Leesburg Deaths Ruled Homicide-Suicide

The Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office has determined that a homicide and suicide killed a rural Leesburg couple. According to a news release issued late this morning by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Kosciusko County Coroner John Sadler has determined that 51-year-old Loretta A. Habegger died of homicide by multiple gunshot wounds. The coroner also found that 51-year-old Michael L. Habegger died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Family member found the Habeggers' bodies in the couple's home on Kosciusko County Road 700 North yesterday morning. According to the today's news release, family members had not had contact with the couple, nor had Michael Habegger been seen at work since May 26.

Police Investigate Deaths of Rural Leesburg Couple

Kosciusko County police say they hope to wrap up quickly their investigation into the deaths of a rural Leesburg couple. "After talking with the coroner and and a couple other officers," Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Chad Hill told Q101 News, "From what they explained, hopefully sometime today there might be a conclusion." Hill says the couple’s adult children discovered their bodies in their home on Kosciusko County Road 700-North yesterday. Hill says autopsy results are expected today and officials will release the identities of the couple with those results. Hill says that although the investigation is still underway, so far there’s no sign that the deaths were suspicious.

Warsaw Man Pinned After Driver's Error

Warsaw police say a 41-year-old resident suffered serious leg injuries last night after a car struck him and pinned him between the car and a pick-up truck. Police say the 21-year-old driver of the car accidentally stepped on the accelerator rather than the brake pedal. It happened in the two thousand block of Market Street at about 11:51 last night.

United Way Allocates Funds

The United Way of Kosciusko County has announced that it has allocated campaign dollars to 54 programs. The allocations total more than one-point-two million dollars.

Massive Pot Seizure in Ligonier

Local, state and federal law enforcement officers seized about three thousand pounds of marijuana at a location in Ligonier yesterday. Indiana State Police say the pot has a street value of about four and a half million dollars. Police say the marijuana was broken down into multiple bundles for distribution. Officers arrested one person. In addition to local and state police, officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement participated in the investigation, which began in Texas.

Indy Man Charged in Infant Scalding

Police have charged an Indianapolis man with neglect after his girlfriend's 17-month-old daughter reportedly suffered second and third-degree burns in the bathtub. According to court records, the 19-year-old man told police he left the child in the scalding hot bathwater for at least 15 minutes. The child is in serious condition at Riley Hospital for Children, where she will probably require several surgeries.

Handcuffed Man Flees in Squad Car

Police in east-central Indiana’s Hancock County shot a man who allegedly stole a police car yesterday while handcuffed. Police say they put the 18-year-old Indianapolis man in the front seat of a squad car after finding drugs in his car during a traffic stop. He managed to get his hands in front of him and drove off in the squad car. Police say the man suffered a bullet wound to his arm that is not life-threatening.

Audit: State Owes Medicaid $88 Million

A new audit indicates that Indiana owes the federal government $88 million. The audit indicates that's the total amount of improper Medicaid payments made to three state psychiatric hospitals. The head of the agency that oversees Indiana's Medicaid program disputes the findings of the audit.

Paragon Medical Opens Plant in China

Pierceton-based Paragon Medical announced yesterday that it has opened a manufacturing facility in China. The plant will provide surgical instruments and components to other companies who make orthopedic implants in China.

State Trooper Injured in Crash

A state trooper was in fair condition at last report after a crash near Valparaiso yesterday. Senior Trooper Glen Fifield was one of five people who were hurt in the collision. He was responding to another crash at the time.

Etna Green Residents Plan Museum

Some residents of the western Kosciusko County town of Etna Green plan to create a museum to house memorabilia from the town and its school. The group has raised 24-thousand of the 100-thousand dollars it needs. It plans to raise another 25-thousand in public contributions and the rest through grants. The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is accepting donations for the project. For more information call the foundation at (574) 267-1901.

Early Morning House Fire near South Whitley

A big fire in near South Whitley required the response of two fire departments early this morning. Dispatchers say the fire was in an unoccupied house on Whitley County Road 300-South west of State Road Five. At last report, no one had been injured.

Firefighter Dies after 21 Responses in 24 Hours

A volunteer firefighter in the east-central Indiana town of Eaton died of a heart attack after responding to nearly two dozen fires in 24 hours. Officials say the stress of those responses might have played a factor in the firefighter’s death. Police have arrested two arson suspects.

Source of Deadly Gas Still a Mystery

Investigators say they're still not sure what created carbon monoxide gas that filled an Illinois family's recreational vehicle near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The gas killed one person and left three hospitalized.

