Justices rule for firefighters claiming age discrimination
The Supreme Court has decided unanimously that local governments with small workforces must comply with a federal law against age discrimination.
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Lake County Sheriff’s Department can’t account for missing $7,600
A northwestern Indiana sheriff’s department says it can’t account for more than $7,600 missing from one of its divisions. Lake County Police Chief William said the county Sheriff’s Department can’t account for the money that an audit by the State Board of Accounts found missing from its Civil Division last year.
2 Elkhart police officers face battery charges
Two Elkhart police officers were placed on administrative leave and will be charged with battery for repeatedly punching a handcuffed man in the face. The Elkhart police department on Friday announced the charges against officers Cory Newland and Joshua Titus.
Darmstadt apartment zoning approval splits appellate court
A controversial proposed apartment complex in the Vanderburgh County community of Darmstadt is poised to proceed after a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s rejection of two petitions contesting the zoning board’s approval.
Summary judgment for former sheriff reversed after sexual assault allegations against deputy
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned summary judgment for a former Lake County sheriff sued after a local woman alleged a sheriff’s deputy sexually assaulted her while in her home, with the court finding the woman’s respondeat superior claim against the sheriff can proceed.
Revived Madison Co. needle exchange program has positive results
A central Indiana county’s revived needle exchange program has collected nearly twice as many used needles as the number of clean needles it’s distributed, according to the behavior health system running the program.
Lake County paying $185K to settle sexual harassment lawsuit
Lake County has agreed to pay $185,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the northwestern Indiana county’s recorder. Taxpayers will finance the payment to Estela Montalvo, the former part-time recorder’s office employee who sued recorder Michael B. Brown and the county in federal court last year, alleging sexual harassment.
Ex-Indiana town marshal put on house arrest ahead of trial
A judge has placed a former Indiana town marshal on house arrest ahead of his trial on charges that he allegedly took medication from a home while in uniform. This week’s update came after Donald R. Bosley admitted to leaving the state and consuming controlled substances without a prescription.
Many Indiana counties face jail crowding with inmate shift
Taxpayers in dozens of Indiana counties will be paying for new jail beds years after sweeping state criminal code changes began sending more low-level offenders into local jails instead of state prisons. At least 40 jails in Indiana are over capacity, and a recent state survey found that almost half of all jail inmates are Level 6 felons, the lowest-level felons.
Portage mayor’s federal bribery trial delayed until January
A federal judge has push backed the trial of a northwestern Indiana mayor facing bribery charges of accepting money in exchange for towing contracts. The trial against Republican Portage Mayor James Snyder had been scheduled to begin Tuesday, but will now begin in January.
Cemetery case puts property rights issue before high court
Rose Mary Knick makes no bones about it. She doesn’t buy that there are bodies buried on her eastern Pennsylvania farmland, and she doesn’t want people strolling onto her property to visit what her town says is a small cemetery.
COA allows environmental cleanup claims filed after 10 years
In a decision about the cleanup and redevelopment of an old industrial site, the Indiana Court of Appeals has provided a definitive answer to a long-simmering debate among Indiana environmental lawyers.
Indiana justices accept another NIPSCO case
The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted transfer of another dispute over utility rates where the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. is a defendant.
Supreme Court agrees to decide fate of Yorktown clerk-treasurer’s job
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Yorktown can forcibly remove its clerk-treasurer from office, a decision the clerk-treasurer’s attorney told the justices could have implications beyond his client.
Ex-Bunker Hill marshal pleads guilty to obstruction of justice
An ex-northern Indiana town marshal who authorities say provided false police credentials for an acquaintance so the person could be paid more while working as a security guard has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. Aaron Dague of Wabash entered the plea Thursday under a deal with prosecutors, was sentenced to one year of probation and can no longer work in law enforcement.
Legal bills in South Bend police wiretapping case nearly $2M
A long-running dispute over wiretapping within the South Bend Police Department has cost taxpayers in the northern Indiana city nearly $2 million to date. The case stems from a subpoena that South Bend’s city council issued to Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s office in 2012, seeking copies of recordings made from police phone lines.
Justices consider ouster of Yorktown clerk-treasurer
Choosing to forcibly remove an elected official from office is a weighty decision, one that requires government officials to go against the will of the voters — presumably for the public good. In theory, an impeachment occurs only when an elected officer has egregiously failed to perform his or her duties, leaving no choice but to force the official to vacate her office.
Plan would ban sitting, lying on downtown Indy streets, sidewalks
A proposal that would make it illegal to sit or lie on the ground during most of the day in downtown Indianapolis will be introduced this month to the Indianapolis City-County Council by local Republicans.
COA overturns injunction against Charlestown code enforcement scheme
A special judge’s ruling that preliminarily enjoined the city of Charlestown from inconsistently imposing code violation fees while simultaneously finding the city was not subject to the state’s Unsafe Building Law has been overturned. The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the trial court erred in finding the UBL does not apply to the city, thus requiring remand for re-examination of how local and state regulations should work together.
Proposal to decriminalize marijuana in Gary fails by 1 vote
A proposal to decriminalize marijuana in Gary fell one vote short of passage amid concerns that it would overstep Indiana law. Councilwoman Lavetta Sparks-Wade said she abstained from voting because the council’s attorney advised the council that it would circumvent state law.