INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Governor Mike Pence says the federal government has rejected Indiana's request that Howard County be declared a major disaster area because of damage from last month's tornadoes and severe storms. Pence said Wednesday he has ordered the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to appeal the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The state on December 4th asked FEMA to approve grants and low-interest loans to help homeowners and business in and around Kokomo recover from the November 17th storm.