By Niki Kelly | Editor-in-Chief
“Investor confidence in Indiana has materially deteriorated." — equity analysts for Jefferies Research Services
Is this summer of news ever going to slow down? Not today.
Several investment advisors are warning about Indiana’s volatile utility regulatory environment. We look into what that means for the state.
Four secretary of state candidates squared off in the race’s first debate.
Meta agreed to a massive national settlement that sends big bucks to Indiana and brings new restrictions for young users.
Plus, news on tuition freezes and capacity updates from the Indiana Department of Correction.
An electric transmission substation operated by Montana-Dakota Utilities in Bismarck on April 17, 2026. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
Utility investment analysts ding Indiana amid 'political intervention,' potential profit cuts
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
Prominent investment research firms are warning clients off Indiana and its investor-owned utility companies amid the disputed firing of one state regulator and discussion of lower regulator-set profits.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission "wants to quantify every element of (return on equity) and risk, but didn’t mention the obvious," equity analysts for Wolfe Research wrote in an Aug. 10 report.
"Political intervention in the regulatory process and volatility in the regulatory environment has meaningfully increased the risk and ROEs needed for investing in Indiana utilities," they added.
Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State squared off on Aug. 26, 2026 in downtown Indianapolis. From left to right, Max Engling, Lauri Shillings, moderators Dan Spehler and Lesley Weidenbener, Greg Ballard and Beau Bayh. (Photo By Niki Kelly/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana secretary of state hopefuls clash over voting rules, office audit
By Niki Kelly
Republican Max Engling found himself the outsider against three opponents on several key topics during the first debate between the four hopefuls for Indiana Secretary of State Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Democrat Beau Bayh, Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings often agreed.
Meta Platforms, Inc. is paying billions to settle nationwide suit over social media harms to youth. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Indiana to receive at least $300M in settlement with Meta
By Niki Kelly
Indiana will receive a guaranteed $296 million — and up to $419 million — as part of a landmark $17.1 billion settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc.
The settlement resolves allegations that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on its social media platforms intended to addict children and teens, as well as claims by 47 states and four territories.
COMMENTARY
A store in Indianapolis advertises electronic benefits acceptance for SNAP purchases in July 2026. (Photo by Jack Forrest/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana's SNAP program soon to be at a crossroads
By Brendan Bow
Indiana’s budget surplus is impressive, but Congress has determined that our costs are about to go up.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changed how states and the federal government pay for food assistance, and for the first time in the history of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, Indiana state taxpayers are on the hook.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
(Pinterest)
Thanks for reading Fast Break. Did you know our weekend digest 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.