The practitioners with Crown Point OB/GYN are now part of Franciscan Physician Network and are accepting new patients, according to a release.
The practice includes physicians and nurse practitioners including Dr. Nicole Cataldi, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack and nurse practitioners Amy Marciniak and Abigail Reardon.
Cataldi attended Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois. McCormack also attended medical school at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.
Marciniak earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Purdue University Northwest in Hammond while Reardon earned her Master of Science degree in nursing from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Franciscan Physician Network Obstetrics and Gynecology is located at 800 W. Burrell Drive in Crown Point. Call 219-663-9913.
Nurse practitioner Amy Marciniak, from left, Dr. Mary Eileen McCormack, Dr. Nicole Cataldi and nurse practitioner Abigail Reardon have joined the Franciscan Physician Network. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan Health)
Report: Northwest Health treated more than 884K patients in ‘24
Northwest Health has released its annual Community Benefit Report. The health system provided care to thousands of area residents in 2024, with 884,700 patient encounters across its network of physician offices and other outpatient sites of care, according to a release.
In addition to delivering healthcare, Northwest Health’s impact totaled an estimated $422,387,000 overall benefit for the region in 2024, the release said.
Northwest Health’s five emergency rooms provided care in more than 83,000 patient encounters each year, the release said, and provided $57 million in charity and uncompensated care and provided resources to help patients in need of secure medications and medical support devices, the release said.
Northwest Health is one of the area’s larger employers with a payroll of $284.7 million, the release said. In addition to supporting the local economy through jobs, Northwest Health paid
$54.2 million in taxes in 2024, the release said.
Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan Physician Network)
Physician joins Franciscan Health in Cedar Lake
Dr. Lynn Vattathara, a family medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting patients in Cedar Lake, according to a release.
Vattathara attended medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies. He completed his residency in family medicine at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York, a release said.
Vattathara’s clinical interests include dermatology, nutrition and fitness, preventative medicine and public health, sports physicals and minor sports injury management.
He is accepting new patients at the Cedar Lake Health Center, 6831 W. 133rd Ave. Call 219-374-5970.
Valparaiso University to celebrate Valpo Day on April 9
Valparaiso University’s annual Valpo Day, a spirited celebration of the University’s mission, that brings together supporters in a day of activities, competition and philanthropy, is planned for April 9, a release said.
As VU’s largest fundraising event of the year, Valpo Day highlights what it means to be a beacon of light in the community and a champion of the university’s legacy, the release said. The university encourages community members to take part in the celebration by visiting the campus as well as sharing Valpo memories using in #ProudToBeValpo, visiting local businesses or making a gift to support university programs.
To learn more, visit valpo.edu/valpoday.
Valparaiso University MBA program recognized
Valparaiso University has been honored as the top institution in the region for earning an MBA, receiving the “Best University to Obtain an MBA” award from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine’s 2025 Best of Business Awards, a release said.
This recognition is based on reader survey responses evaluating the leading business schools across seven categories. The award is one of several acknowledgments Valpo’s MBA program has earned for its excellence and impact.
Valpo’s MBA program prepares students for leadership with a values-driven approach, emphasizing ethical decision-making and global awareness. This “triple-bottom line” perspective encourages graduates to consider social, environmental, and financial impacts in their careers, the release said.
For more information about the Valpo MBA program, visit valpo.edu/mba/.
RABAT, Marruecos (AP) — Decenas de miles de marroquíes protestaron el domingo contra la última ofensiva de Israel en Gaza, centrando su ira hacia el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump.
Los manifestantes denunciaron a Israel, a Estados Unidos y a su propio gobierno. Algunos pisotearon banderas israelíes, sostuvieron pancartas mostrando a líderes de Hamás asesinados y agitaron carteles que yuxtaponían a Trump junto a palestinos desplazados que huían de sus hogares.
Los organizadores condenaron la operación militar en curso de Israel en Gaza. Cientos de palestinos han muerto desde que Israel renovó su guerra aérea y terrestre el mes pasado, con el objetivo de presionar a Hamás para liberar a los rehenes restantes.
Tales protestas han estallado en todo el Oriente Medio y el norte de África, donde los líderes suelen preocuparse por manifestaciones que socaven la estabilidad interna. En países que históricamente se han alineado con Estados Unidos, ha surgido una reacción anti-Trump como tema. Los manifestantes en Rabat el domingo condenaron su propuesta de desplazar a millones de palestinos para dar paso a la reurbanización de Gaza, así como los esfuerzos de Estados Unidos para perseguir a activistas propalestinos.
Aun así, muchos marroquíes declararon que veían las políticas de Trump como mayormente consistentes con las de su predecesor, Joe Biden.
“(Trump) ha empeorado la guerra”, indicó Mohammed Toussi, quien viajó desde Casablanca con su familia para protestar. “Biden ocultó algunas cosas, pero Trump lo ha mostrado todo”.
Los manifestantes, agregó Toussi, siguen enojados por la decisión de Marruecos en 2020 de normalizar relaciones con Israel.
Abdelhak El Arabi, asesor del ex primer ministro islamista de Marruecos, señaló que las razones por las que los marroquíes estaban protestando habían crecido a lo largo de la guerra. Predijo que la ira popular continuaría hasta que la guerra termine.
“No es una guerra, Gaza está siendo borrada de la tierra”, afirmó el residente de Tamesna de 62 años.
Las manifestaciones han incluido a una variedad de grupos, incluida la asociación islamista al Adl Wal Ihsan. Las autoridades marroquíes toleran la mayoría de las protestas, pero han arrestado a algunos activistas que se han manifestado frente a negocios o embajadas extranjeras o han implicado a la monarquía en sus quejas.
La guerra comenzó cuando militantes liderados por Hamás atacaron el sur de Israel el 7 de octubre de 2023, matando a alrededor de 1.200 personas, en su mayoría civiles, y tomando 251 rehenes. La mayoría han sido liberados desde entonces en acuerdos de alto al fuego y otros tratos. Más de 50.000 palestinos han muerto como parte de la ofensiva de Israel, según el Ministerio de Salud de Gaza, que no especifica si los muertos son civiles o combatientes. La guerra ha dejado a la mayor parte de Gaza en ruinas y, en su apogeo, desplazó a alrededor del 90% de la población.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Judge Paula Xinis, who has ordered that the Trump administration return the man, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, by Monday, also rejected a request to pause that order.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the United States was revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, accusing the African nation’s government of “taking advantage of the United States.”
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” Rubio said in a statement, adding that “South Sudan’s transitional government has failed to fully respect this principle.”
Besides revoking visas, Rubio said the U.S. would “prevent further issuance to prevent entry into the United States by South Sudanese passport holders.”
South Sudan’s political landscape is fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed opposition groups has escalated tensions.
Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged regional and international leaders to prevent South Sudan from falling “over the abyss” into another civil war.
Guterres warned that the world’s newest and one of its poorest countries is facing “a security emergency” with intensifying clashes and a “political upheaval” culminating with last week’s arrest by the government of First Vice President Riek Machar.
