Indiana

Carmichael vs. McCray: Two Democrats vie to face off against Banks in U.S. Senate race • Indiana Capital Chronicle

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2 weeks ago

April 29, 2024

Carmichael vs. McCray: Two Democrats vie to face off against Banks in U.S. Senate race • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Third District Congressman Jim Banks has been running for the Senate like he has an opponent, and primary voters on May 7 will give him one.

Two Democrats want the nomination — Marc Carmichael and Dr. Valerie McCray — both of whom said that reinstating abortion rights and tackling ongoing immigration issues are among their top priorities, if elected.

Still, it’s been more than a decade since Hoosiers sent a Democrat, Joe Donnelly, to the U.S. Senate.

McCray, a clinical psychologist, is championing mental and reproductive healthcare, emphasizing that her work in the field, as well as her “personal and up close experiences as a female,” make her best suited to tackle policy solutions on those topics.

A former state lawmaker and longtime lobbyist, Carmichael said he’s looking to model himself after Indiana’s senior U.S. Sen. Todd Young and find bipartisan solutions to issues affecting Hoosiers.

“My whole political career I spent working with Republicans, making friendships with Republicans that I’ve maintained to this day, and I think we’ve got to get back to that if we’re ever going to get things done and quit these culture wars that we have now,” Carmichael said. “I just do not want someone out of that ‘chaos caucus’ in the U.S. House, like Banks, to be my United States senator. That means I’ve got to run.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana speaks at an event Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Banks, a GOP favorite who has already spent nearly eight years in Congress, has a multimillion-dollar campaign war chest and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Even so, both Democratic contenders said they’re confident they could win over Banks in this November’s general election. Hoosiers, they said, are looking for someone more moderate and less “extreme.”

“I think Jim Banks is focused on divisive issues. How do we round people up? How do we make them angry? How do we make them feel that someone else is getting something that they are not, that somehow they’re being shorted?” McCray said. “There is, I believe, so many more commonalities among people. I can unite all these groups, regardless of whatever their political signage is.”

Banks is unopposed in the Republican primary after Seymour egg farmer John Rust was removed due to Indiana’s two-primary rule. Also confirmed on this fall’s general election ballot is Libertarian Andrew Horning, who was selected as the party’s candidate during its annual convention last month.

The Senate seat is being vacated by Republican Mike Braun, who is currently vying for the GOP nomination in Indiana’s gubernatorial race.

‘Uniting’ Hoosiers and increasing healthcare access

McCray first launched a Senate campaign two years ago. She didn’t get enough voter signatures to make it on the ballot, however, calling the signature campaign “a horrendous, complicated task.”

But this time around, McCray said her grassroots team was “relentless,” having learned from past runs “how not to get distracted and where to go for signatures.” She reached the 4,500 signatures needed “with time to spare.”

Federal campaign finance data shows Carmichael raised nearly $112,000 through mid-April. McCray has raised a little more than $14,000. Banks has raised more than $4.1 million this election cycle so far. There are no federal reports on Horning’s Senate fundraising as of mid-April.

“Every time I do these campaigns, it’s a financial sacrifice for me. It leaves me struggling, usually. And then I have to get into gear to make that up,” said McCray, who also ran a brief campaign for president in 2020. “But I’m thankful for that process because it makes me remember what my constituents are going through.”

She was working within several Indiana prisons when she initially made the decision to seek federal office.

“So many things I was seeing in there were going wrong,” McCray said, in part pointing to mistreatment of transgender inmates. “We need someone in office that is really sensitive to these issues — that are sensitive to the mental health issues.”

Although immigration isn’t “top of the list” for McCray, she said “it gets in the way of things that should be … like our schools and our medical care system, and addressing climate change.”

Immigration is important for me because it’s in the way of reasonable conversations to get the whole society going.

“In Indiana, we need migrant workers to help with our farming, to help with some of the infrastructure things — we’re using these people to get our economy rolling. But yet, still, we have this conversation that is so negative,” she said. “Immigration is important for me because it’s in the way of reasonable conversations to get the whole society going. Let’s speed up the process to make sure that people are safe coming over … and let’s move onto other things.”

McCray said the “Israeli-Palestine issue” is among those other topics.

