Local News

 La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody today issued an executive order limiting the number of customers permitted in retail businesses to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. “This was a sobering week for our community, as we had our very first coronavirus-related death in LaPorte County,” Dermody said. “The number of confirmed cases continues to rise in Northwest Indiana, and they are only going to get higher if we don’t take action now.”  Under the executive order, customers entering a store within the city are limited to one person per family. Additionally, retailers are required to limit the number of

Governor Eric J. Holcomb on Thursday signed an executive order requiring all K-12 schools in Indiana to provide instruction via remote learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and outlines options for districts to continue education during the fight against COVID-19. Click here for a link to the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm To complete the school year, all schools previously received a 20-day waiver to reduce the number of required in-person or remote instruction days to 160. Schools must continue to provide instruction via remote learning until they complete either: 160 instructional days or at least 20 additional days of remote

In March of this year, the Michigan City Community Enrichment Corporation awarded 52 grants totaling $641,310 to Michigan City Area charitable organizations. Since inception in 1997, the Enrichment Corporation has granted over $16,500,000 in assistance to charitable organizations that directly benefit the people of the Michigan City area. Awards are only given to organizations that submit complete and timely grant applications. All applications must include evidence that their organization is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service to be a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. All applicants must perform their charitable service within the boundaries of the Michigan City Area School

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) and Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced that NIPSCO has created an endowment to establish a professorship in Engineering Simulation. Chenn Zhou will be the first to serve in the newly endowed position. In recognition of her scholarship and extraordinary contributions to the university, the Purdue University Board of Trustees has named Zhou the NIPSCO Distinguished Professor of Engineering Simulation in the College of Engineering and Sciences. She is the first faculty member at Purdue Northwest to achieve the distinguished professor title. Zhou, who has been with the university since 1994, currently is a professor

On Thursday afternoon at approximately 1:50 p.m. a black 2016 Toyota Rav4 was traveling east on I-80/94 at the 6.3 mile-marker. This is near the Burr St. exit. For unknown reasons, the Toyota struck the guardrail attenuator head on. The annenuator divides the Burr St. exit ramps from I-80. The impact caused the driver of the vehicle to be ejected from the vehicle. The black Toyota then struck a 2019 Freightliner. The driver of the Freightliner was not injured. The driver of the Toyota died at the scene. Family has been notified. The driver has been identified as 46 year

  Wanatah, IN…… In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardships that it is causing for families, children, and seniors, Kankakee Valley REMC’s Operation Round Up Trust organization recently made donations to area food pantries totaling $20,000. During this unprecedented time, the donation to each pantry will allow them to continue the fight against hunger in their community.  With schools closed and lives disrupted due to the loss of jobs, food pantries are seeing a spike in demand by area residents in need. During this critical time, local food pantries are the lifeline for so many families when it comes to

State Rep. Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) encourages Hoosier workers and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to access recently expanded state and federal resources for help. Under Indiana's temporary "stay-at-home" order, many businesses deemed not essential have laid off staff or cannot pay employees while they are shut down. To help, Gov. Eric Holcomb expanded unemployment coverage to those impacted, including Hoosiers whose work hours were reduced, those under medical quarantine and employees who cannot continue to work because of lack of child care options. "Indiana is making it easier for those in need to access vital assistance to get them

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 474 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 3,039 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. Seventy-eight Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 16,285 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 14,375 on Wednesday. Marion County had the most new cases, at

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) announced that 409 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 2,565 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. Sixty-five Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths have occurred over multiple days and are reported based on when data are received by ISDH. To date, 14,375 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 13,373 on Tuesday. Marion County had the most new cases, at

As Hoosiers await federal stimulus checks designed to help mitigate financial effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they should be prepared for phone calls from scammers posing as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents, Attorney General Curtis Hill said. Some Indiana residents have reported receiving such calls, in which scammers attempt to obtain the personal and financial information of would-be victims. Complaints about IRS imposter scams are a common concern reported to the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. In this case, the only new twist is that the scammers are tying their calls to the anticipated relief payments.

