The ornaments on the tree are hand-painted by county Imagination Library partners, with each one uniquely reflecting the identity of each participating county and its Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.
INDIANAPOLIS – Visitors to the Indiana Statehouse this December will see something new in this year’s decorations—a display honoring early childhood literacy across the state.
First Lady Maureen Braun unveiled a first-of-its-kind Christmas display at the Statehouse featuring hand-painted ornaments that are designed to showcase participating Indiana counties and their local Dolly Parton Imagination Library programs.
The idea for the display originated earlier this year, when First Lady Braun sought a way to celebrate the thousands of Hoosier families, volunteers, and community partners who make the Imagination Library possible. Literacy is an important initiative for the First Lady.
“Every ornament on these trees represents a community that believes in the power of reading and the potential of every child. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is sparking wonder in young Hoosiers and uniting counties across Indiana. This display is an invitation for more Hoosiers to join us in helping give every child the gift of reading.” – First Lady Maureen Braun
With support from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Indiana, the First Lady contacted county partners in all 92 counties and sent each an unbreakable ornament with a request to decorate it in a way that reflects their county and their community’s Imagination Library. The ornaments were then shipped back at no cost to taxpayers or county partners thanks to a partnership with UPS and the Indiana Motor Truck Association (IMTA).
The resulting ornaments now adorn one of three Christmas trees located in the Statehouse atrium. The book ornaments on the tree were handmade by friends of First Lady Braun, who also helped decorate the trees.
The First Lady also sewed the tree skirt using fabric from her home to symbolize The Coat of Many Colors, honoring the story behind Dolly Parton’s childhood coat. Beneath the trees, Imagination Library books wrapped with ribbon resemble presents waiting to be opened.
County partners are invited to visit the Statehouse on December 17 at 11:00 a.m. to view the display and see their ornaments showcased in this one-of-a-kind celebration of literacy, community, and the holiday spirit.
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate
A key state senator and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita are facing off again over what steps the state should take in cracking down on illegal immigration.
Her current proposal includes language allowing state agencies and Rokita’s office to investigate the “employment of an unauthorized alien” and report possible violations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Department of Labor.
Rokita, however, is backing a differing proposal in Senate Bill 122, which would give the attorney general’s office authority to seek court orders suspending an “employer’s operating authorizations” over such suspected violations.
Rokita, a Republican, blasted Brown on social media over her bill, saying she had “introduced a watered-down, bizarro world version … that takes all the enforcement teeth out of the bill. That makes her bill meaningless.”
Brown countered that she has worked with entities from the Trump administration to county sheriffs in order to find effective ways to help enforce federal immigration laws.
“The biggest thing is making sure that we didn’t grow government and that the power isn’t centered in one agency or individual,” Brown told reporters.
Hiring practices in question
Erin Tuttle, the attorney general office’s legislative director, criticized Brown’s bill during a Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday as an “inadequate response” to prevent businesses from hiring people who are in the country illegally.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed that states may sanction the license of employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers,” Tuttle said. “If Indiana refuses to adopt the one enforcement mechanism available under federal law, it cannot credibly claim to be a leader in combating illegal immigration.”
Carolina Castoreno, co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy, speaks during a state Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Immigrant advocates, however, raised concerns about the impact of the legislation.
Carolina Castoreno, co-founder of the Indianapolis-based Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy, told committee members that the proposal encourages racial profiling by businesses.
“It pushes them toward discriminatory hiring practices, meaning someone who fits a certain look or has a certain name or has an accent may be discriminated against, just out of precaution,” Castoreno said. “We know who is harmed, people with brown skin, people with accents, people with names that sound unfamiliar to an HR manager.”
Committee members voted 6-2 along party lines to advance the bill to the full Senate, which could take up the proposal in early January.
Rokita-Brown conflict continues
The dispute between Rokita and Brown over the legislation grows out of their conflict over an immigration-enforcement bill from the legislative session earlier this year.
