AGP Executive Report

Immigration Enforcement: Indiana AG Todd Rokita says his office will use federally compiled lists to target employers using unauthorized workers, with business sanctions starting July 1. Driver Licensing: Indiana’s BMV will let teens get driver licenses on their 16th birthday starting July 1 under HEA 1200, with the same testing and supervised-driving requirements. Public Safety—Courts: A Pike County jury convicted Lloyd Coleman, a serious violent felon, of unlawful firearm possession; the case included a two-phase verdict process. Child Care Enforcement: A judge set a June 18 hearing in Indiana’s lawsuit seeking to shut down an alleged unlicensed Goshen daycare after inspectors found 86 children, including 66 in a basement without a fire escape. Public Safety—Drug Crackdown: Indiana State Police and Gov. Mike Braun highlighted 84 arrests and more than 48 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Southern Indiana enforcement efforts. State Policy—Agriculture: A new Indiana law aims to cut red tape for small farms by limiting state/local health department rules on certain homestead vendors. Local Governance: Mercer County residents celebrated voters with 100 straight election wins over 50 years.

Indiana Criminal Justice: Angola deputies served a second warrant after an initial arrest tied to alleged nonconsensual intimate image distribution and alleged marijuana/paraphernalia found during a search. Indiana Law Enforcement Accountability: Reports say Jennings County Sheriff William Freeman faced a second warrant tied to theft allegations plus obstruction, official misconduct and perjury, after a GPS-tracked stolen campaign sign probe. Healthcare Cost Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide to post prices or face up to $2M fines; Indiana is cited among the highest with dozens of notices. COVID-19 Testing Fallout: Indiana Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a multistate settlement with GS Labs, including restitution for overcharged and delayed test results. College Sports & Gambling: Texas judge’s injunction letting Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby play after a sports-betting case sparked renewed national backlash and NCAA pressure. Indiana Economy/Workforce: Meta’s $115M “America’s Workforce Academy” pilot includes Indianapolis, aiming to train for skilled trades. State Government/Immigration: Indiana rejected and canceled voter registrations for more than half of flagged immigrant Hoosiers under its proof-of-citizenship law.

College Sports Legal Shock: A Texas judge granted Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction to play in 2026 despite an NCAA gambling ban, setting off fresh backlash from the NCAA and Big 12 leaders who warn of broader fallout for college athletics. Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including multiple in the Philadelphia area—that they must post clearer pricing or face steep penalties, as affordability pressure ramps up. Indiana Health Access: Indiana hospitals are seeing a double-digit rise in emergency visits since 2025, tied to more Hoosiers going uninsured or shifting to high-deductible plans. Public Safety: A safety advocate questioned whether Indianapolis is doing enough under its Vision Zero plan after multiple pedestrian deaths, including a fatal crash at East Washington and Church Road. Indiana Politics & Elections: Indiana Democrats selected Beau Bayh as secretary of state nominee, while Indiana’s Senate recount process in a razor-thin GOP race remains in motion. Local Government: Elkhart Community Schools faces major budget cuts and projected deficits, with consultants warning spending reductions may be needed before the new school year. Human Story: An Indiana woman missing from Mexico was found dead, while her seven children were reported safe.

College Sports & Courts: A Texas judge granted Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction, letting him play this fall despite NCAA ineligibility tied to gambling, and the NCAA says it will appeal. Indiana Elections: The Indiana Recount Commission set a schedule for recounting a razor-thin Senate District 23 GOP primary win, with lawyers seeking unprecedented voter subpoenas after the recount. Homelessness Policy: Monroe County dropped its 30-day notice for removing homeless encampments after a new state law made the local policy “irrelevant,” with enforcement starting July 1. Utility Regulation: Indiana’s new heat-day utility shutoff protections apply only to customers approved for the federally funded LIHEAP program. Immigration Enforcement: A Trump administration plan to pull CBP from “sanctuary” jurisdictions gained GOP momentum, despite warnings of economic fallout. Public Safety/Local Government: DeKalb County commissioners opened bids for a bridge deck rehabilitation and advanced highway-related ordinances and paving updates. Veterans Health IT: The VA expanded its electronic health record rollout to four more facilities in Ohio and Kentucky. Missing Person Update: An Indiana woman reported missing in Mexico with seven children was found dead, while the children were located safe.

