‘Maskless clerk’ lines up State Senate run in new West Lafayette-based district
The following report from contributing writer Dave Bangert was first published in his Substack newsletter, Based in Lafayette, Indiana. Fountain County Clerk Paula Copenhaver made a statewide name for herself during the 2020 elections when she declined to wear a mask at earl “...”
Rokita press conference dispute raises questions about journalist access
Political commentator Abdul-Hakim Shabazz (above) says he was turned away from a press conference held by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on Thursday. Shabazz, editor and publisher of Indy Politics and an attorney, received an invitation to the press conference on robocall “...”
Governor mum on whether he will appeal challenge to executive power
Gov. Eric Holcomb still isn’t saying whether he will appeal the Oct. 7 ruling by a Marion County judge that the General Assembly can call itself into session—a power he said belongs to the governor alone. During the 2021 session, Indiana legislators passed HB 1123 in respo “...”
A WHIMPER, NOT A BANG: Redistricting session comes to a subdued end with passage of Republican-drawn maps; Holcomb signs into law
The Indiana Statehouse, Friday, October 1, 2021. UPDATE: Gov. Eric Holcomb (above) on Monday signed into law House Bill 1581, the Republican-drawn redistricting of the state’s congressional and legislative district lines for the next decade. “Today I signed HB 1581, c “...”
With further amendments voted down, GOP-drawn maps advance to a final vote on Friday
After nearly two weeks of fine-tuning on their redistricting maps — generally small changes attributed to input from the public and even their Democratic counterparts — Indiana Senate Republicans put an end to the tinkering on Thursday and set the stage for a final vo “...”
REDISTRICTING UPDATE: We’re losing the fight for fair maps
The following is written by Alan Mills, a member of the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation board of directors, as an update to his analysis, “Why racial justice requires fair maps,’’ published on August 31, 2021. Sept. 29, 2021 A month has passed since I shared some thoug “...”
Senate Republicans redraw 8 Marion County districts; amended map will need House concurrence
Above: Proposed Indiana Senate districts as redrawn Tuesday. In a rare moment of bipartisan unanimity — and one that will at least slightly delay this year’s redistricting process — Indiana Senate Republicans on Tuesday further changed their redrawing of eight “...”
Youth join veterans in bashing GOP maps at Senate Democrats’ hearing in Bloomington
Bloomington, Ind. — Tilly Robinson and Alex Kutza (above), 17-year-old seniors at Bloomington High School South, look forward to voting for the first time in 2022. But they worry their votes won’t count for as much as they should, thanks to what they see as Indiana’s ge “...”
Another round of critical testimony as redistricting process approaches its final days
Indiana Senate Republicans on Monday morning heard public testimony for the first time — and for the last time as well — on their proposed redrawing of the state’s congressional and legislative districts, a process that they are intent on wrapping up during the “...”
HOUSE PASSES NEW MAPS: Indiana Senate to vote on Republican redistricting plan next week
Sept. 23, 2021 The legislative responsibility of redistricting occurs only once every 10 years. It’s an important responsibility — organizing the state’s congressional and legislative electorate for the next 10 years — and a big one. In Indiana, the “...”