City-County Council votes to ditch mask mandate for vaccinated residents
The Democratic-majority council passed the measure 19-5, along party lines, with Republicans opposed because the order didn’t fully lift all capacity limits for businesses.
Public Safety
Articles
Despite pandemic, traffic deaths last year hit highest number since 2007
Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle miles traveled fell by about 430.2 billion miles last year when compared with 2019.
Safety expert: Make a plan, be ready to execute
Eric Dietz, director of Purdue University’s Homeland Security Institute, says businesses should have “active shooter” emergency drills just as they have fire drills.
Cities braced for post-Chauvin trial unrest, got celebrations instead
Across America, communities prepared for the worst. They put up barriers and called in reinforcements. They boarded up windows and declared emergencies. They were bracing for Derek Chauvin to be acquitted of George Floyd’s murder, but that didn’t happen.
Ex-cop Chauvin convicted of murder, manslaughter in George Floyd death
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the explosive case that triggered worldwide protests and a furious reexamination of racism and policing.
OPHS to kick off neighborhood violence reduction series with free food, gun locks
At least eight community organizations will join the city’s Office of Public Health and Safety on Indianapolis’ northeast side Saturday to kick off the anti-violence series.
Holcomb says he will veto legislation that allows lawmakers to call ’emergency sessions’
The final version of House Bill 1123, which would create what would be called an “emergency session,” could pass out of both chambers as early as Thursday.
State Senate passes legislation to create new emergency session
The Indiana Senate has passed legislation that would give lawmakers the power to convene at any time during a statewide public emergency and more oversight over federal stimulus dollars.
Indiana providing $15 Uber, Lyft credits in six cities
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute says its Sober Ride Indiana pilot program will provide ride credits to the first 10,000 total rides through April 5. The program coincides with St. Patrick’s Day and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
IMPD ‘excited’ about role in March Madness
Deputy Chief Joshua Barker says the challenge requires lots of planning and coordination—with the NCAA, the Indiana Sports Corp., local businesses, and even other police departments throughout the region.
State capitols have boarded up, fenced off across the country—but not in Indianapolis
With the FBI warning of potential for violence at all state capitols, the ornate halls of government this weekend looked more like heavily guarded U.S. embassies in war-torn countries. In Indiana, however, there was little sign that officials were concerned about a protest scheduled for Sunday.
Fieldhouse gets safety certification prior to upcoming reopening
The new measures are part of the venue’s effort to meet accreditation standards established by the International Well Building Institute at buildings across the country.
Downtown Indy CEO leading fight for downtown’s recovery
Sherry Seiwert spoke with IBJ recently about what her organization is doing to help the city bounce back.
Indianapolis to use $7.1M in federal grants to house 500 homeless households
The funding will serve 350 people or families currently living in non-congregate shelters, especially those at risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying, and 150 unsheltered households that face high barriers to find housing.
City to spend $750,000 to increase safety measures downtown
The announcement comes after months of complaints from residents, workers and business owners that downtown has become unsafe following pandemic-related shutdowns and protests that turned violent earlier this summer.
Business disruption lingers from widespread Midwest storm
States on Wednesday continued to deal with the impact of a wind storm that tore through the Midwest, as widespread power outages kept businesses closed, limited communication, spoiled food and caused long lines at gas stations.
City sets first public meeting on reforming public safety
The first public meeting will include a first look at initial survey results as well as data that has been gathered by the Criminal Justice Lab.
City to survey residents about public safety strategies
Mayor Joe Hogsett said the public survey will be the first step in the city’s partnership with the Criminal Justice Lab at New York University School of Law to “re-imagine public safety in Indianapolis.”
Andre Carson: Let’s seize this moment to make lasting change
we must dramatically reimagine and reconstruct policing. The Justice in Policing Act, introduced this month in Congress, is a good start.
Rose-Hulman grad helping prevent wildfires with new technology
Wes Bolsen, the founding CEO of Denver-based LaderaTech, brought to market what experts are calling a revolutionary spray-on flame retardant that adheres to grass and plant life for remarkably long periods of time.