Indiana News & Current Events | Public News Service

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said he does not know what was discussed during a Thursday closed-door Statehouse meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Gov. Mike Braun. (Adobe Stock)

IN’s Lt. Gov. backs push to redraw U.S. House maps

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

65% of LGBTQ+ young people in Indiana reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 43% reported of LGBTQ+ young people in Indiana seriously considered suicide in the past year.(Adobe Stock)

Rural IN LGBTQ+ youth seek safe, welcoming spaces

Rural LGBTQ+ youth in Indiana face greater mental health challenges, but have found ways to build community online, according to a new report…

Huntington University students built a set and filmed the ceremonial bill signing as if it were a movie scene, complete with multiple takes and a missing prop. (Adobe Stock)

IN makes a play for Hollywood

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

Indiana University's summit includes a session about a new Registered Apprenticeship Program aimed at boosting the teacher workforce. (Adobe stock)

Summit to tap into Hoosier innovation

An Indiana-based summit meeting will spotlight how university campuses can help power economic growth across the state. Indiana University hosts its …

Five judges hold seats in the Indiana Supreme Court, 15 in the Court of Appeals, five in the Circuit and Superior Courts, and one in the Indiana Tax Court. (Adobe Stock)

IN judge safety risks call for strong security measures

Groups fighting for a free and fair judicial system are speaking out against violence, threats and insults targeting judges in Indiana and across the …

Experts recommend not overscheduling kids in the first few weeks of school because they are often more tired and emotionally drained as they adjust to a new routine. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier experts stress mental prep before heading back to school

Indiana families are preparing kids for back-to-school season, and mental-health experts say emotional readiness is just as important as school …

Rising energy costs and a potential strain on local water resources and infrastructure are two issues linked to data center construction. (Adobe Stock)

IN AI data centers prompt environmental concerns over emissions

The Trump administration's long-term plan for artificial intelligence could have far-reaching environmental impacts across the country. His strategy …

EducationData.org reports 16% of borrowers owe less than $5,000, almost 23% owe $20,000 to $40,000, and 1.55% owe more than $200,000. (Adobe Stock)

IN students face uncertainty on loan repayments

Due dates for student loan repayment remain uncertain for many Indiana students amid changes at the federal level. For those who were not granted …

The 2024 State of Fair Housing Indiana Report indicated land-leased communities consist of residents of mobile manufactured homes who rent or lease the lot and the land the home sits on but own the home itself. Lot rent is paid monthly to the park owner. (Adobe Stock)

Residents frustrated over AC curbs in IN mobile home community

Residents in a South Bend mobile home community oppose a management rule banning standard window air conditioners. According to the management's …

A 2023 Central Indiana Corporate Partnership study found AI capabilities relatable for Hoosiers 65 and older include facial recognition and natural language speech understanding. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: IN seniors embracing AI brings benefits, drawbacks

Artificial intelligence is appearing more prominently in many aspects of life and research suggests older populations are curious, yet remain wary of …

Fentanyl test strips can detect the synthetic opioid in 30 seconds to two minutes when submerged in water. (Mary Fecteau/Ideastream Public Media)

IN drops drug paraphernalia label for fentanyl test strips

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

Consumer site WalletHub reported 97% of credit card holders have an annual income of $100,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

New scam tricks IN buyers using fake credit card decline messages

Americans have approximately 631 million credit card accounts, with nearly four cards per person. The accounts can be a payday for con artists who …

According to Prosperity Indiana and the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition, the state has just 38 affordable rental homes available for every 100

IN considers housing action as workers struggle to make rent

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

In the 2022-2023 school year, the Indiana Department of Education reported nearly 19% of Indiana students were classified as chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year. (Adobe Stock)

IN overhauls school rules, eyes student success

Indiana is rolling out a series of new education laws aimed at helping students succeed in and beyond the classroom. The changes affect everything …

Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis and Maurer School of Law in Bloomington combined enrollment in the juris doctorate program in 2024 totaled 415 students. (Adobe Stock)

