Excise officers arrested a record 235 people at Indiana University’s Little 500.

Indiana State Excise Police officers say those 235 people were arrested on 285 charges during the events in Bloomington this weekend – this is up 29 from 2012.

Police say in the last several years, the majority of tickets issued were for alcohol offenses.
This year, officers also made arrested for possession of ecstasy, operating while intoxicated, theft, criminal conversion, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, resisting law enforcement, false informing, indecent exposure, furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor, open container violation and public intoxication, according to a press release.

Only one individual was taken to the hospital for a high blood alcohol concentration, testing a .29 percent. The man opened the back of an unmarked police car and got in the back seat, thinking it was a taxi cab. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail after medical evaluation.

Police say about half of those cited were not Indiana University students and were visiting from other schools.

Bloomington police also report one person was taken to a hospital by ambulance and four other people were treated by medics after falling when the floor of a porch and its steps shifted away from an apartment building Saturday night. Eight to 10 people were on the porch at the time.

Hoosiers are invited to participate in National Volunteer Week by helping Indiana’s State Parks & Reservoirs.  

 Jody Heaston, volunteer coordinator for the DNR Division of State Parks & Reservoirs, says there are many opportunities from maintaining trails to entering computer data.   

Heaston hopes many volunteers from National Volunteer Week will “catch the giving-back spirit” and continue to volunteer throughout the year.   Information about volunteer opportunities at specific properties can be found by calling the office at those properties

Legislators meet this morning (Monday) to try to find common ground on a casino bill. But a proposal to allow live table games at Indiana‘s two racetrack casinos faces long odds.

Supporters argue Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand in Shelby County already have electronic table games, so live dealers would add jobs without representing an expansion of gambling. The Senate went along, but House Public Policy Chairman Bill Davis (R-Portland) stripped the table-game provision and one to allow riverboat casinos to move inland.

Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) named Davis as House Republicans‘ negotiator on the bill, and says the effort to help casinos fend off out-of-state competitors should concentrate on proposals to revise casino taxes. Both chambers have passed differing versions of a bill changing an admissions tax to a surtax on revenue, and exempting some “free play” promotional vouchers from taxes.

But Bosma says table games or land-based casinos would represent a “massive expansion” of gambling, and predicts neither provision will reach the floor.

Supporters could try to put the table-game language in another bill. But Bosma notes Governor Pence has also expressed opposition. The speaker says he believes the governor‘s stance is firm enough to produce a veto.

Succession planning, which includes estate and family business transfer planning, is often dropped to the bottom of to-do lists due to hectic schedules, work and family responsibilities.  It is common for families to put off this important process because family members do not want to hurt others’ feelings, do not like conflict, think it is expensive, time consuming and do not know where to start.  Fortunately, succession planning allows families to make clear decisions under relatively low stress circumstances which reduces conflict now and in the future.  It is also more cost effective to plan now rather than later.

To help farm families begin planning, Dr. Angela Gloy, Purdue University Agricultural Economics Specialist, and Nick Held, Spencer County Ag. & Natural Resources Extension Educator, both members of the Purdue Farm Succession Planning Team, will be in Washington County on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23 to meet with individual farm families to discuss succession planning.  Appointments for 1 hour sessions can be made by calling the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 812-883-4601.

Dr. Gloy will speak on Succession Planning at the Salem High School Presentation Room at 6:00 pm on Monday, April 22, which is open to the public.

These programs are made possible through cooperation by Purdue Extension – Washington County and Washington County Farm Bureau Incorporated.  For more information, to make an appointment or to let us know you will be attending the program on Monday evening, contact Danielle Walker at the Purdue Extension – Washington County office at 806 Martinsburg Rd., Suite 104 in Salem, 812-883-4601 or dhowellw@purdue.edu.

STATEHOUSE – Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann held a press conference Thursday with State Representative Steve Davisson (R-Salem) regarding the expansion of Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund. The U.S. Department of the Treasury identified Indiana as one of 18 states plus the District of Columbia, that had been most affected by the downturn of the economy. Indiana was awarded more than $221 million to help struggling Hoosier families pay their mortgages through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

“The high rates of unemployment and foreclosure rates throughout Indiana are cause for concern as we emerge from this economic decline,” said Rep. Davisson. “The program expansion presented by the IHCDA will help Hoosiers get back on their feet.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently approved Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund changes, which has broadened borrower eligibility to include:

1. An increase in the maximum amount of assistance per household from $18,000 to $30,000 for all types of assistance except Transition Assistance.
2. An increase in the maximum duration of assistance from eighteen months to twenty-four months.
3. An expansion of the qualification requirements if there have been the following hardships: involuntary and substantial reduction in employment income; a substantial reduction in household income due to the death of a household member; significant expenses related to non-elective medical procedures or emergencies; or military service.
4. Available transition assistance for eligible homeowners with unaffordable mortgage payments who obtain a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure from their lender or servicer and leave their home in a saleable condition.
5. An extension of the timeline for applicants seeking unemployment benefits through the Unemployment Bridge Program on or after January 1, 2009.
6. A  financial literacy education course for monthly assistance recipients and that they engage in approved training, education or structured volunteer  work.

