News from around the state of Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Supreme Court has denied an affiliate company of the state’s largest beer and wine distributor the ability to distribute liquor. The Indianapolis Business Journal and The Indianapolis Star report the court on Friday ruled against Monarch Beverage Co.’s affiliate Spirited Sales LLC. Indiana is the only state in the U.S. that doesn’t allow wholesalers to distribute both beer and liquor. Spirited is a separate company, but the high court found that Monarch and E.F. Transit Inc., which owns Spirited, share the same five shareholders and aren’t separate enough. Monarch previously went to court arguing that the state’s policy of separating beer and liquor wholesaling violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and ruled against Monarch on June 30.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Rural and volunteer fire departments from 39 Indiana counties are receiving small grants to help fight wildland fires. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced this week that the grants will help pay for training and gear. The money will also go toward the installation of piping that enables firefighters to tap into natural waterways in areas without water service. The total amount of the grants is $250,000 and comes from federal Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Each fire department selected is getting anywhere from $5,000 on down to about $700. The recipients were chosen based on population density and acres of public wildlands.