Axle Workers Ratify Contract, End Strike

Workers at American Axle have ratified a contract and ended their three-month-old strike. The strike had forced layoffs at the G-M plant near Roanoke as well as plants elsewhere.

Boy Charged in Shooting of Friend

A 12-year-old boy from the central Indiana city of Danville faces a juvenile charge of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon this morning for allegedly shooting a friend while showing off a gun. Police say that while the 10-year-old friend was visiting, the 12-year-old boy found a key and unlocked a safe where his parents kept an unloaded gun. Police say the 12-year-old loaded the gun and was showing it off to the other boy when it accidentally fired.

Teen Sentenced in South Bend Apartment Arson

A judge has sentenced a teenager to eight years in prison for setting a fire at a South Bend apartment complex. Nineteen-year-old William Glover had admitted setting the fire as a prank.

Republican State Senator Considers Run for Governor as Independent

A Republican state Senator from west central Indiana is thinking about running for governor as an independent. John Waterman of Shelburn has formed an exploratory committee. He says he's a better choice than Republican Governor Mitch Daniels or Democratic nominee Jill Long Thompson.

Troopers Working Overtime for Holiday Weekend

State and federal grants will pay for overtime so state police can make extra patrols over the holiday weekend. Troopers say they’ll be watching for drivers who commit traffic violations, are driving under the influence, and those who are not wearing their seat belt between today and Monday.

Toll Road Suspends Construction for Weekend

Indiana Toll Road operators say all road construction work will be suspended over the Memorial Day holiday weekend to try to cut down on traffic slowdowns. Construction will stop by noon today and won't resume until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Crash Disrupts Tri-Lakes Natural Gas Service

A crash near Schriner Lake north of Columbia City has left about 400 NIPSCO customers without natural gas service. Police say a pickup truck struck an above-ground NIPSCO regulator station on Old State Road 102 at about 8:30 last night. The crash did not hurt anyone, but it did so much damage to the NIPSCO equipment that the utility can’t say how long repairs will take. A NIPSCO spokesman tells My Q101 that after the gas starts flowing again, the utility will send service technicians to every affected customer to relight gas appliances.

Ohio Man Indicted in S. Bend Columbine-Style Plot

A grand jury has indicted an Ohio man accused of plotting with a South Bend teenager to carry out Columbine-style attacks at two high schools. The 33-year-old man now faces conspiracy to commit murder and other charges. Police say he and the 16-year-old boy had exchanged e-mails discussing simultaneous mass murders at the teen's high school near South Bend and at another location that police haven't identified.

Union Disputes South Bend ATC Staffing

Union officials say South Bend Regional Airport has a shortage of air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration disagrees. Early in the morning of May 10, air traffic control at South Bend was unstaffed for about an hour, due to controllers being either ill or on leave.

Blue Gull Mystery Solved

The mystery of unusually colored gulls Q101 told you about yesterday has been solved. It turns out that wildlife biologists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been marking the gulls in Chicago and East Chicago as part of a research project.

Gov. Daniels Visits Troops in Iraq

Hoosier soldiers in Iraq are getting visits from Governor Mitch Daniels this week. Daniels says there's no part of his job as governor that he takes more seriously than the work of the Indiana National Guard.

Huntington Trail Gets State Grant

The state is granting Huntington 250-thousand dollars for a new “Forks of the Wabash” recreational trail. The mile-long paved trail will run along the Little Wabash and Wabash Rivers.

Blue Gulls Spotted in NW Indiana

The state Department of Natural Resources says it has received several reports of blue gulls around Lake and Porter counties. A department spokesperson says it doesn’t know why the birds are an unusual color and it’s trying to find out.

Indianapolis to Host First Super Bowl

The National Football League announced this afternoon that it has awarded Super Bowl XLVI, which will be played on Feb. 5, 2012, to Indianapolis. This will be the first Super Bowl held in Indianapolis, and the first one held in a cold-weather city since Detroit held Super Bowl XL. Read more on the NFL Web site.

Suit Filed Against State on Behalf of People with Disabilities

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union claims that some Hoosiers with disabilities have lost their Welfare benefits due to problems with Indiana's automation of welfare eligibility. A state official says the state will seek to have the lawsuit thrown out.

