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After our mild delay on Monday, we are back to full force! It’s your Thursday edition of NWI Explored and we’re so glad to see you all back here. What a weird week, huh? High winds and thunderstorms led directly into snow and blusteringly cold weather, all leading into a weekend of mid 60s temps and partly cloudy skies. Just goes to show that you can’t predict what any given day is going to look like here in NWI.
I don’t have any programming notes to share here, but just wanted to thank everyone again for your patience on Monday with us getting the newsletter out late. You can never plan ahead for a power outage, but we were luckily able to get the newsletter out on Monday without much hassle. Thanks again!
From here, let’s get into the meat of the newsletter!
🧭 On Today’s issue of NWI Explored🧭
March’s Events and Can’t Miss Destinations
What’s Happening Today in NWI
The Lowdown on Recent NWI News
Today in NWI
A rundown of headlines, events happening today, and information we want front of mind for Explorers.
Gary School District has presented a program, known as the GCSC Knowledge Seekers, that would give community members the chance to understand the innerworkings of a public school system. 30 community members will be selected into groups for monthly two-hour training on school functionality. Training topics will include school finances, human resources, transportation, athletics, security, special education, technology, academics and more. A very interesting way to get the community involved and educated in an aspect of local society that seems to get taken for granted.
The Indiana Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, the city of Hammond, and the members of the Hammond Redevelopment Commission are immune from legal liability in connection with pending property condemnation actions. The high court said that precedent was set for government entities and their employees to be protected from civil suits when losses occur from a judicial proceeding surrounding property disputes. This ruling has led to Lake Superior Judge Bruce Parent to dismiss a pending lawsuit against the city of Hammond and the above named parties.
Republican Gov. Mike Braun has signed into law nearly every single measure approved this year by the also Republican-controlled General Assembly, with no vetoes issued at all. 162 new state laws have been signed, which will add hundreds of pages to the Indiana State Code. Also allowed to become law without his signature is Senate Enrolled Act 91, which reauthorizes syringe exchange programs in counties dealing with heavy intravenous drug abuse.
Indiana Tax Court Judge Justin McAdam ruled that labor unions whose facilities are used at least 50% of the time for apprenticeship training or other necessary programs are entitled to complete tax exemption from property tax - under the definition of a “not-for-profit school”.
NIPSCO donated $25,000 to establish the Lake Village Recovery Fund, coming after a tornado ripped through the town last week and destroyed a smattering of local infrastructure. NIPSCO employees also committed to spending a day helping local responders in their clean-up efforts, as there is still a lot of debris and damage to repair.
Country stars Lee Brice, Ashley Cooke and Dylan Raymond will be kicking off the Lake County Fair on August 6th, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, it was announced earlier yesterday.
Sprouts, an organic grocery store chain based on the west coast, is considering opening a location in the Centennial Village development in Munster. It would be the chains first Indiana location, occupying a 23,000 sq. ft. building located at 9505 Calumet Avenue. We will keep the Explorers posted as this story develops.
Ports of Indiana has opened its first international trade office in Ireland, hoping to streamline its overseas container business by launching a direct service between Europe and the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.
The Mayors of Arlington Heights and Hammond have said that The Chicago Bears may announce their stadium plans for Northwest Indiana as soon as April if Illinois lawmakers cannot act in the imminent future. Illinois General Assembly reconvened yesterday on Wednesday, with discussion on the Bears project on the docket. This whole story could soon find its ultimate conclusion, so stay tuned for a more full-throated update in the near future.
ALERT FOR ALL EXPLORERS: NIPSCO RATES ARE GOING UP AGAIN. As a part of the two year phase of electric rate increases, approved last year, the final rate increase went into effect in March. Your next bill will reflect this rate increase. NIPSCO says that the average increase for each consumer will be around 0.8% for a typical customer using 672 kw/h per month, or $1.28 per month. Be aware and note any significant changes in your utility billing!
Lastly, let’s get into your weekend weather forecast for the weekend of 3/19/26. Looks like we’re going to have some nice weather this weekend, so enjoy it before some crazy stuff starts happening again.
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🏘The Lowdown 🏘
Every issue of NWI Explored comes with The Lowdown: a roundup of the most important news and happenings around the Region and Indiana writ large.
11 early voting sites have been established for Lake County ahead of this year’s primary election. Early voting will begin April 7th. Find early polling sites for both Lake and Porter Counties below.
Lake County Early Voting Sites
All sites, other than Crown Point, will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 9 a.m. to noon May 4.
Lake County Government Center Admin Building, 2293 N. Main St, Crown Point
Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 4.
Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center, 4001 Indianapolis Blvd, East Chicago
Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Avenue
Hammond County Courthouse, 232 Russell St.
