Columbia City House Fire Injures Woman

A house fire in Columbia City injured one woman yesterday afternoon. The Fire Department got the alarm just before four o’clock, with reports of flames visible and a person trapped inside. Shortly after they arrived at the home on East Chicago Street, they found the occupant and got her out of the burning house. E-M-S took her to a Fort Wayne hospital. No information about her condition is available this morning. Firefighters had the fire under control in a little more than half an hour. The cause remains under investigation, with assistance from the State Fire Marshall’s office and the Warsaw Fire Department.

Extra Patrols for New Year's Eve

State and local police are planning checkpoints and extra patrols to keep drunken drivers off the roads on New Year's Eve. Indiana State Police statistics show that 27 people died last year in vehicle crashes during the holidays, including six who died in wrecks involving alcohol.

Etna Green Teen Faces Robbery Charge

A 19-year-old Etna Green man faces a preliminary charge today of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. The man allegedly held up the Downtown Diner in Etna Green Wednesday night.

I-65 Sniper Gets 42 Years

Sniper shootings on Interstate 65 got an 18-year-old man 42 years in prison yesterday. Zachariah Blanton had pleaded guilty to the 2006 shootings, which killed one man and wounded another.

Principal Gets Break after Possible DUI

A police officer pulled over the principal of central Indiana’s Fishers High School for possible drunken driving and than gave him a ride home… instead of arresting him. The chief of the Fishers Police Department says the officer didn't violate department policy, but he says the he’ll review the incident to decide whether the policy should be changed.

Low Income Hoosiers Get Health Coverage Tuesday

A new Indiana program that provides health insurance for low-income residents takes effect Tuesday. State officials say nearly 4,500 people have signed up for the Healthy Indiana plan.

Appeals Court Finds Registry Law Unconstitutional

The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that a state law violates the constitutional rights of a man who was convicted of sex crimes. The 2006 law required the man to register for life as a sexually violent predator two years after the man was released from probation.

Public Retirement Fund Doing Well

The fund that covers pensions for state employees recently released a report on its investments. The Public Employees' Retirement Fund grew by nearly Two-and-a-half-billion dollars during the fiscal year that ended in June.

Report: State has Little Chance of Attracting Railroad Business

A new study shows that Indiana is not well-positioned as it joins several other states in trying to attract a greater railroad presence. The study says that Indianapolis is too close to major terminals around Chicago.

Bill Would Require "Cooling Off" in Domestic Violence Cases

A Democratic state senator from LaPorte has introduced a bill that would require people accused of abuse in domestic violence cases to spend at least eight hours in jail cooling off. State Senator and former Sheriff Jim Arnold says his bill would give victims time to find help or seek shelter.

Porter Commissioner Opposes South Shore Expansion

A proposal to extend the South Shore commuter rail line to Valparaiso (val-pur-AY'-zoh) and southern Lake County is getting some opposition from a local official. Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper says his constituents should not be taxed for the project, because it is not worth the cost.

Wind Knocks out Electricty

High winds caused power outages over the weekend. Kosciusko R-E-M-C reported outages affecting 18-hundred customers yesterday. And at one point, Indiana-Michigan Power reported more than 14,000 people without electricity in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Fort Wayne Officer Shoots Man to Death

A police officer shot and killed a man after a brief vehicle chase in Fort Wayne yesterday. Police say an officer shot the man during an arrest attempt after he crashed his car into a tree. Police have not yet given a reason for the shooting.

Nappanee Tornado Fund Raises $541,000

A fund set up to help victims of last October’s tornado in Nappanee has attracted more than a half million dollars in donations. The Nappanee Tornado Victims Fund has raised $541,000 - just short of the $600,000 goal - for victims of the October 18th storm.

Property Tax Reform 2008 Focus for Daniels

Governor Mitch Daniels says in a newspaper interview that property tax reform will be his top priority in the coming year. The interview was published yesterday in The Indianapolis Star. Daniels says he means to work on his property tax reform plan next year even if little else occupies his time.

Kosciusko Boy Bitten by Rabid Bat

Kosciusko County officials announced yesterday that a bat that bit a local boy Sunday had rabies. The officials won’t say how old the boy was or what the circumstances of the bite were. He is receiving rabies shots. Kosciusko County Animal Control Officer Jerry Clase says he retrieved the bat and sent it to Indianapolis for testing. Test results confirming rabies came back yesterday. Kosciusko County residents only report bat encounters about four times a year and officials say bites are even rarer. Last year, a 10-year-old girl from the Marshall County town of Bourbon died of rabies after a bat bit her.

