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Applause all around for new public health program
Here’s a big round of applause to the 86 counties that have signed on for Indiana’s enhanced public health funding — and an even bigger congratulations to the Hoosiers that it will help. When Gov. Eric Holcomb pushed a public health commission following the COVID-19 pandemic, some people — Republicans especially — thought he was […]
Reflecting on democracy
Democracy is at the core of the public sphere, and on this commemorative day, we reached out to Hoosiers of various stripes to ask what democracy means to them. From elected officials to students working to make Indiana better, here is what they had to say: “One of the best lessons we have in my […]
Braun endorses Banks for Senate
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun has endorsed Republican Third District Congressman Jim Banks to take over his Senate seat. Braun chose not to seek re-election, running for governor instead. “Jim Banks is a proven conservative leader who has a strong track record of fighting for Hoosier values as a former member of the Indiana Statehouse, a […]
Lawsuits over new laws used to be a rarity; now regular part of the process
It might be a record this year: five lawsuits filed against newly-enacted legislation, all brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana. When I first started covering the legislature in 1999, litigation challenging the constitutionality of a new law was a pretty big deal. In fact, if during the session there was even a […]
Chambers seeds campaign with $5 million personal loan; taps campaign team
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Brad Chambers has brought three recently departed Indiana Republican Party staffers onboard and made a $5 million personal loan to his campaign. He announced his senior leadership team Wednesday and made the contribution Sept. 1, according to campaign finance records. Chambers also has filed several large contribution reports totaling $535,000 from various […]
Can you cut $8 billion from the state budget? I tried.
It’s a catchy phrase, “axe the tax,” and the idea of eliminating the state income tax is a simple thing for voters to understand. But that annual $8 billion in tax revenue provides services that can’t be swept under the rug for cuts to be named later. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, a Republican gubernatorial candidate […]
Firefighting training targeted by Holcomb
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday announced the first phase of a large-scale plan to expand physical firefighting training for Hoosiers. “Indiana will always support its public safety personnel, who selflessly risk their lives to protect the communities in which they live,” he said. “This plan will ensure that Hoosier firefighters have the skills and the […]
Newspaper raid is ominous threat that can’t be swept away
As a longtime reporter, I can only imagine the scene of police busting into a newspaper office — and a private home — confiscating computers and cell phones. It is a threat to the First Amendment that can’t be overstated. But that’s what happened in Marion, Kansas on Aug. 11 to the Marion County Record. […]
Lottery ends the fiscal year sending near-record amount to state
Indiana’s lottery sent a near-record $370 million to state coffers in the 2023 fiscal year. The Indiana Lottery Commission closed out the books last week, also sending a $19.7 million incentive payment to IGT Indiana. IGT Indiana is the contract operator of the Hoosier Lottery, handling product development, marketing, sales and distribution services. The lottery […]
Families urge FSSA to halt proposed ABA therapy cuts
Indianapolis parents Breanna and Dakota Powell have two autistic children, ages 3 and 6, and spent years in early intervention services but saw little improvement — until they started Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, or ABA therapy for short. “ABA has shown my children their voice,” Breanna Powell said, adding that her daughter recently said her […]
Kyle Hupfer to step down as state GOP chair
Indiana Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer announced Friday that he’s stepping down from his role leading the state party but will not sit on the sidelines in 2024. “I’ve told folks for a long time that I was going to really care about what’s next for the future of Indiana. … I think the 2024 […]
Book banning, reshelving has reached ridiculous heights
For several years I have heard ridiculous allegations that school and public libraries’ shelves are brimming with pornography and obscenity. But I think it’s clear now the censorship goes much further than that — to the detriment of society as a whole. Concerned parents are pushing the issue too far under the guise of protecting […]