Indiana BMV adding ASL, other languages for written test

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles says five more languages will be added in the coming months to those available to prospective motorists for taking their state driver’s license written exams.

American Sign Language, the first of five new languages, will be available March 29. Four additional languages — Hindi, Croatian, Serbian and Tagalog — will be added in the coming months as translations and peer reviews are completed.

“Because ASL will be available in our computer-based system it will eliminate the requirement for these exams to be scheduled in advance,” BMV Commissioner Peter Lacy said in a news release.

Written exams, formerly offered on paper, have been completed on computer terminals since 2013.

All non-English translations of the exam are completed by certified translators and undergo a peer-review process prior to publication.

The written exams currently are available in 14 languages.

Gen Con delays annual gaming convention in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — A gaming convention that draws tens of thousands of visitors to Indianapolis has pushed back the annual gathering amid plans to make it a hybrid event due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle-based Gen Con convention will run Sept. 16-19, instead of Aug. 5-8 as originally planned, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

Gen Con typically draws about 70,000 people to the Indiana Convention Center each year, but organizers canceled last year’s in-person convention because of the pandemic in favor of online offerings. Indianapolis will host Gen Con through 2026.

In a statement on Gen Con’s website, event organizers said they believe the calendar change is the “best approach both to meet the many challenges of the moment and to explore possibilities for the future.”

Gen Con said it plans to offer an in-person convention with capped attendance, at-home events through the convention website and live-streaming services, and through partnerships with local game stores for pop-up activities.

The convention said it plans to “adapt to conditions as they are in September,” but the total in-person attendance will be determined by the Marion County Public Health Department.

“Convention planning happens on a long timeline, and we appreciate your continued patience as we tread these murky waters,” the group said.

Indianapolis police investigate deaths of 2 people

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police were investigating after two people were found dead at a house on the city’s east side over the weekend, authorities said.

A man and a woman were found Saturday afternoon with “undetermined injuries,” authorities said.

Both were pronounced dead.

Indianapolis police have not released further details about the relationship between the man and the woman or further information about how they died.

Officer Samone Burris said there is no reason for the community to be concerned about a potential threat.

— Associated Press