Amid ongoing concerns from community members and elected officials, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued civil investigative demands (CID) to the Seymour and South Bend police departments seeking information on whether their immigration policies comply with state law. 

“We are working to ensure units of local government are following the law,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are putting Hoosiers first – not illegal aliens. 

In the CID, Attorney General Rokita states his office is asking for information regarding both police departments’ immigration-related communications, cooperation and enforcement policies.  

Indiana law limits the attorney general to investigating and enforcing local government entities that have policies that restrict or limit communication or cooperation with federal immigration authorities or the enforcement of federal immigration law. 

Attorney General Rokita has instructed Seymour and South Bend police to produce all documents responsive to his inquiry by November 8, 2024.  

“A failure to comply with the CID may result in legal action,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If the documents produced show that either police department has unlawful immigration policies on the books, we will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.” 

On top of issuing the CIDs, Attorney General Rokita is currently suing the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for its refusal to rescind its unlawful immigration policies and recently sent demand letters to officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties warning them of impending legal action if they fail to come into compliance with state law.  

Earlier this year, Attorney General Rokita sent similar letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and West Lafayette, which all worked to rescind their unlawful immigration policies to comply with state law after receiving these communications. 

Attorney General Rokita said his office will continue to evaluate other local governments. 

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit alleging that an Indianapolis home improvement contractor is scamming Hoosiers by taking money from consumers as deposits, starting work, then abandoning projects without issuing refunds — leaving consumers with partially finished conditions they must pay someone else to fix. 

The lawsuit alleges that Hank Eversole – doing business as All Services Construction and Nationwide Construction – has violated Indiana law through such misconduct. 

“Hoosiers looking to make repairs or improvements to their homes shouldn’t have to worry about being shafted by unscrupulous contractors,” Attorney General Rokita said.  “We will continue working to hold accountable any contractor trying to take advantage of hardworking homeowners in this manner.” 

This lawsuit alleges that Hank Eversole violated the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act and the Indiana Home Improvement Act.  Attorney General Rokita is seeking injunctive relief, consumer restitution, penalties, costs and other relief. 

This is not the first time this year Attorney General Rokita has filed a lawsuit to protect consumers against contractors who take money and then fail to complete projects.  

Earlier this year, Attorney General Rokita filed suit against Exact Loss Consulting, Storm Solutions Pros, and Adam Greer alleging that they entered into home improvement contracts with consumers for storm-related damage to their homes and then failed to complete the work as contracted and failed to comply with consumers’ requests for refunds. 

Attorney General Rokita also obtained a judgment against another set of companies doing business as Quest Exteriors that repeatedly entered into contracts to perform concrete and other exterior work on Hoosiers’ homes and failed to complete the work.  

To prevent the headache of being scammed by a contractor, Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to avoid falling victim to a home repair scam:  

• Ask your family, friends and co-workers for contractors they have used who have done good work.   

• Before signing a contract or making a payment, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Better Business Bureau for complaint information on contractors you are considering.   

• Get multiple bids from local contractors. 

• Avoid contractors who spontaneously show up at your door offering a “bargain” price for painting, driveway sealing, roof repairs, etc.   

• Never pay for the entire project before the work begins.   

• Don’t make the final payment to the contractor until you know all suppliers of materials and all subcontractors have been paid.   

If you ever suspect a scam of any type, file a complaint at indianaconsumer.com or call Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office at 1-800-382-5516. 

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

The Salem Board of Works and Public Safety and Common Council met Tuesday, Oct. 15, and handled the following business:

APPROVED: The Halloween Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26; the Veterans Day Parade at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9; and the Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.

APPROVED: The city adopted its proposed 2025 budget with a general fund of $4.9 million. The budget will now be submitted to the state for review.

REPORT: Salem Police Officer James Moore, with assistance from Hoosier Uplands, received a grant for $11,500 for six new in-car police radios, which constitutes about half of the city’s fleet. Moore was told another grant may be available in 2025 that will provide radios for the rest of the fleet.

ANNOUCEMENT: November’s city meetings will be held one day later than usual due to the Veterans Day holiday. The Board of Works will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, and the Common Council meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

The Washington County Board of Commissioners has handled the following business during recent meetings:

APPROVED: The county will provide a letter of support to Mainstream, which will use the letter as part of a grant application to the state for funds to extend broadband services to underserved parts of the county. The total project cost is $4.7 million, with Mainstream providing $2.6 million. The remainder of the cost, or $2.1 million, would be covered by the grant. No county funds will be used in the project. Some areas of the county identified for the project are in the southern portion of the county as well as the Salem Bypass and East Day Road.

REPORT: Rick Voyles, who has returned to his role as the county’s Highway Department Superintendent, said the county’s paving projects for the year are near completion. A total of about 24 miles will be paved this year. He also mentioned complaints about a dangerous intersection at Old 160 and Heritage Chapel Road. A property owner has agreed to let the county remove a fence row that is obstructing the view at the intersection.

REQUEST: Cameron Stahl asked commissioners to consider allowing golf carts on the county’s roads. He was assured the commissioners would research the request.