Officials are moving ahead with plans to build two new Indiana State Police facilities in the northern part of the state.
The State Budget Committee has approved spending $29.5 million on the projects in Fort Wayne and the Lake County town of Lowell in northwestern Indiana.
The new buildings will include updated regional forensics laboratories, helping the agency’s work on DNA testing, firearm ballistics and drug analysis for criminal investigations around the state.
Officials say the existing Fort Wayne and Lowell post building will be used for support programs and as long-term evidence storage.
The state police evidence labs conduct testing for police in 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties.
