I'm here to challenge you and hopefully earn your trust
By now you may have read my two latest columns on the death penalty and solar farms, and wondered where I'm coming from as the newest member of the opinion section at IndyStar.
Before I came to the newsroom, I worked for the Indiana Senate as a press secretary for the Republican caucus. Those reading that from the left or right might incorrectly assume that means I'm here to spout Republican talking points.
The truth is, my drive for moral consistency and fairness means I'm unafraid to take positions you might not expect.
I'm not here to make cheap shots, deliver hot takes or adopt stances that will leave any reader feeling complacent. Investigative and opinion journalism has played a vital role in expanding my worldview and challenging my thinking in the past, and I hope to provide a similar challenge to my readers, regardless of partisan leanings.
While I'm here, I hope to stay true to that goal and gain your trust.
Trust has never been so important at a time when the average person in our state probably feels abandoned by legacy media and disconnected from their community. Anyone can easily find a near-constant influx of doom-and-gloom, sensationalist punditry and incomplete narratives on social media, but long-term exposure can make them feel voiceless and weak.
Local media has an imperative to validate itself and provide people with a valuable connection to their local communities, where they have the greatest ability to make a difference.
Throughout my time in health care, education and public relations, I saw local media drive many important conversations this way. During my time as an investigative journalist, while managing a small news outlet, I was shocked by the outsized influence it had on the city and state.
When reporting and investigative work is complemented by thought-provoking commentary with a connection to the local community, a newsroom's impact can stretch far beyond its readers. This is something IndyStar has been successful at for years, thanks to my boss, James Briggs, the other excellent people in our newsroom, and IndyStar's parent company, Gannett, which continues to invest in our opinion section.
As IndyStar continues to evolve to make sure it represents and meets the needs of the city and state it serves, I'm excited to be a part of it and hit the ground running.
I hope my readers will reach out to let me know what issues matter most to them.
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Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
South Dakota eager for Trump's statue garden near Mount Rushmore despite local opposition
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The 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie recognized that the Black Hills belong to the Sioux people, but the U.S. government seized the land less than a decade later to mine for gold. A 1980 Supreme Court decision found that the U.S. violated the treaty, but the tribes refused the $1.3 billion in compensation they were offered and maintained their rights to the land. Indigenous groups also oppose drilling project The mining company, Pete Lien & Sons, also has had conflicts with Indigenous groups in the area, most recently because of an exploratory drilling project for graphite near the sacred Lakota site of Pe' Sla. The company also is working with theme park designer Storyland Studios to build an attraction in the Black Hills opposed by some Indigenous groups. 'It's absurd for Storyland Studios and Gov. Rhoden to claim they care about preserving history while they watch Lien & Sons attempt to destroy Pe' Sla, and do nothing,' said Taylor Gunhammer, an organizer with the Indigenous advocacy group NDN Collective. 'They are the ones erasing and paving over history, not preserving it,' Gunhammer said. Rhoden's press secretary, Josie Harms, wrote in a statement that the garden 'will have no disruption to either state or tribal land' because the tract of land is owned by Chuck Lien, owner of Lien & Sons, and his family. Pete Lien & Sons did not respond to multiple requests from The Associated Press for comment. Trump's garden to feature 250 statues of historical figures Trump signed an executive order earlier this year to build the garden, to feature 250 life-size statues of historical figures in honor of the country's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Applications for sculptors are due in early July, though the administration no longer seeks to have it completed by next summer. The U.S. House has approved $40 million for the project, which is being overseen by the Department of Interior and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Senate hasn't yet approved the funding. Trump first announced the project in his first term in a July 3, 2020, speech at Mount Rushmore at a time during the Black Lives Matter movement when some protesters were tearing down statues depicting Confederate generals and others. 'Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities,' Trump said in that speech. 'But no, the American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country, and all of its values, history, and culture, to be taken from them.' In a 2021 executive order, Trump called for statues depicting a range of prominent figures, from the likes of Amelia Earhart, Muhammad Ali and Steve Jobs to more controversial ones like Christopher Columbus and President Andrew Jackson. No site was selected, however, and the garden was never funded by Congress. The Department of Interior said the revived garden project is still in the 'planning and discussion phase' and declined to say which sites it is considering. It's unclear if any other states are seeking to host the statue garden. As governor, Noem offered land for the garden When Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the state's governor, she offered the mining company's 40 acres of land in the Black Hills. Her successor, Rhoden, doubled down on that offer in his letter, emphasizing the site would be 'in sight of Mount Rushmore.' South Dakota Republican U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson also wrote a letter to Trump, and said he will 'keep advocating for this iconic landmark to make its home in the Black Hills' in a social media post. Darren Thompson, director of media relations for the Indigenous nonprofit Sacred Defense Fund, called for more discussions with Indigenous groups in the Black Hills. 'It's a very touchy and sensitive subject that I think requires input by the local Indigenous people who have claim to the land and cultural ties to the land,' Thompson said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Intelligence leaders are set to brief Congress on Trump's Iran strikes
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New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Person close to Long Island town supervisor stalked and menaced political challenger days before GOP primary: police
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