Public News Service

The Indiana Department of Health 2022 Pregnancy Termination Report showed March as the month when the most abortions were performed. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Advocates: Ease of access to contraception could lower accidental pregnancies

Vending machines commonly found in workplace break rooms generally contain soft drinks or snacks but one machine in Indianapolis dispenses unconventio…

Researchers say U.S. federal workers are generally high-performing, impartial and minimally corrupt compared with other countries' civil servants. (Adobe stock)

IN research: Federal workers defy 'deep state' stereotype

Hoosiers running for public office often criticize "the government," despite wanting to be part of it. Research published in The Conversation…

House Bill 1264 drew sharp criticism as it made its way through the Indiana General Assembly. (Adobe stock)

IN gov signs controversial voting bill into law

Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed legislation to purge Indiana's voter rolls, with the goal of preventing election fraud. The Republican-sponsored bill …

Gov. Eric Holcomb hopes to require all public universities to offer more three-year degrees and help more students obtain earned associate degrees from public universities. (Adobe Stock)

IN governor prioritizes education reform, job resource accessibility

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has laid out his priorities for his last year in office. During the Republican governor's eighth year leading the state…

Lawmakers have introduced about 130 bills for the Indiana Legislative session which starts Monday and must adjourn by March 14. (Adobe Stock)

IN lawmakers manage expectations ahead of 2024 session

Lawmakers return to the Indiana Statehouse next week to gavel in the 2024 legislative session. Leadership from both sides of the aisle are …

Holding back feelings and not speaking up when someone makes an off-color comment can lead to depression and health problems including immune dysfunction, hypertension and even cancer. (Adobe Stock)

Defusing holiday arguments before they begin

In today's politically polarized world, holiday office parties and family gatherings can lead to increased tensions, arguments and even long term …

Indiana's three neighboring states - Illinois, Michigan and Ohio - have already legalized using recreational marijuana and in Kentucky, it is allowed for legal use medicinally. (Adobe stock)

Neighboring states leave Indiana behind in 'cloud of smoke'

Most Hoosiers are okay with legalizing marijuana -- 85% approve, according to a poll from Indiana Public Radio and Ball State University. However…

Los tres estados vecinos de Indiana -Illinois, Michigan y Ohio- ya han legalizado el uso recreativo de la marihuana y en Kentucky se permite su uso legal con fines medicinales. (Adobe Stock)

Estados vecinos dejan atrás a Indiana en una 'nube de humo'

La mayoría de los habitantes de Hoosier están de acuerdo con la legalización de la marihuana: el 85% la aprueba, según una …

Polls across the state will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Voters must be registered to vote ahead of Election Day. Indiana does not offer same-day voter registration on Election Day. (Adobe Stock)

Mixed early voting turnout in Indiana municipal elections

Voters are selecting leaders for their cities and towns in Tuesday's 2023 Indiana Municipal Elections. Low voter turnout isn't unusual in many …

Las urnas en todo el estado estar�n abiertas de 6 a. m. a 6 p. m. hora local. Los votantes deben estar registrados para votar antes del d�a de las elecciones. Indiana no ofrece registro de votantes el mismo d�a del d�a de las elecciones. (Adobe Stock)

Participación mixta en votación anticipada en elecciones municipales de IN

Los votantes estarán seleccionando líderes para sus ciudades y pueblos en las elecciones municipales de Indiana de 2023 el próximo mart…

The website 'governing.com' says according to recent assessments, three-quarters of American students lack sufficient understanding of civics concepts to apply them. (Adobe Stock)

National Civics Day encourages leadership, community engagement

Today is National Civics Day, rooted in history and a reminder of the importance of learning the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. On this …

The CDC says about one in three Indiana adults lives with some type of disability, in categories that include mental, cognition, hearing, vision or self-care. (Adobe Stock)

Today: Virtual Session to Boost Participation for IN Voters with Disabilities

This election season, Indiana will have a new governor or perhaps a new mayor of Indianapolis. One group is working to increase voter participation …

Expanding access to voting by mail and automatically registering eligible citizens to vote are two paths to boost election transparency, according to the Center for Election Innovation and Research. (Adobe Stock)

IN Voter Turnout Shows Disinterest in Elections, Politics

This July 4th week, Indiana voters may be more interested in family and fireworks than in politics. But the 2024 election run-up is already in full …

Indiana grew 4.7% to about 6.8 million residents in the 2020 Census. Indianapolis and surrounding counties received three-quarters of the state's population growth, while more than half of the state's 92 counties lost residents. (Adobe Stock)

IU Law Prof: SCOTUS Creates Voting Rights 'Ripple Effect'

District lines for Indiana's nine congressional districts are locked in through 2030, but U.S. Supreme Court decisions spell out to state lawmakers …

Indiana News Now! debuts this week. The weekday newsbreaks are part of the Indiana Local News Initiative.

