Indiana

Indiana’s congressional delegation is getting a much-needed shakeup – Indiana Capital Chronicle

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

Indiana’s congressional delegation is getting a much-needed shakeup – Indiana Capital Chronicle

Representative government in Indiana will look drastically different next year. Or will it?

Four of the state’s nine U.S. House members from Indiana will not seek reelection this year. Districts currently represented by Reps. Larry Bucshon, Jim Banks, Greg Pence, and Victoria Spartz will all get new House members next year. The question is: How will that matter?

Congressman Jim Banks (Official portrait)

None of these departing members spent any time, to quote “Hamilton,” in “The Room Where It Happens.” None chaired a committee or were on track to do so. I consume an abundance of national media on Washington politics, and only in the rarest of circumstances would any of these soon-to-be retirees appear there.

Now, media appearance frequency is no way to measure value, but extended periods of radio silence should cause people back home to wonder: Is my representative representing me?

The one exception here is Banks. He had been viewed as a reliably conservative voice from the beginning of his time in the House, and the state Senate before that. But his overt and abrupt decision to join the sycophancy of former President Donald Trump, was his strategy for brand growth. And it worked, sort of.

Banks chaired the hyper-partisan Republican Study Committee, and then ran for the position of Majority Whip shortly after the GOP won control in the 2022 election. But he was narrowly defeated by Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota in his quest to get into “The Room.”

U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, of Columbus. (Official portrait)

Talk about dodging a bullet! In the history of the U.S. House, there has never been a more inept example of leadership. All kinds of embarrassing “firsts” have occurred since the Kevin McCarthy era began. Banks’ presence would not have changed that. Leading this group is an impossible task. So, losing his quest allowed him to keep much of the slop from that pigsty off of his brand.

But the slop that is now the feature of the Banks brand is grievance, particularly any Trump grievance. This is all he is now. He doesn’t have any other platform.

GOP advantage

All four of these “open” seats in Congress are in districts with maps that have been drawn to advantage Republican candidates. The most ethnically diverse district among them is the 5th, where merely 82% of the district is white. In that district, Republicans have an eleven-point advantage, before candidates even file to run.

And this is the most competitive district among them.

Spartz currently holds this seat. She announced last February that she would not run for reelection, though reports as recently as December indicate she is reconsidering, something she often does. But because of her announcement a year ago, there are nine Republican candidates and one Democrat who are campaigning for the seat. Good.

Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (Official portrait)

There is similar competition for Indiana’s 3rd District, the district Banks currently represents. There are nine Republicans and three Democrats running there. Good.

But in Indiana’s 8th District, left open by Bucshon’s retirement, no Republican has filed to run yet. In Indiana’s 6th, being left open by Pence’s retirement, one Republican has filed, though it is hard to see that an actual campaign has begun. There are Democrat candidates in both districts, but again, these districts are near 20-point advantages for Republicans.

The primary is what matters most in all four of these districts, three months from now. And in two of them, voters have no idea who is running in them. But again, I ask: How will it matter?

Primary matters

My position is that it won’t.

It has been a long time since Indiana sent someone to Congress who excelled at driving an important agenda. We have a school at Indiana University named after them: Rep. Lee Hamilton and Sen. Richard Lugar. Both chaired their chamber’s committees on foreign affairs, Hamilton in the 1990’s and Lugar in the 2000’s. Both were looked to for guidance on those issues before then and for long afterward.

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (Official Congressional Portrait)

In the 1970’s, Indiana Senator Birch Bayh became the first person since James Madison to author more than one amendment to the U.S. Constitution, authoring both the 25th and 26th Amendments.

Hoosier members of Congress don’t have to rise to prominence like these three statesmen did to “matter.” However, our members have been comfortably seated in the back row of the House for a long time now, and that is getting old.

When the contest for representation only exists during a primary, the seat will only attract the most partisan candidates. It reduces campaigns to the foundational choice of being partisan or not. And in today’s congress that choice is synonymous with being either deranged or unelectable.

Enjoy the May primaries in these four districts, Indiana. They are certain to be much ado about nothing.

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Related Topics:Banks bucshon Congress democrat districts Featured gop House open seats Pence republican spartz

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Indiana

International academy proposes tennis center in Noblesville

Published

3 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

International academy proposes tennis center in Noblesville

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — An international tennis training group wants to open a facility in Noblesville, and the City Council on Tuesday night introduced the proposal.

