Indiana
Indiana Supreme Court case mulls whether counties can strip health insurance from elected officials • Indiana Capital Chronicle
Are elected officials entitled to health insurance regardless of the number of hours they work?
That question is before the Indiana Supreme Court, who heard arguments in a Perry County case Thursday that could have statewide implications for local officials.
The case began after the Perry County commissioners discontinued health insurance coverage for certain part-time county employees in June 2023. A Perry County councilman, Keith Huck, sued and sought an injunction to keep his insurance. He works about nine hours a month, according to evidence in the case.
A local judge granted Huck’s injunction, but the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed. The appeal to the Indiana Supreme court is interlocutory, meaning it is occurring while the case is ongoing.
“This court should declare that local unit elected officials who work less than 30 hours a week should be part-time employees for purposes of group health benefits,” said attorney Maggie Smith, representing Perry County.
“Exempting all local unit elected officials from being considered part-time employees will have such a drastic fiscal impact on the public’s fisc that such an exemption should be the result of a public policy decision of the Legislature, and that has not happened yet,” she added.
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She argued that state law gives local units the right to not offer health insurance to part-time employees and that’s what Perry County did when facing a fiscal crisis.
The decision impacted 12 of the 21 local elected officials they deemed part-time, including the Perry County commissioners who made the decision.
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush pointed out that state law says elected county officials are not required to report hours and can’t determine or change compensation based on the number of hours worked. She asked if insurance is part of compensation.
Smith said it isn’t part of compensation at the county level and said counties are allowed to exempt part-time employees from health care benefits. She also acknowledged confusion between statutes.
“I agree with you that these statutes, as is sometimes the case, are not the pillar of clarity, but the answer to that in this case is precisely why this court should not create rights that have such a significant financial impact,” she said.
Justice Geoffrey Slaughter said county council members on the same board could work different hours and therefore one could be eligible for insurance and the other not. Supreme Court Justice Mark Massa also noted there are elected county prosecutors in smaller communities that might not meet 30 hours a week.
Attorney Robert Burkart, representing Huck, said a county can choose not to offer insurance at all, but if they do, then elected officials have a right to participate.
Slaughter questioned that contention: “Essential to your argument is that the county cannot treat elected officials as part-time employees. But where does it say that?”
Burkart said justices must look at a progression of statutes from 1957 to 1990 and to a non-binding attorney general opinion from 1978.
“Basically, the General Assembly giveth and only the General Assembly can taketh away from elected officials if the insurance is offered,” he said.
The court also has to consider whether Huck losing county-paid insurance counts as irreparable harm that would require an injunction. Smith said Huck could have gone on COBRA insurance or bought a plan on the marketplace.
But Burkart said the plans would have different levels of protection and there would be continuity of care issues.
But Slaughter said Huck can receive damages at the end of the case if he wins to cover his losses.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
WEST LAFAYETTE — Indiana football is firmly in control of the Old Oaken Bucket.
The No. 2 Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) beat Purdue 56-3 on Friday night at Ross-Ade Stadium to keep the trophy in Bloomington for a second straight year.
Indiana has put together consecutive wins against the Boilermakers that rank among the most dominant pair of victories in the history of the series.
This is the first time in eight decades the Hoosiers have held their rival without a touchdown in two straight games. Their margin of victory in the wins (119 points) is the most in program history and third most all-time for either team.
The other games on the list? Those happened back in the 1890s.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has fueled the Hoosiers recent success, but he took a measured approach when talking about the current state of the rivalry.
“The fact that we’ve outscored them like we have, it’s just a fact where we are at and where they are at right now,” Cignetti said. “They are going to get better, there’s no doubt in my mind that they are going to get better. Coach (Barry Odom) is going to do a great job of improving that roster and coaching that football team, they sort of hit rock bottom, it timed up with my arrival.”
Odom steered clear of addressing the rivalry head on as well. He thanked the fans for supporting the team throughout the 2025 season even though they didn’t give them much to cheer about.
“I’ll get it fixed,” Odom said.
The game on Friday night showed he had a long way to go as did the makeup of the crowd. By the final whistle, the sections behind IU’s bench were completely full of fans decked out in crimson.
“I think we pretty much took over the stadium tonight,” Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “This game, this rivalry, means a lot to former players, alums and fans, everybody included in Indiana football. When you travel like that, it can feel like a home environment at times, it’s special.”
Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.
The Indiana Hoosiers face the Purdue Boilermakers in this Black Friday college football matchup at Ross-Ade Stadium.
How to Watch Indiana vs Purdue
- When: Friday, November 28, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Live Stream: Peacock (watch now)
The Hoosiers come into this rivalry showdown riding one of the greatest seasons in program history. Indiana is 11-0 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten, ranked No. 2 nationally in the College Football Playoff rankings. With a win tonight, Indiana could complete its first-ever perfect regular season and punch a ticket to the conference championship. Offensively and defensively, they’ve been elite with their offense averaging over 40 points per game this year, and their defense allowing one of the lowest points-per-game marks in the country.
On the other side, Purdue enters at 2-9 (0-8 in the Big Ten), having lost nine straight games. The gap between the two teams in terms of consistency, depth and momentum is massive, not helped by the fact that last season Indiana crushed Purdue 66–0, the worst loss in series history for the Boilermakers. That said, rivalry games often carry a different kind of intensity, and Purdue, now under a new head coach, may push hard for pride and a spoiler-upset, especially playing at home under the lights at Ross-Ade Stadium.
This is a great college football matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
Live stream Indiana vs Purdue on Peacock: Start your subscription now!
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It’s Thanksgiving weekend and the WRTV weather team has broken down, by county, what to watch for as snow is set to hit several parts of Central Indiana. We likely start out Saturday dry then snow fills in around midday. Temperatures will be close to the freezing mark, so it is likely we switch over to a rain snow mix. Most in Central Indiana will pick up a few inches of snow with higher totals north and more of a rain/snow mix south. It will be a heavy wet snow so it will compact as it falls
HEADLINES
- Winter Storm Watch from I-70 north
- Main impacts Saturday afternoon and evening
- Changes to rain for most late Saturday/Early Sunday
BOONE
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 3 to 6 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
HAMILTON
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 2 to 5 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
HANCOCK
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 2 to 4 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
HENDRICKS
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 2 to 4 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
HOWARD
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 3 to 7 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
JOHNSON
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 1 to 3 inches before changing to rain
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
MARION
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 1 to 4 inches
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
MONROE
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 1 to 3 inches before changing to rain
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
MORGAN
Winter Storm Watch
Main impact: Saturday afternoon and evening
Snowfall: 1 to 3 inches before changing to rain
Winds: Gusts up to 25 mph
To see more counties, click here to be taken to our Weather Alerts page.
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