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Indiana isn’t a battleground state. But national Dems want to help break GOP supermajority

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Indiana isn’t a battleground state. But national Dems want to help break GOP supermajority


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The state Democratic Party will be getting some help from Washington D.C. in its effort to break the Republican supermajority at the Indiana Statehouse.

The Democratic National Committee told IndyStar it is investing nearly $70,000 to help the state party’s goal of flipping at least four open House seats this year, with a particular focus on Central Indiana.

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“The DNC is committed to re-electing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, and, as President Biden has made clear since his inauguration, Democrats must also win up and down the ballot and strengthen organizing across all fifty states,” said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “Today’s announced investment in the Indiana State Democratic Party shows that priority in action.”

More: As Central Indiana’s suburbs grow, Democrats see an opportunity in November elections

With their 30 members in a 100-member House, Democrats don’t have the power to stop legislation, even if some Republicans break with their party ranks. House Democrats are hoping at least four more seats could change that dynamic in the House.

Breaking the Republican supermajority in the Senate, where Democrats only hold 10 of 50 seats, would be more challenging.

State party officials and Democratic candidates have been traveling the state this spring and summer in what they call a “Break the Supermajority Tour,” which has included town halls with potential voters in Fort Wayne, West Lafayette and Carmel.

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The money from the DNC will go toward voter database technology and supporting organizing staff in Central Indiana, where some open seats are.

These include seats being vacated by retiring Reps. Jerry Torr and Donna Schaibley, Republicans from Carmel; and state Reps. Chuck Goodrich, R-Noblesville, and Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, who both left to run for Congress. A total of eight Statehouse incumbents are not seeking reelection this year.

The DNC says it has been ramping up its annual investment in state parties by 25% each year, with a round of investments this year being the largest in DNC history. Since the midterm elections in 2022, the DNC has invested more than $500,000 in Indiana.

“There’s no secret that the presidential campaigns don’t compete here really. They don’t need our electoral votes,” Schmuhl said. “I have heard from candidates and party faithfuls over the years that wish the national party would do more. This is a sign that the national party is doing more.”

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The state party believes this is a near-term, attainable strategy toward its longterm goal of bringing more political balance to the statehouse. Democrats haven’t elected a statewide candidate since Sen. Joe Donnelly in 2012.

“It is my firm belief that our state legislators are the backbone of our political parties,” said caucus director Megan Ruddie. “When we talk about change in our politics, it starts with these state legislative seats.”

Breaking the supermajority won’t be easy. In addition to flipping four House seats, Democrats would need to fend off challenges to incumbents in potentially competitive districts. That includes Democratic Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, whose district covers parts of Carmel, Fishers and northern Marion County; and Democratic Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, who was recently chosen by a caucus of Democrats to represent the Jeffersonville area.

Ruddie draws encouragement from the national political climate, in which the Republican party is splintering over the reign of Donald Trump’s politics. While some political observers say one shouldn’t read into former presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s showing in Indiana during the primary, others think it’s a bellwether of dissatisfaction with Trump that could affect down-ballot races. (Haley won 22% of the vote statewide, and 34% in Hamilton County, despite having withdrawn from the race.)

“I do not think the ballot Republicans built on primary day is appealing to the majority of Hoosiers,” Ruddie said. “I think Niki Haley voters screamed that loud and clear.”

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The election is Nov. 5.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X:@kayla_dwyer17





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Indiana police find semi trailer loaded up with nearly 400 pounds of cocaine: troopers

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Indiana police find semi trailer loaded up with nearly 400 pounds of cocaine: troopers


CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WKRC) – Authorities in Indiana found a semi trailer loaded up with hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine.

According to a statement issued by the Indiana State Police (ISP), 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California was taken into custody after nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine were reportedly found in the trailer of a commercial truck.

Per the statement, an ISP trooper seized the suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, authorities said.

The stop occurred Tuesday morning near the 37-mile marker, just east of Cloverdale, after a commercial motor vehicle was observed exceeding the posted speed limit.

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Police said Singh displayed several indicators of possible criminal activity during the encounter. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers discovered multiple duffel bags and cardboard boxes in the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine.

Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at about $9 million.

Singh was taken into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.

He faces the following preliminary charges, per the post:

  • Possession of a narcotic drug

Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County prosecutor.

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Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a priority, with troopers focusing on major highways to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the state.



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Op-ed: Healthy rural communities strengthen all of Indiana

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Op-ed: Healthy rural communities strengthen all of Indiana


For many Hoosiers living in rural Indiana, accessing health care can mean driving 30 minutes or even an hour to see a doctor or reach the nearest hospital. As workforce shortages and financial pressures challenge rural hospitals across the country, ensuring access to care close to home has become one of the most important health-care issues facing our state.

About one in four Indiana residents live in a rural community, yet access to health-care services in many of these communities continues to shrink. Across the nation, rural hospitals and clinics report extremely thin operating margins and often say workforce shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary care, maternity care and behavioral health.

When rural communities struggle to maintain health-care access, the impact doesn’t stay confined to small towns. It ripples across the entire health-care system, contributing to increases in chronic conditions, reduced preventative care for children, and worsening outcomes for the sickest patients.

