In a 4-1 decision Monday, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that creditors may not seize Hoosiers’ stimulus payments received through the federal CARES Act.

This ruling is a major victory for Hoosier families and comes in response to a petition from Indiana Legal Services, Prosperity Indiana, Neighborhood Christian Legal Services, and the Indiana Institute for Working Families to protect these funds from creditors and debt collectors seeking to garnish them. 

“We’re thankful to Indiana Legal Services for taking the lead and responding quickly to concerns about the seizure of stimulus funds. Because of this court decision, the federal intent of these funds will thankfully be honored at home,” said Jessica Love, Executive Director of Prosperity Indiana.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act to provide direct payments to all citizens who meet certain income eligibility guidelines.

Congress intended these payments to help families meet their basic needs at a time when the country is seeing unprecedented job loss and state unemployment systems are struggling to keep up with new filings.

The U.S. Treasury Department did not, however, ensure that these were protected from seizure by creditors and debt collectors.

Today, the Indiana Supreme Court ordered that lower courts may not issue new holds, attachments, or garnishments that cover funds in bank accounts attributable to CARES Act payments, except for child support. 

It also ordered that, when hold orders already have been issued, lower courts are supposed to treat requests by account holders as urgent to allow a determination whether any CARES Act payments are in the account, and those funds are protected from attachment or garnishment.

“It is a relief that stimulus payments will be able to be used to meet urgent needs like housing, food, medicine, and utilities,” said Jessica Fraser, Director of Indiana Institute for Working Families.

“We are grateful that the Indiana Supreme Court took this step. If Congress provides any future stimulus payments, it should ensure that these payments are clearly protected from bank account seizure by other creditors and debt collectors.” 

Anyone who believes they are in danger of having CARES Act payments garnished from their bank accounts can contact Indiana Legal Services or another legal aid provider for guidance.    

Also extends orders limiting state government services and restaurant, bar restrictions

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today issued a revised Stay At Home order that lasts through May 1 and is designed to limit interactions among Hoosiers to increase containment of COVID-19. As of today, 11,686 people have tested positive and 569 people have died from the disease in Indiana. There are now positive tests in 92 of 92 counties. Click here to see the executive order: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

As a part of this action, Gov. Holcomb also extended through May 1 the orders that limit in-person public activity at state government offices and put restrictions on the operation of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

“I want to thank Hoosiers in every corner of our state who have stayed socially-distanced and hunkered down. Lives are being saved, and we’re slowing the spread,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Continuing the course at this time is essential to flattening the curve while we also prepare to safely reopen Indiana for business.”

While the Stay At Home order chiefly continues as is, EO 20-22 brings clarity to some essential businesses.

• As long as sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), staff and other supplies are available for the COVID-19 response, hospitals should conduct medically necessary procedures, such as those determining cancer diagnosis and cardiac issues, respiratory procedures, and procedures to reduce significant pain or symptoms making the quality of life unacceptable.

o   Any restrictions involving medical procedures will be evaluated every seven days for appropriate and timely modifications that could be implemented.

• Permitted outdoor activity as described in the executive order includes yard work, gardening, planting and landscaping at residential, commercial and industrial properties and farms.

o   Nurseries and garden centers may be open for business as long as they limit the number of customers in their facility at any given time to achieve the Centers for Disease Control’s required social distancing, limit their hours of operation and consider implementing separate operating hours for the elderly and other vulnerable customers, and comply with the social distancing, sanitation and another mitigation measure to protect its employees and the public.

• Pet grooming at a pet salon, store or mobile unit is permitted.

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 by calling 877-820-0890 or by emailing covidresponse@iedc.in.gov

Answers to frequently asked questions and instructions to file for COVID-19-related unemployment are available at Unemployment.IN.gov.

As of Monday, April 20 according to the Indiana Department of Health, Washington County had 31 total cases of Covid-19, which is .11 percent of the total population of 27,943. 

This was up by two cases from Sunday’s numbers. 

There are still no deaths reported for the county and no recoveries have been reported. 

There were 505 new cases reported by the state since Sunday with 7 new deaths and a total of 3,585 new tests. 

To date, Indiana has seen 11,686 new cases, 569 deaths, and 64,639 total tests. 

