Indianapolis Star MORGAN COUNTY — Two new two new state forests were established Friday during a ceremony outside the new Ravinia State Forest attended by Gov. Eric Holcomb, Department of Natural Resources officers and other Indiana officials."It's such a beautiful place for Hoosiers all over the state that I hope that they take part of," Holcomb said.Ravinia State Forest and Mountain Tea State Forest are the 14th and 15th Indiana forests and the first to be established in 67 years, said Dan Bortner, director of the Department of Natural Resources.Ravinia State Forest, previously part...…Indianapolis Star MORGAN COUNTY — Two new two new state forests were established Friday during a ceremony outside the new Ravinia State Forest attended by Gov. Eric Holcomb, Department of Natural Resources officers and other Indiana officials."It's such a beautiful place for Hoosiers all over the state that I hope that they take part of," Holcomb said.Ravinia State Forest and Mountain Tea State Forest are the 14th and 15th Indiana forests and the first to be established in 67 years, said Dan Bortner, director of the Department of Natural Resources.Ravinia State Forest, previously part...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsMarco Andretti brought the family back to the Indianapolis 500 pole position. Driving the No. 98 Honda, Andretti edged Scott Dixon with a four-lap effort of 231.068 mph Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Fast Nine Shootout.Andretti's grandfather -- the legend Mario Andretti -- won the Indy 500 pole in 1966, '67 and '87. As drivers, the family has one Indy 500 victory, Mario in 1969. Marco Andretti's previous best Indy 500 start is third in 2013. He narrowly finished second as a rookie in 2016. The 104th Indy 500 is Aug. 23 at 2:30...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsMarco Andretti brought the family back to the Indianapolis 500 pole position. Driving the No. 98 Honda, Andretti edged Scott Dixon with a four-lap effort of 231.068 mph Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Fast Nine Shootout.Andretti's grandfather -- the legend Mario Andretti -- won the Indy 500 pole in 1966, '67 and '87. As drivers, the family has one Indy 500 victory, Mario in 1969. Marco Andretti's previous best Indy 500 start is third in 2013. He narrowly finished second as a rookie in 2016. The 104th Indy 500 is Aug. 23 at 2:30...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsThe epidemiologist for the newly-formed Fishers Health Department has resigned, alleging Mayor Scott Fadness meddled in the agency and could be pushing schools to open classrooms too soon.“This is a level of interference I had never seen before in a public health agency,” said Eileen White, the department’s only epidemiologist who had previously worked for the Indiana and Minnesota health departments. “I have never seen a health department set up as a business before.”The city formed its own health department in April and the Hamilton County...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsThe epidemiologist for the newly-formed Fishers Health Department has resigned, alleging Mayor Scott Fadness meddled in the agency and could be pushing schools to open classrooms too soon.“This is a level of interference I had never seen before in a public health agency,” said Eileen White, the department’s only epidemiologist who had previously worked for the Indiana and Minnesota health departments. “I have never seen a health department set up as a business before.”The city formed its own health department in April and the Hamilton County...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsBLOOMINGTON – The Big Ten is expected to cancel the 2020 college football season in a historic move that stems from concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, multiple people with knowledge of the decision ."It's done," one high-ranking source in the Big Ten told the Free Press on Monday afternoon. The Big Ten’s decision would make the powerhouse conference — rivaled in political power in college sports only by the SEC — the first Power Five league to cancel its fall football season, a move that will have far-reaching,...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsBLOOMINGTON – The Big Ten is expected to cancel the 2020 college football season in a historic move that stems from concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, multiple people with knowledge of the decision ."It's done," one high-ranking source in the Big Ten told the Free Press on Monday afternoon. The Big Ten’s decision would make the powerhouse conference — rivaled in political power in college sports only by the SEC — the first Power Five league to cancel its fall football season, a move that will have far-reaching,...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsCorrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story misstated the date of the protest. It was Thursday. Indianapolis police are investigating after two men drew handguns as they blocked a pickup truck driver during a Black Lives Matter demonstration near Downtown last week.The incident, , happened about 1:45 p.m. Thursday near North Meridian and 12th streets.The video shows two men with handguns standing in front of a pickup truck during a protest march organized by Indy10 Black Lives Matter.The video shows the men...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsCorrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this story misstated the date of the protest. It was Thursday. Indianapolis police are investigating after two men drew handguns as they blocked a pickup truck driver during a Black Lives Matter demonstration near Downtown last week.The incident, , happened about 1:45 p.m. Thursday near North Meridian and 12th streets.The video shows two men with handguns standing in front of a pickup truck during a protest march organized by Indy10 Black Lives Matter.The video shows the men...WW…

