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Indiana earmarks $25 million to preserve more natural areas

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Indiana earmarks  million to preserve more natural areas


Indiana is able to defend and protect extra environmentally necessary lands after legislators doled out the most important infusion of acquisition funding within the state’s historical past.

The Division of Pure Sources will present $25 million throughout the state to non-profit conservation organizations, native governments and firms for public parks, historic websites, forests, nature preserves, wetlands, wildlife habitat and different comparable areas.

The windfall is made attainable by the Biden administration’s 2021 American Rescue Plan. And it is large compared to the about $1 million the state has accessible yearly for land conservation from the sale of blue, environmental license plates.

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With a required 25% match from native companions, the buying energy balloons to greater than $31 million. Which will sound like some huge cash, however it can go quick as a result of escalating land costs and the big variety of high-quality conservation areas throughout Indiana in want of preservation.

“I anticipate this cash to be absolutely dedicated most likely earlier than the tip of 2024, after which the initiatives most likely absolutely funded by finish of ’26,” mentioned Tom Laycock, DNR’s director of the land acquisition division.

Indiana stored the outside open in the course of the pandemic, Laycock mentioned, and the inflow of Hoosiers visiting out of doors areas reveals a major demand for extra conservation areas within the state.

“If you take a look at the out of doors dynamics and what occurs, having out of doors house is one thing that has turn into an financial driver to recruiting firms and other people to come back to any space of the nation,” Laycock mentioned.

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Andrea Huntington, government director of the Indiana Land Safety Alliance, wrote in a information launch that folks search nature in instances of tumult and uncertainty and Indiana’s pure areas noticed large will increase in visitation in 2020.

“Nonetheless, trails and wild locations don’t simply occur,” Huntington wrote. “They require considerate management and daring, strategic investments like Subsequent Stage Trails and the state’s new Subsequent Stage Conservation Belief.”

Indiana established the Subsequent Stage belief to distribute the brand new funds. This system is a continuation of 2016’s Bicentennial Nature Belief, which dispersed $20 million in state funds and one other $10 million from the Lilly Endowment.

Particular person land trusts function in every county within the state, and the Central Indiana Land Belief focuses on a conservation plan that prioritizes areas corresponding to tall grass prairies, outdated progress forests amongst different high-quality habitats for preservation.

The group companions with different teams to accumulate and preserve these lands, and CILT Govt Director Cliff Chapman mentioned the DNR shouldn’t have any drawback spending all $25 million.

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“The land conservation neighborhood actually proved with the $30 million that we will generate the match,” Chapman mentioned of the bicentennial funding. “We proved we will spend about $6 million annually in public funding.”

Chapman mentioned there’s a monetary profit for taxpayers when the state companions with a personal land belief.

“It’s an incredible deal for the taxpayers of Indiana as a result of if we use public funding to get a deal, we then deal with the land in perpetuity with personal {dollars},” Chapman mentioned.

Upkeep, unique and invasive plant removing different repairs prices add up when land is preserved eternally, he mentioned.

ACRES Land Belief operates within the northeastern a part of Indiana and Govt Director Jason Kissel mentioned the group is already three initiatives to suggest for the brand new funding.

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“These alone are about $2.5 million. That’s a tenth of the funding already,” Kissel mentioned. “Land is so costly and $25 million appears like rather a lot, and it certain is, however while you take a look at the necessity, we may spend that each one on our personal.”

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DNR will start taking purposes as early as July with an preliminary deadline of August 1, Laycock mentioned. The President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Belief will evaluation purposes quarterly following DNR’s deadlines. These conferences are open to the general public.

All $25 million should be earmarked by 2024 and spent by 2026 as a result of restrictions positioned on federal funding, however Laycock mentioned it gained’t take lengthy to get by means of the cash.

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The Central Indiana Land Trust delayed the Oct. 22, 2013, opening of the Blossom Hollow Nature Preserve. Cliff Chapman, executive director of the organization, said in a recent interview that he hopes Hoosiers reach out to local legislators and tell them how valuable protected lands are.

“We’re seeing initiatives coming in within the $500,000 to $1.5 million vary,” he mentioned. “The cash just isn’t going to final very lengthy.”

Each land belief administrators, Chapman and Kissel, mentioned they hope Hoosiers attain out to state legislators and ask to have this sort of funding for preservation yearly.

“It doesn’t take very many individuals to ship an e mail or name their representatives within the legislature and allow them to know they need this cash to get extra land protected,” Chapman mentioned. “It’s an incredible deal for folks in Indiana and if representatives hear from constituents, perhaps we will get this carried out.”

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar setting reporter. You may attain him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Comply with him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar’s environmental reporting undertaking is made attainable by means of the beneficiant help of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Belief.





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Indiana State Police arrest woman accused of helping man wanted for allegedly shooting deputy

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Indiana State Police arrest woman accused of helping man wanted for allegedly shooting deputy


FOX59/CBS4 has requested a mugshot of Victoria Howard, which has not been provided as of this article’s publication. The mugshot will be added once it is released.

FLOYD COUNTY, Ind. — Authorities have arrested a woman accused of helping a man flee from authorities after he allegedly shot an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy.

