Indy City-County Council meeting preview, Data center moratorium, Avian flu dashboard, IndyGo State Fair ride, Salmonella infections, NIPSCO asks feds to collect quarterly costs

WFYI Podcasts are brought to you by Gregory and Appel Insurance. Dedicated to helping people and businesses navigate the complexities of risk management, employee benefits, and private client insurance. More at GregoryAppel.com. WFYI podcasts are sponsored by Sun King Brewery, home of sunlight cream ale. More information at sunkingbrewing.com, fresh local beer. This is WFII News Now. It's Monday, August 10th, and I'm Barbonguiano. Here are today's top stories around central Indiana. The Indianapolis City Council approved a new tax to fund road improvements, but it was rejected by Mayor Joe Hogsett last month. Zach Castle reports the council will now consider overriding the veto this evening. The tax proposal would use new funds raised by higher vehicle registration fees to help maintain and repair roads in Marion County. The council approved the wheel tax 14 to 10, but Joe Hogsett vetoed it. I made clear that I do not support this measure. as it adds to the increased financial burdens facing Indianapolis residents today. Council Democratic leadership says the city hasn't identified resources to meet a match of state funds required to access millions in road funding. They say the council will consider whether to override the veto but didn't have the votes yet. At the council meeting, the mayor's office will also introduce its proposed 2027 city budget. I'm Zach Castle in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis City Council also votes this evening on a proposal to pause new data center approvals in Marion County throughout the end of 2027. The pause wouldn't affect three already approved projects that have drawn the most vocal community opposition. If approved, the measure heads to the Metropolitan Development Commission for possible final enactment later in the month. Indiana University researchers are developing a new way to give poultry farmers an early warning when avian flu is circulating nearby. IU School of Public Health Assistant Professor Drew Capone says such detection is possible by testing waterways for signs of avian flu. The goal is to eventually create a public dashboard for poultry producers. Capone says the idea is like wastewater monitoring used during the COVID-19 pandemic. We realized that the signals of SARS-CoV virus and sewage is a leading indicator of disease in the community. Indiana already monitors avian flu in wild birds through methods, including testing hunter harvested ducks and reports of dead birds. Capone says testing waterways could provide an earlier warning. The three-year project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Capone says researchers hope to begin building the dashboard next fall and winter. A new bus route will help Hoosiers get to the Indiana State Fair this summer. Jeremy Rubin has more. Indigo, the city of Lawrence and Kay Ivey Tech partner to create the first ever Purple Line bus route to take people straight to the main Bill Gates of the state fair. The route begins at the Fort Harrison Purple Line bus station on the northeast side of town. The ride is expected to take half an hour and cost $2.75. Buses will arrive at the station every 15 minutes, and it'll be active from August 7th to the 23rd for the whole duration of the fair.

All writers must have a My Key Plus card, pay on the My Key Plus mobile app, or pay with exact change in cash. The schedule can be found on Indigo's website. I'm Jeremy Rubin. The CDC is investigating a salmonella outbreak across 27 states, tracing it back to contaminated jalapeno peppers. Daniel Huber reports that Indiana as a Friday has recorded six cases of the infection. The contaminated jalapinos were from Sieniloa, Mexico. Coast citrus distributors delivered them to restaurants and other distributors. The peppers have since been recalled. Nicole Stone is the epidemiology director for the Indiana Department of Health. We may still identify a few more cases, but again, the hope would be that by removing the food product. the most important step has been taken to prevent future illnesses. Stone suggests people seek a medical professional if they believe they consume the contaminated product. Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and usually last four to seven days. I'm Daniel Huber in Indianapolis. Northern Indiana Public Service Company, or Nipsco, is asking federal regulators to let it collect $38 million in quarterly costs from customers in 15 states, including Indiana. That number includes $2.8 million in profits for the utility company. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Nipsco spent more than $116 million from January through March to comply with Trump administration orders that forced the operation of two Jasper County coal units. State regulators last week also rejected Nipsco's $741 million five-year plan for natural gas transmission, distribution, and storage infrastructure improvements and charges. In a three to zero denial, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission said Nipsco, quote, failed to provide sufficient evidence for the commission to determine that each proposed eligible improvement is cost justified, end quote.

That's all for today's episode of WFYI News Now. Our podcast is produced by Zach Bundy with support from the news team at WFYI and public media journalists across the state. Kendall Antron produced our music. If you like today's episode, remember to subscribe and share and follow WFYI on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to get the latest updates from our newsroom. Thanks for listening. We'll be back tomorrow. WFYI Podcasts are brought to you by Gregory and Appel Insurance, dedicated to helping people and businesses navigate the complexities of risk management, employee benefits, and private client insurance. More at Gregoryappell.com.