POLITICAL SCHOOL BOARDS: Law allowing partisan races promises new election dynamics
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen August 18, 2025 Indiana school board candidates will be allowed to declare party affiliations on the ballot starting in 2026 — a controversial change that ends decades of officially nonpartisan elections and sets the stage for ideological cl “...”
‘COMPASSION WITHOUT LAWLESSNESS’: Lt. Gov. Beckwith draws cheers, pushback with immigration stance at packed Merrillville event
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen August 13, 2025 Merrillville, Indiana — Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith told a packed town hall crowd Tuesday night that undocumented immigrants “do not get constitutional rights,” doubling down on a claim that ignited controversy when he made s “...”
WFYI story: Indiana’s first school safety director is a former resource officer
This story was originally published by WFYI. By Eric Weddle WFYI August 12, 2025 A former school resource officer will now oversee safety for Indiana’s schools. Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday announced Julie Q. Smith, a Columbus police sergeant, as the first director of the newly c “...”
‘FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE’: Lt. Gov. Beckwith pushes for redistricting at tense Lake County town hall
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen August 13, 2025 Merrillville, Indiana — Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith backed the White House’s push for Indiana to redraw its congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections, telling attendees at a town hall Tuesday night that R “...”
REDISTRICTING ANGST: Protesters fear losing electoral voice if Indiana’s congressional maps are redrawn
By Marilyn Odendahl The Indiana Citizen August 8, 2025 U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, thought to be the Hoosier Democrat most vulnerable to a possible mid-decade redistricting in Indiana, told a crowd of protesters in Indianapolis on Thursday that he is certain state lawmakers will conve “...”
‘COURAGE TO COME HERE’: Lt. Gov. Beckwith, staff earn constituents’ praise for effort to visit all 92 counties
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen August 8, 2025 Pressing the elevator button after leaving the small, third-story conference room in Marion City Hall, Lois Jones hummed a tune and reflected on what she called a productive conversation. Jones had just wrapped up a meeting with “...”