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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Trump nominates new U.S. Attorney for Indiana's Northern District
The White House, on Tuesday, released nominations for national positions, including a new U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. Adam Mildred, current deputy prosecuting attorney in Allen County, was nominated for the position's four-year term, according to the White House website. Mildred was previously the chief deputy prosecutor in Noble County and has prosecuted more than 200 cases, including trials involving homicide, robbery, drug trafficking and federal firearms offenses, according to U.S. Sen. Jim Banks' website. Mildred has degrees from Ball State University and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Banks, R-Indiana, addressed Mildred's appointment in a Tuesday statement. Thomas Wheeler II has been nominated as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana for a four-year term. 'President Trump nominated two strong candidates to be the U.S. Attorneys for Indiana,' Banks' statement said. 'Adam Mildred and Tom Wheeler have decades of experience and are deeply committed to upholding law and order. They both will bring integrity to the job and I look forward to voting for their confirmation soon.' Banks also expressed gratitude for Scott Proctor, who Trump named acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Indiana. Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, also released a statement following the nominations. 'Adam Mildred's and Thomas Wheeler's experience and expertise would make them assets to the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana,' Young said. 'I look forward to supporting both individuals through their confirmation process.' In January, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana Clifford D. Johnson resigned via letter to former President Joe Biden, according to Post-Tribune archives. 'It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana,' Johnson said in a previous news release. '… Serving as the Northern District's U.S. Attorney is the capstone of my career in public service.' Typically, when there is a change in party, incoming presidents nominate a new slate of U.S. Attorneys, according to Post-Tribune archives. The U.S. Senate will vote to confirm the nominations at a later date.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Thousands of Smokers To Be Hit With 200% Tax Hike On July 1: What To Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Indiana's cigarette tax is set to triple on July 1, rising from around $1 to $3 per pack, affecting thousands of smokers in the state. Lawmakers approved the measure earlier in 2025 in an effort to address a $2 billion budget deficit, despite vocal opposition from hundreds of Indiana businesses, according to the local news outlet IndyStar. Newsweek contacted the office of Indiana Governor Mike Braun for comment. Why It Matters The dramatic rise in Indiana's cigarette tax, by around 200 percent, puts the state ahead of its neighbors in tobacco pricing, with only Illinois coming close. State leaders projected the change will generate $800 million over two years for Indiana's Medicaid program, addressing a budget shortfall, according to IndyStar. Proponents, including the American Cancer Society and the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, hailed the measure as a critical public health and fiscal move. However, convenience store operators and industry representatives cautioned that the surge will impose new financial burdens on lower-income smokers and potentially shift business out of state, risking closures and cuts in jobs. File photo: a man lights a cigarette. File photo: a man lights a cigarette. Owen Humphreys/Press Association via AP What To Know The tax will take effect on July 1, 2025, ramping up the state's cigarette tax to $2.995 per pack, while taxes on cigars, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products will also rise. Indiana's move follows years of proposals that previously stalled in the state Senate, before passing this year with support from lawmakers and Governor Braun. The state's new cigarette tax will surpass that of many of its neighbors starting Tuesday; however, it will still fall short of the tax paid in many other U.S. states. New York, Connecticut, Maryland, and Rhode Island all have cigarette taxes higher than $3.5, according to the American Lung Association, with New York's as high as $5.35. The law will likely have varying impacts on different Americans in the state, Phillip DeCicca, a professor of health economics at Ball State University, Indiana, told Newsweek. "Those who choose to quit smoking, or not start, will likely experience health benefits, but those who continue to smoke will see their real incomes reduced - these tend to be lower-income individuals," he said. DeCicca said that if Indianans start to purchase their cigarettes across the border, in Kentucky, for example, "such behavior would mitigate any potential health benefits." "It seems likely that substituting to vaping, and other forms of nicotine delivery, will be more prevalent, especially among younger smokers," he added. What People Are Saying Phillip DeCicca, a professor of health economics at Ball State University, Indiana, told Newsweek: "On the positive side, it is likely that higher cigarette taxes will lead to less smoking, which is very likely to be beneficial in terms of health. Reductions can come from existing smokers or youth who may not start smoking cigarettes due to the higher taxes. Today, the real question is whether higher cigarette taxes also lead smokers to turn to vaping, though this would still very likely represent 'harm reduction' since the available evidence is that vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking overall. "On the negative side, we know that most smokers do not quit or cut back much when cigarette taxes increase due to their addictive nature. Smokers tend to have lower incomes than non-smokers so this means that cigarette taxes are highly 'regressive'. In other words, they are taxes that are paid to a greater degree by less well-off people as opposed to, say, a progressive income tax, like the federal income tax." Jonathan Gruber, a professor of economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Newsweek: "70 years after the health damages of smoking first came to public attention, more than 1 in 10 Americans smoke, and it remains the largest preventable cause of death in our country. There is a large body of economic evidence that shows that higher taxes will reduce smoking – particularly among the young and the poor. The downside is that the poor will pay more for cigarettes, stretching their budgets, but that is largely offset by the fact that they will smoke less. If the revenues are used to fund smoking cessation efforts among the poor, which have shown to be effective, this is a great policy opportunity." Indiana Senator Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said in April, according to IndyStar: "Along with revenue comes a really pretty good public policy that was going to help persuade people to either not start smoking or stop smoking at the same time. "We used to think that when you were relatively flush with cash, that's a challenging budget to craft, and maybe harder than when you're short with cash. I'm not sure that I feel that anymore. Trying to come up with a way to fund the budget with a $2 billion shortfall in the official forecast is, frankly, one of the more challenging things I think we've ever done." What Happens Next As of July 1, the new tax will take effect.
Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Area students win state teaching scholarships
Thirteen Northwest Indiana students have received a Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. They're among 300 winners across the state, according to a release. Through a competitive application process based on academic achievement and additional criteria, the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship provides recipients with a renewable scholarship of up to $10,000 per year or up to $40,000. In exchange, students agree to teach for five years at an eligible Indiana school or repay the corresponding, prorated amount of the scholarship. 'The Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is a key strategy to build Indiana's future teacher workforce with high-quality talent. The students selected for this opportunity have the passion and determination to make a difference in classrooms across the state,' said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery. To qualify for the scholarship, students must graduate in the top 20 percent of their high school class, earn a score in the 20th percentile on the SAT or ACT, or have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA. To continue earning the scholarship in college, students must earn a 3.0 GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year. Local scholarship winners and their chosen colleges include: Lake County: Alexandra Magallanes, Bishop Noll Institute, St. Mary's College; Miles Verpooten, Crown Point High School, Ball State University; Charles Ganske, Hobart High School, Butler University; James Hairston, Hobart High School, Calumet College of St. Joseph; Emily Bantsolas, Illiana Christian High School, Anderson University; Joshua Wooge, Lake Central High School, Purdue University Northwest; Claire Benton, Lowell High School, Huntington University; Tionna Hall, Merrillville High School, Ball State University. Porter County: Myah Donovan, Hebron High School, Western Governors University Indiana; Juliana Guerrero, Chesterton High School, Purdue University Northwest; Olivia Miller, Kouts High School, Purdue University; Guinevere Lay, Portage High School, Ball State University; Noelle Gapinski, Valparaiso High School, Ball State University.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Trump's anti-DEI mandate will make it hard to recruit new scientists
For half of my 32 years as a professor of chemistry at Ball State University, I was involved in executing a National Science Foundation grant called the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. Its aim was to encourage a broader participation in the sciences. The LSAMP program identified undergraduate college students who were underrepresented in the sciences and tried to assist them in progressing toward their STEM degree. A primary feature was to provide those students with summer research experiences working side-by-side with a faculty mentor. Repeatedly, studies have shown that research experiences are essential for undergraduates to identify as a scientist. The LSAMP program was extraordinarily successful, producing hundreds of new scientists over the course of its existence, all of whom were American citizens. The program did not interfere with, prohibit or reduce the historical population of undergraduates who participated in summer research or who became scientists. Sadly, the program, established by Congress over 30 years ago, has recently been dissolved, along with other vital programs, due to new guidance restricting federal grants relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is hard for some to understand that without a continuous, new source of scientific talent, the US cannot hold onto its economic growth and military security or ensure quality products in manufacturing. A myriad of industries, including paint, food, plastics, pharmaceuticals and aerospace who rely on a constant supply of American scientists expect a shortfall in the not-too distant future. It is difficult to see how we can meet our need for new talent in the sciences after stopping the successful LSAMP program. Patricia Lang is a professor emerita of chemistry at Ball State University. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Trump anti-DEI mandate will make it hard to recruit new scientists | Letters
Indianapolis Star
11-06-2025
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Trump's anti-DEI mandate will make it hard to recruit new scientists
For half of my 32 years as a professor of chemistry at Ball State University, I was involved in executing a National Science Foundation grant called the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. Its aim was to encourage a broader participation in the sciences. The LSAMP program identified undergraduate college students who were underrepresented in the sciences and tried to assist them in progressing toward their STEM degree. A primary feature was to provide those students with summer research experiences working side-by-side with a faculty mentor. Repeatedly, studies have shown that research experiences are essential for undergraduates to identify as a scientist. The LSAMP program was extraordinarily successful, producing hundreds of new scientists over the course of its existence, all of whom were American citizens. The program did not interfere with, prohibit or reduce the historical population of undergraduates who participated in summer research or who became scientists. Sadly, the program, established by Congress over 30 years ago, has recently been dissolved, along with other vital programs, due to new guidance restricting federal grants relating to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is hard for some to understand that without a continuous, new source of scientific talent, the US cannot hold onto its economic growth and military security or ensure quality products in manufacturing. A myriad of industries, including paint, food, plastics, pharmaceuticals and aerospace who rely on a constant supply of American scientists expect a shortfall in the not-too distant future. It is difficult to see how we can meet our need for new talent in the sciences after stopping the successful LSAMP program.
