State House Passes Minimum Wage Bill

It’s now up to the Indiana Senate to decide whether the minimum wage for Hoosiers should go up to $7.50 an hour. Yesterday, the House passed a bill that would make that increase by 2008. Indiana’s minimum wage is currently the same as the federal rate, which has been $5.15 since 1997. The minimum wage bill also contains a component that would increase the amount of inheritance a Hoosier could receive without paying taxes on it. Some Republicans support the inheritance measure but not the minimum wage increase. They say the two issues should not be in the same bill.

Woman Dies from School Bus Crash

A Milford woman has died of injuries she received in a crash with a Wawasee school bus last Friday. Police say 47-year-old Jo A. Molle was driving a car that crashed head-on in to the school bus. None of the students aboard the bus suffered serious injuries.

Woman Sentenced for Embezzling from Huntington Employer

A judge has sentenced a 46-year-old Bluffton woman to four years in prison, for embezzling more than 135-thousand dollars from a Huntington company. Debra Yeiter was the assistant controller for Shuttleworth, Incorporated at the time of the crime.

Private Tollway Bill Moves Forward

The Senate Transportation Committee has approved a bill that would give Governor Daniels the authority to find private developers for two new tollways. One would connect northwestern Indiana to Illinois and the other would be a new outer loop for Indianapolis. The bill now heads to another Senate committee for further review.

Woodwind & Brasswind Buyout Approved

A bankrupt South Bend company that’s one of the nation’s largest sellers of musical instruments will stay in business. A judge has approved the sale of Woodwind and Brasswind to Musician's Friend Incorporated of California.

Prosecutor: Murder Defendant Lived with Victims' Bodies

During opening arguments of a murder trial in southern Indiana, a prosecutor said the defendant killed his grandmother and her boyfriend and then stayed in the apartment with the bodies of for four days. The 28-year-old man is on trial for two counts of murder for the 2004 killings in New Albany.

Snow Leads to Wabash House Explosion

A car sliding on a snow-covered street caused an explosion that destroyed a house in Wabash early this morning. Police say the car hit the gas meter that was attached to the house, causing a gas leak. The family who lived in the house evacuated before the gas exploded and no one was hurt. When firefighters got on the scene just after one a.m., the house was engulfed in flames.

Fire Damages Lake Wawasee Home

A house fire near Syracuse yesterday did an estimated 175-thousand dollars worth of damage. No one was hurt. Firefighters from two departments needed about 45 minutes to control the fire. The cause was still under investigation at last report, but officials believed the fire was accidental.

No Adult Charges in Huntington School Stabbing

Huntington County’s prosecutor has decided not to bring adult charges against a 14-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed another student at Huntington North High School. Yesterday, a judge ordered the boy to remain in a juvenile detention center for at least another week -- until another hearing scheduled for next Monday. The boy faces juvenile charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery in the incident, which happened January 19th.

School Funding Suit Dismissed

A judge in Indianapolis has dismissed a lawsuit that accused Indiana of violating its constitution by failing to spend enough on education. The judge ruled that the Indiana State Teachers Association improperly sued the governor and the superintendent of public instruction because they are not responsible for the state formula that determines school funding.

Bill Would Require More ISTEP Info

A state House committee has approved a bill that would require the Department of Education to give schools information about what academic standards are included on the ISTEP test and how many questions will be asked about each standard. Schools would not know exactly what the questions are, but they would have a general idea of items students should learn to pass the test

Deputy Prosecutor Charged with Crimes

A deputy prosecutor in Kosciusko County faces criminal charges himself this morning. A special prosecutor from Wabash County has filed misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and criminal recklessness against 25-year-old Matthew Shively. The charges alleged that Shively punched and broke a glass door at a Warsaw restaurant last month, causing 500 dollars-worth of damage. Shively is free on a 500-dollar bail bond. Kosciusko County’s prosecutor suspended Shively without pay for about a week and requested the investigation by a special prosecutor.

Snow Causes Toll-Road Pile-Up

A 17-vehicle pile-up shut down part of the Indiana Toll Road yesterday afternoon and evening. Lake-effect snow caused whiteout conditions that led to the crash near the Porter-La Porte County line. Reports indicate no one was hurt.

License Plate Renewal Notices Late

New problems at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles have delayed the mailing of license plate renewal notices. A B-M-V spokesman says workers are double-checking addresses in the agency’s new computer system and it’s taking longer than expected.

