The Indiana Senate and House Republicans released their priorities for the 2026 legislative session this week focused on cutting government bureaucracy and some costs for Hoosiers.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, announced Wednesday it will focus on government reform, public safety and fiscal discipline.

Rodric Bray, Senate president pro tem, takes questions after a bill to redistrict the state’s congressional map was defeated, Dec. 11, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP)

Senate Bill 1, authored by State Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, was filed to prevent fraud and contain state spending on welfare programs because “Americans are outraged by the billions of dollars of welfare fraud in our nation — and the Minnesota scandal is Exhibit A,” according to a press release.

Minnesota has been under the spotlight for years for Medicaid fraud, including a massive $300 million pandemic fraud case involving the nonprofit Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors said it was the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud scam and that defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program intended to provide food for children.

In 2022, during President Joe Biden’s administration, 47 people were charged. The number of defendants has grown to 78 throughout the ongoing investigation. So far, 57 people have been convicted, either because they pleaded guilty or lost at trial.

The 24-page bill will end the state’s participation in the use of expanded categorical eligibility within the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, set gross income standards and countable resources for SNAP eligibility, and establish immigration eligibility requirements for SNAP.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, speaks in the House chamber at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

If a SNAP applicant’s immigration status can’t be verified, the applicant’s information will be “immediately referred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for investigation and potential deportation proceedings,” Garten said in a release.

“Our public safety net exists to support our most vulnerable citizens — not those who have broken our laws to enter the country. If you are here illegally, you are disqualified from receiving Hoosier tax dollars, and we will report you to federal authorities. It is that simple,” Garten said.

Undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for SNAP. The only non-citizens who may qualify are lawful permanent residents, or Green card holders; asylees; and other legal residents under temporary protected status, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.

Senate Bill 1 will end “broad-based categorical eligibility,” a loophole that allows some recipients to automatically qualify for SNAP, Garten said.

“For too long, loopholes like broad-based categorical eligibility have allowed the welfare state to expand unchecked, diverting resources away from the truly needy,” Garten said. “By enforcing real asset limits and verifying every claim, we are protecting the taxpayer’s wallet and ensuring that our safety net remains sustainable for the Hoosiers who genuinely depend on it.”

Senate Bill 1 also establishes the timeframe for Medicaid eligibility re-determinations, and requires the Secretary of Family and Social Services to transmit certain information to the federal government to prevent multiple state Medicaid enrollment.

The bill further sets income requirements for Medicaid, and modifies immigration status requirements for Medicaid, including presumptive eligibility by increasing to 80 hours of work or volunteering per month; the Healthy Indiana Plan; and requires the office to verify compliance of the requirements and report information to the federal government.

Under HIP, the bill modifies work and exemption requirements and requires the conditions to be met in the three preceding months before an individual applies. The bill directs the Secretary of Family and Social Services to verify compliance with the work requirements on an ongoing basis and at least quarterly.

Senate Bill 1 removes the 12-month eligibility period for HIP and requires semiannual renewal, and it sets an additional copayment for the use of an emergency room for nonemergency services and other services under HIP.

“Indiana led the charge on work requirements, and Washington followed our lead,” Garten stated. “With Senate Bill 1, we are doubling down. We are aligning Indiana statutes with the robust integrity measures in the federal ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to ensure our state remains a fortress of fiscal responsibility.”

Senate Joint Resolution 1, authored by State Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, would amend the Indiana Constitution to allow judges to deny bail if a suspect clearly poses a substantial risk to any other person or the community. If the resolution passes, the issue would be made a ballot question for voters to decide.

Finally, Senate Republicans plan to conclude the 2026 session “ahead of time and under budget,” while focusing on “fiscal discipline in the face of increased pressure from Democrats to prematurely spend taxpayer money,” according to a press release.

House Republicans announced the chamber’s priorities Thursday which focus on lowering costs for families and reducing government bureaucracy.

House Bill 1001, authored by State Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, addresses housing matters, with the goal of expanding Indiana’s housing supply and driving down costs of home ownership, according to a press release.

