State and local officials joined governor to discuss how communities can benefit from state resources

INDIANAPOLIS – On Friday, Governor Eric J. Holcomb hosted the Hoosier Huddle, a collaborative panel discussion focused on the Hoosier Playbook. Gov. Holcomb was joined by state and local officials throughout the state to discuss local community benefits.

The Hoosier Playbook includes a diverse range of resources aimed at enhancing education, improving health, boosting workforce development, strengthening infrastructure, fostering community development and ensuring public safety. Hoosiers from across Indiana gathered at Hinkle Fieldhouse for a fireside chat with Gov. Holcomb and Vanessa Green Sinders, President and CEO of the Indiana Chamber. They were also joined by partners from across the state for breakout sessions.

Dr. Lindsay Weaver, the Indiana Department of Health Commissioner, led a discussion with community health leaders to demonstrate how the Health First Indiana initiative is reshaping public health in its inaugural year. Through local partnerships and data-driven solutions, the panel spoke on how counties can utilize the full benefits as the program to improve the overall health of Hoosiers.

A key item of the Governor’s Next Level Agenda since day one has been to ensure Hoosier students are prepared for the careers of tomorrow and to build a robust talent pipeline. Members of the Governor’s cabinet engaged in discussion on statewide efforts to prepare Hoosier students for postsecondary success and workforce readiness.

Indiana’s innovative READI program fosters community vibrancy, enhances economic development and supports successful public-private partnerships. Panelists provided insights into READI’s achievements, future directions and its role in initiatives like blight reduction and arts enhancement with the generous support of the Lilly Endowment.

Attorney General Todd Rokita and his appeals team have persuaded the Indiana Court of Appeals to affirm the murder conviction of a Schererville man who killed his girlfriend after years of physical violence against her. 

“Criminals need to be punished,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This domestic abuser and murderer doesn’t deserve to see the outside of a jail cell, and I’m pleased that the appellate court agreed with our argument to keep him locked up and away from our communities.”  

In this case, friends and neighbors of Michelle Brown for years saw the bruises on her face and body. 

They saw firsthand how her boyfriend, Paul E. Jarosik, became violent during the couple’s arguments. Once he allegedly slammed Brown’s head into a door. Another time he allegedly punched her. Another time he allegedly pushed her into counters and cabinets. 

Then one morning the violent boyfriend called 911 to report discovering his girlfriend dead on the couple’s couch. 

In the days following Brown’s death, Jarosik gave multiple explanations for how his girlfriend died, according to court documents. 

He told a co-worker she fell and hit her head. 

He told a neighbor she failed to take her insulin. 

He told a family member she mixed blood pressure medication with alcohol. 

But an autopsy showed Brown had multiple blunt force impacts from different directions caused by objects softer than tools or weapons — injuries consistent with being pummeled to death by someone’s fists.  

A jury found Jarosik guilty of murder. 

On appeal, the defendant raised several issues — including claiming that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the possibility of convicting Jarosik on the lesser charge of reckless homicide. At the jury trial, however, Jarosik never claimed that he unknowingly or unintentionally committed recklessness leading to his girlfriend’s death. Rather, he claimed he was not even home at the time she sustained the injuries leading to her death and therefore had nothing to do with her death at all. 

“The trial court did not err in refusing to instruct the jury on reckless homicide,” the Appeals Court stated in its decision. 

The full court decision and an audio soundbite from AG Rokita is attached. 

• AG Rokita Appeals Team Win.mp3
• Jarosik Opinion.pdf