Around Indiana

Ind. cuts child abuse prevention program

The Indiana Department of Child Services is making more budget cuts to a program that provides counseling to families at risk of child abuse and neglect.

DCS Director Jim Payne said funding for the Healthy Families program will drop to $27.9 million for federal fiscal year 2011 that begins Oct. 1 and to $24.7 million in 2012. Annual funding already fell earlier this year to $35 million from $42 million.

Payne said eligibility for the program also has changed. Healthy Families agencies now can serve only families earning no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty level — for example, $55,125 for a family of four. Also, services can last for only three years.

The program relies on state and federal funding, but both sources face budget constraints.


S. Ind. city taking over highway route from state

The state Department of Transportation is paying $6.1 million to a southern Indiana city as it takes over responsibility for a 4.5-mile section of a state highway.

The highway department also will transfer ownership of a state maintenance garage to the city of New Albany, which will have full control over most of what is now Indiana 111 between Interstates 64 and 265.

The state agency said the transfer will make the city responsible for maintaining and regulating the road. The full funding package to the city, including federal grants and aid, is almost $11 million.

Mayor Douglas England called the Indiana 111 route the city’s “spinal cord” and said that it made sense for city officials to oversee it.


Ind. girl drowns in neighborhood retention pond

Indianapolis police say a 5-year-old girl who had gone missing has died in a retention pond near her family’s home.

Investigators say Chesney Allen drowned Monday in the unfenced pond a block from her home after her older brother walked her to a friend’s house to play on Indianapolis’ southwest side.

After her parents couldn’t find her, a neighborhood search for the girl began.

A firefighter called to the scene found Allen floating in the pond and pulled her out. She was rushed to an Indianapolis hospital, where she was pronounced dead.


Ind. college to house Super Bowl practice site

The city of Indianapolis’ Super Bowl host committee has chosen the University of Indianapolis as the practice site for teams. 

Committee members said they moved the NFC practice site for the Feb. 5, 2012, game from Arsenal Technical High School because it would be less expensive to team up with the college.

The University of Indianapolis had already budgeted $6 million to build a new practice arena for its football team.

Instead of the practice center, the high school will get an $11.2 million “legacy project” that includes a $6 million green-themed community center and a $1.3 million makeover of its football field.


2 officers in Taser incident back on job

Two central Indiana police officers suspended after allegedly slapping and shocking an unruly 10-year-old boy with a Taser gun are back on the job. Martinsville police Capt.

William Jennings and patrolman Darrel Johnson were reinstated with limited desk duties Monday by a disciplinary panel. City attorney Roger Coffin said that while state law allows an unpaid suspension for five days, it would not be prudent to suspend the officers without pay without due process.

Police say the officers slapped and shocked the child after he kicked one officer as they tried to restrain him.