(Richmond, IN)--The family of Cecilia Hargrove indicated Tuesday night that services are still pending for the girl who was killed in the Monday morning shooting at a home near the intersection of South 9^th and E in Richmond.  Hargrove was pronounced dead at the home where two other teenage girls had also been shot.  Richmond police investigators did not update the conditions of the two girls who initially survived, but did say that a juvenile had been arrested in connection with the shooting.  RPD also Tuesday called it an ongoing investigation and asked that anyone who witnessed the incident or who had pertinent information contact investigators.  Even though the juvenile who has been arrested in connection with Monday morning’s fatal shooting in Richmond has not been charged as an adult yet, it remains a possibility depending on the suspect’s age.   If that suspect is either 16 or 17 years old, charges would be filed directly into adult court by the prosecutor.  If the shooter is between 12 and 15 years old, a judge decides whether or not to transfer the case to adult court.  Once the case is transferred, the suspect can be identified regardless of his or her age.

(Whitewater Valley)--New ILEARN results have been released.  ILEARN measures student achievement and growth in various categories for grades three through eight.  Statewide, 31.5% of students have been rates as proficient in both math and English.  Nearly every public school in the Whitewater Valley fell below state average.  The only two schools above state average are Centerville and Randolph Southern, which are both at 33%.  Richmond fell well below state average, with only 16.5% of students testing proficient in both math and English.  Richmond Community Schools has taken a step backward with its ILEARN results when compared to previous years.  In each of the last two years, 25% of students were proficient.  The problem for Richmond this year comes in grades 7 and 8.  Less than one in ten students in those grades is proficient.  Nearly half of Charles Elementary students are proficient, while less than one in 10 at Vaile are proficient in both math and English.  Here are the results for area schools indicating the percentage of students rated proficient in both math and English:  Centerville, 33.6%.  Randolph Southern, 33%.  Nettle Creek, 31.4%.  Western Wayne, 30.4%.  Union County, 30%.  Fayette County, 27%.  Northeastern, 25.2%.  Franklin County, 25%.  Randolph Central, 25%.  Monroe Central, 25%.  Richmond, 16.5%.  Randolph Eastern, 9%.

(Laurel, IN)--There was a shooting in Franklin County on Tuesday morning.  It happened at a home in the 25,000 block of Chapel Road near Laurel.  A resident of that home fired at least one shot at a man who was trying to get into the home.  The man who was shot was taken to University Medical Center in Cincinnati.  Injuries were initially described as non-life-threatening.  Investigators believe the two men knew each other and it was not a random incident.  No arrests have been made so far.

(Richmond, IN)--There has been no new information overnight from the Richmond Police Department after three people were shot near South 9^th and E Street Monday morning.  RPD indicated shortly after arriving on the scene that there was no threat to the community, but did not indicate whether or not an arrest had been made.  It was described as an incident that was isolated and among people who knew each other.  Numerous bullet holes were visible in the door of the multi-unit apartment.  By Monday afternoon, RPD said that they had interviewed several people of interest and were working through tips and evidence.  They called it a fluid and ongoing case.   Investigators Tuesday morning were not confirming the ages, identities, or conditions of the three people who were shot .  The victims are widely being identified on social media as teenage girls.  RPD did confirm that at least one person was taken to Miami Valley Hospital.  A family member has identified her and started a gofundme account.  That victim is a 16-year-old girl who was reportedly shot three times. 

(Winchester, IN)--The public defenders representing Maci Atkinson, who is charged with striking and killing Lynn Town Marshal Brad Fisher in July, on Monday tried to convince a Randolph County Judge that she should be released on bond.  Those attorneys said that the evidence that Atkinson did it intentionally was not strong.  But prosecutors countered, saying the judge should not "unleash this defendant on the people of Randolph County."  Prosecutors also pointed to Atkinson’s recent criminal record.  Just since April, but before the fatal chase, she had been charged with a total of seven crimes in four different cases.  The judge is expected to issue a decision on the request for bond in a few days.

(Connersville, IN)--Dismissal at Frazee Elementary in Connersville was briefly delayed Monday because of the sounds of gunshots.  According to a statement from Fayette County Schools, students were kept inside while police investigated.  It was quickly determined that the shots were coming from Indiana Ordinance on 21^st Street and were echoing into the area.  Indiana Ordinance is a long-range competitive shooting facility.  There was no threat to students or staff.

