A hearing is scheduled tomorrow in Indianapolis regarding the investigation into the collapse of stage rigging at the Indiana State Fair that killed seven people.A stagehands union local is contesting a search warrant obtained by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration to search for records at the union hall.Investigators say they want to review training and employment records because one union member was killed and at least nine others were injured in the collapse Union leaders say Indiana OSHA has no jurisdiction over the hall because it’s not a work site and the stagehands were hired by the Indiana State Fair Commission.A judge last week issued a stay of the search and scheduled Wednesday’s hearing.The stage rigging collapsed August 13 in a gust of wind just before the country duo Sugarland was scheduled to perform.Workers have begun removing the wreckage to a warehouse for inspection.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.