Wicker Park Breezeway, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland
Police Communications Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart
Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St
Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road
Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St.
St. John Township Assessor, 9157 Wicker Ave.
Winfield Government Complex, 10645 Randolph St.
Porter County Early Voting Sites
All Porter County sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through May 1; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on April 25 and May 2; and 8:30 a.m. to noon May 4.
Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway
Hebron Community Center, 611 N. Main St.
Portage
NIRPC Building, 6100 Southport Rd.
North County Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Rd.
Valpo
Porter County Admin Building, 155 Indiana Ave.
Union Township Fire Station #2, 267 N. 600 W
Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave
Since Monday, there have been developments in the BP Whiting Refinery labor dispute between the oil conglomerate and USW Local 7-1.
On Tuesday, USW Local 7-1 issued a proposal to BP that would best meet their needs. BP rejected the proposal before, mere hours later, announcing that they would lock out workers going forward if no deal could be met. Workers had their access cards deactivated as early as Wednesday morning, with almost all of them slated to have access revoked by this morning. BP said in a statement that workers were being locked out since negotiations were making no progress and they would be experiencing a “state of labor uncertainty”. Their plan is to bring in outside BP employees and independent contractors to operate the refinery while the lockout is in place. USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap said that “they’ve had scabs sitting in hotel rooms waiting” and that “ [BP] had the intention to have this fight from day one…to fight and not to bargain.” BP has not budged on any of the issues the union has objected to, such as pay cuts, elimination of union jobs or the utilization of AI.
In response to the worker lockout, BP workers announced that they will begin picketing outside the refinery starting at midnight Thursday. USW Local 7-1 represents 800 workers at the BP Refinery, a large number of the roughly 1,500 full time workers employed at the site. The union has said that they are willing to continue bargaining at any time, but will not relent to what they believe to be an “attack on the union…on employees.”
Businesses across NWI have posted signs during the contract talks and since the negotiations stalled stating that they stand with USW Local 7-1, even going so far as to say that they will actively boycott BP gas stations after the lockout was announced. The prevailing prediction surrounding this lockout is that it will continue to drive gas prices even further in the seven states that the refinery supplies to, even as BP has recorded profits in the billions during the previous contract with the local union.
As this story continues to develop, we will continue to update you, Explorers, on what’s happening between USW Local 7-1 and BP, including ways to assist and show support for the laborers during their lockout and ensuing picketing.
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum will be rolling out its Easter Train event once again for three Saturdays in the spring.
The Easter Train takes passengers on a 45 minute trip through the countryside, overlooking the Kankakee River and English Lake, providing fun for the whole family. Locals can take part in this North Judson tradition on March 21, March 28t, and April 4 at any of the listed times: 9:30am; 11:30am; 1:30pm; and 3:30pm. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum is located at 507 Mulberry St. in North Judson.
Teachers — public, private and home-school — can apply for grants worth up to $500 to defray the costs of education field trips to Indiana state parks or reservoirs, thanks to a recent promotion from the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation.
The grant is being offered to promote learning amongst Indiana students on topics such as wildlife, forests, natural habitats, conservation and the recreation opportunities located in Indiana’s state parks and reservoirs. 24 state parks, eight state-managed lakes and two state recreation areas are eligible trips for teachers to apply for grants to attend. If any of you Explorers are teachers or have loved ones who are teachers, the application for these grants is located right here.
Munster Town Council has approved a new strategic plan, focused on financial sustainability and community engagement.
The goals of the town’s plan are as follows:
long-term financial sustainability for Munster, as well as providing services and amenities to locals and residents
Improved communication between the town and its residents and businesses, emphasizing transparency and education on services offered and ongoing/upcoming town projects.
Attracting and retaining a diverse array of businesses, aiding the local economy by creating high-quality employment, increasing property values, and creating new developments
Developing better infrastructure practices and maintaining sewers, roads and water systems, as well as traffic management systems.
Upgrading existing town facilities, parks and buildings
Town councilors will be ranking each of these goals on a 1-5 scale on how eager they are to work on those particular processes, with two councilors appointed to each goal in order to work on implementation.
Indiana Department of Transportation announced earlier this week that the Interstate 80/94 FlexRoad project will begin construction this spring, with construction lasting through 2029.
