Muncie Voice

07/07/2026

In case you missed the 7/6 City of Muncie City Council meeting, there was a rare unanimous vote to send the fire station deal back to a public committee because the administration was not present to answer questions during the last public meeting on the deal.

We attended the City Council meeting last night to remind the Council that their total legal obligations have risen to $70 million. Half are normal liabilities from bonds issued, and the other half is buried in a footnote as an expense.

Bose McKinney, the bond lawyer, stated that this wasn't an "off-balance" transaction to circumvent Indiana law.

As a reminder to readers, the debt on Fire Station #5 is a loophole, and you will not find this obligation on the city's balance sheet. It is treated like a "phone bill" on the income statement.

We'll let you know when the next public meeting to discuss the Fire Station deal is scheduled. We also asked about Ball State University and IU Health/BMH's financial involvement since this station will primarily serve both institutions.

Stay tuned...

Ball State University

Muncie taxpayers are being asked to take on an $11.5 million lease obligation to build Tillotson Fire Station that protects tax-exempt assets, while the corporate beneficiaries pocket the direct financial kickback in insurance savings without contributing a single dime to the underlying debt.

06/07/2026

Indiana Announces Implementation Details for HIP Work Requirements

Indianapolis - The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) today released new information regarding upcoming work requirements for certain members of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). These requirements, which begin phasing in on January 1, 2027, apply to eligible HIP members ages 19–64. The policy reflects Indiana's ongoing commitment to programs that promote personal responsibility, long-term stability, and stronger health outcomes for Hoosiers.

Governor Mike Braun stated:
“Hoosiers deserve a system that offers support in challenging times but also requires individuals who are able to contribute to take meaningful responsibility for their own progress. These work requirements uphold that standard by ensuring members actively engage in education, training, and employment opportunities that build long-term independence. This approach strengthens families, fortifies communities, and moves our state forward."

FSSA Secretary Roob added:
“Indiana has long maintained that healthcare assistance for able-bodied adults is not an automatic entitlement, but a benefit that must be earned through personal responsibility. HIP reflects that standard. Eligibility rests with each member, and meeting program requirements is a fundamental obligation—not an optional step. We provide the tools, guidance, and opportunities needed to succeed, but it is the members' responsibility to fulfill their commitments. When individuals meet these expectations, they demonstrate accountability and take meaningful steps toward better health, greater stability, and long-term independence.”

Work Requirements Reflect Long-standing Principles of Indiana's Medicaid System

Employer-sponsored coverage remains the foundation of the U.S. healthcare system, and most Hoosiers receive health insurance through employment. Indiana's Medicaid program traditionally supports two groups:
* Individuals unable to participate in the labor force, including children, and people who are aged, blind, or disabled.
* Able-bodied adults who are expected to contribute by participating in work, education, or related activities that support personal and financial stability.

The Healthy Indiana Plan was created to assist the working poor. That mission continues. Indiana is reaffirming a key expectation: public programs remain sustainable only when paired with personal responsibility. A system that provides care while expecting reasonable effort from those who can contribute is more equitable and more durable.

Work Requirements Effective January 1, 2027

Effective January 1, 2027, HIP members who are not exempt must complete 80 hours per month in qualifying activities. These include employment, job training, part-time education, or community service. Members may combine activities to meet the monthly total.

Early Compliance Required for January Applicants

Indiana law requires a three-month lookback period.
Individuals applying in January 2027 must demonstrate compliance in October, November, and December 2026.
Applicants in later months must demonstrate compliance for the three consecutive months immediately preceding their application.

Multiple Options to Meet the Requirement

Members may fulfill the requirement through:
Work, Education, or Service: employment, volunteering, job training, internships, or part-time education may be combined.
Income Threshold: earning at least \$580 monthly.
HalfTime Education: enrollment at least halftime in an eligible program meets the requirement.

Exemptions may apply for pregnancy, caregiving responsibilities, medical frailty, SUD treatment, or recent release from incarceration. Members must keep their contact information up to date so exemptions can be verified.

Verification of Compliance

Compliance reviewed quarterly—starting with available wage/program data. When unverifiable electronically, members will receive a notice requesting documentation.

Statewide Communication Efforts
Notices were issued to all HIP members.
Explainer videos posted on myfssa.in.gov and YouTube.
Members are encouraged to create a Benefits Portal account to report hours, upload documents, and check exemptions.
Partner Support and Resources

A Partner Toolkit at myfssa.in.gov includes:
* FAQs
* Posters, flyers, outreach materials
* Guidance for assisting members
* Town Halls and Webinars

FSSA will host regional town halls beginning this summer. Additional webinars will provide operational guidance. Information posted at https://myfssa.in.gov

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29/06/2026

Taking control of our energy is a step toward independence.

Considering solar panels for your home?

Here are the key factors you need to know to make an informed decision:

Learn how panel efficiency, roof condition, warranties, and climate affect solar performance so you can choose the right system for your home.

