This group will guide IPS's future. Hogsett asked lawmakers to make its meetings private
Lawmakers in a late-night move last week shortly before the legislature adjourned for the year exempted the new Indianapolis Local Education Alliance from Indiana's Open Door Law, which ordinarily gives the public the right to attend meetings of governing bodies of public agencies.
The move to restrict the public's right to attend future meetings of the local education group was done without public testimony.
The change was requested by the city's highest-ranking public official, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, said Rep. Bob Behning.
"The mayor did ask for some additional language regarding the Open Door Law," Behning, R-Indianapolis, told the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee late Thursday evening. "We went ahead and clarified at the request of the mayor that it would be not subject ... so they could have an open public meeting if they choose to, but they don't have to."
The final version of House Bill 1515, where the language was included, was approved by the House by a 62-30 vote and by the Senate by a 28-22 vote. It's awaiting Gov. Mike Braun's signature.
The group's work could have big consequences for the future of how Indianapolis Public Schools and local charter schools are run.
It will conduct school facility assessments for all traditional and charter school facilities within the geographic boundaries of IPS.
It will make recommendations regarding school facility "structural changes," as well as come up with a process to approve or deny future capital referendum requests. The group will also come up with a template for revenue-sharing agreements between IPS and charter schools.
The group's membership is spelled out in the legislation. It will consist of nine members, several of whom will be appointed by the mayor. It will also include IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson and Hogsett himself, or his designee. There will be two parent representatives.
It must complete its work by Dec. 31. During that time, there will be a pause on charter schools opening within the IPS district boundaries, except for those approved by the Indianapolis Charter School Board, which is run mostly by mayoral appointees.
State Sen. Brian Buchanan, R-Lebanon, said the purpose of the group is to "figure out how (schools) can combine resources and work together further."
'Allergic to the public'
The legislation states that although the alliance isn't subject to the public access law, one meeting must be open to the public: the final meeting at which the members vote on the adoption of the facilities and transportation plan.
Critics said that's too late for meaningful public testimony.
Jesse Brown, a Democrat on the Indianapolis City-County Council and frequent critic of Hogsett's, posted on social media that public officials will "deliberate behind the scenes" instead of in front of constituents. He said Hogsett's administration was "allergic to the public."
And IPS' teachers' union, the Indianapolis Education Association, posted on social media: "Who are you hiding from?"
However, Hogsett spokeswoman Emily Kaufmann said in a statement that the city and IPS are "aligned on and committed to creating an efficient, transparent structure to carry out the critical work" of the alliance.
"As the alliance conducts this work, there will be opportunities for community input and public meetings," Kaufmann said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
FEARS AROUND SAFETY AND HINDU TEMPLE ATTACKS EMERGE AS KEY CONCERNS AT CAPITOL HILL EVENT
CoHNA's 4th Annual Hindu Day of Advocacy brought together lawmakers, researchers, students and constituents WASHINGTON, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A packed room on Capitol Hill saw a cross section of Americans of the Hindu faith come together, for the fourth year, to celebrate the contributions of their community and highlight the problems they face. The event, on the heels of CoHNA's five year anniversary, was attended by more than a 100 Hindu delegates from 17 states across the US who visited close to 150 Congressional offices to raise awareness. It drew more than 25 lawmakers (Congressional representatives and staffers) who joined the event and heard from a variety of speakers—academics, students, human rights leaders and more. "An overarching theme during the event was around safety and the ability to freely practice one's religion. It was echoed in the thoughts of several lawmakers who were shocked to know how anti-Hindu hate is playing out in the US," said CoHNA president and co-founder Nikunj Trivedi. From multiple temple attacks to Hindu students being bullied and doxxed by peers on elite campuses; from being gaslit by academics and colleagues to facing institutional indifference and inaction when wronged; the Hindu community has been under fire. Hinduphobia is a problem that plays out in many ways—from obnoxious levels of hate and bullying online to more subtle institutional blows like 'caste' laws and policies which seek to profile and target Hindus in America. Broad Congressional Support CoHNA's advocacy day received bi-partisan support from Democratic and Republican Congresspersons, united in their encouragement of advocacy, passionate in their defense of religious freedom, and equally dismayed by the attacks on Hindu places of worship. Welcoming the CoHNA community back to Capitol Hill, Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA) shared insights on why such events matter and reflected on his own long involvement with the community—both professionally and personally. He emphasized our shared values, including a focus on family, faith, and country, on growing the future, and on the importance of nurturing relationships. