WARSAW —

Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose is applauding recent efforts to enhance the downtown by Main Street Warsaw.

Already, initial plans to establish a festival street are underway, and last week, Kosciusko County offered its support to seek grant money that will look at First Christian Church, which needs significant repairs but is viewed by Main Street Warsaw as a possible multi-faceted art center.

Those two plans are part of a long-term effort to bring more art-related attractions and other amenities to the downtown.

While there is significant uncertainty about the future of the church building located across from the Kosciusko County Justice Building, Mayor Jeff Grose applauded the vision.

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Grose made the comments for a recording of In The Know, the public affairs show that airs this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

Grose talked about the upcoming Anchorage Road construction project, which begins March 16, and the new downtown parking police was expected to receive final approval on Friday by the board of works.

Also part of the show was an extended interview with State Sen. Ryan Mishler, who helped craft Indiana's plan to construct a stadium in Hammond for the Chicago Bears.

Illinois lawmakers are expected to soon make a counterproposal to keep the Bears in Chicago.

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In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

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WARSAW — Gov. Mike Braun defended Republicans’ renewed effort to redraw Indiana’s congressional districts Wednesday, saying the new map is needed to create competitive districts despite criticism from opponents.

Braun spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony in Warsaw, marking his first public comments since state legislators resumed efforts to redraw congressional districts that could eliminate Indiana’s only two Democratic-held seats.

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[caption id="attachment_123707" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Here is how the existing congressional map (Left) compares to what House Republicans proposed earlier this week.[/caption]

Braun said the new map would level the national political landscape.

The new map is under consideration in the House after passing out of committee. If it passes in the House, it faces a tougher road in the Senate, WNDU reported.

A proposal touted by Indiana’s House Republicans would drastically change each district from the existing congressional lines that are much more compact.

“I know it upsets some people because it’s between a census and the last one, but if you want to be competitive, you got to do it,” Braun told WNDU. “And the House had the votes and was going to be held up by the Senate. When I saw the Senate purposely trying to do it behind closed doors, dragging their feet, especially when all the senators were becoming public for it, that’s why we needed to get to where we are.”

Meanwhile,  Republican state Sen. Kyle Walker announced he won’t seek reelection next year, making him another opponent of the proposed GOP-redraw of Indiana’s congressional maps who will be leaving the Legislature, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported on Wednesday.

Walker is among about a dozen Republican senators to publicly oppose redistricting.

Walker’s statement did not mention the congressional redistricting that’s been demanded by President Donald Trump, who has berated several Republican state senators who’ve come out against the redraw.

The House is expected to soon vote on the plan, and state senators are expected to consider it next week.

Braun's visit was listed on his online schedule, but it was not widely announced to the media.

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LAGRANGE -- Longtime former lawmaker and law enforcement officer Bob Meeks — who became known for warning his colleagues, “There is no money” during budget discussions — died Wednesday. He was 89.

Meeks, a Republican, served in Indiana’s Senate for two decades beginning in 1988. His district included parts of Kosciusko County.

As chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, he was a key architect of multiple two-year state budgets.

That included a Gov. Mitch Daniels-era budget wrenching Indiana out of the red — a deficit and backpay that topped $1 billion — according to Goshen News.

Meeks retired from the Legislature in 2008, citing health concerns. He dropped a re-election campaign to do so.

“I know I don’t want to die on the Senate floor. I want to go out when I’m at the top of my game,” he told KPC News at the time.

Long career

Meeks briefly served in the U.S. Army, 1954-1956, then went into law enforcement — in a career that lasted 25 years.

Meeks spent four years with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department and 21 with the Indiana State Police. It was then that he joined the Fraternal Order of Police, the 355,000-member national law enforcement group.

Afterward, he founded a security company.

Meeks and wife, Carol, lived in rural LaGrange County. A large family survives him: Carol, four children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, according to the obituary.

His brother, state Sen. Charles “Bud” Meeks, previously died in 2004 after a lengthy battle with cancer, according to the Herald-Times. Another brother, Frederick, also preceded him.

The Indiana State Police Post on the Indiana Toll Road was dedicated in his honor, and he also received a Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Daniels.

A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. on Friday, May 12 at the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, 797 N. Detroit St. in LaGrange. The American Legion’s local unit will provide military rites, the obituary notes.

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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.

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