Indiana
Ballot initiatives won’t fix Indiana government. Here’s what will. | Opinion
The winning side of ballot initiatives typically outspends opponents by millions.
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It is campaign season for Indiana’s chief elections officer. Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales has become a lightning rod for public anger over the perceived unresponsiveness and corruption of our state government. Some of his opponents have suggested citizen-led ballot initiatives would help fix that.
Indiana does not allow citizen-led ballot initiatives to change the state constitution. Instead, the legislature must pass proposed amendments as resolutions two years in a row.
In theory, Indiana’s system of so-called “legislative referendums” should limit the ability of corporations with deep pockets to take advantage of voters. However, many people no longer trust the state government to safeguard the process.
It would be easier and more effective to fix that by reforming the legislature rather than making the constitutional changes needed for citizen-led ballot initiatives.
Ballot initiatives would open the door to more lobbyist control
“People feel disconnected with our government in Indianapolis right now,” Beau Bayh, who is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for secretary of state, told me. “They feel like it’s unresponsive to their needs … I have faith in the people of our state to decide the biggest issues of the day.”
Blythe Potter, a Democrat, and Jamie Reitenour, a Republican, are also running for secretary of state. Both also support citizen-led ballot initiatives.
“We will never have a perfect system,” Bayh added. “Even if we don’t have the citizen-led ballot referendums, which I’m in favor of, corporations and wealthy individuals are still going to contribute to our legislators.”
IndyStar’s Marissa Meador, in fact, recently reported on the cozy relationship energy company lobbyists and donors have with several state legislators. Lobbyists spent over $729,000 this year to develop relationships with legislators and millions more to get them elected.
Ballot initiatives, however, have less stringent regulations than traditional political campaigns.
“Ballot measures are commonly associated with weak political parties, dark money, national single interest groups and disregard for centuries old deliberative legislative process,” Lindsey Eaton, a spokesperson for Morales, told me. “Indiana has a well-functioning republic form of government. We trust voters to elect representatives that will govern in their best interests.”
That is largely true. Charitable nonprofits are allowed to contribute to ballot initiative campaigns and are not required to disclose their donors. Social welfare nonprofits, which can include political advocacy, face no limitations on contributions to ballot initiative campaigns.
A quick analysis of ballot initiatives passed in 2023 shows the winning side frequently spent millions more.
In Ohio, a recent ballot initiative to enshrine protections for abortion in the state constitution was an extreme example of corporate influence over public questions. The Sixteen Thirty Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Open Society Policy Center, all based outside of Ohio, donated a collective $10.8 million to support the ballot initiative. In total, supporters of the initiative raised $19 million more than opponents.
Bayh blamed the influence of money on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.
“I share your concern, just like most Americans, just like most Hoosiers about the role that money plays in our politics,” he told me. “The Supreme Court has decided … that corporations have First Amendment rights to involve themselves in these things. I can’t change that as the secretary of state.”
Voters don’t understand ballot questions
Money aside, it is unrealistic to expect the average voter to understand most public questions.
David Shelton, a Republican challenging Morales for the secretary of state nomination, told me the author of a referendum can shape voters’ perception of the issue through confusing word choices.
“People would vote for it, not realizing that they removed the cardinal as the state bird and … voted in the stink bug,” Shelton said.
If you look at Indiana’s last 15 legislative referendums, voters haven’t rejected one since 1990. The most controversial one since then came last year, when only 54% of voters supported eliminating a state office that no longer existed from the line of gubernatorial succession.
I worked at the state Senate at the time and several friends told me they had no idea about the public question beforehand and had no idea what it was asking in the voting booth. Studies suggest that’s a common experience.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only 24% of legislative referendums and 30% of initiatives have failed nationwide since 1990. If you look solely at attempted constitutional amendments, only 22% of legislative referendums and 17.7% of initiatives have failed since 1990.
Studies have shown low-information voters tend to vote yes on ballot initiatives that are easy to understand and no on ballot initiatives with complicated wording.