Indiana State Police announced the arrest of 35-year-old Victoria Howard of New Albany, alleging that she assisted Austin Schepers after he reportedly shot Deputy Zac Andry on Jan. 3 in Orange Count.

A previous booking photo of Austin Schepers provided by Indiana State Police.

ISP said the incident occurred after Deputy Andry stopped to check on a disabled silver 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix near US Highway 150 and State Road 56. During this interaction, Schepers allegedly shot the deputy several times. Previous reports indicate Andry was transported to a Louisville-based hospital in “critical but stable condition.”

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Schepers allegedly fled to a residence located in the 1800 block of Market Street in New Albany after the shooting.

Photo of Deputy Zac Andry courtesy of Indiana State Police.

Detectives believe Howard was aware that Scheper was wanted for his alleged role in the encounter and that police were searching for him.

ISP accused Howard of utilizing the ride-sharing app Lyft to assist Schepers as he looked for a ride from her apartment to the area of Craig Street and Wheeler Avenue in Louisville.

Schepers was found on Jan. 4 by investigators in the 3700 block of Wheeler Avenue where he was eventually killed during a shootout with police.

ISP said Howard was arrested without incident on Jan. 9 in Clarksville and taken to the Floyd County Jail where she was preliminarily charged with assisting a criminal (level 5 felony) and false informing (Class A misdemeanor).

ISP added that more individuals could face additional charges for allegedly helping Schepers while law enforcement was searching for him.

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Latest forecast: How much snow will Indiana get Friday? When will it fall?

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Latest forecast: How much snow will Indiana get Friday? When will it fall?


The Bloomington area will get more snow today. Here’s how much the National Weather Service now expects to fall and when.

How much snow will Monroe County get Friday?

Aaron Updike, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis said the Bloomington area is expected to get between 2 and 4 inches of snow.

Southern parts of Indiana could see even more, with Bedford projected to get close to 4 inches and areas closer to Louisville possibly seeing 6 inches.

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When will the snow fall today in the Bloomington area?

Updike said the NWS expects the snow to begin around 11 a.m. and end about 12 hours later. However, he said, the day will bring periods of lulls and peaks, though those are more difficult to predict.

Generally, Updike said, the heaviest accumulation will occur from mid-to-late afternoon, around 2 to 6 p.m.

He urged commuters to take extra time and care, as they may experience slippery roads and sidewalks on their way home.

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What kind of snow will be falling in Indiana on Friday?

Updike said the snow should be light and fluffy. The NWS expects only light wind, with gusts of 10 to 15 mph, which means the area should not expect to see much drifting snow.

How cold will it get in the Bloomington area tonight?

The NWS projects that the cloud cover will hang around the area for a while, which will contribute to temperatures falling only to about 20 degrees.

Is there a chance of snowmelt any time soon in Indiana?

Updike said temperatures should rise to near freezing on Sunday, and the area also might see some pockets of sunshine, which should help melt some snow especially on pavement and roads.

However, he said temperatures will not rise enough in the next few days to melt all of the snow.

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Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.



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Indiana Fever linked to trade for 2-time All-Star

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Indiana Fever linked to trade for 2-time All-Star


Satou Sabally was immediately linked to the New York Liberty after announcing that she has played her final game for the Dallas Wings during Unrivaled Basketball’s media availability on Thursday. However, the Indiana Fever are another team who were recently mentioned as a possible trade suitor for the two-time All-Star, via Chloe Peterson of indystar.com.

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Sabally’s announcement was the primary discussion swirling around the WNBA world on Thursday. The Wings will have the option to core Sabally, which will likely lead to a trade given her comments on Thursday. The chances of Dallas simply letting Sabally walk in free agency while passing on the option to core her are slim, but Sabally will likely still end up with a new team for the 2025 season.

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The question is which team will she end up with? The defending-champion Liberty have Satou’s sister Nyara Sabally on the roster, so that may catch Satou’s attention. Joining an up-and-coming team like the Fever may also entice Satou, though.

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There will be other candidates aside from Indiana and New York, of course. The Fever and Liberty both make sense as possible trade destinations for Satou Sabally, however. At only 26 years old, Sabally features the ceiling of a true superstar. If she can stay healthy, Sabally can significantly impact any team she joins.

Fever could trade for Satou Sabally

Sabally would add more star-power alongside Caitlin Clark in Indiana. Clark instantly became one of the most popular players in the WNBA in her rookie season during the 2024 campaign. Adding a star or two would help Indiana, though.

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The Fever reached the postseason but were quickly eliminated in the first round. Indiana’s future remains bright, but they need to upgrade the roster around Clark. Sabally would turn the Fever into serious contenders.

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If the Liberty find a way to acquire Sabally, however, the rest of the WNBA may be in trouble. With Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones already on the roster, the Liberty project to be a championship contender once again. Assuming Stewart returns, the Liberty will compete with or without Sabally, but adding her to the roster would turn New York into a super-team.

Sabally’s announcement on Thursday is already changing the landscape of the WNBA. Rumors will continue to swirl over the next few months. If Sabally is traded, which is seemingly expected at this point, whichever team acquires her will take a big step forward.

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