House Bill 1001 states that single-family dwellings and townhouses in residential areas, an accessory dwelling unit within a single family home and affordable housing on property purchased by a religious institution before Jan. 1, 2025 in a residential or commercial zone are permitted uses that are approved without a hearing.

The bill restricts a unit’s ability to impose and increase fees related to building approval and permits, among other design-element limitations.

House Bill 1002, authored by State Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler, R-Noblesville, will prioritize energy affordability by adding performance-based accountability to ensure utilities are reducing costs and increasing reliability, according to a press release.

House Bill 1003, authored by State Rep. Steve Bartels, R-Eckerty, will combine, eliminate, or streamline dozens of redundant or inactive boards and commissions, according to a press release.

House Bill 1004, authored by State Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, will eliminate unnecessary regulations in education, which will free up resources and give K-12 schools more flexibility to focus on students.

“House Republicans are focused on making sure Indiana remains a low-cost-of-living state and supporting Hoosier families,” said House Speaker Todd Huson, R-Fishers, said in a release. “The best way to reduce cost burdens on Hoosiers is to roll back regulation and bureaucracy, unleash the economy and expand opportunity.”

The Associated Press contributed. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/government-reform-fraud-prevention-top-indiana-gop-wishlist/ 

The Oswegoland Park District has appointed a new executive director, the park district announced this week.

Chad Feldotto, who most recently served as the district’s director of parks and planning, officially stepped into the role on Monday, according to a news release from the park district.

In July, the park district’s former director, Thomas K. Betsinger, was arrested after reportedly crashing into multiple vehicles and attempting to strike a pedestrian, and was put on paid administrative leave shortly after. Betsinger is facing charges including aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, driving under the influence of alcohol and attempted reckless homicide.

Betsinger resigned later that month, and the park board then began searching for a new director.

According to Kendall County court records, Betsinger has a court date set for Jan. 22.

Feldotto, the newly-selected director, first joined the park district in 2006 as a park planner, the news release from the district said. As the director of parks and planning, he oversaw projects, secured grant funding for initiatives throughout the district and built relationships with community partners.

“(Feldotto’s) longstanding commitment to Oswegoland and his deep understanding of our community make him the right leader for this role,” Oswegoland Park District Board of Commissioners President Dave Behrens said in the release. “We are confident in his ability to guide the district forward while continuing to build on the strong foundation already in place.”

In the news release, Feldotto said that it is an “honor” to serve in the role, and that he looks forward to continuing the park district’s work “to provide exceptional parks, programs and facilities for the community.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/oswegoland-park-district-appoints-chad-feldotto-as-new-executive-director/ 

Naperville is seeking two people to help lead the city’s 2031 Bicentennial Committee as planning for the city’s 200th anniversary gets under way.

Applications to fill the bicentennial co-chair positions are due Feb. 13, with the selections expected to be made in May.

Responsibilities for the unpaid, volunteer jobs include fundraising, organizing community events and projects, marketing, and selecting volunteers to sit on bicentennial subcommittees. Co-chairs must be Naperville residents and may not currently hold an elected government position.

“Really, we’re looking for the two co-chairs to be … passionate about Naperville,” Deputy City Manager Pam Gallahue said. “We want them to love the community, to really embrace the celebration and to just really jump in with both feet.”

Founded in 1831 along the banks of the DuPage River by Joseph Naper, the city has grown significantly since its days as a settlement. What started as a small agrarian community is now the third largest city in Illinois, and one that consistently ranks as one of the best places to live and raise a family in America in national assessments.

Many factors contributed to Naperville’s growth, from the establishment of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad line through Naperville in 1864 — the first railroad to connect Chicago to the Mississippi River — to the economic contributions of companies like Kroehler Manufacturing Co., one of the country’s largest furniture-makers in the 20th century, and AT&T Bell Laboratories in the 1950s and 1960s, officials said.

“(The co-chairs) are going to be making their mark and helping plan the city’s 200th birthday. Who wouldn’t want to be involved in that?” Gallahue said.

“Naperville is such a giving community. We have such a great volunteer spirit …  I think that people are going to want to dive in, they’re going to want to help and be involved and be able to put their mark on Naperville history.”

