News making headlines across the state of Indiana
Advocates fear that cuts to affordable housing programs included in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget will undermine declining homelessness across Indiana.
Sharron Liggins, executive director of the Continuum of Care Network of Northwest Indiana, said that if the proposed cuts come to fruition, it will “erode the progress” that’s been made in reducing homelessness.
The Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority reports the state had 3,200 homeless people on Jan. 25. That was down nearly 14 percent from the 3,700 homeless people counted a year earlier. The statewide count didn’t include Marion or St. Joseph counties.
The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports state and local officials attribute the reduced homelessness to programs that aim to quickly transition homeless persons into permanent, affordable housing without preconditions.
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The University of Notre Dame has started using solar energy to power a campus warehouse.
The school says the ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system has 432 modules and is located at the Kenmore Warehouse in South Bend. School officials say there are other solar panels on campus but this one is the first of its size for Notre Dame. The system is connected to the main electric power feed for the building, which is mostly used for university storage. The solar power is expected to generate nearly a third of the electricity that the facility uses.
Notre Dame announced in 2015 that it would stop burning coal within five years and cut its carbon output by more than half by 2030.
The school is investing $113 million in renewable energy.
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The Monroe County Coroner’s office says three suburban Indianapolis residents died in a five-vehicle crash near a construction zone outside Bloomington.
It says the crash Saturday afternoon killed 54-year-old Rose Pettus, 30-year-old Shante Lewis 29-year-old Orlando Lewis Jr., all of Greenwood.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain says the crash also left a toddler riding in a minivan with the victims injured in good condition and a driver of one of the four other vehicles involved with head injuries.
Swain says a Miller Transportation bus struck the minivan from behind about 1:45 p.m., triggering a collision involving three other vehicles.
Miller Transportation issued a statement saying it was “greatly saddened for the loss of life” and offering “heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families and all those impacted by the accident.”