A Tolkien fan outside Connersville set out to build one Hobbit house. Seven years later, it is an 11-building fantasy village. The Hobbit Festival happens Sept. 26-27. Admission is $5 cash: https://bit.ly/4xuk28w

The annual count of Indiana’s unhoused population has been made public. The state conducts the count in January. There were 5,192 unhoused people, not including those in Indianapolis. Overall, the unhoused population increased by 7%. Check out the data, here:, https://bit.ly/4yJhJQ2

The Supreme Court voted 7-2 to block a Trump order requiring last-minute changes to mail-in ballots. Indiana county clerks said the changes would have been impossible to carry out because they are beginning to send out mail-in ballots Sept. 19. https://bit.ly/4xvP2oN

Local election officials relieved by SCOTUS’ mail-in ballot ruling

Justices say USPS can’t implement last-minute changes to mailed ballots

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More than 29,000 Indiana kids are on the childcare voucher waitlist. Allen and St. Joseph counties are using local funds to help families while the state works through the backlog. $200 million in state emergency funding covers about 14,000 children:https://bit.ly/3ULSVs8

FEMA has approved 3,630 of more than 25,000 Indiana flood applications, paying out $47.7M. For some, the process moved quickly. For others, it has been complicated. More than 40,000 Hoosiers also applied for up to $5,000 from the state disaster fund: https://bit.ly/4inLSj6

FEMA aid arrives for some Hoosiers, but others left in limbo

$17M approved so far for individual assistance, but many applications still not processed

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You just had a baby and you’re slowly getting back out there, but where do you go to pump? Here are some tips on how to find private pumping and nursing spots in public. https://bit.ly/4xgX7gO

How to find private places to pump breast milk in Indiana

Check large venues and local libraries for dedicated spaces for lactating parents.

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A Grant County commissioner has been accused of dozens of allegations of intimidation, illegal surveillance, wiretapping and more. An internal investigation into Commissioner Chuck Poling was shared this week. Here’s what we know: https://bit.ly/4xL0qhC

Grant County official accused of intimidation, abuse of power

County workers say Commissioner Chuck Poling scared, threatened and spied on them.

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Six LGBTQ+ and allied candidates are on the ballot in Owen County this November, backed by the Stonewall Democrats of South Central Indiana. It is the first time the group has endorsed candidates in the rural county, where 75% voted for Trump in 2024:https://bit.ly/4gQHZ3O

Queer political candidates introduced on Owen County billboards

Six people who identify as non-binary, bisexual, gay, transgender and straight are seeking voters’ support in township races this November.

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Indiana has more than 20,000 cemeteries and many are abandoned. State law requires township trustees to maintain them, but many trustees do not know the sites exist. Allen McCloskey, 92, has maintained one near Galveston solo for 15 years:https://bit.ly/4yeFYVT

Do you live in Indiana and need help navigating what to do after the August floods? Gov. Mike Braun announced that multiple state and federal agencies will partner to host one‑stop shops in communities impacted by recent flooding events.

Historic Metamora lost its canal boat four years ago. This month the canal flooded, hitting more than 40 businesses and 40 homes. Volunteers arrived quickly and shops are racing to reopen.https://bit.ly/4coLzAK

Benton County residents say they had less than three weeks' notice before planners approved three hog farms that would house 26,000 hogs near Remington. Nine property owners filed a legal challenge. Court hearing is Dec. 23. https://bit.ly/45Y4nDe

Plans for three giant hog farms cause uproar in Benton County

Local planners OK’d three concentrated hog operations despite quality-of-life concerns from people living nearby.

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Electricity has been restored for nearly all of the 375,000 customers in northwest Indiana who lost power Aug. 11 following severe weather. Aid applications are open for those impacted: https://bit.ly/3SlllZ7

Six months after Indiana banned Hoosiers on SNAP from buying candy and soda, 69% said their diet had not changed. Nearly 60% are buying soft drinks with their own money:https://bit.ly/3T0D740

Indiana asked about a new SNAP rule. Here’s what people said.

Most say a restriction on buying soda and candy hasn’t changed their diets.

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If your home or property was damaged during Indiana’s severe storms and floods last week, you can get help. Apply for money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, online or call 800-621-3362 .