Indy Parents Face Neglect Charges in Death of Infant

Prosecutors in Indianapolis have filed neglect charges against the parents of an 8-month-old girl whom police say had alcohol in her bloodstream when she apparently suffocated on a bedroom floor. The 35-year-old father and 32-year-old mother both face a Class “A” felony charge that carries a prison sentence of 20 to 50 years.

Topeka Man's Body Found in Elkhart Landfill

Northern Indiana police have a death mystery on their hands this morning. Over the weekend, a garbage truck driver found the body of a 44-year-old Topeka man in a landfill in Elkhart. Police say just before the driver spotted the body of James H. Bradshaw Jr., other trucks had been dumping loads they got from dumpsters. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

Iraq Injuries Kill Former Syracuse Resident

A former Syracuse resident has died from injuries he received while serving with the Army in Iraq. Staff Sergeant James Snyder of Nappanee was 48 years old. A roadside bomb injured him about four months ago.

Gov. Daniels to Visit Troops

Governor Mitch Daniels is on his way to visit Indiana soldiers overseas. A spokesperson for the Indiana National Guard says she doesn't know where Daniels will visit or how long he'll be gone. The Indiana National Guard has troops stationed in several countries, including Afghanistan, Germany and Iraq.

Columbia City Residents Injured in Motorcycle Crash

A motorcycle crash critically injured two Columbia City residents over the weekend. Police say 30-year-old Shane Gaff lost control of the motorcycle Saturday night on State Road 427 in DeKalb County. A helicopter flew him and his passenger – 34-year-old Jennifer Misher – to a Fort Wayne hospital.

American Axle Workers to Vote on Tentative Contract

A ratification vote could soon end a three-month-old strike that has affected the G-M truck plant near Roanoke. Workers at American Axle begin voting today on a tentative contract with the company.

North Manchester Police Investigate Teen's Death

North Manchester police say they responded to a call at a house in the town at about 11 o’clock last night to find an 18-year-old man unresponsive and two other people in need of medical treatment. The man died. Police aren’t saying what medical problems the others had. But they do say that they won’t know what killed the man until toxicology results come back.

Former Nat'l Guard Recruiter Pleads Guilty to Sex Chages

A former National Guard recruiter in central Indiana has pleaded guilty to sexual battery and official misconduct for groping seven potential female enlistees. The man faces up four years in prison under a deal with prosecutors. They dropped a rape charge as part of the deal.

Michigan City Man Faces Federal Sex Charges

A federal grand jury has indicted a Michigan City man for allegedly transporting young boys from Indiana to Wisconsin in order to have sex with them. The 45-year-old suspect faces federal charges of child exploitation and child pornography.

Lugar Votes Against Farm Bill

Congress has passed a 290-billion-dollar farm bill with enough votes to override a promised presidential veto. Indiana Republican Richard Lugar was one of a handful of senators who voted against the bill yesterday.

"Click It or Ticket" Campaign Begins Today

Police agencies throughout the Q101 area launch their annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign today. Until June first, police will participate in special programs to enforce the state’s seat belt laws.

Manchester College Students Donate to Community

Students in a Manchester College business class have donated 16-hundred dollars to a Manchester organization that provides a free music venue for area youth. The students raised the money for The Firehouse by running a mock business as a class project.

Another Hoosier Superdelegate Supports Obama

A seventh Indiana superdelegate has decided to support Barack Obama. Northwest Indiana Congressman Pete Visclosky announced his decision yesterday.

Souder Breaks With Bush, Votes for Farm Bill

Northeastern Indiana Congressman Mark Souder is one of 100 Republicans who broke with President Bush and voted for a $290 Billion farm bill. Republican Dan Burton, who also represents part of the Q101 area, voted against the bill.

State Launches New Tourism Web Site

The Indiana Office of Tourism Development has launched a new Web site to promote college towns, motorcycle rides and outdoor activities. The new site - LiveIndiana.net - is geared toward younger travelers who use the Internet as their main resource for information.

ATV Accident Kills Boy, 6

An all-terrain vehicle accident killed a six-old-old Markle boy last night. Conservation officers say he was riding an A-T-V that a seven-year-old girl was driving. The girl made a turn that was too sharp and lost control. Neither child was wearing a helmet.

Gasoline Prices Jump Again

Gasoline prices jumped close to four bucks a gallon yesterday. At last check, some Warsaw stations were selling regular unleaded gasoline for as much as $3.96. Find the lowest prices in your area. Meanwhile, the federal government is buying about 70-thousand barrels of crude oil a day for its strategic reserves. Both houses of Congress are calling on President Bush to temporarily stop those purchases.