Indiana News Service: New Programming Fills Gaps in Rural Areas

Indiana News Service: New Programming Fills Gaps in Rural Areas Indiana radio stations and online media will have free access to high quality…

Indiana voting advocates are attempting to ensure first-time voters have access to the ballot box. (Adobe Stock)

Complaint Alleges Voter-Signup Obstacles in Tippecanoe County

Young people often see registering to vote as a rite of passage, but voting advocates discovered one Indiana county has created new obstacles for …

The case at hand, Moore v. Harper, concerns alleged partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina's congressional maps. The case could shift an unprecedented amount of election administration authority to state legislatures. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court Case Could Dramatically Expand Power of State Legislatures

During its next session, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the legal validity of the "Independent State Legislature" theory. The case could cause …

According to the 2020 Census, Indiana's Black population grew by roughly one-half percent from 2010 to 2020, while the Hispanic population rose by more than 2 percent. (Adobe Stock)

IN Group: Redistricting has Long-Term Impact on BIPOC Voters

It is Sunshine Week, an annual observation of the need for government transparency. In Indiana, voting-rights groups said transparency was needed in …

According to a 2020 Pew Research Center Poll, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government isn't doing enough to address climate change. (Adobe Stock)

IN Students Push for Climate-Justice Task Force

Confront the Climate Crisis is a student-led coalition pushing Indiana lawmakers to establish a new environmental-justice task force. Last month…

During redistricting, the Indiana General Assembly set new boundary lines for the state's 150 legislative districts and nine congressional seats (Indiana State House/Adobe Stock)

Redistricting Over, IN Voting Rights Group Looks to the Future

Indiana's redistricting process concluded in October, but one voting rights group is eyeing ways to ensure fair representation in the future…

The Freedom to Vote Act, introduced in the Senate, among other measures, would prevent partisan gerrymandering and ensure transparency in the redistricting process. (tampatra/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Federal Legislation Needed to Open Up IN Redistricting Process

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Eric Holcomb signed new voting district maps for the General Assembly into law this week, but good-government groups say not …

Voting districts, which are being redrawn this year using the 2020 census results, must have nearly equal populations and cannot be discriminatory based on race. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)

Groups Rally for Bipartisan, Transparent Redistricting Process

INDIANAPOLIS - The long-awaited, detailed demographic census data is set to be released Thursday, and in Indiana, good-government groups are urging …

More than 400 laws have been introduced this year that would restrict voting rights across the country. (Lakshmiprasad/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Lawmakers to Protect, Not Restrict, Voting Rights

INDIANAPOLIS -- Voting-rights advocates applaud this week's federal appeals-court decision to prevent Indiana from purging some voters from the rolls …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

INDIANAPOLIS -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

Indiana is one of 13 states that recently lifted statewide mask mandates by gubernatorial order.(Adobe Stock)<br />

IN Lawmakers Add Barriers to Public-Health Orders in Emergencies

INDIANAPOLIS - A bill adding more layers of approval for emergency public-health orders is now headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk. Critics of …

Indiana's 100 State House districts were heavily Republican in the 2016 presidential election. (MGG Redistricting Lab)

Indiana Voting-Rights Group Tackles Redistricting Reform

INDIANAPOLIS - Troubled by the lack of redistricting reform at the Statehouse, voting-rights advocates in Indiana are taking matters into their own …

Indiana attorneys are hearing more about landlord-tenant law and bankruptcy legal issues due to the pandemic. (AdobeStock)

Hoosier Attorneys Offer Free Legal Counsel as Tribute to Dr. King

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.'s messages of equality and justice, Indiana's legal community is offering free counsel today …

Some blind voters weren't able to vote in Indiana this year because they couldn't get an appointment with the traveling board of election officials due to the pandemic. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)

Blind Voters Sue State of Indiana to Improve Voting Access

INDIANAPOLIS -- A group of blind voters is suing to force the state of Indiana to make absentee balloting more accessible. Blind voters now have …

Un nuevo reporte sobre presupuestos de alto nivel sugiere que los estados se ahorren lor programas de capacitaci�n de la fuerza laboral. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

Reporte enciende alarma sobre consecuencias de recortar presupuestos educativos más altos

INDIANAPOLIS -- Un reporte reciente insta a los estados a no cometer los errores de la más reciente recesión recortando los presupuestos de …

Some experts say not only will election results not be available right away, they might also be disputed, which could further delay decisions in close races. (Adobe Stock)

Election 2020: Be Prepared to Wait for the Outcome

INDIANAPOLIS -- By this time tomorrow, it's very unlikely Hoosiers will know who has won the White House. Historically high numbers of absentee …

Una encuesta encontr� que 43% de los negocios de Indiana planean utilizar empleados el a�o pr�ximo para desempe�ar funciones adicionales del trabajo. (AdobeStock)

Pronóstico: La Fuerza Laboral de Indiana necesitará “Destrezas Humanas”

INDIANÁPOLIS -- Un experto con base en Indianápolis dice que únicamente los rasgos y las capacidades netamente humanas serán m…

