Local News

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

Governor Eric Holcomb joined Secretary of State Connie Lawson, Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer and Democratic Party Chair John Zody today to announce an agreement to move the date of this year’s Indiana primary election from May 5 to June 2. All dates corresponding with the primary election will be moved by 28 days to reflect the new date of the primary. For example, military and overseas ballots are required to mailed 45 days prior to the primary election, so they’ll move 45 days prior to June 2. “The right of citizens to elect their leaders in a free and

Indiana Medicaid will allow interactions between patients and doctors and other health care providers, as well as other Medicaid service deliveries, to occur either over the phone or through the use of telemedicine technologies whenever possible. Effective immediately, most health services – including covered mental health services and Medicaid home- and community-based services – will be reimbursed as if they took place in person. This policy will remain in place – and telemedicine/telephone interactions will be encouraged – for as long as Indiana remains under a declaration of a public health emergency by Governor Eric Holcomb.

The Judges of the LaPorte County Courts are aware of the challenges presented by the outbreak of COVID-19 (the “Corona Virus”). The outbreak requires that the LaPorte County Courts take extraordinary measures in order to continue to provide access to justice in LaPorte County consistent with the health and wellness needs of our community. For the complete press release check out WIMS' FACEBOOK page.

As the temporary closures of workplaces, events, schools and other public areas increases, South Shore Line wants to keep the health and safety of all riders at the forefront. As a result, the Kids Ride Free spring break staycation promotion that was scheduled for March 21 – April 6, 2020, is now canceled.

Hoosier small businesses invited to apply for low-interest loansfrom U.S. Small Business Administration INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that Indiana small businesses are eligible for financial assistance under a disaster designation by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This declaration is in response to a formal request Gov. Holcomb submitted with the SBA on Tuesday, seeking assistance through the organization’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak in Indiana. “Small businesses play a critical role in driving Indiana’s economy forward, with more than 512,000 employing 1.2 million Hoosiers across the state,” Gov. Holcomb

Fraudsters Taking Advantage of COVID-19 Fears As with any disaster, fear is used by unsavory people and organizations to scam us out of our hard-working money. The COVID-19 health emergency has led to a variety of new scams popping up in our emails and in those pesky unsolicited phone calls. Some of the scams that have begun include scams involving vaccinations for sale, requests for donations to help fund a vaccine, offer of vital supplies being for sale (i.e. masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves), and unsolicited work from home emails. Take precautions to avoid falling for these scams. Do your

The lobbies of all Horizon Bank locations throughout Indiana and Michigan will be open by appointment only.  The bank’s drive up, ATM, and Live Video Banking facilities will remain open and hours of operation will remain unchanged at this time. In addition, all offices and departments will be staffed and available to assist you by telephone.  “At Horizon, there is nothing more important to us than the safety and well-being of our customers, employees and communities we serve. We have announced the temporary measure of having our lobbies open by appointment only to do all that we can to ensure