Indiana News Roundup: Flooding, Federal Aid and More

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent Indiana news: Gov. Mike Braun secured a federal emergency declaration after storms killed five Hoosiers, a recount flipped the GOP primary for Senate District 23, third-grade reading scores hit a fifth straight year of gains, former IU trainer Tim Garl filed suit against the university, a fired IURC commissioner sued Gov. Braun, and nearly 1,900 cyclosporiasis cases were reported statewide.

Braun secures federal emergency declaration after storms; five Hoosiers dead

Gov. Mike Braun announced Saturday, Aug. 15 from the State Emergency Operations Center that President Trump intends to approve his request for a Presidential Emergency Declaration, making up to $5 million in federal assistance available for emergency response. Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency Thursday, Aug. 13 and requested the federal declaration through FEMA on Friday, Aug. 14. Five Hoosiers died in the storms. Statewide power outages fell to approximately 160,000 from a peak of more than 300,000, with most remaining outages concentrated in Lake County. Seventy-two Indiana National Guard personnel and 48 DNR officers are supporting response; more than 350 evacuations occurred in Delaware County, and evacuations were underway Saturday in portions of Marion County and at a senior mobile home community in Tipton County (WBIW / Governor’s Office, Aug. 15, 2026).

‘Unprecedented’ damage to NW Indiana power grid after derecho

More than 200,000 NIPSCO customers lost power after severe storms, and the Indiana National Guard was deployed as Northwest Indiana dealt with what officials called “unprecedented” damage to the power grid after a derecho (ABC7 Chicago, Aug. 14; NBC 5 Chicago, Aug. 13, 2026).

Recount flips Indiana Senate District 23: Copenhaver beats Deery

The Indiana Recount Commission met Monday, Aug. 10 and threw out ballots in the GOP primary for Senate District 23, putting Trump-backed candidate Paula Copenhaver three votes ahead of incumbent Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette), who had led by three votes. “My reaction is: I’m ready for the general,” Copenhaver told reporters. Deery — one of the Republicans who voted against Trump’s redistricting push — said he is confident the appellate courts will restore the result, and his attorney, Samantha DeWester, said she is preparing an appeal (WFYI, Aug. 10, 2026).

Third-grade reading scores hit 88.7%, fifth straight year of gains

Indiana released IREAD and ILEARN results Tuesday, Aug. 11: 88.7% of third graders demonstrated proficient reading on IREAD, an improvement of nearly 1.5 percentage points over 2024-25 and the fifth consecutive year of gains — up 7.5 points since 2021 and past pre-pandemic levels. “Our reading scores haven’t just recovered from the pandemic — they’ve surged,” Gov. Braun said. The results set the stage for the return of A-F school grades (WBIW / IDOE, Aug. 11; WFYI, Aug. 11, 2026).

Former IU basketball trainer Tim Garl sues university, AD Scott Dolson

Tim Garl, Indiana’s men’s basketball head trainer from 1981 until his release March 31, 2025 (44 seasons under Bob Knight and five subsequent coaches), filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday, Aug. 12 against the IU Board of Trustees and Athletic Director Scott Dolson alleging wrongful termination and age discrimination, and alleging IU refused until August 2025 to defend and indemnify him as a co-defendant in the Brad Bomba sexual abuse litigation (Indiana Daily Student, Aug. 12, 2026).

Fired IURC commissioner Andy Zay sues Gov. Braun

Former Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Commissioner Andy Zay filed a lawsuit Monday, Aug. 10 in Marion Superior Court against Gov. Mike Braun and other state leaders alleging he was unlawfully removed; the state cited potential policy violations including a missing financial disclosure and improper gifts to employees, which Zay denies, saying he got no notice of specific allegations or a chance to respond (WRTV, Aug. 10, 2026).

Nearly 1,900 cyclosporiasis cases reported in Indiana

Nearly 1,900 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported in Indiana, with northeast Indiana accounting for about half of the state’s cases as questions grow over the source, amid a multistate outbreak with more than 18,200 suspected cases nationwide (Fox 59, Aug. 10; WOWO, Aug. 2026; 21Alive, Aug. 11; WANE, 2026).

Farmer rescues toddler from flooded basement in Rush County

A farmer helped save a toddler from drowning in a flooded basement in Rush County as flooding swept Indiana, the sheriff’s office said Friday, Aug. 14 (ABC7 Chicago, Aug. 14, 2026).

Bears say they won’t change name if they move to Indiana

Chicago Bears principal owner George McCaskey said the team would not change its name if it moves to Indiana, amid talk of a potential move across state lines (ESPN, Aug. 13, 2026).

For more on the Hoosier State, see the Indiana guide.