Large Farms to Get Senate Scrutiny

A state senate committee plans to conduct a hearing today on bills that would put new restrictions on large, confined feeding livestock farms. The bills would increase permit fees for the farms and create new controls on manure disposal.

Wawasee School Bus in Head-On Crash

A head-on collision between a Wawasee Community Schools bus and a car sent the bus driver and 22 high school students to Kosciusko Community Hospital this morning. According to a state police news release, everyone aboard the bus escaped with minor injuries, but all were transported to the hospital as a precaution. The driver of the car, a 47-year-old New Paris woman, suffered chest and facial injuries. Police say the Chevrolet Cobalt drifted over the centerline at a curve on Kosciusko County road 1000 North due to high speed. Police issued a citation for driving left of center. The crash happened at about 7:30 this morning.

Trial to be Moved in Taylor Univ. Crash Case

A judge has ordered a change of venue in the trial of a Michigan man whose truck crashed into a Taylor University van last April. Four Taylor students and one staff member died after the truck crossed the median on Interstate 69 and collided with the van. The trucker faces charges of reckless homicide and criminal recklessness. The judge ruled that a fair trial in Marion is not possible, because of all the publicity surrounding the case. He told lawyers to pick a new location, but not a neighboring county, Fort Wayne or Indianapolis.

Alleged Kidnapper Makes First Court Appearance

A judge has set bail at 500-thousand dollars for the man who allegedly shot another man and then abducted an Elkhart woman and her four children. The 30-year-old Chicago man appeared for his first court hearing yesterday. He faces charges of attempted murder and criminal confinement.

Twins Give Brith Within Hours of Each Other

In Auburn identical twin sisters have delivered babies at the same hospital, within hours of each other. The women had the same obstetrician, who says he’s never had anything like this happen in his practice before.

Charges Filed in Huntington School Stabbing

A 14-year-old Huntington North High School student now faces formal, juvenile charges in the stabbing of another student at the school last week. The prosecutor’s office has filed charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery and possession of a knife on school property causing injury. And a deputy prosecutor says the office has not decided yet whether to file adult charges against the boy. He’s still in custody, until a court hearing scheduled for Monday. The 16-year-old victim got out of the hospital a couple days after the attack.

New Fireworks Restrictions Get Committee Approval

A state Senate committee has approved a bill that would give counties, cities and towns the authority to create their own restrictions on fireworks use. The committee sent the bill to the full Senate by a nine-to-one vote.

Committee Approves Full-Day Kindergarten Bill

A committee of the state House of Representatives has approved a bill that would require all elementary schools to offer full-day kindergarten beginning next year. The bill contains no information about where the money would come from. A state agency estimates that state-wide full-day kindergarten would cost between 135-million and 285-million dollars a year. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

Bill Would Require Seat Belts in Trucks

A truck plate on a vehicle would no longer exempt its occupants from Indiana’s seat-belt law, if a bill approved by a House committee becomes law. The House Transportation Committee has approved the bill and sent it to the Ways and Means Committee.

Abducted Elkhart Family Found Safe

An Elkhart woman and her four children are safe and sound this morning after a three-day kidnapping ordeal. Elkhart Detective Bill Wargo says police found the family last night, at a motel near their home. They also arrested their alleged abductor. Wargo says calls the mother made from a nearby pay phone and a tip from a pizza delivery man helped them find the family.

Warsaw Schools to Conduct Meeting on Building Plans

Administrators at Warsaw Community Schools begin gathering public input on three proposed building plans tonight. The first of five community meetings takes place at 7 p.m. at Madison Elementary school. The building plans are designed to reduce school overcrowding.

Senate Passes Remonstrance Bill

You would not have to be a property owner to fight school and government building project, under a bill the Indiana Senate has passed. That bill would allow any voter to remonstrate. It’s on its way to the House for consideration.

First Candidate Enters Governor Race

State Senate Minority Leader Richard Young has created an exploratory committee, which is the first step toward running for Governor in 2008. The Democrat from Milltown in southern Indiana is the first person to enter the race.

New Smoking Ban Enacted in Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne City Council has enacted a new ban on smoking in public places. Unlike the city’s current ordinance, the new one even prohibits smoking in bars and private clubs. It takes effect June first.

Attorney General Warns of Super Bowl Scams

Indiana's attorney general is warning football fans to about Super Bowl ticket scams, especially if they shop for tickets online. Attorney General Steve Carter suggests that buyers pick up tickets in person, request a money back guarantee and avoid vendors who only accept payment through wire transfer. Carter also says fans should stay away from prices that seem "too good to be true."