FlexRoad is a coordinated effort between INDOT and the Illinois Department of Transportation to improve the flow of traffic and general safety on one of the busiest interstate corridors of either state. The 14-mile stretch between I-65 and Illinois 394 wil be the project area, including improvements at the Broadway interchange and the I-65 South exit along eastbound 80/94. Ramp metering, dynamic shoulder lanes, improved signage and various other technological and infrastructure improvements are on the docket to improve the Boorman Expressway, as well as corridor-wide fiber optic implementation to support added digital signage. Drivers can expect traffic restrictions for pavement improvements imminently into the spring, with traffic shifting to the median shoulders. Construction on the Broadway and I-80/94 eastbound intersection will begin soon and be nearly complete by the end of the year. For full details of INDOT’s plans for this FlexRoad project, seek out indianaflexroad.com for all the information.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has announced plans this week to clean more than 160 properties around the Federated Metals Corp. Superfund site in Whiting and Hammond, where sampling found lead concentrations higher than 200 ppm - a level it considers to be a potential hazard to residents.
The EPA has said that crews will dig out a foot of dirt, place a tarp over any deeper contamination and backfill dug-up yards with clean, outside soil. Plans are as such that yards will be returned to pre-excavation status. A public hearing will be held for the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the cleaning efforts. The hearing will be held at Whiting High School (1751 Oliver St.) on March 26th at 6pm. Questions can be submitted at the link right here.
What’s Going On in NWI?
Every issue of NWI Explored, we give you the best events and spots to check out during the current month.
In partnership with the NWI Ultimate League, we want to issue a special announcement about their spring leagues!
NWI Ultimate, with partnership of the Portage Parks Department, is the preeminent local ultimate frisbee league for NWI. Featuring COED divisions for all ages, these leagues are open to new players and seasoned experts. Find all the information at the link right here or in the infographic below.
Recurrent Events:
Here we will try to aggregate all of the weekly specials available to Explorers around the Region. If you own a local business and want people to be aware of your weekly specials or events, let us know by sending an email to [email protected]!
Tuesday is Trivia day at White Rhino in Dyer. Find out more about this weekly event at the link here. Wednesday at White Rhino is Bingo night, starting at 6:30pm.
18th Street Brewery has its weekly Music Trivia and Karaoke night every Wednesday. Doors open at 4pm, with trivia starting at 6pm. Find out more here. On Thursday nights, they also host a weekly Line Dancing night with host Mizz Coco. Find out more here.
Shady Creek Winery hosts a weekly live music event each and every Sunday. Find a schedule of upcoming artists at the link here.
Anderson’s Winery in Valpo hosts weekly live music each and every weekend. Find a schedule of upcoming performances at the link right here.
Find out info about the classes and everything the Chesterton Art Center has going on here. The Center constantly has events for beginners, young artists, and apprentices alike, so anyone looking to build their skills and learn new ones should keep tabs on what the Chesterton Art Center has going on.
Off Square Brewing in Crown Point hosts a weekly Bingo Night on Thursdays, running from 7-9 pm each and every week. One lucky number can make you the big winner of the night! Find further info here. They also host a weekly Trivia Night on Wednesdays from 7pm.
Up Your Alley in Schererville has regular specials all week, perfect for families and groups of friends. Monday is a bowling special, Tuesday is Laser Tag, Wednesday is Dark Rides, and Thursday is the Arcade. Find more info and the specific deals available each week right here.
Every Monday, from 7-9 pm, Journeyman Distillery in Valpo hosts a Trivia Night. Three rounds of trivia keep the night alive, with teams of up to six people fight to win the grand prize every week. Find more info right here.
Lighthouse Restaurant in Cedar Lake has a weekly wine special running through dinner service. Happy hour specials and heavily discounted bottles every single Wednesday!
Every second Saturday each month, Beale Pottery in Westville hosts a “Make Cool Stuff Club”. This is a group that meets to, well, make cool stuff in the form of pottery! Find more info about the spot and their events right here.
On the last Tuesday of every month, Downtown Highland hosts a restaurant crawl. This community event always features a bunch of the local spots offering specials and deals, so its a great way to spend an evening hopping from meal to meal. Find more info right here.
Tiny’s Coffee Bar in Miller Beach has recurrent events every single week. Check out their page to find the full slate of events.
The Edge of Liberty Craft Fair begins soon in Valpo, starting from Mother’s Day through Halloween. Every other Sunday, find local artisans and fresh food from the community. Find the full schedule for this season and find out more info at the link right here
Local Theatre
A Rundown of all the local theatre companies and their upcoming productions.