Indiana Driver’s License Change: Gov. Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1200, letting Hoosiers get a driver’s license on their 16th birthday starting July 1, 2026 (down from 16 years and 90 days), with the same requirements: 180-day learner permit, driver’s ed, supervised driving log, vision test, and a driving test. College Sports & Courts: A Texas judge granted Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction to play in 2026 after the NCAA deemed him ineligible for gambling, sending shock waves through college athletics; the NCAA says it will appeal. Education Policy: A new national review finds teacher prep programs have improved on “science of reading” methods, but many still teach outdated practices and too few adequately train teachers for struggling readers and English learners. Antitrust Watch: Indiana AG Ford filed a brief in the Meta antitrust case, backing the FTC’s push against Meta’s alleged monopolization. Public Opinion: An AP-NORC poll finds fewer Americans view the U.S. as exceptional and fewer say democracy is central to U.S. identity. Hoosier Lottery: June 8 Cash 5: 05-06-13-37-41; Daily 3 Midday: 5-2-7 (SB 1), Evening: 2-0-7 (SB 1).

Courts & Civil Liberties: A divided federal appeals court upheld Indiana’s limits on who can witness state executions, rejecting media groups’ First Amendment challenge and keeping most reporters out unless invited by the condemned person. College Sports & Gambling: Former Indiana QB Brendan Sorsby won a temporary injunction against the NCAA, preserving his eligibility for Texas Tech’s 2026 season despite a gambling ineligibility finding tied to thousands of bets, including wagers involving his own teams. State Government & Policy: A Thomas More Society filing argues there’s no “religious right” to abortion as an Indiana Supreme Court case weighs whether religious-liberty claims can override the state’s abortion ban. Local Government: Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman turned himself in after an indictment over an alleged campaign sign theft dispute, with charges including official misconduct, obstruction of justice and perjury. Economic/Everyday Costs: GasBuddy reported multiple Indiana-area price lows for the week ending May 30, including Knox County midgrade at $4.34 and Clay County diesel at $4.99, as refinery outages and Middle East tensions continue to roil fuel markets. Community & Development: A Jefferson County town hall on a proposed data center at the Jefferson Proving Ground drew residents and opponents after a zoning board denied an appeal of the project’s approval.

Democrats Line Up Statewide Ticket: Indiana Democrats announced Porter County Clerk Jessica Bailey for state comptroller and public health professional Coumba Kebe for state treasurer, with Bailey pitching “transparent, accountable” oversight and Kebe emphasizing Medicaid-focused, plain-language communication. Statehouse Watch: Gov. Mike Braun signed a law letting Indiana teens get driver’s licenses on their 16th birthdays (effective July 1), cutting the prior 16-and-90-days requirement while keeping testing and supervised-driving rules. Local Government / Economic Development: Fort Wayne’s Butler can’t secure a former industrial site deal, putting $2.37M in READI demolition funding at risk and raising questions about the owner’s late price demand. Public Safety / Courts: Trump issued a full pardon to former Indiana Rep. Stephen Buyer, clearing an insider-trading conviction tied to the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Education & Youth: Huntington eighth grader Ananiel Thamsanqa earned a spot in the NBA Math Hoops Global Championship in New York, representing Indiana’s NBA/WNBA teams. Community Notes: Lake City Skiers returned to the Indiana spotlight with “America’s 250th Celebration on Water” in Warsaw.

Indiana Politics: Beau Bayh won the Indiana Democratic secretary of state nomination, beating Blythe Potter at the state convention—setting up a statewide race with Bayh pitching “change” and a renewed focus on checks and balances. State Government & Policy: A national redistricting fight is poised to spread further into statehouses and even local races, with lawmakers in multiple states preparing new maps that could reshape everything from taxes to housing rules. Courts: In the Thomas Moss judge-shooting case, attorneys argued over venue, judge recusal, and prosecutors’ conflicts during a Friday pretrial conference, with rulings expected at a July 9 conference. Local Governance: Munster’s plan commission will consider whether a proposed data center project at the former Lansing Country Club site can add data centers as a special exception use. Public Safety/Justice: The U.S. Army is reportedly preparing for the first military executions in more than 50 years, with a plan tied to a Terre Haute facility awaiting a presidential order.