27/06/2026

Delaware County's place in the economy is our choice. Are we building a sustainable future for our residents, or just catering to a few local interests?

Read Elizabeth Rowray's guest post about their meeting with Senator Todd Young.

Does their analysis align with your vision for our local economy?

Senator Todd Young recently sat down with our members at the Ivy Tech Fisher Building, he laid out two possible futures for Delaware Country.

26/06/2026

Q: Is our community run by the people (democracy) or by a select few (oligarchy)?

Tune into one of our most important Muncie Voice podcasts, where we break down the battle between Oligarchy and Democracy right here at home in Muncie, Indiana - Delaware County.

Muncie Voice

Listen now:

This podcast will delve into the world of oligarchy. So many, like Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, and President Dwight Eisenhower, would point to the

25/06/2026

Are we being conned? A new corporate entity is expanding into Muncie, bypassing standard scrutiny. Read our latest investigation into Freedom Behavioral Health and who is really pulling the strings. What are your thoughts on this lack of oversight?"

In early March 2026, a new corporate entity (Freedom Behavioral Health) surfaced in Muncie under the name DCRT, LLC. Bypassing standard background scrutiny or...

21/06/2026

NEWS: Guardrails Alliance Launches to Confront the AI Industry's $140 Million Plan to Block Common-Sense Policy

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2026 — Launched today, Guardrails Alliance is a new political organization dedicated to confronting the efforts of Leading the Future – a Super PAC backed by executives at OpenAI, Palantir, and Andreesen-Horowitz that is dumping more than $140 million into this cycle to buy off elections and prevent any discussion around sensible AI policy.

While Leading the Future's AI anti-regulation spending spree has made this one of the largest single-issue super PACs in modern history, people across the country are sounding the alarm, calling for common-sense policy and protections. In fact, 69% of voters say AI development should not be left to a handful of tech companies; while 65% say the government has done "too little" to regulate AI, including 77% of Democrats, 72% of independents, and 53% of Republicans.

Guardrails Alliance has emerged amidst these alarm bells as the people's response, bringing together a broad coalition committed to preventing the political process from being bought by the AI industry. This includes concerned everyday people, parents, labor unions, advocacy organizations, AI safety advocates, civil rights leaders, and even current and former tech workers.

Guardrails Alliance was co-founded by experienced progressive movement strategists Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Shaunna Thomas and led by Thomas. Launching alongside Guardrails Alliance is Guardrails Action, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to building power for common sense AI regulation.

"AI may be one of the most transformative technologies of our time, and there should be a democratic process determining how it unfolds," said Leah Hunt-Hendrix, co-founder of Guardrails Alliance and previously a co-founder of Way to Win and Solidaire Network. "The industry aims to spend over $140 million to ensure that Congress bends to its will, but we have the people on our side. What these executives don't understand is that American voters see what AI is doing to their jobs, their kids, their electricity bills, and their right to privacy. We will not let AI executives and MAGA donors set the rules of the road for AI."

"We are witnessing an unprecedented attempt by unaccountable AI billionaires, including one of Donald Trump's biggest donors, to buy political influence and scare Democrats from standing up for sensible AI regulations. They are spending millions of dollars in Democratic primaries to ensure that they can take our jobs and hoard our data to enrich themselves. Sixty percent of Democratic voters say that they are less likely to vote for a candidate supported by the AI industry," said Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of Guardrails Alliance and co-founder and former executive director of UltraViolet. "They know that the American public is not on their side, so they are hiding what their real agenda is; Guardrails Alliance is here to expose them."

Guardrails Alliance today also launched its first paid media campaign, a $250,000 television buy supporting Alex Bores, candidate for New York's 12th Congressional District and author of the RAISE Act, one of the nation's strongest AI safety laws. Bores has been the biggest target of Leading the Future so far.

The first ad, "Rage Cage," channels voters' frustration with the flood of billionaire-funded attack ads, smashing through the noise, literally, before turning to Bores' record of standing up for working people on jobs, kids, and democracy. It closes with a message aimed squarely at the opposition: "Guardrails Alliance is responsible for the content of this advertising – not some shady super PAC."

The second ad, "Kids," is backed by $100,000 in television airtime and was produced with support from the American Federation of Teachers. Styled as a vintage public service announcement, the ad asks parents a familiar question with a new urgency: "Do you know where your children are?" It contrasts the dangers of unregulated AI to young people with Bores' record of common sense regulation that protects children and good-paying jobs, while exposing the billionaires trying to buy the election.

The backlash against unregulated AI controlled solely by a handful of Big Tech Billionaires is already growing across the country. Recent polling shows:

* 75% of rural residents report worrying about AI's impact on the political process.

* 8 in 10 parents want more guardrails on AI to protect their children.

* 29% of employees, including 44% of Gen Z, report having undermined or resisted their company's AI strategy.

