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Welcome back, Explorers! This is your Thursday issue of NWI Explored, the local newsletter for Northwest Indiana that helps you explore every nook and cranny. We’re so happy to see you all back here. It’s been an absolute pleasure to see so much continued support for what we’re doing over here at NWIE and it’s meant the world to us that so many of our neighbors keep checking up on us here, week after week. Without any further preamble, let’s get into the newsletter.
🧭 Today, on NWI Explored🧭
Every event you need to know about this weekend across the Region
The Lowdown on local news and everything going on that you should know
The latest from the NWI Explored Instagram
Today in NWI
Today in NWI
🌎 The Forecast
Thursday, Nov. 20th, 2025
🌡️ High of 54℉, low of 43℉
Mostly Cloudy 🌥️ with light winds of 8mph to the southwest 🍃🍃
Sunrise: 6:45 am, Sunset: 4:25 pm
The Weekend Forecast
Today in NWI History
On occasion, we’ll dig through the archives to see what the Region Rats of yesteryear were talking about in decades past.
The Front Page of the Hammond Times, circa Nov. 20, 1944
🏘The Lowdown 🏘
Every Thursday, we try to give you the lowdown on the local news you need to know. If we missed anything, drop us a comment to tell us what kind of news you hope to see in future installments of NWIE.
The Third Annual Porter County Construction and Skilled Trades Day was held on Tuesday at the Porter County Fairgrounds, inviting over 1,000 NWI students to see what the trades can do for them
Held by the Center of Workforce Innovations and the Construction Advancement Foundation, the event gives students from over 20 NWI schools a chance to learn about more than 20 different trades careers. Live demonstrations, talks with current apprentices and journeymen, and hands-on demos and instructional walk-throughs made for a day of vital education for the next generation of NWI.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be traveling through Northwest Indiana this upcoming weekend.
The seasonal train that takes trips through the Northern parts of the US and Canada features will be passing through NWI in the early morning of Nov. 23rd. It is currently projected to pass through LaPorte at about 3:09 a.m., Chesterton at 3:42 a.m. at Gary at 4:11 a.m. Nov. 23.
A Portage parent has demanded the school board take action after their child brought home a copy of a book they deemed to be “inappropriate”
Portage parent Michelle Drummond spoke during this Monday’s school board meeting, saying that there was a lapse in judgement after her fifth grader brought home a copy of John Green’s “Looking for Alaska”. She cites the fact that the book contains references to sexual acts and materials as reasoning for increased processes to make sure kids are receiving reading materials that are age-appropriate. Principal of Myers Elementary School, Jon Evers, said that they were aware of the concerns raised and will be asking staff to check all books in their classroom libraries for grade-level appropriate content.
Franciscan Health confirmed on Monday that a viral video going around social media, depicting a woman in labor being turned away by her attending nurse, was indeed recorded at it’s Crown Point hospital.
Hospital CEO Raymond Grady released a statement saying that the organization is glad they learned of the incident from the internet, as well as providing an update on the mother and child at the center of the video - saying that both are doing well. Patient privacy laws limit what the hospital can share but they emphasized that the videos shared and the narrative that came out of their virality do not portray the whole story, nor represent the core values of the Franciscan Health organization as a whole.
Governor Braun has said that he intends to send 300 Indiana National Guard to Washington D.C. in order to support President Trump’s public safety strategy of using military personnel to walk the streets.
The majority of the soldiers are based in Gary and Bloomington and will be reporting to Camp Atterbury for training prior to heading off for D.C. sometime in December. The mission is expected to last, at most, four months, and will entail aiding local law enforcement and other civilian agencies in efforts to reduce crime and property damage.
Chairman of the Porter County Republican Party Nate Uldricks has launched a bid for the GOP nomination to run for Senate, representing District 4 at the Statehouse.
Uldricks has said that he believes voters are ready to flip what has historically been a “blue” senate seat over to the Republican party. His main reason for running is that he believes the Region has been overlooked and underserved under current leadership and wishes for greater representation of the Region in the statehouse. Uldricks previously failed to win the Republican nomination in 2024, and his candidacy is coming after a so-called “blue wave” of elections this past Election Day where multiple incumbent Republicans lost State appointments to Democrat challengers.
