SENTENCED: Son of Life Church pastor gets 6 years in child exploitation case
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen February 13, 2026 ANDERSON, Indiana — The son of a prominent Indiana pastor with close ties to the state’s lieutenant governor was sentenced to six years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to child exploitation charges. Jonathan Petern “...”
PROTECTING THE JUDICIARY: Indiana House amends and passes court security bill
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen February 12, 2026 The bill providing security for Indiana’s appellate judges passed easily through the Indiana House this week after the measure was amended to clarify the language regarding campaign finance reports. In presenting Senate “...”
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC? Court security bill scrutinized over banned info, including campaign aid reports
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen February 6, 2026 A provision in Senate Bill 291, preventing the disclosure of personal information about state judges and justices, drew a second look from some legislators during a House committee hearing on Wednesday and is causing one Fi “...”
Lawmakers hope to broaden Indiana’s already near-total ban on abortion
This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com. By Chloe White TheStatehouseFile.com January 29, 2026 As winter weather slowed activity at the Statehouse this week, debate over abortion policy did not, with senators arguing over legislation that would further reshap “...”
‘LAW HAS NOT CHANGED’: ACLU of Indiana argues putting Ten Commandments statue on Statehouse lawn is still unconstitutional
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen January 29, 2026 In response to the Braun administration’s effort to install a Ten Commandments monument on Statehouse grounds, the ACLU of Indiana is asserting not only is the state too late in asking but also placing the statue on publi “...”
‘A GOOD FIRST STEP’: Senate bill would bolster security for Indiana appellate judges after shooting
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen January 23, 2026 As law enforcement arrested five people this week in connection with the shooting of a Tippecanoe County trial court judge, the Indiana Senate moved forward with a bill that would increase security for the state’s appella “...”
ICC Story: Abortion-inducing drug ban’s lawsuit, reporting provisions take heat
This story was originally published by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz Indiana Capital Chronicle January 22, 2026 Indiana doctors, patients and others lined up Wednesday to testify on a contentious proposal allowing anyone to file potentially lucrative law “...”
Legislation would give elected officials full time status—and health insurance
This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com. By Abigale Lash TheStatehouseFile.com January 21, 2026 Some county elected officials have been denied the benefits that are given to their colleagues because they are not “full-time employees.” On Wednesday, Rep. C “...”
Bill would have those working for U.S. ‘foreign adversaries’ register with the Indiana AG
This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com. By Anna Cecil TheStatehouseFile.com January 20, 2026 Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, said during last Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee meeting that foreign threats are not just targeting the Pentagon or Washi “...”
‘FAILED EXPERIMENT’: Death-penalty opponents stay committed despite intransigence at Statehouse
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen January 20, 2026 The enthusiasm that sprouted in December for ending Indiana’s death penalty appears to have wilted for now, since a repeal bill offered last year was not reintroduced this legislative session and state lawmakers are, inst “...”