News

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 431 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 12,097 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total. The new cases and new tests reported today are lower than expected due to a technology issue and should not be interpreted as a decline in new infections. The additional positive cases not included in today’s report will be captured in the coming days and

Indiana Toll Road Concession Company, the operator of the Indiana Toll Road, is establishing the Indiana Toll Road – School Food Relief Fund, a $100,000 grant to help offset the costs of school backpack food programs.In Indiana, over 47% of students receive their meals for free or at a reduced price through the National School Lunch Program. Many schools engage in a weekend food distribution, commonly referred to as “Backpack & Snacks” programs. This Food Relief Fund will directly support those students who may be going without food on weekends during the COVID-19 crisis.Each chosen district or organization will receive

Yesterday, Governor Holcomb issued a revised Stay At Home order that lasts through May 1st and is designed to limit interactions among Hoosiers to increase containment of COVID-19. As a part of this action, Gov. Holcomb also extended through May 1st the orders that limit in-person public activity at state government offices and put restrictions on the operation of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The Critical Industries Hotline continues to be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to respond to business and industry questions about whether a business is considered essential. The center may be reached

The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of 66 year old Danial Andrews of rural Kankakee Township.On April 1st, Deputy William Masterson was dispatched to a residence located in the 2800 North block of Abraham Court to assist an employee from the Indiana Department of Child Services with a welfare check. While on scene, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division were contacted for further assistance. Detective Gabe Struss was assigned the incident for further investigation.On April 13th, Detective Struss conferred with La Porte County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Julianne Havens regarding the findings of the investigation. On April 16th,

The Michigan City Police are warning the community of a new version of an old scam that has resurfaced. The scam involves you receiving a test message, commonly from a number you do not recognize, indicating that you did not open your door when a $1,000 Walmartgift card was delivered to your residence.The text includes a link which states, “Claim it now”. MCPD is advising please do not click on the link! The link will either direct you to a site in order to put in your personal and/or financial information, or the link can allow malware to be installed

The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) is making it easy. If you missed the Virtual Career Fairs last week, there are three more this week. And since it is 'virtual' you can attend from the comfort of your home through an internet connection. Be sure to share this with friends or family who may be looking for a new career. This week's Virtual Career Fairs feature opportunities in central and northwest Indiana with a number of different positions available. The Virtual Career Fair is hosted through Microsoft Teams. If you don't already have Microsoft Teams on your computer, click here

The Michigan Department of Transportation will be completing the resurfacing of more than 2 miles of I-94 from the Michigan/Indiana state line to M-239. This is a carry-over project from 2019. The $9.5 million investment includes guardrail, culvert repair and replacement, and reconstruction under bridges. Completion of project should be June 5th, 2020.

As the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the regional and national economies, Purdue University Northwest (PNW) friend Robert Milos has stepped in once again to support nursing students who face sudden financial uncertainty that may delay or interrupt their academic pursuits. Strengthened by a family legacy of dedication to health care in Northwest Indiana, Milos has continued to support the PNW College of Nursing and its students as a way to “pay it forward.” Milos recently made a gift of $50,000 to the College of Nursing. A portion of the donation will go toward the Robert Winston Milos Endowment, a fund

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.