Chicago Street Theatre, Valparaiso - info here
Jellofish; running from March 27th to April 12th
Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso - info here
La Porte Little Theatre, LaPorte - Info Here
Moon Over Buffalo; running from May 1st to 10th
4th Street Theater, Chesterton - Info Here
The Da Vinci Code; running from March 6th to 22nd
Hamlet; running from June 5th to 21st
Beatniks on Conkey, Hammond - Info Here
BoC Improv Show; Friday, March 20th
The Nerd; running April 10th to 19th
Footlight Players, Inc, Michigan City - Info Here
The Legend of Georgia McBride; running from April 9th to 19th
Indiana Ballet Theatre Company - Info Here
Marian Theatre Guild, Whiting - Info Here
Show runs from April 18th to 26th
Towle Theater, Hammond - Info Here
Doublewide Texas; running from May 1st to 17th
Valpo University Theatre- Info Here
Ticket information and the full schedule can be found right here.
March’s Event Schedule
For All Explorers: We wanted to bring special attention to this event, in support of Lakeshore PAWS. Grab some pizza for the family and support a great cause!
Horseshoe Casino will be hosting Los Tigres Del Norte on March 20th and 21st. Find tickets for either show at the link right here.
On March 20th and 21st, at the Lake County Fairgrounds, Lake County Vintage and Antique Market will be taking place. Shop vendors from all over with goods of all kinds, all inside the historic Industrial building. The show runs from 4-9pm on Friday, and 9am-4pm on Saturday. Find more information at the link right here.
Hoosier Theater in Whiting will be hosting a Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks tribute show on March 21st at 7pm. Find tickets and information at the link right here.
Humane Indiana’s Annual Gala will be taking place on March 21st at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary, starting at 5pm. The event is a high-energy celebration of everything that the Humane organization does: with complimentary dinner and drinks, adoptable pets on site, silent auctions, and a program of presentations celebrating the hope and life-saving work the organization does. Find info at the link right here.
March 22nd will see the Tamburitzans, a touring folk ensemble from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, performing their traditional dances at Munster High School at 2pm. Incredible costumes, live music and folk choreography will make this a fascinating excursion. Find more information via this link right here.
On March 21st and 22nd, Shipshewana on the Road will be taking over the Porter County Expo Center. Tickets are $5, and gets you in to browse the wide variety of gifts, crafts, food and fun on site. Find all the information at the link right here.
Byway Brewing in Hammond will be hosting another entry in their Byway Comedy Series on March 26th - with headliner Sonal Aggarwal, plus Matt Torres, Lyssa Laird, Alan Ford and Sharup Karim. Tickets are $10 and can be found at the link here.
Journeyman Distillery in Valpo’s Comedy on the Rocks series is continuing on March 27th, with headliner Katie Meiner, opener Stone Norment, and host Jeff Webb. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $22, which can be bought at the link right here.
Hobart Art Theater will be hosting JUMP - the Ultimate Van Halen Experience on March 27th. Tickets and more info can be found right here.'
Four Corners Winery in Valpo welcomes all to their Adult Easter Egg Hunt on March 28th. Grab some friends and sip some wine while hunting for eggs, backdropped by live music and all the fun. Prizes are to be won as well. More info can be found right here.
Theatre at the Center in Munster will be hosting two shows of a Ben-Hur Live Radio Play on March 28th. Tickets for both the early and late show, as well as all the info you need, can be found on their site right here.
Comedy legend Chris Tucker will be taking the stage at the Hard Rock Casino in Gary on March 28th. Tickets and more information can be found at the link right here.
The Hoosier Home and Hobby Show will be coming to Villa Cesare in Schererville on March 28th, starting at 9am. This is an event for hobbyists and homeowners, featuring local businesses, memorabilia collectors and athlete guest signers. Food trucks will be on site as well. Find more info at the link right here.
On March 29th, Head by the Theatre at the Center to take in NWI Symphony’s Presentation of Requiem for the Living, with the Symphony Chorus. The Symphony Chorus will be performing composer Dan Forrest’s modern Requiem mass, with the performance beginning at 2:30pm. Find tickets and further information at the link right here.
Veteran Stand-up comedian Susan Rice is performing two shows at Hobart Art Theater on March 29th. Susan is known for her observational humor, especially about aging. Tickets for the early and late show can be found right here.
Fans of trading card games and collectors abound will have a field day on March 29th when The Porter County Card Show comes to the Porter County Fairgrounds once again. The show will have hundreds of tables of sports, Pokemon, Memorabilia, Collectibles and more! Free to attend, the show starts at 9am and runs to 3pm. Find more information right here.
Known for their over-the-top antics and comedic sensibilities, Steel Panther is taking to the Hobart Art Theater stage on March 30th. The show starts at 7pm and tickets can be found here.
April’s Events Preview Will Begin on Monday, 3/23/26.
That’ll do it for this Monday Edition of NWI Explored.
Happy Exploring,
Eric & Luke, The NWI Explored Team
“My hometown... was always there, at all times, unchanging. What I think... is not that we go back to our hometowns, but that someday our hometowns come back into each of our hearts.”
