Local News

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

In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the following updated visitor restrictions, also included in the attached statement, have been implemented at all our Franciscan Health hospitals. Let me know if you have any questions. Franciscan Alliance Visitor Restrictions All visitation will be suspended throughout Franciscan Health hospitals and facilities unless listed in the following exceptions for healthy visitors. A laboring woman will be allowed one screened and masked visitor, a spouse or partner, during labor, delivery and her postpartum period. In addition, a screened and masked labor coach will be allowed. A mother, screened and masked, will

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun the distribution of relief funds for Indiana hospitals and medical providers from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Indiana will receive $668,604,614 in payments going to 4,495 medical providers and health systems that are enrolled in Medicare. According to HHS, facilities and providers are allotted funding based on their share of 2019 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursements. These are payments, not loans, to healthcare providers, and will not need to be repaid.

La Porte Hospital has finalized plans to break ground on a Medical Office Building to be constructed adjacent to the new hospital being built on State Street in Downtown La Porte. The approximately 55,000 square feet, four-story building will be constructed on State Street adjacent to the new hospital. It is expected to be completed during third quarter of 2021. Once complete, the building will include approximately 15 office suites housing a combination of physician offices and hospital-based services. The building will connect to the new hospital on both the first and second floors providing convenience to patients and staff.

In Porter County State Road 2 will have a closure between U.S. 30 and U.S. 231 for two intersection improvements starting Monday, April 20 at 6am. This is between Valparaiso and Hebron. Crews will be completing an intersection improvement project at C.R. 500 W and constructing a new roundabout at C.R. 100 S. This closure will impact 12.6 miles of road, with access for local traffic only. The road will be closed to through traffic until the end of August. Drivers should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 30, I-65 and U.S. 231. Local traffic should

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee Patrick McHenry (R-NC) will be hosting a conference call with senior leaders from lending institutions in northeast Indiana to discuss implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Conference call with lenders hosted by Congressman Jim Banks and Congressman Patrick McHenry, Ranking Member of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Impact of the COVID-19 crisis on lending, followed by Q & A on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 10:30 am- 11:30 am (ET). If you are interested in joining the call, please email mitchell.hailstone@mail.house.gov This continues Rep. Banks’ efforts to help facilitate

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced a road closure on U.S. 6 near the U.S. 35 intersection beginning Monday, April 13. U.S. 6 will be closed for a bridge deck and approach repair for the bridge over Kankakee River. The work is expected to be complete by April 30.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the South Shore Line continues to operate a temporary modified weekday train schedule until further notice. Weekend train schedules will not be changed at this time. Although SSL ridership has been impacted by COVID-19-required closures, 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 public health officials or the government request they cease operations. Additional changes in service will be posted to https://www.mysouthshoreline.com

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) announced that 508 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 7,928 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 343 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 42,489 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 39,215 on Saturday. Marion County had the most new