“What’s going on now feels cruel, one-sided. It feels like we’re not holding the values of both people equally,” she said. “It would have been so nice to get a two state solution. I don’t know if we can go back to that. My goal is to make sure that we can try to heal that situation and find a solution. But in the meantime, we’re not going to be able to find a solution if we don’t stop the killing.”

Seeking return to elected office

Although retired from politics, Carmichael said he was compelled to run for the open Senate seat after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

“I have four granddaughters … and now, they don’t have the same rights that their moms and their grandmothers had for 50 years,” he said. “I’ve got to do something about that.”

Carmichael said his Indiana Statehouse resumé is a testament to what he can accomplish in Congress. He additionally pointed to his first race for the Indiana House in 1986, when he was up against J. Roberts Dailey, then the Republican House Speaker.

“He was sitting in a 60% Republican district, and no one thought that I could beat him. Starting in July with a cheap little brochure, I went door to door because I didn’t have any money, but I had the time after work. I would spend a couple of hours each evening in the precincts, handing out that brochure and getting to know people,” Carmichael said. His shoe leather campaigning helped him secure an 18-point margin — “a huge upset” — over Dailey that fall.

I just do not want someone out of that ‘chaos caucus’ in the U.S. House, like Banks, to be my United States senator. That means I’ve got to run.

– Democratic hopeful Marc Carmichael

“The perception is that statewide in Indiana, Democrats can’t win. And yet I’ve been in that situation before, and I know the only thing you can do is just work and go places and meet people and make speeches,” Carmichael continued. “I know what’s ahead of me. I know how to do that.”

In the U.S. Senate, he would quickly seek to work on banning the sale of assault weapons, requiring universal background checks for those purchasing firearms and enacting a national “red flag” law to ensure guns don’t end up in the wrong hands.

“We need to try and do what we can to affect gun violence and mass shootings that occur and are enabled by the purchase of assault weapons,” Carmichael said.

“Immediate action on global warming” is also high on his to-do list, along with affordable housing, especially in rural regions, and a “Medicare for All” plan, so “everyone has access to medical care — especially our our LGBTQ youth, who are being used as political pawns by rightwing Republican legislatures.”

With the Democratic nominees for president and governor already effectively secured, Carmichael said he’s hoping that Democrats still show up for the primary and cast their votes in the Senate race.

“I want to defend our democracy against Trumpism. Banks is a Trumper, through and through, and I just can’t imagine how bad things could get if Trump and Banks were elected at the same time, along with Braun and (Indiana Attorney General) Todd Rokita,” Carmichael said.

“This is a campaign that is going to be dominated by women and people who support women coming out to vote,” he continued. “If they come out in the way I think they’re going to come out, and if the people who are upset about gun violence come out, and if the people who are upset about global warming come out, and if the people are concerned about our LGBTQ youth come out, and people who are concerned about democracy or housing — if all those groups come out and vote the way I think they’re going to vote, then I think I’ll be just fine.”

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Indiana

Bellarmine Transfer Langdon Hatton Commits to Indiana

Published

2 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

Bellarmine Transfer Langdon Hatton Commits to Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana added another piece to the frontcourt on Wednesday by landing transfer Langdon Hatton.

what’s good hoosiers⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/abQEuWxd8c
— Langdon Hatton (@LTbuckets) May 15, 2024

Hatton is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward who spent the last two seasons at Bellarmine after beginning his career with one season at William and Mary. Hatton is an Indiana native, having grown up in Georgetown, Ind. and graduating from North Harrison High School in Ramsey, Ind., near Louisville, Ky.

As a junior in 2023-24 at Bellarmine, Hatton averaged 10.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 48% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range (15 for 45) and 67.5% from the free throw line. He started 31 games and played 27.8 minutes per game for a Bellarmine team that went 8-23 and finished last in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Now Hatton joins the Hoosiers with one year of eligibility. He’s Indiana’s fifth transfer portal addition of the offseason and sixth overall newcomer on coach Mike Woodson’s 2024-25 roster, joining Washington State guard Myles Rice, Arizona center Oumar Ballo, Stanford guard Kanaan Carlyle, Illinois wing Luke Goode and five-star freshman wing Bryson Tucker.