The 2026 Indiana General Assembly has begun and the oft-cited redistricting plan favoring Republican candidates is not on the agenda, much to the chagrin of President Trump
Governor Braun has been a staunch advocate for the redistricting plan, as has the President. Plans to launch this off-election year redistricting have been touted for months, but recent conversations have soured after public opinion turned sharply against the proposed plans. House Speaker Todd Huston has said there is a possibility of the State Senate reconvening in early December for a special session to talk over redistricting once again.
Kabelin Ace Hardware, a long-standing LaPorte County staple, has been sold to new owners.
Kabelin, which had been under family ownership for over a century, will retain all employees and will be given the chance to own stake in the company under an employee stock ownership plan. The eight locations in LaPorte and Michigan City were bought by the employee-owned Houchens Food group for an undisclosed sum.
Gary Common Council passed an ordinance on Monday that will create new fines for acts of graffiti, restrictions on the sale of art supplies that can be used for graffiti, and new property obligations for homeowners and businesses who have been tagged by graffiti artists.
The Portage Township School Board has approved a two-year teacher’s contract, giving long-standing teachers up to a $2,000 raise per year.
Crown Point is welcoming a new cancer care center on Broadway, as Powers Health and Northwest Cancer Centers launch this new 71,000-square-foot facility.
Here’s a list of NWI restaurants that will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day.
Cooper’s Hawk
2120 Southlake Mall, Merrillville
635 Main St, Schererville
Coppolillo’s Steakhouse
1570 E Summit St, Crown Point
Rosebud Steakhouse
9601 Calumet Ave, Munster
Freddy’s Steakhouse
6442 Kennedy Ave, Hammond
Gelsosomo’s Pizzeria
Crown Point Location
Gino’s Prime and Surf
1259 Joliet St, Dyer
Hard Rock Cafe and Council Oaks
Hard Rock Casino, 5400 W 29th Ave, Gary
Theo’s Steak and Seafood
9144 Indianapolis Blvd, Highland
Three Monkeys Pub
21 W 112th St, Crown Point
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The Region Digest
Here’s every event happening this weekend that we here at NWI Explored think you should know about.
Friday, November 21st
The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond
777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond
Show begins at 9pm
A double-tribute concert celebrating the legacies of Elton John and Billy Joel
Hobart Art Theater, 230 Main St
Doors at 7pm, Show begins at 8pm
Leroy’s Hot Stuff, 333 US 20, Porter
Show at 8pm
5987 Dune Harbor Dr, Portage
4-12pm
12 Piece Spanish/English showband from Chicagoland
Hard Rock Cafe, 5400 W 29th Ave, Gary
Show at 9pm
Hammond Sportsplex, 6630 Indianapolis Blvd, Hammond
10am to 1pm
Free, but must reserve with Liason. See link for more details
7595 E Lincoln Highway, Merrillville
Open daily: Sun-thurs 5:30-9pm, Fri & Sat 5:30-9:30pm
Saturday, November 22nd
258 S Campbell St, Valpo
Open 10am-5pm Saturday & Sunday
The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond
777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond
Show at 8pm
Presented by the St. John Parks Department
10216 Cline Ave, St. John
10am to 4pm
Hobart Art Theater, 230 Main St, Hobart
Doors at 6pm, Show at 7:30pm
1001 Ridge St, LaPorte
VIP Entry begins at noon, Gen Ad runs from 1-4pm
Tickets available at Link
Hard Rock Casino, 5400 W. 29th Ave, Gary
Show Begins at 7pm
Tickets available at link
Indiana Welcome Center
7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond
9am-5pm, also open on Sunday
Buckley Homestead, 19100 Chase St., Lowell
Event is: Andromeda Galaxy and Saturn
5pm-9pm
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, 507 Mulberry St, North Judson
Recurring weekly on Saturdays until December 20th
Multiple ticket options for passengers. learn more at link
Sunday, November 23rd
Hobart Art Theater, 230 Main St., Hobart
Doors at 6pm, Show at 7pm
Hard Rock Casino, 5400 W. 29th Ave, Gary
Doors open at 6pm, 21 and Over Show
2712 Condit Street, Highland
Recurring every Sunday
10am to 2pm
2030 Tryon Rd, Michigan City
Every Sunday 2-5pm
Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, 6201 Parrish Ave, Hammond
For ages 10 and Up
Pre-registration recommended, learn more at link
That’s all from us for this week. Have a great and safe weekend Explorers! Be good to each other and we will see you all on Monday for the next installment. Stay tuned to our Instagram as well!
Happy Exploring,
Eric & Luke
The NWI Explored Team
“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