Hearing Postponed in High School Stabbing

A judge in Huntington has postponed a hearing in the case of a stabbing at Huntington North High School. The judge postponed the hearing until next week after he learned that the family of the 14-year-old suspect had hired a lawyer. The boy remains incarcerated in the meantime. The prosecutor’s office says it has not yet decided whether to charge the boy as an adult in the case. A hospital released the 16-year-old victim over the weekend.

Police: Kidnap Victims Probably Alive

Investigators say they believe an Elkhart mother and her four children are still alive and being held against their will after a kidnapping Saturday. Elkhart police other law agencies have relayed reported sightings of the children and their mother. They wont’ say where those reports came from.

Grant County Jail Sued

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit against the Grant County Jail in Marion. The suit claims that overcrowding at the jail is violating the constitutional rights of prisoners.

Door-to-Door Sales Lead to Complaints

North Manchester’s police department has issued a news release regarding the town’s ordinance on door-to-door soliciting. The ordinance requires commercial solicitors to register with the Clerk-Treasurer and present a copy of that registration upon request. The police department says it has received many complaints about solicitors lately.

Poll: Hoosiers Support Higher Cigarette Tax

A new statewide poll shows that 62-percent of Hoosiers support an increase in the state’s cigarette tax, if the money goes toward health programs. A polling company conducted the survey on behalf of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Governor to Visit

Governor Mitch Daniels plans to visit Wabash and North Manchester today. In Wabash, Daniels will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Y-M-C-A. Afterwards, he’ll conduct a question-and-answer session with students at Manchester College.

Search Continues for Abducted Women, Children

Police and federal agents are searching in Chicago this morning for four Elkhart children and their mother, who were abducted Saturday. Police say the suspect in the kidnapping once lived in Chicago and has family there. Yesterday, police found two cars that were involved in the abduction but they say the cars did not provide any new clues in the case. Police issued an Amber Alert Saturday after the woman’s ex-boyfriend allegedly shot another man in her house and then kidnapped the woman and her children. For the latest information on this story, visit the Amber Alert web site.

Hearing Set in Huntingon North Stabbing

A 14-year-old Huntington North High School student has a date in court today after he allegedly stabbed another student at school Friday. There’s no word this morning on the victim’s condition. School officials say they believe an argument over a girl led to the stabbing.

Woman Sentenced in Cromwell Hammer Killing

Ratliff

A judge has sentenced a woman who admitted beating her boyfriend to death with a hammer in the Noble County town of Cromwell last May. 30-year-old Christine Ratliff of Ligonier got eight years in prison and one year of probation. As part of a plea agreement, Ratliff pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and the prosecutor dropped a murder charge.

Three Die in House Fire

Fire officials in Hammond say a television apparently started a house fire that killed three people. The Lake County coroner says two women and a man died of smoke inhalation.

Warsaw Teen Sentenced in Drive-By Shooting

The drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old girl in a Warsaw park has led to a prison sentence for a Warsaw man. Police arrested Sandro P. Medina after the shooting in Central Park last March. During a sentencing hearing, a Kosciusko Circuit judge referred to Medina as, in the judge’s words, “an 18-year-old with no brains and a gun and carrying around cocaine.” The judge gave Medina eight years in prison and two years of probation after Medina pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of cocaine in excess of three grams and aiding, inducing or causing criminal recklessness.

Worker Falls to his Death from Garrett Roof

In the DeKalb County town of Garrett, a construction worker fell to his death yesterday. The 26-year-old Fort Wayne man had been working on the steep roof of a former church building.

Area Air Guard Members Deploy to Iraq

Medics from Fort Wayne’s Air National Guard unit have deployed to Iraq, where they will provide routine medical care to troops for the next four months. A spokeswoman for the unit says it’s unlikely the team will treat any combat injuries.

Hundreds Join Search for Missing Purdue Student

Hundreds of volunteers showed up yesterday to help search around the Purdue University campus for a missing freshman. They were not successful. The 19-year-old Bloomington man has not been seen since he left a party at a fraternity house early Saturday.

State House Committee Approves Minimum Wage Bill

A state House committee has approved a bill that would raise the minimum wage in Indiana to $7.50 an hour by 2008. Supporters say the proposal would help the state's lowest-paid workers, but opponents claim increasing the minimum wage will not reduce poverty and is a form of government interference. See the bill on the state's web site.

State Senators Introduce HPV Vaccination Bill

Thirteen female state senators have introduced a bill that would require Indiana girls to receive vaccinations against a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cancer. The bill would add the H-P-V vaccination to the list of shots required for middle-school children, but it would not require schools to turn away girls who don’t get the HPV shots.

