I spent about 10 years in radio news.  It is sad that in Indianapolis, only one station (WIBC) has any kind of news department.  Journalism is under serious stress.

The Indianapolis Star is attempting to cover three days and nights of demonstrations on downtown streets protesting the death of George Floyd.  They are doing this with 25% of the reporting staff on furlough due to budget constraints.

Many television journalists are also doing their best to cover the demonstration story locally, along with other news outlets such as the Indianapolis Business Journal and the Indianapolis Recorder.

Many reporters were covering this story while being hit with tear gas and pepper balls along the way.  There is nothing easy about that.

Saturday night, the atmosphere was clearly confrontational with dumpsters on fire, windows broken on downtown streets, police under stress and the crowd becoming angrier by the minute.  One TV reporter was live on the air, clearly recovering from enduring tear gas, when the anchor asked of he was all right.  Unlike most reporters that try to put on a tough exterior, he looked at the camera and honestly said, “I’m scared.”  There were tears in his eyes from the gas.

Many good Indianapolis reporters, a few of which are friends of mine, put themselves at risk so there is someone to watch the developments and provide a description of what they see and hear in order to inform you.

Trust me, having been there, there are better ways of making a living.  These reporters believe they are part of something bigger than themselves.  That is the tradition of reporting news in America.

But nation-wide, there have been many troublesome incidents where demonstrators and/or police make journalists a target.

Here are just a few examples, as listed by the Poynter Institute, a highly-respected nonprofit promoting good journalism:

–In Louisville, a WAVE-TV reporter had a police officer point a weapon at the reporter and her cameraman, with pepper balls striking the reporter.  She stayed on the air live and continued reporting.

–Also in Louisville, demonstrators attacked a news van belonging to WLKY-TV, smashing windows and knocking down the cameraman.  Other demonstrators intervened and helped the cameraman recover.

–“Demonstrators trashed news cars in Boston, Atlanta, Louisville and Los Angeles. They tossed bottles at reporters in Minneapolis, grabbed a reporter while she was on the air in Phoenix and smashed the windows and iconic CNN sign outside the networks’ Atlanta headquarters,” according to Poynter.

This is just a short list, there are many more.  Most journalists I know are very careful and prepare to cover demonstrations.  They talk with law enforcement to ensure journalists do not interfere with the legitimate work of police.  They do their best to be close enough to cover the story, but no so close they become a part of the story.

It is important to note that words written and spoken by the President of the United States, whomever it may be at the time, matter.  When a president accuses good news outlets of “fake news” when he simply doesn’t like their stories, that has some impact.

Journalists out in the field doing their best to get the story to you, the consumers of news, are not publishing fake news.  Journalists, particularly local ones, are part of their communities.  They volunteer to coach sports teams, are active members in their houses of worship….they are your neighbors.  None of them are “enemies of the people.”

Respect good journalism.  And, most importantly, SUBSCRIBE!

In a public letter addressed to “community stakeholders,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness cites the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in saying he has been “reflecting on our community and our collective responsibility to pursue a still elusive end goal of an equitable and humane society.”

The mayor admits he has no way of understanding how African-Americans feel, saying “as a public servant who commits himself daily to trying to improve the lives of the people that I serve each day, I am cognizant of the work that must continue to be done to ensure that Fishers is different.”

Fadness promises there will be hard conversations in the city about empathizing  and valuing one another.  “Fishers will understand that the dignity of each individual is something sacred,” the mayor says.

The entire text of the mayor’s letter is shown below.

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The tragic death of Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis and the pain and outrage in the streets of our country has me reflecting on our community and our collective responsibility to pursue a still elusive end goal of an equitable and humane society.

To the black community in our city, I will not be arrogant or insensitive enough to say that I understand how you feel. I have not experienced what you have, but as a public servant who commits himself daily to trying to improve the lives of the people that I serve each day, I am cognizant of the work that must continue to be done to ensure that Fishers is different. Fishers will have hard conversations, Fishers will empathize with one another, Fishers will value everyone, Fishers will understand that the dignity of each individual is something sacred.

I am encouraged by the work being done by stakeholders in our community as well as public leaders such as Chief Gebhart. I am hopeful that we are emerging from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic and I am resolved to recommitting ourselves to the pursuit of a community that is truly equitable and humane. Fishers can and must be the example of a community for all.

