WARSAW — Some of the biggest names in Indiana Republican politics are hosting a reception for four candidates running for Kosiusko County Council in 2026.

The block of candidates includes Council President Tony Ciriello, Dave Wolkins, Joe Erwin and Brad Jackson, a former county commissioner who confirmed his plans last week to run for council.

Elected officials supporting the block of candidates include Congressmen Marlin Stutzman and Rudy Yakym, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, State Sen. Ryan Mishler, and State Rep. Craig Snow.

The event is open to all residents. Snacks will be served.

RSVPs are requested by emailing kormsby@ryanmishler.com or calling 574-371-7790.

On a related note, the Kosciusko County Republican Party Annual Fall Fish Fry is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30.

The event will be at the Home & Family Arts Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw from 4 to 7 p.m.

It is all-you-can-eat for $14 for adults and $7 for children 5 to 12 years old. Children 4 and under are free.

Carryouts are available.

The post Reception for four GOP county council candiates Oct. 6 in Warsaw appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Indiana politicians across the political spectrum denounced political violence Wednesday after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, with many Republicans describing the populist ally of President Donald Trump as an influential figure.

U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, one of Kirk’s closest allies in Indiana, said Kirk was “one of the most influential leaders in the conservative movement” and “a warrior and a friend.”

“He inspired so many students with open and honest dialogue on college campuses across the country,” said Banks, a Republican. “There is no place for political violence in the United States of America. Amanda and I are praying for his wife, children, and the millions of Americans impacted by this horrific assassination.”

Kirk, 31, dropped out of college in 2012 to co-found Turning Point USA. He built a massive social media following through events on college campuses that often led to viral moments. Kirk had been scheduled to appear Oct. 21 at Indiana University Bloomington as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Kirk appeared at Purdue University in April.

Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon while speaking at Utah Valley University. Kirk was answering audience questions under a tent when a bullet struck him in the neck.

Kirk’s death also rapidly reverberated nationwide. Kirk was hailed by  President Donald Trump on Truth Social as “Great, and even Legendary.”

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, posted urgent requests for prayers for Kirk. Beckwith has a long history with Kirk, and his organization Turning Point USA; he has attended and hosted Kirk or other leaders with Turning Point USA for years.

Beckwith wrote on X that he and his wife “lost a dear friend” Wednesday. He posted a photo of himself and Kirk with their wives.

He said Kirk “now joins the company” of slain American figures like Revolutionary War spy Nathan Hale, Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights Movement icon Martin Luther King Jr. – “heroes who gave their lives for liberty and righteousness.”

“This moment will be remembered as a turning point for America,” Beckwith said.

Kirk’s killing comes amid heightened concerns over political violence in the United States, following several recent high-profile attacks. Earlier this year, a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker and her husband were assassinated in their home, and Trump survived two attempts on his life during the 2024 campaign.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, called the shooting “a dark day for America.”

“Political violence is abhorrent and unacceptable. We must come together and ensure such actions have no place in our country,” Young said.

U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Indiana, wrote that Kirk “spoke truth into the world and always believed that honest conversation, not heinous actions were the way to solve political differences.”

U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Indiana, noted Kirk had just encouraged students to pursue faith “minutes before his passing.”

Gov. Mike Braun, Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Secretary of State Diego Morales emphasized Kirk’s role as a husband and father as well as his impact on young conservatives.

Democrats also spoke out against the attack. U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indiana, said “Political violence is never ok and must be stopped,” adding his condolences for Kirk’s young children. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Indiana, urged Americans to move forward “with peace as a nation.”

The Indiana Democratic Party issued a statement on X denouncing political violence in response to the shooting. “We strongly oppose political violence in all forms and in every part of our nation. No one should ever have to fear for their safety while exercising their First Amendment rights,” the party said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family during this difficult time.”

Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany, Indiana. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).   

The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.

