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Indiana lawmakers float alternative property tax solution

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Indiana lawmakers float alternative property tax solution


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The House’s top budget writer on Wednesday said Indiana’s local tax system is ultimately behind many of the problems that have brought property taxes to the fore.

For the second week in a row, the House Ways and Means Committee took testimony on Senate Bill 1, the property tax relief bill that has become the signature issue of the 2025 legislative session. Committee Chair Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, on Wednesday floated a new proposal that would replace the bill’s current language with a property tax proposal he filed earlier this session.

Thompson’s amendment would phase out the state’s current property tax deductions and replace them with a single homestead deduction amounting to two-thirds of a home’s assessed valuation, or one-third of assessed value for homes eligible for the state’s property tax circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is for low-income homeowners age 65 and older, and limits any increase in their property taxes to 2% per year. The measure also contains several tax provisions unrelated to property taxes.

Thompson said the state’s constitution mandates setting property tax rates but, in practice, many of the state’s property taxes are levies, meaning the total amount of funds a local government unit may collect on a rate. He said his goal is ultimately to set a single, equal rate across the state of $3 per $100 assessed value.

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“If you raise the rate (under the current system), I get more dollars for my unit and the other units lose,” he said. “And if I lower the rate, the other units gain and my unit loses, and my taxpayers didn’t see a penny change. And to me, that’s the most important part of the bill.”

That goal drew pointed questions from Democrats on the committee. Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, asked who would be responsible for ensuring individual taxing districts did not exceed the maximum rate. Thompson said that’s the General Assembly’s job.

The question of how to balance property tax relief with the needs of local services such as police, fire and schools has driven this year’s debate over SB 1. Thompson’s proposal still would cost local governments more than $736 million per year by 2031 but, unlike earlier versions of SB 1, some local taxing units would gain revenue. For example, Indianapolis Public Schools would lose about $9.4 million in 2031 but the tax district that funds Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department would bring in an additional $8.1 million. That’s in part because the bill also would allow municipalities to set local income tax rates of up to 1.2%.

Thompson’s committee took several hours of testimony on his amendment but intentionally did not take any action on it. The language of his amendment has not been added into the bill. Thompson said the bill is still very much an ongoing conversation and his amendment does not necessarily represent his committee’s final plan. He said he expects to hear additional proposals in the coming weeks.

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Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side

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Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police say one “young man” is dead after a shooting at the 1200 block of Rue Rabelais at about 7:19 p.m. according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

That is near the intersection of 56th Street and Binford Boulevard.

Police say the victim was taken to Riley Hospital where he later died. Investigators say they are still working to identify the victim.

There was no known information about a suspect. Police did say that they believe this is a targeted incident.

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There was no other information immediately available.

This story has been updated with information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.



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Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet

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Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet


This story contains descriptions of distressing circumstances involving children.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of causing the death of a 4-year-old-boy found dead in a basement closet on Monday. 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Angel Lovely, 37, and Nicholas Bergdoll, 36, on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office by Friday had not filed formal charges. 

A sibling found the 4-year-old dead on Monday, according to investigators. Lovely and Bergdoll were in the home at the time but told police they were asleep when he died. 

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Born premature with cerebral palsy, the 4-year old couldn’t walk, was nonverbal, and ate through a feeding tube. Lovely claimed she would rarely put the child in the closet, only “when he won’t stop screaming” or when she “needed a break.” 

But when investigators interviewed Lovely’s three other children, they said that the boy “stays in the closet all day,” and that “mom locks him in the closet” and “does not pay attention to him.” 

An exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, but the child was found with blood in his mouth. Lovely said he’d been aspirating.

One of Lovely’s children told investigators they heard the 4-year-old gagging but didn’t say anything because it wasn’t unusual.

A neighbor living on Monticello Drive, Michelle Johnson, told News 8, “It’s horrible. It breaks my heart.”  

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Johnson had seen the other children outside the home but never knew there was a boy in a wheelchair living there. She said if she suspected they were being neglected, she would have called police or the Indiana Department of Child Services.

“We’re supposed to be a village and raise kids together,” Johnson said. “That’s really heartbreaking.” 

Bergdoll told police, according to the investigators’ report, that he didn’t agree with putting the child in the closet: “I am not going to tell her how to f****** raise her kids.” 

“I’m sickened,” IMPD Public Information Officer Tommy Thompson told News 8 in an interview.
“Think about putting yourself in that situation. Every day, do you want to be in a closet? Locked up, no light?”

Court records show the Department of Child Services had removed the boy from Lovely’s care because of medical neglect, but she regained custody last year against DCS recommendations.  

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Thompson, the neighbor, hopes the tragedy can be an opportunity for others to speak up when they see a child who can’t speak up for themselves. “Maybe you’ve got to make that tough phone call. Reach out. The city has resources.”

Johnson wishes she would have known what was happening so she could have said something. “Children don’t have a voice and we’re supposed to be their voice.”

Help is available for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Below is a list of suggested resources, both national and local:



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Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide

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Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide


WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Police have arrested someone in connection to a homicide earlier this month in the Hamilton County city.

In a Friday night social media post, the Westfield Police Department announced the arrest but gave no details, including who was arrested or what preliminary charges the person may face.

“Due to the active nature of this case, limited details are available for release at this time,” the post said.

As WISHTV.com previously reported, James “Matt” Lushin, 47, was found dead shortly after 7:25 p.m. March 12 with trauma at his home in the 3900 block of Westfield Road, also known as State Road 32.

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Social media posts from the scene showed police tape and emergency vehicles at a red brick house between Shady Nook Road and Gray Road.

Lushin’s obituary said the Kokomo native was a key partner with the real estate investment company, FLF Property. The obituary also said, “Matt was also a respected and accomplished member of the international poker community. He traveled the world competing in tournaments and built an impressive and successful career.”

Police have previously said the death was believed to be isolated, posing no ongoing threat.

Officials have not released a specific cause or manner of death.

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