Syracuse Man Arrested in Armed Robbery Case

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department reported this morning that officers arrested a 33-year-old Syracuse man early Sunday morning for allegedly robbing two individuals at gunpoint. According to a police report, the suspect agreed to give the victims a ride from a Syracuse bar to an ATM and afterward drove them to a rural area. There, he allegedly pulled a handgun and forced the victims to get out of the vehicle and kneel alongside the roadway. The victims reported hearing two clicks of the trigger but the gun did not fire. The victims escaped when another vehicle came down the road. Police arrested the suspect after locating his vehicle at his home.

Legislature Passes Budget, Other Bills

Indiana homeowners will get a refund on their 2007 property tax bills, under a state budget lawmakers passed just before this year’s session of the general assembly adjourned last night. Homeowners will first have to pay tax bills that will be on average 24 percent higher than the 2006 bills and then wait for a refund check later in the year that would reduce that increase to about 10 percent. The legislature also passed bills last night that would increase in the cigarette tax to fund health initiatives, restructure property taxes and authorize slot machines at the state's two pari-mutuel horse tracks.

Winds Causes Whitley Power Outages

Whitley County police dispatchers report scattered power outages around the county after some high winds hit at about 4:30 this morning. Dispatchers say power returned to most areas pretty quickly and at last report there had been no other wind-related problems.

Toddler Drowns in LaGrange County Pond

A two year old Michigan boy reportedly drowned in a private pond near Howe in LaGrange County yesterday. Officials say the boy had wandered away from a nearby home.

Grant County Soldier Dies in Iraq

The sister of a soldier from Grant County says her brother has died while serving in Iraq. The sister says the military told her parents that an improvised explosive device killed Army Private First Class David Austin Kirkpatrick, of Matthews last Friday. He was 20 years old.

Toll Road Crash Kills Eight

Eight people died in a crash on the Indiana Toll Road near Bristol yesterday. Police say traffic was stopped near a construction zone because of a previous accident when a semi truck slammed into the stopped vehicles without even slowing down. The semi crushed a pickup truck and an S-U-V beyond recognition. Five people in the pickup truck died. They were members of LaGrange County’s Amish community. Two New Hampshire residents in the S-U-V died, as did a Michigan man who was in a third vehicle. Police will let the prosecutor decide whether to charge the 31-year-old Illinois trucker whose inattention apparently caused the crash.

LaPorte Officer Gets Ride from Tornado

A tornado in LaPorte County gave a police officer a wild ride yesterday. The detective says the twister picked up her patrol car, carried it over a three-foot-tall fence and dropped it upside down in a field. The officer suffered only minor injuries.

Eight Arrested on Drug Charges in Huntington

Police in Huntington arrested eight people yesterday on a variety of drug dealing charges. Police say a 15-month investigation led to the arrests.

Pierceton Meth Dealer Sentenced

A 34-year-old Pierceton man got six years in prison and five years of probation yesterday for possessing and dealing methamphetamine. Kevin Weikart had pleaded guilty under the terms of a plea agreement. In exchange, the court dismissed a charge of operating an illegal meth lab.

Ligonier Man Sentenced for Shooting at Teens

A judge has given a Ligonier man three years in prison and a year of probation for shooting at three teenaged boys who were cleaning a drainage ditch near his property. In February, a jury found 48-year-old Dale Woods guilty of intimidation and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.

Biofuel Company Won't Share Huntington Study

A company that plans to build a biofuels plant in Huntington has declined to provide local officials with a feasibility study on the project… even though public money paid two thirds of the cost of the study. Mayor Terry Abbett says he asked Nu Fuels for a copy of the study but the company told him it contains trade secrets and won’t be made available.

Govenor Signs HPV Bill

Governor Mitch Daniels has signed into law a bill that will require schools to give parents of sixth-grade girls information about a sexually transmitted disease and its link to cervical cancer. The human papillomavirus can cause the cancer but a vaccine against the virus is available.

Lawmakers Reach Compromise on Fireworks

State House and Senate negotiators have reach a compromise on a bill to give local governments authority to restrict the use of fireworks. The compromise bill would allow local restrictions on all but 12 days of the year. It now goes to both chambers for a vote.

Fort Wayne Family Loses House to FIre

Fire overnight heavily damaged a house in the Aboite Township area of Fort Wayne. It took firefighters more than four hours to control the fire. Three adults and five children escaped safety but two firefighters suffered minor injuries.