Mouratoglou Tennis Center hopes to open a new academy at 14469 Olio Road for upcoming and professional athletes in September at the Deer Creek Business Park, located just off I-69 northwest of The Arena at Innovation Mile and east of Ruoff Music Center.

Just before the council meeting, the business and the Hamilton County city’s government announced the proposal in a news release.

News 8 reached out to the city government and the business to find out how much will be spent on the tennis center, and whether any government incentives were to be issued. Those questions are ones that could be asked during a public hearing for the project at 6 p.m. April 20 before the Noblesville Plan Commission.

The Noblesville tennis center would feature six indoor tennis courts, eight padel courts and four indoor futsal pitches, the release said. Construction would scheduled to begin in May, the release said. The facility would hold a soft opening in August, with a full opening expected by September.

Joyceann Yelton with the Noblesville Planning Department told the council that an existing building next to the roundabout at East 146th Street and Olio Road would be refurbished as part of the project.

Patrick Mouratoglou, a coach for more than 25 years, founded the tennis center, with the flagship being in France. Others are in China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malaysia and Mexico. In the United States, there are centers in California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas. Mouratoglou previously coached Serena Williams.

Mouratoglou said in a statement, “Bringing Mouratoglou Tennis Center to Noblesville is an exciting step in our international expansion. What makes this project truly special is the ambition of the city to build a complete sports ecosystem where performance, education and community come together.”

The new academy will join several other major sports and wellness projects in the area: The Arena at Innovation Mile, which serves as the home for the Indiana Pacers G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom; and the future site of the USA Gymnastics Training and Wellness Center and headquarters. Additionally, The Arena was recently selected to host the 2027-2031 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

In July, the Noblesville government announced Gared Performance Sports Systems, a maker of institutional-grade sports equipment, would be coming to the 45-acre Deer Creek Business Park by August.

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Indiana

Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

Published

15 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One person was taken to the hospital Monday night after a shooting near the canal in downtown Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded just before 8 p.m. to a shooting in the 300 block of West 9th Street. That’s an address within the 9 on Canal apartments near North St. Clair Street and West Senate Avenue.

Officers entered an apartment building and found a male who had been shot. He was taken to Eskenazi Health in stable condition.

A police report obtained by News 8 identifies the suspect as a male.

Police did not say what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.

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Indiana

Does this diner serve the biggest pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Does this diner serve the biggest pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?

EDINBURGH, Ind. (Amazing America) — Is a trip to the Hoosier state complete without digging into a massive Indiana-style breaded pork tenderloin sandwich?

The Edinburgh Diner, a classic small-town joint about 40 minutes south of Indianapolis, serves up a delicious version of the staple that just might be the biggest one out there.

Drawing locals and road trippers alike, the menu at this cozy diner focuses on classic comfort food, with burgers, fries & onion rings, hearty breakfast spreads, and hefty portions of homestyle dishes — all for an affordable price.

The Edinburgh Diner’s 16-ounce behemoth of a pork tenderloin sandwich costs just $9.99.

The recipe is pretty simple overall, but there is a whole culture built around the Indiana pork tenderloin sandwich.

A large piece of pork is pounded super thin, then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, it’s served on a basic hamburger bun with toppings like pickles, onions, mustard, or mayo.

The thing the otherwise no-frills sandwich iconic is the pork cutlet being way bigger than the bun, hanging over the edge dramatically. Locals say that if the tenderloin fits inside the bun, it’s not done right.

A crispy, salty exterior, tender pork, a soft bun and tangy toppings combine to form a simple yet beloved, satisfying Midwest meal.

Inspired by European schnitzel brought to the Midwest by German immigrants, the sandwich made its Indiana debut at Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington in the early 1900s. Over time it skyrocketed in popularity, becoming what many call Indiana’s unofficial signature dish.

It’s not just a sandwich. It’s a slice of Midwestern food culture. The debate over who makes the best one might never be settled, but until then, we are more than happy to try any and every version of this scrumptious dish — for research, of course.

The Edinburgh Diner is located at 413 S Eisenhower Dr, Edinburgh, Indiana 46124. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Mondays.

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