In November, the Naperville City Council approved the bicentennial framework, a 46-page report with guidelines and suggestions for planning the 200th anniversary.

“We put together the framework so we’ve seen what other municipalities have done to do their celebrations. Some may work for us, some may not,” Gallahue said.

The framework, developed over the course of 18 months, suggested a few ideas for possible festivities, like “200 trees for 200 years” and a celebration for Centennial Beach, which will also be commemorating 100 years in 2031.

But nothing is set in stone so far, Gallahue said.

“I don’t think that there is one idea that the city has right now that we would really want to pursue. I think everything is on the table, and we’re very open to listening to what the co-chairs have to say,” Gallahue said.

The city’s 200th anniversary also coincides with the riverwalk’s 50th anniversary. Created in 1981 for the city’s 150th anniversary, the 1.75 mile Naperville Riverwalk will see multiple improvement projects to transform the space by 2031. Some of those projects, such as the Paddleboat Quarry and revamped Eagle Street Gateway, have already been completed. Projects slated for 2026 include construction on the South Gateway and creation of a park space at 430 S. Washington St. near Burger King.

Those interested in becoming co-chairs can find application guidelines at https://www.naperville.il.us/bicentennial.

cstein@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/naperville-bicentennial-chairs-200th-anniversary/ 

Elgin heart patient unfurls ‘Bear Down’ flag at Bears game

Advocate Sherman Hospital Care heart patient Diana Esposito, of Elgin, unfurled a giant “Bear Down” flag Sunday, Jan. 4, before the Chicago Bears game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

Esposito, 72, graduated from the cardiac rehabilitation program a year ago after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure at Sherman, according to a news release.

Esposito is a retired physical education teacher and former athlete. In 2024, she was diagnosed her with severe aortic stenosis, a disease in which the aortic valve narrows and restricts blood flow. She also learned she was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, a heart defect where the valve has two cusps instead of three.

TAVR offers an effective alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, with quicker recovery and reduced risk of complications, the release said. Esposito also received a pacemaker that helped detect atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm.

Kiln-formed glass art open house at Kimball House

The Elgin Historical Society will present “Kiln-Formed Glass: An Artist’s Medium,” from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House, 305 W. Chicago St., Elgin.

Artist Hans Klemmer of Prairie Street Arts will be at the free event to share insight into his work, process and inspiration. Klemmer is an award-winning glass artist who has studied his craft in Northern Ireland.

To learn more at Klemmer and his art, go to prairiestreetstudios.com.

‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ being presented at Hemmens

Musicians from the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and actors from point2pointproductions will present “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.

The concert-style performance is based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, showcases music from Disney’s Academy-Award nominated 1996 animated film and incorporates new songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, according to the ESO website.

Tickets range from $17 to $67. For tickets and other information, go to www.elginsymphony.org.

A panel of local pastors, educators and activists will debate Martin Luther King’s beliefs on theology, civil rights, nonviolence and poverty in a discussion series being held at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin. (AP)

Gail Borden Public Library holding MLK discussions

A panel of local pastors, educators and activists will debate Martin Luther King’s beliefs on theology, civil rights, nonviolence and poverty in a discussion series being held Wednesdays in January and February at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.

Held in collaboration with the MLK Subcommittee of the Elgin Human Relations Commission, the free programs will be presented from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14, 21, 28 and Feb. 4, according to the library’s website.

The Jan. 14 discussion will focus on King as an American theologian, followed by King and the Civil Rights Movement on Jan. 21, King and nonviolence on Jan. 28 and King and poverty on Feb. 4.

Attendees are asked to bring donations of nonperishable food items, toiletries or paper products to benefit Elgin’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Food Drive.

To register to attend, go to attend.gailborden.info/event/14926621.

Kids can be librarians as part of Dundee Library program

Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade are welcome to take part in a “Be a Librarian for a Day” program from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Dundee Library, 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee.

Participants will be able to see what happens behind the scenes at the library with staff member Erin Sikorski, according to the library’s newsletter. Registration is required to attend the free event.

