Good morning, Mishawaka.

Scammers are tricking Indiana buyers with fake 'transaction decline' messages during online purchases that prompt multiple credit card entries, and Better Business Bureau Serving Central Indiana warns the scheme can lead to unauthorized charges and identity theft—victims may not spot the fraud until checking their statements.

An analysis by Citizens Action Coalition found that Hoosier electric bills for 1,000 kWh increased by 17.5% on average—from about $28 to nearly $50 a month for some customers—when comparing July 1 rates from 2024 and 2025.

The study noted that customers from utilities like NIPSCO, CenterPoint, Duke Energy, AES Indiana, and I&M saw significant hikes, signaling mounting concerns over rising costs.

Families are advised to prepare for the new school year by slowly adjusting sleep times, encouraging healthy meals and building steady study habits — these steps can ease the transition as classes approach.

Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about what to expect at school and set up a quiet and organized space at home — a routine that supports success once school begins.

Indiana rolled out new education laws on July 27th that change attendance rules, teacher pay, and student support programs with measures like the Enrollment Honors Plus seal that guarantees public college admission.

Some educators worry that smaller districts may struggle to meet the new mandates—such as math screenings and phased cybersecurity upgrades by 2027—with limited resources.

Indiana lawmakers passed House Enrolled Act No. 1167 that legalizes fentanyl test strips and removes them from drug paraphernalia laws after data showed fentanyl was linked to over 70% of overdose deaths.

The strips, which detect the drug in 30 seconds to two minutes, offer local health groups a new tool to help reduce overdose risks.