Face masks to be mandatory in Marion County beginning July 9
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Public Health Department officials said Thursday that they’re mandating that face masks be worn in public in Marion County.
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Two northern Indiana counties take action on face masks
Two adjacent northern Indiana counties have implemented or extended orders requiring people to wear face masks to impede the spread of the coronavirus.
Councilman who called Black Lives Matter protesters ‘uneducated’ resigns
A northeastern Indiana county councilman has resigned days after he sparked outage by saying during a council meeting that Black Lives Matter protesters were “uneducated” and lamented that they “breed.”
Officials halt central Indiana county’s needle exchange
Commissioners in a central Indiana county have failed to extend the county’s needle exchange, halting local efforts to prevent the spread of diseases among intravenous drug users by providing them with clean needles.
Councilman apologizes for calling protesters ‘uneducated’
A northeastern Indiana county councilman has apologized for calling Black Lives Matter protesters “uneducated” and lamenting that they “breed.”
Amid COVID-19 surge, Indiana’s LaGrange County requires face masks
A northern Indiana health department is requiring everyone to wear a mask or face covering over the mouth and nose following a steep increase of cases since Memorial Day.
US virus outbreaks stir clash over masks, personal freedom
When the coronavirus flared in China’s capital this week, Beijing canceled flights, suspended reopenings and described the situation as “extremely grave.” But with cases rising in some U.S. states, local officials have balked at even requiring people to wear masks.
Indianapolis partnership aims to reimagine public safety with community’s help
The city of Indianapolis has partnered with the Criminal Justice Lab at New York University School of Law to work to reform public safety in Indianapolis.
Marion County courts begin reopening in-person proceedings
Indianapolis courts are beginning to reopen to in-person proceedings this week, though social distancing and other public-safety measures remain in effect at the downtown City-County Building.
Indiana Democrats prepare to choose attorney general nominee
Indiana Democrats are announcing this week who will run for state attorney general in November. Longtime state Sen. Karen Tallian and former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel are vying for the nomination, a selection made by state party delegates rather than primary election voters.
COA rules for E. Chicago families against state agencies in lead exposure case
Hundreds of families who were unknowingly exposed for years to high levels of lead in Northern Indiana have secured a victory against state and local entities after the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of the latter’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.
ACLU calls on Hogsett to reduce funding for police in Indianapolis
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is calling on Mayor Joe Hogsett to “reimagine” the role of police in Indianapolis and shift funding away from law enforcement into community-based initiatives.
Justices to hear sentencing, delinquency, tax cases this week
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear three oral arguments via videoconference this Thursday, considering topics including sentencing, a tax sale and a delinquent’s possession of a firearm.
Indy Council passes resolution declaring racism a public health crisis
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night declared racism a public health crisis in Marion County. The three-page resolution declares racism to be a public health crisis “that affects all members of the community and deserves action from all levels of government and civil society.”
Lack of jurisdiction leads to Tax Court dismissal
A jurisdictional barrier has led the Indiana Tax Court to dismiss a case brought by a religious nonprofit.
Indianapolis police to review training amid baton use probe
Indianapolis’ police chief said Friday that his department is taking a look at officers’ training for responding to heated public protests while it investigates four officers caught on video using batons and pepper balls to subdue two women at a protest last weekend over the death of George Floyd.
Carmel mayor does about-face, no longer plans to sue Minneapolis to recover security costs
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard is abruptly suspending his plans to sue the city of Minneapolis for the cost of increased security to deal with protests and threats of violence, saying his actions have been misunderstood.
Minneapolis police station torched amid George Floyd protest
Cheering protesters torched a Minneapolis police station that the department abandoned as three days of violent protests spread to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across the U.S over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.
Clerk warns that thousands of mail-in ballots might not be counted; voters can still go to polls
Thousands of voters in Marion County who planned to vote by mail in Tuesday’s election may not have the opportunity because they won’t receive their ballots in time, Marion County Clerk Myla Eldridge told state officials in a letter Thursday.
Hammond zoning suit over deck near property line goes back to trial court
A zoning lawsuit over a deck that violates Hammond’s zoning ordinance by being too close to a neighbor’s side yard was reinstated by the Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday. The appeals court found that in dismissing the suit, judges had misapplied an affirmative defense that the landowner had not pleaded.