For more information, email esikorski@frvpld.info or call 847-428-3661 To register, go to www.frvpld.info/event/be-librarian-83687.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/elgin-news-digest-elgin-heart-patient-unfurls-bear-down-flag-at-bears-game-kiln-formed-glass-art-open-house-at-kimball-house/ 

When the Chicago Bears last beat the Green Bay Packers in the postseason 85 years ago, many feared it was the last time the two teams would meet. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor happened just one week prior and plans for the next NFL season were uncertain due to World War II.

“If so, the fans will have plenty to remember them by until this war runs its course,” Tribune reporter Edward Prell wrote.

The 1940 Chicago Bears won the NFL championship. (Chicago Tribune archive)

The Bears or Packers either won the NFL title or appeared in the championship game 15 times in 17 years during the 1930s and 1940s, former Tribune reporter Don Pierson wrote in 2011.

“Before a layered playoff system, the two battled for regular-season dominance in their Western Division, which became the National Conference in 1950 and the Western Conference in 1953,” Pierson said. “But the only winner-take-all showdown was the 1941 playoff.”

The Bears entered the 1941 season triumphantly after shutting out the Washington Redskins 73-0 in the 1940 NFL championship game. It still stands as the biggest blowout in NFL championship history and helped earn the Bears the “Monsters of the Midway” nickname. The Packers were looking to improve from a 6-4-1 record in 1940.

This Saturday’s game marks the 213th meeting between the Bears and the Packers and just their third postseason meeting. Here’s a look back at how the teams forced an unexpected playoff game against each other in late 1941.

Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have played 212 times in the past 100 years: How the rivalry has unfolded

Their regular-season game (Nov. 2, 1941)

The Chicago Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers 16-24 on Nov. 2, 1941, at Wrigley Field. (Chicago Tribune)

It was the Bears’ only loss of the season and a monster upset in front of more than 46,000 fans at Wrigley Field. Two people — including the wife of Bears’ traveling secretary Frank Halas — died of heart attacks that began during the game, the Tribune reported.

“The Chicago Bears, champions that they are, learned to their sorrow yesterday that you can’t spot the Green Bay Packers 16 points,” the Tribune’s Edward Prell wrote.

The Bears mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter — “with victory in sight” — until first-team All-Pro Sid Luckman fumbled the ball after he was hit by Packer Harry Jacunski. It was the fifth fumble by the Bears in the game.

Though the Chicago Bears scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter in a game on Nov. 2, 1941, it wasn’t enough to beat the Green Bay Packers. It was the only loss for the Bears during the 1941 season. (Chicago Tribune)

The Bears got the ball one more time with seconds remaining but couldn’t get the officials to recognize their call for a timeout before the clock wound down. The Packers won 16-14.

“Why did we lose? You can’t explain these kinds of defeats,” Bears assistant coach Paddy Driscoll told reporters after the game.

“You go along knocking over every one in sight, then you have a bad day,” said Luke Johnsos, another Bears assistant coach.

The Bears had to win out the rest of the season — which they did — in order to earn another crack at the Packers in a tie-breaking playoff game.

How the teams got to the playoff game

The Green Bay Packers beat the Washington Redskins 22-17 on Nov. 30, 1941, and next faced the Chicago Bears in a tie-breaking playoff game for the Western Division championship. (Chicago Tribune)

“Outplayed” and outscored, the Packers “rallied with almost unbelievable spirit,” Tribune reporter Wilfred Smith wrote, to beat the Washington Redskins 22-17 in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 30, 1941. The Packers concluded the regular season with a 10-1 record.

Though they trailed 14-0 in the second quarter, the Chicago Bears came back to defeat the Chicago Cardinals 34-24 on Dec. 7, 1941, at Comiskey Park. (Chicago Tribune)

A group of Packers players and coaches watched from the stands as the Bears also had to come from behind — three times — to beat the Chicago Cardinals on Dec. 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day), at Comiskey Park to also end the regular season with a 10-1 record. Two touchdowns by George McAfee “brought the Bears from the shadows of a humiliating upset and returned them 34 to 24 victors,” the Tribune’s Edward Prell wrote. Hugh Gallarneau scored another touchdown in the third quarter.