The post Charlie Kirk’s death draws calls to stop political violence from Indiana lawmakers appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

FORT WAYNE — Third District Congressman Rep. Marlin Stutzman announced Wednesday that he helped write a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee asking that Trump be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Stutzman was joined by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tennessee) in signing the letter.

The congressmen wrote that Trump has made “concrete contributions to international fraternity” and “reduced conflict and the risk of war” through his “decisive leadership.” The letter cites achievements such as the Abraham Accords and “direct engagement” with North Korea.

“President Trump is the President of Peace,” Stutzman wrote in a post on X. “There is no one on the planet more deserving of this year’s Nobel Prize and multiple world leaders have recognized that. Glad to join Rep. Ogles on nominating POTUS for this prestigious award.”

The Nobel Prize Committee says a nomination by outside officials “is in no way an endorsement” by them, because “in theory anybody could be put forward for a prize.”

Despite this, world leaders such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistani government officials have already begun a campaign for Trump to win. The Prime Minister of Cambodia and leaders in Azerbaijan and Armenia have also voiced their support for Trump’s nomination.

Trump supporters have touted these endorsements as reason for him to win the prize. However, the AP reports that the President has struggled to make headway on the world’s two most vexing conflicts: the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Trump has openly lobbied to receive the award.

Others argue that Trump is unworthy of the prize, citing his threats to forcibly invade Greenland and efforts to dismantle the US Institute of Peace. While touting policies of creating peace and ending wars, Trump has also increased the yearly national defense budget to over $1 trillion.

Nobel Peace Prize winners are expected to be announced in mid-October. To read a full copy of Stutzman’s letter, click here.

The post Stutzman nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

MENTONE — Rita Price took in the moment without saying a word.

The sports broadcasting legend who has spent 50 years providing play-by-play, insights and heartfelt analysis for Tippecanoe Valley High School sports, found herself Friday night sitting on the basketball court named after her — The Rita Price Simpson Court — absorbing speeches acknowledging her place in the school's history.

[caption id="attachment_105624" align="alignright" width="475"] Standing behind Rita Price, from left, are Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Football Coach Steve Moriarty, Athletic Director Sam Sturtevant, and Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The 82-year-old Price, who continues to work for WRSW radio, heard a series of short speeches from Girls Basketball Coach Rebekah Parker, Boys Basketball Coach Joe Luce and Football Coach Steve Moriarty as well as compliments from a spokesman for 3rd District Congressman Marlin Stutzman whose comments were entered into the Congressional record earlier in the week.

Price’s sports broadcasting career began in 1975 and paralleled the emergence of Indiana girls high school sports.

Parker praised Price’s talents.

[caption id="attachment_105625" align="alignright" width="370"] Free shirts honoring Rita Price were available to everyone at Friday's game. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

“You are so good at what you do, it’s absolutely like you bring the game to life, like you're right there watching it,” she said.

Luce and Parker both conveyed messages from Indiana sports dignitaries and several former standout players for Valley, including Trey Eaton, the boys basketball's all-time scoring leader.

Eaton's message: "Rita, your voice was more than just commentary. It is the heartbeat of every Valley basketball game, the soundtrack of Valley’s greatest moments, and the steady presence through every high and low throughout the last 4,000-plus games. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Valley.” 

Moriarty talked about the bond his family shares with Rita and her family and the far-reaching impact her words have had.

“From the back streets of Burket, all the way to Athens, Sevastapol, even to Atwood and the main streets in Akron — and even the Java Jacks with your Pink Flamingo — they’ve always been there for you and you’ve been there for us. You’ve been embedded in our community.”

He added, “Those crisp fall nights, you have (been) the voice of Death Valley Football. You are the voice of Death Valley Football.”

Pat Miller, representing Stutzman’s office, expressed appreciation for Price's legacy.

Miller reminded the audience that Price has been with WRSW radio for 65 years and is a Hall of Fame inductee with the Indiana High School Basketball, Indiana Broadcasters Association, Kosciusko County Basketball — and on top of that — is a former Woman of the Year recipient with Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce

"That's quite a milestone and Rita is truly a remarkable woman," Miller said.

