Elkhart County regroups after flap over all-white relay team

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) - Elkhart County officials are forming an expanded organizing committee with minorities included for Indiana bicentennial events after the selection of an all-white torch relay team.

Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Terry Mark said the expanded committee will include six Latinos and six African-Americans to "be representative of the diversity of Elkhart County."

The Elkhart Truth reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/293k3a0 ) that minority leaders had criticized the lack of Latino and African-American representatives on the 28-member Elkhart County bicentennial torch relay team that was announced June 21. Marks said the all-white makeup was unintentional.

U.S. Census Bureau figures show Hispanics made up 15 percent of Elkhart County's population in 2015 and African-Americans accounted for 6 percent.

The torch relay will travel through all 92 Indiana counties in September and October.

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Information from: The Elkhart Truth, http://www.elkharttruth.com