Lake Michigan public use bill advances to Indiana House
A bill establishing in state law the permitted public uses of the shore of Lake Michigan passed the Indiana Senate on Monday and now moves to the House for consideration.
Porter County
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Portage mayor convicted of bribery, tax charge
A jury has convicted a northwestern Indiana mayor of one count each of bribery and tax obstruction while acquitting him of a second bribery count. The jury returned the verdicts Thursday against 38-year-old Portage Mayor James Snyder.
Lake Michigan public access bill advances; SCOTUS to confer on appeal
A bill that defines the shore of Lake Michigan as belonging to the public and spells out public recreational uses of the shoreline has moved to the full Indiana Senate. Meanwhile, a petition seeking to privatize Indiana’s Great Lakes beaches will be before justices of the Supreme Court of the United States this week.
Appeals court: Judge exceeded authority by doubling sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that a judge exceeded his authority by doubling a woman’s prison sentence to six years after she failed to timely surrender to authorities to start her term.
Indiana boy held after apparent school shooting joke involving Siri
Authorities say a 13-year-old Indiana boy is charged with intimidation after he told Apple’s digital assistant Siri that he planned a school shooting and posted an iPhone screenshot of the response on social media as an apparent joke.
Woman settles lawsuit over jailing due to mistaken identity
A northwest Indiana woman who alleged she was wrongfully held in the Valparaiso jail for nearly two months in a case of mistaken identity has reached a $6,000 settlement in the case.
Tow operator pleads guilty to bribing Portage mayor
A northwestern Indiana towing operator has pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge alleging he paid a mayor $12,000 for a towing contract. John Cortina, 79, of Kustom Auto Body in Portage entered the plea Friday, three days before the public corruption trial of Republican Portage Mayor James Snyder is set to begin.
Gary woman settles lawsuit over jailing due to mistaken identity
A northwest Indiana woman who alleged she was wrongfully jailed for nearly two months in a case of mistaken identity has reached a $6,000 settlement in the case. Court records show Gloria J. Blue of Gary also will get attorneys’ fees as part of this month’s settlement.
COA rules for providers on malpractice, negligence claims
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of several medical providers it found were entitled to summary judgment on claims of medical malpractice and negligence raised by a former patient.
15-month prison term for Porter Co. cop who stole from police group
The former treasurer of a Valparaiso police organization has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for stealing nearly $190,000. Lawrence LaFlower told a federal judge Monday that “everything revolved around gambling,” which is why he began embezzling money from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 165 in Valparaiso.
Portage to pay $10K in police dog’s killing of dog
The city of Portage has agreed to pay $10,000 to the owners of a dog killed by a police dog that escaped from its handler. The dog, Bandit, was killed after a Portage police officer lost her grip on her Belgian Malinois police dog, Nyx's, leash during Portage’s Sept. 15 Bacon Fest.
Valpo lawyer suspended 1 day after conviction
The Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended a Valparaiso attorney who faced multiple criminal charges of violating protective orders and was convicted of one count in a bench trial a day earlier.
Porter County to start new court for mentally ill offenders
A northwestern Indiana county is preparing to become just the fourth in the state to operate a court specifically designed to treat the needs of nonviolent mentally ill offenders.
US Supreme Court pushes deadline on Lake Michigan beach case
The U.S. Supreme Court won’t decide until next year whether to consider arguments from residents of Chief Justice John Roberts’ Indiana hometown of Long Beach over ownership of the Lake Michigan community’s shoreline. The case could have a ripple effect for public and private property rights across the Great Lakes states.
Porter County begins counting votes after delay
The commissioners in a northwestern Indiana county plagued by a mix of Election Day problems asked the FBI on Wednesday to investigate what they called “scores of alleged violations of Indiana Election Law” reported following Tuesday’s election. Porter County officials did not begin counting votes until Wednesday morning, more than 15 hours after the first polling places closed.
Glitches keep Porter County from counting votes
Officials northwestern Indiana’s Porter County, which hasn’t reported any general election votes, are sorting through a mix of problems to get ballots counted a day after the election.
Valpo attorney suspended for failing to refund unperformed work
A Valparaiso attorney who neglected a client’s appeal and failed to refund a fee paid for his unperformed service has been suspended from the practice of law in Indiana for 90 days and cannot be reinstated until he pays full restitution.
Justices: Proven misuse a defense to product liability claims
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the grant of summary judgment to a tool manufacturer sued after a man lost his eye while using one of the manufacturer’s products, finding the man’s misuse of the tool in question was the cause of his injuries and was a complete defense to his product liability claim.
Jury acquits Hammond man accused of killing woman’s dogs
A jury has acquitted a northwestern Indiana man who authorities say stole two dogs that belonged to a woman he formerly dated and killed them. A jury on Wednesday cleared 24-year-old Anthony Priestas of two felony counts of killing a domestic animal.
Murder charges refiled against Indiana woman in 2012 death
Charges have been refiled against a northwestern Indiana woman accused of arranging the 2012 shooting death of a business associate. Porter County Prosecutor Brian Gensel said charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder were refiled against Sheaurice Major as a result of new evidence after similar charges against Major were dismissed in 2017.