Coroner: Child Died of Head Injuries

A coroner has announced results of an autopsy on the remains of a small child that police found in a Fort Wayne home this week. The Allen County coroner says the child was about 18 months old when he died of blunt trauma to his head. He plans to run a D-N-A test to establish whether the child is the son of the man who lived in the house where police found the mummified remains.

Fomer Purdue Student Indicted

A federal grand jury has indicted a former Purdue University student on charges he ran a fraudulent textbook selling scheme that brought in five-point-three million dollars. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Hammond says the 34-year-old man faces 12 counts of wire fraud.

Man Gets 80 Years in Elkhart Confinement

A judge in Goshen gave a Chicago man the maximum 80 years in prison yesterday, for shooting a man, then abducting his ex-girlfriend and their four children and holding them hostage at an Elkhart motel. Last month, a jury convicted 31-year-old Jerry White on one count of attempted murder and eight counts of criminal confinement.

Judge Boycotts Juvenile Center

A northern Indiana judge has stopped sending female offenders to a state-run juvenile center in Indianapolis. St. Joseph County Judge Peter Nemeth says the center is understaffed and lacks adequate services.

Plea Deal Rejected in Allged Recruiter Sex Case

A judge has rejected a plea agreement that would have enabled an Indiana National Guard sergeant to avoid jail time. The 38-year-old man is charged with sexually assaulting young women he was recruiting.

State Workers Getting Raises

Governor Mitch Daniels says salaries of state employees will rise 4.8% next year on average. The highest performing workers will get pay increases of up to 10%.

BMV Offers Online Discount

Indiana drivers can knock $5 off their registration cost for each vehicle by renewing online with the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles from now until next October. The BMV also announced Thursday that customers will be able to set appointments at 73 branches across the state starting Jan. 3.

Coroner: Decomposed Body was Small Child

A coroner has confirmed that remains found in a Fort Wayne home are those of a small child. Fort Wayne police found the remains wrapped in a plastic bag inside a storage container when they searched the home of a 38-year-old man Tuesday. Police say they believe the child might have died in Port Huron, Michigan. Because of the condition of the remains, police weren’t sure at first what they’d found. But Allen County’s coroner says a preliminary examination confirms they're the decomposed remains of a small child. An autopsy is scheduled for today. Police are holding the man on charges unrelated to the body.

Report: Indiana Mostly Ready for Pandemic, Bioterrorism

A national report has found that Indiana has met nine of 10 goals for preparing the state for an influenza pandemic, bioterrorism attack or other disaster. The Trust for America's Health found in its "Ready or Not?" report that Indiana has not increased or maintained its level of funding for public health services from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2006-07.

IU Bloomington to go Smoke-Free

Indiana University's main campus in Bloomington will go tobacco-free on January 1st. The campus will ban the use or sale of tobacco products on university property and in university vehicles.

Eli Lilly Getting new CEO

The CEO of one of Indiana’s most well-known companies is resigning. Eli Lilly will get a new chief executive on April first.

South Bend Man Awaits Word on Charges in Death of Twin

A St. Joseph Superior Court judge will decide what charge a man will face when he is tried for a second time in the death of his twin brother. Phillip Littler initially was charged with voluntary manslaughter, but prosecutors later upgraded the charge to murder.

Snow Emergencies Lifted, Many Roads Still Snow Covered

Local governments in the Q101 area have lifted all the snow emergencies and advisories that were in effect yesterday. Secondary roads in the area remain snow covered and several schools announced delays today. For the latest road conditions, see the Indiana State Police road report.

$1.4 Million Renovation Planned at Huntington North

The Huntington County Community Schools board heard details last night of a one-point-four-million-dollar renovation project at Huntington North High School. The plans include improvements to the school’s heating, air conditioning and ventilation system and new security cameras.

Fire Destroys Nappanee Bakery

Fire destroyed a bakery in Nappanee yesterday. Investigators believe it started with an electrical problem. The owners say they are looking for a temporary location while they rebuild.

Rep. Carson Funeral Arrangements Announced

Funeral arrangements have been made for Representative Julia Carson, who died Saturday of cancer. Carson's body will lie in repose at the Indiana Statehouse rotunda on Friday, and a funeral service is planned for Saturday with burial at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Wabash County Cancels Weather Advisory

Wabash County Commissioners canceled the weather advisory for Wabash County effective at 4 p.m. today. According to a news release from the Wabash County Emergency Management Agency, all county roads have been plowed and are passable, but may still be icy and snow covered.