The win solidified home field advantage for the Bears in the playoff game, but was not without drama. Bears coach George Halas was later fined $100 (or more than $2,000 in today’s dollars) for straying out of the coaching box, and Ray Bray was fined $50 for fighting.

‘Sudden-death’ rule ensured playoff wouldn’t end in a tie

New NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden in his Chicago office on June 10, 1941. (Carl E. Linde/AP)

At a special meeting in Philadelphia, NFL Commissioner Elmer Layden announced the Bears-Packers game — if tied at the end of regulation — would be played to a decision. Following a three-minute rest, there would be a coin toss and a kickoff. The first score would end the game.

It became the first NFL game conducted with rules allowing for sudden-death overtime, which had been in effect since 1933 but not needed in a sectional title game.

Gameday (Dec. 14, 1941)

The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 33-14 in a playoff game on Dec. 14, 1941, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune)

Tickets to the game at Wrigley Field were hard to get. Five thousand bleacher seats — which sold for $1 each (or about $21 in today’s dollars) — disappeared as soon as they were available. Only 500 standing room-only tickets remained. Otherwise, it was officially a 46,484-person sell out. Thousands of tickets, however, went unused. Scalpers cut their prices in half because of the cold weather.

The Packers were well-rested with two weeks between their last regular-season game and the playoffs. The Bears had less than a week to prepare for Green Bay. Bears coach George Halas warned his players to keep cool heads.

“Anger doth a bonehead make,” Halas said.

Chicago Bears running back Hugh Gallarneau (8) stumbles as a Green Bay Packers defender attempts a diving tackle during a playoff game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Dec. 14, 1941. (AP)

The Packers scored first after Hugh Gallarneau fumbled the opening kickoff (he also fumbled the next one).

The Bears then scored 30 unanswered points in 16-degree weather. Gallarneau took a 81-yard punt return to the end zone in the first quarter. Norm Standlee scored two consecutive touchdowns and Bobby Swisher had another for the Bears in the second quarter. Overtime wouldn’t be needed.

Chicago beat Green Bay 33-14 to claim the Western Division National League title.

Afterward, the Bears’ clubhouse was a scene of joy. Owner-coach George Halas unexpectedly celebrated with players, members of the staff and well-wishers.

Tribune reporter Prell wrote that the Bears would face the New York Giants in the championship, “but to all intents and purposes the 1941 National League crown was settled” with this win over the Packers.

Championship (Dec. 21, 1941)

The Bears celebrate in the locker room after a 37-9 victory over the Giants in the NFL title game on Dec. 21, 1941. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The Bears topped the New York Giants 37-9 in the NFL title game at Wrigley Field for the team’s fifth championship — and first back-to-back titles. All four of the Bears’ touchdowns were scored in the second half.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Bears playoff appearances — including the ‘Sneakers Game,’ the ‘Fog Bowl’ and ‘Double Doink’

The Bears’ 37th and final point was scored on a drop kick from Ray “Scooter” McLean. It was the last time a drop kick was used successfully in the NFL until Jan. 1, 2006. (That’s when New England Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie — in his final NFL game — converted a point-after-touchdown by drop kick against the Miami Dolphins. According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the drop kick remains a legal maneuver in the NFL.)

The unbeaten Bears made it to the championship game again in 1942, but lost to the Redskins.

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/vintage-chicago-bears-green-bay-packers-playoffs/ 

India Is Set To Be The G20 Growth Leader In 2026

Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 15:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/india-set-be-g20-growth-leader-2026 

I all but expected some no-shows for the family’s multiple Yuletide gatherings, but fortunately all 14 grandkids and their parents remained happy and healthy throughout the holiday season.

Which I consider a mild Christmas miracle.

That’s because this has been a harsh flu season, with the number of influenza cases doubling from November through December, says Dr. Sunil Patel, Illinois regional chief medical officer over Prime Healthcare, which includes Aurora’s Mercy Medical Center.

“And we continue to see the numbers increasing at our Illinois hospitals,” he noted, with more than one in five ER visits flu-related.

Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, medical director of infectious disease at Endeavor Edward Hospital in Naperville, told me ER flu patients in his health care system “blew up” from Thanksgiving into the holidays … going from about 1% of visits to 17.2%, with 2,875 flu cases around Dec. 21.

