AGP Executive Report

Elections & Voting Rights: The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a ruling blocking its executive order that would restrict vote-by-mail, teeing up a major fight with states suing over federal overreach. Public Safety & Courts: A Lynn town marshal was struck and killed during a chase tied to an alleged stolen van; the suspect was taken to custody as charges are expected. Housing & Consumer Protection: Indianapolis renters face some of the highest eviction rates in the country, and Central Indiana tenants are also dealing with rising “junk fees” that can add unexpected costs beyond rent. Health & Social Services: An opioid settlement community convening in Fort Wayne focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery funding beyond the criminal justice system. State Government & Policy: Indiana’s AG announced a $154,000 settlement tied to alleged generic drug price-fixing, with potential payments for eligible consumers. Community & Accessibility: A Hagerstown man is pushing for wheelchair access at a post office that relies on a back freight lift, raising questions about federal accessibility rules. Sports & Culture Wars: The Sophie Cunningham trans-athletes debate continues to spill into WNBA games, including reports of hostility toward teen supporters and a subsequent Storm apology. Public Art & Local Development: A $250,000 grant is boosting a northern Indiana public art push with new mural projects aimed at underserved communities.

ICE Detention Lawsuit: A detainee says an Indiana facility left him in a pool of blood after missed epilepsy meds and then pepper-sprayed him, renewing scrutiny of medical care in ICE custody. Local Government & Privacy: Monroe County and Bloomington moved to end Flock Safety automated license plate reader contracts, citing “mass surveillance” concerns and worries about outside access. Public Safety: Gov. Braun and Indiana State Police highlighted major Northwest Indiana interstate enforcement wins, including narcotics pipeline takedowns and solving interstate shootings. Rural Health Funding: Braun’s GROW grant program is sending $120 million across eight Indiana regions to expand rural healthcare access. State Policy: Indiana’s new rules require schools to teach vaping/nicotine dangers through mandatory lessons. Courts & Federal Oversight: A Mishawaka Fieldhouse developer faces allegations tied to a Florida home purchase, with the city saying it would be a victim if proven. Election Tech Debate: Ohio election officials are using an AI chatbot for election procedure help, while other states remain cautious. Community & Veterans: Muncie seeks vendors for a veterans “Stand Down” event, and Indiana marked a veteran honored as a national “Community Hero.”

Statehouse Oversight: Indiana’s inspector general will stop publishing summaries of investigative reports, citing legal risk and due-process concerns for people under review. Public Safety Tech: Indiana State Police used Flock camera data to identify suspects in an I-465 shooting within days, leading to arrests. Energy & Environment: Indiana is drafting rules to seek federal primacy over carbon storage wells, setting up a major shift in how Class VI permitting is handled. Local Accountability: Elkhart will release bodycam footage from a February officer-involved shooting after prosecutors ruled it justified under Indiana’s self-defense law. Federal Policy Push: Indiana AGs joined a bipartisan push urging the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Customer” rules to curb illegal robocalls. Workforce & Housing: A Portage Township-led rental housing task force aims to improve enforcement of South Bend’s rental safety program. Business/Industry: Amazon filed an air permit application for a massive Hobart data center, drawing fresh scrutiny from nearby residents.

Inspector General: Indiana’s Office of Inspector General will stop publishing summaries of its investigative reports, citing legal risk and due-process concerns for respondents. Elections & Voting Tech: Indiana election officials are urging caution as voters ask AI chatbots about voting rules and dates, warning about outdated or incorrect answers. Broadband: Indiana is preparing to roll out BEAD broadband funding aimed at bringing high-speed internet to about 123,000 homes and businesses across 91 counties. School Policy & Safety: New Indiana laws require schools to teach nicotine and vaping dangers, and districts are preparing for back-to-school with health screenings and supply giveaways. Public Safety: Bloomington police are increasing traffic enforcement ahead of the school year, and Indiana State Police are investigating a false child-welfare tip that led to Pete Buttigieg being separated from his twins. Courts & Accountability: A Cambridge City attorney was suspended after an OWI felony conviction. Health & Consumer Watch: A cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce is expanding, with Indiana among affected states.

