Happy Friday!
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb gave a message of support Thursday as he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials in the war-torn country’s capital of Kyiv, Tom Davies of State Affairs reports. Also, Brian Howey offers his analysis of state and national contests heading into the final weeks of campaigning. — Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs
Holcomb visits Ukraine, says cost of peace pales in comparison to cost of war: “I will say that the cost of peace pales in comparison to the cost of a wider war in Europe that would require NATO direct intervention, that would require men and women that wear the uniform outside of Ukraine to enter,” Gov. Holcomb said during a news conference with a regional Ukrainian governor. (Davies, State Affairs)
Post-Labor Day political race analysis: With the November election just two months away, Brian Howey of State Affairs provides his take on the political dynamics in play statewide and at the national level.
STATE
Federal judge grants limited injunctive relief for families in attendant care lawsuit: A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction ordering the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to arrange in-home skilled nursing care for two medically fragile children impacted by changes made this year to the state’s Medicaid waivers. (Meeks, State Affairs)
Leadership change coming for Gaming Commission: The Indiana Gaming Commission will join other state agencies seeing leadership changes as Executive Director Greg Small steps down and General Counsel Dennis Mullen becomes acting executive director. (Davies, State Affairs)
BMV decides 2nd license branch closure this year: The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has decided to shut down its Griffith license branch in Lake County in the second such branch closure this year. (Davies, State Affairs)
Lilly Endowment earmarks $50 million for Indiana State Parks: Lilly Endowment awarded the Indiana Department of Natural Resources a $50 million grant to improve Indiana State Parks. (Meeks, State Affairs)
Rural education, workforce groups apprehensive about new diploma requirements: Not-for-profits that work with school districts and businesses in rural counties say they worry about access to transportation and whether there will be enough businesses willing to teach students to make work-based learning work. (Mazurek, Inside Indiana Business)
16 communities get USDA funding to grow their urban tree canopies: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources selected projects for the more than $2 million in federal funding that will go to assist cities in planting and maintaining their trees, developing tree inventories and hiring and educating employees. (Thiele, WFYI-FM)
Secretary of state sponsors competition for Hoosier students to design ‘I Voted’ stickers: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales announced he invited young Hoosiers to participate in the I Voted Sticker Contest. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)
Today: Marion County court to hear arguments over terminated pregnancy report lawsuit — An anti-abortion group is suing the Indiana Department of Health over its decision to stop sharing individual terminated pregnancy reports, while the state argues the reports fit the definition of medical records, which are exempt. (Ruhman, Lakeshore Public Media)
Burns Harbor port unveils new $6 million dock; expects to bring more business: Ports of Indiana on Thursday unveiled a new $6 million dock that will serve ocean vessels at Burns Harbor in Portage. (Wilkins, Post-Tribune)
Purdue lands $35M federal grant for K-12 program: Purdue University has received a nearly $35 million grant — its sixth-largest federal grant ever — to continue a program that helps K-12 students prepare for college and careers. (Dick, Inside Indiana Business)
National survey: IU named 2nd-worst public university for free speech — Indiana University is among the lowest-ranked universities for student free speech and open inquiry in the U.S., according to a new survey-based ranking by the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Rosenzweig, The Herald-Times)
LOCAL
Madison Council rejects solar farm zoning: The Madison City Council voted 4-3 to follow the recommendation of the city’s plan commission and reject zoning changes that would have helped clear the way for development of a 1,000-acre solar industry on the city’s hilltop. (Campbell, Madison Courier)
‘All the children are not well’: Group calls for South Bend school superintendent to be fired — A small local nonprofit pointed to claims that South Bend schools fail to serve kids as it called for the firing of Superintendent Todd Cummings and departure of school board members. (Dits, South Bend Tribune)
Cambridge City discusses ending fluoride addition to water supply: Ken Risch, Cambridge City’s superintendent of public works, expressed concern over long-term consumption of fluoride in the water supply. (Weaver, Richmond Palladium-Item)
Sexual harassment claims continue to plague Hogsett administration: Indianapolis City-County Council members of both parties are insisting Mayor Joe Hogsett needs to clean up his administration following new allegations of sexual harassment. (Blanchard, MirrorIndy)
Columbus Area Visitors Center starts digital marketing education program: The Columbus Area Visitors Center announced the launch of a free digital marketing education program aiming to help local businesses promote themselves and contribute to the success of Bartholomew County as a tourist destination. (East, The Republic)
CONGRESS
Banks hosts summit to promote defense industry growth in northeast Indiana: U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., hosted the Northeast Indiana Defense Summit at Purdue University Fort Wayne, attracting about 260 business and government leaders. (Green, The Journal Gazette)
Mrvan supports blocking US Steel sale: “National security is my number one priority and is not a partisan issue, and should this sale be blocked I would applaud the action of the [Biden administration] to protect this critical industry from foreign ownership,” U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., said in a statement regarding the potential sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)
Yakym sends letter about protest encampments to 136 universities: U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., announced he sent a letter “to the presidents of 136 colleges and universities pressing them on the steps they plan to take to ensure anti-Israel encampments are not established on their campuses during the 2024-2025 academic year.” (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)
Congressional schedule: The Senate and House are out.
CAMPAIGNS
McCormick outlines plan to improve sexual harassment reporting in Indiana government: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick released her ethics plan, which seeks to improve sexual harassment reporting throughout all levels of Indiana government. (Meeks, State Affairs)
Dubois County Councilman Daryl Schmitt wins GOP caucus for Senate seat: Dubois County Councilman Daryl Schmitt captured a majority on the second ballot in the caucus at Jasper High School and will fill the final two years of Mark Messmer’s Senate District 48 term running through the November 2026 election. (Davies, State Affairs)
McCormick, Braun release 1st general election TV ads: McCormick and Republican Mike Braun hit the television airwaves with their first ads of the general election season. (Dwyer, IndyStar)
Yakym joins Americans for Prosperity in rollback gas prices event: U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind., spoke at an event sponsored by Americans for Prosperity that featured gas for $1.45 a gallon at a station in Mishawaka. “What I want to do is to continue to work in Washington to restore these prices permanently, not just for two hours,” he said. (WNDU-TV)
Report: Messmer refuses to debate in 8th CD race — Republican candidate Mark Messmer has raised nearly all the campaign cash in the 8th Congressional District race — over $1 million, far more than Democrat Erik Hurt of Evansville or Libertarian Richard Fitzlaff. (Langhorne, Courier & Press)
PRESIDENTIAL 2024
Trump says Musk has agreed to run proposed ‘government efficiency commission’: Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he would establish a “government efficiency commission” if he wins in November, and billionaire ally Elon Musk would lead the effort. (The Hill)
White evangelicals waver after Trump’s shifts on abortion: For anti-abortion activists, Trump’s shifting rhetoric over the past two weeks has been particularly fraught. (Politico)
NATION
Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax charges: Hunter Biden released a statement after pleading guilty to nine federal tax charges, saying he did so to “spare” his family from being “publicly humiliated” by a trial. (Fox News)
White House schedule: President Joe Biden will travel in the afternoon to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he will deliver remarks about the Investing in America agenda. Afterward, he will fly to Wilmington, Delaware. Vice President Kamala Harris is in Pittsburgh, where she will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff.