Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Indiana House toughens sex-crime sentences

The House voted 94-1 Thursday to make child molesters and other criminals serve more time behind bars.


House Bill 1271 would give people convicted of certain serious child-molesting offenses and murders involving sex offenses one day of credit for six days of incarceration.


This ultimately means these criminals would serve 85 percent of their sentences instead of the current rate of 50 percent in Indiana.


Because the new credit-time law would pertain only to newly convicted offenders, the cost to Indiana doesn't ramp up for years.


The legislation also clarifies in state law that prisoners cannot receive dual credit for receiving both a high school diploma and a general equivalent diploma.


The measure now moves to the governor for his consideration.


18 train cars derail along Wabash track


Eighteen cars of a 25-car train derailed on the west side of Wabash.


The Wabash County Sheriff's Department says no one was injured and no hazardous materials were on the train when the derailment occurred Wednesday afternoon.


Norfolk Southern is investigating the cause of the derailment.


FORT WAYNE/ ALLEN COUNTY


Colleges join SCAN for Easter baskets


Ten area universities and colleges are collaborating to collect 800 Easter baskets to give to children of SCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect) clients. The project, sponsored by the Northeast Indiana Alumni Directors Consortium, runs through March 17.


Wrapped Easter baskets filled with commercially wrapped items can be dropped off at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; Grace College; University of St. Francis; Indiana Wesleyan; Huntington University; Ivy Tech; Taylor University Fort Wayne; Manchester College; Tri-State University; and Indiana Tech. Cash donations will also be accepted by alumni offices to buy baskets.


At IPFW, baskets can be dropped at the Kettler Hall or Walb Student Union information desks or the alumni office in Walb Student Union, Room 125. For more information, call Jennifer Bosk, IPFW alumni director, at 481-6174.


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