New charter school hopes to help ease IN attorney shortage

A new charter school with a unique mission plans to open next year in Indianapolis. Its goal is to interest more kids in the legal profession…

Meat, dairy, bones or diseased plants should be avoided when composting to discourage pests and diseases, according to the Johnson County Recycling Center. (Adobe Stock)

IN organization wants to see Hoosiers excited about composting

A cleaner environment through less waste is the goal of a new state organization, the Indiana Composting Council. The council will enlist …

According to organizers, a planned Indianapolis event will be one of over 1,600 coordinated actions taking place in all 50 states as part of the largest John Lewis National Day of Action to date. (Joe Ulery/Public News Service)

IN activists fight suppression with ‘good trouble’

Hoosiers will join a nationwide movement marking the fifth annual John Lewis National Day of Action. The Indianapolis rally takes place Thursday …

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles generated about $25 million in revenue from selling driver data two years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana BMV cashes in on driver data

Indiana lawmakers will not study the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' practice of selling driver data this summer but some legislators said the issue deserve…

The Community Compass app, maintained by Indy Hunger Network serves between 4,000 and 8,000 users per month seeking food access resources. (Adobe Stock)

IN food pantries hit by SUN Bucks blackout

Indiana families are navigating the summer without SUN Bucks, a federal grocery benefit which delivered $120 per child last summer. Gov. Mike …

The Indiana Commission on Higher Education says almost 268,000 students enrolled in at least one funded Career and Technical Education course for the 2023-2024 school year. (Adobe Stock)

IN students want help with higher education choices

Uncertainty about the current job market is influencing high school graduates' choices for a career. Parents are generally the go-to for guidance…

Close to half of all American whiskey, bourbon and rye is sold internationally, primarily to Canada, Mexico and the European Union. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier businesses face fallout from tariff shake-up

Hoosier businesses across the state are feeling the ripple effects of rising tariffs and shifting trade policies, especially in farming, …

Authors of the law may add enforcement language, such as fines for parents or involvement from the prosecutor's office, during the committee process. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana mentors: ‘Curfew alone won’t cut it’

By Garrett Bergquist for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Serv…

Indiana ranks 11th in the nation for the share of residents with medical debt in collections, with more than $2.2 billion owed, more than any of its Midwestern neighbors. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosiers' medical bills under state review

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

The Indianapolis Public School district is the state's largest, with a student enrollment of about 31,000, according to its website. (Adobe Stock)

IN parents seek better transportation, more funding for student success

School funding is ranked as the top education priority in a spring survey of 850 Marion County voters by the education organization RISE Indy…

Indiana has 814,438 renter households in Indiana according to research site Eviction Lab. (Adobe Stock)

IN tenants bound by evictions can pursue confidential records

A new law on the books will help Hoosier renters saddled with an eviction on their record get some relief. Senate Bill 142, which took effect July 1…

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill allowing school board candidates to list a party affiliation into law on May 6. The measure passed during the 2025 legislative session after heated debate. (Adobe Stock)

IN ends era of nonpartisan school boards

A new Indiana law, starting today, allows school board candidates to list their political affiliation on the ballot. Candidates may choose to …

A House version of the budget reconciliation bill keeps a small EV tax credit through 2026 but only for manufactures that have sold fewer than 200,000 electric vehicles. (Optimal EV)

IN factory braces for end of EV tax breaks

Indiana workers could feel the effects of a sweeping federal bill targeting electric vehicle tax credits. Optimal EV's plant in Elkhart employs 35 …

The student enrollment figure at Indiana's four-year colleges and universities in 2024 was nearly 172,000, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. (Adobe Stock)

IN students weigh politics, mental health factors for college choices

University officials in Indiana are rewriting guidelines for on-campus protests to address a tense political backdrop. More students are watching …

Dr. Danielle Henderson, a clinical psychologist at IU Health, said Men's Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to reduce stigma, encourage conversation, and support men's mental health. (Adobe stock)

