By Niki Kelly | Editor-in-Chief

“It’s hard for me to reverse engineer how only six ballots, not 200 or something like that, just six spread across three counties could be something other than a valid indication of how those six people were trying to vote.” — Indiana Supreme Court Justice Derek Molter

Senate District 23’s GOP primary officially has a winner — Sen. Spencer Deery — after the Indiana Supreme Court restored six votes to his tally.

The contest for Indiana’s secretary of state office is heating up, including a new $1 million Republican ad buy.

Indiana’s abortion ban was also in court, and the Indiana State Police are seeking a $30 million grant to aid immigration enforcement.

Plus, toll road money, childcare and more.

Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, speaks with reporters outside the Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Indiana Supreme Court rules Sen. Spencer Deery winner in 3-vote Republican primary

By Tom Davies

The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday declared state Sen. Spencer Deery as a three-vote Republican primary winner over a President Donald Trump-endorsed challenger.

The court issued its decision about three hours after hearing arguments over whether the Indiana Recount Commission acted properly in disallowing six ballots — all cast for Deery — that lacked a county clerk’s stamp or signature.

An image from an Indiana Republican Party campaign ad attacking Lincoln Party secretary of state candidate Greg Ballard. (Screenshot)

Republicans attack ex-GOP Mayor Ballard in party’s opening secretary of state ad

By Tom Davies

The first television ad from Republicans in this year’s Indiana secretary of state race is an all-out attack on Greg Ballard’s time as the Republican mayor of Indianapolis.

By the end of Friday, two other ads had been released — one targeting Democrat Beau Bayh’s voting history and another touting Republican nominee Max Engling.

COMMENTARY

Former Indiana Govs. Mike Pence (left) and Mitch Daniels chat during an event on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Snippets from former governor’s book, ‘Impatience is a Virtue’

By Mitch Daniels

Former two-term governor, Purdue University president and possible presidential contender Mitch Daniels’ new book — “Impatience is a Virtue: A Life Where the Buck Stops” — hits shelves Sept. 15.

“From the White House to the boardroom of Eli Lilly and Company to Indiana’s Governor’s Office to the presidency of Purdue, Daniels has brought transformative change to America’s public, private and nonprofit sectors,” a release from Lyons Press said. “Along the way, Daniels reflects on an incredible American story, how the Harley-Davidson riding grandson of a Syrian immigrant became one of the nation’s most admired leaders.”

NATIONAL NEWS

Students work in a classroom. The nation’s two largest school districts banned AI use for most students this school year. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

The largest US school districts restrict student AI use

By Robbie Sequeira

The country’s two largest school districts — New York City and Los Angeles — banned most student use of artificial intelligence in classrooms for this school year as anxiety over AI’s effect on learning intensifies.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

(Tenor)

Thanks for reading Fast Break. Did you know our daily morning newsletter is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.