Indiana stage-rules extension approved by legislators
State lawmakers have given final approval to a two-year extension of regulations on temporary outdoor stage rigging developed after the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse.
Public Safety
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Extra security set for this weekend’s Little 500
Heightened security measures and an expanded police presence will greet visitors at this weekend's annual Little 500 bicycle races in response to Monday's deadly explosions at the Boston Marathon.
Bill for tighter cold-medication limits heads to Pence
Indiana legislators have given final approval to a bill tightening the limits on how much consumers can buy of cold and allergy pills often used to make methamphetamine.
Officials express confidence in Indy 500 security plan
Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials and Indiana State Police feel good about their security plan for this year's Indy 500 and won't remove trash cans from the track in response to deadly blasts at the Boston Marathon.
Safety chief says more security likely at events
Indianapolis will increase security at upcoming events such as the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon and Komen Race for the Cure, but spectators likely won’t notice the changes, Troy Riggs said.
Senate passes new criminal sentencing rules
Supporters hope changes to sentencing laws will direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs. It also would require those convicted of the most-serious crimes to spend more time in prison.
School guns mandate dropped from House bill
An Indiana legislative committee has dropped a proposed requirement that all public and charter schools have a gun-carrying employee during school hours.
Indiana lawmakers poised to drop school guns mandate
The chairman of the House committee currently considering the bill said he expected changes would be made before it advances, while the bill's main House sponsor signaled he wouldn't fight to keep the mandate, which was added last week.to violent attacks.
Indiana governor against school guns mandate
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he believes local school officials should make decisions about security rather than being required to have an employee armed with a loaded gun during school hours.
Indiana lawmakers back tighter cold meds limits
The Indiana House will consider stricter limits on purchases of cold and allergy pills that can be used to make methamphetamine after a committee endorsed them Wednesday, but they rejected even tougher measures sought by several mayors.
Ballard plans to strengthen panhandling ordinance
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard wants to ban all forms of panhandling in the city's busiest downtown area following long-running complaints from convention officials and city boosters about people begging for money along downtown streets.
Cops to valets: Park cars, not traffic
Indianapolis police are keeping an eye on downtown valets, whose habit of blocking traffic lanes has prompted complaints. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department issued a stern reminder to all valet operators on Jan. 31, the week after the opening of The Alexander Hotel in CityWay at Delaware and South streets.
Lawmakers struggle with bill to stop synthetic drug sales
Lawmakers are finding it difficult to write a law that effectively cracks down on the sale of synthetic drugs while remaining fair to businesses that might not know they’re on their shelves.
Judge turns away challenge to smoking ordinance
A federal judge has denied a challenge by bar owners to a smoking ordinance passed last year by the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council.
Indiana mayors want law for cold-med prescriptions
Local officials from around Indiana are making a push for the Legislature to require that people obtain a doctor's prescription to buy cold medications often used to make methamphetamine.
Federal cuts to hit Indiana jobless, National Guard
Indiana agencies are cutting jobless benefits, furloughing National Guard members and losing food funds for the Women Infants and Children program because of the automatic federal budget cuts, officials said Monday.
Report: IOSHA loses its teeth as workplace safety watchdog
The state agency inspects fewer than a third of the businesses it did in the 1980s, issues fines for serious violations that average less than half the national rate and issued violations at a lower rate than the national average the past decade, according to a newspaper report.
City reports rise in parking meter profit, revenue
Indianapolis estimates it earned about $1 million more from parking meters in 2012, with meter revenue almost doubling from the previous year, the Department of Public Works announced Thursday.
Woman sues Kroger, ex-manager over shooting
Christine Nelson was held hostage by a man who was fatally shot as he tried to rob a northwest-side Kroger. She alleges that witnessing the incident caused her "extreme mental anguish and emotional distress."
Indiana gun permit denials nearly double in 4 years
The number of state residents whose gun permit requests were denied by the Indiana State Police has nearly doubled in the past four years amid an increase in permit applications.