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Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
'Something's gotta give': Gov. Braun hints state could intervene over Indy violence
Gov. Mike Braun signaled Tuesday that he's open to some kind of state intervention in Indianapolis if the city itself doesn't "make a change" in response to a recent spate of gun violence, despite criminal homicides being down year-over-year since 2021. That's what the president of the city's police union has publicly asked for, though specifics are lacking, following nearly a dozen shooting deaths in the first two weekends of July. Braun also declined to specify what kinds of interventions the state government may consider. "I think it would be a dereliction if you weren't at least talking about it, and then sooner or later seeing if they're going to take action that really shows results, or put your heads together in terms of what that next step might be," he told reporters at the governor's mansion Tuesday. "I'm not going to say what it's going to be. I'm saying it's at the point where something needs to change." A mass shooting downtown in the early hours of July 5 claimed the lives of two teens, in addition to three others shot and killed across the city over the holiday weekend. This past weekend, at least six people were killed. In response, the city-county council is considering extending the curfew for youth and adding punitive fines for parents whose kids violate curfew. Rick Snyder, president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police, yesterday indicated this response doesn't go far enough and called upon state elected leaders to "step in." Already during the July 4 holiday weekend, at the request of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Braun sent some state troopers to Indianapolis to assist with patrols, weapons recovery and arrests. Snyder hasn't responded to questions on what else specifically he'd like state leaders to do beyond this kind of operational assistance. Braun expressed some reluctance to trump local control, saying Indianapolis is "its own political subdivision," but he also said he doesn't want to see things get worse and earn the state headlines that, in his words, resemble those from larger urban areas. In an interview with IndyStar Wednesday, Senate Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, expressed similar sentiments: vague about what could be done, hesitant to usurp local control, but warning that the state may be willing to take action. "I'm just open to any conversation about how we can be helpful there. I should tell you, though, if people come to us for help, not everybody probably likes the things we come up with," he said. "I'm not going to say right now exactly what we're going to do, because it's extremely complicated and I need to listen to law enforcement and Rick Snyder and the FOP and figure out what it is exactly they need, because we want to be helpful if and where we can be. " Braun challenged residents of Indianapolis to "put different people in charge" and think about what things were like in the city nine years ago, referring to the Republican Greg Ballard's mayoral administration. "When it comes to our state capital, measured to where it was nine years ago, something's got to give," he said. See the data: Indianapolis homicide tracker 2025 Looking at just one statistic, criminal homicides, there were fewer of them nine years ago than there are in a given year today in Indianapolis. It should be noted, too, that the numbers have steadily increased each year since 2012, and Both the Mayor Greg Ballard and Joe Hogsett administrations, which span this time period, have shattered records. While in former Mayor Greg Ballard's first term in office, the criminal homicides typically numbered just below 100 per year, the city then broke a record during his second term: 144 criminal homicides in 2015, the most since 1998. That number has continued to climb. In 2021, a pandemic year, the city saw a historic 249 criminal homicides. The annual numbers have receded since then. So far this year, Indianapolis police have reported 84 criminal homicides. This figure is 27% lower than this time last year, according to IMPD data shared with IndyStar. Crime writ large in the downtown neighborhood is down 6% year-to-date.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indy shows how protests 'can (and should be) done' during NBA Finals, police union president says
An anti-ICE protest that drew hundreds merged with an NBA Finals game that pulled thousands to downtown Indianapolis, all while millions were watching a city pushed into the national spotlight as the Pacers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. And the whole thing went off without serious issue. While basketball fans lined up to file into Gainbridge Fieldhouse about 7 p.m. June 11, people chanted outside the arena to protest federal deportations, first staging at the corner of East Georgia and South Pennsylvania streets before marching a few blocks, occasionally blocking traffic. "Last night showed (protests) can be done safely and without violence," cheered Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder in a statement to media. He vowed police "will always protect the Rights of Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their Government for redress of grievances." The Indianapolis demonstration remained nonviolent, in contrast to anti-immigrant protests in Los Angeles, where a city-wide curfew was implemented after days of