Big spenders opposing initiatives also have a clear advantage: Research shows it’s far more effective to attempt to persuade voters to reject a measure than to support one. Even small changes in how a question is worded or where it appears on the ballot can significantly affect the outcome.
Bayh acknowledged these concerns but suggested there are ways to fix the problem.
“If it is possible to have some type of bipartisan or nonpartisan group that looks at these ballot measures before they go in front of people, it would be a great thing,” Bayh told me. “Let’s work these in a fair way. Let’s get support from people on both sides of an issue with the wording of things and make everyone comfortable with it.”
That bipartisan or nonpartisan group responsible for safeguarding the process, in theory, is the Indiana General Assembly, but the control of party leadership over the legislature admittedly makes it difficult for even broadly popular legislation to pass.
Advocates for representative government should reform the legislature instead
An easier fix to unrepresentative government would involve reforming our legislature. Unlike citizen-led ballot initiatives, many proposed ideas would not require a constitutional amendment.
For one, legislative committee chairs could be elected by committee members, rather than by party leaders. That would make them less accountable to party leaders and lobbyists and more accountable to the committee members they serve.
On many occasions, legislation passes either the Indiana House of Representatives or Senate with wide support, only to not receive a hearing in another chamber because of one committee chair.
Sometimes this leads to public outrage, such as when Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, held up an immigration enforcement bill this year. Other times, bills die without much controversy.
Committee members could be held accountable to the legislature as a whole if individual legislators were able to bypass the committee entirely through a discharge petition.
These petitions usually require the signature of a majority of legislators in a given chamber and would bring legislation directly to the chamber for consideration.
This is possible in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a petition was recently filed by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, to release the Epstein Files.
Many supporters of citizen-led ballot initiatives sincerely view them as a way to bypass the perceived corruption of elected officials. They are unlikely to succeed anytime soon, though, and would be better off advocating for reforming the legislature.
If legislators want to regain public trust, they also have an incentive to make themselves more accountable to their constituents.
Contact Jacob Stewart at 317-444-4683 or jacob.stewart@indystar.com. Follow him on X, Instagram and TikTok.
Indiana
Why Caitlin Clark went back to Indiana Fever locker room in season opener
Caitlin Clark explains what she learned from injury in Indiana Fever season
Caitlin Clark spoke for seven minutes on the opening day of Indiana Fever training camp. Here’s what she learned from an up-and-down season, and more.
INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark has some new strategies to help keep her loose throughout games, and one garnered a lot of attention in the Indiana Fever’s season opener against the Dallas Wings.
Saturday was Clark’s first regular season WNBA game since July 2025, when she suffered a right groin injury against the Connecticut Sun. She was limited to just 13 games last season because of various injuries that compounded and lingered throughout the season, including to her left groin, right groin, left quad, and ankle.
Clark, who finished with 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes, went back to the Fever’s tunnel twice throughout the 107-104 loss, and she said postgame it was just to get her back readjusted. It’s something new for the Fever star after she missed most of last season because of various injuries, but she didn’t report any major issues with her back.
“It gets out of line pretty quickly,” Clark said. “It’s just that, getting my back put back in place a little bit, but other than that, I feel great.”
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Clark also started wearing a heat therapy pad on her back as well when she’s on the bench, but that doesn’t automatically mean an injury, either. Former Fever player Natasha Howard wore one while sitting on the bench the entire 2025 season, and she did not miss a game.
These back issues, Fever coach Stephanie White said, shouldn’t keep her out of the game.
“We wouldn’t have played her 30 minutes if she wasn’t OK,” White said.
Clark’s response postgame came after ABC’s commentators reported in-game that trainers were working on Clark’s hip flexor and groin area — the same that kept her out of most of the 2025 season. When asked about ABC’s in-game report, White said: “That would be the first time I’ve heard that.”
Fever communications staff added that they did not provide an official update to ABC on why Clark left for the tunnel, so everything reported on the broadcast in-game was speculation.
