By Niki Kelly | Editor-in-Chief
“The root causes of high director and staff turnover is driven by low compensation and burnout, not by educational requirements. Lowering expectations will not strengthen this workforce.” — Amy Van Bruggen, of The Westin School
Gov. Mike Braun’s administration heard an earful Monday from Hoosiers concerned about changes to childcare regulations.
Indiana’s Planned Parenthood affiliate still won’t receive Medicaid funding for non-abortion services even though a federal ban expired.
Democrats are ready to challenge Republicans in virtually all state legislative races.
Plus, offshore wind development is in a precarious position.
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.
Planned Parenthood is not receiving funding for Medicaid healthcare services in Indiana. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
Planned Parenthood decries block on Indiana Medicaid funding despite end of federal ban
By Tom Davies
Indiana’s Planned Parenthood affiliate remains cut off from state Medicaid funding even with the expiration of a federal ban on such payments to abortion providers for any healthcare services.
The nationwide funding ban that Republicans included in last year’s “big, beautiful” law expired July 4. That leaves states to determine whether Planned Parenthood can receive payment from the program for low-income individuals for non-abortion care.
Indiana officials, however, are seeking federal court approval to enforce a 2011 state law that prohibits any state funding to abortion-providing organizations.
NATIONAL NEWS
Wind turbines generate electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm near Block Island, Rhode Island. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
As Trump buyouts shake offshore wind industry, states hope developers stay in the game
By Alex Brown
President Donald Trump has shown the immense power of the executive branch to stymie offshore wind development, as nearly all projects are in waters where federal agencies operate as the landlord.
Now, as the feds block new permits and dangle billion-dollar buyout offers to convince developers to walk away from their projects, state leaders are hoping some companies share their conviction that the industry can be revived after Trump leaves office.
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