Latest
The newest stories from every Region N3 desk, newest first.
Community
Past 7 Days in the Region: Oct. 1–8, 2026
Murder charges in East Chicago and Hammond, Toys R Us news in Lake County, Amazon data-center pledges across the Region, mussels in the Little Calumet, a state honor for La Porte, and a region still pushing NIPSCO and FEMA on storm recovery.
BizTech
Burns Harbor grain terminal is back in business under Louis Dreyfus
The Lake Michigan export terminal in Portage reopened Sept. 30 after three idle years. It has 11 workers, 7.2 million bushels of storage and a new buyer for Region corn and soybeans.
BizTech
Microsoft’s Granger datacenter clears another county vote with a second utility MOU
St. Joseph County’s Redevelopment Commission and Board of Commissioners approved a second memorandum of understanding with Microsoft on Oct. 6 for Mishawaka water and sewer to the roughly 900-acre Granger campus — not final project approval. Up to 300 full-time jobs are expected.
Community
Three Region schools named 2026 Indiana Blue Ribbon Schools
Kingsford Heights Elementary in La Porte County and Memorial Elementary and Saint Paul Catholic School in Valparaiso are among 16 schools statewide picked for the honor, which the state announced Oct. 5.
Crime
Hammond man, 19, charged with murder in Truman Street alley shooting that killed two
Tayjuan M. Hall, 19, was charged Oct. 6 with two counts of murder in the Oct. 3 shooting that killed two young men in an alley off the 800 block of Truman Street.
Crime
South Central volleyball coach faces 26 child exploitation counts after LaPorte County cyber-tip probe
Paul R. Fasshauer, 46, of Union Mills, was arrested Oct. 6 on 26 Level 4 felony counts of child exploitation, the LaPorte County Sheriff's Office said. South Central Schools put him on unpaid leave.
Crime
Wall of Shame — Porter County bookings (Oct. 6–8)
Three Porter County jail bookings from Tuesday morning to Thursday morning allege intoxicated driving, battery, or invasion of privacy.
Politics
Michigan City drops $300K Flock camera plan, backs union push for local NIPSCO crews
All four sponsors pulled the rainy-day fund request for more police cameras Tuesday. The same council unanimously backed a steelworkers' petition for a bigger permanent NIPSCO workforce.
BizTech
Indiana American Water substantially completes $24.5 million water main upgrade in Gary
The four-year project replaced mains more than 70 years old with larger 24- to 36-inch pipe, ductile iron transmission and PVC distribution, and removed more than 100 lead service lines.
BizTech
Family Express to buy six Leo's Market & Eatery stores, add Leo's kolaches across its 90 stores
The Valparaiso chain will rebrand six Leo's stores after the deal closes this fall and add the Greenfield chain's kolaches to its roughly 90 stores.
BizTech
TOYO cuts ribbon on expanded 2 GW solar factory in Texas
The Japanese manufacturer expanded its Humble plant as a Commerce under secretary credited Trump administration policies for the investment.
BizTech
Constellation to add 890 MW of nuclear power to PJM grid under 20-year Google deal
Constellation Energy will invest more than $4.3 billion upgrading 11 reactors, backed by a 20-year Google power purchase agreement. The first added capacity is expected by 2028.
Politics
Merz pledges new Ukraine aid in Kyiv as Russian strikes continue
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced more than 1.3 billion euros in new aid in Kyiv on Sunday as Russia hit a capital bridge and a bomb killed one person in Sumy.
Community
Valparaiso starts Weston Street storm sewer work this fall
The city has broken ground on a $2,371,858 Lincolnway and Weston Street project — about 1,200 feet of new storm sewer plus a water-main replacement. Lincolnway work is set for this fall; Weston Street follows next spring.
Crime
Wall of Shame — Porter County bookings (Oct. 2–4)
Seven Porter County jail bookings after 3:49 p.m. CT on Oct. 2 allege intoxication behind the wheel, domestic battery, or theft. Lake County has no live public roster. LaPorte County’s public inmate list returned no names.
BizTech
UChicago Medicine buys into Valparaiso with 43,500-square-foot care center
The academic health system will turn a finished but never-used Glendale Boulevard medical building into a primary, imaging, infusion and specialty care site, with a 2027 opening.
Crime
East Chicago man in Hammond-to-Chicago chase charged with murder in Sept. 12 shooting
Lake County prosecutors on Oct. 1 charged Austin Earl Williams with murder and 16 other counts in the Sept. 12 shooting death of Brent Jones outside Euclid Liquors — the same man held after the Sept. 22 Hammond-to-Chicago chase.
Tech
Indiana is a data-center hub — here’s the money, megawatts, and map
Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta have pledged tens of billions and gigawatts of power across Indiana and Northwest Indiana. Sourced figures make the growth tangible — and show why announced load still isn’t energized load.
Crime
Wall of Shame — Porter County bookings (Sept. 29–30)
5 Porter County jail bookings since the last Wall cycle meet Region N3’s harm filter — alleged domestic battery, firearm offenses, invasion of privacy, and Schedule I controlled-substance possession. Cannabis-only bookings omitted. Lake has no live public blotter; LaPorte JailTracker was empty this window.
Crime
Wall of Shame — Porter County bookings (Sept. 28–29)
6 Porter County jail bookings in the last ~24 hours meet Region N3’s harm filter — alleged domestic battery, intimidation, OWI, auto theft, and leaving the scene. Lake has no live public blotter; LaPorte JailTracker was empty this window.