School Board Ballot Fight: A new Indiana law letting school board candidates run with a political party is now putting the only two Indianapolis Public Schools District 4 candidates’ spots at risk, after challenges argue their Democratic filings make them ineligible. Immigration & Courts: A Supreme Court TPS ruling is leaving some Logansport Haitians worried about what happens next for families, work authorization, and health care. Public Safety & Health: Indiana’s new school requirement expands tobacco education to include nicotine products and sets more frequent instruction across grade levels. Education Support: Lawrence is launching “Handle with Care,” a police-to-school notification program that flags students who may need extra support after traumatic incidents. Agriculture & Rural Business: Indiana Farm Bureau opens grants for women-owned ag small businesses, offering up to five $1,000 awards for training and equipment. Federal Policy Watch: Senate Republicans are pushing to delay August recess over the SAVE America Act, while Thune says there’s no clear path to passage. Immigration Enforcement Concerns: An immigrant welcome group says recent Evansville-area enforcement actions raised due process and racial profiling concerns. Sports & Youth: Girls flag football took another step toward becoming an IHSAA-sanctioned sport as Indiana hits the team threshold. Prison Medical Neglect Suit: Lawsuits allege an ICE detainee at Miami Correctional Facility was denied seizure meds, suffered a head injury, and was pepper-sprayed afterward.

Consumer Protection Push: With federal consumer enforcement scaled back, state AGs are stepping up investigations and antitrust work to fight rising prices. Indiana Politics & Elections: A Senate District 23 recount fight is turning into a ballot-privacy showdown, with motions seeking access to the federal SAVE database and more voter testimony. Libertarian Leadership: Stephanie Dasbach was named chair of the Libertarian Party of Indiana, replacing Evan McMahon. Public Safety: IMPD is asking for help after a newborn was found alone near an Indianapolis trail; officials say the mother’s whereabouts are the key concern. Child Welfare Cross-State Scrutiny: A child welfare expert says a Michigan case involving Pete Buttigieg’s twins relied on a vague, unverified tip—raising questions about how abuse reports are handled across state lines. Higher Education & Speech: A new AAUP report highlights threats to academic freedom and institutional autonomy, including disputes tied to Northwestern. Economy/Local Impact: Indiana’s gas tax holiday is set to end Aug. 7, setting up a price spike for drivers.

Immigration & Enforcement: Gov. Mike Braun declined to appear at an Aug. 1 mass-deportation rally in Fishers, according to organizers, while Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is set to speak by video; the rally is drawing backlash after the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled Save Heritage Indiana an anti-immigrant hate group. Deportations: ICE confirmed former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Ogama Adongo—first Kenyan-born NFL player—was deported June 20 after overstaying his visa and accumulating a criminal record. Indiana Courts & Elections: The Indiana Recount Commission is set to hear a Senate recount dispute where one side seeks subpoenas to question voters about whether they cast ballots despite claiming they were Democrats or “progressives,” raising fresh fights over ballot privacy. Public Safety: IMPD is asking for help locating the mother after officers found a newborn near a trail on Indianapolis’ east side; the baby is stable and Indiana’s Safe Haven Law is being highlighted. Local Government: Mishawaka unveiled “Project Shoe City,” a new public art set of fiberglass shoe sculptures tied to the city’s shoemaking history. Energy Prices: AAA reports U.S. gas prices have climbed back above $4 a gallon as renewed U.S.-Iran tensions strain global fuel flows.

Immigration Enforcement: ICE deported former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Ogama Adongo to Kenya after a March removal order, citing a 2016 visa overstay and a 2020 criminal mischief conviction, with ICE saying he was held without bond under the Laken Riley Act. State Politics & Elections: New polling with 100 days to the 2026 midterms shows President Trump underwater in every major battleground state, reinforcing a tight map heading into November. Indiana Governance & Public Safety: Indiana’s gas tax holiday reimbursements are moving out to local governments, with state funding approved to make up losses from the suspension. Federal Policy Impact (H-1B): A new Senate push led by Indiana’s Jim Banks would pause new H-1B visas for three years and permanently set the $100,000 fee, raising stakes for Indiana’s tech and professional workforce. Higher Education: Valparaiso University’s new president Brian Konkol says enrollment and donations are trending up as the school works through recent program cuts and controversy. Sports & Community: Indiana men’s basketball rolled past Chile in the FISU America Games semifinal, setting up the finals.

