LGTBQ hotline, scholarship, safe digging, teen mental health, next-gen TV | Politics

On Wednesday, the Trevor Project, the world’s leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people, condemned the signage of SB 480 into law by Indiana’s governor. This legislation ban doctors from providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender and nonbinary young people across the state. The Trevor Project also highlighted its 24/7 crisis hotline: by phone at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678. 

Kasey Suffredini, vice president of advocacy and government affairs at the Trevor Project: “This ban flies in the face of long-established standards of care and guidance from every major medical and mental health association in the country, and denies young people of critical care that has saved lives for so many. Personal medical decisions should be made between patients, their doctors, and their families, not by politicians. For trans youth in Indiana—we’ve got your back, and the Trevor Project’s counselors are here to support you 24/7. We will continue working with our partners and allies on the ground to push back against legislation like this, and we will not stop fighting until all young people feel safe, seen, and supported for who they are.”

This week, Indianapolis Council President Vop Osili commented on several proposals that will restrict turns on red lights at signalized intersections in the downtown area. The intersections include all streets bounded by and including 11th Street/Oscar Robertson Boulevard/10th Street, White River Parkway West Drive, Interstate I-70, and Interstate I-65, except state highways. 

Osili: “As downtown continues to grow, it’s critically important to ensure connectivity, accessibility, and safety for all. ‘No turn on red’ restrictions are the most straightforward way to avoid entirely preventable accidents. My colleagues on the Council and I are committed to continuing to work with Mayor Hogsett and the Department of Public Works to seek and support additional strategies to make our city’s streets safer for all who use them.”    

This week, the Indiana Department of Child Services, the Villages, and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana kicked off Child Abuse Prevention Month with an event at the Indiana Statehouse. Anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused should call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-800-5556. For more information and resources on preventing child abuse and neglect, click here. 

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb: “This is a month where we call on every Hoosier to do their part in making sure Indiana has healthy, strong and supported families. Working together to achieve this is essential to preventing child abuse and helping our communities thrive.” 

DCS Director Terry Stigdon: “The entire child welfare system must work together with our communities to serve children and families at the right time and in the right way. But the work doesn’t stop there. We have much more to learn and do to keep our children from harm.” 

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, recently helped introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution outlining the importance of the U.S. digital economy and the need for greater U.S. leadership on digital trade negotiations with like-minded countries.

Young: “In today’s hyper-connected world, the U.S. finds itself at a critical moment. Digital trade is becoming the new frontier in economic strength, particularly in the post-pandemic economy. It is time to prioritize connectivity and the subsequent adoption of digital governance to shape regional norms and provide an alternative to restrictive policies promoted by our adversaries like China. As the U.S. is positioned to lead in the digital space, our resolution calls for American leadership on digital trade rules in order to secure 21st century opportunities for Hoosiers, small businesses, manufacturers, and domestic service industries.”

This week, Mayor Joe Hogsett commented on the passage of Proposal 38, which establishes the Irvington Plaza/Brookville Tax Increment Financing (TIF) area. TIFs are geographically targeted economic development tools that localities can use to overcome redevelopment obstacles and increase investment in trails, parks and infrastructure. 

Hogsett: “[The] passage of Proposal 38 will promote community development across an underutilized eastside area. This TIF district will enhance efforts to add housing along the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit Blue Line, invest in pedestrian safety, and create a long-term funding mechanism for neighborhood parks and amenities.”    

Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program is launching a $20,000 college scholarship for Indiana residents who identify as Black or African American and who are attending or planning to attend an accredited college or university. The deadline to apply is May 12, and the application can be found here.

Eunice Trotter, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program: “Indiana is full of untold stories of Black heritage, and we see the new scholarship and internships as key to helping gather the facts, tell the stories, and preserve the heritage.” 

In observance of April being National Safe Digging Month, CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to keep safety top of mind when planning for digging projects. Projects such as installing a garden, pool, fence or water sprinkler system require digging and the need for customers to call 811. 

Shane Alexander, director of damage prevention, CenterPoint Energy: “It is essential that anyone who plans to dig, regardless of how shallow the project might be, contact 811 beforehand to have buried utilities marked to allow for safe digging. Callers should contact 811 a few days prior to the start of their digging project to give surveyors enough time to reach the site and mark the area.” 

Ben’s Ranch Foundation’s annual fundraiser, the Barn Bash-Healing in the Heartland, is scheduled for April 30 at Conner Prairie. Ben’s Ranch operates and supports programs designed to connect teens who have mental health challenges to paid internships on farms and in stables and equine therapy facilities. The event will include a panel discussion starting at 4 p.m. called “Teen Mental Health and Our Schools.” For information, go here. 

Brose McVey, Ben’s Ranch Foundation founder: “Mental health challenges have become a staggering epidemic among our young people. Our schools are on the front line of this epidemic, and each of our panelists is a leader in this space. We appreciate their willingness to share their insights.” 

On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, helped lead a bipartisan group of 28 senators calling on the Federal Communications Commission to expedite the continued rollout of the Next Generation Television standard.

From a group letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: “The Next Gen TV standard is essential to the continued vitality and competitiveness of local television broadcasters’ free, local, and trusted service in our communities. This pro-consumer, innovative technology will allow local stations to better serve their viewers with improved pictures and sound, interactive features, including expanded local news, advanced emergency alerting, and the ability to deliver to viewers the content that is most relevant to them, when they want it, where they want it.”

Circle Up Indy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting peace and creating positive change in the community, is launching a new initiative, Rising Evolution, which will focus on constructing affordable housing developments using 3D technology and more. 

James Wilson, CEO and founder of Circle Up Indy: “To address the housing crisis in Indianapolis and across the country, we must bring innovative solutions to this complex issue. My team is positioning Rising Evolution with key community stakeholders, corporate partners and elected officials here in Indianapolis and different markets to bring affordable housing to communities in a nontraditional way while also providing good paying jobs for our young people and those who are often overlooked due to their background.”