WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is providing tax relief to individuals and businesses in 21 Indiana counties affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began Aug. 11, 2026.

Eligible taxpayers now have until Feb. 1, 2027, to file many federal tax returns, make certain tax payments and complete other time-sensitive tax-related actions that were originally due between Aug. 11, 2026, and Feb. 1, 2027.

The relief applies to residents and businesses in Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union and Wayne counties. It also may apply to taxpayers outside the disaster area whose records needed to meet a deadline are located in an affected county.

The Feb. 1 deadline covers many individual and business income tax returns, partnership and S corporation returns, estate and trust returns, certain employment and excise tax returns, and other qualifying filings. Affected taxpayers also have until Feb. 1 to make estimated income-tax payments originally due on or after Aug. 11.

The extension also applies to individuals who received an extension to file their 2025 federal income tax return. However, taxes owed on those 2025 returns were due April 15, 2026, and are not eligible for the postponement.

Special relief applies to certain payroll and excise tax deposits. Penalties on deposits due Aug. 11 through Aug. 25 will be waived if the deposits are made by Aug. 26.

Taxpayers with IRS installment agreements will not have their agreements default because of missed payments during the postponement period. However, interest and applicable late-payment penalties will continue to accrue. Those who want to suspend automatic payments should contact the IRS or their bank.

Additional disaster relief

Affected taxpayers may elect to claim qualifying uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related casualty losses on either their 2026 or 2025 federal tax return. The FEMA disaster declaration number, 4933-DR, should be included when claiming the loss.

The IRS also will waive normal fees for affected taxpayers requesting copies of previously filed tax returns or transcripts. Qualified disaster-relief payments received from government agencies generally are not included in taxable income.

Additional relief may be available for certain retirement-plan and IRA distributions related to the disaster.

The IRS says taxpayers who receive a penalty notice for a filing, payment or deposit covered by the postponement should contact the telephone number on the notice to request abatement. Taxpayers outside the designated disaster area who believe they qualify can call the IRS Special Services line at 866-562-5227.

The disaster declaration also may provide additional time for certain taxpayers to claim refunds or credits under the recently enacted Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act.

Free tax preparation may be available through VITA, TCE, AARP Tax-Aide and IRS Free File programs. Disaster recovery information is available through DisasterAssistance.gov.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Marion County judge on Wednesday sentenced a mom convicted of killing her 5-year-old daughter to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The sentence for Toni McClure came after an eight-day jury trial. She was convicted of murder, criminal confinement, and battery on Tuesday for the 2024 death of her daughter, 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement on the sentencing that this is justice well-served.

Today, justice has been reached for Kinsleigh.

For more than two years, our trial team and investigators have carried the enormous responsibility of seeking justice in a case involving the unimaginable death of a 5-year-old child. They approached that responsibility with the care, diligence and determination this case demanded, and I commend their commitment to Kinsleigh and her family.

Seeking a life without parole sentence is among the most serious responsibilities entrusted to a prosecutor. It is not a decision we take lightly. The intentional killing of a 5-year-old at the hands of her mother made it our duty to seek a life without parole sentence, and today, we are grateful that the jury agreed and imposed the sentence.

It is my hope that we can remember Kinsleigh for who she was, not how she died. Her story should not be defined by those responsible for her death. She was a little girl who was loved, whose life touched others and whose memory will live on. Today is about Kinsleigh.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears

Two others involved in Welty’s death have already been convicted and sentenced.

Ryan Smith, McClure’s then-boyfriend, pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and will serve 20 years in prison.

Tammy Halsey, Welty’s grandmother, also accepted a plea deal for similar neglect charges. She’s due in court for sentencing on Sept. 24.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is applauding a decision by state regulators to take another look at AES Indiana’s proposed rate increase.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission agreed to rehear the case following concerns raised about new developments involving a proposed Google data center in Monrovia and the planned acquisition of AES by a BlackRock-led consortium.