Semi Crash Ties up Toll Road Traffic

A crash on the Indiana Toll Road near Angola yesterday tied up traffic for several hours. Police say a semi driver swerved to miss two tires on the highway, crashed into two parked semis and then overturned. No one was hurt.

Rioting Prisoners Transferred

Prison officials have moved 200 inmates from the New Castle prison to other facilities. They decided on the transfers have after watching security camera videotapes of Tuesday’s riot to determine who participated.

Prison Riot Leads to Suspension of Arizona Transfers

State officials have suspended the transfer of hundreds of new inmates from Arizona to the state prison in New Castle, after a riot at the facility yesterday. The investigation centers on whether Arizona prisoners were upset about their treatment in Indiana. Indiana Department of Correction Commissioner J. David Donahue says Indiana prisons operate differently. "We are a non-smoking system. We don't allow our populations to possess tobacco products. In Arizona, they were available to them, if they chose to participate as a smoker," said Donahue. The riot lasted two hours and resulted in injuries to two prison staff members and seven prisoners.

Police Shooting Investigation Continues

Officials in South Bend continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting of two city police officers. Saint Joseph County Prosecutor Mike Dvorak says 34-year-old Corporal Nick Polizzotto and 29-year-old Patrolman Michael Norby were investigating reports that a resident of a South Bend motel had been firing shots in the area. "Corporal Polizzoto and Patrolman Norby spoke with the suspect for an estimated 10 to 15 seconds before the suspect began shooting at the officers," Dvorak said. Polizzotto died from his injuries. Norby suffered a shoulder wound and has been released from the hospital. Police returned fire and killed the suspect, whose name has not yet been released.

Gun Report Locks Down N. Manchester School

Reports of youth carrying a gun near Manchester Junior-Senior High School yesterday led to a lock-down at the school. Police later discovered that the 16-year-old boy and 20-year-old man had been carrying a B-B gun after shooting it in a wooded area.

Former Businessman Sentenced for Child Porn

A judge has sentenced a former Columbia City businessman to three years in prison and one year of probation for possessing child pornography. 31-year-old Benjamin Sekel had pleaded guilty to 62 counts. Prior to his arrest, he ran a computer business in downtown Columbia City.

Agency Predicts Big Jump in Residential Taxes

A new estimate from a state agency says residential property tax bills could increase by an average of nearly 24 percent statewide this year. That’s about 10 percent more than previous estimates. New data shows that assessments for homes have risen more than assessments for commercial land and that’s shifting more of the tax burden to homeowners.

Former Biomet Execs to Repay Company

Biomet has announced that two executives who resigned last month will work as company consultants and repay the company for stock options they received at prices below fair market value. The executives resigned after the company found a decade’s worth of accounting errors related to stock option grants.

South Bend Officer Killed, Another Wounded

A shooting in South Bend has killed a city police officer and wounded another. Reports indicate that a possible suspect in the shooting might also have been wounded. At last report, the surviving officer was in stable condition and no information was available about the condition of the possible suspect. The incident happened early this morning at a motel on the southeast side of South Bend.

ACLU Sues Over "In God we Trust" Plates

The Indiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has sued the state over license plates that read, “In God We Trust.” The suit claims that the plates violate the constitutional separation of church and state because Hoosiers don’t have to pay extra for them, unlike other specialty plates.

Governer Signs Mobile Home Weather Alert Law

Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law a bill that will require mobile home installers to equip the homes with weather alert radios. The radios sound off when the National Weather Service issues a severe weather warning.

Lake Search for Helicopter Pilot to Continue

Crews plan to continue searching a northwestern Indiana lake today for the body of a helicopter pilot. The privately-owned chopper crashed into a lake near Knox Sunday night.

Deal to Decrease Local Grocery Competition

Grocery competition in Columbia City will soon decrease, as Kroger takes ownership of the Scott’s store. The company has agreed to buy all 18 stores in the Scott’s chain. Like the Scott’s store in Columbia City, many are quite close to existing Kroger stores. But Kroger says it has not decided whether it will close any stores after it completes the purchase. The company says Scott’s stores will continue to operate under their existing name, just as Owen’s stores in Warsaw and Huntington did after Kroger bought them.