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) shared how proud he is of his Hindu faith. Speaking of growing up in the tradition that has given so much to the world and influenced American society through yoga, meditation, and ancient philosophy, he said, "I'm happy to see many young Hindus here, championing the cause of Hindus and their rights, both here and abroad. We should not be afraid of being Hindu! The future generation is crucial for our community's voice." Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) shared a laugh with CoHNA board member and vice president Rajeev Menon as he highlighted his appreciation for the shared values he has observed. The congressman congratulated CoHNA for enabling the Hindu community to advocate for their place in American society, emphasizing the critical importance of religious liberty as guaranteed by the US constitution, and its foundational role in ensuring prosperity and innovation. Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA), who spoke during the dinner reception, shared stories of his long association with the Hindu community and the impact it has made. He added that he was well aware of the attacks happening on the community, thanks to CoHNA's efforts. "Our country is founded on principles of freedom and equality, and the Hindu community is as much part of it as anyone else. Elected officials have a responsibility to ensure that 'you' (meaning the Hindu community) feel included and safe," he stated. Representative Thomas Kean Jr (R-NJ) also spoke of his support for the Hindu community and offered encouragement for continued engagement, especially given his involvement with the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "CoHNA is doing important grassroots work to promote understanding of Hinduism and to celebrate the community's rich heritage, values, and traditions", he added. Wrapping up the evening, Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) called out the explosion of hate and bigotry across the world, exemplified by the ongoing atrocities in Bangladesh where Hindus are being cleansed from their homeland, where a monk has been arrested on trumped up charges, and where temples have been destroyed. He emphasized the need for action via economic sanctions and more. Rep. Thanedar also called out the growing number of temple attacks in the US—in New York and in California. "These attacks have to stop," he said, promising to continue his fight against such hate. He thanked CoHNA and event attendees for "showing up and standing up in this fight for justice and fairness because if one temple is attacked, all temples are attacked." Expert Testimony Delivering the keynote speech, leading scientist Dr Lee Jussim of the Rutgers Social Perceptions Lab, shared highlights and data from an academic study, titled "Instructing Animosity." Released in November 2024, the study conducted on a nationally representative sample of 876 individuals, used a treatment-control approach to probe the impact of caste training on the perceptions of ordinary Americans about Hindus. Of critical note, the study found that exposure to caste discrimination narratives in the workplace and academia results in bias against Hindus as a whole. Prof. Jussim's presentation showcased results from an experiment where, after reading a short description of 'caste discrimination' from Equality Labs content, participants in the study were much more likely to endorse Hitler's quotes (with the word 'Brahmin' replacing 'Jew'). In another experiment, where a Hindu-sounding college admissions officer rejected a Hindu-sounding candidate, study participants exposed to anti-caste rhetoric were more likely to assume that the admissions officer was upper caste and biased, and feel the decision was unfair—despite no supporting evidence. Alarmingly, many exhibited a willingness to punish the admissions officer, and to view Hindus, in general, as racist! Drawing on two decades of advocacy and research work, human rights activist and author Richard Benkin emphasized that while Hindus have long been persecuted in Bangladesh, the situation has deteriorated in the past year. "The new Bangladeshi government is now playing an active role in Hindu persecution—particularly through the elimination of Hindu educators and the (mis)use of institutional power," Benkin said. He cautioned that Islamist groups are poised for political power after the 2026 election, and that US inaction risks letting Bangladesh turn into a "Chinese vassal state" like Pakistan. Benkin urged lawmakers to take action before it's too late. The highlight of the evening reception was a talk by globally acclaimed filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, whose