Mentone sits in the middle of Indiana's 2nd Congressional District which is represented by Rudy Yakym.

While Stutzman's Third District covers northeast Indiana, Miller explained afterward that the two Congressional offices agreed to allow Stutzman to honor Price because the old 3rd District used to include the school before redistricting years ago.

Shirts commemorating Price's impact on Valley sports were distributed before the game and worn by fans, staff and the basketball team during warm-ups.

The ceremony was held shortly before the start of the varsity game against Huntington North, which was won by Tippecanoe Valley, 58-38.

Asked why she chose not to address the crowd, Price said she was eager to get the game started.

After Friday night’s game, She and her broadcast partner, Baylen Hite, would be headed to Logansport Saturday morning to cover all three games of the girls semi-state that includes Whitko for the first time in school history.

Price downplayed her legacy just a bit.

"It is true, if you stay around long enough, good things will happen to you," Price said.

"I'm very humbled by all of it," she said. "You know, I never did this for that, but it sure is nice."

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="105617,105630,105620,105613,105656,105621"]

The post Tippecanoe Valley salutes sports broadcasting legend Rita Price appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — With less than three weeks remaining before the general election, top Republican state candidates held a rally in downtown in Warsaw Saturday.

Candidates included 2nd District Congressional incumbent Rudy Yakym and former Congressman Marlin Stutzman who is running for the third district congressional seat and spoke before those attending heard from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, Lt. Gov. candidate Micah Beckwith and gubernatorial candidate US Sen. Mike Braun.

The event was held on Center Street near the Republican headquarters and was similar to one held six years ago when Braun was running for the US Senate.

Braun was the final speaker and did not directly mention his Democratic opponent, Jennifer McCormick. He made one passing reference to the presidential election, calling the Biden administration a train wreck.

"When they got rid of a certain train wreck a guy named Joe Biden, whose first lieutenant is someone named Kamala Harris — they do the old switcheroo — that sounds like tampering with Democracy right there," Braun said.

He was critical of what Democrats supposedly stand for.

"We can not underestimate what we're really up against and that's the other side of the aisle that out funds us, they have values that don't make sense. They're not for freedom and opportunity. They're for growing government. Their dream is to grow the business of government and they worship it accordingly. We do not want that coming to Indiana," Braun said.

He also talked about education in Indiana.

"Choice and competition need to drive education and when a monopoly or a one-size-fits-all is the way it works,  the results are never good and it's never going to happen in Indiana — you can take that to the bank," Braun said.

Beckwith said transgender and immigration are two common sense issues that Republicans understand.

"Don't let the left gaslight you into thinking that somehow you're the minority, somehow you lack common sense," Beckwith said.

Beckwith avoided mentioning the influx of Haitian immigrants in Logansport. In an interview with WOWO Radio last week, Beckwith said illegal immigrants are draining resources and said multiculturalism is bad.

The post Top Republicans tout policies during Warsaw rally appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

FORT WAYNE — An attack advertisement featuring garbled audio clips of a congressional candidate could provoke an early test of a 50-day-old law cracking down on digitally altered campaign media.

Judge Wendy Davis, one of eight Republicans running for Indiana’s Third Congressional District, accused conservative political action committee (PAC) Club for Growth Action of “dub(bing) together words and unrelated statements … to form a sentence that fits their absurd claims.”

The advertisement asserts that Davis “institut(ed) woke, race-based hiring” during her time as judge. It purports to quote Davis as saying the government lacks ethnic and religious diversity.

“We don’t have enough inclusion. I believe the Constitution — still a breathing and living document — requires,” Davis appears to say.

She denounced the advertisement as “dishonest” in a news release Wednesday.

“It’s laughable to call me a ‘Liberal Judge’ – I forfeited my position on the bench to run for office because I was too conservative to maintain the neutrality the job requires,” Davis said.

