CCHS Remonstrance Period Ends

In a few weeks, we’ll know whether Whitley County Consolidated Schools can move ahead with plans to build a new Columbia City High School. Yesterday afternoon was the deadline for opponents and supporters of the project to turn in petitions from property owners. Now, government workers will check each signature to verify that it belongs to a property owner in the school district and to eliminate any duplicates. If opponents collected the most verified signatures, the 60-million building project will be dead for at least a year.

Train Hits Car in Gary, Kills 3

Three people died in Gary yesterday after a CSX freight train crashed into a car at a railroad crossing. Police say the driver drove the Ford Taurus around the crossing gates. The crash killed an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man.

I-65 Crash Kills Three

Three people died yesterday in a crash on Interstate 65 near Frankfort. Police say a small car heading south on the highway crossed the median during a rain storm. A semi truck traveling north hit the vehicle and the impact tore the car into two pieces, killing everyone inside.

State Creates New Disaster Recovery Office

A new office will lead the efforts of Indiana’s government to repair and rebuild following the recent storms and flooding that struck the state. The new Office of Disaster Recovery will coordinate state agency relief efforts and work with the federal government as well as other public and private entities and local governments.

Report: Indiana Slow to Grant Disability Benefits

Indiana residents unable to work because of medical or psychiatric ills are forced to wait far longer than most Americans for disability payments. The Indianapolis Star reports today that Indiana has 1 of the nation's worst records for processing disability claims that on average provide recipients with $1,000 a month in aid.

Huge Increase in Mosquitoes Bugging Central Indiana

A byproduct of recent flooding in central Indiana is mosquitoes. Officials say four times the usual number of the insects are bugging the area.

South Shore Ridership Increases

High gasoline prices have led to a significant rise in the number of people who ride the South Shore commuter railroad, which runs between South Bend and Chicago. Ridership has reached levels not seen since 1957.

Hoosiers Turn to Gardening for Food

A growing number of Indiana residents are dusting off their spades to fight high food prices by planting vegetable gardens. Vegetable plant sales have surged at nurseries in Terre Haute, where some customers say they're planting their first vegetable gardens.

Three Hurt in Whitley Crash

E-M-S took three victims – all younger than 21 – to a Fort Wayne hospital this morning, after a single-vehicle crash northeast of Columbia City this morning. It happened at the intersection of Widman Road and County Road 200-East at about 2 a.m.

Highway Section Dedicated to Slain Trooper

State officials dedicated a section of U-S 24 near Wabash yesterday in honor of a state trooper who was killed in the line of duty there last year. Master Trooper Detective David Rich was shot when he stopped to help what he thought was a stranded motorist.