INDIANAPOLIS State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) convened with lawmakers for Organization Day at the Statehouse for the ceremonial start of the 2026 legislative session. Burton reassures his commitment to addressing the real, everyday challenges facing Hoosiers. Burton was also appointed Ranking Minority Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, a position that will allow him to elevate issues related to Indiana’s natural assets.
“Organization Day is to reaffirm our responsibility to the people we serve. But over the last several months, far too much of the Statehouse’s attention has been tied up in a redistricting fight that no one in Evansville was asking to push forward. Hoosiers aren’t demanding new maps. They are telling us they’re overwhelmed by the cost of housing, utilities, child care and health care.
“We cannot afford to let any more time pass of us drifting from one crisis to the next. That means getting serious about affordability, stability and opportunity. Every Hoosier is expecting the legislature to act on their behalf.
“With my recent appointment as ranking minority member of the Natural Resources Committee, which I am humble and grateful for, will help me advocate for strong recreation and conservation policies, and environmental decisions that shape Indiana’s long-term economic well-being. Our natural resources are part of our identity and our economy. Whether it’s clean waterways, outdoor access or the health of the environment we’re leaving to the next generation, these issues deserve thoughtful, bipartisan work.
“My position hasn’t changed: keep people at the center, build consensus and deliver results to Hoosiers.”
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Secretary of State Diego Morales urged lawmakers before both chambers met on Organization Day to revive Indiana’s stalled redistricting effort during a small rally at the Statehouse. They called on the Senate to return for a special session and take a roll-call vote.
The rally comes after Senate Republican leadership announced earlier this month that the chamber will not convene on Dec. 1 as planned, saying there aren’t enough GOP votes to advance mid-decade redistricting. The decision has created an unusual public divide within Republican ranks, with national and state party figures pushing aggressively for new maps and Senate leaders insisting the support simply isn’t there.
President Donald J. Trump over the weekend took to Truth Social to berate Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray and Sen. Greg Goode, threatening to oust Republican state senators who opposed redistricting by supporting opponents in primaries. Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana in October to lobby Republican leaders in person.
Beckwith told a crowd of about 50 people Tuesday morning that Republicans must act because Democrat-led states such as California and Illinois have already redrawn maps for political advantage. Texas began the 2025 redistricting race when its state legislature, at Trump’s urging, redrew congressional districts to increase the number of Republicans seats.
“Republicans have to protect their voice in Indiana,” Beckwith said. “This is the most bipartisan issue in America right now. Don’t let them tell you that in Indiana this is not bipartisan—it very much is.”
Morales echoed the warning and linked redistricting to national political stakes, telling the crowd that if Democrats win control of the U.S. House in 2026, “they will immediately push to impeach President Trump.”
“I’m here to tell you that Republicans need to start acting like Republicans,” he said.
Why the fight matters
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, left in red hat, and Secretary of State Diego Morales, in red tie, lead a rally Tuesday at the Statehouse in favor of mid-decade redistricting.
Photo by Sydney Byerly, The Indiana Citizen.
The push for new maps—coming just four years after Indiana completed its regular once-a-decade redistricting process—has been fueled by national and state Republicans who want a 9–0 map that would give the GOP control of all nine of Indiana’s U.S. House seats.
Gov. Mike Braun in late October called for a special session to consider redrawing the districts. But Bray has repeatedly said the votes are not there within his caucus and called offthe scheduled session last week. At least several Senate Republicans have publicly resisted the push, citing ethical concerns about mid-cycle redistricting, worries about public backlash or simply a lack of consensus among GOP members.
Rally attendees demand a vote
Alice Work, a Plainfield resident and president of the Indiana Republican Assembly, said she was disappointed to learn the Senate had canceled the December special session.
“I think that people need to have an up-or-down vote from their representatives,” Work said. “We’re not being told what’s going on. We have to get it by word of mouth. But we need votes on paper.”
Work said she supports a 9–0 map but emphasized that transparency—not unanimity—is what matters. “Legislators shouldn’t be hiding behind doors,” she said.
