Indiana
Key moments from the first GOP debate for Indiana governor – Indianapolis Business Journal
All six Republican candidates for Indiana governor gathered onstage Monday night at The Palladium in Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts and attempted to set themselves apart from the crowded field.
In a 90-minute debate hosted by Current Publishing, the candidates discussed topics including the future of education, the emergency powers of the governor, ballot initiatives and state versus local control. Just more than 500 people attended the event, which was free to attend but required an online reservation.
The candidates largely agreed on most issues. They were united on the importance of parental involvement in education, limiting the emergency powers of the governor and maintaining Indiana’s status as a state without ballot initiatives.
But they disagreed on which candidate would be best to implement a conservative agenda and they frequently took shots at their opponents.
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who has more than $4 million in cash on hand and the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, received the brunt of the critiques from his competitors.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, another top contender, fielded critiques for her time under Gov. Eric Holcomb. Former Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers defended his actions as head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. as opponents criticized decision made involving the the LEAP Research & Innovation District in Boone County.
Curtis Hill, the former Indiana attorney general who in 2020 received a temporary law license suspension after a court ruled his alleged groping of four women at a work-related party constituted misdemeanor battery, focused on fighting far-left ideas. In his opening remarks, he said the nation is currently watching a “manipulation of justice, weaponization of race and sexualization of children.”
Eric Doden, a Fort Wayne businessman and former president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., championed what he calls a “bold,” approach to redeveloping main streets to revitalize small towns.
Braun attacked as “career politician”
While Braun proudly cited his five years in the Senate as proof of a proven conservative record, his opponents took multiple opportunities at using it against him.
“I was marveling at the recitation of the wonderful things you’ve done in the Senate, and I applaud you for that,” Hill said. “Makes me wonder why you’re running for governor.”
“If you like me as senator, you’ll like me better as governor,” Braun responded.
Braun referred to chaos at Capitol Hill, stating that he will be more effective when he is able to set his own agenda.
Chambers brought up the point again in a later rebuttal, referring to earlier comments by Braun that targeted career politicians.
The pair went back and forth on how long Braun has served as a politician before Braun responded that he spent nearly 40 years building his business, Meyer Distributing, before running for U.S. Senate. He was a state representative for three years prior to his successful 2018 Senate campaign.
Crouch attacked for Holcomb administration decisions
Crouch touted the endorsement of hundreds of local officials and plans to “axe” the Indiana state income tax. For her opponents, her service alongside two-term limited Gov. Eric Holcomb made her a target.
Hill said the Holcomb/Crouch administration was responsible for shutting down schools and workplaces in a manner that was unnecessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everybody on this stage is going to say ‘no more mass mandates, no more vaccination mandates,’” Hill said, “But, in 2020 as attorney general, I stood alone to fight back on mass mandates. We’ll do it again.”
Crouch said she supported Senate Bill 234, which limits the governor’s abilities to extend emergency powers. She defended her past support of pandemic restrictions by saying Hoosiers were lied to by the federal government and Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the president.
She said she can’t go back and change the past, but would have no mask mandates or vaccine requirements. She attributed the lockdown to increases in the rate of mental illness among teens.
Chambers defends LEAP, IEDC
Chambers, the former head of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., received several short jabs due to his involvement in orchestrating the LEAP project.
Hill said the LEAP District is the state government “picking winners and losers” and criticized the Boone County project for its need to take water from neighboring Tippecanoe County.
Braun said Chambers “didn’t even get the water quotient figured out” during his three years leading the IEDC.
Doden called the project the kind of “top-down, state-driven approach” that is the opposite of community-based growth he says is needed in the state of Indiana.
Chambers defended the development by referring to its potential economic benefits, including investments exceeding a trillion dollars and thousands of jobs.
“The state of Indiana and the governor’s office need to lead in a global tech economy,” Chambers said.
He turned the water issue on Crouch and Doden, noting that even though they both were involved in state government, he was the first to authorize a water study.
Indiana football’s Curt Cignetti raises concerns over costs
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is speaking out on rising roster costs. Cignetti says players should get paid, but universities can’t handle it.
Josh Hoover is replacing a guy who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana football to a national championship. No pressure there, right?
Being the guy who replaces the guy brings Hoover the distinction as the top college football transfer entering the 2026 season, according to Billy Tucker of ESPN.
The Hoosiers have four players on this 100-player list, three of them in the top 20.
According to the story: “Each player is ranked based on a team’s need and what physical skill set they bring to their new team.”
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Need: “With Fernando Mendoza off to the NFL and backup Alberto Mendoza having transferred to Georgia Tech, the Hoosiers needed another experienced passer capable of sustaining College Football Playoff expectations in Bloomington. Indiana has become one of the portal’s premier destinations for quarterbacks, and Hoover, who transferred from TCU, is next in line after Kurtis Rourke and national champion and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.”
