Local News

U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) recently introduced the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020, which would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile to improve the federal ability to respond to future disasters and pandemics. These include enhancing medical supply chain elasticity, improving the domestic production of personal protective equipment, and partnering with industry to refresh and replenish existing stocks of medical supplies. The Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020 would authorize $500 million annually through fiscal year 2023 to implement a supply chain flexibility manufacturing program to: -create incentives for the domestic manufacturer of medical

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) announced it will host free COVID-19 drive-thru testing clinics from Monday through Friday in Allen, Clark, Decatur and Lake counties. The clinics will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, or until testing supplies run out. They are open to symptomatic healthcare workers, first responders and essential workers. Testing also is available to symptomatic individuals who live with one of these workers , as well as to people who have symptoms of COVID-19 and underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk, such as obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Indiana banks have been working with small businesses to help them access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans backed by the Small Business Administration. As of April 16th Indiana banks assisted in completing 35,990 PPP loans totaling $7,491,445,351 in approved dollars. PPP loans allow small businesses to meet payroll, avoiding layoffs and saving jobs.The SBA report also indicates that, as of April 16, nationwide 4,975 lenders worked with small businesses to complete applications for 1,661,367 loans approved, totaling $342,277,999,103 gross dollars. Additional data in the report indicates state-by-state breakdown of PPP loans, loan size categories, and loans to industry by NAICS

PORTAGE- Friday afternoon at approximately 4:53 p.m., Troopers were called to investigate a single vehicle crash on I-94 at the 20.2 mile-marker.  Preliminary investigation by Trooper Zachary Huston shows that a red 2001 Nissan Pathfinder was eastbound in the right lane when the vehicle drove off the roadway and into the south ditch.  The Nissan struck a tree head-on before coming to a rest.  A passenger in the vehicle suffered severe injuries and was flown from the scene to the University of Chicago Hospital.  The driver, identified as Nathan W. Darling, 31, of Michigan City, IN, was transported to Porter Hospital

DOR clarifies deadlines for Hoosier Businesses INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) has recently announced several tax filing and payment deadline extensions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, filing and payment requirements and dates for taxes collected by businesses remain unchanged. All recently announced extensions for state individual and corporate tax filing and payment deadlines are listed on DOR’s Coronavirus web page at dor.in.gov/7078.htm. Business taxes, including sales, withholding income, food and beverage, county innkeeper’s and heavy equipment rental excise tax remain due on the standard due dates as listed on DOR’s website at dor.in.gov/3344.htm. Interest and penalties

On Thursday, April 16, Emergency Responders of La Porte County brought a First Responder parade to Franciscan Health Michigan City to show appreciation for our healthcare workers. They dropped off “first responder” cookies for hospital staff. The parade went on to La Porte Hospital as well. Franciscan Health Michigan City President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said, “The outpouring of support from the community has been incredible. And to have our staff recognized by law enforcement and fire, who are also on the front lines keeping us safe is especially poignant.” “I’m very thankful to the first responders for their support

Turkey hunters and anyone else visiting or planning to visit an Indiana fish & wildlife area (FWA), state forest property, or lake/reservoir state recreation area will need to be aware that spring turkey season starts April 18, and that rules for visiting those respective state properties during turkey season differ. Turkey hunting is not permitted at Indiana state parks nor on stand-alone nature preserves managed by the Division of Nature Preserves. Locations open for turkey hunting, including property contact information, are listed at on.IN.gov/where2hunt. Unless otherwise specified, the general turkey hunting rules allow hunting 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

The Indiana Bankers Association has joined the banking community nationwide in urging Congress to provide immediate new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Due to high demand for PPP loan applications, funding of the loans has run out. If this lapse in appropriations is not addressed, funding will not be able to be renewed, according to the Indiana Bankers Association. The PPP was put into effect on April 3 as part of the CARES Act with $350 billion in funding for small business loans backed by the Small Business Administration. These loans allow small businesses to meet payroll during

Yesterday Sheila Matias of the COVID-19 Task Force released a statement about the situation within LaPorte County. She stated, “With 5 deaths and now 112 positive Covid-19 cases in LaPorte County tracked thus far today (Thursday) by the state, please continue to take every precaution.” Matias also said, “This remains a very serious situation. Social distancing, hand washing and the wearing of masks are important. Please encourage this with your organization/constituents. Westville Correctional Facility is seeing a large increase in positives which is very concerning. The staff there and at ISP are our community members. Please keep those in both