“I think it’s just part of maintaining the body,” White added of the tunnel trips. “… I mean, look, when we’re all really young, we don’t learn proper mechanics, and then it doesn’t get exposed until something happens, and we’re trying to get her body mechanically the way it needs to go. This is gonna be an ongoing thing, and not just her. We’ve had multiple players who have gone back, and we don’t have a blue tent, right, but they’re gonna go back and get it adjusted and make sure that the body’s working.”
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
Indiana
6 Best Towns Near Indianapolis For Retirees
The six towns below all sit within a two-hour drive of downtown Indianapolis, close enough for a quick trip into the city, far enough that housing money goes considerably further. Each one brings something specific to the trade. Frankfort pairs lower-than-state-median home values with a small-town pace and an 18-hole course right next to its top assisted-living campus. Connersville has a working heritage railroad running through downtown and a population where nearly one in five residents is already over 65. Greenville, just over the Ohio line, splits the difference between Indianapolis and Dayton and still keeps a Main Street that earns the name.
Frankfort, IN
About 40 minutes from Indianapolis, Frankfort is one of the best blends of senior resources and affordability around the capital. Rent comes in well below the average inside Indianapolis city limits per Zillow, and home values sit below the state median. Combined with healthcare at IU Health Frankfort Hospital and senior living communities like Wesley Manor, independence in retirement is realistic here.
Things happen at a slower pace, which might be just the speed a senior is looking for in a new community. The historic downtown holds shops and eateries like the locally loved Downtown Diner. For golf, Frankfort Commons Golf Course is a well-maintained 18-hole course right next to the Wesley Manor campus.
Crawfordsville, IN
Crawfordsville sits roughly 55 minutes from downtown Indianapolis and offers an affordable alternative for retirees who want some distance from the city. The proximity keeps seniors connected to a wealth of resources when they’re not using in-town options like emergency and specialty care at Franciscan Health Crawfordsville or social programming at the Crawfordsville Community Center. The cost of living here runs 10% below the national average per the Economic Research Institute, with rent and home values below the state median.
Cultural life is a big draw, much of it tied to Wabash College’s programming. The town was also the home of Lew Wallace, who wrote Ben-Hur, and residents can dig into that history at the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. Outdoor options include Turkey Run State Park’s views and trails or Sugar Creek Nature Park’s nearly 64 acres for birdwatching.
Shelbyville, IN
Shelbyville sits about 35 minutes from downtown Indianapolis. Its centuries-old architecture is a draw, and its commitment to senior living is solid. Ashford Place Health Campus is a top-tier assisted living facility with a life enrichment team on site. Healthcare is conveniently placed via the Indianapolis proximity, with smaller clinics in town for specialty and short-term care. Home values run below the state median per Zillow.
To see the ‘Streets of Old Shelby,’ visit the Grover Center Museum and Historical Society. The free attraction has storefronts from the early 1900s, including a bank, post office, and saloon. The Historic Strand Theatre opened in 1916 and still plays films, hosts concerts, and works as a community gathering spot. A few miles away, Horseshoe Indianapolis offers horse racing and casino games for anyone wanting a livelier change of pace.
Connersville, IN
Connersville has long been a solid option for seniors, which is probably why nearly 20% of the population is over 65. The town sits about an hour and 15 minutes from Indianapolis, a reasonable drive for those commuting regularly. The cost of living offsets the distance, falling below the national average across most categories. If assisted living becomes a need, places like Hickory Creek promote independent living with various levels of assistance.
Standing here since 1813, Connersville blends history and nature for retirees ready for a slower pace. The historic downtown district has a few protected properties, including the Canal House, a museum focused on Fayette County’s history. The Whitewater Valley Railroad runs along the historic Whitewater Canal on diesel locomotives with a direct connection to Metamora. Connersville is also a gateway to Brookville Lake, with 25 miles of shoreline and access for fishing, camping, and hiking.