Braun said keeping utility costs affordable for Hoosiers remains one of his top priorities.

“I am pleased the IURC agreed to rehear the AES rate hike and I applaud OUCC Abby Gray on her steadfast work on behalf of Hoosiers,” Braun said. “Affordability for Hoosiers is my number one issue and I won’t stop fighting to ease the burden of high utility costs for working families.”

The rehearing could give regulators another opportunity to consider how the Google project and AES acquisition could affect the utility’s infrastructure needs, finances and the rates customers ultimately pay.

The Citizens Action Coalition had requested the rehearing, arguing that the developments occurred after the original evidentiary record closed and could materially affect the commission’s decision on AES Indiana’s rates.

For customers, the renewed review could provide another chance for regulators to determine whether the proposed rates accurately reflect AES Indiana’s current circumstances and future costs.

“We are pleased that the Commission recognized that these developments warrant a very close look,” said CAC Program Director Ben Inskeep. “The Commission should not lock Indiana ratepayers into long-term rates based on an outdated picture of AES Indiana’s customers, investment needs, and financial circumstances.” 

AES Indiana also reacted to the decision.

“AES Indiana has received the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s order regarding the petition for reconsideration and rehearing of our rate case, which was approved on June 17, 2026. We respect the Commission’s process and remain committed to being open, transparent, and responsive throughout these proceedings. We continue to believe the merits of our originally approved case are strong and support the investments necessary to provide safe, reliable, and increasingly resilient electric service. Most importantly, our focus remains on serving the more than 530,000 customers who depend on us every day across Central Indiana,” said AES Indiana in a statement.

INDIANAPOLIS — FEMA has approved more than $2.1 million in financial assistance for Indiana families affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in August, Gov. Mike Braun announced Wednesday.

More than 25,000 Hoosiers have applied for FEMA’s individual assistance, with payments continuing to be distributed on a rolling basis.

“Thousands of Hoosiers have been impacted,” Braun said, adding that his administration remains committed to helping survivors throughout the recovery process.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is also offering low-interest disaster loans to eligible Indiana businesses, private nonprofit organizations and residents affected by the storms.

Hoosiers have until Oct. 25, 2026, to apply for FEMA assistance. Applications can be submitted at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

State and federal assistance is also available through one-stop shops and mobile registration centers across Indiana. Residents can call Indiana 211 at 866-211-9966 for additional information and resources.

TODAY

Another very hot and humid day is ahead across central Indiana. Expect mostly sunny skies with highs climbing into the middle 90s. Southwest winds increase to around 5–10 mph during the morning, with occasional afternoon gusts around 15–20 mph. The combination of heat and humidity will push heat index values to around 100 to 105 degrees during the afternoon. A Heat Advisory remains in effect, so anyone spending extended time outdoors should take frequent breaks and stay hydrated.

TONIGHT

Mostly clear, warm and muggy conditions continue. Temperatures only fall into the middle 70s with southwest winds around 5 mph. No meaningful rain is expected, providing little overnight relief from the heat.

TOMORROW

Thursday looks like another exceptionally hot day and may rival Wednesday for the hottest conditions of the week. Expect mostly sunny skies with highs in the middle to upper 90s. West to southwest winds remain around 5–10 mph. Heat index values once again climb to around 100 to 105 degrees, and the Heat Advisory continues through the evening. Most of the daytime hours should stay dry.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Clouds gradually increase with a rare showers or thunderstorm possible but unlikely as a disturbance approaches. Temperatures only fall into the middle 70s with light southerly winds around 5 mph. Storm coverage remains uncertain, and many locations may stay dry.

FRIDAY

The heat begins easing slightly, although it will still feel very much like summer. A few showers may be around early before skies become partly to mostly sunny during the afternoon. Highs reach the lower 90s with west winds around 5 mph. Humidity remains elevated, but heat index values should be somewhat lower than Wednesday and Thursday.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy and warm with scattered showers and thunderstorms becoming possible again late at night. Lows settle into the lower 70s with nearly calm winds. Rain coverage remains uncertain, but chances increase toward Saturday morning.

