By Niki Kelly | Editor-in-Chief
“As I often say, if we truly are the ‘Crossroads of America,’ then our infrastructure should be worthy of that slogan.” — Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen
As the old saying goes, the check is in the mail. The State Board of Finance authorized payment to local governments for a first round of road funding reimbursement.
Gov. Mike Braun now has three finalists for an open utility regulatory position. Who will he choose?
Speaking of the governor, he is busy laying the groundwork for increased childcare funding in the 2027 budget session.
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission has a new chair amid a board shakeup.
Plus, recounts, voter challenges and more.
Indiana Budget Director Chad Ranney, left, and Comptroller Elise Nieshalla discuss a transfer of $121 million from the State Highway Fund at the State Board of Finance meeting July 21, 2026. (Photo by Mackenzi Klemann/Indiana Capital Chronicle.)
Distributions underway to repay local governments for gas tax suspension
By Mackenzi Klemann
Indiana will begin distributing highway funds to local governments this week to cover losses from the state’s gas tax suspension.
The transfer covers the portion of foregone revenue from April 8 through May 31 that would have been distributed to local governments in June and July.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun admires a welcome message delivered to him by a child at Shepherd Community Center's Minnie Hartmann Neighborhood Childcare Center on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Mothers tell governor they'd be unemployed, homeless without childcare vouchers
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
Mothers told Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday that they would be unable to work — risking homelessness — without childcare vouchers for their young kids.
"I wouldn't be able to work without it," said Jasmine Williams, whose children attend Shepherd Community Center's Minnie Hartmann Neighborhood Childcare facility in Indianapolis.
"I feel like it has helped my kids have stability, and they have learned a lot, from crawling to graduating pre-K," Williams told Braun. "... I wouldn't be able to do it without Minnie Hartmann and CCDF. I don't think I make enough at home to pay for this every week, plus all my bills."
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission holds a utility affordability hearing on March 24, 2026, at its downtown Indianapolis headquarters. From left: Commissioners David Veleta, Anthony Swinger, Andy Zay, Bob Deig and David Ziegner. Veleta will leave once a replacement fills his spot. (Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Finalists for state utility regulator spot released
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
The three finalists for a vacant Republican slot on the powerful Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission — with the ultimate pick up to Gov. Mike Braun — have been chosen.
A nominating committee voted unanimously Tuesday to make their recommendations.
COMMENTARY
The Indianapolis Public Library still has bound editions of some historical newspapers like this 1916 edition of The Indianapolis Freeman. (Photo by Tracey Compton/Public Editor)
The history of Indianapolis lives in old newspaper archives. Can we get to it?
By Tracey Compton
Back in the day, when newspapers were flush with resources, they had internal libraries or archives of all of their stories, casually referred to as morgues. It was common practice for reporters to “check the morgue” before writing any story about the community.
Reporters could learn the history of almost anything in Indianapolis by checking the morgue. There were clip files — a collection of physical articles — for historic buildings, every neighborhood in the city, people, issues and events. The files were refreshed every morning when librarians would cut up dozens of copies of that day’s newspapers, then neatly fold the clippings and add them to the relevant files.
NATIONAL NEWS
Voters fill out their ballots at a Sioux Falls polling place during the South Dakota primary election on June 2, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Brennan Center report predicts mass voter challenges likely in midterm elections
By David Lightman
WASHINGTON — Mass voter challenges are likely to occur in the 2026 midterm elections, the Brennan Center for Justice warned Tuesday, with the potential to “undermine the democratic process.”
President Donald Trump and the Republican Party have been laying the groundwork for questioning the election process in state after state, as Trump has made “election integrity” the centerpiece of his recent domestic policy initiatives, including in a July 16 address to the nation.
The center, at NYU School of Law, found in a report Tuesday that more than 185,000 challenges to voter eligibility were filed by private citizens in 2024, though “the real number is likely higher” since many election officials either were not contacted or sent incomplete responses to an inquiry. The center is regarded as left-leaning.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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