Midwest

Former Indiana sheriff pleads guilty to charges of spending funds on travel, gifts, cars

Published

2 years ago

August 31, 2024

Former Indiana sheriff pleads guilty to charges of spending funds on travel, gifts, cars

A former Indiana sheriff pleaded guilty, as part of a deal, to more than two dozen charges stemming from allegations he spent millions of dollars in local funds on travel, gifts, cars and other personal expenses.

Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, 53, pleaded guilty Monday to 27 charges, including theft, official misconduct, tax evasion and money laundering, the Associated Press reported. He would serve 15 years in prison and pay more than $3 million in restitution under his plea deal.

Under the agreement, four counts of ghost employment alleging that Noel had his employees perform personal chores for him at his property would be dropped.

Special Judge Larry Medlock said Monday he was not against the plea agreement, but needed more time to hear from victims of Noel’s alleged crimes before accepting the deal.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE ELECTROCUTED IN ‘FREAK ACCIDENT’ WHILE ENJOYING SWIM IN POOL: POLICE

Jamey Noel sits at a court hearing on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Clark County Circuit Court in Jeffersonville, Indiana. (AP)

“I want to hear from taxpayers that have been aggrieved by the actions of this individual,” Medlock said.

Noel remains in the Scott County Jail on a $1.5 million bond.

He served two consecutive terms as Clark County’s elected Republican sheriff before leaving office in 2022. Noel also previously served as chairman of the Clark County Republican Party.

Most of the charges Noel pleaded guilty to are in connection with his time as president and CEO of the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, which also does business as New Chapel Fire and EMS. The company landed several public contracts for fire and EMS service in Clark and Floyd counties under Noel. His employment was terminated by the association’s board in January.

YOUNG INDIANA MOM OF 3 ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY EX-BOYFRIEND WHILE FILMING TIKTOK WITH FRIEND: REPORT

Noel remains in the Scott County Jail on a $1.5 million bond. (iStock)

Noel and his family allegedly spent millions of dollars on personal purchases, including travel, gifts, clothing and vehicles, according to the News and Tribune.

Medlock said in June that Noel had used the firefighter association’s funds as a “personal piggy bank.”

The Indiana State Police executed dozens of searches and uncovered payments for classic cars, college tuition and an aircraft.

Noel’s wife, Misty Noel, and daughter, Kasey Noel, face separate charges of theft and tax evasion. Both women pleaded not guilty, and their jury trials are both scheduled for Oct. 28.

The Indiana State Police executed dozens of searches and uncovered payments for classic cars, college tuition and an aircraft. (iStock)

The plea agreement in Noel’s case calls for him to pay more than $2.87 million in restitution to the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association, more than $61,000 to the sheriff’s department, more than $173,000 to the Indiana Department of Revenue with his wife and more than $35,000 to the Indiana State Police for costs associated with the storage of evidence.

Noel would also be required to pay a fine, with the costs to be determined by the court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Illinois

Central Illinois could see tornadoes tonight. How to sign up for alerts

Published

15 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Central Illinois is expected to be hit with tornado alerts Tuesday afternoon and evening, with the highest risk between 6 and 10 p.m.

The National Weather Service announced on X that a Tornado Watch is 95% likely in east-central Illinois through 4:30 p.m. The potential storm is forecast to reach a peak intensity of 2-3.5 inch hail, 55-70 mph winds and 120-150 mph tornadoes.

Here’s how to stay updated on weather alerts in your area.

How to sign up for weather alerts in Illinois

Most residents throughout Illinois will automatically receive Wireless Emergency Alerts on their mobile phones from the NWS, warning them of potentially dangerous weather in their area. These will look like normal text messages and will typically show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take and the agency issuing the alert.

Other sources of information include NOAA Weather Radio, the Storm Prediction Center’s live map of nationwide tornado watches and the Emergency Alert System on radio and TV broadcasts.

Residents can also sign up for text alerts through their local county emergency management agency, such as NotifyChicago.

Sign up for USA TODAY Network weather alerts

Illinois residents can sign up for alerts from the USA TODAY Network to receive texts about current storms and weather events in their area.

Tornado watch vs warning

The NWS explains the difference between the varying tornado alert terminology on its website.

A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in the area, while a tornado warning means a twister has been sighted or indicated by the weather radar. A tornado emergency is the most severe alert, meaning a violent tornado has touched down in the area.

The website uses the phrases “be prepared,” “take action” and “seek shelter immediately” to summarize the three alerts.

Central Illinois weather radar

Chicago weather radar

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Indiana

Severe storm risk into tonight through early Wednesday morning

Published

21 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Severe storm risk into tonight through early Wednesday morning

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We are monitoring the potential for severe weather into early Wednesday morning.

Tornado Watch in effect until EDT midnight March 10, 2026, for Benton, Newton, and Jasper counties.

Tuesday night: Please make sure you have your safety plan on standby into tonight through pre-dawn Wednesday morning. There is now a level 4/5 severe risk in northwest Indiana. Much of central Indiana remains in a level 2/5 risk.

The risk for significant tornadoes (EF2+) and very large hail (2″+) is greatest north of I-70 with any discrete cell(s) that maintain their-selves into mainly northern Indiana. There is also potential for a max expected intensity of an EF-3+ tornado within much (if not all) of the level 3 & 4 risk zone.