SATURDAY

The pattern becomes more unsettled as the strong ridge responsible for the heat begins weakening. Expect a mixture of sun and clouds with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible at times. It should not rain continuously, and there will likely be plenty of dry hours between storms. Highs ease to around 90 degrees with northwest winds around 5 mph.

SATURDAY NIGHT

A few showers or thunderstorms may linger into the evening before gradually decreasing overnight. Temperatures fall into the upper 60s with light east winds around 5 mph. Humidity remains elevated, but somewhat cooler air begins working into central Indiana.

7 DAY OUTLOOK

The most impactful portion of the forecast comes Wednesday and Thursday as the prolonged heat wave reaches its peak. Highs remain in the middle to upper 90s, and high humidity could push afternoon heat index values into the 100-to-105-degree range. Warm nighttime temperatures in the middle 70s will also provide very little relief.

The weather pattern begins changing Thursday night as the strong ridge gradually weakens. Scattered shower and thunderstorm opportunities return Thursday night and continue periodically Friday and Saturday. Confidence in exact storm timing remains relatively low, and widespread all-day rainfall is not expected. An isolated stronger storm may be possible Thursday night, but there is not currently a clear signal for a widespread severe-weather event across central Indiana.

Temperatures gradually become much more manageable over the weekend. Highs fall toward around 90 Saturday, then into the middle 80s Sunday and lower to middle 80s for Labor Day and Tuesday. Small rain chances may linger at times through the weekend before a quieter and more seasonable pattern becomes increasingly likely early next week.

(FREE PRESS INDIANA) — Charlene Koebcke said “no” when a man seeking support for his proposed factory hog farms offered her a free 30-pound box of pork.

Then she went straight to the Benton County Surveyor’s Office to learn more about Remington Pork LLC’s plans.

In April, just before the pork offer, she had received a letter in the mail from the county attorney about a proposed hog farm. The plan was for a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) on 82 acres of soybean fields next to her 40-acre property. One of three new CAFOs proposed for Benton County, this one would house 8,582 confined pigs that would be fed there about six months before being taken for slaughter. The three farms together would have 26,000 hogs.

The legally required notice to adjacent property owners said the pork producer was seeking land-use variances “for the purpose of creating a hog farm.” It said the CAFO requests were on the county board of zoning appeals and plan commission’s May 15 meeting agendas.

The 72-year-old widow was surprised. She confirmed the news with the surveyor, and again when Remington Pork LLC owner Quentin Overbeck delivered an assortment of ribs, pork loin, bacon and sausage to Koebcke’s son’s house a mile from one of the proposed CAFOs.

“Quentin shows up with a box of pork the size of that laundry basket there in his hands,” Koebcke said during an interview at her century-old farmhouse. “And he tells me, ‘Charlene, I’ll be bringing you some too.’ And I said, ‘Quentin, don’t bother. You’re not buying us.’”

She and about 50 others opposed to the CAFOs attended the board of zoning appeals’ meeting and the plan commission meeting that followed. She and others expressed worries and asked for a continuance, which was denied. An hour and 20 minutes later, the CAFOs had received unanimous favorable recommendations from both boards.

Koebcke said no one she talked to after receiving the letter knew about the CAFO plans, and the meeting was less than three weeks away. She notified neighbors and word spread quickly among Gilboa Township’s 275 residents. The township trustee didn’t know until an upset neighbor called.

“It feels very clandestine, very hush-hush,” said Marlene Reynolds, who lives within a mile or so of all three sites in the house where she grew up. She cried while speaking during the 15-minute public comment session.

“They only told people they needed to tell and suddenly there was a meeting and — surprise — and it was done before anyone could blink,” she said during a kitchen-table interview in August.