NM Lifts Snow Emergency

The town of North Manchester will lift its snow emergency restrictions as of noon today. After noon, parking will no longer be prohibited along snow emergency routes.

Snow Emergencies Remain in Effect

Several communities in the Q101 area remain under snow emergencies this morning. In Whitley County, travel is prohibited for all but emergency vehicles. Wabash and Huntington Counties have advised drivers to travel at their own risk. And the town of North Manchester has prohibited parking along designated snow emergency routes. According to the National Weather Service, the weekend snow storm dropped from eight to more than 16 inches of snow in the Q101 area. Some of the deepest accumulations were in Kosciusko, Whitley and Noble Counties. Meteorologists at the Weather Service office near North Webster measured 16-point-three inches. Trained spotters measured 13 inches in Warsaw and a foot in Columbia City. The storm is getting the blame for a crash near Indianapolis that killed a mother and her three daughters. The woman lost control of her family’s van and it slid into a retaining pond. On the Indiana Toll Road near La Porte, a semi jackknifed and crashed into an Indiana State Trooper’s car. At last report, the trooper was in serious condition.

Potential Candidates Consider Running for Carson's Seat

At least a half dozen Democrats and Republicans could be considered candidates to fill the Congressional seat left vacant by Representative Julia Carson's death on Saturday. Former U.S. Representative Andy Jacobs has endorsed Carson's grandson, Andre Carson, who has not said that he will run.

Elkhart Plant Closing to Cost 152 Jobs

Atwood Mobile Products plans to close one of its four Elkhart plants early next year in a move that will eliminate 152 jobs. Atwood will continue operations at its other three plants.

Big Winter Storm Forecast this Weekend

The first major snowfall of the season could be on its way to the Q101 area this weekend. "Late Saturday afternoon, Saturday night into Sunday morning, we could be looking at the development of some significant snow accumulations," National Weather Service Senior Meteorologist Sam Lashley tells The New Q101, "anywhere from two to five inches of snow." Lashley says that as of this morning, it looks like the heaviest snow will be south and east of a line from Monticello, Indiana, up through Warsaw and into Hillsdale, Michigan. He says the storm holds the potential to dump eight inches or more. And he says very strong winds will accompany the storm, gusting up to 35 miles per hour and bringing the potential for blowing and drifting snow and white-out conditions. Lashley says the storm will start with some light snow tomorrow morning and go down hill from there. "Certainly as the afternoon progresses into the early evening the conditions will really deteriorate," Lashely says. "If you have to get out and about I would definitely do it in the first half of the day and just be prepared for deteriorating conditions." A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for Whitley, Wabash and Huntington Counties in the Q101 area from tomorrow morning through Sunday morning.

Woman Dies in Whitley Crash

A one-car crash northwest of Columbia City killed a 42-year-old Fort Wayne woman yesterday. Whitley County police say Lisa Bornman was driving the car on Lincolnway at about 10 a.m. when she lost control, skidded off the road and struck a tree near Whitley County Road 250-West. Bornman died at the scene of head and internal injuries.

Governor Orders Spending Cuts

The governor has ordered all state agencies to cut spending by 5% because of a lower-than-expected revenue forecast. The State Budget Committee was told that tax collections over the next 18 months are expected to be about $133 million less than previously thought.

Teen Mother Indicted in Death of Newborn

A grand jury has indicted a 19-year-old central Indiana woman for the murder of her newborn daughter. Police say the woman gave birth while she was a student at a university in Louisville and let the infant drown in dorm toilet.

Constitutional Amendment on Church Taxes Proposed

Legislators are considering a proposal to amend the state's constitution to exempt churches from property taxes -- even though they are currently exempt under state law. The Republican state senator who’s sponsoring the bill says she’s concerned that without an amendment, the state could begin taxing church property in the future.

Deputy Acquitted on Sex Charges

A jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before finding a Blackford County sheriff's deputy not guilty yesterday on charges of sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old girl. Sgt. Brian Cansler had been charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.

Hoosier Marine Convicted in Killing

A Marine reservist from Indiana has been convicted of killing an Iraqi soldier while they stood watch together at a guard post in Fallujah. Twenty-2-year-old Lance Corporal Delano Holmes of Indianapolis was found guilty of negligent homicide.

