Holcomb

WASHINGTON (AP) — This time, he wore a mask. Vice President Mike Pence donned a face covering as he toured a General Motors/Ventec ventilator production facility in Indiana on Thursday. He had come under fire for failing to wear one earlier this week at the Mayo Clinic. Pence on Thursday toured the General Motors facility in Kokomo, which has already manufactured hundreds of the units. The visit came hours after Pence's wife, second lady Karen Pence, defended her husband's decision to not wear a mask during a Tuesday visit to the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota.

Indiana State officials have released new information regarding school closures due to the coronavirus.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday steps Indiana will take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The state had reported 12 known cases as of Thursday morning.

In a news release, the governor calls some of the steps “drastic” but says now is the time to act.

“This is a time when we must do all we can to reduce the spread of COVID-19, protect our most vulnerable populations and reduce their potential to acquire or spread this virus,” Holcomb said. “While some actions are drastic, now, not later, is the time to act.”

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's inspector general says Gov. Eric Holcomb committed no wrongdoing when he accepted two private jet flights paid for by a casino magnate to Republican Governors Association events.

The inspector general's office investigated whether Holcomb failed to disclose information about gifts received.

The office determined that those gifts - the two flights - were provided to the Republican Governors Association, and not to Holcomb's office.

Gov. Eric Holcomb traveled to northern Indiana Wednesday to sign new legislation that will create a state perinatal program. It aims to address Indiana’s high infant and maternal mortality rates.