A Shelbyville woman was killed in an early Friday morning two-car accident on I-74.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says Kassandra Jenkins, 27, of Shelbyville, was driving a 2011 Hyundai near the 107 mile marker just before 2:00 Friday morning.  Her vehicle was struck by a 2015 Chrysler driven by Robert Lesure, 38, of Indianapolis.  Lesure was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes causing the crash.

Lesure is in an Indianapolis hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal crash that happened around 1:50 am near the 107 mm of I-74.

Few details are available at this time.  No names have been released. 

The cause of the crash is listed as a vehicle traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.

Kroger is offering coronavirus antibody tests.

The FDA has authorized the grocery store chain to begin using antibody tests. The test requires a quick blood sample from your finger, which can let a person know if they've been infected with coronavirus in the past.

Kroger says the tests cost $25 and results come back within 15 minutes. They will be available at all of their pharmacies and clinics by the end of November.

Two people were arrested by Bartholomew County authorities on drug charges during a home check.

Jason Matthew Grider, 39, Clifford, was arrested at his residence on October 27.   At approximately 9:54 p.m., Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies assisted Bartholomew County Probation officers during a home check in the 8200 block of North Washington Street, Clifford.

During the check, officers located a significant amount of narcotics.  Grider, who was on probation, for about three months, after serving approximately ten years on a narcotics manufacturing charge, was arrested and taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on the following preliminary charges:

Probation Violation

Dealing Methamphetamine

Maintaining a Common Nuisance

Possession of Methamphetamine

Possession of Heroin

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Possession Legend Drug

Possession Synthetic Drug

Possession of Paraphernalia

He remains in BCJ without bond.

Another occupant at the residence, Amy Rivera, 36, Clifford, was arrested on preliminary charges:

Maintaining a Common Nuisance

Possession of Methamphetamine

Possession of Marijuana

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Possession of Paraphernalia

Possession of a Synthetic Drug

Possession of Legend Drug

She remains in BCJ in lieu of $91,000 bond.

All persons are presumed innocent unless/until proven guilty in a court of law.

“BCSO’s greatest focus and number one priority is drug eradication – particularly targeting people who provide illegal narcotics to Bartholomew County residents said Bartholomew County Sheriff Chief Deputy Major Chris Lane.

Indiana State Police are warning you to check all candy collected by children this Halloween after a trooper in northwest Indiana found bags of “medicated” candy. In a Facebook post, Indiana State Police said bags of medicated Starburst Gummies and medicated Sour Skittles were taken by a trooper.

The package looked like normal candy, but you have to look closely to see the word "Medicated" printed in small font on the package.

Amazon is looking to hire more than 5,400 seasonal workers in the Hoosier state.

“The jobs are full- and part-time seasonal jobs that help people earn extra money during the holidays and have the flexibility of working around other life constraints,” said Jessica Pawl, a public relations officer for Amazon.

Starting pay is $15 per hour.

Job opportunities are available in Evansville, Greenfield, Greenwood, Jeffersonvile, Indianapolis, Plainfield, and Whitestown.

Visit the www.amazon.com/jobs for more information about available positions.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced Monday that Indiana has received approval to continue its successful alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion—the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP)—for ten more years. This allows the state to continue health coverage for more than 572,000 low-income adult Hoosiers.

“Today’s extension empowers more than half a million Hoosiers to continue receiving quality health care coverage from our innovative HIP program,” Gov. Holcomb said. “As a national model for a state-led, consumer-driven approach, HIP helps Hoosiers experience improved health outcomes and better lives.”

Additionally, the approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services grants five-year extensions of some of the newer components of Indiana’s HIP program that have provided treatment for substance use disorder and serious mental illness for 88,000 Hoosiers across all Medicaid programs.

“Hoosiers have led on state healthcare innovation for years, including under former Governor Mike Pence and continuing today under Governor Holcomb,” said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. “This ten-year extension of the successful Healthy Indiana Program allows the state to make new progress on the kind of patient-centered healthcare system President Trump envisions. State innovation is an opportunity to test out ideas for delivering our ultimate goal of better health and well-being, and we encourage states to continue working with us, like Indiana has, to tailor their programs to their unique needs.”