La Porte Mayor Tom Dermody today rolled out a new initiative to help keep the city clean throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  “With our park and street crews on skeleton staff, we’re seeing trash scattered throughout the city,” Dermody said. “These are unusual times, but we want La Porte to shine and need help from our residents to make it possible.” To address the littering issue during the coronavirus outbreak, Dermody created the “Take 5” Program. Under the initiative, he is asking residents to take five minutes to pick up trash around the city. He said those who participate and share

Individuals and businesses have been given an extra 90 days to file and pay their individual income and corporate taxes. Governor Eric Holcomb announced last month that the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) was extending certain filing and payment deadlines to align with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and support Hoosiers during the COVID-19 pandemic.Individual tax returns and payments, along with estimated payments originally due by April 15, are now due on or before July 15th. Returns included are the IT-40, IT-40PNR, IT-40RNR, IT-40ES, ES-40 and SC-40.Corporate tax returns and payments, along with estimated payments originally due by April 15

The Social Security Administration announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department. The Treasury anticipates these automatic payments no later than early May. SSI recipients with no qualifying children do not need to take any action in order to receive their $1,200 economic impact payment. The payments will be automatic. SSI recipients who have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment. They should now go to the IRS’s webpage at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here and visit the Non-Filers: Enter Your Payment Info section to provide their information.

The Indiana State Board of Education (Board) met virtually yesterday for its April business meeting and approved the disbursement of additional career ladder grant money. In total over $350,000 will be awarded to: Michigan City Area Schools, Manchester Community Schools, and Nettle Creek School Corporation. In February the Board approved over $3.1 million in career ladder grants. The career ladder grant program was the result of a collaborative effort with the Indiana State Teachers Association, Teach Plus, and Stand for Children. The grant money was allocated by the Indiana General Assembly (IGA) during the 2019 legislative session. Because the total

The funds awarded through this grant will be used to purchase Automated Chest Compression devices (Lucas device, by brand name) for each of the EMS ambulances. These devices will allow continuous, uninterrupted chest compressions delivered to a person in cardiac arrest. The La Porte County Commissioners and La Porte County Emergency Medical Service are grateful for this gift and wish to express a sincere thank you to the Board of Directors at the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte fortheir generosity in these trying times. Commissioner Dr. Vidya Kora stated, “This gift will enable our EMS crews to deliver an even

Indiana residents who need help feeding their families during the COVID-19 pandemic will have greater access to assistance from food banks and pantries through a Disaster Household Distribution program approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).　 The disaster distribution program uses commodity foods from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which is administered by the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), and is effective from today through May 14, 2020. The goal is to increase access to food assistance to those in need. Priority will be given to Hoosiers who are suffering significant economic losses. During the COVID-19

Yesterday Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box, authorized long-term care facilities to transfer, discharge, transport or relocate residents in order to reduce the risks of COVID-19 to this vulnerable population. All moves would be done in collaboration with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). Dr. Box’s order, which includes transfers within a facility, between facilities and those occurring across city or county boundaries, will remain in effect for the duration of the public health emergency declared by Governor Eric J. Holcomb. It supersedes any orders issued at the local level as allowed under Indiana law. The goal of the

The Indiana Department of Correction had the first death of an offender at the Westville Correctional Facility, located in Westville, Indiana, late evening on Monday. The offender, a male over the age of 70, who did not have indications of illness, reported experiencing chest pains and trouble breathing on Monday. He was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and later died at the hospital. While at the hospital, the offender tested positive for COVID-19.

INDOT still has availability for Kankakee I-65 Mile Marker 231, northbound and southbound for any food truck vendors who may be interested. They can learn more and sign up by visiting INDOTS website and clicking on “Maps” then clicking on “Welcome Centers & Rest Areas” under the “Other Maps” section. After that you will see a link called “Rest Area Food Truck Program”.

Two inmates in custody at the Porter County Jail have tested positive for the coronavirus and are currently in stable condition. The inmates have been quarantined in medical isolation within the facility. No staff members have tested positive for the virus. It is unknown how the inmates contracted the virus and that is currently under investigation. Both inmates were living in the same population area. Inmates that were previously housed in the same living quarters as the subject were placed on quarantine status and are being monitored 24/7 by medical staff, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office said

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 331 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 8,236 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 350 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 44,539 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 42,489 on Sunday. Marion County had the most