Hospitalizations for the flu also skyrocketed at Endeavor facilities in that time period, jumping from eight patients to 105 on average admitted per day at the close of 2025, he said.

Likewise, the week of Christmas saw a peak at Rush Copley, according to Matt Canning, infection prevention and quality analyst at the Aurora hospital, pointing out that during that time 30% of testing for influenza, RSV and COVID-19 turned out positive.

Indeed, the rates are so high that some hospitals, including Edward and Rush Copley, are now stepping up masking requirements.

The culprit behind “one of the busiest” viral seasons is the dominant flu variant – H3N2, a subtype of Influenza A  – that is “not a good match” for the flu vaccine, meaning “it will not protect you as well,”  pointed out Pinsky.

While a drop in last week’s hospitalization numbers at some facilities could indicate we’ve already peaked, these health care experts note last year’s high came in February, with another spike in March.

Dr. Santina Wheat, program director for the McGaw Northwestern Family Medicine Residency at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, admitted she’s “concerned,” especially with children back in school this week after their holiday break.

Wheat and her colleagues are also wary because severe flu seasons historically tend to hit every six or seven years, yet this is the second year in a row we’re dealing with such high numbers.

“It makes me nervous,” said Wheat. “I’ve seen it moving rapidly and more people are showing up in the ER than even last year. It is catching people off guard and worse than what we were hoping for.”

Plus, fewer people are getting vaccinated, say the experts, who also expressed concern about the amount of “misinformation” out there about vaccine safety.

This vaccine may not be a perfect match, but it still offers protection against severe illness, they insist, also noting that in addition to the very young and elderly being most at risk, there’s a lengthy list of conditions that also make a person susceptible, including asthma, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Still, there’s encouraging signs, even if anecdotally, that more people are taking this flu season seriously, said Canning, who is frequently “out and about” walking Rush Copley.

In addition to seeing more people wearing masks, there have been “fewer calls” from the front desk about people pushing back against protective policies.

“There’s never going to be a study that says masks are less effective,” he noted. “This year there seems to be better compliance.”

dcrosby@tribpub.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/column-aurora-area-health-care-experts-express-concerns-about-current-flu-season-it-makes-me-nervous/ 

The Hobart City Council delivered Amazon to the city on Wednesday night.

Pleas from the dozens of residents who asked city officials to table action fell on deaf ears as the city council approved three resolutions — including a contribution of $47 million to the city by Jan. 31 — allowing Amazon Data Services to proceed with its data center plans at 61st Avenue and Colorado Street.

Ironworkers Local 395 president Chuck Curry speaks in favor of a data center in Hobart during a public hearing on a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

The tally on all three resolutions was 6-0, with City Councilman John Brezik, D-5th, absent due to his reported involvement in a car accident. The resolutions included one approving real property tax abatement with respect to investments made by Amazon Data Services; another that approved real property tax abatement with respect to investments made by Hobart Owner LLC, and a third measure approving a form of enterprise information technology exemption agreement and community enhancement agreement with Amazon Data Services.

The council, following a two-hour public hearing in which only three people spoke in favor of the project, also approved a resolution confirming a 72-acre parcel at the southeast corner of 61st and Colorado Street as an economic revitalization area where the data center will be built.

“We really hope it was worth it to sell us out,” Hobart resident Albina Villegas said to officials.

Even before the votes were taken, many who packed the Hobart High School auditorium started to leave, jeering the council with shouts of “you don’t listen to people,” “you guys suck” and “they’ll put robots in your positions.”

Mayor Josh Huddlestun, on left, speaks during a public hearing on a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Joseph Conn, one of four residents who have filed a lawsuit against the city in opposition to the project, voiced outrage that Hobart police at the entrance of the high school had set up tight security, including metal detectors and wands.

“I’ve never seen anything like this spectacle today,” Conn said.

Hobart Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Wardrip wrote in an email that the additional security measures were utilized because the meeting was moved to the school building to accommodate a larger crowd,

“Because it was moved to Hobart High School, we initiated extra security measures due to it being a school with other functions going on and weapons are strictly prohibited from being on school property,” Wardrip said.

