(Richmond, IN)--Richmond Common Council met Monday night and passed the city’s budget for the coming year.  No one from the public spoke about it, but Council Member Jerry Purcell expressed some concern about fully funding all accounts.  "It seems that we're continuing to underfund some line items in order to create a budget that looks at least somewhat balanced," Purcell said.  Mayor Ron Oler said discussions are already taking place about doing that in the ’28 budget:  "...especially on the overtime - how we're going to budget for it in '28."  Monday night’s vote to approve the budget was unanimous.

(Connersville, IN)--Fayette County Council candidate Jaime West appeared on the program Piers Morgan Uncensored and talked more about the video of her appearance on a candidates’ forum which has garnered millions of views around the world.  Morgan first asked what many assumed…whether she was under the influence...and how many beers she had drunk before her appearance on the forum.  "Alright, three," West responded.  She shifted when asked about a sheriff’s nephew who she claims "threatened to blow her head off."  "This was the Union County, who's right next door to me," West said.  And, she said she didn’t regret anything she said about Republicans.  "I say it all the time.  I'm not friends with them.  I don't like them.  They voted for all of this that's happening to our country," West explained.  West said she granted Morgan the interview over CNN, ABC, and NBC because of his British accent.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the arrest reported by Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News on Monday morning of Richmond’s Jessie Carlin.  A judge later Monday found probable cause related to charges that include criminal confinement and domestic battery.  According to court documents, Carlin head-butted his girlfriend and then told her to make a video saying the injuries she sustained were the result of a fall in the shower.  When she refused, he tied her hands and feet with a phone cord and gagged her until she agreed to make the video.  Carlin has denied the charges.  Previous convictions include drug dealing and criminal gang activity.

(Richmond, IN)--As the search continues for the shooter in a teen’s murder last month and as another victim of a different teen shooting continues to recover, Richmond Mayor Ron Oler has issued a statement to the community.  In it, Oler said that he has full confidence in the Richmond Police Department, but believes that preventing youth violence begins at home with parental involvement, guidance, and accountability. Oler also said that he recognizes that not every young person has the benefit of a stable home and calls for others in the community to provide positive influences.

(West Manchester, OH)--The family of a missing Preble County woman observed her 36^th birthday over the weekend with a renewed call for help as they continue to search for answers.  Tiffany Orona was a West Manchester resident who went missing five years ago this month.  Investigators have conducted interviews, executed search warrants, and used cadaver dogs, but have come up empty.  A $10,000 reward for information is now in place.  Tiffany’s mother has been raising her four children since the disappearance.

(Connersville, IN)--A Connersville company is expanding.  Forge Werks is expanding by adding a second location with 250,000 square feet of production space.  That expansion is expected to result in 100 new jobs in the next year.  The new Western Avenue facility will be used for high-capacity steel manufacturing projects, much of which is destined for data centers.  The new facility also includes room for additional expansion.

(Richmond, IN)--For the second time in less than a month, multiple gunshots were fired by a Richmond teens at Richmond teens.  The  initial call that went to first responders at a little after six o’clock Thursday night sent them to an area on Ridge Street.  Nearby residents reported hearing at least a dozen gunshots.  Investigators indicated that one juvenile was shot.  That juvenile’s identity and condition have not been released.  There is also no indication that the shooter has been apprehended, nor has a description of that person been released.  Also unknown is the reason why last night’s shooting may have occurred.

(Connersville, IN)--Fayette County Council candidate Jaime West has issued a response to question about her appearance on a candidates’ forum that has drawn millions of views across the world this week due to West’s affect and comments.  In that response, which was included in an article posted Thursday night by the Connersville News Examiner, West said that she was not drunk or under the influence of any drugs, but did say that she had one Coors Light before the interview began.  West claims to have slurred her words because of a traumatic brain injury she suffered six years ago.  She added, in referring to herself in the third person, that she has received lots of support from around the world.