With these program updates, the IHCDA estimates that approximately 10,000 Indiana households will receive assistance over the life of Indiana’s Hardest Hit program.

“Our homes are among our most cherished assets, in which we build a family and create memories,” said Rep. Davisson. “We want to do what we can to ensure that our Hoosiers can make the necessary payments to maintain ownership of their homes.”

The IHCDA worked with the Lieutenant Governor, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network partners to develop a comprehensive strategy to provide Hardest Hit Fund assistance to low-to-moderate-income homeowners whose primary residence is located within any of the 92 counties in Indiana.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mortgage payments and are at-risk of foreclosure, please visit www.877GetHope.org or call 1-877-GET-HOPE – that’s 1-877-438-4673.

The  Salem Police Report the following action and arrests:

• Darrell Milligan, 31, Hardinsburg, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear, times 2, Operating While Intoxicated, Refusal, OWI PER-SE, Operating with a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, under 30 grams, HTV

April 19

• Report of a suspicious vehicle at Sprint
• Report of possible breaking and entering

April 18

• Report of theft
• Report of an unruly subject
• Report of identity theft
• Report of stolen medications and broken window
• Questions about possible trouble at 400 Jackson Street
• Report of threats
• Report of illegal burning
• Report of possible theft on Elizabeth Street

April 17

• Intoxicated pedestrian at Johnny’s Deli
• Report of stolen medicine from car
• KFC reported a possible intoxicated driver
• Report of harassment
• Report of car vs. deer accident

ABC News has learned from Boston police that one of the two suspects in Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings is dead and the other remains at large.

The news comes after a wild shootout between the suspects and police in Watertown early Friday morning, about four miles from the marathon finish line where three people were killed and more than 170 injured by twin explosions on Monday.

All federal agents in the area reportedly have been dispatched to the crime scene in Watertown.

This latest development in the bombing case unfolded after the fatal shooting in Cambridge Thursday night of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer in an incident that was reportedly related to a carjacking.  At the time, MIT officials told all students to remain inside, describing the situation as “extremely dangerous.”

Not long after the MIT shooting and an ensuing car chase, law enforcement officers descended en masse upon a section of Watertown about two miles from MIT.  Afterward, there were reports of gunfire and explosions.

According to amateur videos and the testimony of at least one eyewitness, two men driving an SUV engaged police in a firefight that also involved the suspect using explosives.

One of the two men, identified Thursday as bombing Suspect 1, was killed while the other, Suspect 2, described as the man in the white cap, sped off in a car. Police say he is armed and extremely dangerous. A police officer was also injured in the gunfight and is listed in critical condition.

Meanwhile, police were checking whether devices left on a street in Watertown where the shoot-out occurred were similar to the pressure-cooker bombs that were used in the marathon attack.

Friday’s development comes after the FBI on Thursday released images of two suspects in last Monday’s bombings, suspects they consider to be “armed and extremely dangerous.”

At a Thursday press conference, FBI Special Agent in charge Richard DesLauriers referred to the two men as Suspect 1 and Suspect 2, and said Suspect 2 was spotted dropping a bag before a bomb exploded at the second bomb site. The two men appear to be “associated,” DesLauriers said.

A Milltown man was injured when his dump truck overturned at the corner of Martinsburg Rd and Borden Greenville Rd. earlier Thursday afternoon.

William Walker, was driving a dump truck owned by Triple “S” Professionals LLC of Milltown, IN, down Martinsburg road, loaded down with burnt house scrap.

According to Clark County Sheriff’s Major Chuck Adams, Walker stated at the end he couldn’t stop because he was weighted down. 

Adams said Walker cut right and ended up flipping the dump truck on its drivers side coming to rest in a ditch in front of 20545 Martinsburg Rd. and lost the load in the front yard.

Walker was trapped under the dash and had to be cut out. 

Furnish Towing helped in the extrication by lifting the truck up  bit.  Borden Fire responded to the scene as well as the Pierce-Polk Fire Department. 

Walker was taken by air ambulance to  the University  of Louisville with possible left arm injuries as well as leg injuries, although the driver was alert and was able to respond to police.

ON APRIL 9, 2013, JEFFERSONVILLE POLICE RECEIVED INFORMATION OF SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA OF SPRING
STREET AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE.

TWO SUBJECTS WERE OBSERVED PHOTOGRAPHING THE SURROUNDING AREA.

THE TWO SUBJECTS WERE LATER IDENTIFIED AND QUESTIONED BY POLICE. BOTH SUBJECTS FULLY COOPERATED WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.

AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES, NO THREAT WAS IDENTIFIED.

THE JEFFERSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE.