Government

By Eric M. Hoffman, Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney— MUNCIE, IN—In his New York Times best seller, A Child Called It, author Dave Peltzer said that “childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.”Unfortunately, we know all too well that doesn’t always happen. A report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted that in the Federal Fiscal Year 2021 in the United States, approximately 588,229 children became…

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On April 8, the City of Muncie hosted a press conference to share information about 2024’s Total Solar Eclipse. The eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, the first to reach Muncie in over 1,000 years. Another nearby total solar eclipse will not occur until 2099, and Muncie will not be in the path of totality. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” stated Mayor Dan Ridenour. “We are so excited to make the most…

By Jeff Robinson, City Council President— MUNCIE, IN– On Monday, April 3rd, City Council will consider a resolution, proposed by City Council President, Jeff Robinson, to create an Ethics Advisory Committee with the charge to define and create an Ethics Commission for the City of Muncie over the next eighteen months. The first of its kind, the resolution is expected to pass with bipartisan support. The Ethics Advisory Committee is proposed to be a seven-person committee, consisting of a professional…

By Mike Rhodes, Editor-in-Chief, MuncieJournal.com— MUNCIE, IN—”The state of the city is strong.” That’s from the Honorable Mayor Dan Ridenour during his 3rd State of the City presentation. Mayor Ridenour gave a positive overview of the accomplishments his administration has made in the areas of finances, public safety and infrastructure. The event was held at the Ball State University Alumni Center. Ball Brothers Foundation CEO, Judd Fisher introduced the mayor prior to the mayor’s one hour presentation. Mayor Ridenour’s Powerpoint™ slides…

By Braden Dunlap— STATEHOUSE – A Delaware County lawmaker wants to invite local students to spend a day serving as a House Page at the Indiana Statehouse during the 2023 legislative session. According to State Rep. Elizabeth Rowray (R-Yorktown), Hoosier students ages 13 to 18 can sign up to page and assist lawmakers and staff with daily duties while touring the governor’s office, the Indiana Supreme Court, and House and Senate chambers. She said pages will receive an excused absence…

By Kimberly S. Dowling, Judge of  Delaware Circuit Court 2— MUNCIE, IN—January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.  The occasion prompted me to reflect on the advances Indiana has made over the last eight years in addressing the scourge of trafficking.  I would like to share those accomplishments with our community. My work on this issue began in 2014, just after I was first elected to the bench. Trafficking was already a hot topic for policy makers, but I learned quickly…

By John Herrik, Network Indiana— INDIANAPOLIS–Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is urging state lawmakers to take action multiple on areas of need in 2023. He made his pitch during his 2023 State of the State Address Tuesday night while also celebrating what he calls a lot of “wins” for Indiana. He started off his address by saying he’s focused on three goals: securing Indiana’s place in the economy of the future, transforming the delivery of public health across the state, and…