Congressional Delegation Supports Tornado Appeal

Indiana's delegation in Congress is asking President Bush to reconsider allowing federal money to help rebuild hundreds of homes and businesses damaged by a tornado in Nappanee and in Kosciusko County. Both of Indiana's senators and all of the House members except ailing Congresswoman Julia Carson signed a letter sent to the White House yesterday. Governor Mitch Daniels already has appealed the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deny a request for disaster assistance. The tornado on October 18th destroyed 51 homes in Nappanee, but FEMA said damage to the private sector wasn't severe enough to warrant a major disaster declaration and assistance.Read the delegation's letter (requires Adobe Reader)

Meth, Production Materials Allegedly Found After N.M. Traffic Stop

Wabash County police say they discovered items associated with the production of methamphetamine last night after a routine traffic stop in North Manchester. Police say they also found meth and marijuana. They arrested the North Manchester man who had been driving the vehicle.

N.M. Man Sentenced in Traffic Fatality

A judge in Columbia City gave a 19-year-old North Manchester man four years in jail yesterday, for his role in a fatal motorcycle crash. Daniel Knecht had pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.

Police: Marion Man Blown up by his own Bomb

Police have released more information about the homemade bomb that killed a 19-year-old Marion Sunday. They say Russell Cox had made the bomb himself and was trying to figure out why it had not exploded when it blew up and killed him.

U.S. 31 Reopens After 54-Hour Closure

U.S. 31 has reopened to traffic in Marshall County more than two days after an accident involving a tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas. State police say the section of the highway between Plymouth and Argos reopened at 7:15 last night. It had been closed for more than 54 hours.

Change in License Plate Deadlines Coming

A big change for Indiana drivers is expected in 2009. The state's Bureau of Motor Vehicles plans to implement 45 due dates for motor vehicle registrations over the course of a year rather than the 19 due dates we have now.

Students do Slightly Better on ISTEP+

Indiana students posted modest gains on statewide test scores this year. The biggest improvement was in middle school grades. Overall, nearly 72% of students in grades three through 10 passed the English portion of the ISTEP-Plus exam, and 74% passed the math section. You can find out how any individual school did on the test by visiting the Web site of the Indiana Department of Education.

Police: U.S. 31 to Reopen this Afternoon

Indiana State Police photo

Indiana State Police reported at about 11 a.m. today that officials on the scene of the semi-tanker crash on U.S. 31 between Plymouth and Argos expect to reopen the highway between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. today, barring unforeseen circumstances. Crews have begun cleaning up the remnants of the crash. Supporting agencies are investigating the crash, examining the trucks, removing debris, and making road repairs. According to the I.S.P. announcement, individuals that evacuated their homes after the crash have been allowed to return. U.S. 31 has been closed and traffic detoured since Monday afternoon, when another truck crashed into the rear of the semi-tanker, which was carrying liquid natural gas.

Commission Recommends Big Changes to Local Gov't

Indiana’s Commission on Local Government Reform recommended big changes yesterday. One of the biggest of the 27 changes would be to replace county commissioners with a single, elected county executive. "You wouldn't run General Motors with three CEO's," said former Governor Joe Kernan, who co-chaired the commission. "You wouldn't run your local Dairy Queen with three CEO's. One person makes sense from an administrative standpoint." The commission also recommends that the county executive appoint county sheriffs, auditors, treasurers and other officials, rather than voters electing them. Another recommendation is to reorganize school districts so no system has fewer than two thousand students. Governor Daniels says if the legislature agrees to implement the suggestions, doing so will take a few years at least. House Speaker Patrick Bauer says some of the recommendations should be put before voters in referendums. You can read the commission's full report for yourself by visiting the commission's Web site.

Ice Fisherman Falls into Noble County Lake, Dies

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating the apparent drowning of an ice fisherman in Noble County yesterday. Officers say 51 year old Stephen Koontz, of Albion was fishing on Big Lake near the town of Wolf Lake when thin ice gave way beneath him. Divers recovered his body about an hour and a half later.

Hoosier Soldier Dies in Iraq

The Department of Defense says an improvised explosive device killed a soldier from Richmond Monday. U.S. Army Specialist Johnathan Lahmann has 21. He was with a unit based in Texas.

Guard Unit Departs for Training

About 100 members of an Indiana National Guard unit and their families attended a farewell dinner in Warsaw last night. The unit leaves this morning for training before being deployed to Iraq for a year. Local police will escort the unit’s caravan through Warsaw and Columbia City when it departs this morning.

North Manchester Fire Victims Identified

All three men who died in last week’s mobile home fire in North Manchester were teenagers. Nicholas Flynn and Michael Baston were 18 years old and Christopher Shepherd was 19. The Wabash County Coroner says they all died of smoke inhalation. A state fire investigator says the fire was accidental and might have started in wiring underneath the trailer.

