Commentary
Let’s see that same Hunter Biden fervor applied to everyone who shouldn’t have gun access
There’s no question Hunter Biden is a troubled person. His problems were well documented before his indictment Thursday on a federal firearms charge. The president’s 53-year-old son has admitted to having a crack cocaine problem that he didn’t disclose when he purchased a handgun in October 2018, according to a federal indictment. The charge comes […]
Big lead contamination issues require big partnerships
The issue of lead contamination in water was thrust into the national conversation during the Flint Michigan water crisis. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body and is associated with numerous behavioral and learning problems (e.g. reduced IQ, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, juvenile delinquency, and criminal […]
Long Covid isolates sick people and their loved ones
My girlfriend’s idea felt brilliant to me: Put out a call on Facebook for Covid-cautious people in our area to rent a theater together. We could watch the Barbie movie while wearing high-quality masks to keep each other safe. The plan turned out to be quixotic. No one responded to Sarah’s request. She scrolled through […]
Don’t like your state’s politics? Just move the state line
Oh, to have the fantastical enthusiasm of a group of people in eastern Oregon! Yes, I meant “fantastical,” not fantastic. A group of Oregonians have decided that the best remedy to solve their disagreements with their home state is to have their Oregon turf be ceded to Idaho. That’s right. Citizens for Greater Idaho is […]
The beautiful pessimism at the heart of Jimmy Buffett’s music
With the death of Jimmy Buffett, the feathers of his loyal network of fans – affectionately known as Parrot Heads – collectively drooped. Over the course of his career, Buffett earned their love by transforming himself into a kind of musical shaman who offered transport from the banalities of everyday life to the bounty of […]
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 […]
Why humans can’t trust AI: You don’t know how it works or what it’s going to do
There are alien minds among us. Not the little green men of science fiction, but the alien minds that power the facial recognition in your smartphone, determine your creditworthiness and write poetry and computer code. These alien minds are artificial intelligence systems, the ghost in the machine that you encounter daily. But AI systems have […]
Campaign stands show how a person will lead, or not, in the future
It is unusual to have certainty of how the executive of a government — whether a mayor, governor, or president — will respond to an unexpected crisis. The responses to those crises often become what defines the leadership of that executive. They define a leader’s character. Whether it is an unexpected foreign war, a horrific […]
Aging Hoosiers need state leaders to step up
Just like the rest of the country, it’s a reality that Indiana needs to face. Our state’s aging population is depending on our leaders to invest in a long-term supports and services (LTSS) system that adequately serves the needs of older Hoosiers and their families. Over the years, AARP Indiana has been heavily engaged in […]
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 […]
An Indiana constitutional right to use marijuana?
Most of Indiana’s neighbors have legalized marijuana for recreational (Illinois and Michigan) or medical (Ohio) use. The path to decriminalization has almost always been through state legislation or voter initiative. But despite strong public support for decriminalization, legislative efforts in Indiana have gone nowhere. The high point (pun intended) was a committee hearing in 2023, […]
Child care is linchpin to family-sustaining employment
The Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition focuses on connecting Hoosiers to family-sustaining employment through education and training opportunities that meet employers’ demands for talent. But that cannot happen without child care. We’re incredibly grateful to see policymakers paying attention to infrastructure that is critical to our mission. Smart investments that support the child care needs of student parents, […]