HIP is a platform for certainty during the pandemic. Members continue coverage during a public health emergency and all cost sharing has been suspended. The program engages members to be active participants in their health care coverage. In 2018, members made more than 545,000 visits for preventive services, and mammograms and vaccinations are at record highs for members. The program combats Indiana’s top contributor to chronic disease – smoking – by waiving copays and covering all therapies.

In a direct effort to support mothers and their babies, HIP Maternity provides full health coverage services – including prenatal services, dental, behavior health, and substance use disorder treatment – at no cost to the member for the duration of her pregnancy and 60 days postpartum. Enrollment in pregnancy management programs increased at an average annual growth rate of 41 percent from 2015 to 2018.

“With this approval, our health policy leaders at FSSA will be able to spend more time operating, evaluating and improving HIP, as well as engaging members and partners,” said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., Family and Social Services Administration secretary. 

HIP was created in 2007 under then Gov. Mitch Daniels. The program was expanded in 2015 by then Gov. Mike Pence with a federal waiver to cover any eligible adult as an alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion.

Typically, the state’s waiver to renew HIP is reviewed and approved every three to four years. Today’s approval runs through December 2030. It marks the first time the federal agency has approved a state’s Medicaid waiver for a comprehensive health benefits program for a period of ten years.

Earlier this year, CMS approved the HIP Workforce Bridge program, which establishes a new, unique transitional phase for HIP members. As they return to the workforce and to employer insurance or other health coverage, members can continue to use their HIP POWER accounts, which are similar to a health savings account. 

A Columbus man is behind bars after he was found sleeping in the backseat of a woman's vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle called police just before 4 a.m. Sunday and said that that a man, later identified as 24-year-old William Hickey, was asleep in the backseat of her car. She told police she had just gotten off work and stopped at a gas station. She said she didn't know Hickey was in her car until she heard him snoring, reports The Republic newspaper.

Officers found Hickey face-down in the backseat of the woman's vehicle. When the officers woke Hickey up, they smelled alcohol on his breath. Hickey was combative with the officers and hit his head repeatedly against the safety partition in the back of a Columbus police cruiser after he was arrested, according to police.

Hickey was taken to the Bartholomew County Jail on multiple charges including public intoxication and unlawful entry into a motor vehicle.

One of Shelbyville's best loved restaurants is looking at major change.

The Facebook post from the restaurant's owners speaks to its future sale.  The following from the Chicken Inn's Facebook page posted by Dave and Roaslie Hardin:

Hoping this finds you all doing well and in good health.  After having met with our staff on Sunday, and with a heavy heart, we are going to share some news with all of you today.

Dave and I were handed a message recently that reminded us that we need to make some changes in our lives. As some of you know, being business owners at times can be all consuming. With that being said, we have made the decision to put the restaurant on the market for sale. It is so bittersweet in that we had hoped to pass it on to one of our children. They however have other careers in which they need to move forward and we are very understanding and supportive of their choices.

Ironically, throughout this pandemic we are having one of our best years as a result of the ongoing support of our community. We couldn't ask for a more loyal customer base than we have right now.

We are also so blessed to have such a dedicated staff who has adapted to each and every change mandated over the past 7 months. They are the largest contributors to our success and will continue to offer their great customer service to each and every one who walks through our doors!

It is our hope that just the right person/family will come along who will choose to carry on the traditions, some of which were established from the parent company back in the 40's. It is our intent to move forward doing business as usual meeting any and all commitments made to our customers. It is our hope that you will continue to support us throughout this journey and understand our decision to be only a result of wanting to share more time with each other and our families.

As always, we appreciate your friendships and continued support!

Dave & Rosalie

There is a chance for severe weather all across Indiana today, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearly the entire state is under a “marginal risk” for severe weather, which is the lowest designation. The only exception is the far northeast part of the state. That part is under a “slight risk”, which is the second-lowest designation.

“Marginal risk is basically saying there is a relatively low risk for some isolated severe storms,” said Tara Dudzik, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. “We have a cold front dropping in later this afternoon, mainly from 3 pm to 6 pm.”

Dudzik said the main threats to watch out for are heavy rain, strong winds, and some hail.

“There’s a 2% tornado chance, which is obviously very low,” said Dudzik.

The chance for a tornado also exists in the northeast part of the state that is under a slight risk.

