Local News

Advisory: Ogden Dunes virtual Town Hall meeting on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Dear Mike Paine,March 24, 2020 To: Ogden Dunes Community RE: Ogden Dunes virtual Town Hall meeting on Novel Coronavirus(COVID-19) Pandemic The Ogden Dunes Town Council, Ogden Dunes Police Department, and Ogden Dunes Fire Department will host a virtual Town Hall online meeting at 6:00 pm tomorrow evening, Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Join virtual Town Hall online via Zoom meeting at:https://niesc.zoom.us/j/359459438Meeting ID: 359 459 438 One tap on mobile phone:+13126266799,,359459438# US (Chicago) Telephone dial-in:+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)Meeting ID: 359 459 438 Join by Skype for Businesshttps://niesc.zoom.us/skype/359459438 Watch

La Porte County Family YMCA’s Childcare Center, located at 2510 Monroe Street, La Porte, IN is now able to enroll children up to the age of 12 years old in its Level 4, Paths to Quality, licensed childcare program. 30 new spots have been approved to open immediately by the State of Indiana. The Level 4, Paths to Quality designation is a National Accreditation, which provides the “highest rated programs and have demonstrated a commitment to the highest level of professionalism in quality early care and education — achievement of a nationally recognized accreditation” as described by the State of Indiana.

The Michigan City Park Department, in compliance with Governor's Executive Order No. 20-08, item 5 "Prohibited Activities," will be closing all city playgrounds effective immediately and until further notice. Closures also include the Michigan City Golf Course, Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City Senior Center, Krueger Memorial Hall, the Oasis Splash Park, the Guy Foreman Amphitheater, the Old Bandstand, all park programs, and all city picnic shelters.

OFFICE OF MAYOR DUANE PARRY City of Michigan City Coronavirus Update In light of COVID-19, and the order by our Governor Eric Holcomb, Mayor Duane Parry is introducing a “SAFER AT HOME” plan for all businesses and residents in Michigan City perform only essential services for the next 14 days. With the number of cases of COVID-19 rising, we need to take every step now to slow the spread of the virus, and to preserve precious healthcare resources to care for those who may soon need them. WHAT DOES “SAFER AT HOME” MEAN? Residents of Michigan City are required to

Current unprecedented times call for changes and adjustments to help ensure the well-being of the county and our deputies. Therefore, the following precautionary measures are being taken by the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO). Citizens are asked to only come to the front desk for necessary business and jail related matters. If you are unsure of the importance of your situation, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 219-326-7700, ext. 2324. Calls for Service: Deputies will respond to ALL emergency and in-progress calls for service as in the past. Non-emergency calls that do not require the physical presence of a

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced on Monday that it will close to the public its office at the Indiana Government Center downtown as well as all WorkOne centers statewide until further notice. DWD and WorkOne leadership made the decision in the interest of taking every possible measure to protect Hoosier health and safety, and to promote social distancing, to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Individuals must apply for unemployment benefits online using a computer, tablet or smart phone. For all questions related to unemployment insurance, please visit www.unemployment.in.gov, which includes an updated FAQ, tutorial and other

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on Monday reported 58 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing to 259 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. Seven Hoosiers have died, including an Allen County adult over age 60 whose death was announced Sunday by the Allen County Health Department. A total of 1,960 tests have been reported to ISDH to date, including 466 in the last 24 hours

Re: Governor Holcomb Issues Stay at Home Order Good Afternoon, This morning at 11:00 A.M. (CST) Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb issued a statement in reference to the update of the COVID-19 statistics and protocols. During this statement to Hoosiers across the state, Governor Holcomb issued a Stay at Home Order that is in effect from March 25th -April 7th, 2020. This is a crucial step in assuring that Hoosiers everywhere limit their contact with other people and drastically slow down and stop the spread of COVID-19. What does this Stay at Home Order mean to Michigan City residents? The Stay

Meals on Wheels La Porte County is an essential service and at this time will continue to deliver meals Monday-Friday. Modified delivery procedures have been implemented. No touch delivery with gloves and bags. Clients have been provided 7 meal blizzard boxes—shelf stable meals for winter weather closings, 5 meals remain after 2 snow days in the event we are not able to deliver. Other alternative service options are under development and will be implemented when necessary. Please check on your elderly neighbors and family. Stay safe!