18.1 percent of the total tested population in Indiana has been positive. 

Around the WSLM Listening Area, here is a look at the current status. 

Lawrence County

378 Tests, 81Cases, 9 Deaths – 2 new cases

Jackson County

439 Tests, 89 Cases, 0 deaths = -1 case

Jennings County

191 Tests, 64 Cases, 1 death = 0 NEW CASES

Orange County

168 Tests, 34 Cases, 4 deaths 0 NEW case

Washington County

171 Tests, 31 Cases, 0 deaths  2 NEW case

Scott County

243 Tests, 24 Cases, 2 deaths 0 NEW CASES

Clark County

1118 Tests, 177 Cases, 11 deaths  15 NEW CASES

Floyd County

786 Tests, 142 Cases, 7 death, 0 NEW CASES

Harrison County

432 Tests, 101 Cases, 2 death 14 NEW CASES

Crawford County

93 Tests, 13 Cases, 0 deaths  1 NEW CASES

In the upcoming weeks, City of Salem Utilities will
begin installing a Smart Water Meter system to all households and businesses throughout the entire service area.

This initiative will bring increased efficiency to water
customers, allowing them to more accurately monitor water usage. It will also allow the city to quickly respond to any infrastructure issues or possible leaks.

The Smart Water Meter replacement program is being brought to customers at no additional cost.

“We are excited to bring this technology to our customers and our community,” said Salem Mayor, Justin Green. “We have some water meters currently in use that are greater than 25 years old. A more modernized system is well overdue, and I am eager
to see the results of these improvements for our citizens.”

The City of Salem Utilities started the program as part of its ongoing effort to provide excellent customer service and to stay ahead of inevitable issues that may result from an aging infrastructure.

Starting in late May through June, technicians will begin working
throughout the city replacing meters. There should be little to no inconvenience to customers.

For more information about the Smart Water Meter replacement program, please contact the City of Salem Utilities at (812) 883-3937.

In alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers, the Hoosier National Forest will temporarily shut down the Hemlock Cliffs Trail in Crawford County, Indiana effective April 17, 2020. 

Details and a map of the affected area can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/hoosier/alerts-notices.

The Forest previously closed all developed recreation sites and mandated a group-size limitation of 10 people or less per group across the entire forest effective April 9, 2020.

Other recreation opportunities, such as fishing, dispersed camping, hiking, backpacking and backcountry camping on the Hoosier National Forest remain available to the public. To protect public health and safety, all visitors to the Forest are encouraged to:

• Avoid visiting the forest if you are sick and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
• Follow CDC guidance on personal hygiene and social distancing before and during your visit to the forest.
• Take your trash with you when you leave. Trash overflowing the receptacles becomes litter and can be harmful to wildlife and attract predators.
• Please make arrangements to use the restroom before or after your visit to the forest. Unmanaged waste creates a health hazard for our employees and for other visitors.
• If an area is crowded, please search for a less occupied location. Also, consider avoiding the forest during high-use periods.
• If taking part in dispersed camping, should you choose to have a campfire, please exercise absolute caution, keep the fire small, never leave it unattended, and drown the fire when done. Visit https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety to learn more about campfire safety.

Visitors cannot camp in the same dispersed or backcountry campsite on the Forest for more than 14 days in a 30-day period or more than 30 days total in a year.

The USDA Forest Service continues to assess and temporarily suspend access to recreation areas that attract large crowds and cannot meet social distancing guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  We are urging all National Forest visitors to follow the guidance of the CDC and the Governor’s “stay at home” executive order.  Though enforceable by fine or imprisonment, we are appealing to the better nature of our Forest users to voluntarily comply with these temporary restrictions to assist the nation in containing this virus and limiting its spread.  Hoosier National Forest employees continue to work during this event, but regular services must be limited, or provided in a different manner, in order to protect the health and safety of our employees and of the public who makes use of these public lands. 

Visitors to national forests are urged to take the precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For tips from the CDC on preventing illnesses like the coronavirus, go to: www.coronavirus.gov . Information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is available at: www.usda.gov/coronavirus.

For up-to-date information on the Hoosier National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/hoosier.