Closure Continues on U.S. 31

Police say a stretch of U-S 31 between Plymouth and Argos could remain closed for days because of a leaking tanker truck. The truck has been leaking liquid natural gas since Monday afternoon, when another semi rear-ended it.

Survey: More Hoosier High Schoolers Armed

A survey of Indiana high school students shows they generally have healthier habits than their peers two years ago, but more are carrying guns. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey questioned about 2,300 students in grades 9 through 12 at public high schools across Indiana earlier this year.

U.S. 31 Closure Update

Indiana State Police reported at 11:25 this morning that U.S. 31 remained closed to both northbound and southbound traffic between Michigan Rd. to the north and State Road 110 to the south. The closure is a result of the traffic accident that occurred yesterday between two semi-tractor trailers. One of the trucks involved was pulling a tank filled with liquid natural gas, specifically cryogenic liquid, which ruptured in the crash. State police say they cannot predict a time that the road will be re-opened, due to the nature of the spill.

Farewell Ceremony for Huntington Guard Unit

The city of Huntington conducted a farewell ceremony last night for about 100 members of a National Guard unit. About 200 people attended the event for the soldiers, who will deploy to Iraq for a year.

Officials: Grant County Truck Carried Homemade Bomb

Officials say they now know why a truck exploded in Grant County Sunday, killing a 19-year-old man. Investigators say the truck apparently had a homemade bomb inside.

Tanker Truck Leaks Liquid Natural Gas on U.S. 31

A crash involving a tanker truck carrying liquid natural gas prompted an evacuation near the Marshall County town of Argos yesterday. Police say another semi rear-ended the tanker on U-S 31. The crash caused the tanker to leak, so police evacuated everyone within a half-mile radius. The crash happened early yesterday afternoon, but as recently as five o’clock this morning, U-S 31 traffic was still detoured around the scene.

Secondary Roads Icy, More Ice Coming

Secondary roads and untreated sidewalks in the Q101 area remained ice covered and slippery this morning, thanks to the weekend ice storm. The storm caused even more problems to our southeast. Utilities in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Kansas reported more than 130-thousand customers lost power. The National Weather Service says some communities in Missouri reported ice as thick as three-quarters of an inch. Police in Oklahoma blame six traffic deaths on the storm. A new storm on its way to the Q101 area has led the National Weather Service to issue a winter storm watch for late tonight through tomorrow afternoon. Meteorologists say that storm could bring our area another quarter inch of ice. For the latest road conditions, see the Indiana State Police Road Report.

Truck Explosion Kills Teen

A truck exploded in northeastern Grant County yesterday, killing a 19-year-old man. The Grant County Sheriff's Department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are investigating.

Fire Victims Remain Unidentified

Wabash County’s coroner says it could take a while to identify the bodies of three men who were found in a burning mobile home in North Manchester Thursday night. The coroner says the bodies were not recognizable. The state fire marshal has ruled the fire accidental.

Three Dead in North Mancester Fire

The Wabash County Coroner is investigating the deaths of three people whose bodies were found in a burning mobile home last night. North Manchester firefighters discovered the bodies while fighting a fire at the mobile home park at 301 South Mill Street just before 10 o’clock last night. A news release from the fire department indicates that the victims were all male, but it does not say anything about their approximate ages. Two other fire departments assisted with the fire. The state fire marshal’s office is assisting with the investigation. The cause of the fire remained under investigation this morning.

Reports: Police Imposter Stopping Motorists

If you get pulled over in Whitley County, there’s a chance the guy in the car behind you isn’t really a police officer. Police have received reports of a plain-clothes police imposter in an unmarked car pulling over drivers in and around Columbia City.

Officials: No Sign Child Beating Victim in Danger

Leaders in the Indiana Department of Child Service leaders say there was no sign an Indianapolis child was in imminent danger before they returned her to her mother. The three-year-old girl was beaten to death a short time later. The mother and her boyfriend face charges in the child’s death.

Senators Consider Paying for Child Welfare

The Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee heard a proposal yesterday that would reduce property taxes by having the state pay for child welfare costs that are currently the responsibility of county government. Some Senators say the state should not foot the bill unless it get control over the expenses.

Hostage Victim Sues Elkhart Motel

A woman is suing the Elkhart motel where her ex-boyfriend held her and her four children hostage. She says motel employees knew or should have known a crime was being committed there.