In statewide address, Governor also limits state government services Governor Eric J. Holcomb delivered a statewide address today to order that Hoosiers remain in their homes except when they are at work or for permitted activities, such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety. The order is in effect from March 25 to April 7. “The next two weeks are critical if we are to slow the spread of COVID-19, and we must slow the spread. You must be part of the solution, not the problem,” said Gov. Holcomb. The first positive case of

During the late evening hours of Saturday March 21st, 2020; Michigan City Police Department Shift II Patrol Units were dispatched to the area of 11th Street and Lafayette Street for a report of shots being fired. While patrol units were in the area checking on this complaint, officers were then dispatched to Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital for a subject that arrived in the ER with a gunshot wound. Off-duty Michigan City Police Department officers that were working security for Franciscan St. Anthony advised responding units that the vehicle that had dropped off the gunshot victim was leaving the parking lot.

Early Sunday morning, just after midnight, Senior Trooper Anthony Potesta was patrolling I-80/94 near Broadway. A black Dodge Challenger passed the officer at an extremely high rate of speed. Trooper Potesta was able to catch up to the Challenger and checked the vehicle's speed at 145 m.p.h.. The speed limit on I-80/94 is posted 55 mph. A traffic stop was initiated on the Dodge near Ripley St. Further investigation lead the trooper to believe that the driver was impaired. The driver voluntarily performed field sobriety tests and submitted to a certified breath test. That certified test showed his blood alcohol

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the South Shore Line will be implementing a temporary modified weekday train schedule to be in effect today, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020, until further notice. Please click here to view the full schedule of revised weekday train times. Our weekend train schedules will not be changed at this time. Although SSL ridership has been impacted by COVID-19-required closures, our trains provide an essential public service. This service is relied upon by healthcare professionals for travel to their essential assignments, and by citizens with previously scheduled medical appointments. The SSL intends to operate unless our public health

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration called on Hoosiers to help keep the state’s network of food pantries open. FSSA is tracking the number of food pantries operating across the state as part of the state’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). “Now is the time for us as Hoosiers to double down on our best quality -- serving each other,” said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA Secretary. “Food pantries are critical harbors of hope in many local communities, and with them facing difficulties operating and possibly reducing the food supply to our neighbors in need, it’s time to sound

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today reported 76 new positive cases of COVID-19, bringing to 201 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. Four Hoosiers have died. A total of 661 results were reported, bringing to 1,494 the number of tests reported to ISDH to date. The new cases involve residents of Bartholomew (4), Boone (1), Delaware (1), Dubois (1), Floyd (1), Franklin (2), Grant (1), Hamilton (8), Hancock (2), Hendricks (2), Howard (1), Johnson (5), Lake (3), Madison (1), Marion (35), Monroe (1) Morgan (1), Putnam

Purdue Northwest commencement ceremonies will not take place this spring to protect public health and safetyIn response to the rapidly changing situation with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and to support the public health response of the community, the traditional Purdue University Northwest (PNW) commencement ceremonies will not take place as scheduled in May 2020. The PNW Office of the Registrar announced the decision March 19 in a message to all students who are eligible to graduate this spring. PNW is exploring possible alternatives to honor the spring class of 2020.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on Friday announced that a third Hoosier has died of COVID-19. The patient is an adult resident of Marion County over age 60 who had been hospitalized. ISDH reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, bringing to 79 the number of Hoosiers diagnosed through ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private laboratories. All but one are adults. This is an ongoing situation and is evolving rapidly. For more information, including a list of frequently asked questions, visit in.gov/coronavirus and subscribe for updates. Future updates will also be posted to this

With the extension of eLearning through May 1, Michigan City Area Schools is adjusting its eLearning schedule after Spring Break to incorporate some of the waiver days that have been offered by the Indiana Department of Education and Governor Holcomb. MCAS wll continue with their current schedule of eLearning up until Spring Break. There will be no eLearning during Spring Break. Following Spring Break, MCAS will have eLearning Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. MCAS will be using waiver days on Thursdays and Fridays.

As coronavirus (Covid-19) takes an unprecedented toll on the health and financial well-being of the residents in our communities, Northwest Indiana’s philanthropic foundations respond with a message of solidarity. In Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, Legacy Foundation, Crown Point Community Foundation, Foundations of East Chicago, Porter County Community Foundation and Unity Foundation are working together to support organizations serving those disproportionately impacted by the outbreak. The Foundations have established emergency funds to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and direct grants within the communities where they are located. With the emergency response funds, the foundations will coordinate efforts to meet needs

During this heightened time of concern due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we want customers in the communities we serve to know that their safety and well-being is of utmost importance to us. We understand that this situation has changed how our customers function and operate in their daily lives. With many of you teleworking and e-learning from home, we know reliable energy is necessary to fulfill these needs. NIPSCO and its dedicated workforce will continue in its mission to provide the constant source of electric and natural gas service that customers are depending on. To do that, we have instituted