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ARCADIA, Ind. (HAMILTON COUNTY REPORTER) — A public meeting was held Monday at Hamilton Heights Middle School to discuss possible reorganization of Jackson Township.

Trustee Robyn Cook reported that reorganization requires the agreement of at least one of the towns in the township (Arcadia, Atlanta, or Cicero), but no town councils have yet agreed to do so.

The discussion was wide-ranging and concerned Westfield’s expansion, what was being done in neighboring Adams Township, and zoning. Currently, Cook has agreed to let Cicero control zoning in the township.

Discussion also concerned the possibility of the state legislature eliminating township trustees and putting their duties of fire protection and welfare under the County Commissioners’ jurisdiction.

Another topic was the new water and sewer district: Hamilton County Regional Utility District. Homes within 300 feet of a sewer system can be required to hook into the new system. Additional information can be obtained at JacksonTownshipTrustee.com or on the Preservation of Northern Hamilton County Facebook page.

This story was originally published July 23, 2025, by the Hamilton County Reporter at https://readthereporter.com/will-jackson-township-catch-reorganization-fever/.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (HAMILTON COUNTY REPORTER) — The Hamilton County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met Wednesday evening in the Council Chambers at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Center, 1 Hamilton County Square, Noblesville, in order to hear a petition from Aypa Power.

The petition was asking for a variance to build a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in an A-2 (agricultural) zoning district located at 21598 Overdorf Road.

After a meeting that lasted well over two hours and involved dozens of public comments and several direct questions from BZA members, the board voted unanimously to deny the petition.

One person in attendance told The Reporter more than 100 people were present for the public hearing. Thirty people spoke out asking the board to either deny the petition outright or order a continuance so critical questions could be answered by the developer. Only three spoke in favor of the petition.

Aypa Power has only been in existence since 2017, and in that time has had at least one other BESS facility catch fire. Aypa Senior Manager Brandon Gahman specified that the fire in Moss Landing, Calif., was not lithium-ion batteries, but was instead lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide batteries.

The proposed facility would have had a battery backup capacity 200 Megawatts for four-hour duration (800 MWh), which could have powered approximately 60,000 homes in the event it was needed.

Those interested can read the 437-page proposal by Aypa Power, and those who would like to watch the hearing online can do so on YouTube.

This story was originally published July 25, 2025, by the Hamilton County Reporter at https://readthereporter.com/farmland-beats-batteries/.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (WISH) – Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered a chemical linked to a range of harmful health effects in reusable feminine hygiene products. 

Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are widely used, human-made chemicals used to make consumer, commercial, and industrial goods. PFAS take a long time to break down, leading to the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Recent research increasingly suggests exposure to PFAS has negative health impacts, including a decreased fertility in women, developmental defects in babies including low birth weight, and an increased risk of some cancers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Notre Dame researchers discovered high levels of PFAS present — “intentional fluorination” — in nearly a third of reusable feminine hygiene products, including 33% of period underwear and 25% of reusable pads tested. This includes options that are marketed as “eco-friendly,” researchers said. 

Study author Graham Peaslee said in a news release, “This means these products are both a risk to the wearer as well as to the rest of us when they are eventually disposed of, since we know that these forever chemicals persist when they end up in landfills, contaminating irrigation and drinking water systems for all of us.”

The research included testing on more than 70 products, the university said, including period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear.

Due to the limited scope of the research, the published results in Environmental Science & Technology Letters suggested more comprehensive studies were needed. 

“There’s still a lot we don’t know about the extent to which PFAS are being used in the manufacturing of these products,” Peaslee said in the release. “And too much we don’t know about the potential for these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin by the consumers who wear them.”

Peaslee and the lead author of the study, Alyssa Wicks, intentionally chose to not identify the brands tested, but they hope the research can help people ask whether PFAS are present in their purchases and inform the conversation around legislation to create labeling requirements. 

Peaslee has led a number of research projects involving the presence of PFAS in feminine hygiene products. The university said his discovery of PFAS in unused menstrual underwear in 2019 was used to litigate a $5 million lawsuit against the brand Thinx. 

Health concerns circling around the use of PFAS have caused federal bans, and recent regulation in Indiana to track its effects on firefighters.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Multiple people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said Saturday.

The Michigan State Police said the local sheriff’s office is investigating the incident and details were limited. The agency asked that people avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing.

A Walmart corporate spokesperson, Joe Pennington, said by email that the company was “working with police and defer questions to them right now.”

Messages seeking comment were left with police and the mayor.

Traverse City is about 255 miles (410 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.

WABASH, Ind. (WISH) — The Oak Ridge Boys will return to the Honeywell Arts & Entertainment stage in December for their annual Christmas tour.

The country music band’s limited-run American Made Christmas Tour will start Dec. 4 in Sarasota, Fla., end Dec. 20 in Midland, Mich., with stops in between including Wabash’s Ford Theater at the Honeywell Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 18.