Brian Pease, an Evansville resident and chair of the Indiana Freedom Caucus, said he attended because Beckwith recently traveled south to speak at one of his events. He also challenged Bray’s explanation that the Senate lacked the votes to proceed.
“If you’re not sure, if you don’t know, then find out,” Pease said. “Have a vote. Do your job. See what the representatives say—they’re supposed to reflect their constituents. Otherwise he’s suppressing the will of the people through their representatives.”
Pease said simply being visible at the Statehouse matters.
“So many times they operate on the idea that if the public doesn’t know what they’re doing, the public won’t know what they’re doing wrong,” he said. “Let’s pull back the curtain. Let’s have transparency.”
The rally drew fewer than 100 people, many wearing red shirts or hats while carrying laminated paper signs with slogans like “Give Us a Roll Call Vote!” and “Let’s Go 9–0!” Attendees chanted “9–0!” while gathering for a group photo after Beckwith prayed over the group.
This article was published by TheStatehouseFile.com through a partnership with The Indiana Citizen, a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed, engaged Hoosier citizens.
Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).
VINCENNES, Ind., November 18, 2025 – Vincennes University President Dr. Chuck Johnson has announced the appointment of Sara Clark as Executive Director of Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer, effective Dec. 3, 2025.
Johnson said, “Sara Clark brings to Vincennes University an exceptional blend of experience, leadership, and commitment to people. She shared that her decision to join VU is grounded in her desire to serve a mission-driven institution and contribute to work that truly matters. Her appointment represents an important investment—championed by our Board of Trustees—to build upon the work of our dedicated HR team and further strengthen the support we provide to our employees. This new role positions Human Resources as an even stronger strategic partner as we modernize systems and processes, seek opportunities for innovation and growth, and navigate the challenges facing higher education in the years ahead. Most importantly, it helps ensure that VU continues to attract, retain, and develop the talented people who make our mission possible.”
Clark brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in human resources, risk management, and operations across multiple industries. A certified HR professional, she has built a career leading organizational culture initiatives, driving employee engagement, and operational improvements. Clark most recently served as the owner of Comprehensive HR & Risk Consulting. Her background also includes senior HR leadership roles at Amcor Flexibles North America and Sunrise Coal/Hallador Energy.
Clark said, “My first priority will be getting to know the VU staff, faculty, and students. I plan to immerse myself in VU culture and attend as many events as practical. This will allow me to better understand the current organizational culture and then develop a path forward. My first initiative will be to improve the onboarding process and create efficiencies for the HR department.”
She added, “I see my role contributing to VU’s mission and long-term goals by optimizing HR processes, assessing the total rewards program, and enhancing the organizational culture to ensure that VU is positioned to attract and retain top talent. As the competition for talent becomes increasingly more competitive, being an employer of choice will be critical to driving the mission of Vincennes University.”
A native of Jasonville, Indiana, Clark has strong ties to Knox County, the Vincennes Community, and the University Community, including completing her underground coal mine training at VU.
Evansville Land Bank will hold an Executive Session on Friday, November 21, 2025, at9:00 a.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center Complex at 1 N. W. Martin Luther King Jr.Blvd.
This Executive Session will be held for discussion of strategy with respect to the purchase, sale or lease of real property by the Evansville Land Bank Corporation pursuant to the Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In the second addition for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team during the signing period, head coach David Ragland has announced the signing of David Nejezchleb. The 6-foot-8 forward is currently playing for ERA Basketball Nymburk in his native Czech Republic.
“We are excited to add both size and skill to our roster, and as a staff, we have placed a strong emphasis on positional size,” Ragland explained. “We believe we have found exactly that in David. His ability to handle the ball, make plays for others, and consistently shoot from the perimeter makes him a difficult matchup for any defense.”
“We have enjoyed great success with international student-athletes since our arrival at UE, and David continues that tradition,” Ragland continued. “He has competed with and against some of the top talent in Europe, and we are eager to work with him as he transitions to playing here in the United States. Our system aligns extremely well with his skill set, and we are confident he will thrive within it.”
