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Motorists: stay alert and share the road with farm equipment this spring
INDIANAPOLIS — Planting season is quickly approaching for Indiana’s 94,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine, Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s rural roads and highways.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police and Hoosier Ag Today want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on roadways this spring.
“Spring time is incredibly busy for everyone. Hoosiers families will be taking their kids to spring sports, graduations and more, but it’s especially busy for our farmers,” said Lt. Gov. Beckwith, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I want to encourage all motorists this spring to slow down, drive safely and share our roads with farmers and their large slow moving equipment.”
In 2022, eleven occupants were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in one death, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration*.
“As we get further into the spring season, we will begin to see more farm machinery using our roadways as farmers begin planting their crops,” said Anthony Scott, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “Let’s make sure we are all giving them the space and patience necessary to get from field to field this season, because our primary goal is the safety of all those who travel our roads and highways.”
While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.
The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:
- Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
- Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
- Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a vehicle to pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
Additionally,
- Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
- Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.
Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb wants to remind motorists that farmers work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.
“Getting planting equipment from field to field is the hardest part of planting season for Hoosier farmers,” said Don Lamb, ISDA director and farmer from Boone county. “Having cars pull over when able is a huge help and farmers appreciate it and we also try to pull over when we can to let people pass. We want everyone to get to their destination safely, whether that is to school, daycare pickup or a farm field.”
Following the aftermath of damaging storms across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita warns of charity scams targeting good-hearted Hoosiers
In the wake of recent storms and flooding across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita is calling on all Hoosiers to remain vigilant as scammers look to exploit these disasters by targeting charitable and helpful individuals. Just as fraudsters prey on generosity during holiday seasons, they also take advantage of those seeking assistance or repairs after severe weather. Attorney General Rokita says Hoosiers should take proactive steps to protect themselves from deceptive schemes promising aid or services.
“Hoosiers are good-hearted people who may want to donate to help quickly rebuild hard hit communities after the recent devastating storms, but that giving nature can make them targets for scammers looking to profit from hardship,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “We must stay one step ahead of these fraudsters by doing our homework and ensuring our resources go to legitimate recovery efforts, not into the hands of con artists.”
Attorney General Rokita says his office is committed to tracking down and bringing to justice the criminals who perpetrate illegal scams while also empowering Hoosiers to avoid becoming victims.
With communities across the state facing significant damage from recent storms and flooding, Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to safeguard against charity-related scams:
- Slow Down: A real charity will accept your donations any day of the week. Take as much time as you need to feel confident that your money is being used to help the cause you expect. Ask questions. If the request for a donation is over the phone, the caller should be able to answer critical questions.
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Make sure you are dealing with the real charitable organization. Be leery of unknown or unfamiliar organizations you receive by phone, mail, email, and/or social media.
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Always donate by credit card rather than cash or other methods. This will ensure you can access the protections available through your credit card company.
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Research the cause or the organization: Search online for the name of the organization or cause with words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. Check out what charity watchdog groups like CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org, Give.org, and Guidestar.org say about that organization.
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TODAY’S HEADLINES Asset-image Revenue loss of more than $2 billion throws doubt on Indiana’s proposed new budget
- Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, left, and Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, talk with the press at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday after an announcement that Indiana’s projected revenue will be down by $2.37 billion.
Photo by Sydney Byerly, The Indiana Citizen.
Over the next three years, Indiana’s projected revenue will be down by $2.37 billion, according to Ben Tooley, director of fiscal policy for the Indiana House of Representatives, who shared the state’s revenue forecast during the State Budget Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Indiana will be short $403 million in 2025, $963.9 million in 2026 and more than $1 billion in 2027.
During the committee’s recess, lawmakers who were at the meeting hosted a press conference in the hallway to respond to the new revenue projections.
Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, said the revenue forecast reminded him of the economic conditions he saw during the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009.
“We’ve got serious work to do,” he said.
Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said he and his colleagues will be working with lawmakers across the aisle to come up with solutions to the revenue shortages.
“We’re extremely concerned for Hoosiers across the state,” he said. “The same conditions that are impacting the state budget are impacting Hoosiers from across the board.”
Qaddoura said he hopes the General Assembly will decide to raise taxes on cigarettes and utilize the managed care assessment fee (MCAF), which would raise funds for Medicaid.
In a press release, Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis, said Indiana is not prepared to be down $2.4 billion.
He told TheStatehouseFile.com he is most concerned about the impact Indiana’s projected revenue will have on public education and Medicaid, the largest spending areas in the state budget.
“There’s no plan,” Delaney said. “I think they’re just going to end up flatlining public education. We could pass a budget that pretends that we got all this money that we don’t ever have.”
Delaney said if the Republican supermajority passes a budget that can’t be fully funded, it would be dishonest.
“We could do that and leave town and say it’s Mike Braun’s problem,” he said.
Like Delaney, Rep. Gregory W. Porter, D-Indianapolis, said he was worried that public education, especially teachers and students, were on the chopping block in Indiana’s budget.
“We have to create a pipeline to education,” Porter told the gaggle of reporters at the press conference. “We also have to figure out what, how we’re gonna bring people to the state. … We don’t have a good education system.”
Alongside educators and students, Porter was also concerned about children with autism whose therapy is often funded by Medicaid.
“You should not hurt seniors, and you should not be hurting our children,” he said. “I think everyone should have a decent quality of life.”
Gov. Mike Braun, who reacted to the revenue forecast via press release, blamed Indiana’s shortage of funds on former President Joe Biden’s economic choices.
