Workers find time capsule near entrance of Indiana zoo

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Construction workers have uncovered a time capsule that had long been rumored to be buried near the entrance of a northwestern Indiana zoo.

Workers preparing for landscaping work at the Columbian Park Zoo in Lafayette found a copper box on March 22 as they used equipment to move a boulder which once held a Spanish-American War Memorial plaque that was dedicated in 1931.

The Journal & Courier reports that the small box was opened Thursday. It contained several newspapers still legible despite spending 88 years beneath the boulder.

Lafayette parks superintendent Claudine Laufman says the time capsule's opening created "some great excitement about the history of our great community."

Read more: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/workers-find-time-capsule-near-entrance-of-nw-indiana-zoo/article_063d3304-2397-5f7f-a4da-fc2fa64225d3.html

Casino boss treated Gov. Holcomb to private flights with lucrative gambling deal on the line

An Indiana casino magnate last year treated Gov. Eric Holcomb to two private-jet flights and directed six-figure sums to Holcomb’s biggest 2016 campaign donor, all while pushing for big changes to the state's gaming laws that would benefit his new business.

Rod Ratcliff, chairman and CEO of Spectacle Entertainment, flew Holcomb to meetings in Aspen, Colorado, and Scottsdale, Arizona, in July and November, respectively, that were hosted by the source of that campaign money, the Republican Governors Association.

The flights, one of which tax records show cost about $20,000, gave Ratcliff and his business partners hours of exclusive access to the governor, who will have final say over their plans to move two Gary casinos to more lucrative locations.

One of the flights was just a day before Ratcliff announced plans to acquire those two casinos.

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/28/indiana-casino-boss-treated-gov-eric-holcomb-to-private-flights/3166074002/

Up to 40% of homeless teens are LGBTQ. Soon, Indianapolis will have a home for them.

While less than 10 percent of teens identify as LGBTQ, as many as 40 percent of youth who experience homelessness do. But there are few services to help these teens and few safe places for them to live.

This summer the state’s first transitional housing for homeless LGBTQ youth will open in the Mapleton Fall Creek area. Called Trinity Haven, the home initially will have room for 10 youths and, eventually, capacity for as many as 15. Still, that will come nowhere near to stanching the need, said Chris Paulsen, executive director of the Indiana Youth Group, which offers programming for the LGBTQ youth population.

“I would say we could easily fill 10 Trinity Havens today,” said Paulsen, an ex officio member of the home’s board. “Actually, we could fill 20 Trinity Havens.”

1 in 4 youths who come out to family know homelessness

About 1 in 4 youths who come out as LGBTQ to their families finds themselves at least temporarily homeless, statistics show. While some of those do reunite with their families after the initial shock, others do not and must scramble to put a roof over their heads. Some exchange sex for shelter.

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/03/31/homeless-lgbtq-teens-indianapolis-facility-give-place-call-home/3238244002/

Special prosecutor is sought in case of Hamilton County judge charged in meth bust

A special judge and prosecutor have been asked to handle the criminal case of a Hamilton County magistrate facing felony possession of methamphetamine charges after a police sting operation.

William Greenaway, 50, was charged Monday with meth possession, resisting law enforcement and obstructing justice, all felonies, following a bust last week in which the jurist allegedly swallowed the evidence and had to be hospitalized.

His arrest jeopardizes his judicial career, forces the court to juggle his caseload and raises eyebrows over drug cases the judge himself may have presided over.

Deputy Prosecutor Andre Mishka said his office has asked that a special prosecutor and judge handle the prosecution of Greenaway to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest.

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2019/03/25/hamilton-county-judge-faces-felony-drug-possession-charges/3233062002/

'I'm not sure what the heck this is': Unusual allegations arise in Carmel mayor's race

Election-season shenanigans typically involve allegations of yard-sign stealing or perhaps a brick thrown through an office window.

Or occasionally someone says petitions were forged or a robocall call was deceitful.

But in Carmel, one of the state’s wealthiest cities, the Republican primary race for mayor between incumbent Jim Brainard and challenger Fred Glynn has taken a richer turn.

Allegations include a $140,000 bribe attempt or a $140,000 shakedown, depending on whose account one believes, and a campaign manager at the center of what did or did not happen switching sides.

Read more: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/carmel/2019/03/31/carmel-mayors-race-bribery-allegations-raise-eyebrows/3293839002/

Trump promised!

Poor People's Campaign Calls For 'Moral Revival' at Statehouse

When the diverse group gathered Monday morning, March 25, at the Statehouse for the Indiana Poor People's Campaign legislative demand delivery, they put their priorities into practice from the start.

Before the official program began, Rev. Shonda Nicole Gladden, CEO of Good to the SOUL, invited those seated in the audience to join the speakers on stage.

“We're all in this together,” she said. “You're welcome to join us.”

The group, which is one of 35 state campaigns across the nation, was gathered to demand “a massive overhaul of voting rights, welfare and work requirements, living wages, health care, access to clean water, housing, ecological devastation and an end to endless war, to lift up the 140 million Americans currently living in poverty.”

Read more: https://www.nuvo.net/news/poor-people-s-campaign-calls-for-moral-revival-at-statehouse/article_508aaa16-50ce-11e9-bcd9-2777cd6e4432.html