(Oxford, OH)--At just after 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, messages were sent to Miami University students telling them to "run, hide, fight" based on a report of a potential active shooter.  "We did have students sheltering in place and calls coming from the building.  We went ahead and issued the campus alert," said Miami’s police chief in talking  about something sounding like gunshots outside of McGuffey Hall.  Miami later gave the all clear after finding no evidence of gunfire or anyone injured.  The sounds are believed to have been fireworks.

(Richmond, IN)--The question of whether or not to allow first-floor apartments in some of Richmond’s most iconic downtown buildings went before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals Wednesday.  Plans called for 24 first-floor residences to be located in several renovated downtown structures.  Developer John Anderson touted the project to the Board.  "People want to live in our apartments.  They're cool.  They're well done.  They're historically accurate," Anderson said.  But not everyone agreed that ground-floor residences were good.   They expressed concerns over things like parking and residents lingering outside.  Dakota Collins, who is Earlham’s Director of Community Relations and who has been heavily involved in the project, downplayed that.  "There's no reason to leave under or un-utilized space in our downtown first floors just because we're scared of what may happen," Collins said.  Downtown business owner and investor Mike Lyons took exception.  "They've never invested their money, but they want to tell me what's best.  That kind of upsets me," Lyons explained.  In the end, the Board granted 3-1 approval for the residences.  Only two of those will front East Main.

(Richmond, IN)--Here’s more on the chase reported by Kicks 96 and 101.7 The Point News on Wednesday that occurred on Tuesday and ended with a crash in a front yard.  Richmond police have now identified the driver as 41-year-old Brian Burdette.  Burdette has three active criminal cases and had a warrant on drug-related charges.  He’s also a registered sex offender who allegedly failed to register a year ago.  Burdette was taken to Miami Valley Hospital as a result of the crash near South 16^th and L.  His condition Thursday morning was not released.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bales provided an update on measles when the Wayne County Board of Health met Tuesday.  Bales said that Wayne County alone has 27% of all measles cases in Indiana.  "There were 30 cases in Indiana, and there were eight confirmed cases in Wayne County," Bales said.  Bales said that there are also likely more local cases that have gone undiagnosed.  Bales also talked about flu, saying she has already seen local cases and that that is earlier in the season than it normally appears.

(Gratis, OH)--A Preble County man has been indicted by a grand jury after allegedly arranging to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a cemetery.  45-year-old Brandon Armstrong of Gratis remained behind bars Wednesday morning on a charge of importuning.  Local investigators were alerted to a sexually charged conversation involving a decoy by the organization Great Basin Predator Watch.  Armstrong was arrested when he arrived at the cemetery in Gratis.  Court documents indicate Armstrong admitted to sending messages and explicit images.

(Connersville, IN)--Connersville Mayor Chad Frank gave an update on flood recovery efforts Monday.  Frank said that a company called Title Basin will be arriving to help with short-term housing.  Frank said that even though it’s been two months since the flood, many people are still feeling the effects.  "We still have a lot of people who are not able to return to their homes.  There's still a lot of damage.  They're sleeping in vehicles, and cold weather is coming on," Frank said.  Frank wants the community to know that Title Basin is legitimate.  More details will be released Tuesday.

(Dunlapsville, IN)--One of the only two bridges that cross the 16-mile-long Brookville Lake had been closed for the entire recreational season.  But, no longer.  The Dunlapsville Road bridge, which is often referred to as the Quakertown Causeway, has now reopened after six months’ worth of repairs.  The design of that bridge had come into question in recent years and is the same as the Fairfield Causeway, which also recently underwent significant reconstruction.

(Richmond, IN)--The budget for next year for Richmond Community Schools is ready for adoption.  The budget for 2027 comes in at just shy of $70 million and includes $12 million of total property tax levies.  It also includes $5 million in debt service. Public hearings on the budget were held last month, and now it’s set for passage when the RCS Board meets Wednesday afternoon.

