Charlestown

Charlestown, Indiana’s holiday lights bring in around 60,000 from across the region each year. But for one local couple, the twinkling displays hold a special magic.

Southern Indiana is seeing a boom in new housing and commercial developments, jobs and recreational offerings. LPM News talked with three mayors in Southern Indiana cities about how they’ll manage that growth in their new term.

Democratic Charlestown Mayor Treva Hodges has announced she’ll be seeking a second term. She was first elected in 2019, unseating longtime Republican Mayor Bob Hall.

According to USDA inspectors, Stark euthanized a young female leopard by beating it to death with a baseball bat. Another leopard, investigators said, escaped and killed a neighbor’s pets before the neighbor shot it. Stark also is accused of physically abusing young tigers that bit customers’ clothing during a “Tiger Baby Playtime” exhibit.

A troubled Louisville-area wildlife exhibit is the subject of another critical inspection. The latest report cited the deaths of four animals: a kangaroo, an adult otter and two baby otters.

A federal administrative law judge has rejected the United States Department of Agriculture's bid to revoke the exhibitor license of Timothy Stark, the operator of a controversial Southern Indiana wildlife attraction.

A previous KyCIR investigation found that the Louisville-area nonprofit has a troubled record; that state and federal officials have done little to address complaints; and the handling of lions and other exotic animals is potentially putting the public's safety at risk.

Federally-licensed exhibitors and dealers of dangerous animals in Indiana won’t be subject to additional state regulations. A legislative proposal that would have required certain animal owners to apply for a state license and submit to annual inspections was voted down this week by Indiana’s Senate Natural Resources Committee. The proposal centered on owners of Class III animals, such as wolves, bears and big cats.

Legislator says KyCIR's series on troubled animal refuge underscores need for regulation of animal exhibitors and dealers who trade in wolves, bears and big cats.

Indiana State Sen. Michael Crider wants federal investigators to provide the public with an update on its investigation of a troubled exotic animal refuge in Charlestown, Ind., the focus of a recent KyCIR series.