Hobart resident Sheri Valentine speaks in opposition to a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area during a public meeting at Hobart High School on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Conn and resident Angelita Soriano, a spokeswoman for the No Data Center group, told officials they’d like to see details such as how much revenue the city would receive without the tax abatement versus with the tax abatement.

“Giving up leverage … It’s like laying your cards on the table. If you can’t manage the city, resign,” Conn told Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun.

The leverage Conn referred to was the $47 million upfront cash the city is poised to receive from Amazon by Jan. 31,  according to the fact sheet presented by Thomas Everett, the attorney representing Amazon.

Everett, who is from the law firm of Barnes and Thornburg out of South Bend, said the estimated total investment of the project is $11 billion.

Participants wearing “No Data Center” shirts applaud a fellow speaker during a public hearing on a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Everett spoke prior to the vote taken on the three resolutions and presented to city officials a fact sheet summary of the related agreements with the developer.

He said the project will provide an estimated 400-plus jobs averaging $37.44 per hour, in addition to temporary construction jobs.

Other contributions from Amazon to the city, in addition to the $47 million, include $45 million, $43 million and $40 million after achievement of project construction milestones, Everett said.

Those contributions can be used by the city “to improve the quality of life in the city to foster a strong community in which the project is located,” according to the fact sheet.

Elizabeth Gagliardi speaks in opposition to a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area during a public meeting at Hobart High School on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

In addition, Amazon agrees to provide community impact payment to the city up to $2 million per building per year and an additional $10 million payment after issuance of building permit for first building.

Other incentives provided by the city to the developers, include a 10-year, 100 percent real property tax abatement and a 35-year, 100 percent exemption for enterprise information technology equipment.

Also, according to the fact sheet, contractors or subcontractors of any tier working onsite on the project must comply with Hobart Municipal Code, which involved “responsible bidding practices and submission requirements.”

Amazon also made additional commitments including the following: generator testing, commissioning, and emergency generator use; infrastructure improvements, fire training; sustainability; roadway improvements; acoustics; vibration; construction and decommissioning.

A participant yells after a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area passed during a public meeting at Hobart High School on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

There is no commitment by or expectation of the city to use the contributions under the agreements or other city funds to construct water and sewer infrastructures for the project, according to the fact sheet.

Huddlestun, prior to Wednesday’s meeting, called the $47 million upfront cash the city is poised to receive from Amazon “record breaking.”

“Hobart secured the largest publicly known upfront cash payment ever for a private development on private land in the country. The developer (Amazon) will pay $47 million in community enhancement payments. These dollars are not part of the levy and not part of any TIF (Tax Increment Finance) district. They go straight to the city and can be used to serve the whole community,” Huddlestun said.

Because of this agreement, Hobart does not have to raise its income tax and that means the city can fix roads, improve drainage, invest in parks, invest in its youth, and keep public safety departments strong without putting more pressure on residents, he said.

“This really should be celebrated,” he said.

Huddlestun said the cash is crucial to the city as municipalities and other taxing districts prepare for cuts in property tax revenues laid out to Senate Enrolled Act 1.

“Those cuts will significantly reduce revenue for cities across Indiana. We prepared early because we did not want to lay off employees or cut the services you depend on,” he said.

Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/hobart-council-oks-data-center-amid-tight-security-opposition/ 

Dundee Township Park District’s Rakow Center gym is closed to the public through Jan. 23 so that new equipment can be installed, officials said.

Long gym curtins and basketball court amenities at the Carpentersville facility are being replaced at a cost of $112,225, according to park district Deputy Director Ross Bertone.

The curtains are about 13 years old and are worn and fraying in multiple areas, Bertone said. Portions of the basketball hoop systems are no longer operating and the manufacturer has discontinued the replacement parts needed to repair them, he said.

The curtains separating the basketball courts from the running/walking track and dividing the court space at the Rakow Center in Carpentersville is being replaced, requiring the gym to be closed through Jan. 23. (Dundee Township Park District)

“The basketball backboards and rims were replaced in 2011,” Bertone said. “The basketball hoop supports and controls are original from when the center first opened in 1989.”

