Author

A lifelong Hoosier, Casey Smith previously reported on the Indiana Legislature for The Associated Press. Internationally, she has reported on water quality across South America. She holds a master’s degree in investigative reporting and narrative science writing from the University of California/Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. She previously earned degrees in journalism, anthropology and Spanish from Ball State University, where she now serves as an instructor of journalism.
GM announces $491 million investment to support EV production at Marion plant
By: Casey Smith - September 16, 2022
General Motors plans to spend $491 million to expand and upgrade operations at its Marion Metal Center, the company announced Thursday. The investment is meant to help increase production of GM’s “future vehicles,” including electric cars, company officials said. The automaker said it will purchase and install two new press lines, complete press and die […]
Indiana’s abortion ban officially takes effect. Here’s what you need to know.
By: Casey Smith - September 15, 2022
Indiana’s near-total ban on abortions officially takes effect Thursday. The state is the first in the nation to approve abortion-restricting legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Indiana’s Republican-dominated Legislature approved the ban in August during a special legislative session that saw nearly two weeks of long days and heated […]
Democracy Day: How does a bill become a law?
By: Casey Smith - September 15, 2022
Our newsroom doesn’t take democracy for granted, and we hope you don’t either. This story is part of a collaboration called Democracy Day, in which newsrooms nationwide are drawing attention to threats to democracy. We hope it reminds us all to value our democracy and work to protect it. Below you will learn about the legislative […]
Lawsuit to strike down Indiana’s abortion ban gets new judge
By: Casey Smith - September 14, 2022
A critical court hearing set for next week could put a pause on Indiana’s near-total abortion ban, with behind-the-scenes maneuvers over the judge and counsel in the meantime. The new law is still set to take effect on Thursday but the Republican judge – the third tasked in the case – is a Republican who […]
Biden officials visit Purdue as part of national push to bolster semiconductor production
By: Casey Smith - September 14, 2022
State and federal officials on Tuesday descended upon Purdue University’s campus as part of a national campaign to bolster the domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips. Gov. Eric Holcomb joined two Biden administration Cabinet secretaries — Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo — in West Lafayette to tour the microelectronic training facility […]
More dual credit options for Indiana high schoolers could boost dismal college-going rate
By: Casey Smith - September 12, 2022
More Hoosier high schoolers than ever before have the option to earn college-level credit while still in secondary school — an opportunity that Indiana education officials say could boost the number of students who pursue some form of higher education. For the 2022-23 academic year, 141 high schools and nearly a dozen postsecondary institutions will […]
ACLU files second lawsuit challenging Indiana’s near-total abortion ban
By: Casey Smith - September 8, 2022
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana on Thursday filed a second lawsuit challenging Indiana’s near-total abortion ban that is set to take effect in one week. The class action lawsuit was filed in Marion County Superior Court on behalf of Hoosier Jews for Choice, as well as five anonymous women who represent a variety […]
A look inside the Hoosier history enshrined in Indiana’s gubernatorial portraits
By: Casey Smith - September 8, 2022
Frank O’Bannon is sitting at his desk. Harold Handley sports a bowtie. The dome atop the Indiana Statehouse peeks behind Edgar Whitcomb. How Indiana’s executive leaders are depicted in their gubernatorial portraits is largely up to them. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1869, when then Gov. Conrad Baker began collecting pictures of the […]
Indiana colleges ramp-up monkeypox awareness, but vaccines still limited
By: Casey Smith - September 7, 2022
Schools across Indiana walked back COVID-19 restrictions at the start of the new fall term, but colleges and universities are now focusing on keeping the monkeypox virus at bay. The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) has confirmed 172 monkeypox cases in Indiana since June 17, according to the department’s new statewide dashboard. Nearly 20,000 cases […]
Indiana job training program loans out nearly $1 million in first year
By: Casey Smith - September 6, 2022
An interest-free loan program funded by Indiana taxpayers has dished out nearly $1 million to students seeking technical training, although some advocates caution that such lending plans could be misleading to students. The Accelerate Indiana program launched last fall after state lawmakers rushed to spend the state’s surplus of federal COVID-19 relief money during the […]
Indiana Supreme Court upholds firing of Catholic high school teacher in same-sex marriage
By: Casey Smith - September 1, 2022
The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis’s decision to fire a Cathedral High School teacher for being in a same-sex marriage. In a 4-0 decision, the court found the Archdiocese has autonomy protection under the First Amendment, which allows churches to decide matters of faith and doctrine without government […]
GOP Sen. Kyle Walker picks up endorsements after abortion bill fallout
By: Casey Smith - September 1, 2022
GOP Sen. Kyle Walker this week received several key endorsements in his Senate re-election campaign. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce announced its support Tuesday, marking the first candidate endorsement made by the state’s largest business advocacy organization. The Indiana State AFL-CIO and Indiana State Pipe Trades Association followed suit Thursday. Walker, of Indianapolis, is up […]