IN men face hidden mental health struggles

By Brittany Noble for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service…

Ethanol sales bring in nearly $3 billion to Indiana every year, according to the industry watchdog group, Growth Energy. (Adobe Stock)

IN ethanol industry is robust but criticism is surfacing

A new report questions the sustainability of biofuels. Biofuels, or ethanol, are produced from fermented sugars and starches found in corn and …

The American Diabetes Association reports treating diabetes in Indiana alone costs an estimated $7 billion each year. (Adobe Stock)

IN diabetes diagnoses trend toward younger adults

Diabetes diagnoses are climbing, with about 37,000 adults diagnosed in Indiana every year, and doctors caution they are seeing more cases in younger …

The president of the Indianapolis-based NCAA says fewer than 10 transgender athletes compete in college sports nationwide, with none in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

IN college sports ban on trans athletes starts July 1

A new Indiana law takes effect July 1 banning transgender women and girls from playing on women's college sports teams, expanding the state's earlier …

A 2024 Indiana Realtors Association report says migration and growing birth rate are strong factors behind the jump in housing demand. (Adobe Stock)

IN homebuying hopefuls face supply, demand, price shock

June is National Homeownership Month. However, both buyers and sellers in Indiana are wary of the housing market, amid unwavering interest rates and …

Indiana is home to more than 90,000 clean-energy jobs, spanning solar, wind, battery manufacturing and energy efficiency. (Adobe Stock)

$8 billion at stake for Indiana in Congress' budget fight

Workers and families in Indiana could feel the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" moving through the U.S. Senate. The legislation would roll …

Juneteenth activities include parades, picnics, lectures, plays and other family-focused gatherings. (Adobe Stock)

'Jubilee Day' was honored before Juneteenth in 1800s Indiana

Today is Juneteenth, a national holiday dating back to 1865. This was the day when freedom was granted to enslaved Texans, more than two years after …

According to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, more than 500,000 Hoosiers work in manufacturing, a sector increasingly dependent on affordable, renewable energy to stay competitive. (Adobe stock)

Proposed budget could drive up Indiana power bills

Indiana's economy could take a major hit under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," now advancing in Congress. Michael Hicks, director of the Center …

Indiana Department of Insurance data lists the top agency complaints as claim denials and delays, adjuster handling, unsatisfactory settlement offers and coverage inquiries. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Slow insurance responses, weather affect IN home coverage costs

Homeowners' insurance costs continue to skyrocket and few choices remain for Hoosiers who cannot afford a premium increase or receive a coverage denia…

Organizers said demonstrations throughout the country Saturday drew more than 5 million protesters. (Joe Ulery/Public News Service)

Hoosiers reject crowns and chaos at 'No Kings' protest

It is estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Hoosiers marched around the Indiana Statehouse during the "No Kings" protest in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday…

Total Medicaid spending in Indiana in fiscal year 2022 was $17 billion, with the federal government paying 75% of the costs. (Adobe Stock)

IN residents watch direction of Trump spending bill amid state budget cuts

As Congress reviews budget slashes to health care in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a new evaluation from the nonpartisan Cong…

Part-time officer Brennan Cox uses signs to communicate with faculty during Indiana University Police Academy training. (Chris Meyer/Indiana University)

IU Police Academy signs on to Deaf culture training

Indiana University now trains police academy recruits in Deaf culture awareness and basic American Sign Language. The program aims to improve …

In 1981, the first Pride event was a dinner at the now-gone Essex House Hotel, where many of the attendees wore masks upon entering the hotel so as not to be recognized. (Adobe Stock)

Indy Pride turns 30, refuses to be quiet

Indiana's largest LGBTQ+ celebration kicks off this weekend as Indy Pride marks its 30th anniversary. The event expands this year to two days…

The 2025 Kids Count report showed Indiana had a reduction in the percentage of teens not in school and not working from 7% to 5%, indicating more young people are staying engaged in education or jobs. (Adobe stock)