Her daughter, KLynn Reynolds, went to school with Overbeck and his two brothers. The families have been acquainted for 40 years. During the May hearings, Overbeck sat at the table with the members, his back to the audience. After she spoke, Marlene Reynolds leaned toward him. “Quentin, please. Don’t.”

The approvals from those two boards are not the final decision. Benton County’s three commissioners have to vote on the issue yet. And a judicial review request filed in court on behalf of nine affected property owners alleging improper procedures by the BZA and plan commission has delayed further action. A court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23.

What are CAFOs? 

Hog farming is big in Indiana, with more than 2,000 operations of all sizes, including more than 400 CAFOs that confine more than 5,000 hogs at once. Indiana’s hog farms brought in $1.5 billion in revenue in 2023, according to an International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health report. The state is fifth in the nation in hog production, providing 7% of U.S. pork and sending about 10 million hogs to market annually, most raised in CAFOs.

Indiana’s Confined Feeding Operation rules spread around the responsibility of overseeing CAFOs, defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as animal feeding operations that keep livestock in a confined space without grass or vegetation for at least 45 days over 12 months.

The state Department of Environmental Management regulates facility construction, on-site wells, manure handling, stormwater run-off and emergency spills. The agency doesn’t regulate odors but recommends ways to reduce them.

County zoning regulations determine where CAFOs can be built. Local and state highway departments deal with road concerns. The state animal health board oversees dead animal disposal, and the Department of Natural Resources monitors groundwater. The county health department deals with fly and mosquito complaints.

Living with the consequences

Overbeck’s variance request says transitioning the row-crop fields, which measure 82, 198 and 320 acres, would benefit Benton County. “Animal agriculture is a driver of the local economy and aligns with the businesses and resources in the area,” he wrote in his proposal.

Overbeck didn’t respond to a request for comment for this story.

Jim Lawinger, president of the zoning and planning boards, chastised people who spoke out of turn and claimed the process was unfair during the May 15 meetings. 

“If I hear much more comment from the back, I will clear this room in a heartbeat. Is that understood?”

The room went quiet before Tyler Fledderman from Keystone Cooperative, a swine-based business that partners with Midwestern farmers to provide pork to consumers, spoke up. The CAFOs will provide $15,000 a year in property taxes and Keystone will agree, he said, to repair local roads damaged by trucks hauling hogs and feed.

“Our goal is to respond with a regional footprint responsibly by working with farmers like the Overbeck family,” he said, calling them “responsible stewards of the environment.”

Lawinger wrote on his voting ballot that the 320-acre CAFO planned on County Road 800 North had “close neighbors effected.”

Marlene Reynolds and the other neighbors won’t give up the CAFO fight. “We’re not against farming,” she said. “It’s the scale of this operation and the lack of transparency and accountability. He (Overbeck) lives six miles away. He doesn’t have to live with the consequences.”

Koebcke is worried manure runoff from the hog farm planned behind her house will contaminate her well. Will she be able to hang her laundry out to dry? She retired this year and bought two white rocking chairs for the back porch, which looks out on knee-high rows of soybeans. 

“I got the rockers a few days before I heard about this,” she said. “It’s gonna be a whole different view now. And they say we won’t be bothered by the smell. I just wish they would consider my health and well-being. And my rights, as a neighbor.”

FPI News, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletter.

FPI News reporter Laura Lane covers the people and issues of rural Indiana. Reach her at 812-760-1540 or laura.lane@fpinews.org.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre is bringing three new shows to its stage for the 2027 season, including classics from across the ages.

Eddie Curry is a producer with Beef & Boards, who joined News 8 to detail the new shows and revel in the excitement of the new season.

The theatre says the season features everything from fantasy and romance to good ol’ rock and roll.

Beef & Boards 2027 lineup

• “The Bunco Squad.”
• “Grease.”
• “South Pacific.”
• “Frozen.”
• “Always … Patsy Cline.”
• “Les Misérables.”
• …and more!

