WARSAW — Gov. Mike Braun defended Republicans’ renewed effort to redraw Indiana’s congressional districts Wednesday, saying the new map is needed to create competitive districts despite criticism from opponents.

Braun spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony in Warsaw, marking his first public comments since state legislators resumed efforts to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate Indiana’s only two Democratic-held seats.

Article continues below.

[caption id="attachment_123707" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Here is how the existing congressional map (Left) compares to what House Republicans proposed earlier this week.[/caption]

Braun said the new map would level the national political landscape.

The new map is under consideration in the House after passing out of committee. If it passes in the House, it faces a tougher road in the Senate, WNDU reported.

A proposal touted by Indiana’s House Republicans would drastically change each district from the existing congressional lines that are much more compact.

“I know it upsets some people because it’s between a census and the last one, but if you want to be competitive, you got to do it,” Braun told WNDU. “And the House had the votes and was going to be held up by the Senate. When I saw the Senate purposely trying to do it behind closed doors, dragging their feet, especially when all the senators were becoming public for it, that’s why we needed to get to where we are.”

Meanwhile,  Republican state Sen. Kyle Walker announced he won’t seek reelection next year, making him another opponent of the proposed GOP-redraw of Indiana’s congressional maps who will be leaving the Legislature, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on Wednesday.

Walker is among about a dozen Republican senators to publicly oppose redistricting.

Walker’s statement did not mention the congressional redistricting that’s been demanded by President Donald Trump, who has berated several Republican state senators who’ve come out against the redraw.

The House is expected to soon vote on the plan, and state senators are expected to consider it next week.

Braun's visit was listed on his online schedule, but it was not widely announced to the media.

The post Braun defends redistricting plan while in Warsaw for groundbreaking appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

[caption id="attachment_123681" align="alignright" width="250"] Chris Cage is pictured on Wednesday inside the Willie 103.5's Toy for Tots trailer outside the Walmart store in Warsaw. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

WARSAW — Willie 103.5’s Chris Cage is always an optimist, but there was a hint of concern in his voice Wednesday when it comes to the radio station's weeklong toy drive at Walmart in Warsaw.

Unlike recent years, the amount of toys collected so far for the weeklong event is less than normal, while the demand has been on the rise.

Cage, who is the coordinator for Toys for Tots for Kosciusko and Marshall counties, said donations since Monday's week-long toy drive for Toys for Tots have been a bit slow.

"I feel like we're a little bit behind from years past. I think some of that has to do with the weather over the last couple days," Cage said. "We have some catching up to do, but the community always comes through when there is a need."

He says that for those in a hurry, monetary donations are also a great option when wanting to make an impact.

The toy drive continues today and Friday outside of Walmart from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Toys for Tots campaign continues Saturday morning with WNDU’s toy drive at the Martins Supermarket in Warsaw.

"They've been doing their drive for years, and this has been our 19th year doing ours and we work well together. There's no competition," Cage said. "The toys that come in, they stay here in the community."

To learn more online, click here.

Donations will be open until early next week.

The post Some early Toys for Tots donations trickling in at a slower pace this year appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

PLYMOUTH — Three kids are dead after a crash this morning involving a car and an Amish buggy.

The Marshall County coroner says the crash happened just after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Fir Road and 4th Road just south of Bremen.

Three children who were riding in the Amish buggy died at the scene. Their names and ages have not yet been released.

The driver of the car was not hurt in the crash.

The post BREAKING NEWS: Three kids die in Amish buggy crash in Marshall County appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — A man is facing several charges after police say he led them on a high-speed chase on Sunday in Kosciusko County.

[caption id="attachment_96885" align="alignright" width="208"] Ridley Brown[/caption]

Officers were called just before 11:45 a.m. to the Walmart on Walton Boulevard in Warsaw for a shoplifting complaint. Police were told by employees that the suspect, identified as Ridley Brown, ran out of the store and got into a Suzuki XL7.

A Warsaw police officer saw the Suzuki in the Walmart parking lot and tried to pull it over, but Brown drove off and headed west on US-30. He reportedly reached speeds over 100 mph at times during the chase.

Police say Brown eventually turned north on County Road 800 West and hit a tire deflation device. He drove several miles on the damaged tires before he was taken into custody.

Brown was taken to the Kosciusko County Jail, where he faces charges of parole violation, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, and theft.

The post High-speed chase on US 30 leads to arrest appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

SOUTH BEND - A law that will impact police departments across Indiana goes into effect on Sunday.

The new statewide policy creates minimum standards on how police can pursue suspects fleeing in vehicles.

The policy states a pursuit should not begin or be continued if the need for immediate apprehension is low and the risk to public safety is high.

It also outlines what police officers are required to consider before engaging in a vehicle pursuit. Those include:

• The violation the person is known or suspected of committing
• Imminent danger to the public based on the totality of the circumstances
• Time of day
• Familiarity with the surroundings and population density
• Potential danger if the offender is not apprehended immediately
• Positive identification of the driver
• Other considerations include traffic conditions; road conditions, visibility and terrain.

You can read the new law in its entirety here: Minimum Standards for Vehicle Pursuits

The post State law revises Indiana’s police pursuit policy appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

LAKEVILLE - The St. Joseph County Police say drug overdoses are suspected in the deaths of two people who were found dead inside a running vehicle early Monday morning.

WNDU reports police were called just before 2:50 a.m. on a report of a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Oak Road and Stanton Road on the far south side of St. Joseph County.

When officers arrived, they found a vehicle running and in drive with two individuals unconscious and without a pulse in the vehicle. Both individuals were pronounced dead a short time later. Their identities have not been released.

Police say no signs of crash, or trauma were visible. Meanwhile, they say drugs and paraphernalia were found in the vehicle.

The deaths are under investigation by the St. Joseph County Police Department and St. Joseph County Coroner Patricia Jordan, M.D., but fatal overdose is suspected for both individuals.

The post Two found dead in apparent overdose appeared first on News Now Warsaw.