The band’s Christmas show made its first stop in Wabash in 2016, according to online information. The show is known to Oak Ridge Boys’ fans for featuring falling snow and decorated Christmas trees as the musicians perform their hits and holiday favorites.

The band recently announced all of its Christmas tour dates, although the Honeywell Center began on June 13 selling tickets for the December appearance. Tickets start at $37 and are available on the Honeywell Center website.

The band has won five Grammy Awards, four CMA awards and 12 GMA Dove awards. The band’s music video for “Come on Home” recently won a Telly Award.

TONIGHT

A few evening storms remain possible, especially north of I-70 as lingering energy drifts through the region. While most storms should fade by late evening, downpours and isolated gusty winds are still possible early on. Otherwise, expect a very warm and muggy night with lows in the upper 70s. Winds light from the southwest around 5 mph.

TOMORROW

Heat and humidity remain locked in, but a nearby boundary could help spark another round of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, especially near and just south of I-70. Expect highs in the upper 80s to near 90, with heat index values again nearing 100. A few storms could bring localized downpours and gusty winds. Winds west-southwest around 5 mph.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Any leftover storms should fade early, leaving behind partly cloudy and sultry conditions. Lows hold steady in the mid to upper 70s. Winds remain light out of the southwest near 5 mph.

MONDAY

Oppressive heat continues with mostly sunny skies and only a slim chance of a stray afternoon shower. Highs soar into the mid-90s, and heat index values may top 105 in spots. Winds remain light and variable, becoming west near 5 mph by afternoon.

MONDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear to partly cloudy with another very warm and humid night on tap. Lows hover in the upper 70s. Winds from the northwest near 5 mph before calming down overnight.

TUESDAY

Likely the hottest day of the stretch, with highs in the mid-90s and heat index values again exceeding 105. Storm chances remain minimal through sunset. Winds will be light and variable.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy and still steamy. Lows in the upper 70s with a hint of a breeze from the north around 5 mph.

WEDNESDAY

The pattern begins to shift as a cold front approaches. Expect scattered afternoon thunderstorms, some of which could be strong with heavy rain and gusty winds. Highs settle back into the low 90s, but it’ll still feel hot and sticky ahead of the front. Winds becoming north-northwest around 5 mph by afternoon.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Storms remain possible into the evening and overnight hours as the front slowly presses south. Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and strong winds. Lows finally fall to the upper 60s. Winds north-northeast around 5 mph.

7 DAY FORECAST

After another sticky Sunday with scattered storms, intense heat ramps back up to start the workweek. Monday through Wednesday will feature highs in the 90s, heat indices pushing 105–110, and only slight storm chances until a front approaches midweek. That front brings a better shot at storms on Wednesday and early Thursday. Behind it, a refreshing drop in temps and humidity arrives just in time for next weekend, with highs closer to 80 and cool, crisp mornings in the 50s, potentially our most comfortable stretch since early June. Expect warm and gradually more humid conditions to return early the following week.

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Two brothers from Indianapolis are facing high-level felony drug charges after one of them was stopped more than two weeks ago while traveling in Westfield, police said Saturday.

A social media post from Westfield Police Department said its officers and others from Fishers Police Department arrested arrested Anthony Castillo, 22, following the July 10 traffic stop in which a police dog detected narcotics in the vehicle. The post did not say where Castillo was stopped in Westfield or what type of vehicle he was driving. In the vehicle, investigators found psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a Glock handgun with an extended magazine.

Police from Fishers, Indianapolis and Westfield later executed a search warrant at the home of Anthony and his brother, Alexander Baldemar Castillo, 21, on Broken Bow Trail at the 10 West Apartments of Indianapolis, leading to significant drug and weapon seizures. The apartment is located south off West 10th Street between Country Club Road and North Girls School Road. Inside, police found 11 pounds of marijuana, 1.5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms as well as other drugs, a loaded revolver, an AR-style pistol, and $5,000 in cash.

The Westfield police’s post shared photos of what was seized and the police dog.

Anthony was formally charged July 17 in Hamilton Superior Court 1 with three high-level felony counts of drug dealing; a mid-level felony county of possession of a narcotic drug; a low-level felony count of dealing in marijuana; a low-level felony count of possession of a controlled substance; and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

Alexander was arrested Tuesday with the help of Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, although the Westfield police’s post did not say where the arrest happened.

Alexander was formally charged Friday in the same Hamilton County court with two high-level felony count of drug dealing; a mid-level felony count of possessing a narcotic drug; a low-level felony count of dealing marijuana; a low-level felony count of possessing a controlled substance; and a low-level felony count of possessing marijuana.

While some U.S. states have decriminalized marijuana sales, Indiana is not among them. Indiana does allow the sale of CBD products.

The brothers on Saturday remained in the Hamilton County jail. Anthony and Alexander were being held on separate $150,000 bonds, online jail records showed.