House members approved House Bill 1531 in February, but Brown did not hold a Senate committee hearing on the bill and it died when the legislative session ended in April.
Rokita then claimed Brown had blocked the legislation because she had a “family member who’s an illegal alien.”
Brown called that claim “blatantly false.” She also filed an attorney misconduct grievance over Rokita’s comments with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission that she said Tuesday was still pending.
Rokita and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks have repeatedly criticized Brown on social media over last session’s bill.
They also are backing Darren Vogt, who works on Banks’ Senate staff and is a Northwest Allen County Schools board member, in a Republican primary challenge to Brown’s 2026 reelection bid.
Following the committee vote, Rokita posted to X that the bill “would actively shield sanctuary jurisdictions and directly undermines our ongoing lawsuits to end sanctuary policies in Monroe and St. Joseph counties. We need to stop illegal immigration—not protect the counties and officials who defy state law and put Hoosier families last.”
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Evansville, In.: After claiming 3 out of 4 possible points on the weekend, the Thunderbolts have a much quieter week with only one game at Quad City this Sunday afternoon.
Week In Review:
The Thunderbolts held a 3-1 lead on Friday night with one goal from Isaac Chapman and two goals from Keanan Stewart, however the Macon Mayhem rallied to tie the game and defeat Evansville in a shootout 4-3. The best news from the evening was the 4,304 stuffed animals tossed onto the Ford Center ice during the Teddy Bear Toss, which will all go to children in need this holiday season. On Saturday, the Thunderbolts returned to form with a dominant 5-1 win over the Birmingham Bulls, with goals from Jordan Simoneau, Connor Federkow, Tyson Gilmour, Chapman, and Stewart.
The Week Ahead:
There will only be one game for the Thunderbolts this coming weekend, at Quad City on Sunday afternoon starting at 2:10pm CT. Fans can watch online on FloHockey or can listen for free on the Thunderbolts Mixlr Channel.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Three members of the Indiana swimming and diving program received Big Ten weekly awards following Friday’s fall finale victory over Cincinnati. The conference office announced its honors on Wednesday (Dec. 10).
Hoosier swept the diver of the week awards, as Indiana swept the four springboard diving events against Cincinnati. Junior Ella Roselli set personal best scores on both the 1-meter (317.10) and 3-meter (364.95) to sweep the women’s events and capture her second Big Ten Diver of the Week honor this season. Senior Maxwell Weinrich traded first and second place finishes with sophomore teammate Joshua Sollenberger, the former winning on 3-meter (425.55) and placing second on 1-meter (388.05), to get his first award of the campaign.
Junior Miranda Grana highlighted the meet with her program record in the 200-yard butterfly, touching in 1:53.25. Grana now owns school standards in four events, including the 100-yard backstroke (49.62), 200-yard backstroke (1:48.73) and 100-yard butterfly (49.98). She won her fourth Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honor this fall.
Grana also won the 200 IM in 2:00.24 by over three seconds and posted the field’s second-fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle (49.82). She also posted the quickest butterfly leg (23.06) in the 200-yard medley relay, as IU won in 1:36.87.
Indiana senators advanced a controversial congressional redistricting bill in a 6-3 vote Monday — but multiple Republican lawmakers signaled they remain open to voting no when it reaches the chamber floor.
The Senate Elections Committee approved the measure, with both Democrats opposed and joined by one Republican, Sen. Greg Walker of Columbus. The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote expected Thursday.
Committee Chair Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, sponsored the bill — and briefly spoke in defense of President Donald Trump — but said he would save most of his arguments for the Senate floor.
“I have very compelling arguments for why I want this bill to pass,” he said. “The only thing that really bothers me so bad is … the very negative comments towards President Trump. That man sacrificed an awful lot. … If the swamp in D.C. can turn on someone like President Trump, they can turn on any of us.”
Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton, presides over the Senate Elections Committee on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Walker delivered more than 20 minutes of emotional remarks — at one point moved to tears — explaining why he could not support the mid-cycle redistricting effort.
“I fear for this institution … if we allow intimidation and threats to be the norm,” he said. “I refuse to be intimidated. I will not normalize that kind of behavior.”
Numerous legislators have been subject to swatting or other intimidation tactics. Trump has also threatened lawmakers who oppose the bill with primary opponents.
He pushed back on suggestions that voting no is “easy” because he isn’t seeking reelection, and divulged to the committee that “some little seed in the back of my head is saying go ahead and file.”
Walker said the bill’s language leaves “no room for wiggle,” and warned that courts will eventually scrutinize its intent.
“I cannot, in good conscience, support this bill going forward,” he said.
Republican Sens. Greg Goode, Stacey Donato and Linda Rogers all voted to move the bill out of committee, but each indicated openness to change their votes later.
A six-hour public hearing on the bill was largely dedicated to public testimony. Of the 99 who testified, 80 spoke against the bill while 19 said they were in favor.
The committee defeated four Democrat amendments that included efforts to increase transparency around the redistricting process and to require any map redraws to be nonpartisan.
Senators are expected to meet again on Wednesday to consider other possible amendments to the proposal in House Bill 1032, with a full Senate vote expected Thursday.
Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray talks to a colleague on the Senate floor on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
But the Indiana Senate’s Republican leader wasn’t making predictions Monday about the fate of the proposal that’s become a test of loyalty to Trump.
Hundreds of anti-redistricting protesters filled the corridor outside the Senate chamber as it began taking up the bill that Republicans pushed through the House last week.
GOP Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray has warned for months that not enough senators supported redrawing the maps for the issue to win approval.
When asked Monday whether he believes there were enough votes for redistricting now, Bray avoided a direct answer.
“I’ve said before that they weren’t there,” Bray told reporters. “People are having a conversation about it. Senators know there’s going to be a chance to vote on it, so we’ll see Thursday.”
Nearly 100 Hoosiers testify
Gaskill kept testifiers to a strict, two-minute timer at the front of the chamber that ticked down 120 seconds each time someone came to the microphone to speak.
He also warned against using signs or applauding, even telling police to remove people who clap.
Gaskill didn’t allow senators to question anyone who spoke, saying “it’s intimidating enough” to give testimony. He said he wanted to avoid legislators “grilling” members of the public “who’ve come to share their opinions with us.”
While the Senate held a brief floor session Monday anti-redistricting protestors could be heard from outside the chamber, chanting, “No cheaters!” over and over again, and “No redistricting!”
Many were holding signs with sayings like, “Protect our vote!” and “Democracy doesn’t get redrawn.”
The proposed congressional map targets Indiana’s current two Democratic U.S. House members and is designed to create a 9-0 Republican map ahead of the 2026 midterm election.
Hoosiers from all over Indiana descended on the Statehouse, from Valparaiso and Chesterton to Greenwood and Vincennes.
John Colburn, a Hoosier from Sellersburg, Indiana, who supports mid-cycle redistricting, testifies before the Senate Elections Committee on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo by Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Initial testimony was split on the issue — a marked difference from last week’s Indiana House hearing where 43 were against and only two in support. But the number opposed to the bill ultimately outweighed those in support.
Among the testifiers were teachers, farmers, small business owners and current — and former — local public officials.
Those in opposition called the bill “unwanted,” “harmful” and “abhorrent,” while some described mid-cycle redistricting as a “partisan power grab” that is “being shoved down our throats by Washington outsiders.”
Supporters, meanwhile, called the move to redraw maps “absolutely necessary.”
Mike Morris, with Lafayette Citizens in Action, told the committee “it’s time for Republicans to take a page from (Democrats’) playbook.”
He noted that U.S. Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan — Indiana’s two Democratic members of Congress — have supported tax hikes and twice voted to impeach President Trump.
