Guitarist from Indiana first suspect to plead guilty in Capitol riot
A 53-year-old heavy metal guitarist from Columbus on Friday became the first defendant to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
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Police fatally shoot Indiana man after pursuit, shots fired
Police fatally shot a central Indiana man after he allegedly fled from officers and fired at them, leading to an hours-long standoff that ended when he was shot as he picked up a rifle.
COA slashes 18-year DOC sentence, orders treatment for drug offender
A man sentenced to 18 years after being convicted in a drug sting operation will only serve four of those years in prison, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, reversing a sentencing order that did not allow for probation or substance abuse treatment.
Pence returns to Columbus hometown as vice presidency ends
Former Vice President Mike Pence returned Wednesday to his Indiana hometown of Columbus, where he told a small crowd of family members and supporters that serving in the White House was the greatest honor of his life.
Pence returning to Columbus hometown after Biden inaugural
Vice President Mike Pence will be returning to his southern Indiana hometown of Columbus on Wednesday afternoon following the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Columbus police officer arrested for battery, misconduct
A Columbus police officer was arrested Tuesday on felony battery and official misconduct charges for allegedly slugging a suspect who was handcuffed in the back of a patrol vehicle, Indiana State Police said.
Indiana health officials urge use of masks as some restrictions eased
Indiana health leaders say the wearing of face masks will be as important as ever to stem the coronavirus spread, even as most of the statewide restrictions imposed by the governor were lifted as of Saturday.
Appeals court upholds judgment for 4 cities in RFRA lawsuit
A lawsuit challenging Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act will not proceed, for now, after the Indiana Court of Appeals declined to reverse summary judgment for four cities with nondiscrimination ordinances. The appellate panel found that the conservative organizations challenging the RFRA “fix” lacked standing to challenge the ordinances on free speech and religious exercise grounds.
Affordable housing nonprofit qualifies for charitable tax exemption, Tax Court says
A Columbus-based affordable housing nonprofit qualifies for charitable purposes exemptions for several years of its operation, the Indiana Tax Court ruled on Monday, rejecting arguments posed by the Bartholomew County assessor.
JNC hears from additional applicants before selecting COA semi-finalists
With seven semifinalists named, the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission is preparing for a second round of interviews with candidates who are seeking to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Indiana Court of Appeals.
First remote interviews for COA vacancy held amid pandemic
In a first for Indiana, applicants seeking to join the state’s appellant bench were interviewed remotely Wednesday. After multiple continuations, the seven-member Judicial Nominating Commission logged in to Zoom on Wednesday morning to hold 20-minute interviews with candidates seeking to succeed retiring Court of Appeals Judge John Baker.
Purdue faces second student lawsuit seeking refunds due to COVID-19
Purdue University faces a second proposed class-action lawsuit filed by a student who says he and others are owed refunds for tuition and fees paid for in-person classes and activities that transitioned to remote education when campuses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenged blood draw in fatal impaired driving crash upheld
A defendant was unable to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals the state was improperly allowed a “do-over” by being able to offer as evidence at trial an analysis of his blood that showed the presence of controlled substances.
3 charged in Columbus murder-for-hire allegedly sparked by jealousy
Three people, including an Illinois man, have been arrested in connection with a February slaying outside a Bartholomew County factory apparently motivated by the victim’s relationship with an ex-girlfriend of one of the suspects, authorities said.
Reversal: Columbus entitled to summary judgment on personal injury claim
The city of Columbus has succeeded in its efforts to win summary judgment on a woman’s personal injury claim, with the Indiana Court of Appeals reversing in the city’s favor and holding that the woman did not meet the notice requirements under the Indiana Tort Claims Act.
COA affirms admitted drug test lab results in CHINS case
The admission of positive drug test results under the business-records exception was affirmed by the Indiana Court of Appeals in a Monday child in need of services case, despite a father’s argument that admission of the evidence was erroneous.
RFRA ‘fix’ challenged in appellate briefs in lawsuit against city ordinances
Three traditional-marriage organizations challenging the amendment to Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act are asking the Indiana Court of Appeals for relief, asserting they have standing to sue four cities that have enacted anti-discrimination ordinances.
Indiana’s ‘IDEA’ touted as replacement for Crosscheck
After a federal appellate court stopped Indiana’s process for removing ineligible voters from the registration rolls, the state is still looking for a way to clean its voter lists. But a new system being considered by the Legislature is not gaining support among voting rights groups and could spark more litigation.
Man angered by sentence smashes 19th-century courthouse door
A man who yelled obscenities at a judge in Columbus who sentenced him on drug-dealing charges smashed an “irreplaceable” 19th-century glass doorway as he was being led from court, authorities said.
Appeal set on challenge to Indiana religious objections law
Conservative religious groups are planning to appeal an Indiana judge’s ruling that canceled a trial challenging limits on the state’s religious objections law that were signed by then-Gov. Mike Pence.