Tickets for all 2027 shows go on sale on Oct. 1.

To hear more about the shows, watch the full interview above!

INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is preparing to launch digital driver’s licenses, Indiana’s I-Team has learned.

A mobile driver’s license is a digital version of a physical license, learner’s permit or identification card. The license lives on a smartphone, typically in a mobile wallet or through an app.

While the agency has not released a specific timeline, officials say they are getting closer to the launch.

Potential uses include:

• Age verification for alcohol and tobacco retailers.
• Identity verification for banking.
• Identity verification during traffic stops.

Indiana’s I-Team found at least 21 states already use mobile driver’s licenses, including neighboring Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio.

Lily King said she likes the idea of a digital license.

“I approve of it,” King said.

King spent the morning at a BMV branch on Crawfordsville Road after losing her license. She said having a digital version would have saved her time and money.

She is not the only driver looking for a technology upgrade.

“Sometimes you forget your ID, credit card, but your phone, it’s everything,” Nery Louis said. “Me personally, I would be happy. I would be using it every day.”

Groups including the American Civili Liberties Union have raised concerns about privacy, tracking, and security.

“The ACLU of Indiana has serious concerns about digital driver’s licenses, particularly around privacy, tracking, and the ability for the government to revoke someone’s access to their ID,” ACLU of Indiana advocacy manager Danielle Drake said.

Drake said any system needs strong privacy safeguards and should remain voluntary, keeping a physical ID option available at all times.

Drivers also expressed concern about cybersecurity.

“With all this new technology going on, they could easily download somebody else’s face or pretend to be them,” Sean Risner said. “I feel like it would create those sorts of problems for fraud identification.”

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles said it is following best practices for digital security.

A 2023 law, House Enrolled Act 1050, requires the agency to follow international standards to maintain data security for any Hoosier who has a mobile license.

“The BMV wants to ensure we create a system that is secure, reliable, and complies with Indiana law,” agency spokesperson Greg Dunn said in an email to the I-Team.

Dunn said mobile licenses require careful planning to address how the program affects the community and to meet the needs of those verifying identities. He added that digital licenses are part of the vision for Indiana’s future.

Dunn said once the program is closer to launch, Hoosiers will receive updates on how to access the new features.

The BMV has no plans to phase out physical driver’s licenses.

The agency will present its proposal to lawmakers Wednesday. The Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WISH) — A 62-year-old senior pastor faces 10 felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material after Indiana State Police arrested him Monday in Terre Haute, state police say.

Daniel Willis was taken to the Vigo County Jail on mid-level felony charges involving material of children younger than 12/bondage.

Indiana State Police detectives began the investigation in early 2026. The investigation followed tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and a second company that was not identified.

After investigators identified Willis, detectives obtained a search warrant for his home and church. Several agencies joined the search, including the Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police forensics unit, the Terre Haute Police Department and special agents from the Department of Homeland Security.

Investigators say they found digital devices containing files of child sexual abuse.

The Indiana Crimes Against Children Task Force, overseen by state police, investigates and prosecutes people who use the internet to exploit or entice children sexually.

The task force encourages Hoosiers to report online exploitation, solicitation and enticement-type crimes against children to the National Center for Missing &Exploited Children.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Four adults were taken to hospitals with “complaints of pain” after their small bus crashed on Indianapolis’ northwest side Tuesday morning.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the area of West 56th Street and Lafayette Road just after 7 a.m. to investigate an accident with injuries.

It’s not clear what led to the crash; News 8 photographer Joe Dugan described the scene, saying the bus flipped onto its side.

IMPD didn’t say how many passengers were on the bus, though four were taken to hospitals for treatment. Police described other injuries as “minor.”

Dugan says the bus was loaded up by a tow truck and moved from the crash scene by 8:20 a.m.

This is a developing story.