Local government - The Indiana Lawyer

Mass shooters exploited gun laws, loopholes before carnage

March 25, 2021 | Associated Press

The suspect in the shooting at a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket was convicted of assaulting a high school classmate but still got a gun. The man accused of opening fire on three massage businesses in the Atlanta area bought his gun just hours before the attack — no waiting required. They are the latest suspected U.S. mass shooters to obtain guns because of limited firearms laws, background check lapses or law enforcement’s failure to heed warnings of concerning behavior.

SCOTUS leans toward tribal police in traffic stop, search of non-Indian

March 24, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

The Supreme Court of the United States seemed likely Tuesday to allow tribal police officers to stop and search non-Indians on tribal lands over concerns that drunk drivers or even violent criminals might otherwise elude authorities.

Marion County health officials shut down two clubs for COVID-19 violations

March 24, 2021 | Susan Orr, Indianapolis Business Journal

The nightclubs Casba Bar in Broad Ripple and After 6 in downtown Indianapolis have been ordered to close immediately for violating pandemic-related health orders, the Marion County Public Health Department says.

Jury convicts former Portage mayor of bribery in retrial

March 19, 2021 | Associated Press

A federal jury convicted a former northwestern Indiana mayor on a bribery charge Friday in his retrial on allegations he solicited and accepted a $13,000 bribe from a trucking company.

Zionsville mayor files suit, seeks to clear up her power to demote department heads

March 18, 2021 | Kurt Christian, Indianapolis Business Journal

Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed a lawsuit Tuesday that should determine whether the town’s council can keep her from demoting the fire department’s chief.

Rokita’s AG office defends governor’s mask order power in restaurant suit

March 18, 2021 | Associated Press and IL Staff

Indiana’s attorney general’s office vigorously defended Gov. Eric Holcomb’s emergency powers in response to a restaurant’s lawsuit challenging his order that masks must be worn inside restaurants to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump’s taxes in hand, Manhattan DA’s probe heats up

March 18, 2021 | Associated Press

With former President Donald Trump’s tax returns finally in hand, a team of New York prosecutors led by a newly hired former mob-buster is sending out fresh subpoenas and meeting face-to-face with key witnesses, scrutinizing Trump’s business practices in granular detail.

Police reform bill heads to governor’s desk after 49-0 Senate vote

March 17, 2021 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

A significant law enforcement reform bill is headed to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature. The bill largely bans chokeholds and adds several measures addressing police accountability.

Work to keep voters informed continuing even in non-election year

March 9, 2021 | Marilyn Odendahl

In a year without an election, The Indiana Citizen, a nonprofit focused on increasing voter turnout, is transforming its website into a source of news and information about Hoosier politics, elected officials and civic issues that attorney co-founder Bill Moreau described as “our new venture into accountability journalism.”

Jury selection set in ex-Portage mayor’s bribery retrial

March 8, 2021 | Associated Press

Jury selection is set to begin Monday in a former northwestern Indiana mayor’s long-delayed retrial on a federal charge alleging that he solicited a bribe from two businessmen.

Justices to hear arguments in med-mal case over hepatitis misdiagnosis

March 3, 2021 | IL Staff

The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in a case brought by a woman who was incorrectly told a hepatitis test was negative when the test revealed she was, in fact, hepatitis positive.

Indianapolis to relax COVID-19 restrictions starting Monday

March 1, 2021 | Associated Press

Indianapolis will relax coronavirus restrictions on the city’s bars and restaurants starting Monday ahead of the upcoming Big Ten and NCAA men’s basketball tournaments.

Finding consensus, struggling with conflict at legislative halfway mark

March 1, 2021 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

As Indiana lawmakers prepare for the second half of the session, several key issues are awaiting further review.

Restaurant, bar capacity limits in Marion County to increase March 1

February 25, 2021 | Mickey Shuey, Indianapolis Business Journal

More people will be allowed into Marion County restaurants, bars and gyms starting March 1, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday morning, citing improving local COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Indiana woman admits spending $86K in public funds on self

February 25, 2021 | Associated Press

A Jay County woman has pleaded guilty to diverting more than $86,000 in public funds and spending it on personal indulgences during her time as a township trustee.

Justices reverse, find for Bloomington in ex-IU frat house spat

February 23, 2021 | Dave Stafford

The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday reversed lower court decisions against the city of Bloomington, upholding zoning orders requiring residents to vacate a fraternity house that Indiana University no longer recognized. Justices noted the ruling may apply in college and university towns throughout the state.

Frost Brown Todd opens office in D.C. market

February 22, 2021 | IL Staff

Frost Brown Todd is opening a new office in Washington, D.C., consolidating the firm’s federal public policy and regulatory practices into the new location and drawing upon the expertise of attorneys throughout the firm’s other nine offices, including Indianapolis.

Children’s Museum lawsuit over Drake moves ahead amid talks with developer

February 19, 2021 | Mickey Shuey, Indianapolis Business Journal

An effort by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to overturn the city’s designation of the Drake apartment building as a historic property has been transferred to federal court — even as the organization continues working with city officials on a plan to salvage the nearby building.

House votes to override governor’s veto of landlord-tenant bill, allowing it to become law

February 18, 2021 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

The GOP-controlled Indiana House has voted to override Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a controversial landlord-tenant bill, allowing the measure to become law. The measure could eliminate local regulation of rental properties, most notably in Indianapolis. Both Holcomb and Democratic Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett expressed disappointment in the Legislature.

Lawmakers kill bill that would have stripped control of IMPD from city

February 17, 2021 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

Legislation that would have stripped control of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department from the city’s mayor is dead for the year. Meanwhile, a separate police oversight bill was voted down in committee by request of its author.

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