film 'The Bengal Files' sheds light on the forgotten genocide of Hindus during India's partition in 1947. An Afternoon Packed with Testimonies and Data The event began with mantras and a solemn moment of silence in memory of the Hindu civilians killed in the past few months in places as far apart as Pahalgam (Kashmir, India) and Bangladesh. Testimony from Kashmiri community leaders Mohan Sapru and Amit Raina brought home historical and personal context to the recent terror attacks. American Hindus from Bangladesh bore testimony to the deep and continuing persecution the community has faced. A data driven presentation focused attention on the growing problem of physical attacks against Hindu temples in the United States—six in the past 18 months. Worse, the attacks have drawn little attention or outrage, with no arrests or prosecutions. When Hindus embrace their Hindu identity, they are targeted with accusations of dual loyalty, ideological labels, and subject to public shaming designed to make them water down their identity. Political leaders like Krystle Kaul and Bhavini Patel, who spoke at the event, shared heartfelt testimony of the harassment and personal targeting they faced for their backgrounds. A powerful panel of student voices from the University of California, Berkeley, and Rutgers University brought to life the hostility Hindu youth face on campus for simple things like seeking to open Hindu clubs, celebrating Hindu festivals and traditions, and holding peaceful vigils mourning dead Hindus in Bangladesh, Kashmir or elsewhere. About CoHNA CoHNA is a grassroots level advocacy and civil rights organization dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in North America by working on matters related to the Hindu community and by educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition. For more information, please visit or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Coalition of Hindus of North America
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
FCC Approves Paramount-Skydance Deal After Skydance's CBS Ombudsman, Anti-DEI Pledges
The FCC has granted approvals necessary to clear the way for the $8 billion merger of Paramount Global and David Ellison's Skydance Media. The agency OK'd the transfer of licenses for 28 CBS-owned local TV stations to the Skydance-led ownership group that is taking over Paramount Global — removing the merger's final regulatory hurdle. The FCC approval comes more than a year after the parties first announced the agreement. More from Variety FCC Chairman Brendan Carr 'Pleased' With Skydance Commitment to Reform CBS Tanya Simon to Lead CBS News' '60 Minutes' as Executive Producer 'South Park' to Get 50 New Episodes as Trey Parker, Matt Stone Reach Five-Year Deal With Paramount; Entire Series to Stream on Paramount+ With the last obstacle removed, the deal is expected to close in the coming weeks. The commission voted 2-1 to approve the deal, with Commissioner Anna Gomez opposing it. Gomez, the lone Democrat on the commission, said she was troubled by Paramount's payment to settle a suit brought by President Trump and by other concessions. 'After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted,' Gomez said. 'Unfortunately, it is the American public who will ultimately pay the price for its actions.' The approval by the FCC, led by Trump-appointed chairman Brendan Carr, comes after Skydance made commitments in to the agency in two areas: ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at Skydance and Paramount have been shut down; and appointing an ombudsman to review 'complaints of bias or other concerns' involving CBS as part of ensuring 'viewpoint diversity.' Skydance's top lawyer outlined the pledges in two letters to Carr dated July 22. 'Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change,' Carr said in a statement. 'That is why I welcome Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network.' Paramount Global declined to comment. A rep for Skydance did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Carr has been unapologetic in pushing Trump's agenda to eradicate DEI and crack down on alleged 'media bias' in dealing with companies under the FCC's regulatory purview. At the FCC's monthly open meeting earlier Thursday, Carr said he was 'pleased' with Skydance's stated commitments on both fronts, saying, 'They're hitting on issues that I think we need to see significant change on.' Meanwhile, the FCC approval comes after Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to President Trump to settle his lawsuit against CBS over a '60 Minutes' interview with Kamala Harris. Trump, which had been demanding an absurd $20 billion in damages, alleged the Harris interview was deceptively edited and constituted consumer fraud and interference with the 2024 presidential election. Before settling, Paramount and CBS moved to dismiss Trump's suit as 'an affront to the First Amendment.' Trump, Paramount and Carr had each claimed that the FCC's deal-approval process was separate from the '60 Minutes' suit — despite allegations from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others that the settlement was a quid-pro-quo to secure the Trump administration's approval of Paramount-Skydance. Carr, in a