Immigration Enforcement: ICE confirmed former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Adongo was deported June 20 after a judge ordered removal in March, citing a visa overstay and detention under the Laken Riley Act. Election Courts: A Biden-appointed majority on the First Circuit kept in place an injunction blocking key Trump election-integrity steps in 23 states and D.C., including limits on DHS citizenship-list distribution and USPS mail-ballot changes. Indiana Politics & Voting: Indiana’s Senate District 23 recount is set to consider claims that could lead to subpoenas targeting voters over how they cast ballots, with debate over whether it undermines secret-ballot privacy. Public Safety: IMPD is seeking information about a newborn found near a trail; the baby is stable and police say the mother may need urgent medical attention. Local Government: Mishawaka unveiled “Project Shoe City,” a youth-led public art effort honoring the city’s shoemaking past with fiberglass sculptures and QR-code history. Sports & Indiana: Indiana men’s basketball beat Chile 107-40 in the FISU America Games and advances to the finals Monday. Campaign Trail: Libertarian Secretary of State nominee Lauri Shillings campaigned at Fort Wayne Pride ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Health & Fraud: A national report on education fraud flags Indiana as losing $44 million tied to inflated attendance and alleged diversion of funds.

ICE Detainers & Public Safety: DHS/ICE says it lodged a detainer in Indiana for Javier Cereque-Perez, accused in a 2024 attempted rape and sexual misconduct case near Fishers, after a July 6 arrest with the FBI; ICE also pressed California sanctuary officials not to release a Sacramento daycare assault suspect. Women’s Sports Culture War: Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham doubled down on keeping biological males out of women’s sports, drawing support from GOP Sen. Darline Graham and White House attention. Food Safety: CDC expanded a cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce to four more states, bringing the total to 9, with Indiana already included; FDA remains focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms. Indiana Courts/Policy: A Marion County grand jury is investigating possible unlawful cannabis lobbying and false lobbying reporting tied to the 2025 session. Workforce & Training: Gov. Braun announced $9.1M in apprenticeship grants plus a reentry-focused skilled trades initiative. Local Government & Infrastructure: DeKalb County plan officials heard “Data Centers 101” as a data center moratorium continues. Public Finance: Braun says Indiana’s gas tax holiday is ending Aug. 6 and that lost local revenues are being reimbursed. Labor Lawsuit: A former Parkview Randallia employee filed a class action alleging wage theft via payroll rounding.

Secretary of State Race: Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard secured enough signatures to land on the November ballot as the Lincoln Party candidate, setting up a four-way race against Max Engling, Beau Bayh, and Lauri Shillings. Election Law Fight: A complaint alleges Republican secretary of state candidate Max Engling improperly accepted a $60,000 dark-money contribution tied to Sen. Jim Banks; Engling’s campaign says it refunded the money after internal review. Public Safety: A suspect was arrested in Indiana after a shooting in Highland Park left a man critically hurt, following an hours-long shelter-in-place. Environment & Air Quality: IDEM Commissioner Clint Woods is pushing EPA changes that would loosen Northwest Indiana ozone rules, drawing sharp criticism from local health advocates. Housing & Homelessness: Fort Wayne continues work on a downtown homeless resource center, even as approval delays persist. Courts & Land Use: A LaPorte County homeowner says a proposed multi-county transmission line could lead to eminent domain seizure of his property. Workforce & Education: Indiana colleges are looking harder at adult learners as the traditional freshman pool shrinks. Business & Tariffs: New Trump tariff moves are adding uncertainty for small businesses. Sports & Indiana Politics: WNBA Fever guard Sophie Cunningham doubled down on her “common sense” stance on trans athletes in women’s sports, keeping Indiana’s biggest sports story tied to national culture-war debate.

Reentry Jobs Boost: The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and partner nonprofits just landed $10.2M in federal RESTART grants to expand job training and apprenticeships for people returning from prison, with programs targeting skilled trades and advanced manufacturing across multiple counties. Trans Athletes in the Spotlight: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is still driving national debate after ESPN coverage and renewed comments that transgender girls shouldn’t compete in women’s sports; the White House says the president is “following” the story and agrees with her stance. Election Administration Watch: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales attended the National Association of Secretaries of State conference, emphasizing election security, cybersecurity, and services for Hoosiers and businesses amid concerns about the Trump administration’s role. School Governance Fight: Gov. Mike Braun signed a new Indiana law allowing school board members to affiliate with a political party starting this November, drawing criticism that it will inject politics into local education. Public Safety & Courts: In Owen County, jury selection is underway in the murder trial of Quentin Lamont Porter Jr. in the 2024 killing of Malik Darea Sims, with prosecutors laying out a timeline using surveillance and witness testimony.

