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The sky was still dark on the mornings we'd gather, ready to hop on the bus and head out to wherever Iowa High School Music Association choir and band
ensemble regionals were held. At the very back of the bus, Darcy, Brian, Matt and I would huddle on four points of an aisle, with a makeshift board we'd made for our laps. A hot hand of 500 (think Euchre) was about to unfold.
The practices, the performances, the successes and failures — I of course remember that about band and choir. But what has stayed with me on a cellular level are the friendships born from shared commitment. The hours we came to school early, stayed late and practiced on weekends — the memories those moments created live in my heart.
Performers heading to Lucas Oil Stadium this month for the Bands of America Grand National Championships are building similar friendships and memories.
Avon, Brownsburg, Carmel, Castle, Fishers, Homestead and Lawrence Township are just some of the Indiana high school bands that regularly find themselves on the field. And the story we're sharing from The New Yorker captures some of that experience.
We also have updates on SNAP benefits, what's going on with childcare vouchers and the latest on redistricting plans. If you're hearing about interesting initiatives on any of these fronts where you live, let us know. And thanks for reading.
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Lisa Renze
Free Press Indiana Director of Strategic Partnerships
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New child care vouchers halted until 2027 |
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration won't offer any new child care vouchers for low-income, working parents until at least 2027 — a move critics say will lead to more children left behind, parents struggling to pay for child care, pay cuts or job loss for child care workers and many parents leaving the workforce to stay home. Indiana Public Radio reports that the director of the FSSA's Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning said the decision was made because the office "simply does not have the funding available."
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Top bands march through Indy |
Bumps and bruises. Concussions. Long hours after school, training on a rain-soaked, muddy field or sticky, hot pavement. Packed buses filled with gear and anxious young talent, all going through drills in their head before the biggest competition of their young lives. They're part of an extreme sport. The workouts they put in every single day rival any top athletic team. Track bands. Field bands. Most Hoosiers can tell you the difference. Because here in Indiana, marching band is as much a part of our tradition as basketball. So it's fitting that the country's largest band competition is held right here in the Crossroads of America. The New Yorker goes behind the
scenes at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. This year's event hits the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, Nov. 13-15.
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Early session set for redistricting |
In direct response to calls from the Trump Administration and Gov. Mike Braun, the Indiana General Assembly will meet to discuss potential redrawing of Indiana's congressional districts and tax code updates in early December, as part of the regularly scheduled 2026 session. The session usually begins mid-November and then breaks until January. Indiana Capital Chronicle reports that Republican lawmakers say that meeting Dec. 1-12 will save taxpayers the burden of paying for a special session. Democrats say it's a distraction from what Hoosiers really need — answers to the skyrocketing cost of living.
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SNAP at 50 percent — for now |
The government shutdown means the more than 570,000 Hoosiers who utilize SNAP have some idea where their next meal will come from, but the uncertainty is far from resolved as federal food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are reduced by about half for the foreseeable future. Several nonprofits, organizations and fellow good samaritans around the state are stepping up to help out during this time of need. WFYI has more information.
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More great reads |
DNA tests confirmed the identity of another victim of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister. The identity of Roger Goodlet was confirmed almost 30 years after his remains were found at Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield. WTHR has more.
The Jim Irsay Collection is stuff of legend — rock legends, writer legends, sports legends and Founding Father legends, to name a few. And now, according to the Irsay family, the late Indianapolis Colts team owner's one-of-a-kind pieces will be sold to the highest bidders in a series of auctions in 2026. The
Indianapolis Business Journal has the story.
Teen sisters Anna and Juda Mosley are likely to be found in the urban gardens they help cultivate, as part of a program in Gary that connects young people to food education, urban agriculture, and sustainability. Capital B Gary explains the program.
WFYI, Ability Allies and The Arc of Indiana have a two-part, free webinar series for parents and guardians navigating the special education system in Indiana. Learn more and register here.
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