Author

A native of upstate New York, Whitney previously covered statehouse politics for CNHI’s nine Indiana papers, focusing on long-term healthcare facilities and local government. Prior to her foray into Indiana politics, she worked as a general assignment reporter for The Meridian Star in Meridian, Mississippi. Whitney is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University (#GoBonnies!), a community theater enthusiast and cat mom.
Indiana lags in health care, community for child well-being
By: Whitney Downard - June 21, 2023
The well-being of Hoosier children continues to lag behind national peers but hit an all-time high for the state in the 2023 Kids Count Data Book. Indiana hovers just above the national average at 24th, the highest ranking for the state over the last decade. But in specific categories — for health care as well […]
Another 54K Hoosiers fall off Medicaid rolls
By: Whitney Downard - June 20, 2023
Thousands more Hoosiers left the state’s Medicaid rolls during the second month of “unwinding” federal protections, according to the latest report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. More than 53,600 Hoosiers lost their government insurance coverage in May in addition to the nearly 53,000 who lost coverage in April. Of the 165,431 Hoosiers […]
Judge issues partial injunction on transgender health care ban
By: Whitney Downard - June 16, 2023
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Friday afternoon mostly blocking a ban on gender-affirming care for Hoosier youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Without action, the law would have taken effect July 1. The ruling bars the state from enforcing a prohibition on medical interventions used in transgender health care, such as puberty blockers or […]
Federal judge considering injunction for transgender health care ban
By: Whitney Downard - June 14, 2023
A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday on whether to temporarily block a ban prohibiting Hoosier parents from pursuing gender-affirming care for their transgender children. Plaintiffs represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana urged Judge James Patrick Hanlon to issue a preliminary injunction in the case stopping the new legislation, Senate Enrolled Act 480, […]
Marijuana, taxes among interim study committee topics
By: Whitney Downard - June 13, 2023
Legislators will spend their interim break studying various topics of interest, including the impacts of cannabis legalization on the workforce and possible tax reform. “We’ve got a good cross section of subjects that touch a lot of different areas of the state’s business,” GOP Senate Leader Rodric Bray said Tuesday. “We’ve got a lot of […]
GM, Samsung SDI announce $3B+ EV battery cell plant
By: Whitney Downard - June 13, 2023
Manufacturing giants General Motors (GM) and Samsung SDI plan to spend more than $3 billion on a battery cell plant for electric vehicles (EVs) in St. Joseph County’s New Carlisle, promising to create 1,700 jobs with operations starting in 2026. The companies teased the manufacturing plant in April, but didn’t name a location. The move follows […]
Majority of wages in Indiana’s counties lag behind national average
By: Whitney Downard - June 9, 2023
Private employees in all but one Indiana county make less than the national average wage and Hoosier workers earn just 83.3 cents for each dollar earned by their national counterparts, according to an analysis of employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rachel Blakeman, the director of the Community Research Institute of Purdue […]
Libertarian Horning enters U.S. Senate race
By: Whitney Downard - June 8, 2023
Perennial Libertarian candidate Andy Horning launched a campaign last week to fill the soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat, following Sen. Mike Braun’s decision to run for Indiana governor. “The constitutional purpose of US. Senators is to be the voice of our sovereign states against the violation of constitutional restraints, concomitant encroachment and abuse of power […]
Fort Wayne man charged with felony in harassment of Congressman Banks
By: Whitney Downard - June 6, 2023
Allen County prosecutors charged a Fort Wayne man with intimidation and harassment of Congressman Jim Banks after he allegedly threatened the elected representative and his family. Aaron L. Thompson, born in 1989, called Banks’ congressional office at least eight times — once on April 6 and seven times on April 11 — and left several […]
Marc Carmichael announces campaign for U.S. Senate
By: Whitney Downard - June 6, 2023
Longtime public figure Marc Carmichael will campaign for Indiana’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2024 — the first Democrat to announce for the seat currently held by Sen. Mike Braun, who is stepping down to run for governor. Carmichael targeted U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican — who announced his intention to run for the […]
Holcombs, Chambers tour Europe
By: Whitney Downard - June 2, 2023
Gov. Eric Holcomb, First Lady Janet Holcomb and Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers will travel to Europe next week, highlighting the state’s transportation, life sciences, technology and energy sectors – as well as fostering international ties over a mutual love of motorsports. The international trip to Europe will be Holcomb’s 15th and the cost of […]
Mobile integrated health closes health care gap in Monticello
By: Whitney Downard - June 2, 2023
On a Sunday morning in February of 2021, Jean Barnes went early to church with her husband Skip not far behind. She kept her phone off and never saw Skip call for help after slipping and falling in their driveway. “At that point, we think he passed out because it was an hour from that […]