Indiana voters need one of 11 valid reasons to cast an absentee ballot by mail. (AdobeStock)

Groups say Hoosiers With Disabilities Still Face Ballot Barriers

INDIANAPOLIS -- The pandemic has pushed the issue of voter access to the forefront, but for Indiana's disability community, it's more than just …

Hoosiers have until Oct. 5 to register for the Nov. 3 election. (AdobeStock)

Hoosiers Encouraged to Be Proactive About Voter Registration

INDIANAPOLIS -- Today is National Voter Registration Day, designed to remind those who haven't yet signed up to register to vote. With an important …

Estudio: Los Alumnos “Regresadores” a “College” de Indiana, una Valiosa Inversión

Indianapolis, IN - Para casi uno de cada cinco adultos que se inscriben a "college", no es su primer rodeo. Un reporte reciente echa un vistazo a c…

A lawsuit contends the pandemic will make it more difficult for Indiana voters to comply with a noon Election Day receipt deadline for mail-in ballots. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Indiana Election Day Ballot Deadline Challenged in Court

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana Election Day ballot deadline is being challenged in federal court. A lawsuit filed by the Indiana State Conference of the …

Mobile impairments account for most disabilities in the United States. (AbsolutVision/Pixabay)

ADA Marks 30 Years of Transforming Lives

INDIANAPOLIS - Landmark legislation that changed the lives of millions of Americans is marking its 30th anniversary. The Americans with …

One-in-three Indiana adults who say they are Christians also identify as evangelical. (Adobe Stock)

Evangelical Support of Trump Could Be Fading

INDIANAPOLIS - White, evangelical Christians have been a major part of President Donald Trump's political base, but recent polling indicates …

The first Pride marches were protests against police brutality led by brown and black people. (Adobe Stock)

Pride Month in Indy: Elevating Forgotten Voices of Color

INDIANAPOLIS - As they reflect on their own fight for equal rights, members of Indiana's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (or …

Fewer polling locations are open for Indiana's primary because of a lack of poll workers. (kgroovy)

Safety a Priority as Hoosiers Head to Polls

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's Primary Election Day is here, and election officials are stressing that voter safety is first and foremost. The election …

You might not be able to hug your neighbor, but you can still hug a tree. Studies suggest that people's access to trees helps reduce stress levels and lower blood pressure. (Adobe Stock)

Arbor Day: Social Distancing Doesn't Apply to Trees

INDIANAPOLIS -- Arbor Day looks a little different in Indiana this year - however, advocates of the annual event say the spirit of the day is still …

The League of Women Voters of Indiana works to educate and empower voters, regardless of gender or political affiliation. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

League of Women Voters Celebrates 100 Years

INDIANAPOLIS -- Aug. 26 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Today, a key player in the …

In Indiana, possession of one ounce of marijuana or less carries a penalty of up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of $1,000. (Adobe Stock)

The Will of the People? Indiana Bills Tackle Marijuana Laws

INDIANAPOLIS - Some Indiana lawmakers are continuing their push to relax the state's marijuana laws. At a news conference yesterday, Senate …

The U.S. Census Bureau intends to hire 500,000 people for the 2020 count. (AdobeStock)

Workers Needed to Help Ensure Accurate 2020 Census Count

INDIANAPOLIS – With less than six months to go until the 2020 Census, efforts are ramping up in Indiana and other states to ensure an accurate …

In a new poll, 75% of Indiana residents said they support policies to address the effects of climate change in the state. (Dominique Uhe/Adobe Stock)

Study: Majority of Hoosiers Believe Climate Change is Real

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana's status as a Republican stronghold might suggest that its residents also follow the party's resistance to fighting clima…

Opponents have said the state's use of the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck database would result in thousands of Hoosiers being removed from voter rolls. (Amanda Wood/Flickr)

Another Legal Defeat for Indiana Voter Purge Law

INDIANAPOLIS – A block has been upheld on an Indiana law that opponents say would threaten the integrity of the voting process. The Seventh …

Advocates for people with disabilities say technology is still not fully accessible for many Americans. (zlikovec/Adobe Stock)

Reflecting On the Impact of the ADA

INDIANAPOLIS – Legislation that has changed the lives of millions of Americans, including more than one in ten Hoosiers, marks its 29th …

Robert M. Pennoyer, now and at age 19, on the U.S.S. Pensacola at Iwo Jima in 1944 (Courtesy: Robert M. Pennoyer)

WWII Veteran: Ignorance, Indifference Greatest Threats to America

NEW YORK – Seventy-four years after he saw the flag raised on Iwo Jima, a World War II veteran has an Independence Day message for America: The …

One blood donation can save up to three lives. (Antonio_Corigliano/Pixabay)

"One Donation Can Save Three Lives"

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers are encouraged to join a global observance today celebrating a critical part of modern medicine. Every two seconds…

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IN: Civic Engagement & Voting