(Vandalia, OH)--The White House has announced that President Trump will be holding a rally within a half an hour of Richmond coming up on Saturday.  Trump is scheduled to appear at Butler High School in Vandalia late Saturday afternoon.  That’s just a few blocks away from the Dayton International Airport.  The rally is in support of Republican Senator John Husted, who is being challenged by Sherrod Brown.  People who want to attend will need to register through the GOP’s event page website.

(Winchester, IN)--The woman who is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Lynn Town Marshal Brad Fisher is due back in court Monday.  A Randolph County judge will set bond in the case of Maci Atkinson.  Atkinson has been held without bond since her arrest following a police chase that ended shortly after Fisher was struck and killed.  Atkinson’s hearing is set for 2 o’clock Monday afternoon.  Her trial is currently set for late January, although that will almost certainly be pushed back.

(Union County, IN)--A man who was reported as missing and who was last seen in the Union and Franklin County area has been found dead.  50-year-old Todd Payne of Hamilton was wheelchair-bound and was last seen last Monday when he was leaving the Quakertown Recreational area of Brookville Lake.  The group Equusearch became involved as the search intensified and announced Sunday that Payne’s body had been located.  There’s no word on where Payne was found or what led up to his death.

(Richmond, IN)--Morrisson-Reeves Library issued a timeline Thursday for $4.5 million worth of repairs.  The original assessment of the roughly 50-year-old building called for nearly $19 million in needed repairs.  The approved work will focus on the highest-priority, time-sensitive repairs that will include repairing severe roof leaks, addressing the lack of a fire suppression system, and rebuilding the compromised north wall.  Thursday’s timeline will have bids going out in the spring, work beginning next summer, and a completion in early 2028.

(Wayne County, IN)--Flood victims in western Wayne County could receive phone calls beginning Friday.  If that number shows up on caller ID, members of Wayne County’s Long-Term Recovery Group want residents to know that it’s not a scammer and that they should answer the call.  That number is 765-312-4699.  Volunteers will be identifying themselves as members of that group and will not be asking for personal information like bank account and social security numbers.  The stated goal of the organization is to reach the uninsured and the underinsured to try to find assistance.

(Union County, IN)--A change is coming to an interchange on the primary route from Richmond to College Corner and Oxford.  Beginning in about a week and a half, the intersection of State Road 44 and Nine Mile Road will be converted to an all-way stop.  INDOT said they’re making the change due to a history of severe right-angle crashes at the intersection.  Flashing LED stop lights will be installed on 44 to alert drivers of the new stop.  A stop sign has always existed on Nine Mile Road at that intersection.

(Nulltown, IN)--A Fayette County bridge that had been in use since shortly after last month’s flood has now been declared structurally unsafe and closed.  It’s what’s generally referred to as the Nulltown Bridge over the Whitewater River just south of Connersville.  The county had requested a bridge inspection from an engineering consultant.  That consultant has now determined the bridge is unsafe.  There is no timeline yet for repairs to be made, but it will likely be an extended closure.

(Parker City, IN)--The Monroe Central school family is mourning the loss of one of their students.  Charli Siekmann, who was a Monroe Central junior and member of the girls golf team, died on Tuesday.  Charli has been involved in a serious accident a week ago and had been in intensive neurocritical care since.  Since that accident, the Monroe Central family had been wearing Charli’s favorite color, yellow, as a symbol of hope.  Services for Charli Siekmann were pending Thursday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond father and son were taken into custody early Wednesday morning in an incident that involved the city’s SWAT unit near North 19^th and East Main Street.  45-year-old James Jones Senior was wanted for failing to appear in a drug case.  When officers went to Jones’ North 19^th Street home Wednesday, they found Jones along with his son, who shares his name.  Investigators also found an undisclosed quantity of cocaine or other narcotic drugs and drug paraphernalia.  Jones Senior is now being held without bond.

The Richmond Common Council voted 7-to-2 Monday night to approve a forgivable loan financing structure for infrastructure at the planned Smith Hill housing development.

The move unlocks a 4.3-million-dollar READI 2.0 state grant. The vote followed heated debate. Some council members voiced frustration over shifting plans and the potential inclusion of rental townhomes. But representatives from Reid Health and the Wayne County Chamber urged approval, warning that Richmond desperately needs modern market-rate housing to recruit and retain workers—and that stalling would cost the community millions in state funding.

