Indiana
Republican Mike Braun sworn in as 52nd Indiana governor alongside Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun delivers victory speech in Indiana governor’s race
U.S. Sen. and Indiana Governor-elect Mike Braun delivers his victory speech Nov. 5, 2024, at the GOP watch party at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
Indiana’s 52nd governor, Republican Mike Braun, was sworn into office today.
On both a family Bible and Hoosier President Benjamin Harrison’s inaugural Bible, Braun took the oath of office before a packed theater of public servants and politicos at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb watched from the front row, as did former Democratic Gov. Evan Bayh; Indiana’s two U.S. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks were also in attendance.
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush administered the oaths of office for Braun, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita.
In his first remarks as governor, Braun reflected on Indiana’s settler roots and said he wants to help Hoosiers continue to chart new paths.
“In the face of any challenge, Hoosiers have stepped up to take our state to unprecedented heights, and we’re not going to stop doing it,” he said. “Today, we face a new crossroads. We find ourselves seeking the same freedom and opportunity for which our ancestors journey here, and this time, we don’t have to travel far to achieve it.”
The ceremony was peppered with biographical odes to Braun: the national anthem sung by a glee club from his alma mater Wabash College, the Pledge of Allegiance recited by three of his seven grandchildren, and of course, a rendition of Back Home Again in Indiana by the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division Band.
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The Jasper businessman can officially say he’s occupied nearly every rank of government, from local school board to state representative, U.S. Senator and now, governor.
Most Hoosiers got to know Braun though his longshot bid for Senate in 2018, during which he bested two better-known candidates in the primary and defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the general. One of those primary opponents was Rokita, who on Monday stood beaming on the same stage as Braun, getting sworn in as Braun’s attorney general.
Before Braun’s Senate run, he served in the Statehouse as a representative for one term. His calling card is having led Meyer Distributing in Jasper as CEO for many years.
Braun’s first term as governor coincides with the inauguration of a second Donald Trump presidency ― to whom Braun owes some thanks, since Trump’s endorsement helped him rise above a competitive six-way primary last spring.
He won the November election with about 54% of the vote, 13 percentage points above his Democratic opponent, Jennifer McCormick.
Braun has promised to focus on kitchen-table issues such as addressing property taxes, reducing the costs of health care and growing the small-business economy during his time in office.
Along the theme of charting new paths, each of these issues made an appearance in Braun’s inauguration speech: Rather than “accepting high health care costs as inevitable,” for example, he wants to “take on the opaque system.”
Some of his loudest applause came at the mention of the upcoming inauguration of Trump.
“I am optimistic that the next four years see not only a change of leadership at the state and federal levels, but also a transfer of assumed power from the federal government back to the states,” Braun said.
Micah Beckwith is sworn in as lieutenant governor
Beckwith, the ticket-partner Braun didn’t choose, is likely to keep the culture wars in the conversation, even if Braun would rather not.
The two are inheriting an Indiana that’s made strides in attracting global investment but continues to lag the nation in quality of life measures like health and working wages. And they’ll lead a party that has fissures between moderate, establishment wing and a populist, anti-establishment wing that Trump helped cultivate.
How Beckwith ascended to power encapsulates that split: The delegates at the state convention chose him over Braun’s endorsed candidate. One big question of this administration will be whether these competing viewpoints will impact Braun’s execution of his agenda.
Beckwith is also a staunch believer in Christian nationalism, the idea that the workings of government should be inspired by Christian principles. He quoted lengthily from Christian scripture throughout his remarks following his oath of office, specifically a long passage from the book of Deuteronomy that lists the blessings God would bestow to people who obey him.
He used his limited time, though, mostly to preach a message of unity. Afterward, he received a standing ovation.
“In today’s polarized world, it’s easy to forget that we all share the same dreams for our families, for our communities,” Beckwith said. “We all want to see Indiana thrive.”
Rokita, too, is a willing front-line soldier in the culture wars. His remarks following his inauguration started off soberly, acknowledging the importance of serving justice blindly and fairly. It evolved into a stump speech ticking through the headline-grabbing fights.
“We will make Indiana a truly free state,” Rokita said, rattling off a list of topics that were met with applause: DEI and wokism, transgender participation in sports, immigration, mask and vaccine mandates, “where we can speak our own opinion, especially when it’s not politically correct or establishment-approved, without fear of losing our livelihood.”
This story will be updated.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.
(The REPORTER) — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 10, regarding a proposed corridor improvement project on State Road 32 in Hamilton County.
The hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to interact with the project team, review the features of the proposed roundabout project, and provide official public comment. Project documents are available for review at improvetomove32.com.