clashes between law enforcement and agitators. Just before 7 p.m. June 11, about a dozen protesters handed out flyers and signs to passersby. The crowd grew as the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's officer presence also increased. A speaker pointed toward basketball fans during anti-deportation speeches, prompting at least two people to yell "Go Pacers!" and a short chant of "USA." Indianapolis police were seen carrying pepper ball guns, less-than-lethal weapons that shoot balls designed to burst on impact and release pepper powder. None were fired. In a speech, one organizer told protesters not to antagonize law enforcement. An organizer said the crowd was a thousand people at its peak, while Indianapolis police put the count at about 500 based on drone footage and crowd density. Indianapolis police urged protesters toward the sidewalk as the group marched downtown. At one point, law enforcement moved crowds so an ambulance could pass. Marching ended on East Georgia Street around 8:30 p.m. "IMPD, KKK, IOF, it's all the same!' the crowd chanted, referring to the Ku Klux Klan and Israeli Occupation Forces. "I prefer crushed ICE," read one sign referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who facilitate deportations. Snyder said he applauded law enforcement agencies and Indianapolis residents for showing how peaceful assembly "can (and should) be done." Hours before the protest, images and rumors circulated online indicating ICE raids may have occurred near 42nd Street and Richelieu Road in Lawrence. On June 11, IndyStar reporters spoke with neighbors in the area who confirmed law enforcement activity. The owner of a self-serve laundry in the area also said they caught video of law enforcement in the area. A since-deleted social media post shared around 7:30 a.m. depicted several photos of men wearing vests that said "Police ICE." Lawrence Police Department said it was not aware of or involved in any ICE arrests in the city, and ICE officials did not respond to IndyStar questions about it at the time of publication. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis protest shows how they 'can (and should be) done,' FOP says
Indianapolis Star
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Indy shows how protests 'can (and should be) done' during NBA Finals, police union president says
An anti-ICE protest that drew hundreds merged with an NBA Finals game that pulled thousands to downtown Indianapolis, all while millions were watching a city pushed into the national spotlight as the Pacers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder. And the whole thing went off without serious issue. While basketball fans lined up to file into Gainbridge Fieldhouse about 7 p.m. June 11, people chanted outside the arena to protest federal deportations, first staging at the corner of East Georgia and South Pennsylvania streets before marching a few blocks, occasionally blocking traffic. "Last night showed (protests) can be done safely and without violence," cheered Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder in a statement to media. He vowed police "will always protect the Rights of Americans to peaceably assemble and petition their Government for redress of grievances." 🚨INDY FOP STATEMENT ON PROTESTS DOWNTOWN'As Constitutional Law Enforcement Officers we will always protect the Rights of Americans to peaceably assemble + petition their Government for redress of night showed it can be done safely and without violence.' #FOP The Indianapolis demonstration remained nonviolent, in contrast to anti-immigrant protests in Los Angeles, where a city-wide curfew was implemented after days of clashes between law enforcement and agitators. Just before 7 p.m. June 11, about a dozen protesters handed out flyers and signs to passersby. The crowd grew as the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's officer presence also increased. A speaker pointed toward basketball fans during anti-deportation speeches, prompting at least two people to yell "Go Pacers!" and a short chant of "USA." Indianapolis police were seen carrying pepper ball guns, less-than-lethal weapons that shoot balls designed to burst on impact and release pepper powder. None were fired. In a speech, one organizer told protesters not to antagonize law enforcement. An organizer said the crowd was a thousand people at its peak, while Indianapolis police put the count at about 500 based on drone footage and crowd density. Indianapolis police urged protesters toward the sidewalk as the group marched downtown. At one point, law enforcement moved crowds so an ambulance could pass. Marching ended on East Georgia Street around 8:30 p.m. "IMPD, KKK, IOF, it's all the same!' the crowd chanted, referring to the Ku Klux Klan and Israeli Occupation Forces. "I prefer crushed ICE," read one sign referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who facilitate deportations. Snyder said he applauded law enforcement agencies and Indianapolis residents for showing how peaceful assembly "can (and should) be done." Hours before the protest, images and rumors circulated online indicating ICE raids may have occurred near 42nd Street and Richelieu Road in Lawrence. On June 11, IndyStar reporters spoke with neighbors in the area who confirmed law enforcement activity. The owner of a self-serve laundry in the area also said they caught video of law enforcement in the area. A since-deleted social media post shared around 7:30 a.m. depicted several photos of men wearing vests that said "Police ICE."
