After a back and forth legal fight, former Vice-President, Indiana Governor and Columbus native Mike Pence has finally testified before a grand jury investigating the Jan. 6th attacks on the U.S. Capitol.

Pence testified Thursday for several hours in the federal probe investigating former President Donald Trump’s alleged role in the January 6th Capitol riot.

The testimony came after Trump filed an emergency motion to stop Pence from appearing.

Earlier this month, Pence said he would not appeal a federal judge’s order that he must testify. U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg ruled in March that immunity shouldn’t prevent Pence from testifying about conversations related to alleged illegal activity on the part of the former President.

Trump filed an emergency motion to block that decision but it was rejected by a federal appeals court.

Pence’s testimony is expected to give special counsel Jack Smith access to one of the key figures with insight into Trump’s efforts to remain in power.

Story courtesy of Network Indiana and TTWN Media Networks

Proposed legislation championed by State Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, to fund handgun training for teachers is heading to Governor Eric Holcomb’s desk.

The bill passed the Indiana Senate on a 41-to-8 vote Wednesday after changes made to the measure were approved by House lawmakers. If Holcomb signs it into law, teachers will have the option to get 40 hours of gun training. School districts in Indiana are already allowed to approve armed teachers, but there is no training required for that to happen.

Earlier this month, Lucas said he is not asking teachers to carry in their classroom, but that he wants them to be able to defend themselves in the event they may have to.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

A federal appeals court is rejecting an attempt from former President Trump to block former Vice President and Columbus native Mike Pence from testifying in front of a grand jury looking into Trump’s role in the January 6th riot.

The decision comes after Trump filed an emergency motion to block a decision from a lower court that ordered testimony from Pence. Trump is still able to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, but it is unknown if he will.

Pence visited the campus of University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill last night. He spoke to a large crowd of student supporters and detractors as part of his “Saving America from the Woke Left” tour. At the Carolina Union building, Pence talked about his opposition to transgender athletes participation in women’s sports, the national debt and his support for Ukraine.

The former VP hinted at a potential 2024 presidential run during a question-and-answer session saying, “I don’t have anything to announce tonight, but I’ll keep you posted.”

Pence is also criticizing Donald Trump’s position on social programs. In an interview with The Dispatch web site, Pence said Trump’s views on Social Security and Medicare were “identical” to President Biden’s. He accused Trump and Biden of insolvency by not taking action to address the impending disaster that’s expected for both programs within the decade.

Pence will be in Utah tomorrow for a lunch meeting with business and community leaders. Pence will reportedly be part of a round table discussion hosted by Utah Valley University’s Institute for Public Policy. The luncheon will not be open to the public.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks Inc.

Cummins is announcing the extension of a partnership that will provide hydrogen engines in India.

According to the Columbus-based engine manufacturer, Cummins and Tata Motors Limited have signed an agreement in Columbus recently, to produce low- to zero-emissions technology products in India over the next few years.

Tata Motors and Cummins have a joint venture Tata Cummins Private limited (TCPL) in India, established in 1993. The signing of the agreement is the next step forward from an announced memorandum of understanding signed in November to collaborate on the technology.

Cummins and Tata have set up a new business entity to focus on the development and manufacturing of sustainable technology products. Those will include hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines, fuel delivery systems, battery electric powertrains and fuel cell electric systems through the Accelera brand. The technologies will be integrated into on-highway and off-highway applications for domestic and international markets.

Cummins President and CEO Jennifer Rumsey said she was “delighted that we are embarking on this decarbonization journey with our trusted partner of 30 years.” She said the agreement unlocks new opportunities for innovation for Cummins employees around the world.

India will be one of the first markets to receive Cummins’ hydrogen engines.

You can get more information here https://investor.cummins.com/news/detail/606/cummins-inc-and-tata-motors-strengthen-their-30-year

Photo courtesy of Cummins. Officials from Cummins Inc. and Tata Motors Limited sign an agreement to manufacture a range of low- to zero-emissions technology products in India. 

Columbus Republican mayoral candidates, former State Rep. Milo Smith and Mary Ferdon, the city’s current executive director of administration and community development, are talking about the city’s role in the community’s mental health crisis.

Community leaders recently announced Mental Health Matters, a joint effort to find and fill the needs for treatment locally.

Smith said the mental health crisis is part of the homelessness problem locally.

Ferdon said that the Mental Health Matters Partnership brings many organizations to the table to address the issue.

Early voting is available in Columbus at Nexus Park, the former Fair Oaks Mall. You can vote from 8 to 5 on weekdays leading up to the primary. On Saturday, you can vote from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nexus Park and at the Governmental Office Building on Third Street downtown.

Early voting ends on Monday at noon. Election Day is Tuesday and polls at Bartholomew County voting centers will be open from 6 to 6.

The state of Indiana and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are opening a disaster center today in Whiteland, to help those affected by the March 31st and April 1st storms and tornadoes.

At the Disaster Recovery Center you will be able to meet with specialists from FEMA, the state, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. There you can ask questions, get help with FEMA applications, and learn about other federal, state, and local aid options.

The Whiteland Center is at 999 North Front Street and will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and closed Sundays.

Another center is being opened today at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Martinsville.

Jennings County deputies arrested two men recently on drug related charges after a traffic stop.

According to a report from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department released yesterday, an officer was patrolling near the Decatur and Jennings County line at about 3:46 a.m. in the morning on April 17th. That’s when the deputy noticed an SUV cross the centerline several times. The driver was pulled over by police in North Vernon at U.S. Highway 50 and State Road 7.

The department’s police dog alerted to the smell of drugs in the vehicle and a search revealed a meth pipe containing drug residue. The driver, 30-year-old Jonathon Grunden of North Vernon was arrested for possessing the drugs and paraphernalia as well as for maintaining a common nuisance.

A passenger, 31-year-old Dylan Lark, also of North Vernon, admitted to officers that he was carrying narcotics. A field test indicated the drugs were four grams of heroin and fentanyl. He was arrested on charges for possessing a narcotic drug and paraphernalia as well as maintaining a common nuisance.

Local Young Marines will be holding a stuffed animal drive on Saturday outside of the Walmart Store on Whitfield Drive.

The first annual Stuffed with Love campaign hopes to raise money and donations to provide 1000 stuffed animals to local hospitals and medical facilities to help children in need. According to organizers, a stuffed animal can calm a child and help them feel safe in times of crisis. The drive is being organized by 12-year-old Roger Douglass of Seymour and his Young Marines troop.

You can drop off a stuffed animal on Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the store.

For more information call 812-603-5412

Authorities are warning about possible scams being played on those affected by recent tornadoes.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, after disasters, con-artists and criminals may try to get money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft. Some even disguise themselves or pretend to be from the federal agency.

The agency says that FEMA officials are working in the area affected by the March 31st and April 1st storms. But they have official identification badges with photo IDs. Real representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications. You should be careful of unexpected phone calls or visits to your home from people claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors or people claiming they work for FEMA. If they are a real inspector, they will have your FEMA application number.

Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for payment. And don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. Those inspectors are never allowed to accept payments or collect your personal financial information.

In some cases, thieves may try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from survivors.

To report a suspected case of disaster fraud, call the Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.

A Madison man is under arrest after a shot was fired by an Indiana State Police trooper last night in Bartholomew County.

According to Indiana State Police, the incident started around 10:30 p.m. last night when Hope police tried to stop a car. However the driver refused to stop and took off. Other agencies joined the pursuit as police chased the vehicle for about 30 minutes through Bartholomew and Decatur counties.

Police say that the chase entered a residential neighborhood on Peach Court in Columbus at about 11 p.m. The vehicle drove through yards and circled homes before driving back toward officers. Police say that the vehicle drove toward a state trooper who was standing outside his vehicle. The troper fired at least one shot from his department handgun.

Police say neither the driver nor the trooper were injured.

The driver continued to evade police for about another mile, before he ran from his vehicle. Police soon caught the driver and arrested 41-year-old Joseph L. Morrow of Madison. He was checked out at Columbus Regional Hospital before being taken to Bartholomew County Jail for numerous preliminary felony and misdemeanor charges.

The name of the trooper has not been released. He will be placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated. Detectives from the Indiana State Police Sellersburg District will lead the investigation.