Sen. Meeks Withdraws Reelection Bid

A state senator whose district includes part of Kosciusko County has decided not to run for reelection. Republican Robert Meeks of LaGrange says declining health is forcing him to leave the Senate after his term ends this year.

Feds Assess Indy 500 as Terrorist Target

The federal government has released an assessment that indicates that the Indianapolis 500 is an attractive target for terrorists. But the officials say they have no credible or specific threat aimed at the race. A spokesman for the speedway says it is standard practice for the government to issue such assessments before major sporting events.

Hoosier Soldier Dies in Iraq

A soldier from the northwestern Indiana community of Knox has become the latest from Indiana to die in Iraq. The Pentagon says 23-year-old Specialist Joseph Ford died Saturday of injuries he suffered in a vehicle accident.

Daniels Endorses Candidates

Governor Daniels has endorsed Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas for attorney general and Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Tony Bennett for superintendent of public instruction. Neither incumbent Attorney General Steve Carter nor Superintendent of Public Instruction Suellen Reed are seeking re-election.

Fire Destroys Peru Store, Damages Circus Facility

Flames roared through a furniture store in downtown Peru over the weekend. The fire also damaged the historic Circus City Festival Arena next door. No injuries were reported.

Candle Blamed for Fire that Kills Two Children

In Indianapolis, a seven-year-old and a 10-year-old girl died in a house fire yesterday. Investigators suspect an unattended candle started the fire.

Iraq Vet Hangs Self in Elwood Jail

A coroner has ruled the hanging death of an Iraq war veteran in a jail in Elwood a suicide. Officials say U.S. Army Specialist Timothy Israel used the drawstring from his pants to hang himself in a cell Friday. Police had arrested Israel on a preliminary domestic battery charge.

Officials Investigate Death of Warsaw Child Care Client

Warsaw police and caseworkers from child protective services are investigating the death of a 13-week-old child. Police announced yesterday that the child had been found unresponsive Wednesday at a Warsaw child care facility. Police did not identify the facility in their release. E-M-S transferred the child to a Fort Wayne hospital, where she died yesterday. Police say the case does not look suspicious at this time, but an autopsy will confirm the cause of death.

Murder Suspect Reconsiders Execution Request

A Indianapolis man says he doesn't want the death penalty after all. The man faces charges of killing his mother and grandparents and burying their bodies in concrete in 2004. He originally requested the death penalty but appeared in court yesterday to say he'd changed his mind.

Gasoline Prices Reach New Record

More pain at the gas pump this morning. Yesterday, prices in the area reached a new record high of $3.85 a gallon. Find the best prices in your area.

Man Sentenced for Burning Girlfriend to Death

A judge has sentenced an Indianapolis man to 45 years in prison for pouring gasoline on his girlfriend and setting her on fire. A jury convicted 34-year-old Michael Wilson of murder last month, although during his trial he claimed it was an accident. He plans an appeal.

Indy Father Arrested After Son Kills Daughter

Police have arrested an Indianapolis father whose five-year-old son fatally shot his four-year-old sister with a handgun. A spokesman says the Marion County Prosecutor has not decided what charges to file. Police arrested the 26-year-old father at the girl's funeral yesterday.

Art Museum Joins Law Challenge

The Indianapolis Museum of Art has joined other organizations that are challenging a new state law that would require retailers to register with the state and pay a fee if they want to sell sexually explicit material. The law takes effect July 1st. Museum officials say it would even cover art books that happen to contain nudity.

Primary Election Results

Hilary Clinton won the Democratic Indiana presidential primary by about two percent of the vote. Jill Long Thompson won the democratic gubernatorial nomination by an even closer margin.

Incumbent Mark Souder won the Republican nomination for Third District U.S. Representative. In the Fifth District, Mary Etta Ruley won the Democratic nomination and incumbent Dan Burton won the Republican nomination.

In State Senate District 18, Randall Head won the Republican nomination.

For State Representative District 22, Larry Rensberger won the Democrat nomination and incumbent William Ruppel won the Republican nomination. In State House District 50, Daniel Leonard won the Republican nomination.

See complete results from Kosciusko County on the Web site of the Journal-Gazette.

See complete results from Whitley County on the Web site of the Journal-Gazette.

See complete results from Wabash County on the Web site of the Journal-Gazette.

See complete results from Huntington County on the Web site of the Journal-Gazette.