That backlash is already producing real victories. Just last week, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously to impose a one-year emergency moratorium on new large data centers inside the city limits. In May, the Illinois legislature passed an AI safety bill that sets a new standard for regulating frontier AI models. In 2025 and 2026, California, New York, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho all passed laws requiring AI companion chatbots to protect users, particularly children. California's law passed with overwhelming bipartisan margins. California, Ohio, and Utah have enacted new laws and regulations requiring data center developers, not working people, to cover the cost of the power they consume.

But so much more needs to be done, and communities should have a say in how AI will impact their lives.

Some early donors include: the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the Working Families Party (WFP), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the Movement Voter Project, Ultraviolet Action, and a wide range of individual donors, including former and current tech workers.

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About Guardrails Alliance: Guardrails Alliance is a super PAC that works to complement the mission of Guardrails Action, a 501(c)(4) dedicated to confronting the policy impacts of the AI industry. Guardrails Alliance helps expose and defeat the AI billionaire agenda. The Alliance is co-founded by Leah Hunt-Hendrix and Shaunna Thomas and led by Thomas. Learn more at:

AI billionaires are spending $125 million to buy our elections. We're fighting back.

17/06/2026

Grants Available to Boost Indiana's Recycling Economy

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) announced today that grant funding is now available for recycling projects through the Recycling Market Development Program (RMDP). Eligible applicants may request between $50,000 and $500,000 in funding. Proposals will be accepted through July 29, 2026.

Eligible applicants for this round include municipalities, solid waste management districts, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and public or private businesses located and operating in Indiana.

* Proposals should clearly demonstrate a need and outline how the project will:

* Increase the collection or use of recyclable materials.
* Reduce municipal solid waste sent for disposal.
* Build or strengthen partnerships with local communities.
* Raise public awareness of recycling through meaningful outreach and education.

Projects should demonstrate sustainability and an understanding of the changing economy for recyclers, and examine where funds can be used most effectively to increase statewide recycling.

Final funding decisions will be made in December. Applications must be submitted through the online application portal, accessible via the Recycling Market Development Program at https://www.in.gov/idem/recycle/recycling-market-development-program/.

For additional information, please contact 800-988-7901 or [email protected].
________________________________________________________

About the Recycling Market Development Program:
The Recycling Market Development Program operates under the Recycling Market Development Board as established by IC 4-23-5.5. The grant money for the program comes from the Recycling Promotion and Assistance Fund, an account generated by a per-ton fee on solid waste disposed of at Indiana landfills. The fund supports source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting to prevent solid waste from being permanently disposed of.

https://www.in.gov/idem/recycle/recycling-market-development-program/

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15/06/2026

After 15 long years, the Gus Macker tournament is back in Delaware County! The Muncie Southside Neighborhood Association is proud to present this 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Wapahani High School. Registration will start on July 17 with games happening July 18 & 19.

Make sure to like, follow & share this page to stay connected and get your teams together. We've got great sponsors like Destination: Muncie and Mancino's of Muncie, but we're always looking for more so we can raise awareness and put on an incredible tournament. If you're interested then let us know.

Links for volunteering and signing up are on our page.

Muncie is sure to be buzzing now that Mackerman coming back to the area so save the date!

11/06/2026

PRESS RELEASE: The threats to public ownership of public lands are alive and well, as Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum yesterday defended his efforts to sell off public lands at an event in Grand Junction, Colorado, while Utah Senator Mike Lee pushed through a measure in Congress that will effectively roll back protections for millions of acres of roadless land across America.

Last Summer, Congress nearly sold off millions of acres of America's public lands through a provision from Senator Lee buried in a budget bill, rather than through open debate and regular legislative review. The effort was stopped only after broad bipartisan opposition from hunters, anglers, hikers, ranchers, Tribal communities, and everyday Americans across the West.

The loophole that made that attempted sell-off possible remains in place. Under current reconciliation rules, a provision to sell, transfer, or dispose of federal public lands could be included in a budget reconciliation bill and passed with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the normal 60-vote threshold and limiting public scrutiny.

The Public Lands Integrity Act is intended to close that loophole.

What the Public Lands Integrity Act Would Do

The Public Lands Integrity Act would amend the Congressional Budget Act’s Byrd Rule to clarify that any provision selling, transferring, or disposing of federal public lands is “extraneous” to the budget reconciliation process. In practical terms, future proposals to sell or transfer federal public lands would need to move through regular order and meet the standard 60-vote threshold in the Senate for major policy legislation.

The bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Joe Neguse of Colorado, Dina Titus of Nevada, and Ryan Zinke of Montana, and in the Senate by Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado.

What the Bill Does Not Do

The legislation applies only to proposals to permanently sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of federal public lands through budget reconciliation. It does not affect legitimate land exchanges, grazing, timber management, energy development, permitting, routine public land management, or other regular land management decisions.

It also does not prevent Congress from considering public land disposal proposals through regular legislative order. Instead, it ensures that decisions of that magnitude receive full debate, committee review, public input, and bipartisan scrutiny