Democratic Statehouse Shakeup: Beau Bayh won the Indiana Democratic nomination for secretary of state, beating Blythe Potter 1,385-883 at the party convention, with delegates touting “blue pride” and Bayh promising an “independent audit” to target insider dealing and corruption. State Politics: Jessica Bailey was also selected as the Democratic nominee for Indiana comptroller, running unopposed and pitching transparency and broader oversight of state spending. Local Government & Policy: A national redistricting fight is spreading beyond Congress, with Georgia’s legislature set to redraw districts for 2028 and the potential ripple reaching state chambers and local boards. Public Safety & Health: Majestic Care of Bloomington received a 3-star CMS rating in Monroe County for Q1 2026, with no fines reported, as Indiana’s aging population continues to grow. Indiana Economy & Infrastructure: Indiana’s data center boom keeps expanding, with a proposed Madison, Indiana project mentioned alongside broader concerns about power demand and environmental impacts. Federal/Global Watch: The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf, testing a fragile ceasefire, while Israel struck targets in southern Lebanon amid ongoing tensions.

Bears Stadium Shuffle: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a new stadium plan in Hammond, Indiana, but Illinois leaders and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson say it’s not a “done deal” until a final site is locked in and construction begins—leaving Arlington Heights still in play. Indiana Crime & Courts: Indianapolis prosecutors charged a 14-year-old in the fatal shooting of Indiana University graduate Brett Scrogham, and are seeking to move the case from juvenile to adult court amid national scrutiny of “soft-on-crime” claims and local prosecution decisions. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy data shows Midwest-area prices tied to refinery outages and Middle East shipping disruptions, with the report noting Indiana-region impacts from reduced fuel production capacity. Small Business Spotlight: PNC and the Fort Wayne TinCaps named 2026 “Going To Bat For Small Business” winners, highlighting local growth and community impact in Northeast Indiana. Politics Beyond Indiana: Trump issued a pardon to former Indiana GOP Rep. Stephen Buyer, convicted in an insider trading case, as the White House released details of the clemency.

Bears Stadium Push: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to “advance” a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected—an escalation after Illinois lawmakers failed to move a stadium tax-certainty bill. Statehouse Politics: Illinois Republicans blamed Gov. JB Pritzker for the Bears’ shift; Pritzker’s office said the team kept “shifting” stadium locations and hindered progress. Indiana Law & Courts: A Seventh Circuit panel upheld an Indiana prison rule limiting journalists’ access to inmate executions, saying reporters aren’t barred from covering them. Higher Ed/Policy: Indiana’s interim study committees are set to tackle AI impacts on state agencies, mobile driver’s licenses, and consumer data privacy ahead of the 2027 session. Public Safety: A new Indiana law expands protections for health care employees and increases penalties for violence against them, taking effect July 1. Sports Eligibility: The NCAA denied Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby’s appeal to reinstate eligibility amid his gambling-related case. Energy & Jobs: Trump announced a $700M push for coal power infrastructure, including projects tied to Indiana. Lottery: Indiana reported June 5 Mega Millions and Cash 5 winning numbers.

Bears Stadium Push Into Indiana: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still to be selected—after Illinois lawmakers failed to move a bill that would have given the team tax certainty. The team says a Hammond stadium would “transform the region,” but the announcement still leaves room for Illinois to re-enter the picture. Indiana Elections: Secretary of State candidate Jamie Reitenour is courting Clay County delegates ahead of the June 20 GOP convention, leaning on delegate outreach and discussing redistricting and the secretary of state’s role. Public Safety/Drugs: Three people were arrested in northeast Indiana after an investigation tied to fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, with rifles and a suspected cocaine/fentanyl mixture recovered. Reproductive Politics: Planned Parenthood’s Indiana-area affiliate is offering “Just In Case” abortion pills for non-pregnant women to obtain in advance. Culture-War Messaging: A broader GOP trend shows Republican governors rebranding June away from Pride Month, including Indiana’s “Nuclear Family Month” framing.

