Government

By U.S. Congressman Greg Pence Press Office— Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (IN-06) announced today that Indiana will be the recipient of $169 million to improve access to high-speed internet service through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I auction. The announcement today came via the Federal Communication Commission. Counties in Indiana’s Sixth District to receive the funding: Delaware, Randolph, Henry, Wayne, Hancock, Fayette, Union, Franklin, Shelby, Bartholomew, Decatur, Jennings, Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Jefferson and Scott. “Without access to reliable, affordable telecommunications services, entire communities are being left behind.Hoosiers living in rural areas of Indiana’s 6th District are…

By City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN- Mayor Dan Ridenour has taken action on his commitment to expand and improve Muncie city parks, by securing an agreement to purchase 13 acres along South Tillotson Avenue along Buck Creek.  According to the Muncie City Parks 5-Year Park Plan, when comparing park systems according to acres, Muncie contains the 2nd lowest park acres. However, when Prairie Creek Park is included, Muncie’s parks department maintains the most park acreage among the 17 second class cities benchmarked. This new park will help position Muncie better in the rankings for park acres in the city,…

By Senator Todd Young Press Office— WASHINGTON – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) awarded U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) with their most prestigious legislative recognition, the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award. “As the son of a small business owner, I know how important small enterprises are to our economy. I will always fight to support Indiana’s small businesses, especially during the difficult times they have faced this year due to the pandemic. As we continue working to combat the coronavirus pandemic, ensuring small businesses have the ability to stay in operation, and ultimately thrive once again, will…

By Lydia Kirschner, Press secretary— STATEHOUSE  – Elizabeth Rowray of Yorktown took the oath of office today to serve as state representative for House District 35. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush administered the oath to all House lawmakers during a swearing-in ceremony in the House Chamber of the Statehouse during Organization Day, the formal start to the 2021 legislative session. “From growing up in the community to raising my own family here, I am fortunate to know our area well and am eager to represent our district at the Statehouse,” Rowray said. “I hope to use my…

By City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN—Mayor Dan Ridenour has announced his selection of Richard Ivy to serve as the Deputy Mayor for the City of Muncie. During a press conference on November 12, 2020,  Mayor Ridenour highlighted Ivy’s experience as a former personnel director, a leader in the community, and experience in matters related to his service to the Muncie City Council. Below are highlights Mayor Ridenour shared regarding Ivy’s experiences: Government Experience—City Council At-Large, serves on Finance Committee chair, serves on the Public Works Committee, serves on the ECI Regional Planning District Board, and serves on the Union…

By City of Muncie Communications— Muncie, IN—In less than 5 years, the Safe Haven Baby Boxes organization has made great strides in accomplishing its primary goal of raising awareness of the Safe Haven Law and eliminating illegal infant abandonment. On Saturday, November 7th, that mission was celebrated as the 50th Safe Haven Baby Box in the nation went live in Muncie, Indiana. Two babies that were surrendered under Indiana’s Safe Haven Law were in attendance at the event along with their adoptive families. The Safe Haven Baby Box is located at Muncie Fire Station #1, at 421 East Jackson Street…

By ECI Regional Planning District— Delaware County, IN— A comprehensive new report on potential industrial contamination in the county’s largest industrial park provides a road map not only for future economic development but aims to provide clarity for elected officials, concerned neighbors and activists. The 1,900-page report was funded by the Delaware County commissioners in cooperation with the Delaware County Redevelopment Commission and examines what is known about environmental conditions in the Industria Center industrial park. The concerns of neighbors of the park, especially when it comes to a longtime battery recycling operation, Exide Technologies, have been in the headlines for…

By Senator Todd Young Press Office— WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) issued the following statement in support of the nomination of Hoosier Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court: “I am thrilled with President Trump’s nomination of fellow Hoosier, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, to serve on the Supreme Court. I’ve come to know Amy as an incredibly sharp legal mind, a woman of great integrity, and a dedicated mother of seven. When Americans elected President Trump to office in 2016 and expanded the Republican Senate majority in 2018, she was exactly the type of jurist they had in…

By Arrick Garringer— MUNCIE, IN —The Delaware County Commissioners recently contracted with Shafer Leadership Academy to provide the workshop “Understanding Implicit Bias and Microaggressions” for their staff, other County employees, and other elected officials. The two-hour workshop, which was facilitated by Ball State University Professor of Sociology Dr. Melinda Messineo, provided participants with an understanding of unconscious bias, its origins, and its connection to micro-aggressions, along with tools and proactive everyday strategies for positive outcomes. Dr. Messineo explains “We used to think there were ‘biased people’ and ‘unbiased people’ and that ‘good’ people were not biased. Over time, cognitive science…