Those players replace graduating Hoosiers Xavier Johnson and Anthony Walker, Kel’el Ware, who entered the NBA draft, and transfers CJ Gunn (DePaul), Kaleb Banks (Tulane) and Payton Sparks (Ball State).

Most of Hatton’s scoring came around the rim last season, with 7.2 2-point attempts per game. But he also proved to be a capable 3-point shooter, attempting 1.5 per game. He ranked 10th in the Atlantic Sun in defensive rebounding percentage, 12th in block percentage and 15th in offensive rebounding percentage.

Hatton had five double-doubles in 2023-24. He scored a career-high 27 points at Kennesaw State, making 11-of-17 shots from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range. His career-high 17 rebounds came in a win over Boyce College.

As a sophomore in 2022-23, Hatton started six games and came off the bench in 27. Across 12.8 minutes per game, he averaged 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58% from the field.

Bellarmine Knights forward Langdon Hatton (12) shoots the ball against Louisville. / Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Hatton began his career at William and Mary, where he averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 14.8 minutes per game. He started six games and came off the bench in 24.

Malik Reneau returns to Indiana for his junior year in 2024-25 after averaging 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as the starting power forward. Ballo figures to start alongside Reneau in the front court, following two seasons as a first-team All-Pac-12 center at Arizona. Hatton provides depth behind them, and Indiana could also play Mackenzie Mgbako and Luke Goode at power forward in smaller lineups.

Here’s a look at Indiana’s roster after the addition of Hatton.

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Indiana Wesleyan names dean of business school – Inside INdiana Business

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8 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

Indiana Wesleyan names dean of business school – Inside INdiana Business

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Andy Hughes (photo courtesy of Indiana Wesleyan University)

A senior executive with the AAA Hoosier Motor Club and an alum of Indiana Wesleyan University has been named dean of the university’s DeVoe School of Business, Technology, and Leadership. Andy Hughes began his new role April 29.

As chief innovation officer of the 450,000-member central Indiana automobile association, Hughes helped spearhead strategy and innovations, including the launch of a mobile tire replacement program, a text-alert partnership that warns drivers of upcoming roadside repairs underway, and employee training and professional development.

”Dr. Hughes is the right person to lead the DeVoe School because of his real-world experience as a strategic and innovative business executive and his ability to translate industry needs into academic programs,” university President Dr. Jon Kulaga said in a news release. “We are looking forward to his positive impact on the business school.”

Hughes worked for 30 years at AAA, where during his tenure he helped lead a 100% increase in business line revenue and improved customer-service rankings, the university said.

“I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity to serve as the Dean of the DeVoe School of Business, Technology and Leadership and to work with my colleagues as we continue to re-imagine business education and its applications to today’s environment,” Hughes said in the release.

Hughes earned a doctorate in business administration and management from IWU in 2022. Earlier in his career, Hughes was a pastor at Zion Community Church of the Nazarene outside Bloomington.

The hire reflects the latest step by the university to refocus its approach toward business education through IWU-National & Global, the arm of the university that administers its online platform and 11 regional centers in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Over the next few months, the university said it will continue to recruit experts in business, marketing, technology and organizational leadership, develop new degree programs and forge key workforce partnerships.

“Dr. Hughes’s arrival coincides with our efforts to build on our deep history of online education success by re-calibrating the DeVoe experience for students seeking skills for today’s workplace and for employers who demand an innovative workforce,” Dr. Eileen Hulme, chancellor of IWU-National & Global, said.

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Indiana State basketball is in complete rebuild mode. Meet the 8 new Sycamores players.

Published

16 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Press Room

Indiana State basketball is in complete rebuild mode. Meet the 8 new Sycamores players.

Indiana State basketball fans will always remember the 2023-24 season. But that’s all that’s left — memories. The coach and team that rejuvenated the Hulman Center are gone.

Josh Schertz left for Saint Louis. Robbie Avila and Isaiah Swope followed. Jayson Kent and Julian Larry transferred to Texas. Ryan Conwell landed at Xavier. Masen Miller picked North Dakota State. Augustinas Kiudulas chose VMI. Jake Wolfe and Xavier Bledson graduated.

Only Aaron Gray, Jayden Daughtry, Derek Vorst and Cooper Bean remain from last year’s NIT runner-up team. Bean redshirted and the other three combined for 6.1 points per game last season.