The project area is between East Street in Westfield and River Road in Noblesville. The proposed project includes adding lanes to accommodate two lanes in each direction, removing all traffic signals within the project limits, and constructing roundabouts at the following intersections with SR 32:
- Carey Road/Grassy Branch Road
- Gunther Boulevard
- Shady Nook Road
- Moontown Road/Gray Road
- Pebble Brook Boulevard
- Hazel Dell Road/Little Chicago Road
- Mill Creek Road
The hearing will take place at Prairie Waters Event Center, 4180 Westfield Road, Westfield. Doors will open at 5 p.m. to allow the public to view displays and talk with the project team. A presentation will be given at 5:30 p.m., with a public comment session held directly after. INDOT is offering livestreams of all public meetings and hearings. You must register here in order to participate in the livestream. Livestream audience comments will only be accepted in written electronic form, not verbally. A recording of the livestream presentation will be posted on the project webpage and INDOT YouTube page after the hearing and will be available for at least 90 days.
All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during and for a period of two weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered, and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation.
Written comments may be submitted within the comment period to Nick Batta, CMT, 8790 Purdue Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268; or sent via email to SR32HamiltonCounty@cmtengr.com.
INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by June 26.
A beloved tradition is drawing stitchers, shoppers, and curious newcomers across the region.
If you have ever walked into a quilt shop “just to look,” you already know how that story ends. One minute you are admiring a cheerful stack of fabric with names like sunflower, buttercream, and cardinal red, and the next you are seriously considering whether your house has room for a new table runner, a holiday wall hanging, and perhaps a life-changing bundle of fat quarters. Quilt shops have that effect. They are part treasure hunt, part therapy session, part color explosion, and in Southeastern Indiana, they are also some of the friendliest gathering places around.
That is especially true during the ALL INDIANA SHOP HOP, the statewide sewing and quilting event running through June 30, 2026.
The idea is delightfully simple: visit participating quilt shops, collect passport stamps, pick up thank-you gifts, and become eligible for prizes. The official event even describes it as a quilting version of a bar crawl, only with less late-night regret and more batting, bobbins, and beautiful fabric. There is even a youth passport for ages 8 to 17, which is a nice reminder that quilting is not just a pastime handed down from grandparents. It is also being discovered by a new generation who like making things by hand, repurposing fabric to help the environment, learning skills online, and sharing their creations proudly.
And really, quilting has everything going for it. It is practical, creative, social, and just a little bit magical.
A quilt can be a baby gift, a comfort during a hard season, a graduation present, a family heirloom, or simply a way to make a couch look much more put together than the people sitting on it. Quilters are surgeons with rotary cutters, artists with thread, and storytellers with fabric. They notice pattern, texture, memory, and meaning. Even non-quilters tend to fall under the spell. You do not need to know how to piece a block to appreciate the patience, skill, and imagination it takes to turn small shapes into something that warms both the room and the people in it.
That is one reason local quilt shops matter so much.
Yes, they sell fabric, books, notions, patterns, batting, and tools that can make a beginner feel both excited and slightly underqualified. But they also do something online shopping cannot: they welcome people in. Good quilt shops are places where somebody will help you match prints, explain what on earth a layer cake is, admire your progress, and gently steer you away from a fabric choice you may regret in broad daylight. They are equal parts classroom, clubhouse, and creative headquarters.
Southeastern Indiana is lucky to have several shops that make a Shop Hop route feel less like an errand list and more like a mini road trip with excellent scenery and even better conversation.
In Versailles, The Quilter’s Nook has become a creative quilting and sewing destination with classes, learning opportunities, and plenty of supplies and inspiration for anyone wanting to sharpen their skills or finally start that project they have been thinking about for two years. In Greensburg, Tree City Stitches is known for its premium fabrics, project kits, classes, and welcoming atmosphere, with plenty of samples on display to spark ideas before you even make it to the cutting counter.
In Vevay, Cardinal Quilts offers a deep fabric selection, quilting classes, and longarm services, making it the kind of place where serious quilters can stock up and newcomers can get helpful guidance without a trace of intimidation. And in Madison, L&L Yard Goods has been operating in the same location since 1986, offering quilting essentials, classes, and the sort of steady hometown presence that makes people come back year after year.
Together, these shops help keep quilting visible, vibrant, and local.
They also provide handmade quilts for community projects, children’s hospitals, veterans, and emergency services just like the early quilters did centuries ago.
So if your summer plans could use a little more color, a little more small-town charm,
and maybe a little more excuse to buy fabric you absolutely do not need but definitely deserve, the Shop Hop is calling. Bring a friend, bring your passport, and bring a willingness to be delighted by places where craftsmanship still matters and people still make beautiful things with their hands.
In Southeastern Indiana, quilting is more than a hobby.
It is history from the days of early pioneers, hospitality that warms you, creativity and community all stitched together one square at a time.
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