Indiana Bells to Honor Va. Tech Victims

Governor Mitch Daniels has joined governors of other states in asking Hoosiers to ring bells at noon today, in honor of the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Virginia’s governor suggested the commemoration in a letter he sent to his counterparts across the nation. In addition, the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Alliance is asking all churches to take time this Sunday to pray in response to the Virginia massacre.

Federal Loan to Finance Leesburg Project

The Kosciusko County Town of Leesburg will receive a three-point-two-million-dollar low interest loan from the U-S Department of Agriculture. The town will use the money for sewage projects.

No Restraining Order Against Huntington Co. Farm

The state has lost its bid for a temporary restraining order against a large dairy farm in southwestern Huntington County. A judge has declined to order DeGroot Dairy to stop spreading manure on nearby fields. The state is investigating a manure spill near the farm that contaminated a creek last week.

Columbia City Man Faces Charge in Fatal Churubusco Crash

State Police have arrested a 36-year-old Columbia City man for allegedly causing a fatal crash in early January while having a controlled substance in his blood. The man faces a felony charge of causing death while operating a motor vehicle for the crash near Churubusuco in which the dump truck he was driving overturned onto a woman’s S-U-V.

Inmate Allegedly Plots to Kill Prosecutor, Judge

An inmate in the Fulton County Jail in Rochester faces new charges this morning in an alleged plot to kill seven people, including a prosecutor, a police officer and a judge. The prosecutor charged the 42-year-old man with attempted murder and conspiracy.

Fort Wayne Soldier Dies in Iraq

A soldier from Fort Wayne has died in Iraq. The military says Army Private First Class Richard Langenbrunner died of injuries that were not combat-related. He was 19.

House Rejects Modified Seat Belt Bill

The Indiana House has voted down a bill that would have required nearly everyone to wear seat belts. The House originally approved the bill but rejected changes the Senate made. It will now go to a conference committee.

Reports: Man Attempts to Pull Over Motorists

In the De Kalb County town of Waterloo, a man in a former police cruiser has reportedly tried to pull over motorists by activating amber-colored flashing lights. Police say nothing the man has done so far is illegal. They remind motorists that authentic police cars have flashing lights that are red or red and blue.

Judge Denies Bail Reduction for Bribery Defendant

A judge has denied a request from the former owner of a Warsaw massage parlor for a reduction in her bail. The 51-year-old old woman is held in lieu of a 200-thousand dollar bond on bribery and prostitution-related charges.

Syracuse Man Sentenced for Ambulance Drug Thefts

A judge in Huntington sentenced a 37-year-old former paramedic from Syracuse to a year in prison followed by three years of probation yesterday, for stealing pain killer from the Huntington ambulance on which he worked. Christopher Buckner had pleaded guilty last month to 11 felony charges. Before police arrested Buckner, he also worked for the North Webster EMS.

Teen Admits Huntington School Stabbing

A 15-year-old boy admitted yesterday that he stabbed a fellow student at Huntington North High School in January. A judge plans to tell the boy next month what penalties he’ll face for juvenile charges of attempted aggravated battery and possession of a knife on school property.

Munster Marine Dies in Iraq Combat

The Defense Department says a Marine from northwestern Indiana has died during combat in Iraq. First Lieutenant Shaun Blue of Munster was 25.

Legislature Passes Min. Wage, Missing Persons Bills

The general assembly sent several new bills to the Governor yesterday. One would link Indiana’s minimum wage to the federal minimum wage. Another would require police departments to begin searching immediately for certain “high risk” missing adults.

Adams County Workers Find Dead Alligator

South of Fort Wayne, Adams County workers discovered a dead seven-foot-long alligator in a drainage tile yesterday. Police say they believe the gator was a pet that someone put in a catch basin to get rid of it after it died.

Syracuse Woman Dies in Crash

A 24-year-old Syracuse woman died yesterday afternoon at the scene of a one-vehicle crash on Kosciusko County Road 700-East. Police say it appears that the woman was driving a small pick-up truck at a high speed and lost control. The truck rolled over in a field, ejecting the woman.

Subdivision Near South Whitley Approved

The South Whitley Plan Commission has approved plans for a 221-lot subdivision. At yesterday’s meeting, developers addressed concerns raised by commission members and area residents.

Woman Admits Stealing Cash from Show Choir

A former volunteer has pleaded guilty to stealing more than 30-thousand dollars from a booster organization for the Churubusco New Era Show Choir. A judge plans to sentence the 29-year-old woman late next month.

