Government

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

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 that we had a lot of work to do in Indiana. Approximately 300,000 children in the U.S. are dragged into human…

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Governor Holcomb’s 2023 State of the State

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 making unprecedented investments in the classroom from pre-k through college and adult learning. The governor’s proposal includes nearly $350 million…


Eric Hoffman Sworn In For Second Term as Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney

By Office of the Prosecuting Attorney— Muncie, IN– Wednesday afternoon, the Honorable Thomas A. Cannon Jr., Judge of the Delaware Circuit Court No. 5 administered the Oath of Office to Eric Hoffman who will begin his second term as Delaware County’s Prosecuting Attorney on January 1, 2023.  Judge Cannon’s father, Thomas A. Cannon Sr., served as Delaware County Prosecutor 1941-1942 before he enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve our country in World War II. Hoffman is a graduate of Ball State University and Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Eric joined the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office in…


Delaware County, IN Plans to Deliver AT&T Fiber-Powered Broadband to Nearly 1,250 Customer Locations

By Phil Hayes, ATT&T Corporate Communications— Plans call for AT&T Fiber with speeds of up to 5 Gigs to help close the digital divide MUNCIE, IN—Delaware County, Indiana, today announced plans for a $2.3 million project with AT&T* to build a state-of-the-art network and deliver AT&T FiberSM to some 1,250 customer locations in parts of the county.  The project is contingent upon a final contract between the county and AT&T. “With AT&T Fiber, our community will be even better positioned for healthy growth and new economic opportunities,” said Delaware County Commissioner James King. “Our residents, businesses and visitors will soon…


Muncie’s Ironman 70.3 Rated #1 Participant Experience in North America

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—Hosting a successful IRONMAN race requires consistency, careful planning, and coordination with the community. After 41 races, Muncie holds the record for the longest streak of 70.3 mile triathlons in the world. This year, Muncie holds another record – the best 70.3 participant experience in North America. After going through post-race surveys from athletes, IRONMAN International informed race organizers that the Muncie 70.3 received an Overall Satisfaction score of 93.24%. This was the highest ranking of any 70.3 distance race in North America, which includes more than 40 races in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and…


FBI Warns of Holiday Online Shopping Scams

By Chris Bavender, Public Affairs, FBI Indianapolis— Indianapolis, IN—Residents across Indiana are joining the rest of the country in shopping online this holiday season in big numbers. But Hoosiers aren’t the only one’s trying to steal a deal – so are scammers. With more people shopping online this year, consumers may encounter more online scams. “The holiday season not only means consumers are looking for the best deals for their holiday gift giving, but scammers are also looking for ways to swindle unsuspecting shoppers,” according to the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “Shoppers should be vigilant so they don’t fall victim to scams…


Small Businesses Thrive and Grow in Muncie

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—On Monday morning, Mayor Ridenour addressed a packed room of Muncie’s best and brightest entrepreneurs at the Innovation Connector to kick off Entrepreneur Showcase Week. The brainchild of Ted Baker, Executive Director of the Innovation Connector, the week is packed with 20 events for local businesses of all sizes. Ranging from workshops about Quickbooks and creative marketing to networking opportunities, many of the free events filled up with registrations weeks in advance. For Ridenour, investing in the Innovation Connector is investing in the future of the City. “Muncie will grow because of small business and entrepreneurs,”…


Muncie Recognized as Highly Sought Remote Worker Destination

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—At last week’s Future of Indiana Workforce Summit, hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Muncie was held up as an example of a thriving remote work incentive program. 19 cities or regions in Indiana have adopted the Make My Move program, which provides resources and stipends for remote workers who are looking to relocate to a more affordable community. Why remote workers? A thriving work-from-home economy can help a city in many ways, according to experts. A remote worker will pay taxes, spend money locally, and put capital into the local economy, all without competing…


Staying the Course: Momentum and Endurance in Muncie

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—The number of US citizens who compete in an Ironman is less than one in a thousand. But, walk into City Hall in Muncie, and you’ll find four. IRONMAN, the world’s most famous triathlon, is a staggering test of endurance. In Ironman 70.3, athletes complete a 1.2 mile swim and a 56 mile bike race before finishing the day with a half marathon run. Ironman 140.6 is twice the distance for each event, and the grueling race must be completed within 17 hours. Only about 80% of those who enter the race make it to the…


October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Eric Hoffman, Delaware County Prosecutor— MUNCIE, IN – As October comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the fact that this month is Domestic Violence Awareness month. While domestic violence and intimate partner abuse is something we should be aware of every month, October is a chance to bring attention to something that affects every single part of Indiana and our nation. As your prosecutor here in Delaware County, I wanted to take a moment to talk about the nature of domestic violence and give the residents of our community some helpful tips on…