Foundation Makes Large Grant for Ivy Tech Project

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation has just made the largest single grant from its unrestricted funds in the foundation’s history. It gave 100-thousand dollars to Ivy Tech, to help pay for a new campus in Warsaw. The community college says the gift is the largest its capital campaign has received. Ivy Tech currently operates in rented space in Warsaw and its lease expires in 2012. The foundation says it gave the money because Ivy Tech’s contribution to education and economic development is valuable to the community.

Wolf Lake House Fire Kills Man, 73

A big house fire near Wolf Lake that Q101 first reported on yesterday morning has turned out to be fatal. The Noble County coroner says 73-year-old Ralph Weidman died of smoke inhalation and severe burns. Family members say he had gone back into the burning house to retrieve some keys.

Whitley Lakefront Restrictions Move Forward

The Whitley County Plan Commission has unanimously approved a proposal to restrict lakefront development and access. The amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance would require a residential unit, or single-family lakefront development, to have at least 50 feet of shoreline to have lake access. It’s now up to county commissioners to decide whether to enact the amendment.

Old Huntington School to Become Senior Apartments

A nonprofit organization has decided to convert an old elementary school in Huntington into an apartment complex for senior citizens. LifeStream Services says apartments in the old Central School could be ready by late 2008.

Amendment Would Make Property Taxes Unconstitutional

Republican State Senator Thomas Weatherwax of Logansport and several other lawmakers have introduced a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would abolish property taxes. The proposal does not specify how the state would make up for the lost revenue, but Weatherwax says he would suggest raising sales and income taxes.

Bill Would Eliminate Textbook Rental Fees

A state House committee has approved a bill that would eliminate textbook rental fees in public schools. A state agency says the bill would cost the state 75-million dollars a year. One of the lawmakers who voted against the bill says the state can’t afford it.

Cellular Text Threat Leads to Teen's Arrest

Police in northwestern Indiana have arrested a 15-year-old boy for allegedly threatening a 14-year-old girl with a text message sent to her cellular phone. Police arrested the boy on a charge of intimidation after the girl received a message threatening to cut her throat.

Warsaw City Council Approves Menard's Rezoning

A controversial plan by Menard’s to build a store in Warsaw got the go-head from City Council last night. Council approved rezoning land in the area of Husky Trail and Patterson Road so that Menard’s can build there. The vote was five to two. It came after Council spent two hours listening to citizen comments and debating the issue. Three people spoke to Council in favor of the rezoning and nine spoke against it. Opponents expressed concern about traffic, light pollution and a possible decrease in the values of nearby properties. Menards representatives say the company will spend three million dollars for road improvements in the area. They say the store would employee 150 people.

Five Departments Respond to Wolf Lake House Fire

Five fire departments responded to a house fire near the Noble County town of Wolf Lake this morning. Dispatchers say the call came in at three o’clock. At last report there were no injuries, but no other information was available.

Daniels Calls for More Education Spending

Governor Mitch Daniels called for more spending on education during his State of the State address last night. "The main reason I pressed for an immediate return to balanced budgets," Daniels said, "was so that we could again have the funds to strengthen public education. I hope this Assembly will provide at least a quarter billion dollars in new funding for the system as it stands today. Daniels also spoke in support of full-day kindergarten and an increase in the cigarette tax. You can read the entire speech on the governor's web site.

Democrats Propose Elimination of Gasoline Sales Tax

You would no longer pay sales tax on gasoline, if Indiana House Democrats get their way. They’ve introduce a bill to eliminate the tax, but Republicans in the senate say it has little chance of passing, because it would reduce state revenues by more than 300-million dollars a year.

Juveniles Sentenced in Fatal Shooting of Elkhart Girl, 11

A juvenile court has sentenced an Elkhart A teenager and a 12-year-old boy for their roles in the shooting death of their 11-year-old cousin. The girl died in early December after 12-year-old pointed a gun at the girl and pulled the trigger. The boy says he didn’t think the gun was loaded. His 16-year-old cousin says he found the gun in his grandparent’s house and showed it to the younger children.

Warsaw Council to Discuss Menard's Rezoning

A controversial plan to build a new Menard’s store gets the attention of Warsaw City Council tonight. Council will discuss a rezoning request that would allow Menards to build in the area of Patterson Road and Husky Trail. The plan includes reengineering and improving the area’s roadways and intersections. It also calls for a buffer of earth mounds and trees between its store and nearby residential areas. Many area residents spoke against the rezoning request at a Plan Commission meeting last month. A tie vote forced the Commission to send the request to City Council without a recommendation. Last week, the Chamber of Commerce board issued a statement in support of the development. Tonight’s City Council meeting begins at seven o’clock. See maps of the site on the city's web site.