(Richmond, IN)--A couple of ramp closures that were announced last week as part of the Revive I-70 project have now been delayed until spring.  Ramps at both U.S. 40 and State Road 227 have been affected by what INDOT called an updated work schedule.  Later this week, crews will demolish the bridge that carries northbound Williamsburg Pike to westbound 70. That entire interchange will have two roundabouts when work is complete.

(Richmond, IN)--The Richmond Police Department is asking for the help of the public in identifying a person.  RPD is not saying why they’re seeking his identity, but did share a couple of images over the weekend that appear to have been taken from a convenience store.  If you can identify him, you’re asked to contact Detective Huskisson at RPD.

(West College Corner, IN)--What started as a simple traffic stop for speeding turned in to something much more.  Details were released Sunday of a traffic stop in West College Corner.  Union County deputies stopped the vehicle and found that an occupant had a warrant and was actively being sought by U.S. Marshals on weapons charges in Virginia.  Deputies also recovered an unspecified amount of cocaine and marijuana.  There’s no word on what the man was doing in Union County.

(Richmond, IN)--A medical helicopter was called after a victim was found at the scene of a fire on Richmond’s east side overnight.  Firefighters were called to the area of the Stonehenge Apartments in the 3700 block of South A at around 11 o’clock last night.  Here’s radio traffic of one of the first units on the scene:  "We've got smoke in the air.  We're going to check further."  Shortly after, an occupant was located.  "Medic 3, get up here.  We've got a victim they just pulled out," said one firefighter.  The fire was mostly contained to one unit.  There’s no word yet on the condition of the victim or the cause of the fire.

(Eaton, OH)--Law enforcement officers in Preble County have been searching overnight for a man they describe as a known car thief.  34-year-old Anthony Polver allegedly stole a city-owned truck from a storage building across from Fort St. Clair in Eaton.  The truck was then abandoned on State Route 725 just east of Camden.  A possible sighting of Polver was made on North Barron in Eaton as recently as around midnight Thursday night / Friday morning. 

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County is looking to extend its participation in the Make My Move program.  That’s the program that offers financial and other incentives to move to Wayne County to take advantage of its low cost of living.  Here’s Wayne County EDC President Valerie Shaffer addressing the impact with County Council on Wednesday:  "We've been able to recruit 50 households which equates to 111 individuls - 77 adults and 34 children.  Most of those people work remotely.  The financial impact has been undeniable.  "About $201,000 invested results in a $4.2 million economic impact and $518,000 in new annual tax revenue," Shaffer explained.  Each mover receives about $7500 in incentives.

(Eaton, OH)--Two Camden brothers appeared in a Preble County courtroom Wednesday to be formally arraigned on charges involving the rape of underage girls.  David and Frankie Rader, who are ages 51 and 48, allegedly engaged in sexual offenses with a girl when she was between the ages of six and 13 years old.  They allegedly engaged in that conduct through force or threat of force.  Both brothers are being held in the Preble County Jail.

(Richmond, IN)--Two people were arrested in separate drug incidents in Richmond early Thursday morning, and one of them is a convicted drug dealer.  Brooklyn Bair was arrested at around 1 o’clock Thursday morning near South 11^th and E and charged with possession of cocaine.  A couple of hours before that, officers encountered Jessie Swearingen near North 17^th and C.  He’s now charged with possession of meth.  11 years ago, Swearingen was sentenced to ten years in prison for dealing heroin.  There’s no word yet on quantities of drugs recovered Thursday morning.

(Camden, OH)--Two Preble County brothers are both charged with raping a girl who was under the age of 13.  48-year-old Frankie Rader of Camden was booked into the Preble County Jail Tuesday and is being held without bond.  His brother, David Rader, is facing two rape charges stemming from an investigation that dates back more than a decade.  Prosecutors expressed concerns that there could be other victims and urged those potential victims to come forward.  David Rader is set to be arraigned Wednesday.