Shirley Heinze Land Trust announced that it has acquired an additional 50 acres of land within its Little Calumet River Conservation Area. The newly acquired property is located in Pine Township, adjacent to the organization’s Dale B. Engquist Nature Preserve and the Indiana DNR’s Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area. Together with Indiana Dunes National Park’s Heron Rookery Unit, nearly 2,000 acres of contiguous land are now protected at this site, providing significant wildlife habitat, including for endangered species like the Indiana bat. The parcel is mostly agricultural land, with some forested wetlands, emergent marsh, and surrounding upland woods. Its acquisition

Now through April 7th, there will be no parking on both sides of Pine St. from U.S. 12 to 11th Street. During this time Rieth and Riley will be honoring a contract from 2019 to mill and pave the roadway. Please use extra caution in this area as there will be lane restrictions throughout the course of this process.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed two executive orders to aid in the fight against COVID-19. To see copies of the executive orders, click here: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm Executive order 20-14 extends the requirements for bars, nightclubs and restaurants to stay closed to dine-in patrons until April 6 at 11:59 p.m. They may continue to provide take-out and delivery services. The Governor expects bars, nightclubs and restaurants to comply with the directive for the safety of Hoosiers in their communities without the need to call for enforcement measures. However, the state and local boards of health and the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) have

In light of extended “social distancing” orders across the nation, The Salvation Army of Michigan City would like to remind our local community of changes in operation at our weekly food pantry. Those in need of food during this crisis are welcome to visit The Salvation Army of Michigan City food pantry for assistance, regardless of income level, family size or employment status. The pantry is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 11am and 1pm to 3pm. Other services continuing through the COVID-19 outbreak include the diaper bank and Pathway of Hope case management program, by appointment only. The

The South Shore Line reminds passengers that the Bikes on Trains program set to begin April 1, 2020, will be temporarily suspended until further notice. Bikes will be prohibited from all weekend and weekday trains during this time. The SSL is currently operating reduced modified weekday service, and will continue to do so as the COVID-19 situation develops. Please click here for more information on the revised weekday schedule. Bikes on Trains updates will be announced as they become available.

MCAS Meal Service - Bags of meals (5 breakfast/5 lunch) will be distributed for Michigan City Area Schools and Head Start students each Monday from 4:00-6:00pm until MCAS is back in session. This INCLUDES next Monday (April 6) which is during Spring Break. Pick-up locations will continue to be at Barker, Krueger, Elston and Knapp. MCAS is also delivering meals to areas in the community where families may not have transportation. Families in those neighborhoods are receiving emails and calls with the times and locations. 

Shootings: 900 Block of W 8th Street On Sunday March 22nd at 8:00 P.M., officers of the Michigan City Police Department were dispatched to 921 W. 8 th Street on the city’s west side for a report of shots being fired. Upon arrival, officers observed that a gun was fired into the residence through a window. Inside of the residence were a 34-year-old female and eight (8) children ranging from 1-16 years of age, none of which reported any injuries. Officers then collected evidence and obtained statements from witnesses. The investigation was then assigned to the Investigative Division for further

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: Indiana Dunes National Park’s 50 miles of hiking trails remain open and can provide a safe space for exercise while social distancing and complying with the state’s Shelter-in-Place orders. While all park buildings, including restrooms, are closed until further notice, national park hiking and biking trails, parking lots and most beaches remain open. Even though Law Enforcement Rangers remain on patrol, visitors need to do their part to help protect park resources during this difficult time. With bathroom facilities closed and most maintenance staff under shelter-in-place orders, it is very important for visitors to practice Leave

At the time the South Shore Line implemented a modified weekday schedule last week, they placed two extra trains in the morning and evening rush hour periods. Scheduling was based upon ridership levels at that time, but a lot can change in one week during this pandemic. The SSL is at a point where they see plenty of capacity during the evening rush hour period, and have the opportunity to provide service during the mid-day where a large gap existed. In an effort to accommodate commuters seeking an early afternoon eastbound departure, the SSL is revising the modified eastbound train

Governor also signs executive order Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed an executive order and detailed Indiana’s plan for the anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases. To see a copy of the executive order, click here: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm “We see a surge coming and we’re calling in the reinforcements, bolstering Indiana’s capacity to provide additional health care services during this emergency,” said Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. “By eliminating licensing barriers and tapping in to the available talent pool of healthcare workers, Hoosiers are staffing up and stepping up to meet this challenge head-on.” The executive order allows the following professionals who do not currently