Former Indiana lawyer and deputy secretary of state Brad Gerstner helped create Trump Accounts. A program that provides $1,000 to kids born between 2025 and 2028. He says his upbringing in Indiana inspired him to contribute.:https://bit.ly/4xr7Hmt

Gov. Mike Braun has ordered a state investigation into NIPSCO after severe storms left thousands without power for two weeks. Residents have also filed a class-action lawsuit. https://bit.ly/3SzROe5

Dozens of Indiana 4-H students competed in the State Fair Fashion Revue on Aug. 20, modeling clothes they made themselves. We spoke to some of the young women who say 4-H and sewing are multigenerational traditions.https://bit.ly/4qypZPS

Anderson will give $1,000 in emergency aid to about 600 households hit by historic flooding. The money will go to renters and homeowners who live in or near floodplains and were displaced or are in need of emergency assistance after historic flooding this month.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced a $1 billion campaign to give money to communities that have a Meta data center. Lebanon and Jeffersonville are set to receive some of the money but there aren’t a lot of details at this time. https://bit.ly/4irUBR6

Lebanon, Jeffersonville expected to receive part of $1B Meta campaign

‘Future is For Everyone Fund’ is for communities with Meta data centers.

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11 days after storms hit northwest Indiana, causing the largest power outage in NIPSCO’s history, Gary residents still don’t have power. Power isn’t expected to be restored until Tuesday. City officials believe the damage could’ve been avoided if NIPSCO had maintained trees. https://bit.ly/3U0qUwB

6% of eligible Indiana families received TANF cash assistance in 2023. The national average is 21%. Only 59% of eligible Hoosiers were enrolled in SNAP. Hundreds of thousands qualify but are not enrolling:https://bit.ly/4wJsLDz

Thousands of Hoosiers not enrolling in federal safety net programs

Recent study reveals large gaps in eligible families receiving benefits.

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About 600 Anderson homes were evacuated last week after the White River surpassed its 1913 flood record. Residents are now racing to gut their homes before mold sets in. Many have no insurance:https://bit.ly/4gJyioE

Experts say people who oversee flooded gardens or fields need to know about the possible risks posed by contaminated water and how to take action. Here are tips on what you should consider when harvesting crops that have been under floodwaters:https://bit.ly/4zybAri

What precautions you should take if your garden flooded

Floodwaters may contain contaminants ranging from pesticides to E. coli, so veggies may not be safe to eat.

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While Jennings County escaped the devastating flooding seen in central and eastern Indiana, residents were left stunned and sad over the death of a 4-year-old boy who died when a tree fell onto a mobile home near North Vernon:https://bit.ly/4wyrD5H

Jennings County spared floods, mourns for child killed by tree

Muscatatuck River depth highest in at least 15 years but flooding was kept at bay.

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24 year old Katherine Gries is a long distance runner and four of Indiana athletes selected for the U.S team Special Olympics trials. The participating athletes will compete in the 2027 Special Olympics World Games in Santiago, Chile:https://bit.ly/3ScK2Xz

Do not apply for FEMA assistance yet. Indiana needs a major disaster declaration before funding is available. The state is expecting an answer from FEMA within 7-10days:https://bit.ly/4hBR9Da

Why you shouldn’t try to apply for FEMA aid yet

Governor warns individual assistance isn’t offered “very often,” but pledges state financial aid if federal dollars are denied.

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Flood insurance is only required if you have a mortgage and live in an area that FEMA designates as high risk. Less than 1% of Indiana homeowners have it. You can get a free quote through the National Flood Insurance program. https://bit.ly/4x5RX81

There are historic floods happening in Indiana so we put together a list of Indiana-specific emergency resources. We also talk about what to do when you return to your house after a flood. https://bit.ly/4g8ghip

9 tips for Indiana residents facing historic floods

How to find shelters, report damage and return home.

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Southeast Indiana set a goal to end homelessness by 2025. It didn’t happen. There is still no year round shelter and INDOT plans to bulldoze a long time camp of I-65 in Jeffersonville on Aug. 13:https://bit.ly/4xX8N9x

Rural homelessness presents challenges in southeast Indiana

Clark and Floyd counties work toward building a homeless shelter as bulldozers threaten a camp off I-65 in where dozens of people live.

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