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From one of the largest days of protest in US history to the daily act of organizing in every congressional district in this country, Indivisibles are standing up against authoritarianism. Find out about some Hoosiers who started an Indivisible chapter in their area. Why is this important? Why should each individual join to make our government better?

See the stark contrast between how dictators lead and how this group runs. Indivisible wants you to focus on issues you care about. Let’s face it, there are too many issues for us all to help with. It’s overwhelming. But with Indivisible, there are resources available to help you get started. Take back your powerlessness. Fight for what you believe in. Thanks to every single person who works with this organization.

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Lynne is a known education researcher, speaker, and activist. She knows the puzzle surrounding data center needs... it is to feed a surveillance monster endorsed by our elected leaders since they have partnered with private industry. Lynne tells us why we must fight backs against these data centers and how with evidence of people across the country stopping some of these bad things. Lynne actually stopped one herself with the help of her community. We are thankful Lynne came on the show to help us fight back against corporate greed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

Indiana Stories

* Around the Corn (Quick Headlines)

* Planned Parenthood at risk in Indiana

* Citing a SCOTUS decision from last month that allows South Carolina to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office wants to vacate a 12-year-old injunction on an abortion provider state funding ban in Indiana- potentially cutting off the organization - which also provides birth control, cancer screenings, HIV prevention, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, vaccinations and wellness exams - from any state money.

* Appeals Court Upholds Abortion Ban

* The Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed a ruling by a trial court judge upholding the state’s near-total abortion ban, specifically provisions relating to medical providers and potential exemptions.

* The underlying case initially centered on the risk to the health of the mother and the rights of providers, delaying the implementation of Indiana’s ban by roughly one year. After an Indiana Supreme Court ruling in favor of the state’s ban — though left the door open for future challenges — plaintiffs, represented by [ACLU Indiana], amended their complaint to narrow their focus.

* That amended version is the one that the Indiana Court of Appeals weighed on Monday.

* Another challenge, regarding whether Indiana’s ban violates its religious freedom law, is ongoing.

* Another Appeals Court Sides w/ Mothers in Attendant Care Case

* A federal appeals court affirmed a lower court’s preliminary injunction Wednesday, allowing two Hoosier mothers to continue providing state-reimbursed caregiving services to their medically fragile children.

* Responding to a nearly $1 billion projected Medicaid shortfall, state leaders with the Family and Social Services Administration made several changes in 2024 and halted a program that paid parents to be caregivers to their children with medically complex conditions. The attendant care program for Legally Responsible Individuals paid parents an hourly, livable wage but roughly 1,600 families were transitioned to another service that paid a per diem stipend at a far lower rate.

* Two mothers sued and were eventually granted a preliminary injunction, which the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed this week.

* Indy reverses course on Fountain Square homeless camp, will house residents before shutdown

* After weeks of sharp criticism, Indianapolis leaders have again changed their approach to a prominent Fountain Square homeless camp and will allow residents to remain at the site until they are offered housing.

* The Office of Public Health and Safety announced Aug. 15 that residents who still live at or recently left the homeless camp along Leonard Street will be housed through Streets to Home Indy, a new city-backed initiative to place more than 300 people known to be living on the streets into apartments by next June. At each camp, the process is expected to take four to six weeks.

* With the decision, Merkley is in effect doing what critics urged him to do during a contentious town hall held days after his July 25 decision to close the camp by Aug. 11. Instead of pushing people from one tent encampment to another, advocates for people who are homeless say service providers should offer people stable housing and case management.

* Change of Republican council leadership in Indianapolis

* Republicans on the Indianapolis City-County Council have chosen new leadership. Councilor Michael-Paul Hart was in the position for less than a year. During a caucus meeting this week, fellow Republicans voted to remove him as minority leader.

* Hart represents a southeast side district. He said fellow councilors told him that he was doing too much, too fast.

* Republican councilors voted to reinstate Brian Mowery as minority leader. Mowery held the minority position for the past four years.

* EPA cuts funding for lower-income solar program, including more than $117 million for Indiana

* The federal government canceled grant funding to help lower-income and disadvantaged communities afford solar panels. That includes more than $117 million for projects in Indiana.

* The $7 billion Solar For All program set up under the Biden administration aimed to lower residents' energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

* Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin made the announcement on X Thursday. He said the agency plans to follow the intent of the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

* "EPA no longer has the authority to administer the program or the appropriated funds to keep this boondoggle alive," Zeldin said.

* Lower-income Hoosiers are more likely to live in older, less energy-efficient homes that use more power. Advocates said putting solar on these homes not only lowers their energy bills, but also reduces the need for more power plants — which all electric utility customers pay for.

* The funding cut comes at a time when the average Indiana resident's bill has gone up by $28 a month since last year.

* IDEM sends letter, halts some work over Amazon's construction impact on wetlands

* The Indiana Department of Environmental Management halted some work at the new Amazon data center near New Carlisle.

* They sent a letter to Amazon and Walbridge Construction, the company building the facility, so they can resubmit their plans.