Granary Accident Injures Pierceton Man

A grain elevator in the Noble County town of Cromwell injured a Pierceton man yesterday. A Fire Department spokesman says the 27-year-old man was working near the elevator yesterday afternoon when his clothing got caught. It took firefighters about 30 minutes to free the man, who suffered a broken arm, broken ribs, cuts and internal injuries. At last report, he was in serious condition at a Fort Wayne hospital.

Huntington Woman Sentenced in Cutting

A Huntington woman got a year in jail yesterday for cutting a man with two knives during a domestic argument last October. 30-year-old Diana Briggs had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery under a plea agreement. As part of the agreement, the prosecutor dismissed a felony battery charge.

Huntington Schools Seek Pool Opinions

Huntington County school officials will seek public opinion about cooperating with the Y-M-C-A to build a new competition swimming pool. Currently, members of Huntington North High School’s swim team practice at the school system’s only pool in southeastern Huntington County.

Daniels: Expect no State of the State Surprises

Governor Daniels says he plans no surprises in tonight’s State of the State speech. Lawmakers expect the governor to talk about his top priorities, including a phase-in of statewide, full-day kindergarten, privatizing the Hoosier Lottery and having a private venture build and operate a tollway around part of Indianapolis. We’ll have highlights tomorrow morning here on The New Q101.

Bill Would Establish Meth Offender Registry

State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would create a public registry of people convicted of offenses related to the production of methamphetamine. Supporters of the bill say it would allow landlords to check out a potential tenant’s history and possibly avoid the toxic byproducts of meth production. Opponents say it would prevent people from making a fresh start after they pay their debts to society and change their ways.

Ice Storm Misses Q101 Area

The Q101 area avoided a nasty ice storm over the past couple days. But just across the state line in Hillsdale, Michigan, the weather service is reporting nearly half an inch of ice accumulation.

Abortion Bills Introduced Again

The Indiana General Assembly is considering new requirements for doctors who perform abortions. Lawmakers have introduced bills that would require doctors to tell women that life begins at conception and that a fetus could feel pain. Similar legislation last year passed the House but failed in the Senate.

Company Requests Environmental Permit for Milford Ethanol Plant

VeraSun Milford, LLC, a subsidiary of VeraSun Energy Corporation of South Dakota, has filed an application with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for an environmental permit for a controversial proposed ethanol plant near the Kosciusko County town of Milford. The company filed its application yesterday. VeraSun has said the Milford site is one of four it was considering for a plant. The Northern Lakes Concerned Citizens Association (NLCCA) opposes the plant. The group is concerned about the site’s proximity to Milford and potential pollution and traffic issues. The plant still requires the approval of the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals. The NLCCA has retained a lawyer with expertise in zoning issues to help it convince the BZA deny permission to build the plant.

Wabash Police Investigate Robbery

The Wabash Police Department released information late this morning about a robbery and battery that occurred at the Pizza King restaurant on Canal Street last night. According to a police news release, an employee was leaving the restaurant at about nine o’clock when a man punched the employee in the face and knocked him to the ground. The attacker reportedly removed from the employee’s pocket a money bag containing the day’s business receipts and fled on foot. The news release describes the robber as a white man who wore a black and white flannel shirt and a Notre Dame sock hat. Wabash police are asking anyone with information about this robbery to call (260) 563-1111.

Officer Injured in High-Speed Pursuit

A high-speed pursuit in Fulton and Pualski Counties last night resulted in damage to five police cars and injury to one officer. It all started as a routine traffic stop in Rochester. Police say that at one point, the driver intentionally rammed officers and vehicles. One officer required treatment at Pulaski Memorial Hospital. Police eventually arrested both the 42-year-old driver and his 41-year-old passenger. Both men are from the Fulton County town of Kewanna.

Lawyer Requests Release in Taylor Crash Case

A lawyer has asked a court to relieve him from representing the Michigan trucker who was involved in a fatal crash with a Taylor University van. The defense lawyer says he has a conflict of interest, because he once represented another jail inmate who tried to become an informant against the trucker.

Workplace Shooting in Indianapolis

In Indianapolis, a man faces attempted murder charges this morning, for allegedly shooting four co-workers at a business that employs mostly people who