All six rims, backboards and lifting mechanisms responsible for raising the hoops to the ceiling and adjusting the rim heights will be replaced, he said.

“The basketball equipment will look the same, but the lift and rim‑height adjustment systems will be upgraded. Currently, raising the hoops or adjusting the rim height requires manual operation,” he said. “The new system will be fully electronic, allowing these adjustments to be made with a simple touchscreen button.”

The curtain separating the gym floor from the running and walking track that surrounds it as well as a dividing curtain that can separate the gym floor into two sections will be similar to what is being replaced, he said. The new dividing curtain also will be touchscreen-controlled.

Georgia-based H.E. Hodge Co. is overseeing the installation work of equipment manufactured by Indiana-based Draper Inc.

Although the gym is closed, all other facets of the Rakow Center remain open and operating on their regular schedules. Patrons who want to use gym facilities during the Rakow closure can do so at the park district’s Randall Oaks Recreation Center, 500 N. Randall Road, West Dundee.

At Randall Oaks, the free walking/running track is located above the gym floor and open during the center’s business hours.

And as is true at the Rakow Center, the gym floor at the Randall Oaks can be used for free at various times by Dundee Township fitness center members or for a fee for nonmembers. Fees vary per scheduled activities.

Fitness center memberships at both facilities include use of the fitness rooms, track, gym and classes as well as the sauna, whirlpool and lap swim times at Rakow’s indoor pool.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/rakow-closed-carpentersville-basketball-curtains/ 

About 34 years after his original wrongful conviction, Willie Donald’s case against the city of Gary and others has been dismissed.

According to online court records, Judge Philip Simon in Hammond’s U.S. District Court, on Jan. 2, entered a dismissal order in Donald’s case against the city of Gary, estate of John E. Jelks Jr., and former Gary Police Department Officer Bruce Outlaw. The case was dismissed without prejudice, so it can be filed again.

Court records indicate that a settlement was also reached in the case. The city of Gary’s law department denied a public records request for the settlement agreement, saying the department does not comment on pending litigation.

The case’s records do not indicate when — or if — the settlement agreement will be publicly available.

In January 2025, the trial was scheduled for Feb. 24 in Hammond’s U.S. District Court. The trial was expected to last no more than two weeks, Simon previously said in court.

In a Jan. 31 telephone conference, the parties agreed to move the trial date to Nov. 10. Both parties notified the court on Oct. 30 that they reached a settlement, according to online court records, and they had until Dec. 26 to file a notice of dismissal.

Donald first filed a complaint on Jan. 24, 2017, which had nine counts, including issues with due process, conspiracy to deprive of Constitutional rights, failure to intervene, two counts of malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, respondeat superior and indemnification.

His complaint claimed that as a result of the wrongful conviction, he suffered a loss of liberty, loss of wages, attorney’s fees expended in defense of his wrongful prosecution and efforts to prove his innocence, physical injuries and emotional trauma. Donald was wrongfully convicted in a 1992 robbery and related homicide in Gary’s Glen Park neighborhood.

Donald was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of Bernard Jimenez, and he was exonerated in January 2016, serving nearly 24 years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit.

Former Lake Superior Court Judge Richard M. Maroc asked why the state didn’t seek the death penalty, according to Post-Tribune archives. Donald filed for an appeal in February 1997, and a court heard his pleas in 2015 before overturning his convictions.

A series of robberies on Feb. 27, 1992, in the Glen Park neighborhood led to Jimenez’s death, and Gary Police said Donald allegedly forced his way into the home of Rhonda Williams in the 4400 block of Connecticut Street, robbed her and threatened to kill her when she only gave him $50, according to Post-Tribune archives.

Police alleged Donald walked into Jimenez’s house and threatened him nearly 30 minutes later. Jimenez was home with his fiancée and her three children, and the offender threatened to kill the children if he didn’t get more money.

Jimenez was shot in the heart and back of his head.

The night of the robberies and murders, Donald shopped for a new car for his family, according to Post-Tribune archives, but two victims identified him as the offender. Donald was convicted by a jury, despite no physical evidence.

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/wrongfully-convicted-gary-mans-federal-court-case-dismissed/