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Politics 69 results
Mississippi State Sen. Joseph Thomas, D-Yazoo City, holds a copy of the proposed congressional redistricting map during debate over redistricting at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, January 12, 2022. | AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

How Redistricting Congressional Districts Can Undermine Majority Rule
Marjorie Hershey
“In a democracy, voters choose their political leaders. In a democracy that permits gerrymandering … elected leaders choose their voters.” Marjorie Hershey, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Indiana University, wrote this in an article for “The Conversation,” an independent news organization. She has updated the article for Limestone Post. Click here to read her article on redistricting.
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Steve Hinnefeld was a reporter at the Herald-Times from 1980 to 2007, when it employed up to 59 people in the newsroom. Now it has 12. Limestone Post asked Hinnefeld to look at several media outlets that report the daily news in Bloomington. He found that the local news landscape has changed dramatically in the past few years.

Changes in Daily Local News Landscape Have Consequences
Steve Hinnefeld
What happens when local news coverage disappears? Limestone Post asked journalist Steve Hinnefeld to look at the daily news landscape in Bloomington. He interviewed people at several local news outlets and filed this report. The landscape has changed recently in subtle and dramatic ways — some for the better, some not so much. Click here to read about who’s reporting B-town’s daily news.
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While the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana peaked nearly 100 years ago, its members’ support of Christian nationalism is reflected in various political, militia, and hate groups today. Writer Laurie D. Borman interviewed several experts who suggest the ideologies espoused by today’s far-right groups is a continuation of the country’s racist past. This photo is of a KKK cross burning in northern Indiana in 1922.

‘100% American’ Hate Groups, Christian Nationalism, and the Indiana KKK
Laurie D. Borman
While the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana peaked nearly 100 years ago, its members’ support of Christian nationalism is reflected in various political, militia, and hate groups today. Writer Laurie D. Borman interviewed several experts who suggest the ideologies espoused by today’s far-right groups are a continuation of the country's racist past. Click here to read the article.
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In the past 25 years, the housing supply in Bloomington has not kept pace with population growth, and housing prices have gone up while wages have remained flat. Housing expert Deborah Myerson says exclusionary housing policy creates issues related to housing affordability, accessibility, racial inequity, and climate change — as well as invisible neighbors in our community. The photos above depict examples of “missing middle housing,” courtesy of NeighborsUnited.info.

Invisible Neighbors: How To Include People Left Out of B-town’s Neighborhoods
Deborah Myerson
In the past 25 years, housing supply in Bloomington has not kept pace with population growth, and prices have gone up while wages have remained flat. Housing expert Deborah Myerson says exclusionary housing policy creates issues related to housing affordability, accessibility, racial inequity, and climate change — as well as invisible neighbors in our community. Click here to read Deborah’s article.
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Book Excerpt: ‘Minister’s Daughter: One Life, Many Lives’ by Charlotte Zietlow
Charlotte Zietlow, Michael G. Glab
Before becoming a local political powerhouse in Bloomington, Charlotte Zietlow and her husband, Paul, spent a year in Czechoslovakia as part of an educational exchange program. She says in her new memoir, “Minister’s Daughter: One Life, Many Lives,” with Michael G. Glab, that the experience proved American democracy was worth fighting for. Click here to read an excerpt from the book.
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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s moratorium on residential evictions is set to expire on August 14. Evictions for many renters are expected to resume the next day, writes Diane Walker. While rental assistance is available, demand will likely exceed supply. Walker talked to housing experts who fear a disaster could result if more help isn’t made available. | Limestone Post

Some Renter Help Available As End of Eviction Moratorium Looms
Diane Walker
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s moratorium on residential evictions is set to expire on August 14. Evictions for many renters are expected to resume the next day, writes Diane Walker. While rental assistance is available, demand will likely exceed the supply. Walker talked to housing experts who fear a disaster could result if more help isn’t made available. Click here to read the full story.
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On June 5 in Bloomington, a peaceful march and protest called 'Enough Is Enough' was held in response to nationwide police brutality against People of Color. Organizers emphasized that, while people’s energy at the event was encouraging, more needs to be done in the fight for racial justice.

Photos: ‘Enough Is Enough’ March and Protest in Bloomington
Limestone Post
On June 5, Bloomington’s largest protest in decades was held in response to nationwide police brutality and systemic racism toward Black people. “Enough Is Enough” was a peaceful march and protest in which organizers emphasized that, while the event on Friday was encouraging, more needs to be done in the fight for racial justice. Click here for the photo gallery.
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Truth Matters is an event to help people detect disinformation in the news and on social media platforms. After watching two films on the topic, audience members will be able to ask questions to the panel of media experts pictured above: (clockwise from top left) Filippo Menczer, professor at the Indiana University School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and director of IU’s new Observatory on Social Media; Jen Senko, director of the film ‘The Brainwashing of My Dad,’ who will participate via Skype; Alex J. Semchuck, associate professor of communication at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington; and Jason Peifer, assistant professor at the IU Media School (Courtesy photos). The background image is a screenshot of Hoaxy, a tool that visualizes the spread of articles online, which was created by Menczer and his team at the Observatory on Social Media.

Truth Matters Event To Raise Awareness About Disinformation in the News
Limestone Post
Fake news masquerading as journalism? Truth Matters, an event at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on October 19, features two films and a panel of media experts that will help people detect disinformation in the news and on social media platforms. (Limestone Post is one of 14 sponsors of this event.) Click here to learn more about Truth Matters.
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Antoinette Leach was living in Sullivan County in 1893 when she became the first female lawyer in Indiana. While her law practice specializing in “Commercial Law and Collections” prospered, she was also active in politics, including local and national suffrage associations. This photo is of a suffrage parade in downtown Sullivan that Leach likely organized. | Photo courtesy of the Sullivan County Historical Society

Hoosier Lawyers, Voters Owe Debt to Antoinette Leach
Diane Walker
Since Antoinette Leach began her career as Indiana’s first female lawyer 126 years ago, “the power and presence of women lawyers have increased exponentially, mostly in the past 30 years,” writes Diane Walker, who adds that “both women lawyers and women voters — and, one could argue, all Americans — owe a debt to Antoinette Leach.” Click here to see why.
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Protesters affiliated with the Indiana Forest Alliance work to protect 300 acres of the Yellowwood State Forest Back Country Area in Brown County in 2017. Since 2012, the Indiana Division of Forestry has increased logging of state forests by 400 percent, says IFA's Anne Laker. | Photo courtesy of the Indiana Forest Alliance

Guest Column: Protecting Indiana Forests, the Bad News and the Good
Anne Laker
Since 2012, the Indiana Division of Forestry has increased logging of state forests by 400 percent, says Anne Laker of the Indiana Forest Alliance. In this guest column, Laker talks about the dangers facing our publicly owned forests and an Indiana Senate bill that could protect them. She also previews the upcoming Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Bloomington. Click here to read the full story
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“Bloomington is at a crossroads — culturally, civically, and economically,” says writer Sean Starowitz, assistant director of the arts for the City of Bloomington. Touching on all of these is our bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. While many people say they want a friendlier biking and walking town, “the car dominates its urban fabric and infrastructure,” which can be seen in this shared lane on North Walnut at the downtown Square. | Limestone Post

City Needs ‘Push’ From Public To Improve Bike Infrastructure
Sean Starowitz
“Bloomington is at a crossroads — culturally, civically, and economically,” says writer Sean Starowitz, assistant director of the arts for the City of Bloomington. Touching on all of these is our bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. While many people say they want a friendlier biking and walking town, “the car dominates its urban fabric and infrastructure.” Click here to read the full story.
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