“A tornado or two can’t be ruled out,” said Chris Morris, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Northern Indiana. “The main window is going to be primarily 1 pm to 8 pm this evening.”

Morris said a “slight risk” implies that well-organized severe thunderstorms are expected but in relatively small numbers/coverage, or a small chance of a more significant severe event.

“There is the possibility of damaging winds and large hail. Anyone who is going to be out this evening for high school football, especially across northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio could be impacted,” said Morris.

Morris said cooler weather returns this weekend and a good portion of northern Indiana will see rain at the beginning of next week. Dudzik said the outlook is similar for central Indiana.

More than 1 million Hoosiers have requested an absentee ballot or voted early in the 2020 General Election, according to Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson.

With 12 days remaining before the November 3^rd election, 553,270 absentee by-mail ballots have been requested across the state, and 477,217 voters have voted at an early voting location, with a total of 1,042,319 ballots requested or submitted. In the 2020 Primary Election, a total of 640,225 Hoosiers voted absentee in-person or by-mail.  In 2016, during the entire period of absentee voting for both in-person and by-mail, 977,239 ballots were submitted.

“Hoosiers are eager to vote and are voting early in record numbers to make sure their voice is heard,” said Secretary Lawson. “Election officials across Indiana have worked tirelessly to make sure each voter is safe and secure, and I’m pleased to see this level of turnout heading into Election Day.”

The increased volume of absentee ballots means that final election results may not be immediately available on Election Night. Voters wishing to work in their county as absentee ballot counters are encouraged to contact their county clerk’s office as soon as possible.

Hoosier voters can track their absentee ballot, look up early voting sites, and contact their county clerk using www.IndianaVoters.com. 

A former Johnson County Community Corrections officer is charged with sexual misconduct.

Evan Hill, 50, faces felony charges of official misconduct and sexual misconduct. His bond was set at $4,000 surety and $400 cash, said a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

The leader of Johnson County Community Corrections informed the Sheriff’s Office of allegations on Aug. 26.

A redacted court document supplied by the Sheriff’s Office said, “The misconduct is alleged to be sexual in nature and also involved the tampering of an ordered drug screen test.”

The document also said a Community Corrections coworker had been told by a woman in the program that she was in an “inappropriate relationship” with Hill.

Hill later told investigators that he’d had four separate occurrences where he engaged in sexual activity with the woman, the first instance in March. The final incident happened at Hill’s home in Shelby County northeast of Fairland, he said.

The woman told investigators she and Hill had met for 15 “sexual encounters,” court documents said.

The investigator wrote in court documents, “I asked her why she felt it was wrong and she explained that she felt the relationship was inappropriate and that he would use his position to get her in more trouble through the court system if she stopped their relationship.”

Also, Hill’s coworker and the woman alleged Hill had thrown out or ordered the disposal of the woman’s positive drug tests, and told the coworker to put “negative all panels” on paperwork for the woman’s positive test results.

Online court records on Wednesday showed no court dates set for Hill.

The American Red Cross is asking healthy donors of all blood types to give blood.

The blood donations will help ensure a strong blood supply as the U.S. braces for flu season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’ve received a flu shot, you can give blood. The Red Cross says there is no waiting period to give blood or platelets after receiving a flu shot as long as you’re symptom-free and fever-free.

The American Red Cross will email a $5 Amazon.com gift card to those who come in and donate blood between Oct. 15 and Nov. 11. Plus, those who donate in October are automatically entered to win a $1,000 Amazon.com gift card.

You can make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-Red Cross.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department responded to a single car crash with ejection Tuesday evening.

The accident scene was at North Frontage and North Michigan roads just before 8:00 pm.  The accident remains under investigation.

Jessica Smith, 36, of Danville, was driving a Kia that ended up on its side in the ditch.  Smith was ejected from the vehicle.

She was taken to Methodist for medical treatment.  

Shelbyville Fire also responded to the scene.

The remainder of the racing program at Indiana Grand was canceled following the second race Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The mutual decision was made between jockeys, track management and horsemen to call the cancellation of the remaining eight races, which included seven Thoroughbred and one Quarter Horse event. The area received several inches of continuous rain over the past 36 hours with more in the immediate forecast. The cancellation will provide the track maintenance department adequate time to prepare for the Wednesday racing program with a 2:05 p.m. start.