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Communities such as Greater Lafayette serve as a regional hub for care, with hospitals like IU Health Arnett caring for patients from surrounding counties across north-central and west-central Indiana. That role is something we are proud to fulfill. But when rural residents must travel long distances for care that should be available closer to home, it places increasing pressure on emergency departments, specialty clinics and inpatient services at larger regional hospitals.

In many cases, what might have been a routine appointment, preventive screening or early diagnosis in a local clinic becomes far more serious by the time a patient reaches a larger hospital. A missed screening can escalate into a medical emergency.

That reality makes strengthening rural health care more important than ever — not just for rural communities, but for the health of the entire state.

One of the most important steps we can take is investing in the next generation of health-care professionals who will care for these communities.

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At IU Health, we are working directly with local schools and community partners to help build that workforce pipeline. Across the region, IU Health has partnered with the Greater Lafayette Career Academy and area school districts to introduce students to health-care careers earlier and provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring those careers to life.

Through these programs, students explore health-care pathways and earn certifications such as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or emergency medical technician while still in high school. Many participate in job shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences and mentorship programs, giving them valuable exposure to the field before they graduate. In fact, since the first cohort in 2023, IU Health has extended job offers to more than 70 students.

The goal is simple but powerful: help students see that meaningful careers in health care exist in their own communities and create pathways that allow them to stay and serve those communities.

For rural health care, this approach is critical. Students who train and develop personal mentorship connections locally are far more likely to remain in the region after completing their education. By helping young people build skills and connections early, we can create a sustainable workforce that strengthens health-care access in both rural communities and regional centers, including Greater Lafayette.

Since launching the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund in 2018, IU Health has invested more than $40 million in community grants supporting workforce development, education and school-based programs that build Indiana’s health-care talent pipeline. This includes funding for the Indiana Latino Institute, which placed Latino students in health-care internships, supported career pathways, and provided medical interpreter training and college coaching to communities across the state.

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Our goal is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation, and this is one way we work toward that in partnership with our communities.

But workforce development is only part of the solution.

Strengthening rural health care will also require continued collaboration between health-care providers, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Expanding telehealth access, supporting rural hospitals and investing in primary care and behavioral health services are all critical steps toward ensuring patients can receive care close to home.

Greater Lafayette will always play an important role as a regional health-care center, providing specialized care and advanced services for patients across a broad region. But the long-term health of Indiana’s health-care system depends on maintaining strong local access points for care in rural communities.

When rural clinics and hospitals can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions and connect patients with the services they need early, the entire system works better.

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Patients receive care sooner, communities stay healthier and larger hospitals can focus on the complex cases they are designed to treat.

Healthy rural communities do not just benefit the towns where they are. They strengthen Indiana’s entire health-care system by ensuring that every Hoosier — no matter where they live — has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.

When rural health care succeeds, all of Indiana benefits.

Gary Henriott is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and the retired CEO and Chairman of Henriott Group.  He is the chair of the IU Health West Region board of directors and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and president of Lafayette’s Board of Public Works and Safety. 



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Indiana mother charged with neglect after baby’s co-sleeping death

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Indiana mother charged with neglect after baby’s co-sleeping death


INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — An Indianapolis mother is now facing criminal charges after her 2-month-old baby died in an apparent improper co-sleeping environment, according to investigators.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX 59/CBS 4, police were called to an area hospital on Sept. 19, 2024, following the death of 27-year-old Brooklyn Davis’ son. The boy had been found unresponsive in his family’s home early that morning, and Davis attempted CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.

The affidavit says the boy had been sleeping on Davis’ bed with his 6-year-old brother. Davis later showed investigators a video showing the baby sleeping chest down on the 6-year-old’s chest.

An autopsy concluded the baby’s cause of death was “sudden explained death of an infant” with an intrinsic factor, which included being “placed to sleep in a queen-sized mattress being shared with a 6-year-old sibling, along with numerous blankets and other miscellaneous items; discovered unresponsive in a prone position with his face turned to the side and partially covered with a blanket.”

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A report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) indicated the boy had no known health issues and that Davis ran an FSSA-licensed day care and has “extensive training on child care and safe sleeping environments.”

Davis had been known to DCS prior to the baby’s death. The boy had been born marijuana-positive and, on July 2, 2024, Davis had reportedly signed a “Safe Sleep Safety Plan,” acknowledging she understood that the safest places for her baby to sleep were in a crib, pack-and-play or bassinet and warned that co-sleeping places the baby at risk of suffocation and sleeping areas should be kept free of blankets, pillows and other items. The plan also included a provision that Davis not use marijuana while caring for her children, but she told investigators during an interview that, the morning of her baby’s death, she had gone downstairs to smoke marijuana and left the children alone upstairs.

Davis’ two other children were removed from the home, and interviews with them revealed that co-sleeping with the infant happened often.

Investigators say they attempted to contact Davis several times after talking to her children.

“She called me on February 18, 2025, and said she didn’t do anything wrong, her baby died of SIDS,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Brooklyn never came in for an additional interview.”

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Court records indicate the case was filed in March 2026. Davis was booked into jail on April 1 on three counts of neglect of a dependent. An initial hearing was held on April 7, and a bail review hearing is planned for Monday.



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