By Niki Kelly | Editor-in-Chief
Today is Barn Day, and Indiana certainly has a lot of them. Learn a bit about the history of the barn here.
State government never stops and neither do we.
This week, we heard from childcare providers speaking out against regulatory changes pushed by Gov. Mike Braun.
And we brought you inside the growing virtual schools sector in Indiana.
Other stories examined a four-day school week, abortion reports and Medicaid work requirements.
Plus, don’t miss my column on transparency (or lack thereof.)
Children play with blocks, cups and water during a gubernatorial visit to St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Hoosier childcare providers slam education requirement rollback
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
About two-dozen Hoosier childcare providers and advocates overwhelmingly opposed looser statewide staff educational requirements during a Monday public hearing.
“This is a profession. This is not just a babysitting job,” said Hanna Wetzel, the director of the Children’s Learning Center of Posey County.
She spoke to representatives of the Family and Social Services Administration, the state agency overseeing childcare providers around Indiana.
Elizabeth Sliger, executive director of Indiana Digital Learning School and Indiana Digital Alternative School, presides over a joint commencement ceremony in Indianapolis on May 28, 2026. An estimated 900 graduates were in attendance. (Photo by Mackenzi Klemann/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Students embrace technology in Indiana’s growing virtual school sector
By Mackenzi Klemann
Savanna Yenna situates herself into a seat in the crowded Hinkle Fieldhouse, surrounded by 900 of her virtual classmates gathered in anticipation of Indiana Digital Learning School’s inaugural in-person commencement ceremony.
Yenna enrolled in the virtual school, now in its 10th year, her freshman year to escape bullies in her home North White School Corp. in White County.
She is one of nearly 29,000 Hoosiers who attended virtual K-12 schools in 2025, according to an Indiana Capital Chronicle review of enrollment data through the state’s Graduates Prepared to Succeed portal.
The practice continues to expand despite ongoing legislative debate over state tuition support, financial and academic oversight.
COMMENTARY
A screenshot of the “Find a Person” tool before it was disabled.
Governor’s administration deletes helpful transparency tool
By Niki Kelly
My email address is posted for all to see, and I hear a lot from readers. I enjoy (most of) the interactions. Of course, phishing scams are an issue, which is why my company requires annual training on the attempts. I bet many of you have gone through similar webinars.
I would hope the state could do similar things to dissuade cyberattacks before hiding state employees behind a wall of secrecy.
NATIONAL NEWS
A sign at the Mall in Columbia, a suburban shopping center in central Maryland, requires anyone under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or supervising adult on Friday and Saturday evenings. Public spaces and commercial areas across the country are increasingly imposing curfews and other restrictions on young people. (Photo by Amanda Watford/Stateline)
Cities, towns nationwide revive teen curfews amid summer crowds
By Amanda Watford
Cities and towns across the country have revived juvenile curfews and increased police patrols in response to an apparent uptick in large teen gatherings and fights organized through social media.
Communities in states including California, Indiana, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have announced or expanded curfews for minors this year, while others have tightened enforcement in downtown entertainment districts, parks and shopping centers where officials say “teen takeovers” have become more common.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Indiana sets standards for 4-day school week waivers | Mackenzi Klemann
Gas tax breaks to cost state, local governments $533M | Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
State shares Medicaid work requirement rules | Mackenzi Klemann
Indiana abortion reports remain confidential after unanimous state Supreme Court action | Tom Davies
Medicaid and the Road Ahead
Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What's Next for States, Providers and Families
Thursday, July 23
12-1 p.m. ET / 9-10 a.m. PT
(Zoom link provided with registration)
Significant changes to Medicaid are expected to put new pressures on states, healthcare providers and those who depend on the coverage. Join healthcare policy experts from KFF and journalists from States Newsroom who cover these issues at the state and national level for an in-depth discussion on the impacts that federal funding cuts, work requirements and state policy are having on healthcare in the U.S. They’ll explain the latest developments and discuss the political debate around these changes.
Audience Q&A to follow.
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