Value: “Hoover gives (coach) Curt Cignetti extensive experience, skill and production after throwing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns at TCU. He is a confident gunslinger who thrives pushing the ball vertically and operating within RPO concepts. His swagger and aggressiveness should unlock explosive plays through the air, albeit with some volatility. Hoover has 42 career turnovers and only one season without double-digit interceptions.”
No. 11: Nick Marsh, Indiana wide receiver
Need: “Marsh is a proven No. 1 receiver as the Hoosiers transition to a new era at the position after Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt moved on to the NFL. They couldn’t afford to wait on a younger, more projectable receiver. Marsh instead is a ready-made top target and established focal point. He should be the clear primary receiving option.”
Value: “A former ESPN 300 recruit, Marsh led Michigan State in receiving in back-to-back seasons, totaling 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-3, 203 pounds, he brings Big Ten-ready size paired with vertical speed, allowing him to win downfield and on contested 50-50 opportunities. He is effective as a deep threat and as a physical receiver who can work through contact. Cignetti saw Marsh’s ability up close. He had 12 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns across two games against Indiana, reinforcing his ability to elevate the passing attack immediately.”
No. 18: Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana edge rusher
Need: “Adding Osunsanmi, a Kansas State transfer, will help Indiana reload for its national title defense. The Hoosiers lost Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, creating a clear need along the defensive front. Osunsanmi is an ideal plug-and-play addition. The versatile pass rusher should translate fluidly to defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme.”
Value: “Osunsanmi suffered a season-ending injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season, but he flashed during the spring, creating havoc up front. He brings a strong combination of speed and power to pressure offensive tackles. His power allows him to play stout at the point of attack, set the edge or walk blockers back into the backfield to collapse the pocket. He also has the quickness and agility to win on loops and stunts, along with a motor that shows up in pursuit outside the box.”
Need: “The Hoosiers lost their two leading rushers from last season’s championship team with running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, who combined for 2,160 yards, off to the NFL. Though they return two other productive backs in Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr., they also added production in the transfer portal with Richard, a Boston College back with a scheme-fitting skill set. The 5-8 rusher didn’t have many Power 4 offers out of high school, but one of the first programs to offer him was James Madison when Cignetti was at the helm.”
Value: “Richard had a very productive season in 2025 with 749 yards on the ground. He has a compact build that helps him play with a low center of gravity and the ability to break tackles. His running style is patient as he has a good feel to cut off the backside of blocks. He runs behind his pads and finishes runs with good demeanor. As a receiver out of the backfield, he also provides a reliable checkdown option. Cignetti noted that he liked what Richard did this spring as he will have the opportunity to be impactful and a reliable option at running back for an Indiana team that is looking to repeat.”
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Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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GASTON, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was accused of sexually assaulting a young homeless woman in a barn.
According to WXIN, 34-year-old Dale E. Bosworth was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a homeless 18-year-old woman in a barn after the two connected through social media.
WXIN reported that Bosworth picked up the woman on May 24 while visiting Kokomo, Indiana, and brought her back to his home after seeing a Facebook post in which she said she had no money and nowhere to stay.
Court documents obtained and reviewed by WXIN state that Bosworth and his wife picked up the woman in a truck around 10 p.m. and drove her to their home. The woman stayed the night and was later offered $100 to perform work in a barn in Delaware County.
According to WXIN, Bosworth drove the woman to a friend’s barn in Gaston, Indiana. While the two were alone, Bosworth allegedly asked if she wanted to “fool around.” The woman told law enforcement she did not respond to the question. Bosworth then allegedly began rubbing her back and unzipped his overalls.
WXIN reported that Bosworth is accused of sexually assaulting the woman until he heard a noise near the barn. He later allegedly told his friend that the woman was refusing to work and that he needed to take her back to his home.
During the drive back to Marion, Indiana, the woman used the “Texty” app to contact Grant County 911 and reported that she had been raped, according to WXIN.
Authorities in Grant County then contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies later located and stopped Bosworth’s vehicle, per the report.
While being questioned by investigators, Bosworth reportedly admitted that the woman had stayed at his home. Court documents reviewed by WXIN state that he spent “well over 20 minutes” explaining how he came to be alone with the alleged victim while denying any sexual contact.
When asked whether his DNA would be found on the woman’s body, Bosworth allegedly admitted to certain sexual acts. According to WXIN, he told investigators that the woman “did not say yes or no” when he asked her to undress and engage in sexual intercourse, but claimed she “looked at him” when he asked.
Authorities said Bosworth later admitted to portions of the assault after initially providing false statements and reportedly told investigators that “cops freak him out,” according to the report.
Bosworth was arrested and charged with the following, per WXIN:
According to WXIN, investigators determined that Bosworth knowingly and intentionally caused the woman to submit to sexual conduct, which constitutes rape under Indiana law.
He is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail, WXIN reported.
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