News

Yesterday, Governor Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Kris Box, issued guidance for places of worship in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Gov. Holcomb’s executive order 20-18 states all public and private gatherings, including religious and spiritual, should follow CDC guidance, which restricts gatherings to ten or less people. To continue safely serving their communities, faith institutions are directed as follows: -Church buildings and other physical locations for worship should be closed. -Livestream or other virtual services are best. -The minimum number of necessary personnel should be used at all times for any services. -Staff and volunteers who

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 568 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 6,907 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 300 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 35,040 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 32,133 on Friday. Marion County had the most

On Thursday April 9th, 2020 at approximately 2:40 P.M.; reports were received of a multi-vehicle accident that had occurred in the area of Tremont Street and Oak Street involving a marked MCPD police vehicle. Responding Officers arrived and found a fully marked 2017 Ford Explorer and a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban off the roadway in the 300 Block of Tremont Street.Detective Scott Combs, the driver of the police vehicle, was transported to an area hospital via ambulance with nonlife-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet Suburban, Michael Johnson, 35, of Michigan City was uninjured. Based on the preliminary investigation, Detective Combs

I hope you and your teams are remaining healthy and safe. Please continue to reach out to me directly by cell phone (219-508-1506) if you are aware of a utility emergency that impacts your community.  All other concerns can be addressed by calling NIPSCO Customer Care at 1800-464-7726. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NIPSCO has adjusted work plans to ensure the health and safety of its natural gas customers and employees. These adjusted work plans only apply to NIPSCO's natural gas communities. Our goal is to eliminate all non-essential work that would call for close customer interaction and create

Governor Holcomb has issued a stay at home order under April 20. The Treasurer’s staff will not be able to accept cash payments or in-person payments until after that order is lifted.  Property owners may mail-in their payments to the Treasurer’s Office 555 Michigan Ave La Porte 46350 and include a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a printed receipt.  A drop box is also located at the courthouses for people to drop their payment there and a drop box is located at the Treasurer’s office 302 W 8th St, Michigan City.  E-check, credit or debit may be paid online through the

Extension of LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney Office COVID-19 Precautions-Due to the continuing and ongoing health emergency presented by COVID-19, I am extending theclosure of all the Prosecutor’s Offices in LaPorte and Michigan City to the public effective until Monday May 4, 2020. This includes the criminal division, child support division, and off-site victim advocate offices. This closure means the following: 1. Any reference herein to “the Prosecutor’s Offices” includes both the criminal division as well as the child support division of the Prosecutor’s Offices located in LaPorteand Michigan City, as well as the Victim Advocate offices located at the LaPorte

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 430 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 6,351 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 245 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 32,133 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 30,869 on Monday. Marion County had the most

Michigan City Police Detectives have been working tirelessly over the past several days attempting to locate the suspects responsible for the April 5th shooting death of Sirus Scott. Over the course of the investigation, Detective/Sergeant Royce Williams was able to secure charges on two individuals.On Tuesday, 20 year old Christopher Deal, of Michigan City was arrested and charged with Aiding, Inducing, or Causing Murder. Deal is currently being held at the La Porte County Jail with no bond.Yesterday, 22 year old Mark A. Wright Jr., of Michigan City was arrested after a short foot pursuit in the area of Lafayette

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced new housing resources available to Hoosiers struggling to pay their rent and mortgage payments. In addition to re-instituting the mortgage payment assistance program through Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) for homeowners, IHCDA has developed a new resource guide to help homeowners and renters avoid future eviction and foreclosure. The mortgage payment assistance program through Indiana’s HHF can provide up to $30,000 to eligible Indiana homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. Hoosier homeowners may be eligible for mortgage payment assistance if they: Are an Indiana homeowner; Own only one mortgaged home, and

Swanson Center, like the many others, is concerned by the threat presented by COVID-19 to their clients, staff and stakeholders.  With the health and well-being of their community being a main priority, we have put system-wide strategies in place to reduce the risk of exposure, allowing our staff to respond effectively and efficiently, both now and in the event the current threat level escalates. “Swanson Center remains fully operational, with our staff continuing to serve our clients and community,” said CEO Dan Peck, “We recognize that this is a very challenging time for all and want to make sure that