The City of Richmond is weighing an appeal after a federal jury found the city partially liable for the 2023 industrial fire.

During Monday night’s Richmond Common Council meeting, the Mayor’s office confirmed a jury assigned forty percent of the fault to the city. Officials noted disappointment with the verdict, highlighted a recent 2.1-million-dollar settlement resolving claims against site operators, and urged council members to coordinate with corporate counsel as they evaluate legal options and potential remediation for the former Hofco property.

Overnight work continues along the Revive I-70 corridor, and drivers will see fresh restrictions early this morning. INDOT says from 1 to 7 a.m., the State Road 1 ramps to and from eastbound I-70 are closed. Then tonight, starting at 8 p.m. and running through 7 a.m. Thursday, eastbound I-70 will be down to one lane between Brick Church Road and Centerville Road. The construction?zone speed limit remains 55 miles per hour, and drivers are urged to slow down and stay alert in work zones

A Randolph County man faces up to 12 years in prison after being charged with child molesting.

Court documents show 36-year-old Jacob Anthony Beane was charged Monday in Randolph Circuit Court with a Level 4 felony. Authorities allege Beane improperly touched a juvenile girl in Lynn between 2019 and 2020, when the victim was under the age of 12.

Investigators say Beane denied all allegations during an interview last month, but deputies were unable to reach him following that meeting.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Beane, who also faces an unrelated domestic battery trial scheduled for February.

Nearly seven months after severe weather threw a wrench into its daily operations, Girls Inc. of Wayne County is finally heading back home.
High winds and destructive storms on March 11th caused significant structural damage to the South 8th Street facility in Richmond, forcing the non-profit to pack up its after-school programs and operate out of temporary spaces for most of the year.
Following extensive repairs and interior renovations, the organization will officially welcome girls back to its home center on Monday, October 5th.
To celebrate the milestone, Girls Inc. is hosting a community open house on Thursday, October 8th, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Neighbors, community partners, and supporters are invited to tour the newly renovated space, meet the team, and celebrate their return. No RSVP is needed.

Local civic groups are teaming up this weekend to help Wayne County voters prepare for Election Day.

The Richmond NAACP, Wayne County Indivisible, and the League of Women Voters will host a free, non-partisan Voter Engagement Rally this Saturday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Richmond.

Organizer Jo Swanger says the goal is to make election prep approachable and fun before key deadlines hit. 

Attendees can meet candidates across all party lines, verify voter registration, and get practical polling information ahead of the October 5th registration deadline. The family-friendly event also features music and free snacks.

Organizers urge residents to get involved, emphasizing that local elections directly shape daily community life.

Preble County officials say 911 service was partially restored yesterday after a countywide outage caused by an equipment and network failure with BrightSpeed Phone Company. Lines were “in and out” through late morning yesterday as calls were rerouted to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. Residents were urged to stay on the line if they dialed 911, with dispatchers confirming all calls would still be answered.
 

A 60-year-old woman was taken into custody on outstanding warrants over the weekend in Wayne County, Indiana.

According to county booking records, Darla Ann Bailey was arrested on Saturday, September 19, 2026. She faces charges of Level 6 felony stalking violations alongside Class A misdemeanor criminal trespass.

Authorities booked Bailey into the Wayne County jail, where her bond for the stalking warrant was set at $10,000

Winchester Speedway is mourning the loss of longtime owner and racing advocate Charlie Shaw, who died at age 90 . Shaw purchased the historic high?banked oval to preserve its legacy as the “World’s Fastest Half?Mile” and oversaw major grassroots events, including the Winchester 400, USAC sprint cars, and ARCA Menards Series races.  Known for his hands?on leadership and commitment to Randolph County, Shaw modernized operations while protecting the track’s 1916 character. The Speedway remains under Shaw family ownership, with operations led by his longtime staff

Indiana has been approved for mass SNAP benefit replacement after August’s severe storms caused widespread power outages. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration will automatically replace benefits for eligible households across 19 counties, including Wayne County. Depending on when benefits were issued, households will receive between 15% and 60% of their monthly allotment. Households that received their benefits between August 5th and August 9th will receive the largest replacement, at 60% of their monthly allotment.  About 36,500 households may qualify, with assistance totaling up to $10 million.