Child pornography arrest the latest sign in growing trend
A Scott County man’s arrest on child pornography charges by the Indiana State Police is the latest sign of a growing trend reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
State agencies
Articles
COA upholds denial of alcohol license to strip club
An Indianapolis strip club will no longer be able to serve alcohol after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the denial of the renewal of the club’s alcohol license, finding the premises had become a public nuisance.
Waiting on DCS report, legislature is not idle
Lawmakers have offered more than a dozen bills to address a growing children in need of services crisis, many of which have won broad support in the General Assembly.
Settlement would significantly cut I&M’s proposed rate hike
A settlement between Indiana’s state consumer advocate and Indiana Michigan Power would significantly cut the utility’s proposed rate hike.
AG’s office contracts with national firm to consider opioid litigation
As numerous government agencies continue to fight the state’s growing opioid crisis, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has contracted with a national law firm to help determine whether to pursue legal action against opioid manufacturers.
COA upholds classification of ‘high-hazard dam’
A Grant County couple must inspect and repair their self-constructed dam after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a Department of Natural Resources classification of the dam as “high-hazard.”
Supreme Court upholds DOC’s lethal injection protocols
The Indiana Department of Correction can alter its lethal injection protocols without going through a rule-making process because such protocols are internal procedures without the effect of law, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in a decision affirming the dismissal of a death row inmate’s challenge to Indiana’s lethal injection cocktail.
Hill files complaint after body found in bug-infested retirement home
The discovery last year of the cockroach-covered body of an Indianapolis retirement home resident was the impetus for an administrative complaint against the health facility administrator by Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill.
Indiana distributing overdose antidote kits to 34 counties
The Indiana State Department of Health says 95 first responder agencies in 34 rural counties will receive opioid overdose antidote kits. The agency announced Wednesday it’s awarding $127,000 in funding to provide nearly 3,400 naloxone kits and training to the first responders.
DCS consultant: Twice as many Hoosier kids out of home
A consultant hired by the state said Thursday Indiana has more than double the number of children in out-of-home care compared to the national average. The finding was among the highlights of an initial report commissioned by Gov. Eric Holcomb after the resignation of former Department of Child Services director Mary Beth Bonaventura.
Brother of deadly house blast plotter says “good riddance”
The brother of the man authorities considered the mastermind behind a deadly 2012 Indianapolis house explosion said he has no sympathy over his death. Mark Leonard, who was serving a prison sentence of life without parole, died Tuesday.
Tax Advisory Council has inaugural meeting
The Indiana Department of Revenue’s Tax Advisory Council convened behind closed doors for its inaugural quarterly meeting today. Created in December, the group’s mission is to “shape the future of tax administration by providing input regarding agency operations, policies and legislative proposals,” according to the department.
East Chicago facility settles suit over Clean Air Act violations
Cokenergy, SunCoke Energy and its subsidiary Indiana Harbor Coke Co. have reached a settlement including $5 million in penalties with the state and federal governments to clean up operations in East Chicago, resolving a case that involved hundreds of violations of federal pollution standards.
State suspends new assisted living center certifications
The Family and Social Services Administration has announced a moratorium on the certification of any new assisted living, adult day service or adult family care providers until further notice.
Child support network faces fear of collapse
Several times while talking about the statewide computer system that keeps track of child support money, John Owens rapped his knuckles on the nearest piece of wood. Indiana’s technology, dubbed ISETS, processes almost $1 billion in child support payments every year. However, the Department of Child Services says in a report that ISETS is “built on dying technology” from the 1980s. The concern is one day, it will crash for good.
COA upholds denial of habeas petition for parole revocation
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld the denial of an Indiana man’s habeas petition, finding the man was legally considered to be on parole at the time of his subsequent offenses, making his parole revocation appropriate.
AG’s office expands human trafficking investigations office
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has announced the expansion of the office’s Human Trafficking Investigations Unit, a move that comes amid national Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Bill proposes court OK CHINS removal from foster care
A bill pending before an Indiana Senate committee would place additional requirements on the Department of Child Services before removing a child from long-term foster care, though DCS representatives object to the bill on the basis of court caseloads and child safety.
Indiana governor pledges ‘transparent’ DCS review
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb pledged in his State of the State address Tuesday night to conduct a “transparent” review of the Department of Child Services, but offered little more than platitudes about an agency that his critics say is enveloped in crisis. “I’ll state right now: There’s no one who cares more about Hoosier children than I do, and I’ll do whatever is necessary to ensure the success of our agency and its mission.”
Indiana eighth to offer state employees parental leave
Gov. Eric Holcomb last month signed an executive order establishing paid parental leave for state employees, effective Jan. 1. Labor and employment attorneys say many private organizations, including law firms, also are offering paid leave to new parents.