Higher Education Funding: Indiana Commission for Higher Education advanced an updated outcomes-based formula that ties extra public-college dollars to degree completions and alignment with state workforce priorities, with the next two fiscal years set pending fall approval. Statehouse Roads: Hancock County is set to receive more than $1 million through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program for road and bridge work, part of a statewide $84 million round. Economic Development: Gov. Braun opened a $6.9 million Advanced Energy Development, Test, Validation and Training Facility in Columbus, backed by READI 2.0, aimed at advancing power systems and workforce training. Public Safety: Two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers were shot during a disturbance; the suspect was killed and the officers were injured, underscoring a recent rash of officer shootings in the region. Sports & Culture War: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham doubled down on her “protect young girls” stance on transgender athletes, drawing national attention and White House commentary. Consumer/Health: Indiana AG Todd Rokita announced Hoosiers may be eligible for compensation from a national settlement over alleged generic-drug price-fixing by Glenmark. Local Government: Bloomington City Council failed to override Mayor Kerry Thomson’s veto of an annual Kirkwood Avenue closure plan.

Indiana Education Policy: Gov. Mike Braun’s administration is pushing a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone ban, expanding limits on student device use across the entire school day under SEA 78. Childcare Safety Rules: A new Indiana proposal would require active shooter and intruder drills in daycares every six months, with providers divided over whether the added requirement could cause stress for young children. Housing & Local Government: Knox County commissioners approved on first reading a zoning change to allow a housing project inside the U.S. 41 Industrial Park, moving it to the Area Plan Commission for review. Elections & Ballot Access: Indiana Election Division staff confirmed Greg Ballard cleared signature requirements, putting the Lincoln Party candidate on the November ballot for secretary of state. Energy & Nuclear Push: Indiana officials are aiming to build local support for nuclear development, including efforts tied to the Rockport site as I&M weighs gas and potential small modular reactor options. Public Safety: Indiana’s fall hunting season is approaching, with the DNR promoting hunter education classes statewide.

Gas Tax Reimbursement: Indiana is starting distributions to repay local governments for losses tied to the state’s gas tax suspension, with the State Board of Finance authorizing $121 million from the State Highway Fund to local road and bridge accounts. Special Session Watch: Gov. Mike Braun says he’s still undecided on whether to call a special session to extend the gas tax holiday, which expires Aug. 6. Local Infrastructure Funding: State lawmakers highlighted new Community Crossings matching grants sending more than $672,000 to Henry County for road and bridge work, plus Indiana Bond Bank financing for Walkerton street lighting, sidewalks, and parks upgrades. Victims’ Rights in Court: A new Indiana law now requires defendants to be present when victim impact statements are read, aiming to give families more closure. Election Administration: Lake County’s elections assistant director resigned after noting her husband is on the ballot, and the office is bringing in a replacement to protect voter confidence. Public Safety: Indiana National Guard leaders said Camp Atterbury is hosting a combat readiness exercise to test new tactics, including drone and counter-drone operations. Sports & Culture: WNBA Fever star Sophie Cunningham again addressed her stance on trans participation in women’s sports after an ESPN profile sparked renewed debate.

Gas Tax Relief for Indiana Counties: Indiana counties are starting to receive reimbursement payments after Gov. Mike Braun suspended the state gas tax, with Floyd County reporting more than $20,000 this week; the holiday runs through Aug. 6 unless lawmakers extend it. School Policy: Clay Community Schools is preparing for Indiana’s new “bell-to-bell” cellphone and wireless device ban during the school day under the latest state law. Public Safety Tech: Michigan City is seeking Common Council approval for a $300,000 expansion of its Flock camera system, including more license plate readers and integration of community-owned cameras. Food Safety & Health: The CDC says 2026 is on track to be the worst year for cyclospora, with 4,173 domestic cases confirmed since May 1; investigators are still sorting sources, including a major outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce. Nonprofit Leadership: Indiana Humanities named Shelley Hunter its new president/CEO, highlighting her long career in the nonprofit sector and statewide programming. Courts & Crime: A Plymouth woman was arrested after police executed a search warrant tied to a prostitution investigation.