Lance Bella News Today

Residents across Northwest Indiana complain about the odor. Local officials say the oil company blamed "severe weather" for operational problems that triggered a flaring of gas into the atmosphere.

A release from the BP Whiting refinery from severe weather is to blame for the pungent odor that spread across Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties on Sunday, according to the Porter County Emergency Management Agency. State officials are investigating the situation. In a statement posted on Facebook at 12:23 a.m. Monday, the agency wrote that “due to severe weather conditions in the region ...

While dozens of county officials and workers gathered to celebrate new flagpoles in an honor garden dedicated to emergency services personnel and the military at the Porter County Emergency Management Agency headquarters Wednesday afternoon, it was a family affair on multiple levels.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a tornado struck the Merrillville/Hobart area during heavy storms Friday night and is investigating whether a tornado touched down in Portage and/or Valparaiso as well.

The Porter County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) received a donation of two boats from Enbridge Inc., a local energy transportation company.

“I’ll see you in heaven.” It was the last thing Al Braccolino, 90, of Crown Point, told one of his daughters as paramedics loaded him into an ambulance Nov. 16. COVID-19 forced him into the final fight of his life. Ten days later, the chair Al usually occupied at the Thanksgiving table would sit empty. The husband to his wife of 70 years, father of three and grandfather of six died on the holiday. Al’s daughter, Sandra Noe, was herself suffering from COVID-19, which she cont...