Legislature Passes HPV Information Bill

A bill is now headed to the governor that would require schools to give parents information about the link between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. Yesterday, the Senate agreed to changes the House made to the bill. Unlike laws in other states, the bill would not require girls to receive a vaccination against the sexually transmitted virus.

Quayle Family Sells Huntington Newspaper

The family of former Vice President Dan Quayle no longer owns Huntington’s daily newspaper. Huntington Newspapers, Incorporated has sold the Herald-Press to Paxton Media Group.

Federal, State Tax Deadlines Extended

If you’re in a hurry to finish your tax returns today, you can relax a little bit. The deadline to file federal and state tax returns is tomorrow. The I-R-S granted an extension on federal filings because April 15th was a Sunday and today is a government holiday in Washington DC. Governor Daniels has announced that Indiana is granting the same extension.

Hoosiers Rally for Darfur

Hundreds of people attended a rally in Indianapolis yesterday to call attention to violence in Darfur. Speakers urged participation in a letter writing campaign that asks lawmakers to do more to promote peace in Sudan.

Former Massage Parlor Owner Requests Bail Reduction

A suspect in a Warsaw bribery and prostitution case asked a judge yesterday to reduce her bail bond from 200-thousand dollars to 20-thousand. The 51-year-old woman has been in custody since February, when police arrested her in Georgia. She’s the former owner of VIP The Office Spa, a Warsaw massage parlor that police say was part of a mutli-state prostitution ring. Her charges include allegedly bribing an undercover officer. Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed plans to announce his decision on the woman’s bond next week.

State Express Regret for Sterilizations

The state expressed official regret yesterday for involuntarily sterilizing about 25-hundred people between 1907 and 1974. A state law that was intended to improve the quality of the human race permitted the sterilizations of people with mental disabilities and others.

Souder Gets Jury Duty

Congressman Mark Souder spent the day yesterday serving on a jury in Fort Wayne. Souder was one of six people who heard the case of a man charged with misdemeanor battery. The jury found the man not guilty.

Police Arrest Suspect in Bob Evans Robbery

Warsaw police have arrested a suspect in the New Year’s Day robbery of the Bob Evans restaurant in Warsaw. The 28-year-old Roann man is a former employee of the restaurant. Police say he has admitted to his role in the Bob Evans hold-up, as well as the robberies of two restaurants in Wabash and one in Utah. Police say the man also admitted to staging a fake robbery at a Warsaw McDonald’s restaurant while he was employed there last July. Police say DNA from a ski mask left behind at Bob Evans led them to the suspect. They expect to arrest another suspect within a week.

Gunshot Victim Discovered in Markle Area

Reports indicate that a man was found in the area of the Huntington County town of Markle this morning with a gunshot wound to his head. A helicopter flew the 28-year-old man from Markle to a Fort Wayne hospital at about 5:30. When Q101 last spoke with dispatchers, they were unable to provide any further information about the incident.

Man Enters Plea Agreement in Murder of Girl, 10

A Fort Wayne man has pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl who lived in his neighborhood. In exchange, the prosecutor agreed not to seek the death penalty. A judge plans to decide in July whether to accept the plea agreement.

State Senate Approves Budget, Tax Restructuring

The Senate has approved a two-year budget proposal that would steer more money to education and a bill that would overhaul Indiana's property tax system. The budget would spend 26-point-three billion dollars and provide more money to universities, prisons and Medicaid while capping overall spending increases at a maximum of 4 percent each year. The property tax restructuring bill would have the state would assume all public school operating costs and mostly eliminate state subsidies of local property taxes. It would allow counties to increase local income taxes. Both bills now head to joint House-Senate conference committees.

Kosciusko County Crash Critically Injures Driver

A 24-year-old Kokomo man was in critical condition at last report from injuries he received this morning in a crash on State Road 15 near Kosciusko County Road 400 South. According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, the man lost control of his car on slushy pavement and crossed the centerline and crashed into a van. He suffered extensive head injuries and was transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital. The 58-year-old Silver Lake woman who was driving the van suffered minor injuries.

Sheriff Issues Internet Scam Warning

Kosciusko County’s Sheriff has issued a warning about an Internet scam involving bogus American Express gift checks. The Sheriff says scammers send victims the counterfeit checks with instructions to deposit them and then wire 90 percent of the money to an overseas account. Police say they don’t believe any Kosciusko County residents have fallen victim to the scam.