Indiana Democrats Convention: Delegates from all 92 counties meet Saturday in Indianapolis to set the 2026 party platform and choose nominees for statewide offices including secretary of state, state treasurer, and comptroller. Statehouse Leadership Shakeup: Sen. Chris Garten resigns as Senate Majority Floor Leader, setting up a potential fall fight over Senate GOP leadership with Sen. Rodric Bray. Coal Policy in the Spotlight: President Trump announces nearly $700M to support coal plants and exports using Cold War-era Defense Production Act authority, including funding that would reach Indiana coal-fired facilities. Federal Courts, Indiana Case: The 7th Circuit upholds a nearly 16-year prison sentence in an Indiana drug case, rejecting arguments tied to a federal sentencing enhancement. Public Safety & Law: Indiana’s driver’s license age drops to 16 under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Braun, with teens able to get licenses on their birthdays starting July 1. Health Policy: RFK Jr.’s team seeks access to Americans’ identifiable medical records through federal health data systems, reigniting the debate over vaccines and autism research. Local Government: Branch County plans to solicit surveyor bids for the Michigan-Indiana state line “re-monumentation” project, funded by a $127K state grant. Sports & Culture: Caitlin Clark’s Fever bounce-back win ties her own WNBA record; Luke Bryan brings his 2026 Farm Tour to Brookston in September.

Northwest Indiana Stadium Watch: The Northwest Indiana Pro Sports Commission is pausing major planning decisions for a proposed Bears stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond, waiting on the Bears’ final relocation call—leaving Indiana’s sports-attraction strategy in limbo and pushing the board to focus on smaller pro and emerging leagues like soccer, lacrosse, and cricket. Statehouse & Public Safety: Gov. Mike Braun has signed/extended measures tied to immigration enforcement and public safety, including a bill allowing local police to enforce immigration law. Driver’s License Change: Indiana is lowering the driver’s license age to 16, with teens able to get licenses on their birthdays starting July 1. Infrastructure Funding Pressure: A new look at road conditions highlights how the October 2026 expiration of major federal road funding could disrupt safety and maintenance work. Federal Policy: Bipartisan AI regulation is moving forward in Congress, but critics warn it could preempt state AI laws.

Indiana Driver’s License Change: Gov. Mike Braun signed a new law lowering the driver’s license age to 16, letting teens get licenses on their birthdays starting July 1 (with learner’s permit, driver’s ed, supervised practice, and tests still required). Statehouse & Immigration: Braun also signed an immigration enforcement bill requiring government ICE compliance and barring knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, while the Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith controversy over Islam remarks continues to ripple through GOP ranks. Courts & Public Safety: Indiana’s Supreme Court backed a state law ending a long-running City of Gary lawsuit targeting gun makers, while Indiana officials also highlighted threats against judges and broader security planning in other states. Local Government Watch: Indianapolis Public Education Corporation is weighing a potential November school tax referendum, with public listening sessions scheduled. Public Health & Community: Fort Wayne and Super Shot are running free “Summer Health Hubs” with vaccines, sports physicals, and lead testing. Opioid Settlement Use: Fort Wayne announced a public community convening on July 29 to discuss how opioid settlement funds are being used locally. Transportation Budget Relief: Braun extended Indiana’s gas tax holiday again, keeping both major fuel taxes suspended through late July.

Statehouse & Culture Clash: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun joined other GOP-led states in proclaiming June “Nuclear Family Month,” framing a husband-and-wife household as the “foundation” of society as Pride events run alongside. Courts & Public Safety: In Brownsburg, a plea agreement was filed for a former daycare director tied to allegations of child sex crimes at Main Street University 4 Kidz; another defendant, Jennyfer Lingbeck of Fishers, faces obstruction and neglect-related charges with a change-of-plea hearing set for July 20. Elections & Power: Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting wins could translate into roughly 10 additional U.S. House seats this November, but Democrats are betting national trends and voter backlash will blunt the gains. Law Enforcement & Fraud: A Scott County man was arrested in Jackson County for allegedly selling counterfeit silver bars (over $38,000) and attempting to sell fake gold bars. Budget & Taxes: Braun extended Indiana’s gas tax holiday for a third time, suspending both usage and excise taxes through July 7 to save about 62 cents per gallon. Immigration Policy: Braun ceremonially signed Indiana’s FAIRNESS Act, targeting illegal immigration and requiring government ICE compliance. Higher Ed & Jobs: Indiana University launched its “Capital Campus” in Washington, D.C., with a ribbon-cutting at an eight-story building purchased for more than $17 million.