Commentary
While celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, learn about Irish history and acceptance of others
I’ve always been fascinated with St. Patrick’s Day, and there is no question that my fascination comes from the fascination others have for it. Being of Irish descent used to make me feel like the holiday belonged to me more than others. In Ireland, it has been a religious holiday for more than a thousand […]
Building caring communities in Indiana requires fully funding mental health infrastructure
In the fall of 2020 I lived with someone going through a mental health spiral, from clinical depression and, eventually, delusions. He would trash the house, yell, and consistently cross any boundaries I set. Life felt heavy and chaotic at that time; I locked the door to my room at night not knowing what he […]
Latest legislative economic disclosures prompt concerns, suggestions
Earlier this session, a senator sat on a bench and casually asked me — while waving the yellow statement of economic interest form in his hand — does anyone even read these? The answer is yes. Though not enough. The Indiana Capital Chronicle team reviewed all 150 forms which are usually six pages but sometimes […]
Dementia care gets personal in legislative session
One by one, the members of the House Public Health Committee voted Aye to support a program of Dementia Care Specialists in conjunction with the Indiana Division of Aging and the Indiana Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). Rep. Greg Porter, the author of HB 1422, had talked about the impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia on […]
Mind the Gap: Serving students with special needs despite federal shortages
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that approximately 7.6 million children aged 3 through 21 with disabilities were served through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in Fiscal Year 2022. The number of special needs children eligible for services under IDEA has risen faster than the growth rate of the general population. Nevertheless, in […]
The valuable truth is that Fox News is no longer the press
The competition for trust and credibility in the press are far from new. This struggle dates back to at least the late 1800’s when the “yellow journalism” battle between moguls Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst dominated the New York media market. Both were fighting for circulation and ultimately, you know, profit. There was a […]
Pi has an amusing footnote in Indiana history
Purdue University mathematics professor Clarence Waldo was only at the Indiana Statehouse to lobby for the school during budget talks in February of 1897. That’s when he happened to witness House Bill 246 – to legally change the value of the number pi to 3.2 – pass its third and final reading in the General […]
Time to step up on birth control access
When lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban last summer in a special session, several key Republicans talked about expanding access to birth control as a companion piece. Now is the time for them to back that up. “We are going to work pretty hard on trying to make available contraception so we can have fewer […]
Digital age requires a new kind of economic development — remote work
Mayors are some of my very favorite people. They are public servants, and problem-solvers of the highest order. And the pressing problem on most of their minds is economic development. Specifically, “How can I help my town grow?” For small and mid-size cities, attracting new businesses that can provide their citizens meaningful jobs and the […]
General Assembly should improve state systems supporting foster youth
The 2023 Indiana General Assembly session is at the half-way point, and measures to support the teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care in Indiana continue to move through the legislature. At Foster Success, we ensure that the 24,000 teens and young adults transitioning out of the state’s system are healthy, stable, and […]
East Palestine’s battle is a lesson for all Americans
At Indiana University, I teach government to students in one school, and speech to students in another. The subjects are quite different, as are the students. But the story of East Palestine, Ohio gives me a real life lesson to teach both classes and will for years to come. On February 3, a train operated […]
Emergency medicine can be helped through public health investment
When I first joined the field of emergency medicine, I did so because I wanted to care for patients at a time when they needed the healthcare system the most. I appreciated the fact that, despite various social factors, everyone is on equal footing in the ambulance or in the emergency room. While that is […]