Indianapolis StarPublic schools that do not offer an in-person education option could see their budgets slashed, despite prior assurances from Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state leaders that they would be fully funded.Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray sent a letter to school leaders Thursday – after dozens of districts around the state have already started — to offer “a bit more clarity” about state funding. Only public schools offering in-person instruction or both in-person and virtual options are likely to be fully funded, he said in the letter obtained by...…Indianapolis StarPublic schools that do not offer an in-person education option could see their budgets slashed, despite prior assurances from Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state leaders that they would be fully funded.Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray sent a letter to school leaders Thursday – after dozens of districts around the state have already started — to offer “a bit more clarity” about state funding. Only public schools offering in-person instruction or both in-person and virtual options are likely to be fully funded, he said in the letter obtained by...WW…

Nashville TennesseanView CommentsNASHVILLE – Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty on Thursday after a bitter Tennessee primary battle that centered on support for President Donald Trump.The win comes after a rancorous final stretch of the race that saw high profile endorsements, attacks on the airwaves and in person.As of 8:15 p.m. CDT, the Associated Press had called the race for Hagerty, who had nearly 52% of the vote with just under half of precincts reporting.Hagerty, 60, emerged victorious from a crowded field of Republicans, including his closest competitor, Nashville...…Nashville TennesseanView CommentsNASHVILLE – Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty on Thursday after a bitter Tennessee primary battle that centered on support for President Donald Trump.The win comes after a rancorous final stretch of the race that saw high profile endorsements, attacks on the airwaves and in person.As of 8:15 p.m. CDT, the Associated Press had called the race for Hagerty, who had nearly 52% of the vote with just under half of precincts reporting.Hagerty, 60, emerged victorious from a crowded field of Republicans, including his closest competitor, Nashville...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsA Lawrence man is facing a federal hate crime charge for allegedly using racial intimidation against a neighbor, who is Black. According to a news release from the Department of Justice, 50-year-old Shephard Hoehn became angry when a construction crew started removing a tree from the neighbor's property on June 18. Hoehn, who is white, is accused of doing the following in an effort to intimidate the neighbor: placing a burning cross above the fence line and facing the neighbor's property, displaying a swastika on the fence, displaying a...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsA Lawrence man is facing a federal hate crime charge for allegedly using racial intimidation against a neighbor, who is Black. According to a news release from the Department of Justice, 50-year-old Shephard Hoehn became angry when a construction crew started removing a tree from the neighbor's property on June 18. Hoehn, who is white, is accused of doing the following in an effort to intimidate the neighbor: placing a burning cross above the fence line and facing the neighbor's property, displaying a swastika on the fence, displaying a...WW…

Indianapolis StarA coal company that wants to be able to continue polluting the water? An owner of gas stations that wants to stop monitoring its leaky tanks? A small business seeking a deadline extension because a key employee is in the hospital with coronavirus?These are just a few of the more than 80 requests Indiana's environmental agency has received over the last four months from industry and organizations . They come in light of the pandemic, as the state and U.S. EPA announced that they would use "enforcement discretion" when facilities couldn't meet their...…Indianapolis StarA coal company that wants to be able to continue polluting the water? An owner of gas stations that wants to stop monitoring its leaky tanks? A small business seeking a deadline extension because a key employee is in the hospital with coronavirus?These are just a few of the more than 80 requests Indiana's environmental agency has received over the last four months from industry and organizations . They come in light of the pandemic, as the state and U.S. EPA announced that they would use "enforcement discretion" when facilities couldn't meet their...WW…

Indianapolis StarView CommentsMore than 282,500 Indiana homes, businesses and other structures are at substantial risk of flooding, about 67 percent more than the government currently estimates, That study calculates that 113,600 Indiana properties that are not currently in a mapped floodplain are at risk of flooding, representing an enormous potential cost to homeowners and the government alike.Many neighborhoods across the state, from Mishawaka and South Bend to Indianapolis are particularly vulnerable, according to the analysis. The problem,...…Indianapolis StarView CommentsMore than 282,500 Indiana homes, businesses and other structures are at substantial risk of flooding, about 67 percent more than the government currently estimates, That study calculates that 113,600 Indiana properties that are not currently in a mapped floodplain are at risk of flooding, representing an enormous potential cost to homeowners and the government alike.Many neighborhoods across the state, from Mishawaka and South Bend to Indianapolis are particularly vulnerable, according to the analysis. The problem,...WW…