New coach Matthew Graves has been busy on his root-and-branch rebuild adding eight new players so far. Here’s a look at who Sycamores fans will need to get to know ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Merritt Alderink, F, Zeeland, Mich.

Alderink committed to the Sycamores when Schertz was in charge and stuck with the Sycamores after Schertz left for SLU. Ranked the No. 3 player in Michigan in the 2024 class, per 247Sports, the 6-6 Alderink checks in as a three-star prospect and No. 64 power forward in the class. He led Zeeland West to the best season in program history, with district and regional titles, and earned Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Best of the Best and Detroit Free Press all-state honors this season.

Picked ISU over offers from Kent State, Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and others.

Bobby Cannon, F, Lewisville, N.C.

Cannon originally signed with New Orleans to play for Mark Slessinger. After 13 years at UNO, Slessinger decided to return home to Indiana and joined Graves’ staff as associate head coach. Cannon followed the coach to Terre Haute.

“Bobby is a dynamic player with a dynamic personality,” Slessinger said when Cannon signed with UNO. “He plays with great energy and passion. With his size at 6-10 his ability to shoot the ball and spread the floor is tremendous. He has great skill level offensively handling and passing the ball beyond scoring.

“His length also gives him opportunities defensively to change a lot of shots.”

Cannon averaged 11 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a junior. Before committing to UNO, he had offers from East Carolina, Old Dominion and Winthrop.

Tyran Cook, Milwaukee (VMI)

He started 23 of 32 games last season as freshman for the Cadets, averaging 12.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. A 6-2 guard, he shot 34% from behind the arc. He scored a season-high 28 points vs. Chattanooga on Feb. 8 when he went 6-of-6 from deep.

He graduated as Waukesha South High School’s second all-time leading scorer (1,913) and rebounder (650) and he finished second in the state in the high jump.

Markus Harding, F, Toronto (Central Michigan)

A 6-10, 255-pounder, Harding averaged 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and shot 53.3% from the field last season for the Chippewas. He junior forward started 39 of 46 games over the past two seasons. He hit 21 3-pointers at a 30% clip in 2022-23, but saw that number shrink to just seven 3s at a 19% rate last season.

He arrived at CMU via Eastern Florida State College by way of Toronto after only starting to play basketball at 14 years old.

Jahni Summers, G, Evansville, Ind. (Coffeyville Community College)

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference freshman of the year, Summers averaged 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds a game and shot 37.1% from 3, earning second-team All-KJCCC honors. He also had offers from Appalachian State, Eastern Kentucky, UC Riverside, Winthrop, IU Indianapolis, FGCU and others.

A standout at Evansville Harrison, schools contacted him or his coach weekly. Division II programs couldn’t believe he didn’t have more offers. Division I schools wanted to watch his film. But between the transfer portal and the extra year granted because of the pandemic, no one provided him a chance.

“I had to come to the realization that it takes time,” he told Courier & Press reporter Kyle Sokeland in 2022. “Patience is something I had to go through. I’m just letting it sink in day by day. Trying to be in the gym every day and go hard.”

Samage Teel, G, Greenville, N.C. (Presbyterian)

Teel started 21 of 32 games for Presbyterian last season as a junior, averaging 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He shot 41.5% from behind the arc, with 54 makes from deep. The 6-2 guard scored over 20 points five times last season, finishing last year with a season-high 28 points in a CBI first-round loss to Montana.

He started his college career at Winston-Salem State, scoring 594 points over two seasons. In high school, he helped lead Farmville Central to two North Carolina state championships.

Camp Wagner, G, Dallas (Rice)

A 6-6 guard, Wagner played in 18 games last season as a freshman for the Owls, averaging 3.5 minutes a game (1.2 points). Coincidentally, he scored a career-high 11 points against… yup, you guessed it, Indiana State, hitting three 3s.

He played at Link Prep Academy (Mo.) where he averaged 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a senior.

Jayan Walker, G, Raleigh, N.C.

A 6-6 combo guard out of Charlotte’s Combine Academy (N.C.), Walker had offers from Marshall and Georgia State, and added new offers from Utah State and Kennesaw State. He was offered by Indiana State on April 22, visited campus on May 3 and committed May 4.

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