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

A Shelby County  man has been charged with the shooting of a man last week.

Michael Weddle, 32, of Flat Rock, is charged with battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery.  He was initially held without bond.

Last week, a man was being sought by Bartholomew County officials who were aware he may have been shot and wounded in Shelby County.  Mark Ward, 50, was located after he was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for medical treatment.  Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies responded to CRH.  Ward suffered an apparent gunshot wound.  He was conscious and talking when he arrived at the hospital

The vehicle involved was also secured and BCSO said, at the time, they were working closely with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on this investigation.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Department says Ward had not been cooperative as of the initial questioning last week.

A teenager bought something online and went to pick it up Thursday night in Whiteland, but what followed was a fight and a shooting, police say.

The Whiteland Police Department says they received a report that shots had been fired in the 700 block of Hummingbird Lane, which is near U.S. 31 and not far from Franklin Community High School.

They believe that in the course of the business exchange there was a fight and the suspects took off in a car. Witnesses say the car then hit several objects and became disabled.

Police say the suspects got out of the car and ran away shortly after it became disabled. Someone else tried to stop the suspects, but officers say one of the suspects fired a gun at that person.

There are no reports of the suspects being found. Police are calling the investigation “ongoing.”

Barnes & Noble's computer systems were hacked.

The hack happened on Oct. 10.

They said customer's personal information may have been stolen in the process. In an email sent to customers they said hackers could have had access to email addresses, names, phone numbers, and home addresses.

However, the company said the hackers could not access credit card numbers and other payment information because that information is encrypted.

Barnes & Noble did not say how many customers were affected by the hack.

Almost the entire state of Indiana will be under a freeze warning from 2 am to 10 am Friday morning. The far southeast part of Indiana will be under a frost advisory.

"We do that to give people a heads up if they still have plants that are out there that they want to protect. We issue the freeze warnings to alert them, mainly to protect the plants and things like that they may still be growing," says Joe Skowronek, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. "Tonight, a lot of our areas will get into the 20s. Temperatures that low would definitely cause problems for any plants that are still growing."

He says if you park your car outside, you may have some frost on your windshield that you may have to scrape off. 

"We are expecting another front to come in early next week. It looks like there is a better chance for widespread heavier rain at that time (Monday-Wednesday)," says Skowronek.

Much of the state is either abnormally dry or under moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Skowronek believes that will change soon.

"We are getting into a pattern now where we are expecting rain more than we have had in the past. So we should see the drought conditions slowly improve over the next few weeks," says Skowronek.

An inmate who escaped from a Kentucky jail last month by climbing through a hole in a jail window has been found in southern Indiana.

Madison police say Anthony Martinez, 30, was caught near Hanover on Tuesday. When he was found, Martinez tried to run, but was shot with a stun gun and captured near a church.

Investigators from Indiana almost caught him on Oct. 8 in Scott County, but he ran away into some trees, and they lost him.

Martinez, who was arrested in February for robbery charges, escaped Sept. 29 from Louisville Metro Corrections after climbing through a hole in the fourth-floor window and using a hose to lower himself to the ground.

He's now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

Governor Holcomb has announced he is extending Stage 5 of the state's re-opening plan during the coronavirus pandemic.

Holcomb said he will revisit the decision in a week. He also extended the mask mandate until at least Nov. 14.

A Johnson County woman was killed, another injured, in a one-car crash.

A witness told investigating Johnson County authorities that he was traveling southbound on US 31 approaching CR 550 East when a vehicle in the fast lane was swerving across the yellow line several times.  He said it appeared the vehicle overcorrected, went across two lanes of travel and into the ditch at a high rate of speed.

The driver, Rita J. Britton, 68, of Franklin, was ejected from the vehicle. She died at Methodist Hospital. A passenger Vicki Jane Alexander, 75, of Greenwood, is listed in serious condition at Methodist Hospital.  Both Britton and Alexander were unconscious at the scene when law enforcement and fire personnel arrived.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident, the Edinburgh Police Department assisted with traffic control as southbound US 31 between State Road 252 and County Road 650S were closed for approximately three hours.