Three people were arrested on Wednesday afternoon after Indiana Conservation officers were called to the Bedford boat ramp to check on a suspicious vehicle.

According to Conservation Officer Jim Schreck, while approaching the vehicle one of the people threw a syringe in the river.

Officers searched the vehicle and found heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Walmart and Sam’s Club will require all employees to wear masks or other face coverings starting Monday (Today) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Shoppers also will be encouraged to wear face masks as part of the retailers’ updated COVID-19 response.

The retail giant announced the changes in a letter sent to employees that was posted on Walmart.com late Friday.

The employee policy is for U.S. stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, and corporate offices, according to the letter written by Walmart U.S. president and CEO John Furner and Sam’s Club CEO Kath McLay.

“We have evolved our policy on face coverings from optional to mandatory as public health guidance has shifted,” the letter said. “The CDC now recommends wearing face coverings in public settings, including grocery stores, to help curb the spread of the virus.”

Throughout this pandemic, the health and well-being of store associates has been Walmart’s top priority.

“It was just over a month ago that we announced our COVID-19 emergency leave policy, and since then, we have taken more steps to protect you, our customers and our members with the guidance of our state and local public health officials, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as our company’s own Chief Medical Officer,” the CEOs said in their letter. 

This includes stores, clubs, distribution and fulfillment centers, as well as in our corporate offices.

Walmart also encourages customers and members to wear face coverings when they shop. 

“Although most state and local governments do not mandate the use of face coverings in public settings, the CDC has reported that recent studies show a significant portion of individuals with the virus lack symptoms and can transmit the virus,” the letter stated. “With this knowledge, we believe it is simply in everyone’s best interest to use masks or face coverings to curb the spread of this disease.”

Starting Monday, associates will be required to wear a face covering at work.

They are allowed to provide their own as long as it meets certain guidelines, or the stores will provide them with one as they pass their associate health screen and temperature check.

Walmart also announced that they are extending their associate emergency leave policy through the end of May to ensure they have the support needed if they have to miss work.

During this challenging time as we all focus on our physical health, we must also be aware of our mental health. The emotional and mental effects of this pandemic can be especially difficult for those already coping with mental health conditions and substance abuse issues. These Hoosiers are not alone. There are many free resources available to help.

Mental health professionals say social distancing and staying home takes a toll on our mental well-being. Hoosiers who have preexisting or previously diagnosed mental health conditions are encouraged to contact their providers and discuss their options and services to stay healthy right now.

Help is also a phone call away with the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), which are available 24/7 and provide immediate crisis counseling to callers.

For those in recovery from substance abuse, social distancing can intensify addiction issues because of the lack of access to their usual healthy coping methods. Anyone struggling can reach out to the Indiana Addiction Hotline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for referrals for treatment at state-approved agencies and connections to support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Some local groups offer virtual meetings for Hoosiers to continue receiving this service from trained recovery coaches.

Hoosiers can also call 211 to connect with these resources or need assistance finding other help.

We could all benefit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggestions for coping with stress, including keeping a routine, exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and staying connected with family and friends. Technology can keep us in touch with each other like never before. For those who may be struggling, a video chat or phone call can go a long way. More information about managing stress is available at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Please keep in mind that it is normal to feel anxious or stressed during this time. But if those feelings become overwhelming, please take advantage of the resources around you. There are trained professionals ready and willing to help. As we focus on our physical health, we must also be aware of our mental health. And remember, we are in this together.

The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Daviess County Health Department that they had a positive test result with a recently incarcerated inmate for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Three Daviess County Sheriff’s Department deputies, three Washington Police Department officers, five jailers and other individuals who have had contact with the inmate have been tested and placed in quarantine

“Due to procedures already in place, the inmate has been kept in quarantine and has not been in the general population,” said Sheriff Gary Allison.

As required, Sheriff Allison has notified public health officials and the department is following procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Indiana State Health Department.

“We are taking every step recommended by authorities to contain the spread,” said Sheriff Allison.

“No further information will be released at this time. Please know that we are bound by Federal guidelines under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protect the privacy of inmates and staff, who may not want their conditions known,” Sheriff Allison noted.

“Developments are changing day by day and minute by minute. Our focus remains on protecting and serving the community we live in, including those who are incarcerated.”