* The letter also stated that Amazon had an incomplete application that would affect over nine acres of wetlands.

* The unauthorized impact on the wetlands violated two Indiana codes: Prohibiting discharge, emission or allowance of contaminants or waste causing pollution and prohibits the disposal of inorganic or organic matter into Indiana's waters.

* Amazon has 30 days to resubmit plans for approval or risk denial of their application.

* Indiana third grade reading scores improve at record-breaking rate, reach pre-pandemic levels

* Statewide, 87.3% of third graders scored proficient on the state test, the IREAD, up nearly 5 percentage points from the 82.5% proficiency rate in 2024. The jump represents the largest single-year increase since the assessment began in 2013, according to state data presented Wednesday. And it breaks the improvement record set last year, when scores increased less than one percentage point from 2023 to 2024.

* The increase comes after concerted efforts in elementary schools to help students pass the IREAD and thereby avoid mandatory retention in third grade under a law that went into effect for the 2025-26 school year.

* The trend for IREAD scores is notably different than for ILEARN results, which came out last month and showed that English language arts scores have remained essentially unchanged across the state even as math scores have improved.

* Vote Centers - Allen, Hamilton Counties weighing switch

* Nearly 73% – 67 of Indiana’s 92 counties – use vote centers on Election Day, according to Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales’ website. Marion County, which includes Indianapolis, made the switch in 2018.

* Voters urge Allen County Election Board to reconsider plan for 39 vote centers

* Election officials said Friday they are confident 39 universal polling places would be enough to handle Allen County, but voters urged board members to consider more locations if they decide to switch to vote centers.

* The Allen County Election Board has proposed replacing 110 polling places on Election Day with less than 40 vote centers that would accept all registered Allen County voters instead of only those who live in a specified geographic area.

* People who shared their thoughts Friday on the proposed vote centers don’t oppose having places where people can vote, regardless of precinct, they said. They are concerned that 39 vote centers will not be enough to allow full accessibility with minimal barriers.

* Some people, including Allen County Democratic Party Chairman Chad Wierzbinski, asked the board to slow down the process of deciding on a change. Indianapolis reduced its number of polling places by less than 1% when it switched to vote centers. The local board has proposed cutting about 64% …

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

An inside look at the leaders, aspiring leaders, and thought leaders of Indiana's Democratic Party. Whether you're a D/R/L/I or other, this should be interesting!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

Columbus, Indiana lawyer Ross Thomas explains if this whole gerrymandering mess in Indiana is legal or not. Also, how do we make Indiana a better place for our children? There is a solution to this mess.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

Dr. Tim Peck catches up with his uncle, Father Ted, who is a Catholic Priest. Today they discuss the devil versus mercy.

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Corinne Straight and Sarah Blessing discuss the biggest news happening now in Indiana. Why is everyone talking about gerrymandering? What gross thing is Micah Beckwith accused of now? (and its super disguising…and he is a pastor of a mega church.) Also, they talk about the scary immigration news with our governor bringing national horrors to our Hoosier state.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com

Indiana Stories

Around the Corn (Quick Headlines)

* Vance Pushes Redistricting (tease One Big Thing)

* Vance met privately with Braun and others at the Indiana Capitol on Thursday.

* O’Rourke Visits Indiana

* O'Rourke held a town hall in Indianapolis Sunday as part of a nationwide tour.

* Indiana agencies outline spending cuts in pursuit of 5% reserve

* Indiana’s state agencies are slowly earning approval for their plans to save money after being hit with effective 10% spending cuts amid a tough budget cycle.

* A grim May revenue forecast prompted lawmakers to cut most agency appropriations by 5% in the latest biennial budget — and authorize the State Budget Agency to withhold another 5%.

* Agencies were forced to describe how they’ll meet that target in “strategic spending reduction plans” due at the end of June. The first batch of plans got the green light last week.

* FSSA plans aggressive new budget method to control growing Medicaid Costs

* In 2023, the state contributed nearly $3 billion, or just over 16% of FSSA’s $18 billion budget. The $4 billion in 2025 was nearly 21% of the $20 billion budget.

* But, going forward, the agency will work backwards by assuming the state would only contribute 2%, shrinking the overall budget.

* The Indianapolis City-County Council is one step closer to shortening curfew hours for young people in downtown Indianapolis

* At a meeting Wednesday night, the city’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee passed an amended version of the curfew proposal, which now heads to the full City-County Council with a recommendation to pass.

* State law allows moving curfew hours by up to two hours when conditions necessitate it for public safety, but it’s only a temporary measure. The proposed public safety curfew hours are designed to expire after 120 days unless the council takes further action.

* The state already has a statewide curfew. The proposal would begin the curfew two hours earlier in Marion County. The curfew for youth 15- to 17-year-olds would be between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday.

* Former Porter Co jail officer charged with trafficking contraband to inmate

* Johnny Maynor III has been charged with trafficking with an inmate involving a controlled substance, a Level 5 felony; official misconduct, a Level 6 felony; and misdemeanor trafficking with an inmate, according to the Porter County Sheriff’s Office.