The Amity Fire Department was assisted by the Edinburgh Fire Department, IU Methodist Life Line and Seals Ambulance Service.

Shelby County Commissioners approved a burn ban for the county as abnormally dry conditions continue this fall.

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident that lead to a drowning within Hidden Paradise Campground in Decatur County.

At 2:14 P.M., Donna Kishbaugh, 61, of Westfield, was reported missing in the water.  Kishbaugh was conducting SCUBA training when she disappeared.

Conservation Officers, Indiana State Police, Shelby County Deputies, Decatur County Deputies, Shelbyville Fire Department, and Decatur County Fire Department assisted in the recovery efforts. 

Indiana Conservation Officers and Indiana State Police divers located Kishbaugh in 18 feet of water at 2:56 P.M. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Notifications have been made to family members.

This investigation is still underway and additional information will be provided once it become available.

Cantaloupe sold at Meijer stores in Indiana is being recalled because of possible Salmonella contamination.

The recall includes whole cantaloupe and certain cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls in various weights ranging from six to 40 ounces sold between Sept. 26 and Oct. 5 at Meijer stores in Indiana and five other states.

The recalled whole cantaloupe will have a sticker label stating Kandy Brand from Eagle Produce, LLC. If it does not have a sticker label to identify it, it should be considered part of the recall, according to the FDA.

No illnesses have been reported so far. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

The following packaged products in clear plastic containers under the Meijer brand label include:

- 9450 – Gas Station Mixed Melon Chunk Cup

- 9505 – Gas Station Mixed Fruit Cup

- 9644 – Gas Station Cantaloupe 6 oz

- 21921000000 – Fruit Frenzy Bowl 40 oz

- 21921400000 – Fruit Tray

- 21924800000 – Fruit Tray with Dip

- 21932300000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large PLU 4960

- 21933400000 – Mixed Melon Chunks Large Bowl

- 21933700000 – Mixed Melon Chunks Small Bowl

- 21960100000 – Fruit Frenzy 16 oz Bowl PLU

- 21971100000 – Strawberry/Pineapple Cup 6 oz

- 21971200000 – Mixed Fruit Cup 6 oz

- 21971700000 – Berry Explosion Cup 6 oz

- 21971800000 – Mixed Melon Chunk Cup 6 oz

- 21984400000 – Mixed Melon Cup

- 22012400000 – Mixed Fruit Cup

- 22019600000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Small Bowl

- 22020000000 – Fruit Frenzy 32 oz Bowl PLU 1

- 22021900000 – Cantaloupe and Honeydew Slices

- 22022000000 – Mixed Melon Slices

- 22045000000 – Fruit Palooza

- 22045200000 – Melons & Berries

- 22045300000 – Triple Treat & Melon

- 22061600000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large Kosher

- 22061700000 – Cantaloupe Chunks Large Kosher

- 28873400000 – Fruit Salad

If you have any of the recalled fruit, throw it away or return it to Meijer for a full refund.

The former president of Franklin College has pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges.

The college's newspaper, The Franklin News, says Thomas Minar, 57, appeared in a nearly-empty courtroom in Wisconsin Tuesday. His attorney, Brett Reetz announced Minar is entering a plea of not guilty for all charges.

In January, Minar was caught sending sexual messages and photos to, who he thought, was a 15-year-old boy. It was actually an undercover cop. After he was arrested, Franklin College fired him. Then in March, investigators found child porn on Minar's phone.

Minar faces 12 counts of possession of child pornography, plus using a computer to facilitate a sex crime and exposing a child to harmful narrations.

More than 70 rural and volunteer fire departments from 47 Indiana counties have been awarded more than $320,000 in Volunteer Fire Assistance grants.  The awards will be used for training, installation of dry hydrants, or to purchase necessary firefighting equipment and gear to combat wildland fires. The grants are administered by the DNR Division of Forestry and made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

Two of the departments are:

Posey Twnshp VFD - $4, 750 (Communication)

Fountaintown Community VFD - $1, 941 (Water handling)

Recipients were selected based on population density, acres of public wildlands protected, and wildland fire reporting to DNR Fire Control Headquarters. As in past years, emphasis was given to projects that involved the fighting of wildfires.