Feb. 7 interview with Fox News, said Trump 'has been right on these media bias issues' in discussing the FCC's review of a conservative group's complaint that the '60 Minutes' Harris interview represented 'news distortion.' He previously told Fox News the 'news distortion' complaint would likely factor into the FCC's review of the Skydance-Paramount merger. Under the Paramount-Skydance deal, announced July 7, 2024, after months of on-again-off-again talks, Larry Ellison (father of David Ellison), Skydance and Gerry Cardinale's RedBird Capital will buy the shares of Shari Redstone's National Amusements Inc. (which owns 77% of the voting power in Paramount Global). At that point Skydance will merge with Paramount to become 'Paramount Skydance Corp.' While it will be controlled by the Ellison family, Paramount Skydance will remain publicly traded. The new company is to be led by chairman and CEO David Ellison, with Jeff Shell (former CEO of NBCUniversal) installed as president. Shari Redstone is set to receive $1.75 billion in cash upon closing of the Skydance deal, and she will exit the merged company's board. As the deal had been in limbo pending FCC approval for months, Paramount undertook several rounds of layoffs, as the company's current three co-CEOs — CBS head George Cheeks, Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks, and Paramount Pictures head Brian Robbins — aimed to slash $500 million in annualized costs. The trio of co-CEOs are eligible for stepped-up severance payments in the event of a sale or merger. Under revised terms of their employment contracts, Cheeks, McCarthy and Robbins will receive severance payments equivalent to two times their annual base salary plus twice their annual target bonus amount, among other benefits, in the event they're terminated in connection with a sale or merger of Paramount Global (or within two years of such a transaction). In addition, Paramount last fall added a provision to their employment agreements that will let them quit and receive those same severance benefits if they are demoted. Pictured above (l. to r.): FCC chairman Brendan Carr; Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone; Skydance Media CEO David Ellison Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lara Trump Drops Political Bombshell After President's Snub
Lara Trump is no longer her father-in-law's choice to run for Senate in North Carolina. The former co-chair of the Republican National Committee dropped the surprise announcement Thursday morning in a statement on X. 'After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,' she said. 'I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.' Politico reports that her announcement came after the president decided to endorse Michael Whatley, the current chair of the Republican National Committee. Two insiders with knowledge of Trump's decision told the outlet that Whatley, 57, is expected to formally announce his candidacy in the coming days and will receive endorsements from both Trump and the president's daughter-in-law. Until Thursday morning, the president had been expected to endorse Lara Trump, who is married to his son, Eric, and had been courting a potential run since June. Trump reportedly discussed the opportunity with Lara, a Wilmington native, after the Republican incumbent, Thom Tillis, announced he would not seek reelection. Tillis, a noted Trump adversary, had been locked into a heated conflict with the president in the days before announcing his retirement. After the senator voted against, then lambasted Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' the president vowed to endorse any Republican who would challenge Tillis in the upcoming primary. While Trump won North Carolina in a landslide in 2024, Democrats saw Tillis' retirement as an opportunity to flip his seat. Former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to announce his candidacy on Monday. According to Politico's report, the president is 'optimistic' that Whatley's connections to major party donors will help him secure the seat for Republicans. A native of Watuaga County, North Carolina, Whatley previously served as the chair of the state's Republican Party until assuming his current role in March 2024. The North Carolina race marks the third time Lara Trump, who previously served as Whatley's RNC co-chair, has considered a Senate run. She initially considered entering the Republican primary to replace North Carolina Senator Richard Burr when he retired in 2022, but ultimately withdrew from contention. Two years later, the president briefly considered nominating his daughter-in-law to fill Marco Rubio's senate seat, which he vacated to become secretary of state. She even resigned from her post as Whatley's RNC co-chair in Dec. 2024, increasing speculation that she planned to take Rubio's place. However, Trump publicly withdrew her name from consideration just two weeks later. Since leaving the RNC, Trump, who shares two children with the president's second son, has been tacitly exploring an entertainment career. In February, she began hosting the talk show My View with Lara Trump on the Fox News Channel. She has also started releasing original music, dropping her sixth Christian pop single just three days ago.