“Senators, I urge you not to just merely be in office, but to be in power, and to use that power to save our federal republic,” he said.
John Colburn, of Sellersburg, additionally called on senators “to help fight the actions of California, Illinois, New York and others.”
“If, by your inaction, a Democratic majority enters the House of Representatives in January, the result will be the beginning of two years of more accusations and investigations based upon the lies and deceit,” he said.
‘Purely for political performance’
But Kelly Thompson, a Democratic congressional candidate in northern Indiana’s 3rd District, said she was “appalled” that the House had advanced the redistricting measure and that lawmakers “have forgotten who it is that they have been hired by, and who they are obligated to represent.”
“Instead of fighting for Hoosiers — the majority of which are against mid-cycle redistricting maps for Congress — they have chosen to cave to the pressure of the very people they have pledged to protect us from, the D.C elite,” she said.
Hoosier military veteran Lasima Packett, also opposed, called the bill “purely for political performance.”
Protesters opposed and in favor of Indiana’s congressional redistricting proposal gather outside the Indiana Senate chamber on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo by Tom Davies/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
“Today, the Senate has the opportunity to not just vote on the bill, but to lead the nation to show that in our state, we do not cave to the pressures from Washington, D.C.,” she said. “We do not redraw the democracy to suit a moment. And here, in this state, we still believe in fairness, transparency and the right for every Hoosier to be fully represented.”
Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell, who spoke against the bill in the House Elections Committee a week prior, continued to express concerns in the Senate chamber on Monday, citing “costly” and time consuming election administration changes that would plague the state’s most populated county if the legislation passes.
She said the county, which encompasses Indianapolis, would need to spend “at least $1 million” to implement new maps ahead of the 2026 midterm election.
The clerk additionally warned that lawmakers would need an amendment to remedy precinct data that’s missing from the current bill draft.
“This work has to be done manually. There is no way around that,” Sweeney Bell said. “Of course, you use a computer, but human eyes have to look at it. You can’t count on (artificial intelligence) to do it all.”
Gregory Katter, also of Marion County, downplayed those concerns, though. Updating “hundreds of thousands of records,” he said, would only take “pretty simple GIS database changes.”
Indiana’s Constitution requires a majority of the 50-member Senate to approve legislation. That means the 40-member Republican supermajority must muster at least 26 votes to pass the bill if all 10 Democrats oppose. GOP Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith can break a 25-25 tie but only if there are no absences.
Sixteen Senate Republicans have publicly come out in favor of a redraw — some more enthusiastically than others — and 14 are against. The remaining 10 Republican senators haven’t taken a public stance.
Gov. Mike Braun has stood by threats that he and Trump have made to support Republican primary challengers against recalcitrant senators — and to keep up the pressure campaign if the Senate were to reject the new maps next week.
A full breakdown of the Community Crossings Awards can be found here.
STATEHOUSE (Dec. 9, 2025) — Communities in Senate District 50 will receive more than $1.5 million to improve roads and bridges through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program (CCMG), said State Sen. Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville).
The CCMG, established by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016, aims to advance community infrastructure projects, strengthen local transportation networks and improve Indiana’s roads and bridges. Since its enactment, the program has awarded more than $2 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects.
In Senate District 50, Vanderburgh County received $1 million and Warrick County received $561,294.85.
“The funding these counties receive will be instrumental in improving safety and quality of life in our communities,” Becker said. “Our roads and bridges are important to keep things running smoothly in our state, and this program is a great resource to assist in maintenance and construction.”
Through the program, the Indiana Department of Transportation matches up to $1 million annually when localities invest in road and bridge repairs. Counties with populations fewer than 55,000 and cities and towns with populations fewer than 10,000 receive an 80%/20% match, while counties with populations greater than 55,000 and cities and towns with populations greater than 10,000 receive a 50%/50% match.
