INDIANAPOLIS — The campaign of Indiana Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Rex Bell said he has suffered a minor stroke and is being treated at an Indianapolis hospital.

Bell, 64, became ill Wednesday during an interview at the office of the Palladium-Item newspaper in Richmond. The newspaper reported he remained conscious and communicative before being taken to a local hospital. Bell's campaign said Thursday that he was fully aware and coherent and was undergoing further testing at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The campaign says Bell is expected to make a full recovery.

Fellow gubernatorial candidates Republican Eric Holcomb and Democrat John Gregg have both said they are praying for Bell's recovery.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A former Columbus Police Department narcotics division supervisor accused of taking drugs from its evidence room has pleaded guilty to charges. The Republic reported Jeremy R. Coomes, 39, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony possession of methamphetamine, felony official misconduct and misdemeanor theft. Under a plea bargain, seven other criminal counts would be dismissed and prosecutors won't make a sentencing recommendation.

Coomes was accused of taking the drugs under the guise of using them in educational programs.

A probable cause affidavit said Coomes checked out drug evidence in as many as 10 cases from the property room, but when it was returned, some was missing or had been replaced with other substances, and evidence packet seals had been tampered with or altered.

Coomes resigned from the department a year ago.

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Two faith-based groups have argued in a Hamilton County courtroom that anti-discrimination ordinances in four Indiana cities hurt their organizations.

But attorneys for Indianapolis, Carmel, Bloomington and Columbus argued Wednesday that the Indiana Family Institute and American Family Association of Indiana aren't even governed by the regulations, which protect the rights of LGBT residents, and that the groups haven't been harmed or affected in any way.

The groups filed the lawsuit in December, challenging a revision that state legislators passed in 2015 that tempered the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The revision said the law couldn't be used to justify denying housing, jobs or services related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Police checking if car's autopilot engaged in crash

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police investigating a fiery crash that killed two people are looking into whether the electric car's autopilot was engaged.

Witnesses reported the Tesla was traveling at a high rate of speed about 1 a.m. Thursday when it hit a tree, crashed into a building and caught fire, leaving a trail of burning battery components.

Authorities say the near north side crash killed driver Casey Speckman, 27, and passenger Kevin McCarthy, 44. Police spokesman Maj. Richard Riddle said investigators were looking at whether the car's autopilot was engaged, and if so whether that was a factor in the crash.

Volunteer firefighter charged with arson

LEAVENWORTH, Ind. — Authorities said a volunteer firefighter has been arrested following 15 arsons in the area. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources announced that Brian Stonecipher, 27, was booked Wednesday into the Crawford County Jail on multiple charges including arson and criminal mischief.

The DNR said Stonecipher has been linked to arsons including one in March on Hoosier National Forest property and two attempted fires at a vacant church near Leavenworth this week. He's a volunteer firefighter in Leavenworth, and the DNR said he started fires while using a FedEx delivery truck for his job.

—Associated Press