Greenville, OH
Crossing into Ohio, Greenville sits about an hour and forty-five minutes from Indianapolis and only about 50 minutes from Dayton. The cost of living runs below the national average, including a $650 a month median rent that comes in below what people pay in Indianapolis. Connection is another big draw, starting with Wayne HealthCare’s facilities, which now include a helipad and robotic technology for orthopedic surgeries. For assisted living, Trustwell Senior Living at Oakley Place is a top option.
Greenville works for seniors looking for an American Main Street town. Local history is on display at the Garst Museum & National Annie Oakley Center. The historic downtown has many protected facades and shops including the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe, which has been there since 1934. Greenville also hosts the Great Darke County Fair in August, with entertainment, showcases, rides, and harness racing.
Richmond, IN
About an hour and 15 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, Richmond is one of the most cost-effective and connected options on the entire list. The general cost of living runs below the national average and below Indiana’s average. Reid Health’s campus covers emergency, cardiovascular, orthopedic, and vascular care. The town has multiple senior amenities including Springs of Richmond and the Friends Fellowship Community for retirees who need more attention as they age.
Richmond has historical depth from several angles. Wayne County’s evolution gets the full treatment at the Wayne County Historical Museum, housed in an old Quaker house from the 19th century. Richmond was also home to Gennett Records, a recording studio that produced songs for Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke, now honored at the Gennett Records Walk of Fame. The arts side runs through the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center, with a packed performance calendar from Richmond’s own professional symphony.
Towns near Indianapolis can mean greater savings for seniors without giving up the resources of the big city. Each of the six places listed brings something different, whether it’s the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shoppe in Greenville serving loose meat sandwiches since 1934 or riding the rails on refurbished diesel locomotives from downtown Connersville.
Indiana
Thief takes game store’s valuable Pokémon cards
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A business owner on the city’s south side on Friday morning reported a theft, saying a person stole thousands of dollars’ worth of Pokémon cards from his store.
Security footage captured the suspect breaking into Grandmaster Games and targeting valuable card collections.
The thief gained entry by breaking through a window and immediately went to a display case containing high-value cards.
The suspect bypassed six other display cases, making a direct route to the owner’s private collection, which included a One Piece card alone worth approximately $12,000. Other stolen cards are valued between $5,000 and $6,000 each.
Alex Bradshaw, owner of Grandmaster Games, said many people underestimate the value of such collectibles. “People think ‘cardboard,’ not really worth a lot. Except for these instances where a bunch of stuff gets taken. You can see the suspect trying to break into the display case, but couldn’t get it open.”
Bradshaw described the suspect’s actions inside the store. “He came over here to where our Pokémon cases are, and he smashed one of our cases that had our ungraded cards. Took the top row of those and moved on to graded cards.”
Approximately 60 Pokémon cards were stolen during the break-in, with their total value estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000. The suspect was inside the store for only about five or six minutes.
Bradshaw thinks the suspect had prior knowledge of the store’s layout due to the targeted nature of the theft. “Because if you aren’t familiar with my store, you wouldn’t necessarily know to go to this display case because this has stuff of value.”
Grandmaster Games has been in business for about a decade, and it’s the first break-in the store has experienced.
Following the theft, Bradshaw is reconsidering how he displays his valuable collection. “I don’t know if I’m going to completely take this display down because there’s a lot of cool nostalgic stuff from the last 20 years — especially the Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! items. But the manga collection is definitely going into the safe. I realize having this stuff out makes me a target.”
With the PopCon Indy convention underway during the weekend at the downtown Indiana Convention Center, Bradshaw was concerned the stolen cards could easily be sold or concealed among other merchandise.
Despite the significant loss, Bradshaw has expressed a desire not to press charges. He attributes the theft to potential desperation and indicated he would rather offer assistance than punishment. “Nobody steals because they want to. They steal because they need to. Most of the time, people are at the end of the rope. They want something easy, which you can’t blame them for wanting something easy. If you need some help, most of us are willing to help one way or another.”
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department encouraged anyone with information regarding the theft to contact them.
Bradshaw said he simply wants his cards returned.
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