The awarded grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and were given to 76 departments.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and WorkOne Central are hosting a virtual job fair featuring five employers with dozens of job openings in Johnson County.

The virtual job fair is scheduled to run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Belle Tire, Energizer, FedEx, Greenwood Village South and Prime Remnant Inc. are the five companies that will be participating in the job fair.

Presenters from each will discuss job opportunities in detail, along with benefits and how to apply.

“The Region 5 Workforce Board is pleased to partner with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to offer a virtual opportunity for Johnson County employers to fill their talent needs,” said Lance Ratliff, Executive Director of the Workforce Board. “Because of the COVID virus situation, we have quickly moved into new ways of doing business, which are effective while minimizing the potential spread of the virus among individuals. As the economy continues to recover, the Board will increase the use of technology-based solutions to serve employers and job seekers in Region 5. We encourage both employers and job seekers to connect with the local WorkOne office to benefit from these resources.”

Those interested in the job fair but unable to attend are encouraged to still register, as a recording will be sent via email the following day.

To register, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8663973915793827088

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about joining the webinar.

Regal Cinema is closing all of its movie theaters across the United States.

The company said it's due to an "increasingly challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures."

All Regal theaters will close Thursday, and remain closed until "further notice."

There are 11 Regal movie theaters in Indiana:

-Avon (Regal Shiloh Crossing)

-Bedford (Regal Bedford)

-Carmel (Regal Village Park)

-Clarksville (Regal River Falls)

-Fort Wayne (Regal Coldwater Crossing)

-Greenwood (Regal Greenwood & RPX)

-Indianapolis (Regal UA Circle Centre, Regal UA Galaxy)

-New Albany (Regal New Albany)

-Noblesville (Regal Noblesville)

-Seymour (Regal Seymour)

More than a dozen people were in line to vote at the Shelby County Courthouse for the opening of absentee voting.

Absentee voting got underway in the lobby of the Shelby County Courthouse on Tuesday.

Voting hours will be Monday through Friday through October 30, 2020 during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  The Courthouse will also be open for voting on Saturdays, October 24 and October 31, from  8:00 am to 3:00 pm., and Monday, November 2, from 8:00 am to noon. 

On Saturdays October 24, 2020 and October 31, 2020 there will also be voting at the Family Arts Building at the Shelby County Fairgrounds from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. 

Anyone wishing to vote at the Courthouse please use the west entrance off the parking lot. Absentee voting will be conducted on the first floor of the Courthouse.

October 22, is the deadline by 11:59 pm for the Circuit Court Clerk to receive an absentee ballot application from an applicant requesting delivery of an absentee ballot by mail. Applications may be submitted to the Circuit Court Clerk in person, by fax, by mail or by e-mail. 

Any questions regarding the General Election to be held November 3, the public can call the Voter Registration Office at 317-392-6324.

Hoosiers impacted by the 2017 Equifax data breach can now file a claim online to receive compensation.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill on Monday announced the launch of IndianaEquifaxClaims.com , a website where Hoosiers can securely file a claim for a restitution payment. Hoosiers have until Dec. 16 to file a claim.

Hill’s office said many Hoosiers will receive an email from Do-Not-Reply@IndianaEquifaxClaims.com that says they are eligible for a payment under the terms of the settlement.

Hill’s office sued Equifax following the massive data breach, which compromised the Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, and credit card information of 147 million Americans, including nearly four million Hoosiers.

“Millions of Indiana residents were endangered financially due to Equifax’s failure to protect the personal information it was entrusted to keep private,” Attorney General Hill said. “We encourage these consumers to visit this website and claim the money they deserve. We hope this money lessens any burdens the data breach may have caused.”

Indiana was one of two states that opted not to participate in a multistate settlement with Equifax in July 2019. Instead, Hill’s office chose to file its own lawsuit against the company.

As part of Indiana’s settlement, Equifax agreed to pay the state $19.5 million. Nearly all of Indiana’s settlement has been directed toward restitution payments to affected consumers. A portion of the settlement will go toward administering the payments.

A new Indiana-developed app will track how many people are wearing masks and how many aren't.

The Regenstrief Institute launched maskcount.com last week, as a sort of public-health hybrid of Waze's crowdsourced traffic info and the functionality of Tinder. After logging in to the site, you swipe right when you see someone wearing a mask, or swipe left if they're not.

