The following is a transcript of the Weekly News Rundown:
Annabel Prokopy: It’s Monday, December 8.
Nate Soco: In state news, the Indiana legislature will convene this week to consider maps released last Monday, December 1 that redraw the state’s congressional districts. This mid-decade redistricting effort has been supported by President Trump, who criticized Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Indiana Senate Republicans in November after efforts stalled. Vice President JD Vance additionally made a visit to Indiana in August and October to discuss redistricting in person with legislators. Annabel, what do the currently proposed maps look like?
A: Nate, the maps released this week show some significant changes to congressional districts one and seven. These districts are currently held by Democrats, Representative Frank Mrvan and Representative Andre Carson, and encompass areas around the Lake Michigan shoreline and Marion County. Marion County, which encompasses Indianapolis, would be split into four different districts that extend toward the Ohio and Kentucky borders. Nate, what are the reactions at the statehouse?
N: Annabel, Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura, a Democrat, filed a bill to ban mid-decade redistricting the same day that the map was released. The bill would only allow for redistricting following the collection of new census data, which is collected every 10 years. Democratic Indiana House Representative Matt Pierce is also against the redistricting efforts, telling the IDS that splitting Marion County into four districts is “destroying what are called communities of interest” and “dilutes the voting power of African American voters in Marion County.” At least 11 Republicans from Indiana have been swatted or threatened since the push for redistricting in the state began. This includes Republican state Senator Mike Bohacek, who received a threat the same day he condemned Trump’s use of a slur for people with intellectual disabilities.
A: In county news, a new IREAD testing regulations from a state law passed in 2024 means more third graders in Monroe County and across Indiana will be held back next year. The law, Indiana Senate Enroll Act 1, was passed on March 1, 2024 and requires that all third graders pass the standardized reading exam in order to move on to the fourth grade. It was passed after scores dropped following the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking concern about literacy. This fall, 104 third graders in Monroe County Community School Corporation failed the IREAD test and 19 will be held back. 80 obtained Good Cause Exemptions, which can include considerations for students in special education, identified English learners, and students who have already been retained twice. Five students who failed the exam will not re-enroll with MCCSC next year. Nate, what are some community responses to the change in legislation and implications on MCCSC?
N: Annabel, chair of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education in Monroe County, Keri Miksza, is concerned with the law’s implications, saying that “retention should always be a local decision.” Miksza is also concerned about the emotional toll of standardized testing on students and said that “it’s just wrong when adults use it to compare and contrast one school against another school.
A: In city news, Bloomington’s city controller, Jessica McClellan, will step down later in December. Mayor Kerry Thompson announced the change on Thursday, December 4. McClellan currently helps to manage the city’s budget and finances. Thompson described the position and McClellan’s role as “a complex and often invisible job, and Jessica has done it with clarity, transparency, and poise.” Geoffrey McKim, a former Monroe County Councilmember, will take over the position in mid-January. McKim served on the county council from 2009-2024, was the fiscal body’s president from 2010-2014, and currently serves as the recreation fee program manager for the National Parks Service. He also worked as an adjunct lecturer with the IU O’Neill School for nine years teaching information systems.
A: IU and Eli Lilly signed an agreement on December 3 to expand clinical trials in Indiana. Eli Lilly will give IU $40 million in the five-year collaboration that will focus on research for Alzheimer’s, using artificial intelligence in clinical trials and workforce development for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and clinical trial operations. IU President Pamela Whitten described the partnership as “a great opportunity for citizens of Indiana to have access to cutting-edge trials.”
N:. The partnership will include not only the IU School of Medicine, but also the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and the IU Kelley School of Business.
