Indiana’s rapidly expanding hemp sector is bracing for major changes after federal lawmakers approved a nationwide ban on most hemp-derived products as part of the bill that ended the recent 43-day government shutdown. The provision, set to take effect in November 2026, targets products containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container, effectively … Read more
As the 2026 legislative session prepares to begin next week, one lawmaker is set to introduce a bill that would end marriage for minors in the state. Across the U.S., there is no federal ban on child marriage, leaving the issue to individual states. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., have enacted laws prohibiting marriage under … Read more
An Indiana father who tortured his 6-year-old son for months before beating him to death will spend decades behind bars after a judge rejected his plea for leniency. Franklin Elmore Jr. initially claimed that his son, Justin Elmore, caused his own fatal injuries. Justin was rushed to the hospital on August 3 after becoming unresponsive, … Read more
Patients Choice Laboratories (PCL), a diagnostic lab based in Indianapolis, has agreed to a $9.62 million settlement over allegations of violating the False Claims Act and engaging in kickback schemes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. PCL was accused of billing Medicare for unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests … Read more
A small single-engine plane flipped at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Two people were on board the plane. Both managed to exit on their own, though one was taken to the hospital with cuts. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. Some speculate that gusty winds may have contributed … Read more
Walmart on Franklin Street has returned to normal operations after a bomb threat was reported. The Michigan City Police Department responded to the Walmart Supercenter following the threat. Officers, with support from the Porter County Bomb Squad and LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department K9 Division, found no bomb or credible danger. The Detective Bureau continued its … Read more
Kristopher McDonald, 37, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to three life terms in federal prison for running a violent sex-trafficking enterprise and committing a deadly shooting connected to his criminal operation. A federal jury convicted McDonald on all eight counts, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and multiple firearm offenses. According to evidence presented at trial, between … Read more
A federal judge in El Paso has sentenced 43-year-old Edgar Omar Martinez of Anthony, New Mexico, to 262 months (over 21 years) in prison for trafficking approximately 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl. Martinez was arrested on March 14, 2025, after FBI agents discovered about 17,000 fentanyl pills in his vehicle. Court records show he obtained the … Read more
A Cook County judge has sentenced 47-year-old Jimmy Smith, a man with more than a dozen prior felony convictions, to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a grocery store clerk during a 2024 robbery. Smith pleaded guilty to murder before Judge Ursula Walowski, who ordered that the full sentence be served. Prosecutors … Read more
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that left two men dead Friday night in Kankakee Township. Deputies responded around 9 p.m. to the intersection of State Road 2 and County Road 500 East, where they found both drivers deceased at the scene. According to investigators, a truck driven by 42-year-old … Read more