This and that on a Wednesday afternoon

Featuring cameos from the Delphi murder case, Ascension’s hospital plans at Purdue, university parking situation, a 9/11 tribute at Ross-Ade and ... who won that debate last night?

• Thanks to today’s sponsor, Stuart & Branigin, for continued support of the Based in Lafayette reporting project.

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This and that on a Wednesday afternoon …

PROSECUTOR’S RESPONSE TO A MOTION FOR APPEAL IN DELPHI CASE: Not as if it was unexpected, but Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland late Tuesday filed an objection to a request from Richard Allen’s attorneys for an appeal on several pretrial rulings in the case of the 2017 murders of Delphi eighth-graders Abby Williams and Libby German.

McLeland argued that facts presented during hearings in July and August supported rulings that jurors could hear and consider prison cell confessions police and others say Allen made since his arrest and that would block references to third-party defense Allen’s attorneys have presented in efforts to point the finger at a set of Odinist/Norse paganists who they say might have been responsible for the murders of the girls as part of a religious ritual.

McLeland argued that Judge Fran Gull, who made the initial rulings, should deny a motion from Allen’s defense team for an interlocutory appeal.

“An interlocutory appeal would delay the trial for a second time,” McLeland wrote. “A delay of a long, complex trial so close to the start date is burdensome on the state and on the family of the victims, as well as financially burdensome on the county.”

The trial for Allen is scheduled to start Oct. 14, after being delayed from an initial trial date in January 2024.

Allen’s attorneys – Brad Rozzi, Andrew Baldwin and Jennifer Auger – argued in a motion filed Monday that it would be better to get an appeal done now on Gull’s recent rulings than to force an almost guaranteed appeal after the trial.

“If Richard Allen is convicted without interlocutory appeal then he, as well as the families of the victims, would first suffer through the anticipation of a ruling from the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court on these critical issues and then whether a reversal will result in a second lengthy trial,” they wrote in the motion. “If the appeal in regular course (not interlocutory) results in a reversal then Richard Allen and the victims’ families will have to endure a second lengthy trial.”

The next move is up to Gull, assigned as judge in the Delphi case out of Allen County. If she  certifies the court orders, Allen’s attorneys will have a path to ask the Indiana Court of Appeals to consider taking the case. The process gives Gull 30 days to respond before the motion is considered denied by the trial court.

As of Wednesday morning, Gull had not issued an order.

Here’s more on the case, the request for an appeal and, if granted, what it could do to the trial schedule:

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ASCENSION ON PURDUE HOSPITAL NEGOTIATIONS: This week, Purdue officials said negotiations continued with Indianapolis-based Ascension St. Vincent to revive a neighborhood, micro-hospital project that broke ground in November 2022 at the Discovery Park District but has since stalled. Chris Ruhl, Purdue’s chief financial officer, told the University Senate on Monday that news could come in a month or so. Here’s more from that conversation: “Purdue: ‘Neighborhood hospital’ plans might look different, but still in the works after two-year lull.”

After that update, Ascension chimed in, too, with confirmation.

“Ascension St. Vincent looks forward to our continued partnership with Purdue University and is committed to helping meet the evolving needs of the West Lafayette community,” Parveen Chand, chief operating officer for Ascension St. Vincent, said this week. “As such, both parties are currently finalizing plans for services to be offered at the location identified.”

An initial sketch of an Ascension St. Vincent facility near Purdue. (Image via Ascension)

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PARKING SHUTTLES ON CAMPUS?: On a day when Purdue released its latest student census numbers – now at a whopping 55,116 for the fall 2024 semester, up 5.6% from last year’s record enrollment – Purdue President Mung Chiang told faculty members Monday that the university was looking into a few parking solutions. Among them, as faculty members raised questions about problems grad students and others were facing getting parking permits and finding spaces on campus, Chiang told the University Senate: “We're now looking at providing potentially shuttle services between parking lots, knowing that some of the lots are easily filled these days.”

Provost Patrick Wolfe said the administration was working on other short-term solutions at the start of the semester, including removing 20 reserved parking spots in the University Street Garage to make those more readily available. He said a shuttle service from “more distant parking lots” was a possibility. Mike Cline, senior vice president for administrative operations, said that campus construction projects have changed some parking, though “we feel we do have enough capacity on campus.” He said the university was sensitive to how parking changes affects daily lives and was open to looking at new answers.