Remonstrance Set for Columbia City High School

Petition drives will decide whether Columbia City gets a new high school. Opponents of the project have collected enough signatures to launch a remonstrance, which will begin June 6th. During the following month, if opponents gather more signatures than supporters, the project will be dead for at least a year.

Whitley County Rear-End Crash Kills Gary Woman

A 59-year-old Gary woman died yesterday afternoon in a crash on U-S 30 in Whitley County. Police say Jacquelyn Gates had stopped her minivan at a traffic light at County Road 300 East when a semi truck rear-ended her, pushing the minivan into the S-U-V in front of her. The crash injured four passengers in the minivan. E-M-S took them all to a Fort Wayne hospital. The Pennsylvania trucker suffered minor injures. The driver of the S-U-V was not hurt.

Kosciusko Crash Injures North Manchester Woman

A single-vehicle crash in southeastern Kosciusko County seriously injured a North Manchester woman over the weekend. Thirty-year-old Tabitha Blevins was driving a minivan that hit a guardrail on Packerton Road, near County Road 550-South Saturday. A helicopter flew Blevins to a Fort Wayne hospital, where she was listed in serious condition at last report.

Indy Boy, 5, Shoots, Kills Sister, 4

Indianapolis police say a 5-year-old boy took his father's semiautomatic handgun from the top shelf of a bookcase to play with it, pointed it at his sister and pulled the trigger. The four-year-old girl died at the scene yesterday. The 24-year-old father of the children was home at the time. Police say they’ll talk to prosecutors about filing neglect charges against him.

Boy, 11, Allegedly Sells Pot at Elementary School

School officials in the central Indiana town of Ingalls allegedly caught an 11-year-old boy dealing marijuana to his elementary school classmates. Officials say fellow students reported the boy to the school’s principal. They say the boy told investigators a friend took the marijuana from a lockbox in his stepfather's garage.

Obama Visits Columbia City

Barack Obama continued to speak against the idea of suspending the federal tax on gasoline yesterday, while speaking to a group of residents at the Oak Pointe retirement home in Columbia City. He criticized Hilary Clinton for supporting the idea after John McCain proposed it. "Clinton's own advisors admitted that this wouldn't really work," Obama said, "This wasn't really going to help lower gas prices. But they said it was good politics because since Obama's opposed to it, it might make him look bad." During yesterday’s visit to Columbia City, Obama also said he wants to make health insurance available to people whose employers don’t offer it, but allowing them to join the same system that covers federal employees.

Juvenile Conspiracy Charges in Columbine-Like Plot

A teenager who allegedly planned a Columbine-style attack at Penn High School in Mishawaka will face a juvenile charge of conspiracy to commit murder during a hearing May 9th. The Saint Joe County Prosecutor says he’ll decide by then whether to charge the boy as an adult.

Syracuse Depot on Endangered List

A 95-year-old Syracuse railroad depot is one of the state’s 10 most endangered landmarks, according to a new list from the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The foundation says someone needs to move the building to a new location or the C-S-X railroad company will probably tear it down. See the entire top-10 endangered landmark list on the Web site of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.

Home Depot Closing Stores in Marion, Ft. Wayne

The Home Depot stores in Marion and on the east side of Fort Wayne are among 15 that will close within the next two months. The Atlanta-based company says store closures will affect approximately 13-hundred employees nationwide.

New Information on President Clinton's Columbia City, Warsaw Visits

The Hilary Clinton campaign has announced new details of President Clinton's appearances in Columbia City and Warsaw Saturday. President Clinton plans to speak at Columbia City High School at 12:15 p.m. He plans to appear at Warsaw Community High School at 1:45 p.m. The former president also plans appearances on behalf of his wife Saturday in Angola, Kendallville, Plymouth, La Porte and Indianapolis.

Obama, President Clinton Plan Area Visits

Barack Obama plans a stop in Columbia City today. An advisory from his campaign indicates that Obama will discuss the economy with senior citizens at an event that will not be open to the public. At 2:45 this afternoon, Obama plans to appear at a public rally at the Saint Joseph County Fairgrounds in South Bend. The Hilary Clinton campaign has announced that former President Bill Clinton will campaign for his wife in Columbia City and Warsaw Saturday. President Clinton plans to attend a rally at Columbia City High School Saturday morning. According to the campaign, the exact times of the former president’s appearances and the location of his Warsaw visit were yet to be determined at last report. Keep an eye on our Web site, for updates. President Clinton also plans appearances Saturday in Angola, Kendallville, Plymouth, and La Porte.