Mayor Tom Dermody (second from left) and La Porte Hospital officials thank Wattos Scrapyard owners Shawn Fear and Laura Milton for their donation of over 30 face shields on Tuesday, April 7, 2020, in La Porte. Fear produced the shields on his 3-D printer to help protect local healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured from left to right: City Councilman Tim Franke, Dermody, Physician Executive of Emergency and Hospitalist Services Dr. James Leonard, La Porte Hospital CEO Ashley Dickinson, Milton and daughter Arya, and Fear. -30-

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced today the launch of a temporary program to permit licensed food trucks to operate at rest area locations on Indiana interstate highways to provide food and beverage options for commercial truck drivers and motorists engaged in essential travel during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The program will provide needed options for truck drivers, many of whom are reporting limited availability of food and beverages options near highways across the country due to restaurants and other businesses following public health guidelines in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, including closing dining rooms and in

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 439 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 5,943 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 203 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 30,869 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 28,764 on Monday. Marion County had the most

Healthcare Foundation of La Porte (HFL) has given more than half a million dollars in emergency grants to various local groups working to meet the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Monday, April 6. The HFL COVID-19 Emergency Grants Plan was approved on Wednesday, March 25, by the HFL board of directors. The Emergency Grants Plan has two phases, the first of which will address immediate needs and will run through May 30; the second phase will address long-term effects, including recovery-efforts funding. During Phase 1, organizations can request between $1,000 and $50,000 to help their

Attorney General Curtis Hill is opposing efforts by the American Civil Liberties Union to bring about the release of inmates held in Indiana jails and prisons amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a petition filed March 30, the ACLU declared that the Indiana Supreme Court should engage in “emergency rulemaking” in order to enable certain inmates to leave correctional facilities and “shelter at home” during the current public health emergency. This week, Attorney General Hill filed a memorandum with the court opposing the ACLU’s position.The Indiana Constitution expressly recognizes the separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches,

Today, Mayor Duane Parry issued an Executive Order declaring a “Local Disaster Emergency in the City of Michigan City” and has implemented measures attempting to reduce and eliminate the spread of COVID-19.    This Order goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, and shall conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, unless the Common Council extends the Mayor’s Executive Order to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020.   Please refer to the attached Executive Order 04-2020 for specific details. This order includes but is not limited to: A Stay at Home or Place of Residence

La Porte citizens should not flush anything but toilet paper down the toilet, according to Wastewater Department Director Jerry Jackson. With toilet paper shelves empty across the country, Jackson said many are resorting to other options like “flushable” wipes. However, Jackson said these wipes do not break down the same as toilet paper and can cause blockages in the city’s wastewater system, as well as customers’ pipes. He said this can result in costly plumbing bills for citizens. “Though they are often marketed as ‘flushable,’ these wipes can lead to serious back-ups in our city’s sewer system,” Jackson said. “With

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 568 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 5,507 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. A total of 173 Hoosiers have died to date. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days. To date, 28,764 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 26,192 on Monday. Marion County had the most

The City of La Porte will extend its free rides through the end of April, according to La Porte Transporte Manager Beth West. West said the goal of the extension is to continue helping members of the community with essential travel through the ongoing pandemic. For the health and safety of both drivers and passengers, rides to grocery stores and pharmacies will be limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays only.West said Transporte will continue providing free rides to medical appointments Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All other nonessential travel will cease through the end of April. Good

Sunday afternoon in The Merrillville area, State Trooper Alissa Partyka was dispatched to a two-vehicle property damage crash on I-65 southbound at the 255 mile-marker.  Investigation at the scene showed that a Ford Mustang rear-ended a Ford F150 truck at a high rate of speed.  The Mustang sustained substantial front-end damage.  Several witnesses to the crash stopped or called to report the driving behavior of the Mustang prior to the crash.  Those witnesses all stated that the Mustang had been racing a green sport bike prior to the crash.  Both vehicles were reportedly passing on the shoulders, weaving in and