Senator Schmitt, I read your town hall schedule in the Free Press, and I want to be among the first to congratulate you. Six counties, six meetings, every corner of the district. That’s a real public service. You said something in that announcement that I couldn’t have put better myself: “the best ideas don’t come…
Please understand what our county commissioners are about to do. They are preparing to create a county administrator position that will not answer directly to the people of Dubois County, but instead will serve at the pleasure of the very commissioners who appoint the position. Think about that. One individual, given significant influence over county…
Who exactly are we being asked to trust? Supporters of the proposed battery energy storage system have repeatedly assured Dubois County residents that there’s nothing to worry about. But a simple internet search raises an important question. AES is being acquired by a consortium that includes Global Infrastructure Partners (part of BlackRock), EQT, the California…
Like the Dierks Bentley song “What was I Thinkin’?”, when I said the State’s politicians have seen the light about the Mid-States Corridor; and, “What was I Thinkin’” when I said we were winning the Corridor fight; or, “What was I Thinkin’” when I said the people of Indiana are opposed to the Corridor project; or…
by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle July 31, 2026 Everywhere I look, the concept of free speech is getting a workout. A food truck, a cake, a flag — all have stirred up emotions recently here in Indiana. Of course, the First Amendment applies only to freedom of speech as it pertains to government action….
A recent letter to the editor asked that we “Don’t fall for the smears leveled at Democrats”, well let’s not fall for the smears leveled at Republicans either. The political animosity is very one sided. When the hatred for one person becomes the rallying cry for an entire group, we have a problem. Civil discourse…
The changes in Senate Enrolled Act 1 mean that families, not businesses, will pay more. Hoosiers should expect the next couple of years to be full of hasty and ill-conceived tax proposals as the failure of last year’s tax law sinks in. The Indiana Republican Party feels rushed to make more changes before voters experience…
by Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital ChronicleJuly 24, 2026 Hoosiers are in for a rude awakening in a few short weeks when all of Indiana’s gas taxes return to full price. Gov. Mike Braun has suspended both the sales tax on gas and the state gas excise tax for months. But he can’t do more unless…
This letter is in response to a letter to the editor from Julie Melchior, in which she claims some Republicans are hoping to demonize Democrats as Communists, atheists, and terrorists. She then proceeds to provide a “history” in support of her statement. I am responding to a couple of her points. Regarding the “demonization”, which…
After reading recently that some Republicans, in fear of mid-term losses, are hoping to demonize the Democrats as Communists, atheists and terrorists, in the same way they have successfully branded people of color as criminals and the poor as lazy. I am curious as to how well that will work in Dubois County where, up…
