by Tom Davies, Indiana Capital Chronicle February 24, 2026 Indiana legislators are looking to give themselves more say over big-ticket highway projects at a time when a proposal in Gov. Mike Braun’s hometown is facing significant local opposition. A provision added last week to the bill focused on attracting the new Chicago Bears stadium to…
by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle January 6, 2026 The number of nixed road and bridge plans is rising, the Indiana Department of Transportation told state lawmakers on Monday, citing “funding constraints.” “We’ve continued to cancel projects. They’ve continued to have to be postponed,” Legislative Director Aaron Wainscott said. INDOT reported hitting the brakes…
Representatives from the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority presented a comprehensive defense of their operations to the Dubois County Council, requesting the council continue membership as the regional development authority approaches its eight-year statutory expiration in May. For background, Regional Development Authorities were authorized by statute in 2017 through Senate Bill 128, co-authored by then-State…
Members of the Property Rights Alliance, the Stop the Mid-States Corridor Coalition, and residents gathered at the Dubois County Courthouse to announce the results of a recent poll regarding the proposed highway. Along with the polling results, Phil Mundy, President Pro Tempore of the Jasper Common Council, and fellow council members, Chad Lueken and Vince…
Members of the Property Rights Alliance and Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor urged the Dubois County Council to withdraw from the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, citing concerns about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the authority’s expansive powers. Mark Nowotarski, a Dubois County resident and member of both organizations, read a letter from Brad Hochgesang (included…
As the Indiana Department of Transportation continues talks with local fiscal bodies about transferring U.S. 231 to them as the Mid-States Corridor proceeds, a local business leader is urging them to decline the offer and withdraw support for the new highway. Craig Knies, president of Knies Construction, Calcar Paving, and Cave Quarries, sent a letter…
Several Dubois County Council members voiced opposition or concern for the proposed Mid-States Corridor highway project during the regular meeting on Monday. The discussion followed resident Chris Thyen’s question about their view of the corridor during the public comment portion of the meeting. Their concerns centered primarily on the county’s ability to fund the Indiana…
Dubois County commissioners raised significant concerns about the financial burden of the proposed Midstates Corridor project during a meeting with Indiana Department of Transportation officials, questioning both the required local match and long-term maintenance costs for the existing U.S. 231. INDOT project manager Kyanna Wheeler and Lochmueller Group project manager Jason Dupont presented updates on…
The next public town hall meeting sponsored by the Mid-States Update group, Coalition Against the Mid-States Corridor, and the Property Rights Alliance will be held on November 11th in Ferdinand at the Ferdinand Community Center in the Model Room. Residents, civic leaders, and experts will share a brief update about road access issues, tax implications, costs, and…
Dubois County Commissioner Chad Blessinger presented questions and responses from Indiana Department of Transportation officials regarding the Midstates Corridor project during Monday’s regular meeting, highlighting significant financial obligations and local impacts that lie ahead. Blessinger told those in attendance he had been involved in several meetings over the past two weeks. “I have participated in…
