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IOSHA cites three groups for stage collapse

(Indianapolis)  —  Three groups are being fined by the Indiana Department of Labor relating to last year’s  fatal stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair.  A report released yesterday by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Association has resulted in the largest fine of $63,000 dollars is being charged to Mid-America Sound, owners of the stage’s roof. The Indiana State Fair Commission was fined $6300 dollars for not conducting a life safety evaluation, while Local 30, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, was fined $11,500 dollars.  Seven people were killed and dozens more were injured when high winds blew over the stage before the Sugarland concert. However, Mid-America Sound says they should not be blamed for the stage malfunction. Company officials say they warned the State Fair several times over the past years that the stage rigging could not withstand winds beyond 25 miles an hour. Mid-America says most of the blame is on Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles, who they say refused to delay the show until after a storm passed because of her vocal warm-up routine.  S

Measles cases likely to increase

(Indianapolis)  — A health alert has been issued in the wake of one confirmed case of someone suffering from measles in the downtown area last Friday during Super Bowl activities. Officials say the confirmed case of measles involves a person who did not visit the NFL Experience. Currently four measles cases in central Indiana are being investigated by health officials; two confirmed cases in Hamilton County and possibly two more cases in Boone County. The Indiana State Department of Health has contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and health departments in New York and Massachusetts. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus with symptoms producing a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes seven to 10 days after exposure. A rash can appear on the face and upper neck, later spreading across the body. Healthofficials say measles is rare in the United States because of high levels of vaccination with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella, or MMR but can create serious health issues to unvaccinatedinfants, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women.

Obama campaign opens Indy office

(Indianapolis)  — President Barack Obama’s campaign is expected to open its Indianapolis headquarters today. An opening event is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the office located at 111 E. 16th St. near 16th and Pennsylvania Streets. The location will be the field office headquarters for the metro area and will serve as a community hub for 2012 election activities, according to campaign officials.

Santorum working to get on Indiana ballot

(Indianapolis)  —  The Marion County voter registration office says Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum does not have enough signatures to get on the ballot for Indiana’s GOP primary. The former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania fell 24 signatures short of the required number, and his campaign is considering legal action.  Santorum won elections in three states on Tuesday, though the Missouri primary is non-binding.  He is third among the GOP candidates behind Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. In other political news, Republican Mike Pence will run unopposed for his party’s nomination for governor of Indiana.  Businessman Jim Wallace had planned to run, but was unable to gather enough petition signatures to get on the ballot for the primary in May.  Wallace said about a third of the rejected petition signatures are of registered voters. His campaign is considering other options to try to get Wallace on the ballot.

Plans announced about job creation

(Princeton)  — Automaker Toyota says it will hire 400 people to work at its southwestern Indiana assembly plant when the facility starts making the Highlander Sport utility vehicle. The company says it plans to invest $400 million to expand its operations capacity at its Princeton plant which currently makes Sequoia full-size SUVs and Sienna minivans. The plant will assemble 50,000 Highlanders annually.  The Indiana Economic Development Commission said Wednesday that production is expected to begin in late 2013. Indiana will provide Toyota up to $2.7 million in conditional tax credits and up to $200,000 in training grants.

Woman charged with killing unborn child receives ruling

(Indianapolis)  — An Indianapolis woman accused of murdering her unborn child should be granted bail said the Indiana Court of Appeals Wednesday.  Bei Bei Shuai, 35, has been charged with murder and feticide for allegedly killing her premature baby by ingesting rat poison in December 2010. The Indiana Court of Appeals, however, rejected a motion to have the charges completely dismissed. Defense attorneys argued that Shuaiwas despondent and suicidal over the breakup of an affair with the baby’s father who was married to someone else. The fetus was delivered at 33 weeks, but died days later. The appeals court has sent the case back to Marion Superior Court, which will set a bail amount.

Hours-long hostage situation ends

(Indianapolis)  — SWAT team members took a man into custody around 8: 30 a.m. Wednesday morning  following a standoff on the city’s eastside. Officers were called to the 2000 block of Euclid on reports of a man brandishing a gun near his neighbors. By the time police arrived at the scene, Zachary Pipes, 18, had gone back into the home and refused to leave. A search warrant was obtained and it was around 8 a.m. when tear gas was fired. A women who exited the home and spoke with police was not believed to have beenheld against her will. Pipes was charged with intimidation and resisting law enforcement.  

Pacers suffer a loss

(Atlanta, GA)  —  Josh Smithscored 28 points, pulled down 12 boards and had five steals as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Indiana Pacers, 97-87.  Danny Granger led Indiana with 21 points in the loss.  Roy Hibbertfinished with 10 points and 13 rebounds as the Pacers lost for only the second time in their last seven contests.  Indiana wraps up a brief two-game road trip tomorrow evening at Memphis.

Fever re-sign Catchings

(Indianapolis)  —  Tamika Catchings has re-signed with the Indiana Fever.  Catchings finished runner-up for league MVP three times before finally winning the award last September.  She averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 33 games, all below her career numbers, but was the first Fever player ever to win the league’s top individual award.  The 32-year-old Catchings is a 10-year WNBA veteran and a seven-time All-Star.  Last season, she became the first WNBA player to eclipse five-thousand points, two-thousand rebounds and one-thousand assists and is the only player to rank among the league’s all-time top 10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals.