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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two arrested, one sought for shooting in mobile home park

VALPARAISO | Two people were arrested and a third is being sought in connection with reports of rapid-fire gunshots Saturday at a Valparaiso-area mobile home park.

Rare albino raccoon trapped in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | Two raccoons were trapped Thursday on the city’s west side – but one lacked the familiar mask-like markings most of the often-pesky rodents wear.

Barn move signals preservation of rural landscape

MORGAN TOWNSHIP | Smiles and tears, and dozens of onlookers, greeted an old barn as it was moved Thursday to its new home in rural Porter County.

Police: Union Township man abused, threatened live-in girlfriend

UNION TOWNSHIP | A Union Township man was arrested Tuesday on allegations he repeatedly abused his live-in girlfriend and threatened her throughout the day on Sunday.

Threatening caller detailed victim's moves while on phone

PORTER TOWNSHIP | Someone was watching a Porter Township woman Monday night and making threatening calls as police were at her home investigating.

Police: Pickpocket team nabbed in Valparaiso

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso police have arrested two women accused of a pickpocket scheme at local grocery and discount stores.

'Stealth' vehicles used by state police to enforce traffic laws

VALPARAISO | That white pickup truck that appears to be an INDOT vehicle on the highway might be driven by a state trooper.

Valpo school chief named finalist for Jeffersonville school superintendent post

VALPARAISO | Valparaiso Community Schools Superintendent Andrew Melin is a finalist for the superintendent's job at the Greater Clark County Schools in Jeffersonville.

New organization helps Down syndrome children chase their dreams

VALPARAISO | A fledgling nonprofit agency that aims to provide services to children with Down syndrome and their families has much of what it needs to help support local families, minus one thing — a building to house its programs.

Porter man arrested during NATO summit demonstrations

CHICAGO | A Porter man is one of six people who face a felony charge after being arrested Sunday night during demonstrations at the recent NATO summit.

Off-duty officer killed in Ind. 2 collision

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | An off-duty Porter County Sheriff's Department deputy was killed Wednesday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Ind. 2 and County Road 450 East in Porter County.

Detective won't give up on cold case

PORTAGE | The third anniversary of an unsolved homicide has a Portage detective asking the public's help once again to come forward with information about the killer.

Report calls for Porter County to build animal shelter in new location

VALPARAISO | A study released Friday, commissioned by Porter County officials to assess the county's animal shelter and operation, identified several areas of concern, including the need for a new shelter and reassessment of the shelter's no-kill policy.

Driver throws cup at man hawking pizza, arrested by off-duty cop

VALPARAISO | Any way you slice it, drumming up business for Little Caesar's by holding a sign along a busy street can be tough, but it helps when an off-duty police officer has your back.

Things are looking up in Porter County

PORTER COUNTY | We in the media like to condense things -- get the story out in as few words or minutes as possible.

Valparaiso VFW gets facelift from Home Depot volunteers

VALPARAISO | A team of volunteers, dressed in orange, descended Monday on Valparaiso VFW Post 988.

Porter hospital ER team thanked for helping save 4-year-old's life

VALPARAISO | Noah's Gudeman's ear-to-ear smile and playful spirit brought tears to the eyes of the staff at Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus.

19-year-old Portage woman dies in crash

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP | A 19-year-old Portage woman died Tuesday morning in a wreck on Ind. 49.

Police continue search for evidence in Union Township homicide

UNION TOWNSHIP | Porter County police on Thursday continued searching for evidence in the case of a Portage woman's slaying.

Woman arrested in Portage hoarding case has previous convictions for animal cruelty

PORTAGE | The woman arrested Friday for keeping more than 50 animals in her Portage trailer had two previous convictions for animal cruelty.

VU family holds silent vigil for sophomore whose body was found in Lake Michigan

More than 150 students and faculty members gathered Monday night for Valparaiso University sophomore Rayan Sami A. Bokhari, whose body was discovered earlier along Lake Michigan.

Valparaiso World War II soldier's wish fulfilled

VALPARAISO | The final wishes of a decorated World War II veteran were fulfilled Thursday as a caravan of cars carried the medals and honors of Earl Newman from the Valparaiso VFW to the Porter County Museum.

Police: Driver on bath salts rams police cars

CHESTERTON | A woman who had taken bath salts was involved in a hit-and-run accident, hit a large landscape boulder at the Dunes State Park, and rammed several police cars as they tried to keep her from running into people at the park, police said.

Fair queen contestant survives being thrown from horse

UNION TOWNSHIP | Being thrown from -- and then stepped on -- by a horse won't stop Hannah Granzow from taking part in Friday's Porter County Fair Queen Contest -- even if she has to "bling-out a wheelchair."

Hotel fire contained to single room

VALPARAISO | A fire Thursday night at a U.S. 30 hotel forced the relocation of several guests, but was contained to a single room. There were no injuries.

Home, vehicles, fish tank damaged in fireworks accident in South Haven

SOUTH HAVEN | A mortar firework that failed to launch Sunday sent pieces of asphalt flying through a neighborhood here, damaging two vehicles, a window and a fish tank.

Chesterton grad to compete in Miss Indiana pagent

Courtney Jurick never has avoided the spotlight. After competing in pageants as a child, the 2008 Chesterton High School graduate went on to Ball State University to study vocal performance and public relations. She's appeared on reality TV, and now has her sights set on the Miss Indiana pageant.

Porter County magistrate resigns amid case backlog

VALPARAISO | A Porter County magistrate who had amassed a large backlog of cases has tendered his resignation.

Plane out of Valparaiso crashes in Ohio

VALPARAISO | A private plane with four people aboard en route from Valparaiso to Salem, Ohio, crashed upon landing at the Salem Air Park. Only minor injuries were reported.

Fatal fire in Valparaiso ruled accidental

VALPARAISO | Investigators have ruled the fire that killed a Valparaiso man who was living temporarily in a box truck started accidentally.

Valparaiso man found dead near burning truck

VALPARAISO | A Valparaiso man was found dead early Friday near a burning truck near the city's downtown area. Wayne Trinosky, 58, familiar to many for his wild gray hair and his confrontational demeanor, sustained multiple burns, according to police.

VU plan looks to grow enrollment, stress service

VALPARAISO | Officials at Valparaiso University announced plans Wednesday to increase enrollment, advance cross-cultural experiences and establish an organization to stress leadership and service.

Pactiv aluminum foil plant to close

WANATAH | An aluminum foil processing plant here will close April 29, moving operations to Louisville, Ky.

Portage man charged with dealing meth near elementary school

PORTAGE | A Portage man was arrested Monday after police said he was dealing methamphetamine near a local elementary school. The alleged deals, however, involved trading meth for a pseudoephedrine -- a nasal decongestant used in the illegal manufacturing of meth.

Valparaiso burglary suspect caught by police dog

VALPARAISO | A Valparaiso man was apprehended by a Porter County Sheriff's Department police dog after police said the man broke into a home Saturday morning in the 3600 block of Hemlock Drive.