Indiana State News

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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence praised a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration.

Pence said the court’s 4-4 decision Thursday upholds a fundamental constitutional principle dictating that presidents “cannot unilaterally change the law”. Indiana was one of 26 states challenging the immigration action Obama made after he said Congress wasn’t acting on immigration reform. The move would have prevented deportation for millions of people in the country illegally.

Pence called the executive order an “end run” around the democratic process. He said the proper way to make changes to the country’s immigration laws is passing a bill through Congress.

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Federal prosecutors say an 18-year- old Indiana man accused of trying to travel overseas to join the Islamic State militant organization should be held until trial because he’s a flight risk.

The government’s motion filed in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis seeks to have Akram Musleh detained until he’s tried on a charge of providing material support to the Islamic State.

It argues there’s “serious risk” Musleh will flee and cites the Brownsburg, Indiana, man’s alleged repeated attempts to travel overseas to join the group.

Musleh faces a Monday detention hearing.

FBI agents arrested Musleh in Indianapolis Tuesday as he tried to board a New York-bound bus. Prosecutors say he planned to fly to Morocco then travel to Islamic State-controlled territory.

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The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority reports a one-night count found about 5,800 homeless people living in Indiana, down 1 percent from last year.

Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb serves as the authority’s board chairman. He said homelessness is down 10% overall in Indiana since 2010. The count was taken on Jan. 27 as required by the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development for every community receiving federal funds for programs to help homeless people.

The report released Thursday also found a 39 percent decrease in families identified as being chronically homeless and a 25 percent decrease in veterans identified as being chronically homeless. It also found a 15 percent decrease for individuals identified as being chronically homeless.

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The Indiana Attorney General’s Office says Hoosiers who bought electronic from April 1, 2010, to May 21, 2012, should now be receiving account credits or checks totaling about $8.6 million.

The office announced Thursday the payments result from the successful prosecution of a price-fixing case against Apple, Inc. Credits range from $1.56 to $6.93.

Apple paid $400 million in nationwide consumer compensation after the U.S. Supreme Court denied Apple’s request to review the decision of a lower court finding Apple had violated the antitrust laws.

The office says Indiana consumers account for approximately 2% of e-book purchasers nationwide.

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Indiana wildlife officials are seeking the public’s help this summer tracking the size of the state’s wild turkey population.

Wild turkeys were once considered extinct in Indiana due to over-hunting and habitat loss, but they’re now found in all 92 of the state’s counties.

The Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to report online the number of turkey hens they spot with offspring. The agency says the summer brood-rearing period is usually the main factor influencing wild turkey populations.

Volunteers will use a web-based survey to record wild turkey sightings during July and August to shed light on annual turkey reproduction.

That survey, and additional information, is found on the DNR’s website.

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A sheriff in northwestern Indiana says investigators have uncovered a large drug trafficking operation at Crown Point High School.

Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said during a Wednesday news conference that it’s “somewhat unbelievable the amount of drugs that were sold.” Buncich had a bag filled with 5,000 Xanax pills that he said students bought for $10 to $20 each.

Officials say the investigation led to the seizure of $65,000 in drugs and cash including the Xanax pills and marijuana.

Officials say the investigation started with the February arrest of a Crown Point man. The (Munster) Times reports police think he was working with a network to supply drugs at the high school and nearby colleges. Three juveniles also have been arrested and officials say more arrests are expected.