

Early morning fire closes much of downtown Valparaiso

Rubble remains of a century-old building at 204 Lincolnway on Monday night after an early morning fire.

Raw video: Demolition begins of charred building

Demolition crews began dismantling a large building in downtown Valparaiso that caught fire early Monday morning.

Valparaiso fire

The building at 204 Lincolnway is demolished Monday after a fire gutted the building during the early morning hours.

Raw video: Downtown Valparaiso fire

An early morning fire closed down much of downtown Valparaiso on Monday.

Early morning fire closes much of downtown Valparaiso

An early morning fire closed much of downtown Valparaiso Monday morning.

Early morning fire closes much of downtown Valparaiso

Firefighters continue to pour water on a building at 204 Lincolnway in Valparaiso following an early morning fire that closed much of the downtown business district.

Early morning fire closes much of downtown Valparaiso

Firefighters continue to put water on a building on Lincolnway in Valparaiso on Monday morning. The fire closed much of the downtown area.

Early morning fire closes much of downtown Valparaiso

Smoke continues to pour from a building in downtown Valparaiso following an early Monday morning fire.

Landscape of Porter County changes for the better

“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.”

Valparaiso Woman's Club seeks donations

VALPARAISO | A local club that’s been helping members of the community for more than 100 years is hoping the community can come to its aid.

Porter County Library looking for more 'Friends'

The Friends of the Porter County Public Library sell used books in a second-floor room at the Valparaiso branch, and at each of the system's other branches, to support library operations.

Porter County Library looking for more 'Friends'

Donna Anduskey, left, and Ilene Chelf are longtime members of the Friends of the Porter County Public Library. They, along with other members, run the book sale room on the second floor at the Valparaiso branch.

South Haven Little League hurt by thefts

SOUTH HAVEN | Any plans to construct new pavilions and possibly lights at the South Haven Little League fields are being put on hold after the theft of a tractor and a mower.

Police: Man punches windshield of 73-year-old woman's car

JACKSON TOWNSHIP | A 53-year-old Jackson Township man punched and broke the windshield of a 73-year-old woman in an apparent road rage incident Wednesday morning, according to Porter County Sheriff's Department.

Police: Thief leaves job application on counter before taking donation container

SOUTH HAVEN | Police said learning the name of the man who stole a donation container from the counter at a local supermarket was easy because he just had filled out a job application at the store — complete with his name, address and Social Security number.

HealthLinc

A sign at the the new HealthLinc clinic shows what the final project should look like.

HealthLinc

Work at the new HealthLinc clinic continued throughout the day on Monday.

Valpo stormwater investment paying big dividends

Improvements at the Valparaiso wastewater treatment plant paid off in 2012 as the city had no overflows of untreated sewage into Salt Creek from the plant.

Vehicle strikes South Haven house

SOUTH HAVEN | A South Haven man and his wife were thrown from their bed Thursday morning when an SUV slammed through the front of their Newport Road home and barreled into their bedroom.

Vehicle strikes South Haven house

An employee of 1-800 Board Up cleans up debris in front of a home in the 600 block of Newport Road.

Vehicle strikes South Haven house

Jason Rivera talks on his cellphone outside his home in the 600 block of Newport Road in Portage Township. An SUV hit the home just before 6 a.m. Thursday. The vehicle struck his bedroom, where Rivera, his wife and baby were sleeping. His daughter was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

Valparaiso seeks buyer for former North Coast facilities

After a little more than a year, the former North Coast Distributing facilities have attracted some interest, but no buyers. The Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission paid $4 million for the buildings after the business moved to a new headquarters on Ind. 49 in early 2012.

Faisal Kutty

Faisal Kutty is an assistant professor of law at Valparaiso University Law School.

Police: Calumet City man held women for weeks in trailer, Pine Township motel

PINE TOWNSHIP | Police arrested a man Monday morning who they said held two women at a Michigan City trailer and then a Pine Township motel.

Local donations shipped to Hurrican Sandy victims

A semitrailer full of donated items, including food, pet food, clothing and furniture, was shipped Friday to The Salvation Army in Trenton, N.J., to help the victims of Superstorm Sandy. Volunteers who helped with the effort at Vale Park Animal Hospital were on hand Friday to watch the depar…

Salvation Army of Porter County kicks off red kettle campaign

Volunteers at the Porter County Salvation Army have kicked off their annual Red Kettle campaign — a fundraiser that supports the organization throughout the year. From left are Angel Tree program coordinator Kathy Childress, volunteer Rose Genisio and Maj. Jon Welch.

Pine Creek

Luxury apartments and businesses are being planned for the farmland that sits just east of the Pine Creek subdivision on Valparaiso's east side.

Work continues on VU Welcome Center

Work continues Wednesday on the Duesenberg Welcome Center at the U.S. 30 entrance to Valparaiso University.

Work continues on VU Welcome Center

Work continues Tuesday on the Valparaiso University Welcome Center.

Police chase suspect from Valparaiso into Lake County

VALPARAISO | A chase from Valparaiso into Lake County ended early Tuesday after the fleeing suspect was chased down by a Valparaiso police dog.

Voters line up before dawn to cast ballots

Nicole Anton, right, of Valparaiso casts her ballot Tuesday morning at the National Guard Armory in Valparaiso. Poll judge Becky Springsteen, left, hands Anton a sticker showing she voted.

Fire destroys Union Township home

A fire gutted a home on Sassafras Drive in Union Township on Wednesday.

Fire destroys Union Township home

Fire fighters put out hot spots at a house fire on Sassafras Drive at Robyn Road in Union Township on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.

Red Ribbon Week celebrated by Myers Elementary students

Porter County Sheriff David Lain, left, and Beatrice Owen, right, director of the Porter County Substance Abuse Council, release balloons Monday at the Porter County Administration Center as part of Red Ribbon Week activities.

Red Ribbon Week celebrated by Myers Elementary students

Dr. Mann Spitler, center, speaks to students Monday about the dangers of drug use at a Red Ribbon Week program at the Porter County Administration Center. Porter County Sheriff David Lain, left, and Porter County Red Ribbon Chairperson Jackie Sterling, right, also spoke to the students.