This does not mean that every storm will produce a tornado of that magnitude. It is simply highlighting area of highest concern for the possibility of such occurrence.

Now, given a modestly unstable environment into the pre-dawn hours Wednesday with stronger wind flow aloft, all hazards will remain possible into central Indiana. The significant severe threat here is much lower.

Overall, you need to have multiple ways of being able to get alerts tonight. Do not be scared, be prepared and you will be ok.

Wednesday: Beyond sunrise Wednesday, we will continue to track more in the way of showers and storms. The main area of the strong-severe storm risk looks to shift mainly southeast of Indy with damaging winds the primary concern through the morning into afternoon hours.

Rainfall amounts through Wednesday may amount to 1-2″ with locally higher amounts.

Highs to occur earlier in the day with numbers in the mid to upper 60s. Non-thunderstorm winds will also be quite breezy with gusts up to 30-35 MPH.

Thursday: Be prepared for quite a temperature shift into Thursday. We will start the day off with temperatures in the low 30 with 20s wind chills. Yeah, that will not feel great considering our recent stretch of more mild days. Highs will only get into the upper 40s.

7-Day Forecast: We look to warm back up into this weekend, but it will come with more active weather and breezy winds. Friday will feature highs in the mid to upper 50s with wind gusts up to 25-30 MPH. Highs look to tick back into the low 60s Sunday with more chances for rain. Then, temperatures really take a tumble into next Monday with highs only in the 30s and a chance for a rain/snow mix.

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Iowa

NCAA Wrestling Championships at-large bids announced

Published

27 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

NCAA Wrestling Championships at-large bids announced

The 330 wrestlers competing in Cleveland at the NCAA Championships are now set.

After the conference tournaments established the lion’s share of wrestlers, the NCAA announced the at-large bids on Tuesday, March 10, completing the rest of the field.

Brackets and seeds will be announced on March 10, but here’s a look at the contingents each state of Iowa program will be sending after the at-large bids were announced.

Iowa wrestling NCAA qualifiers

For the third year in a row, Iowa wrestling will be sending nine to the NCAA Championships. Victor Voinovich did not earn an at-large bid at 157 pounds after finishing ninth at the Big Ten Championships, one place outside of NCAA automatic qualification. He concludes his season with a 12-6 record.

Voinovich narrowly earned the starting job over Jordan Williams at 157, with Iowa coach Tom Brands saying it was very close, but Voinovich had shown a little more “fight” this year. Now that Voinovich hasn’t qualified for NCAAs, it’s a decision that will go further under the microscope.

What’s done is done, however, for Iowa. They’ll take Dean Peterson (125), Drake Ayala (133), Nasir Bailey (141), Ryder Block (149), Michael Caliendo (165), Patrick Kennedy (174), Angelo Ferrari (184), Gabe Arnold (197) and Ben Kueter (285) to Cleveland in hopes of salvaging what has been a tough season.

Iowa State wrestling NCAA qualifiers

For the first time since 2010, Iowa State will send all 10 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. Vinny Zerban earned an at-large bid at 157 pounds despite falling short of the automatic qualifying threshold at the Big 12 Championships. Zerban suffered a concussion and medically forfeited out of the tournament after his first match in Tulsa. His health status will be worth monitoring NCAAs inch closer, from March 19-22.

The Cyclones look poised for one of their best postseasons in recent memory with their 10 qualifiers ―Stevo Poulin (125), Garrett Grice (133), Anthony Echemendia (141), Jacob Frost (149), Zerban, Connor Euton (165), MJ Gaitan (174), Isaac Dean (184), Rocky Elam (197) and Yonger Bastida (285). The loss of Evan Frost hurts the Cyclones, considering his pedigree and season as a whole, but Grice’s has earned several ranked wins since entering the lineup in February and could still add some much-needed team points as the team chases a team trophy.

Behind title contenders Elam and Bastida, proven podium threats in Poulin, Echemnedia, Jacob Frost and Zerban (if healthy), Iowa State will be in the mix for a top-four finish in Cleveland.

UNI wrestling NCAA qualifiers

Northern Iowa will send five to the NCAA Championships. Automatic qualifiers Julian Farber (133), Caleb Rathjen (149) and Ryder Downey (165) will be joined by Jared Simma (174) and Nick Fox (184), who each earned at-large bids. The number of qualifiers could extend to six, with Trever Anderson (125) being the alternate at 125 pounds for NCAAs. However, he had to medically forfeit out of the Big 12 Championships, so his health status would be in question if he got called up.

With that, Max Brady (141), Cael Rahnavardi (157), John Gunderson (197) and Adam Ahrendsen (285) will have their seasons come to an end. Brady, a true freshman, will still have three NCAA chances in his career after showing promising moments in relief of Cory Land’s season-ending injury. Gunderson, a U23 World team member, will return for next season as well. Rahnavardi and Ahrendsen were both in their final seasons of eligibility.

Following injuries to Land and Wyatt Voelker, it’s been a hard year for the Panthers. This is half the number of NCAA qualifiers that UNI had last season when they qualified 10 for the first time since 1986. The last time UNI had five or fewer qualifiers was 2016.

However, all five of their wrestlers have each shown moments of brilliance, either this season or in prior NCAA Championships. They may be a smaller crew than normal, but Downey, Rathjen, Farber, Simma and Fox are all ones to watch in Cleveland.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

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