Nejezchleb is currently in his first season playing for Nymburk of the Basketball Champions League. Through six games, he has averaged 1.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while seeing an average of eight minutes per contest. He is also playing for Polabi of the Czech Republic 1Liga where he is averaging 11.4 points and 7.7 boards. His top effort of 20 points and 10 caroms came against Chomutov on Sept. 28.
Last season, he played for Slavia and recorded 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds over 24 games for the squad. In 2024, he played for Tygr Brno of the U19 Extra League where he averaged 18 points. He also played in the first league for Litoměřice where he recorded 16 PPG.
“Choosing the University of Evansville was easy for me,” Nejezchleb said. “It’s a place where I can grow as an athlete, challenge myself every day, and be part of a program that believes in my potential on and off the court.”
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana swimming and diving’s men extended their lead, while the ladies jumped into second on Wednesday (Nov. 19) at the Ohio State Invitational inside the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Two Hoosiers broke program records on the second of four days at the midseason meet.
Indiana athletes won three events, earned nine top-three individual finishes and set 33 personal bests throughout the day.
Junior Miranda Grana went 49.98 in the 100-yard butterfly, becoming the first Hoosier to break 50 seconds and besting her 50.01 that finished fourth at the 2025 NCAA Championships in March. The Mexican swimmer is now the third-fastest international in the event.
In the 400 IM, senior Zalán Sárkány (3:39.73) and freshman Noah Cakir (3:40.62) both touched under the previous program record, which stood at 3:40.64. Steve Schmuhl originally set that time in 2014, and Sárkány matched it in March before officially breaking the 11-year-old mark Wednesday night. Five Hoosiers, including three more freshmen in Luke Ellis (3:45.39), David Kovacs (3:45.84) and Josh Bey (3:46.77), placed within the top 10 in the event.
While freshman Liberty Clark did not set a program record, she did drop the quickest 50 free relay leadoff in school history with a 21.61 – the fastest leadoff in the 200-yard freestyle relay field and five hundredths off the 50 free program record. Senior Mya DeWitt kept it steady with a 21.65, followed by freshman Grace Hoeper’s 22.03 and senior Kristina Paegle’s blazing quick 21.54, the second-best split of anyone in the field. The Hoosier quartet finished second in a time of 1:26.83, 17 hundredths off the program record and ranking No. 4 in program history.
Clark went sub-1:42 in the 200-yard freestyle for the second consecutive day, following a similar performance leading off the 800 freestyle relay Tuesday night. This time, the freshman won the 200 free with a personal best 1:41.27, touching 1.87 seconds in front of the runner-up. Clark has broken into the top 10 performance list with the No. 6 and No. 7 times this week, only behind 2025 NCAA Champion Anna Peplowski’s five best times.
Indiana earned a pair of runner-up finishes on the diving boards. Junior Ella Roselli took second on the women’s 3-meter with a 343.90, followed closely by classmate Lily Witte’s 330.70. Sophomore Joshua Sollenberger had IU’s top finish on the men’s 1-meter springboard with a score of 367.00, and freshman Josh Hedberg place fourth with a 351.25.
TEAM STANDINGS Men 1. Indiana – 1,056
2. Louisville – 750
3. Ohio State – 737
4. Purdue – 569
Yale – 527
Penn State – 482
Kentucky – 424
Cincinnati – 287
Northwestern – 60
Wisconsin – 14
Women
1. Ohio State – 850
Indiana – 812.5
Louisville – 801
Purdue – 540
UCLA – 485
Kentucky – 441
Cincinnati – 420
Penn State – 378.5
Yale – 295
Northwestern – 45
Pittsburgh – 25
Wisconsin – 3
RESULTS
PR – Program Record; POOL – Pool Record, PB – Personal Best; NQ – NCAA Qualifier;
ST. LOUIS – University of Evansville freshman Eden McR.oberts has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Diver of the Week in an announcement by the league on Wednesday.
McRoberts had a stellar performance throughout the A3 Invite in Carbondale, Ill. She opened the weekend with a second-place finish in the 1-meter dive. Her score was a lifetime best at 219.1 in Thursday’s opening day of the meet.
In the 3-meter, McRoberts posted a score of 191.00 to earn a finish of fifth place.
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