Allen County commissioners vote to ban swingers clubs
Commissioners in northeastern Indiana’s Allen County have voted to implement rules that would prohibit swingers clubs and other businesses involving live sex acts.
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Court: Stealing official’s husband can’t gain from fraudulent land transfer
The husband of the former Owen County auditor, who was found to have purchased about $346,000 worth of personal items with county-issued credit cards, must repay the full amount of money he received from the sale of land that his wife fraudulently transferred to him.
Complex questions about justice center site safety concern prosecutor, public defender
Since the Marion County judges hired their own environmental consultant to review the remediation plans for the property where the new justice center is slated to be built, the Marion County prosecutor and public defender offices have started raising their own concerns about the level of contamination and safety of their workers.
Community Corrections worker shot, wounded during training
Authorities say a pretrial services coordinator in northeastern Indiana has been accidentally shot and wounded during a training exercise.
Judge blocks Fort Wayne ‘pay to play’ ordinance
An Allen County judge has enjoined Fort Wayne from enforcing an ordinance designed to curb “pay-to-play” arrangements that allegedly led to city contracts for businesses that contribute to local candidates’ campaigns.
Cass County auditor loses appeal of contempt finding
A Cass County elected official who refused to pay out a payroll voucher has failed to convince the Indiana Court of Appeals to overturn the local trial court’s imposition of a contempt finding against her.
Indiana prosecutor asks state police to investigate his office
The prosecutor in Vigo County says he’s fired the director of the child support division and asked for a police investigation of his office. But Prosecutor Terry Modesitt declined to offer details on the investigation, saying he wants to be “very generic” during an “ongoing investigation.”
Contamination at new Marion County justice center site raising concerns
An independent environmental assessment of the site for the new Marion County jail and courthouse has some judges questioning if the property will pose a health hazard to the people working and visiting the courts, but others are cautioning to not let fear dictate decision-making.
Carmel to take legal action against Lucas Estate in party controversy
Carmel plans to take legal action to stop Charlotte and Forrest Lucas from hosting events at their massive estate, the city announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon. The city said it plans to file requests for preliminary and permanent injunctions against the estate to prohibit the family from conducting a business at its private residential property.
Reversal: Floyd County loses title to criminal justice center over lease dispute
A split Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed the award to Floyd County of the title to its criminal justice center after concluding that the building authority that financed the center never had the authority to agree to certain provisions in its lease with the county.
Judgment for Brownsburg in water rate lawsuit upheld
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed judgment for the Town of Brownsburg in a water utility dispute after concluding two customers failed to exhaust their administrative remedies before suing the utility in courts.
Justices affirm $176K award of fees to Lake Superior Court judges
Indiana Supreme Court justices affirmed a special judge’s ruling that 14 Lake Superior Court judges are entitled to recover nearly $176,500 to pay court staff, ending a two-year dispute.
Mayor: Madison doesn’t want to be identified with Klan group
The mayor of Madison, Indiana, distancing his community from a local Ku Klux Klan group that is planning a rally in Ohio this month, saying the city doesn’t “stand for any kind of hate.”
Morgan named Indy corporate counsel as Mallon moves to CIB
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett on Friday announced the appointment of Donald “Donnie” Morgan as the city’s corporation counsel, as the city’s former legal department leader departed to lead the city’s Capital Improvement Board.
7th Circuit: No due process violations against rejected billboard company
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of a digital billboard company’s motion for preliminary injunction against the City of Westfield, finding its due process rights were not violated when the city ordered construction on a billboard to stop.
Carmel official says Brainard created ‘toxic environment’; mayor calls relationship consensual
Carmel Clerk-Treasurer Christine Pauley has accused Mayor Jim Brainard of creating a toxic environment at City Hall after she said she turned down at least two invitations to accompany him on personal trips.
Ruling striking law in homeless case mirrors Indianapolis debate
A California federal appeals court ruling that homeless individuals cannot be criminally charged for sleeping on public property reflected sentiments last fall that helped stop a proposed Indianapolis ordinance that barred people from sitting or lying on public property during certain hours.
Judge strikes down legislation that blocked Bloomington annexation
A judge has ruled that 2017 state legislation inserted into the budget bill that blocked Bloomington’s attempt to annex 9,500 acres of property is unconstitutional.
Clark County cement plant loses appeal to burn waste fuel
A century-old Clark County cement plant that has unsuccessfully sought county permission for almost five years to transition its plant from burning coal to burning waste fuel lost its appeal Thursday of local rulings against its plans.
Reversal: Sheriff ordered to give father records in daughter’s death investigation
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a decision denying a father access to public records from the Warrick County Sheriff’s Department concerning his daughter’s mysterious death. A unanimous panel concluded that because the documents he requested were not investigatory, they were unable to be withheld under an exception to the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.