* Blackout License Plate

* Drivers in Indiana with a darker fashion sense can now get a license plate to match. The Hoosier State has joined Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota and others in offering blacked-out plates as an alternative to more traditional designs.

“Speedway Slammer”

* Ice to hold 1,000 detainees in Indiana after deal with state’s prison system

* ICE will be housing detainees at the Miami correctional center, a prison run by the Indiana department of corrections. The move is part of the US government’s rapid expansion of immigration jails after Donald Trump’s sweeping spending bill allotted roughly $170bn to Ice, an extraordinary sum making the agency the most heavily funded law enforcement department within the federal government.

* IMS owner asks Homeland Security to stop using IndyCar in 'Speedway Slammer' plans

* “We were unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of (the Aug. 5) announcement,” Penske Entertainment said in a statement provided to IndyStar. “Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our IP not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.”

* The company, which announced the sale of a 33% stake to Fox Corp. last week, fell short of publicly demanding any sort of retraction or issuing a formal cease-and-desist order to prevent future use of either the car imagery or the use of “speedway.”

* Of note, in October 2019, just over a week before he formally announced the purchase of the assets that would become Penske Entertainment, Roger Penske received the medal of freedom from President Donald Trump during the latter’s first term.

* Trump administration stands by 'Speedway Slammer' branding for ICE detention

* a DHS spokesperson told IndyStar that the Trump administration has no plans to change its marketing.

* “An AI generated image of a car with 'ICE' on the side does not violate anyone’s intellectual property rights. Any suggestion to the contrary is absurd," reads the statement, issued Aug. 6. "DHS will continue promoting the ‘Speedway Slammer’ as a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combatting illegal immigration.”

Beckwith Scandal Factory Keeps Pushing Out Hits

* Beckwith faces backlash over immigration remarks

* "(Undocumented immigrants) don't have a right to see a judge. They're here illegally," Beckwith said in Vigo County on Monday.

* "The 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 protection of refugees, they both require us to provide people with an opportunity to present their case," [director of legal services for Indy's Exodus Refugee Immigration organization, Rachel] Van Tyle said.

* While undocumented immigrants don't have a guaranteed right to stay in the U.S., the Constitution does guarantee them due process under the law.

* "No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law," reads in part the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

* "So, when the Japanese were bombing Pearl Harbor, did we give them due process to actually see a judge?" Beckwith asked the crowd. "They invaded our country."

* "Illegal migrants who have broken our laws and crossed into our country illegally do not receive Constitutional Due Process rights merely for being on our soil. If that were true that means if Russia invaded Alaska Russian soldiers would be required to receive Constitutional rights also. This is absurd. Constitutional rights are not bestowed upon individuals simply because their feet are on our soil.

* Indiana GOP roiled as top officials accused of watching lewd AI video of lawmaker's wife

* Beckwith’s Senior Advisor Erin Sheridan Abruptly Terminated

* On [Aug 1], Sheridan was abruptly terminated after refusing a request to resign. “I was never written up, reprimanded, or told there were any performance issues,” Sheridan told Indy Politics. “I was simply asked to resign. I said no. And then I was fired.”

* Sheridan, a longtime Republican operative with deep ties in legislative circles, had been one of Beckwith’s most visible and engaged staffers. But behind the scenes, sources say, tensions were growing between professional governance and performative politics. When asked why she hadn’t come forward with allegations of internal dysfunction, Sheridan offered this:

* “I did report all the wrongdoings and advised them to abide by policies. But they wanted someone who was willing to shake the boat—and he’ll have a church pay his ethics fines.”

* Top staff for Indiana’s lieutenant governor played a video showing [State Rep. Craig Haggard (R-HD57)]’s wife seemingly topless, apparently using an AI program to alter the woman’s real performance at a state talent show hosted on April 9.

* Gregg Puls, the deputy chief of staff and chief ethics officer to Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, and Devin Norrick, a lawyer on contract with the office, watched the deepfake video of the lawmaker’s wife in the lieutenant governor’s statehouse office on April 10 and laughed, according to the people familiar with the incident.

* A second person familiar with the video described concerns raised among women on Beckwith’s staff about repeated comments made in the lieutenant governor’s office by Puls about the breasts of other staffers and the lawmaker’s wife and urged one of Beckwith’s staffers to file a formal complaint. The second person familiar with the events inside the lieutenant governor’s office characterized it as sexual harassment.

* Marion County Prosecutor Investigating

* Gov. Mike Braun addressed the issue with reporters Tuesday afternoon, saying “each state office is … going to have to do its own accountability. If it were in my office, there would be quick gett…

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RFK cut contracts for development of mRNA vaccine research and experts and politicians on both sides of the aisle are shocked, angry, and scared. What do we need to know?

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Reform Alliance is a national organization dedicated to transforming probation and parole through changing laws, systems, and culture to create pathways to work and well-being. Sarah will interview Maranda Williams who is an Indiana state organizer for this bi-partisan group.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.projectnextindiana.com