What we have seen on our television screens and Internet videos the past few days is concerning…I do not pretend in any way to fully understand what is going on, but I do offer a few thoughts on the matter in tonight’s Larry’s Log commentary.

The contract between the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE)Schools and the new Hub & Spoke operation looked to be a high priority for the school board and administrators over the past several months.  It has taken months to get the contract language right.  Purdue Polytechnic, the City of Fishers and Purdue University would all combine with Hub & Spoke to provide new educational programs for high school students.

71 students had signed up for the program in the upcoming school year.  All was ready to go.

Then the novel coronavirus descended upon the state of Indiana, presenting a serious public health challenge, but also bringing most economic activity in the state to a virtual halt as lock-downs and social distancing were necessary.  Although the state is slowly opening-up, Governor Eric Holcomb has instructed state agencies to expect a 15% cut in Funding.

That means state support for public schools, which is sizable, can expect a substantial cut as well.

What does that mean for the proposed contract between HSE Schools and Hub & Spoke?  School board members decided Wednesday night to delay any contract with Hub & Spoke until sometime in the spring of 2021.  Board members were greatly saddened by the news, and regretted not being in a position to move forward.

Hub & Spoke is a new operation on 106th Street near the Nickel Plate Trail, focused on the building trades.  Training high school students in the building trades was part of the planned contract with Hub & Spoke.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board school administrators’ jobs are already being combined in an early effort to cut costs.  Bourff said if the state cuts support to schools by 10%, that would cost HSE Schools $15 million.  But if the cut is the same as state agencies at 15%, that would cost the local school district $20 million…..that is 8% of the district’s 2020 budget of roughly $250 million.

Governor Holcomb has not indicated how much local school districts would be impacted by much-lower-than-expected state revenues this year.

We are headed into the month of June, and the Fishers Police Department has an important message for those living and visiting our fair city – be aware of provisions contained in the city fireworks ordinance.

The ordinance provides important definitions of which fireworks are allowed, and when certain fireworks may be used.

I am already hearing fireworks in my neighborhood at night and I do not believe I am alone.  Below is a reprint of the specific Fishers city ordinance on fireworks:

Continue reading Fishers Police Reminder: City Fireworks Ordinance →

I have been using my podcast series to feature nonprofit organizations in the Fishers area and find out how they are doing in the age of coronavirus.  My latest features the President of the Fishers Arts Council, Tom Rich.

After only one year in the job, Chad Cripe is resigning as principal of HSE High School.  He has been hired as the new superintendent in the Oak Hill School District, located in the northern Indiana community of Converse.

The announcement was made at the Hamilton Southeastern School Board meeting Wednesday night.  Mr. Cripe will be involved in HSE High School graduation ceremonies.

Being  member of a local school board can be a tough job.  Whatever your vote may be, a certain number of people will not be happy with your decision.

Wednesday night, the Hamilton Southeastern School Board issued a statement in response to a barrage of e-mails and petitions from local citizens demanding that school start in August the traditional way – with students physically in their classrooms with their teachers.

As in most situations like this, it is never easy.  Here are some thoughts about all that in my Larry’s Log commentary…

After the submission of two petitions, one with roughly 219 signatures by Board President Michelle Fullhart’s count, the Hamilton Southeastern Schools assured the public they want to start school as normal in August, but there is no way to make that decision now.  Fullhart read a statement from the board assuring the public nothing is being hidden from them, contrary to rumors being circulated within the school district community.

“We are not hiding anything,” according to the board statement, read by Fullhart at the May 27th meeting.  “We honestly do not know what Hamilton Southeastern Schools will be doing yet because it is too early to make those decisions.”

The school corporation has a task force, which includes staff and parents, as well as school board members, looking into all the options.  Superintendent Allen Bourff said at the board session that the comments from the petitions will be considered in the task force deliberations.

“Any decision is dependent on the guidance we are given by the state, CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and local health departments,” according to the board statement.  “We cannot make any promises at this point and no petition or amount of e-mail will cause a decision to be made prematurely.”

You can listen to the board statement as read at the school board meeting by President Fullhart, from the school board recording of the meeting, at this link.    There is also a brief discussion of the issue after the statement was read between Fullhart and Dr. Bourff.

The City of Fishers is beginning to release numbers generated by the new Fishers Health Department.  You can read more about it at this link.

A bigger question is – just what do all these numbers mean?  I do not pretend to have all the  answers, but express some of my views on this Larry’s Log commentary.