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Indiana targets businesses hiring workers in country without legal permission

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Indiana targets businesses hiring workers in country without legal permission


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Businesses could face fines for knowingly hiring workers living in the country without legal permission under an Indiana law taking effect soon.

That was the message from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita at a Thursday news conference.

Enforcement of Senate Enrolled Act 76, called the Fairness Act by Republicans, is set to begin July 1. The law will mark the first time in the state’s history that businesses will be financially penalized for employing workers in the country without legal permission.

Rokita said, “We do expect whatever operation you run to have it run fairly, and that means you hire Hoosiers and you at least hire U.S. citizens, and you do not try to exploit cheap labor from people who shouldn’t be here in the first place.”

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The Republican attorney general said the goal of the law was to crack down on what he calls “underground economies” and “labor trafficking” in the construction industry.

A Central Midwest Carpenters’ Union representative said both union and nonunion companies are being undercut by competitors who take advantage of low-wage workers living in the country without legal permission. Kyle Gresham said, “There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. This is not a union and nonunion issue. This is about workers. This is about doing what’s right. This is about paying their fair share.”

“I’ve seen workers hanging drywall for as little as 15 cents a square foot, and if you do the math, that’s not a lot. There’s no overtime, no insurance, no workers’ comp insurance. These workers are in a completely exploitive business model.”

Construction workers that News 8 spoke to said they fear losing more coworkers and taking on additional responsibilities.

Senate Enrolled Act 76 goes beyond construction sites. It also requires schools, government agencies, and law enforcement to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Critics say the law could lead to racial profiling, but Rokita said, “I’m not going to worry a thing about that. We’re going where the facts lead. If there’s a certain demographic that’s being trafficked more than others, do you think they care? That we’re profiling them? We wouldn’t be doing that. We wouldn’t be profiling anything, because it’s labor trafficking.”

The attorney general said his office will rely on tips and referrals from the public to begin any investigations.



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Nicolas Cage to make his first U.S. comic convention appearance in Indiana

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Nicolas Cage to make his first U.S. comic convention appearance in Indiana


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Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is making his U.S. comic con scene debut, appearing at the Indiana Comic Convention this week.

Fans can meet Cage and get an autograph or photo with him during the June 5-7 event taking place at the Indiana Convention Center.

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The appearance marks Cage’s first at a U.S. comic convention. The 62-year-old actor, who has starred in movies spanning romance, action and superhero genres over more than 40 years, appeared at the Osaka Comic Convention in 2025.

Cage’s Indiana visit comes after the May 27 release on Prime Video of “Spider-Noir,” the live-action superhero series he leads. He voiced the character in the 2018  animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and will reprise the role in 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.”

Among his other superhero genre movie roles are Big Daddy in “Kick-Ass” and Johnny Blaze in Marvel’s Ghost Rider franchise. He was set to star in director Tim Burton’s scrapped Superman movie in the 1990s. Fans finally got to see him on the big screen as the Man of Steel when he cameoed in “The Flash” in 2024. 

Cage, whose movies have grossed more than $6.4 billion, also starred in “National Treasure,” “The Rock,” “Face/Off,” “Con Air,” “Valley Girl,” “Raising Arizona,” “Adaptation” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

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“Nicolas Cage is one of the most accomplished and recognizable actors in the world, and to have him choose Indiana Comic Convention as his first fan convention is huge for fans and a tribute to the reputation they’ve built for treating celebrity attendees with so much love and respect,” show producer Dan Farr said in an announcement of the appearance.

Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ on Prime

How much is a Nicolas Cage photo op?

Indiana Comic Convention features celebrities, authors, comic creators and exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and fandoms, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.

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In-person Nicolas Cage autographs will cost $400. Photo ops are $250. A pre-signed autograph is $225. A photo op/pre-signed autobiography bundle is $450.

Tickets and photo ops are available now at indianacomicconvention.com.

Contact reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky:@cherylvjackson.bsky.social.



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Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire

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Hobart police officer rescues family from house fire


ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM

NW Indiana police officer rescues family from house fire

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.

Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.

He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.

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A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.

Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport

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Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport


(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.

Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.

Booking photo of Ronald Elliott Jr. (Delaware County Jail)

The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.

The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.

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The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.

Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.

The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.

It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:

  • Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
  • Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
  • Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
  • Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
  • Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”

During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.

After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.

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Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.

No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.



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