Regenstrief CEO Peter Embi says data about who's masking up has all been anecdotal. Instead of the decades-old practice of sending researchers out with a pad and pencil to count mask wearers, the institute realized it could use modern technology to bring more pairs of eyes to the question.

Embi says the data can help researchers assess whether mask orders actually change people's behavio, and how mask use correlates with rising or falling spread of the coronavirus. He says while the data are extremely preliminary so far, there's already one potentially intriguing finding: people appear more likely to wear their masks during the day than at night, perhaps because they let their guard down while socializing.

Embi says the app won't identify you or the people you pass, but it will log your location. You can see what percent of people are reported wearing masks within a two-block radius.

About 400 people in eight countries have signed up so far -- Embi says it'll be more effective the more people sign up.

A Shelbyville death investigation continues with the cause listed as undetermined.

On August 11, 2020 the Shelbyville Police Department received a 911 call to the 900 block of
Meridian Street. Shelbyville Police and fire personnel responded to investigate the report of an
unresponsive female. The female was later identified as Amber D. Griffith, 38, of Shelbyville.

Shelbyville Police Department Criminal Investigators were contacted and began investigating the
death, with the assistance of the Shelby County Coroner’s Office and the Shelby County Prosecutors Office. The preliminarily investigation showed the public was not in danger at that time. This is the continued position of the Shelbyville Police Department.

The death certificate lists the cause of death as: Undetermined.  It lists the nature of death as: Undetermined.

Detectives with the Shelbyville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division have received, and continue to receive, information from the public. We encourage those having information on this investigation to Contact the Shelbyville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 317.392.5118.

The incident remains under investigation.

KPIT Technologies Inc. (KPIT), a leading software integration partner to automotive and mobility original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers, announced plans today to grow its Columbus Technology Center. The company plans to continue its recent hiring trend, adding up to 75 new jobs by the end of 2023.

"Indiana is leading a tech transformation in the Midwest with global companies like KPIT choosing to grow here and create quality career opportunities for Hoosiers," said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. "With a thriving tech ecosystem and the second largest automotive industry in the nation, our state is the perfect location for the convergence of these essential sectors."

KPIT, headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a subsidiary of Pune, India-based KPIT Technologies Ltd., which has been operating in the U.S. for more than 15 years. In 2019, KPIT concentrated its focus solely on the automotive and mobility sectors. KPIT plans to invest $350,000 to upgrade software and equipment and grow its team at its Columbus technology facility, increasing product development capabilities while better supporting its customer needs by leveraging local talent, universities and technology partners. 

“The U.S. continues to be a key growth market for KPIT," said Sachin Tikekar, president and board member of KPIT. "Our earliest setup in the U.S. was in Columbus, Indiana with our strategic partnership with Cummins. Over the last 15 years, this relationship and investment in Columbus helped us initiate and expand our journey as a software integration partner to Automotive and Mobility very deeply. Today, the leaders in the Automotive and Mobility industry turn to us for solving the next generation of challenges. Coming back to Columbus and investing, reiterates our commitment to bring together the best of talent and drive innovation in Automotive and Mobility software for our clients worldwide.”

KPIT, which has a U.S. workforce of more than 500 engineers at its tech centers in Michigan and Indiana, committed to creating up to 175 new jobs and has already hired 100 new positions since late 2019 toward its goal. The company will continue to hire for positions in embedded software development and engineering. Interested applicants may apply online. 

“KPIT Technologies operates at the intersection of that which drives so much of the Columbus, Indiana economy,” said Mayor Jim Lienhoop. “Advanced mobility technologies, engineering excellence, foreign direct investment, and engaging a diverse and talented workforce are all attributes that we find in common with KPIT, and we are pleased to welcome their new investment in our community.”

KPIT joins a growing list of India-based companies with operations in Columbus, including Axiscades and Birlasoft. Other leading India-based firms in Indiana include Appirio – a Wipro Company, Infosys, Novelis Corp. and more. Together, India-based companies in Indiana support more than 1,000 Hoosier jobs.

Approved by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors, the IEDC offered KPIT Technologies Inc. up to $3.2 million in conditional tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. Greater Columbus Indiana EDC provided additional support.