Eskenazi School and Museum community mourns the passing of Lois Eskenazi

The following is a transcript of the Weekly News Rundown.

Annabel Prokopy: It’s Monday, Dec. 15.

Nate Soco: In state news, the Indiana Senate voted against House Bill 1032 on redistricting on Thursday, Dec. 11. The final vote was 31-19, with 21 Republicans voting against the bill and breaking with the national party line. Congressional Districts 1 and 7, currently held by Democratic Representatives Frank Mrvan and Andre Carson, would have split into districts more favorable to Republicans. The vote comes after months of pressure at the national level from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance and a passing vote of 57-41 in the Indiana House of Representatives on Friday, Dec. 4. Annabel, how have Indiana politicians responded?

A: Nate, Governor Mike Braun called Republicans who voted against the bill “misguided” and said that he will “be working with the President to challenge these people who do not represent the best interests of Hoosiers.” Senate Democratic leader Shelli Yoder, who represents most of Monroe County, supported the outcome of the vote, saying “voters choose their leaders, not the other way around.” 

N: Also in state news, Senate Bill 110 was introduced on Tuesday, Dec. 9 in the Indiana Senate by Republican senators Susan Glick and Greg Walker. If passed, the bill would have implications for Indiana University’s Board of Trustees, restoring the three alumni-elected trustee positions that are currently held by trustees appointed by Governor Braun. The alumni-elected trustee positions were removed by a last-minute addition to the state budget bill that was passed on May 6 which gave Governor Braun the ability to appoint all nine trustees. Braun removed three trustees on June 2 and replaced them with his selected appointees. In addition to the restoration of these elected positions, the bill would change the length of the student trustee’s term from one year to its previous length of two years.

A: In city news, Health by Design awarded the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools an $18,698 grant to improve student safety walking to school. The award is part of its Safe Routes to School program, which funds infrastructure improvements such as crosswalks. The grants and advocacy director of Health by Design, Ashlyn Devine, called safe infrastructure for pedestrians and bikers “a freedom of choice aspect. It is also a sense of empowerment.” Awards fall under the “E’s of Safe Routes to School:” education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, evaluation, equity, and enjoyment and are funded by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act as part of the COVID-19 federal stimulus package. Nate, what will MCCSC use this grant for and what else do we know about its community benefits?

N: Annabel, the school corporation plans to use this award for a pedestrian gate at Binford Elementary School, for eight bike racks at schools and for bike education from manager of Coordinated School Health at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Lisa Greathouse. Devine said that encouraging walking to school is a win for student health and safety as well as for the community, “When you’re outside, walking or biking, you’re really part of the community.” Jeffrey Jackson, City of Bloomington Transportation Demand manager also said that “any mode that reduces single occupant vehicles is a win for community sustainability in our environment.”

A: Four people were arrested under drug and firearm-related charges following an FBI raid of the Bloomington apartment complex Maxwell Terrace on Monday, Dec. 8. Two were arrested at the apartment and two were arrested in different residences in the city. Nate, what do we know about the charges?

N: Annabel, Kelsie Clayton, Southern District of Indiana Communications and Community Relations Officer, shared the identities of the four arrested individuals on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Three face charges for counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. An additional person faces charges for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. They had their first initial appearances in the Indiana Southern District Court on Monday in Indianapolis.

A: In sports, Indiana head football coach Curt Cignetti was named the Walter Camp Coach of the Year on Wednesday, Dec. 10 for the second year in a row, making him the only coach to win back-to-back and one of only five coaches to win multiple times. The award comes following Cignetti’s first season at IU in 2024 with an 11-2 record and their first-ever 12-0 regular season this year. 

N: IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza was awarded the Walter Camp National Player of the Year also on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The last and only other Hoosier to win the award was former Indiana running back Anthony Thompson in 1989. Following a Big Ten Championship win against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 6, the Hoosiers hold the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff and will play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, California.

The IDS Weekly News Rundown will be taking a break over the winter and will return in 2026. Have a great break Hoosiers!