New report shows gains and gaps for Indiana kids

Indiana now ranks 25th in the nation for child well-being, up from 27th last year. The data comes from the 2025 Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E…

The Williams Institute reported almost three million members of the LGBTQ+ community live in the Midwest. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: IN businesses benefit from offering Pride merchandise

A new survey found most consumers stand behind brands showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. GLAAD, the nonprofit behind the survey, said it …

Purdue Global Law School traces its roots to 1998, when Concord University School of Law went live online. (Adobe stock)

Purdue Global grads make Indiana legal first

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

More than half of the bachelor's degrees offered at Indiana's public colleges and universities could be eliminated under an eleventh-hour provision added to the state budget. (Adobe stock)

Indiana’s degree cuts threaten access for working adults

Indiana's move to cut low-enrollment college degree programs may collide with many adults who say they want more access to affordable higher education…

About 2,500 women are housed in Indiana's correctional facilities, including some held in county jails, according to a June 2024 Indiana Department of Corrections report. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana women get new start on college from behind bars

By Claire Rafford for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News…

Dr. Janel Gordon says autism prevalence is higher among Asian, Black and Hispanic children but the reasons behind the disparities remain unclear. (Adobe stock)

Indiana urges families to act early on signs of autism

By Dr. Janel Gordon for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News …

According to USA Facts, 28 is the average age a woman in Indiana gets married. (Adobe Stock)

Study shows marriage habits straying from traditional patterns

Women college graduates are not sticking to traditional compatibility traits when choosing a husband, according to one study. Preferences are …

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Indiana

IN’s Lt. Gov. backs push to redraw U.S. House maps

Rural IN LGBTQ+ youth seek safe, welcoming spaces

IN makes a play for Hollywood

Summit to tap into Hoosier innovation

IN judge safety risks call for strong security measures

Hoosier experts stress mental prep before heading back to school

IN AI data centers prompt environmental concerns over emissions

IN students face uncertainty on loan repayments

Residents frustrated over AC curbs in IN mobile home community

Expert: IN seniors embracing AI brings benefits, drawbacks

IN drops drug paraphernalia label for fentanyl test strips

New scam tricks IN buyers using fake credit card decline messages

IN considers housing action as workers struggle to make rent

IN overhauls school rules, eyes student success

New charter school hopes to help ease IN attorney shortage

IN organization wants to see Hoosiers excited about composting

IN activists fight suppression with ‘good trouble’

Indiana BMV cashes in on driver data

IN food pantries hit by SUN Bucks blackout

IN students want help with higher education choices

Hoosier businesses face fallout from tariff shake-up

Indiana mentors: ‘Curfew alone won’t cut it’

Hoosiers' medical bills under state review

IN parents seek better transportation, more funding for student success

IN tenants bound by evictions can pursue confidential records

IN ends era of nonpartisan school boards

IN factory braces for end of EV tax breaks

IN students weigh politics, mental health factors for college choices

IN men face hidden mental health struggles

IN ethanol industry is robust but criticism is surfacing

IN diabetes diagnoses trend toward younger adults

IN college sports ban on trans athletes starts July 1

IN homebuying hopefuls face supply, demand, price shock

$8 billion at stake for Indiana in Congress' budget fight

'Jubilee Day' was honored before Juneteenth in 1800s Indiana

Proposed budget could drive up Indiana power bills

Report: Slow insurance responses, weather affect IN home coverage costs

Hoosiers reject crowns and chaos at 'No Kings' protest

IN residents watch direction of Trump spending bill amid state budget cuts

IU Police Academy signs on to Deaf culture training

Indy Pride turns 30, refuses to be quiet

New report shows gains and gaps for Indiana kids

Survey: IN businesses benefit from offering Pride merchandise

Purdue Global grads make Indiana legal first

Indiana’s degree cuts threaten access for working adults

Indiana women get new start on college from behind bars

Indiana urges families to act early on signs of autism

Study shows marriage habits straying from traditional patterns