Local News
Local News
Bedford and Lawrence County Local News
NEW INDIANA LAWS TAKING EFFECT TOMORROW (JULY 1ST)!
A lot of new rules are hitting the books tomorrow, and we want to make sure you are up to speed on what’s changing. 🚠VAPES & TOBACCO * School Zones: Vape shops can’t open within 2/3 of a mile from a school (older shops already open are grandfathered in). * Under 21: It’s now a ticketable offense for anyone under 21 to purchase or possess a vape. * Getting ID'd: Store clerks must now ID anyone buying tobacco or vapes who looks under 40. * Banned Vapes: Foreign-made vapes not approved by t
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DEPARTMENT UPDATE: Leadership Changes at Bedford PD
Significant personnel changes are taking place at the top of the Bedford Police Department this week. Colonel Joe DeWees is retiring after more than 38 years of service to the City of Bedford. Major Brian Turpen is also concluding nearly 37 years of service to the community. Both officers are transitioning into new roles as School Resource Officers with North Lawrence Community Schools, where they will continue to serve the local school district. Additionally, the board has officially promoted
NEW INDIANA LAWS TAKING EFFECT TOMORROW (JULY 1ST)!
A lot of new rules are hitting the books tomorrow, and we want to make sure you are up to speed on what’s changing. 🚠VAPES & TOBACCO * School Zones: Vape shops can’t open within 2/3 of a mile from a school (older shops already open are grandfathered in). * Under 21: It’s now a ticketable offense for anyone under 21 to purchase or possess a vape. * Getting ID'd: Store clerks must now ID anyone buying tobacco or vapes who looks under 40. * Banned Vapes: Foreign-made vapes not approved by t
The Lawrence County Workforce Crisis – Frozen Wages, Cut Support, and a 30-Day Insurance Scramble
Over the last 72 hours, multiple Lawrence County employees from various departments have securely reached out to us. Their combined accounts reveal a severe, ongoing financial and administrative crisis inside our local government. Under the umbrella of "budget issues," county leadership has enacted a series of drastic changes that are directly impacting the livelihoods of the front-line workers who keep our county operational. Here is what is happening behind closed doors: 🔴 The 30-Day Insura
PUBLIC RECORD AUDIT: What is Happening to Our County Workforce?
We are looking closely at the systemic changes impacting Lawrence County employees—decisions being made quietly behind closed doors under the banner of "2026-2027 budget issues." While the commissioners recently adopted the 26/27 county budget publicly, we are receiving concerning reports from inside the county workforce about severe internal cuts that are not being communicated to the taxpayers. Here is what we are hearing is currently happening behind the scenes to the people who keep our coLoogootee Woman Arrested in Bedford After Allegedly Entering Home, Claiming She Thought She Was in Washington
A Loogootee woman faces felony and misdemeanor charges in Bedford after residents reported her attempting to break into a vehicle and entering a home uninvited. When confronted by law enforcement, the woman was severely disoriented, testing positive for methamphetamine possession and claiming she believed she was in a different county. Kacrissa Jo Salmon, 34, was arrested on the evening of June 22, 2026, by the Bedford Police Department. Erratic Behavior on 33rd Street At approximately 7:28Mitchell Man Jailed for Intimidation After Alleged Death Threats Over 30-Year-Old Rumor
A Mitchell man faces a criminal charge of intimidation after he reportedly sent a series of terrifying messages threatening to kill his wife and another man over an alleged infidelity rumor dating back three decades. John E. Porter, 61, was arrested on Wednesday evening, June 17, 2026, by the Mitchell Police Department. The Facebook Messages and Out-of-County Search The investigation began at approximately 5:40 p.m. when Porter's wife arrived at the Mitchell Police station to report active tWATCHDOG SPOTLIGHT: Active Leadership on the Road with Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day
WATCHDOG SPOTLIGHT & DEEP DIVE: The Hands-On Leadership of Lawrence County Sheriff Greg Day When evaluating the effectiveness of our local law enforcement, it is easy to focus entirely on the final arrest reports or court dockets. But true leadership in law enforcement isn't just about managing from behind a desk—it’s about being out in the community, side-by-side with the deputies who patrol our roads every single day. Today, we want to take a moment to recognize Lawrence County Sheriff Greg