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Army Corps releases environmental review for Line 5 tunnel through Great Lakes
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a long-awaited draft of its environmental review for Enbridge's Line 5 Tunnel project through the Straits of Mackinac. Although the draft is not an official decision, it gives the an idea of how the agency views the project. The Corps is accepting public comments through June with a decision expected in the fall. The Great Lakes Tunnel Project was fast-tracked earlier this spring as a part of the Trump administration's goal to "unleash" American oil and gas. Canadian-headquartered Enbridge has proposed to build a tunnel to house its Line 5 pipeline through the 4 1/2 mile stretch separating Lakes Michigan and Huron. The Army Corps' Detroit District, which is overseeing the permitting process, said it will not eliminate any steps in the environmental review process. But Great Lakes tribes and environmental groups remain unconvinced that the aged-out pipeline can continue to operate safely through the world's largest surface freshwater system. Several Great Lakes tribes withdrew as cooperating agencies in the review process, saying that the federal agency was not acting in good faith. Tribal leaders claimed the process lacked meaningful dialogue and undermined the federal government's responsibility to protect tribal treaty rights. The draft spans hundreds of pages, evaluating the necessity of the proposed project and examining potential environmental impacts while also reviewing possible alternatives. It considered two main alternatives, which included denying permits and allowing the existing pipeline to operate under the Straits as is, or placing a protective cover over the portions that are currently exposed. It also considered changing the tunnel's design and decommissioning the pipeline entirely. Officials from the Corps concluded that the project is warranted, citing projections that demand for the petroleum products transported by the pipeline will either remain stable or grow over the next 25 years. Over the years in the Straits of Mackinac, Line 5 has experienced anchor strikes, missing supports and coating loss, exposing patches of bare metal. The tunnel became possible after a review by former Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who in his final month of office when he created the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority. The corridor authority signed 99-year lease agreement with Enbridge to continue operations of the Line 5 tunnel. Enbridge has said the Great Lakes Tunnel will nearly eliminate the risks of a pipeline incident. The tunnel will be bored into rock 60 to 250 feet under the lakebed, using a tunnel boring machine that will move the tunnel forward 40 feet per day on average. It will be constructed the south side of the Straits to the northern shores, which Enbridge says minimizes environmental impacts. The tunnel will be owned and operated by Michigan, and leased to the company. The Great Lakes Tunnel Project also needs two state permits, one from Michigan's Public Service Commission and the other from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Enbridge has secured the permit from the public service commission, but must redo the permitting process with the environment and energy agency given new information on nearby wetlands. The permit from the state public service commission was challenged by tribes, but that challenge was struck down earlier this year. On April 2, tribes and environmental groups asked the state Supreme Court to consider overturning the lower court's decision. Line 5 opponents have long worried about the risks the pipeline poses to the Great Lakes. The pipeline, which was built in 1953, was built to last 50 years, and leaked 35 times during its tenure. Environmentalists and Great Lakes tribes warn of risks at the Straits of Mackinac, which is seen as the worst place in the region for an oil spill and sacred to Anishinaabe tribes. They also cite threats to nearby wetlands and explosion risks within the tunnel. The Line 6 oil spill that occurred late last year in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, has heightened these fears. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an international think tank, released a report earlier this year that said that shutting down the pipeline would be a more cost-effective avenue for the company as that the tunnel will likely cost three times the initial estimate due to inflation and rising costs. More: As Lake Superior wetlands become more vulnerable, tribe fears cultural guideposts could slip away Caitlin Looby is a Report for America corps member who writes about the environment and the Great Lakes. Reach her at clooby@ follow her on X @caitlooby and learn more about how she approaches her reporting. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Army Corps releases environmental review for Line 5 Great Lakes tunnel
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan appeals court upholds permits for Great Lakes pipeline tunnel project
Enbridge Energy's plans to build a protective tunnel around an aging pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes can continue, a Michigan appeals court ruled. The state Public Service Commission properly issued permits for the $500 million project, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday in rejecting arguments from environmental groups and Native American tribes that commissioners failed to consider the overall need for the pipeline. Tunnel would encase pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac Enbridge wants to build a protective tunnel around a 4-mile (6-kilometer) section of its Line 5 pipeline that runs along the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, which link Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Enbridge has been using the pipeline since 1953 to transport crude oil and natural gas liquids between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. Concerns about a potentially catastrophic spill in the straits have been building since 2017, when Enbridge officials revealed that engineers had known about gaps in the pipeline's coating in the straits since 2014. Fears of a spill escalated in 2018 when a boat anchor damaged the line. Enbridge officials maintain that the line is structurally sound, but they still reached an agreement with then-Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's administration in 2018 that calls for the company to build the protective tunnel. Environmental groups, tribes challenge state permits The Michigan Public Service Commission issued state permits for the project in December 2023. Environmental groups including the Michigan Environmental Council and the National Wildlife Federation, along with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Nottawseppi Huron band of the Potawatomi asked the appellate court last year to reverse the commission's decision. The groups and the tribes alleged that the commission improperly considered only the public need for the tunnel rather than whether the entire pipeline as a whole is still necessary. They also argued the commission failed to adequately consider petroleum products' greenhouse gas impacts. Court: Commission acted reasonably The appellate court found that the commission issued a 'comprehensive' opinion and acted reasonably. It said there was no basis for a reversal or to order the commission to revisit its decision. David Scott, a senior attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center and the Michigan Climate Action Network, which are also plaintiffs in the case, said in an email that he was disappointed with the ruling and considering further moves. He didn't elaborate. Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy praised the decision, saying the tunnel will make a safe pipeline even safer. The legal fight isn't over The ruling Wednesday doesn't end the legal battle over the tunnel. Current Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, opposes the continued operation of Line 5 even if it's encased in a tunnel. Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit in 2019 seeking to void the easement that allows the line to run beneath the straits. That case is pending in state court in Ingham County. A ruling could come any day. Enbridge still needs federal construction permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, although environmentalists fear that President Donald Trump's administration will fast-track that process after Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office.