Large Huntington Co. Farm Could Lose Permit

A large Huntington County dairy farm is one of two such operations in the state that could lose state permits because of manure spills. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says it will soon determine if DeGroot Dairy should lose its permit after manure from the farm entered a creek that feeds into the Salamonie Reservoir.

Traffic Stop Turns up Four Pounds of Weed

State Police arrested three men last night on felony charges of possession of marijuana after a trooper found four pounds of pot in their car. Police discovered the marijuana after the trooper pulled over the car for a traffic violation on U.S. 31 in Fulton County. The suspects are from South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen.

House Passes Health Care Bill

The Indiana House has passed a health care bill that includes a statewide ban on smoking in enclosed public places. But the Gary Representative who sponsored the bill says the smoking ban probably won’t survive negotiations between the House and Senate for a compromise between their two versions of the bill.

State Senate Passes Minimum Wage Bill

The state Senate has passed a bill that would tie Indiana's minimum wage to the federal rate. A House version of the bill would have raised Indiana’s minimum wage to a rate higher than the federal rate.

Legislators Give Themselves a Raise

The legislature has passed a bill that would nearly double base salaries for lawmakers. It would also reduce their retirement benefits. The bill now goes to the governor for consideration.

Man Allegedly Threatens to Kill WPD Detective

Warsaw police announced today that they arrested a man yesterday who allegedly threatened to kill a detective and carried a flare gun into the Warsaw Police Department. Police say the 57-year-old Warsaw man was angry that police were investigating him as a suspect in a sex crime. When the man arrived at the police department, officers arrested him on a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. According to a news release the Warsaw Police Department issued today, the Kosciusko County prosecutor’s office was still reviewing the case to determine appropriate charges regarding the alleged threat against the detective. Police say a flare gun is considered a deadly weapon.

Inmate's Death Ruled Homicide

A coroner has determined that someone killed an inmate at the state correctional facility in Pendleton. The coroner says the 44-year-old man died of blunt force injuries to his head and chest. The man was serving a sentence for child molesting. Police have not yet arrested anyone for killing him.

Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Middle-Schooler's MySpace Posting

The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that a judge violated a Hoosier middle school student’s constitutional rights when he placed her on probation for criticizing the school principal in a message posted on MySpace. The appeals court ruled that the message constitutes protected political speech and ordered the lower court to set aside its penalty against the central Indiana girl.

State Supreme Court to Consider Interpreter Case

The Indiana Supreme Court will soon hear arguments over whether defendants who don’t speak English should have to pay for their own interpreters. A defendant in a drug case in southern Indiana claims that requiring him to pay for his own interpreter amounts to discrimination.

House Passes Coroner Training Bill

The Indiana House passed a bill yesterday that requires elected coroners to receive training or face not being paid. The bill also defines how coroners should positively identify people who die.

Indy Brigade Gets Pre-Deployment Order

The Defense Department has told a unit of the Indiana National Guard to prepare for a second tour of Iraq late this year. The 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is based in Indianapolis and includes 34-hundred troops, is one of four such units that received pre-deployment notification.

Soldier Funerals Planned

Families of two area soldiers who died in Iraq have announced plans for their funerals. A funeral service for Army First Lieutenant Neal Shank of Kendallville will take place Wednesday at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne. Shank will be buried at the U-S Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York. A funeral service for Indiana National Guard Staff Sergeant Bradley King of La Fontaine will be held Thursday at a church in Marion. Afterward, King will be buried in southern Wabash County.

Company Withdraws Application for Ethanol Plant

An ethanol company has taken official action that indicates it has indeed abandoned plans to build a plant at Milford. VeraSun has withdrawn its application to the state Department of Environmental Management for an air quality permit the proposed plant would have needed. Milford-area residents had organized to oppose the plant. Last week, a Kosciusko County commissioner announced that VeraSun had decided not to build in Milford. But the company had declined to confirm that report.

Gasoline Prices Increase

Officials say the nation’s demand for gasoline has increased but inventories have dropped. As a result, gasoline prices have gone up. Some area stations raised prices by more than 20 cents a gallon yesterday. You can find the lowest prices in your area by following the link on our web site, The New Q101 dot com.

Pair Charged in Huntington TV Thefts

Huntington County prosecutors have charged two people with using fake receipts to steal four high-priced televisions from the Huntington Wal-Mart store. Police say the 32-year-old Fort Wayne man and 24-year-old Illinois woman were part of a theft ring that allegedly stole e