Government

Sites will connect residents with recovery options By IDHS Office of Public Affairs— INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Small Business Administration will co-host Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for residents who were impacted by the March 14 tornadoes in Delaware and Randolph counties. A Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) is a specific location where residents who suffered damage from the storm can ask questions related to their recovery and receive one-on-one assistance connecting with relevant resources. Locations…

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Leagues of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County, Anderson-Madison County, Hamilton County, and Howard County in partnership with Woof Boom Radio and WXIN/FOX AND WTTV/CBS will hold a Congressional District 5 Candidate Forum for the public before the 2024 May primary election. The forum will be take place in the auditorium of Anderson High School, 4610 S. Madison Ave., Anderson, Indiana, on Thursday, April 4, from 6-8 p.m. Attendees should park in the North Lot and…

By Chip Taylor— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Ethics Advisory Committee is seeking public comment on draft ethics standards to be included in an Ethics Ordinance to be drafted and presented for consideration by the Muncie City Council in the fall of 2024. The Muncie Ethics Advisory Committee was established by the Muncie City Council in 2023. The resolution establishing the Ethics Advisory Committee charges it with establishing an ethics code to govern the official public conduct and actions of elected officials,…

By Senator Young Press Office— WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Milan Miracle on the Senate floor. On March 20, 1954, Milan High School – enrollment 161 – defeated Muncie Central in the Indiana High School Boys State Championship, making the Indians the smallest school to ever win the single class tournament in Indiana. The team and town are the inspiration for the movie Hoosiers, released in 1986. “The memory…

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County will be one of three sponsors for an Indiana Republican gubernatorial debate watch party at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, in the conference room of Ball State University’s Multicultural Center. No watch party is scheduled for the Democrat candidates for governor because Jennifer McCormick is the only candidate on the 2024 Democrat primary ballot. Reservations for the watch party are required and should be made with David J….

By Sheryl Swingley— MUNCIE, IN—The Muncie Branch of the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters of Muncie-Delaware County will sponsor a panel discussion about the Equal Rights Amendment and voting during Women’s Week at Ball State University. The panel discussion, titled “A Woman’s Only Right – To Vote,” will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, in the Forum Room of Ball State’s Student Center. Panelists will be Sue Errington, Indiana House representative for District…

By Kyle Johnson— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—In the wake of a severe thunderstorm and tornado that swept through Delaware County early this evening, the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) is actively engaged in response efforts to address the impacts of the disaster. Reports indicate that the storm system inflicted significant damage across various parts of the county, with particular emphasis on the town of Selma. Initial assessments suggest that up to 50% of structures in Selma have been damaged. However,…

By Jasmine Putney, Arbor Day Foundation— LINCOLN, Nebraska —Muncie was named a 2023 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. Muncie achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored…

By Michele Owen— MUNCIE, IN—Muncie residents have been eagerly awaiting news on a proposed skatepark slated for Westside Park, which has been discussed since 2020. The design for the skatepark was bid out to Hunger Skateparks, who collected public input to finalize the design in 2022. The engineering and design work were ready to go in 2023, but permits from the Department of Natural Resources were required before construction could begin. Now, DNR permits have come back approved, and the…