Indiana
New laws aim to safeguard children from online predators in Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Hailey Buzbee’s parents witnessed Governor Mike Braun sign two bills into law that are designed to protect children from social media and exploitation.
The ceremonial signing is a symbol that the state is ready to protect children from online predators. Hailey’s father, Beau, said it’s a good step forward.
“There’s no greater evil than those who seek and do harm to our children. And so I appreciate all the hardwork, effort, and the fight that you are taking to it,” Beau said.
House Bill 1303 expands the Silver Alert to include a missing child as a high-risk person. And it creates harsher penalties for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material.
House Bill 1408 requires social media platforms to get parental consent for children under 16.
The Buzbee family has been pushing for these changes after 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee met a man online and was later found dead in Ohio.
“Indiana could be known on the leaderboard across the country as a place that protects our children. And the risk and vulnerability and threat in our homes, our community in our state will start to dissipate,” Beau said.
The Governor said last year, Indiana State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested nearly 500 child predators. Braun added that the team rescued 126 children. This year, they arrested 92 people and saved children.
“This has become such a big deal across the country, and the consequences are everywhere. Parents will have to weigh in to make it clear that it’s a big deal. Legislatures are going to have to get together, and again we need to put pressure on the companies that put that stuff out and profit from it,” Braun said.
While legislation is one step, the Governor says it’s not the only path towards prevention. He encouraged parents to be vigilant. “Don’t assume that something may not be happening because that’s where the starting point is. This is the beginning of trying to remediate it, and we’re just getting started.”
The Governor also said he supports the Pink Alert System championed by the Buzbee family, which focuses on high-risk missing children and cases involving online grooming or trafficking.
Beau called this moment “hopeful.”
The Buzbee family is pushing for Hailey’s law, which includes the pink alert system and online safety training in schools. They are working with lawmakers to present for next year’s legislative session.
FULTON COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — The Fulton County Area Plan Commission and Data Center Ordinance Review Committee are being sued by a resident who believes they are not complying with Indiana’s Open Door Law.
They’ve decided that transparency is not that important,” said Richard O’Neill, a Fulton County resident suing the Area Plan Commission.
Back in March, county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a one-year data center moratorium, as talk of a possible data center in Akron picked up.
After that vote, the data center review committee was formed to review regulations and look at how other communities handle data centers.
But some residents said they’re concerned the public can’t attend or even listen in on those meetings.
I’m suing them to get an injunction to stop this committee until such time that they’re willing to have public meetings. So you don’t want the public there, fine, live stream it. They wouldn’t do that. So you have to ask yourself, what do they want to hide?” said O’Neill.
Other community members weighed in on the transparency issues.
When the committee was formed, the county attorney and Area Plan decided to place in the regulations that this committee would be closed to the public. Several people argued this decision and requested it not be closed so the community could feel involved. I stressed and stated at the Area Plan meeting on March 30th that currently the public trust with our local government is at an all time low and this committee not honoring the open door law would only make things worse,” said James Zimmerman, Fulton County resident.
Indiana’s Open Door Law states:
“Government agencies must hold official meetings of a majority of their governing body, such as council or board meetings, publicly. As a citizen, you have the right to attend and record these meetings.”
But the committee said it doesn’t have to follow that law because it’s not considered a “governing body.”
WSBT22 reached out to the committee’s executive director, but has not yet received a response.
The county attorney feels that they’re in the right and my attorney feels we’re in the right. So we’ll find out from the court,” said O’Neill.
O’Neill said that he’s currently waiting for a different judge to be appointed to his case to set a court date, which should be any day now.
GARY, Ind. – A Gary, Ind. man was arrested after opening fire on U.S. Marshals who were attempting to serve an arrest warrant, prompting a SWAT response, according to the Lake County Sheriff.
Around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, U.S. Marshals Service police officers tried to serve an arrest warrant to a 46-year-old man at a home in the 700 block of Matthews Street in Gary, Ind. When they approached the residence, the suspect opened fire on the officers, according to police.
After multiple requests to surrender, the Lake County SWAT team used an armored car to breach the home, pushing through a door and removing the windows. Eventually, officers say the man approached a window with his hands up and was taken into custody.
No one was injured, according to police.
The Source: Details for this story were provided by the Lake County Sheriff.
INDIANAPOLIS (CONSUMER REPORTS) — Looking to save money on lawn care this season? Consumer Reports says the key may be in how you mow and how you maintain your equipment. After cutting more than 500,000 square feet of grass in testing, CR’s experts say a few simple habits can go a long way toward keeping your lawn, and your budget, in shape.
Each year, Consumer Reports mower tester Dave Trezza heads to Florida during the winter months to get a head start on testing. There, on more than five acres of grass with hills, trees, and other obstacles, CR evaluates dozens of mowers and tractors for cutting performance, handling, mulching, and bagging.
One of the biggest takeaways from all that testing is that proper maintenance can save you money. Trezza says most mowers can deliver a good cut, but only if they’re well cared for. That means sharpening the blade at the start of the season and keeping the mower deck clean so it performs efficiently.
How you mow also matters. Consumer Reports recommends mulching your grass instead of bagging it whenever possible. Mulching returns nutrients back into the lawn, which can reduce the need for fertilizer and save money over time. A good mulching mower should leave an even cut without clumps of grass behind.
If you’re in the market for a new mower, Consumer Reports says to match the machine to your yard. For larger or sloped lawns, a self-propelled mower can make the job easier. Gas-powered models, like the Yardmax YG2760, can offer strong performance at a lower price point, cutting and mulching as well as more expensive options in CR’s tests.
For smaller yards or those looking to save even more, a battery-powered push mower can be a great choice. Consumer Reports found that models like the Ryobi RY401170VNM deliver an even cut and excellent mulching performance. Compared to gas mowers, battery-powered options also require less maintenance and run more quietly.
No matter which type of mower you use, Consumer Reports says cleaning it after each use is essential. Grass clippings can build up on the deck, leading to rust and reduced airflow, which can hurt performance over time.
With the right mower, proper maintenance, and a few smart mowing habits, you can keep your lawn looking great—without overspending.
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