Indiana
Child tax credit is one way to aid Hoosier families • Indiana Capital Chronicle
The winter holidays are past but we can still focus on the love and family that comes with that time of year. Despite political divisions that attempt to sow discord, we all have a similar goal: the security and well-being of our families.
Hoosiers recognize the importance of putting family first, and want the next generation to have opportunities to prosper. For the thousands of households with children across Indiana, that means giving our youngest Hoosiers – the future leaders, entrepreneurs, and workers of 2040 – a strong foundation to build good lives.
Even amidst our shared vision of prosperity for our children, many Indiana families lack opportunity for their children. Indiana has consistently underperformed relative to Midwest neighboring states when comparing child poverty rates, and currently 16 percent of Hoosier children live in poverty. Even more startling, one in five Hoosier children lacks adequate nutrition and experiences hunger. That’s a total of 285,070 children– more than the entire population of Fort Wayne.
We often see these as mere statistics, but what these unfortunate metrics really show is that parents across Indiana are struggling. They’re worrying about how to pay this month’s rent while trying to be present for the most precious moments. They’re choosing between keeping their children fed and keeping the heat on. More than half of them are worrying about having to miss work because they don’t have diapers to send to daycare with their child.
Tools at our disposal
In the face of these obstacles, we do have policy tools at our disposal that can help families build and maintain financial security. Indiana currently provides parents an income tax exemption for each of their children, but the maximum state income tax relief being provided to an Indiana family with a newborn is $122 – and this drops to a maximum of $76.25 for each older child. When compared with the annual cost of diapers at about $1,000 per child, not to mention childcare costs that range between $7,000 and $25,000 per child, this small tax exemption is clearly not sufficient to offset the financial burdens parents are facing. We owe it to Hoosiers to provide more robust tax relief for families with children, especially young children in their most vulnerable years of life.
Implementing a Child Tax Credit (CTC) at the state level in Indiana is one key way we can alleviate these financial strains unique to raising children. Parents may already be aware of the federal CTC, which offers taxpayers up to $2,000 in tax credits per child. Studies have indicated that the federal Child Tax Credit is associated with decreases in childrens’ food insecurity, increases in mental health outcomes for households with children, and lower poverty rates overall. At the state level, sixteen states from Utah to Maine have already enacted their own state-level CTC policies. While the specifics of the credit type, amount, and eligibility criteria vary state to state, those that have adopted their own CTCs have seen significant reductions in child poverty. Just as we build our homes on a strong, stable foundation, we can use tools like a Child Tax Credit to bolster Hoosier families’ economic security and well-being.
When former U.S. Sen. Dan Coats introduced the first version of a Child Tax Credit at the national level back in 1995, it reflected a quality about his constituents that remains true today: Indiana is a family state. We must support the Hoosiers who build their families here so that we can have communities with foundations of prosperity and economic stability.
Now more than ever, when we come together and talk about our hopes and dreams with our loved ones, we are reminded that there is so much more that unites us than divides us.
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Catch everything that went on at day 1 of the Indiana Comic Convention
Day 1 of the 2025 Indiana Comic Convention is in the books. IndyStar reporter John Tufts gives you an inside look of everything that went on.
Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage is making his U.S. comic con scene debut, appearing at the Indiana Comic Convention this week.
Fans can meet Cage and get an autograph or photo with him during the June 5-7 event taking place at the Indiana Convention Center.
The appearance marks Cage’s first at a U.S. comic convention. The 62-year-old actor, who has starred in movies spanning romance, action and superhero genres over more than 40 years, appeared at the Osaka Comic Convention in 2025.
Cage’s Indiana visit comes after the May 27 release on Prime Video of “Spider-Noir,” the live-action superhero series he leads. He voiced the character in the 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” and will reprise the role in 2027’s “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.”
Among his other superhero genre movie roles are Big Daddy in “Kick-Ass” and Johnny Blaze in Marvel’s Ghost Rider franchise. He was set to star in director Tim Burton’s scrapped Superman movie in the 1990s. Fans finally got to see him on the big screen as the Man of Steel when he cameoed in “The Flash” in 2024.
Cage, whose movies have grossed more than $6.4 billion, also starred in “National Treasure,” “The Rock,” “Face/Off,” “Con Air,” “Valley Girl,” “Raising Arizona,” “Adaptation” and “Leaving Las Vegas,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.
“Nicolas Cage is one of the most accomplished and recognizable actors in the world, and to have him choose Indiana Comic Convention as his first fan convention is huge for fans and a tribute to the reputation they’ve built for treating celebrity attendees with so much love and respect,” show producer Dan Farr said in an announcement of the appearance.
Watch ‘Spider-Noir’ on Prime
How much is a Nicolas Cage photo op?
Indiana Comic Convention features celebrities, authors, comic creators and exhibitors that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and fandoms, including comic books, magazines, toys, games, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel.
In-person Nicolas Cage autographs will cost $400. Photo ops are $250. A pre-signed autograph is $225. A photo op/pre-signed autobiography bundle is $450.
Tickets and photo ops are available now at indianacomicconvention.com.
Contact reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky:@cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
Monday, June 1, 2026 3:34AM
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) — A northwest Indiana family is safe thanks to the heroic actions of a Hobart police officer.
Adam Zormier rescued a woman and four children from a burning home.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
ABC7 talked to Zormier, who told us he was on patrol in Hobart on Sunday when he noticed heavy black smoke in the air.
He discovered it was coming from the windows and roof of a house in nearby Merrillville.
A Good Samaritan helped him knock on doors. When there was no answer, he forced his way in.
Zormier was treated for smoke inhalation. No one was seriously hurt.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
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