“I am disappointed that Club for Growth spliced my words together to fit their fake narrative in support of a failed, career politician …” she continued, referring to primary competitor Marlin Stutzman.

The news release indicated the original audio came from an hourlong panel that Davis participated in about religious freedom. The campaign said it had issued a cease and desist letter.

Club for Growth Action dismissed Davis’ claims.

“Wendy Davis has expressed her strong opinion on diversity and that she believes the Constitution is a ‘breathing and living document,’ but now she’s trying to rewrite history to cover-up her past leftist woke statements,” group President David McIntosh said in a statement.

The super PAC has spent more than $100,000 on ads in recent days against Davis, according to Federal Election Commission records.

An Indiana law approved just weeks ago could apply to the spat.

House Enrolled Act 1133 requires disclaimers on political campaign communications featuring “fabricated media” depicting a candidate that a “reasonable person” wouldn’t know is fake.

That includes audio recordings of speech that have been altered without the affected candidate’s consent so that the media “conveys a materially inaccurate depiction of the individual’s speech, appearance, or conduct as recorded in the unaltered recording.”

It also includes visual recordings, artificially generated imitations of the affected candidate and more.

Under the law, the disclaimer must state: “Elements of this media have been digitally altered or artificially generated.” When in a video, it must be displayed “continuously for the duration” of the advertisement.

If not, the affected candidate can bring a civil action against people that paid for or sponsored the advertisement.

Although most new laws take effect in July, lawmakers had this one take effect immediately; Gov. Eric Holcomb signed it into law March 12.

Davis’ campaign said it planned to pursue legal action but didn’t specifically refer to the new law.

“Splicing someone’s words together without their consent to fit your agenda is wrong, but it’s also illegal in the state of Indiana,” Campaign Manager Rex Purgason said in a statement. “We are pursuing any and all legal measures to have this false ad removed from the airwaves.”

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post Congressional candidate hits back at ‘spliced’ ad, threatens legal action appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

INDIANAPOLIS — A handful of Republican candidates for Indiana’s Third Congressional District are setting themselves apart financially from the rest ahead of the party’s primary in May.

Over a dozen candidates have indicated their interest in Rep. Jim Banks’ Third District seat following his decision to pursue the Senate post.

Four GOP candidates have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in the third district, with one breaking the $1 million mark, by dipping into their own wallets to fund their campaigns. 

Nonprofit executive Tim Smith reported over $1 million in contributions, but the vast majority of that funding comes from a $900,000 loan from himself. He has spent over $227,000 on the race and ends the year with the most cash on hand: $832,380.

Other big spenders included former Allen County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Davis, former U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman and State Sen. Andy Zay. 

Davis raised $676,000 — including $83,200 from herself — and spent $338,885, leaving her with $337,885 at the end of the year. 

A $100,000 loan from himself made up roughly one-sixth of Zay’s contributions, which totaled less than $547,000. He spent $318,000 in 2023 and still has more than $228,000 in the bank.

Over half of former congressman Marlin Stutzman’s $482,000 raised comes from a $250,000 loan to himself. After spending just under $308,000 — which included a $100,000 loan repayment to himself — he is left with $174,367 cash on hand.

Four other Republican candidates reported raising less than $50,000 and another two have no reports filed with the FEC. 

On the Democrat side, Phil Goss outraised his primary opponent Kiley Adolph by giving his campaign a $154,000 boost, totaling nearly $162,000 in contributions. However, Adolph’s $17,000 in outside contributions is more than double Goss’ $8,000. 

Goss spent $127,000 and has less than $35,000 on hand, though he still owes money to himself. Adolph has just under $4,000 left after spending nearly $13,000.

The post Smith leads pack in 3rd District fundraising for Congressional seat appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

INDIANAPOLIS — The race to fill a Congressional vacancy got another candidate this week with the announcement of Democrat Kiley Adolph, a global consultant, filing for the Third Congressional District.

The post UPDATE: Democrat joins congested Congresional 3rd District race appeared first on News Now Warsaw.