“Today’s forecast reflects what we are dealing with in the aftermath of disastrous Bidenflation. There will be some tough times ahead, but the America First economic policies we are pursuing here and in Washington will unleash an economic boom,” Braun said in a release.
“However, we must finalize a biennial budget that respects the revenue forecast and protects Hoosier taxpayers from a worst-case scenario. I will work with the General Assembly to craft a budget that is structurally balanced, maintains strong reserves, and funds vital services like public safety and education.”
Delaney also issued a press release, but he attributed the revenue shortage to an unpredictable national economy fueled by President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
“We have one week to update our budget to account for this week’s economic report. With the unpredictability coming out of D.C., I fear that the budget we pass in the next week will not hold up through the summer,” Delaney said in the release.
“The legislature must act responsibly and create a mechanism to address this economic instability. We cannot leave a matter this serious in the hands of the executive branch. My colleagues in the General Assembly need to step up to our role. Let’s be honest about this—unless we make some substantial moves in the final week of session, a lot of people are going to be hurt. Avoiding that now falls to the majority.”
Porter echoed Delaney’s concerns about federal influence in his press release that followed the budget committee meeting.
“Federal actions could completely change our trajectory. We’re one of the most intense manufacturing states in the nation, so we could get hit hard. When the U.S. gets a cold, Indiana gets pneumonia,” Porter said in the release.
“Our budget has to be done in a week. In the past, I’ve proposed doing an annual budget during periods of uncertainty. I said we needed to move this forecast up a month. Now it’s crunch time, and we’re writing this budget with a blindfold.”
Anna Cecil is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Governor Braun Announces Partnership Between Indiana Excise Police, Indiana State Police to Crack Down on Crime Involving ‘Nuisance Bars’
“Safer streets and stronger communities.”
INDIANAPOLIS – Today, Governor Mike Braun announced a collaboration between the Indiana State Police and the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission’s Excise Police to address the issue of public safety around bars that tend to attract crime, drugs, and disturbances, sometimes referred to as “nuisance bars.”
“So-called ‘nuisance bars’ present a serious public safety threat, becoming hubs for crime, drugs, and violence that make our communities more dangerous and drive down nearby property values. This partnership between the Indiana Excise Police and the Indiana State Police will make for safer streets and stronger communities.” — Governor Mike Braun
‘Nuisance bars’ refers to bars, nightclubs, and other establishments that are permissive of crime and violence. Annual public nuisance violations issued by Indiana State Excise Police have increased 34% since 2019. The violations include instances of shootings, stabbings, and drug related activity.
Indiana law enforcement does an excellent job of keeping Hoosiers safe, and this partnership will bring together the expertise of the Excise Police with the tactical skill, resources, and footprint of the Indiana State Police to address crime and drug activity centered around these types of establishments.
The Alcohol & Tobacco Commission will be hiring a new Excise Superintendent who will work with the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association to communicate the role of Indiana Excise police to local departments and identify ways to collaborate with local law enforcement.
Over the next four years, the two departments will explore opportunities to collaborate on this shared mission, such as cross-training and sharing resources.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Ferrarini selected to second career All-OVC Second Team
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis sophomore Antonia Ferrarini was announced to the Ohio Valley Conference Second Team on Wednesday morning ahead of the conference tournament.
The standout sophomore earns her second straight All-OVC honor in just her sophomore season, garnering a Second Team selection in 2024. Ferrarini was selected among 13 other honorees as the best the conference has to offer.
The native of Caxias do Sul, Brazil, arrived on campus in January of 2024 and has made immediate impact on this team. In 2025, Ferrarini played all her conference matches in the singles one slot against the conference best.
Ferrarini emerged with two massive wins against Eastern Illinois University and Western Illinois University, totaling a 2-4 conference record. The win against Eastern Illinois helped contribute to the Eagles first win of the season, clawing a gritty singles one victory (6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2)).
The rematch with number two-seeded Western Illinois is slated for Thursday at 3 p.m. in St. Louis, Missouri. The Eagles came up short in the regular season match, 4-2. However, the Eagles nearly lost the doubles point and Ferrarini won her singles match with ease (6-0, 6-3). Ferrarini and the Eagles hope to keep their season alive and advance in the eight-team single elimination tournament this weekend at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center.
THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT RIVERMEN 2-0, TAKE SERIES LEAD BACK TO EVANSVILLE
Peoria, Ill.: Following two scoreless periods of hockey, the Thunderbolts scored twice in the third period to defeat the Peoria Rivermen 2-0 in Peoria on Wednesday night, bringing a hard-fought 1-0 series lead back to Evansville for a chance to advance to the President’s Cup Final. Game Two at Ford Center will be this Friday, April 18th, face-off at 7:00pm CT.
Defense and discipline were the two biggest aspects of Evansville’s game, only allowing the league’s top scoring team 15 total shots on goal and only giving up a single power play opportunity to the Rivermen in the entire game. In the third period, Logan vande Meerakker opened the scoring as Peoria turned over the puck in the Evansville zone, allowing Vande Meerakker to score on a breakaway at 9:08 of the third period. The score stayed the same until the final two minutes, when Aidan Litke scored from the red line into the empty Peoria net with 1:20 remaining to make it a 2-0 Thunderbolts lead, cinching Evansville’s first-ever victory in the President’s Cup Semifinals.
Vande Meerakker and Litke scored Evansville’s goals, while Ceci stopped all 15 Rivermen shots for the win and his 2nd shutout of the playoffs. Game Two against the Rivermen at Ford Center will be this Friday, April 18th with opening face-off at 7:00pm CT. Game Three, if necessary, will be back at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday, April 19th at 7:15pm CT.