Details on how a shuttle might work or when it might happen weren’t immediately available.

Here’s more, though, on the new enrollment numbers:

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UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE KICK COUNTS …: It’s been quite a week since the Purdue Exponent wrote about the experience of Zachary Spangler, a Purdue junior kicked field goals from 20, 30 and 40 yards during a fan intermission contest at the Boilers’ home opener. The feat on the Ross-Ade Stadium turf seemingly earned him a two-year lease on a vehicle from the Rohrman Automotive Group, sponsor of the contest. The Exponent had what came next a few days later: “Review shows student actually did not win grand prize in Kicks for Cash competition. Insurance company says kick was ‘five-hundredths of a second’ too late.” Spangler called B.S. And Purdue fan sites filled with blowback on the decision, other dealerships offered to step up. On Tuesday, Rohrman reversed course and, along with Purdue, said the rules would change for the field goal promotion at future games.

J&C reporter Jillian Ellison had the story wrapping things up here: “Rohrman offers student cash or free car lease after Purdue football competition debacle.”

Exponent reporters Katie Walling and Will Dowton had this: “Rohrman Auto to reverse course, award prize to Purdue student.”

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ON THE ROSS-ADE STEPS ON 9/11: Ray Cubberley got this photo Wednesday morning, as hundreds of Purdue ROTC members, Greater Lafayette first responders and community members ran steps at Ross-Ade Stadium in honor of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. This was the second year for the 9/11 Memorial Steps of Sacrifice at Purdue, with a goal to climb the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs, to honor first responders who climbed the stairwells of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11.

(Photo courtesy of Ray Cubberley)

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PURDUE MEMORIAL UNION AT 100: This week marks the 100^th anniversary of the Purdue Memorial Union, which was dedicated Sept. 9, 1924. The university has been hosting a week of events to mark the anniversary, with several of the bigger ones yet to come. Including:

• Thursday: From 7-10 p.m., the Purdue Student Union Board will host a concert on the lawn featuring pop singer-songwriter Jeremy Zucker, Rosie Inman and the Victor Lee Band. Mitch Daniels Boulevard, running in front of the Purdue Memorial Union, will be closed for the evening. Earlier in the day, the Union will have inflatables, lawn games and rides available on the Boilermaker Special at the front lawn, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

• Friday: Centennial Night on the Terrace, from 6-8 p.m., will feature music from Vickie Maris.

• Tuesday: From noon-1:30 p.m., the university will formally mark the Purdue Memorial Union’s 100^th anniversary, with a keynote address by President Mung Chiang and reveal of the contents from a time capsule placed when the Union opened in 1924.

For more about the Purdue Memorial Union’s 100th, check here.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

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WEST LAFAYETTE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER UPDATE: The city will hold an information session from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at West Lafayette City Hall, 222 N. Chauncey Ave., to go over where things stand on design for the planned Public Safety Center.

The plan, in the works for several years, would scrap the existing Fire Station No. 2, built in 1963 near the corner of Salisbury and Navajo streets, in favor of a new station across Salisbury Street on the site of the former West Lafayette City Hall, which was demolished several years ago. It also would join the fire station with the West Lafayette Police Station. The two departments would share fitness and training areas, with renovations for a police station built 20 years ago. Early designs showed a fire station with 3½ bays that would allow firefighters to drive trucks through, rather than back them in. It also includes space to expand crews from nine to 11 firefighters per shift, decontamination spaces for turn-out gear, consideration for EV charging, storage space and a hose-drying tower that would incorporate fire training opportunities. Initial cost estimates in 2023 had the center coming in at $45.5 million. The city says about the session Monday: “Residents will have the chance to provide direct input on the design of the public spaces within the new Public Safety Center, including the outdoor plaza, and selecting the type of artwork for the building’s entrance.” For more information, to watch the session virtually and to read the feasibility report for the project, here's a link.

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BREES ON THAT TIME HE TOOK FLIGHT AGAINST NOTRE DAME: Fun memory here, via Indianapolis Star reporter Nathan Baird, who talked to Drew Brees about a high-flying two-point conversion that came during a pivotal moment in the Boilermakers’ win over Notre Dame in 1999. “It ended up being kind of a signature moment,” Brees told Baird. Here’s more: “25 years ago, Drew Brees took flight vs. Notre Dame: 'I dreamed of it.'”

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AND FINALLY …

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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.