Indiana House backs abolishing all township assessor offices
The Indiana House has voted to eliminate the last remaining township assessor offices around the state.
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Justices, split 3-2, reject Facebook harassment, casino revenue cases
A mother who made threatening statements toward law enforcement on Facebook after the death of her son will not have her case heard by the Indiana Supreme Court, although two justices voted to grant transfer in the case. Justices also rejected two other appeals on a 3-2 vote.
Lawrenceburg distillery loses sewer rate ordinance appeal
A Lawrenceburg distillery couldn’t persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday to reverse a ruling upholding a regional sewer district’s adoption of an ordinance that excluded it from being considered a direct customer.
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.
COA disqualifies school board member in residency challenge
A lawyer elected to Indianapolis’ Washington Township School Board is ineligible to serve, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in an unprecedented decision, removing the elected official because she does not live in the district she was elected to represent in 2018.
Pulaski County eyes saving 125-year-old courthouse
A northern Indiana county’s 125-year-old courthouse will be saved from demolition and renovated as part of a $6 million preservation project.
Southern Indiana judge orders New Albany to release public records
A southern Indiana judge has ordered the city of New Albany to release public records sought by three residents who sued the city in a bid to force the records’ release. The judge’s Dec. 18 order states that the Ohio River city must provide public documents requested in August by the three Floyd County residents or be fined $50 per day if it doesn’t produce the records within 10 days.
Muncie mayor’s trial on federal charges delayed until May
A central Indiana mayor’s federal trial on charges of accepting a bribe has been pushed back for several months. Defense attorneys for Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler requested the delay on the trial that had been scheduled to start Jan. 21.
Justices agree to hear extended expungement-wait case
Indiana Supreme Court justices have agreed to hear a case that sharply divided an appellate panel concerning whether minor felonies reduced to misdemeanor convictions should trigger new five-year waiting periods for individuals seeking a criminal expungement.
Holcomb opts in to accepting refugees
Gov. Eric Holcomb is giving the green light for federal officials to continue placing refugees in Indiana, following in the footsteps of a growing group of both Democratic and Republican governors who are opting in to the federal program. The move comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September that, for the first time, required states and local government to provide written consent to continue to receive even a handful of the 26 million refugees worldwide.
South Bend OKs random inspections for body camera footage
A new policy adopted in the wake of a black man’s fatal shooting by a white South Bend police officer calls for random inspections of officers’ body camera footage and for officers to state a reason before they end a recording.
Trial court ruling against city to enforce mediation deal reversed
A northern Indiana trial court erred in ordering the city of Plymouth to enforce a mediation settlement agreement to pay a contractor $130,000 because terms of the agreement had not been fulfilled, an appellate panel ruled Wednesday.
Investigation underway after man dies at Wayne Co. jail
Indiana authorities are investigating the death of a man being held at a county jail on Saturday. Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter said in a news release that 57-year-old Dean Lamb collapsed Saturday afternoon in the jail.
Justices agree to hear Ohio River billboard dispute
The Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer to a case involving an economic development group’s suit against a southern Indiana town over its plans to allow billboards near an Ohio River bridge.
Allen County annexation, tax dispute back at COA
An annexation dispute over allocation of tax dollars is back before the Indiana Court of Appeals, which this time could resolve the merits question of whether a city or a fire district is entitled to the disputed tax revenues.
Report: Elkhart Police Department must track use of force
A northern Indiana city’s police department has a reputation for the rough treatment of residents and offending officers are seldom held accountable, according to an external review conducted following the release of video showing two officers repeatedly punching a handcuffed man.
Tax Court affirms lakeshore property assessment
A lakeshore property owner in northern Indiana was unable to convince the Indiana Tax Court on Wednesday that an abuse of discretion took place when his vacant lot was assessed at a higher rate than he had hoped.
Lake County might ease up on prosecuting marijuana possession
A northwestern Indiana county near Michigan and Illinois is proposing to relax penalties for marijuana possession after the neighboring states legalized pot use.
COA affirms quiet title judgment for property-line dispute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed a decision ordering a man to tear down a fence he installed outside of his property line that enabled him to block an alleyway with his vehicle.
Roberts seems to hold key to case over New York City gun law
Chief Justice John Roberts appeared Monday to be the key vote in whether the Supreme Court considers expanding gun rights or sidesteps its first case on the issue in nearly 10 years.