Richmond Common Council approved a new, 12-category scoring system to award tax abatements. The measure passed 8-0 during the council’s April 17 meeting after two amendments also passed unanimously. Council raised the minimum starting wage for new and retained jobs from $14 to $18 and required applying companies to provide employees health and wellness benefits. […]
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Blame for fire’s cause, costs hit property owner
“It’s his fault.” Mayor Dave Snow blames Seth Smith, owner of Cornerstone Trading Group LLC, for hazardous conditions at a three-property complex that burned for more than three days last week. Smith stored tons of plastics in six buildings that total nearly 255,000 square feet on the 13.8-acre complex. Government officials recognized the properties as […]
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Firefighters put ‘heroic stop’ to historic blaze
Richmond firefighters aggressively attacked burning plastic when they arrived shortly after 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 at a facility known as a fire hazard. Overcoming limited access to the burning pile of the 358 N.W. F St. complex, the firefighters tried to quickly gain control, but strong winds helped the fire jump to another plastics […]
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Amid growing concerns, environmental, health impacts of fire remain unclear
As soon as word spread that the massive plume of black smoke billowing over Richmond on Tuesday, April 11, was from burning plastics, many began to wonder about the health impacts on the community’s air, water and soil. Top of mind might have been the February train derailment just 300 miles away in East Palestine, […]
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Fire fatigue: Evacuation order remains as officials work to assess health impact
At an afternoon press conference on Thursday, state and city officials said that while progress is being made, they are not ready to allow evacuated residents back into homes surrounding the site of Tuesday’s fire. An order to shelter in place remains active as shifting wind directions and smoke patterns mean that even more of […]
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Richmond fire response continues as officials blame ‘negligent’ property owner
READ THE LATEST: Fire fatigue: Evacuation order remains as officials work to assess health impact 6:24 PM: Mayor announces press conference Mayor Dave Snow posted on Twitter that the fire is still active, that environmental hazard assessment is still happening, and that a press conference is planned for Thursday at 2 p.m. 5:40 PM: Red […]
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Richmond fire contained, water issues ‘frustrating’
READ THE LATEST: Fire fatigue: Evacuation order remains as officials work to assess health impact For Wednesday April 12 updates, read continuing coverage: Richmond fire response continues as officials blame ‘negligent’ property owner 9:00 PM: Mayor Snow says the evacuation order is expected to stay in place through tonight as the city waits for results […]
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2 accused of stealing $150K from cemetery
When a cemetery foundation believed to have nearly $300,000 reportedly wouldn’t pay an $8,000 groundskeeping bill, suspicions were raised to police and an investigation began. Indiana State Police now accuses a local couple who were leaders of the cemetery foundation of writing checks worth more than $150,000 to themselves, according to a probable cause affidavit […]
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City water bills could rise 32%
Indiana American Water’s customers in Richmond could see their bills increase gradually to $14 more per month if a proposed rate increase is approved. IAW has filed a rate adjustment request with Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, noting $875 million in water and wastewater system investments to be made through 2025. If the proposed rates are […]
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Color images emerge from explosion witness
Fifty-five years later, the painful images of Richmond’s downtown explosions are still vivid for survivors as well as those who lost loved ones on that deadly Saturday afternoon. Through extensive images, legendary Richmond photographer Ralph Pyle and local journalists documented the horrible day of April 6, 1968, and its aftermath. Nearly all those moments captured […]