Matt Mindrum and Vanessa Green Sinders: Raising cigarette tax good for Hoosier health, economy
A September survey of 600 Indiana residents showed that 64% of likely voters support a $2 per pack increase in the cigarette tax.
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David Mitchell and Kristy J. Umana: Improve health care by lifting nurse practitioner restrictions
The lack of accessible primary care providers in Indiana is dire. The state ranks 33rd in the nation for the number of active primary care providers per capita.
Ting Gootee: Productivity growth is a race we must win
It’s encouraging that Indiana companies are already embracing the need for technology adoption and workforce advancement.
Elise Nieshalla: Congress, president must restore America’s solvency
As hard as our states work to be fiscally responsible and pass balanced budgets, we are vulnerable to the rapidly dissolving financial position of our country.
Leonard Hoops: Cultural Trail connects people, places and purpose
With its expansion, including the newest South Street addition, we’re breaking down both physical and perceived barriers between neighborhoods, businesses and attractions.
Kristin Jones: This holiday season, give the gift of PBM accountability
These insurance middlemen are glaring examples of the consequences of a vertically integrated health care system, and they will continue to take advantage of Hoosier patients until federal legislation passes to hold them accountable.
Cliff Chapman: Creating local carbon credits delivers local benefits
Wooded areas in and around cities are dwarfed by ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest, but these urban forests nonetheless provide relief to our planet and nearby communities. They also provide opportunities for carbon credits.
Kerry Prather: Liberal arts, artificial intelligence thrive together
Every day in our classrooms, AI and other digital tools are leveraged to enhance student learning.
Sean Mobley: Renewable energy is clear choice to power state’s future
The Nature Conservancy supports policies that strengthen our resources through renewable energy, but we’re not alone in this quest. Hoosiers agree, and so do the corporations that have found our state to be attractive for business purposes.
Dennis Murphy and Mike Ash: Employers, now is the time to help build the workforce
We’re part of a groundbreaking initiative called CEMETS iLab Indiana, a coalition of more than 200 Hoosier business, education, government and nonprofit leaders working to transform how we educate and train young people in our state.
Ryan Kitchell: Scouting remains a timeless investment in our youth
What do Neil Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Harrison Ford, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King Jr., and U.S. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Kennedy, Ford, Clinton, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush all have in common? They were Scouts.
Sheila Kelty: The vital role of rural health care—a call to action
For Indiana to thrive, we need vibrant rural communities that can offer opportunities for young people, not just in urban centers like Indianapolis or Fort Wayne but also in places like Batesville, Bremen, Madison and Greensburg.
Sara Marshall: Let’s change the narrative around teacher satisfaction
By continuing to emphasize the challenges teachers face and ignoring the benefits, we risk alienating the next generation of prospective teachers at a time when having excellent educators is especially urgent.
Sam Snideman: Higher pay for child care workers key to strong economy
Lead child care educators, who often have bachelor’s degrees, earn wages equivalent to restaurant cooks or motor vehicle operators—fields that don’t require education beyond high school.
Jan Lutz: Child crime victims are at high risk of losing support
Before we can tackle the central issues of the Crime Victims Fund, we need to first address the harm caused by these cuts.
Denny Spinner: Next governor must galvanize rural economic growth
The next governor can encourage rural growth simply by highlighting the things that make rural Indiana towns special. Rural economies need attention.
Jamie Merisotis: Retooling higher education to meet the needs of Gen Z
A college credential generally leads to greater personal fulfillment and a longer lifespan. And we know that education after high school promotes deeper engagement with democracy and social issues.
Polina Osherov: It’s time to take Indiana’s creative economy seriously
Creative sectors are fueling new businesses, creating jobs and boosting our state’s competitiveness.
Tom Coverdale: Making it possible for Hoosiers to age their way
There are many programs available to assist caregivers and their loved ones, but these programs are of no use if no one knows about them.
Tim George: The creative economy: Indiana’s missing link
Arts and cultural industries added $9.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2022. That sounds like a lot … and it is. But it’s also just 2% of Indiana’s gross state product.