Senate Bill 346, authored by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development today.

SB 346 would require the Indiana Department of Education (DOE) to provide accommodations to students with certain disabilities, to the extent allowed under federal law, on every section of statewide testing assessments – as part of the student’s individualized education program (IEP). This includes text-to-speech (TTS), screen reader, or human reader accommodations.

“Once a child with a learning or developmental disability begins school, federal law requires schools to provide them with a free and appropriate public education,” said Houchin. “This includes a comprehensive evaluation to determine the nature and extent of the services the child will need as well as a personalized, written document in the form of an IEP. Last year, Hoosier students took the ILEARN test for the first time, and only 10.7% of special-education students passed both math and English sections. This alarming statistic is partially due to the fact that all students with IEPs were denied access to text-to-speech technology for the reading comprehension section of the test.”

According to recent data, 6.7 million public-school children receive special education services, and up to 17% of children have dyslexia.

“For children with dyslexia, universally denying TTS only highlights their disability, rather than allowing them to show their true ability,” added Houchin. “A student might excel at reading comprehension, but without TTS, their inability to decode letters and words impedes their ability to comprehend. For blind children who cannot read Braille, TTS is the only way they can access the reading comprehension portion of the test. If a child’s IEP allows them to use certain accommodations in the classroom, those same accommodations should also be permitted during standardized tests. I am proud to see this legislation moving through the process, and I will continue advocating for students with disabilities.”

SB 346 will now head to the full Senate for consideration.

The following complete list of filings was provided by the Washington County Circuit Clerk Stephanie Rockey as of the end of today.

Filed and certified as of closing on the 29th of January:

Washington County Clerk

Stephanie K. Rockey, Clerk-R

Washington County Treasurer

Shirley Batt, Treasurer-D

Washington County Coroner

Peg Schell, Coroner-R
Steven A. Tye, Coroner- R

Washington County Commissioner

Phillip D. (Phil) Marshall, Commissioner- Dist. 1-R

Rick Roberts, Commissioner- Dist. 3-R

Washington County Council

Mark E. (Bubba) Abbott- County Council, At-large-R
Keeley R. Stingel- County Council, At-Large-R
Rondale Brishaber- County Council, At-Large- R
Gerald Fleming, Sr.-County Council, At-Large-R
Duane Malloy- County Council, At-Large-R

Washington County Surveyor

Emily Rodman, Surveyor-R

Judith Wiesenauer, State Convention Delegate-D

Keeley R. Stingel- State Convention Delegate-R
Ken Armstrong- State Convention Delegate-R
Tara Coats Hunt- State Convention Delegate-R
Stephanie K. Rockey- State Convention Delegate-R
Jimmy (JD) Rockey- State Convention Delegate-R
Dustin Houchin- State Convention Delegate-R
Erin Houchin- State Convention Delegate- R
Luann Armstrong- State Convention Delegate-R

Danny R. Libka- Precinct Committeemen, Salem 1- R

Ken Armstrong- Precinct Committeemen, Posey-R

Dustin Houchin- Precinct Committeemen, Washington 2-R

Tara Coats Hunt- Precinct Committeemen, Washington 3- Rep.

Tonya Deremiah- Precinct Committeemen, Jackson- Rep.

Gerald Fleming, Sr.- Precinct Committeemen, Pierce-Rep.

Joseph (Joe) Keltner- Precinct Committeemen, Vernon- Rep.

Forrest (Joe) Walker, Jr.- Precinct Committeemen, Howard-Rep.

Local candidates will file with the county clerk’s office in the Washington County Justice Center. 

Filing will remain open until 12:00 pm local time on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Washington County Clerk and election administrator Stephanie Rockey reports the following update of political filings for candidates to run in the May 5 Primary election for party nomination.

• Luann Armstrong, State Convention Delegate- Rep.
• Gerald Fleming, Sr.- County Council, at-large- Rep.
• Gerald Fleming, Sr.- Precinct Committeemen, Pierce- Rep.
• Forrest (Joe) Walker, Jr.- Precinct Committeemen, Howard- Rep.

Yesterday morning the Indiana State Police Bremen Post All Crimes Policing Team assisted the St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit after their officers discovered a suspected marijuana cultivation operation during the course of a homicide investigation.

Troopers were requested to an address in the 600 blocks of S. Liberty Street in South Bend, IN during the early morning hours of January 26, 2020. This investigation led to the seizure of 320 marijuana plants and marijuana cultivation equipment.

No arrests have been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing.

Tips of suspected drug activity can be made to the Indiana State Police by calling 574-546-4900.

Recently, a drug investigation by Indiana State Troopers Steven Glass and Dustin Rutledge resulted in the arrests of Treyvor Lehman, 19, and Ryanne Airgood, 20, both from Wabash, IN, on criminal charges for possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, dealing a schedule IV narcotics, possession of a schedule IV narcotic, dealing marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Troopers Rutledge and Glass started an investigation after receiving a citizen’s tip about possible drug dealing from an apartment at 1169 Meadowview Drive, Apartment 9, Wabash, IN. Airgood and Lehman lived in the apartment.

During the course of the investigation, officers were given permission to search the apartment. During the subsequent search, officers purportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, 264 Alprazolam pills, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, and over $1700 in United States currency. Lehman and Airgood were incarcerated in the Wabash County Jail.

Anyone who has information about illegal drug activity is encouraged to call the Indiana State Police Marijuana Tip Line at 1-888-873-1694.

Indiana State Police initiated a criminal investigation on January 14^th after receiving information that an Oakland City man had a sexual relationship with a female under the age of 16.

Arrested and Charged:

Brett Williams, 22, Oakland City, IN

1. Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, Class 4 Felony

During the investigation, Indiana State Police Detective Tobias Odom revealed Brett Williams, 22, of Oakland City, had a sexual relationship with the female and was aware she was under the age of 16. The alleged incident occurred between January 1 and January 3.

The Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the investigation and issued a warrant for Williams’ arrest. On Saturday afternoon, January 25, Williams was arrested at his residence without incident. Williams was taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

Investigating Officer: Detective Tobias Odom, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Oakland City Police

On January 21, 2020, Deputy Charlie Morgan served an outstanding arrest warrant at the Scott County Jail.  John Deveary, 65, of Sellersburg, In. was arrested on an outstanding warrant for Fraud on a Financial Institution and Theft Greater Than $750 but less than $50,000.  (I.S.P. Case)

On January 21, 2020, Deputy Johnney Coomer conducted a traffic stop in Scottsburg.  An investigation led to the arrest of Deborah West, 51, of Scottsburg for Driving While Suspended Prior. 

On January 22, 2020, Deputies Skylar Thompson and Johnney Coomer went to an address on Harrod Road in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival Ferrell Mcintosh, 36, of Austin was arrested on a warrant for Theft with a Prior Unrelated Conviction for Theft or Conversion. 

On January 22, 2020, Deputies Christopher Bowling and John Hartman went to Village Court Apartments in Austin in an attempt to serve an outstanding arrest warrant.  Upon arrival apartment Richard Madden, 49, of Austin was arrested for Trespassing. 

On January 25, 2020, Deputies Skylar Thompson and Johnney Coomer assisted the Clark County Sheriff’s Office with a traffic stop in Northern Clark County.  As a result Michael Smith, 18, of Scottsburg was arrested for an outstanding warrant for Battery. 

On January 25, 2020, Deputy Kenton Makowsky conducted a traffic stop in Austin.  An investigation led to the arrest of Mary White, 49, of Austin for Operating a Vehicle While Never Licensed.