Local News Headlines: January 9, 2024

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today unveiled his 2024 agenda at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  The governor focused on work that will continue this year because of an incredibly successful 2023 budget session as well as new administrative and legislative items that build on major progress already made in key priority areas such as childcare, education and workforce.

To showcase resources and programs that Indiana has built for individuals, businesses, and communities across the state, the governor unveiled the Hoosier Playbook – a place-making resource guide for local leaders and partners.

“The Hoosier Playbook will assist local leaders locate state resources to further strengthen their communities. From health and wellness initiatives to education and training to cultural amenities and placemaking tools, the state of Indiana seeks to be a partner with our cities, towns, and counties as they work to develop in their own unique ways,” Gov. Holcomb said. “This Administration and this year’s agenda, approaches the work ahead as an all-hands-on deck effort to connect Hoosiers with the assistance they need and when they need it the most.”

New administrative and legislative initiatives on Governor Holcomb’s 2024 agenda will continue his efforts to increase early childhood education access, affordability, and expansion as well as take additional steps to bolster K-12 literacy efforts. Among other priorities, the governor also said he will work directly with local communities to better help them prepare and recover from natural disasters, and he announced the One Start to Stop campaign, an effort to connect Hoosiers with a single source to lead them to education, training and jobs programs and services.

Check out the 2024 Next Level Agenda.

“Whether it’s growing our workforce, boosting third grade reading proficiency or expanding childcare access, we have many of the same goals laid out by Governor Holcomb. We look forward to continuing to work together with our House and Senate colleagues, and the administration on our shared priorities.”

House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents House District 37, which includes a portion of Hamilton County.

Terre Haute Casino Resort to Open Casino Floor on April 5, Hotel Grand Opening to be held on May 15, 2024
Terre Haute Casino Resort (“THCR”) announced today that their casino floor will be open on April 5, 2024. This momentous occasion will signify a remarkable milestone for Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or “the Company”), the owner and operator of THCR, as the Company proudly expands into its 14th state. The April 5th event will serve as a grand opening for the casino floor and several food and beverage offerings including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar, and The Queen’s Beans Coffee Shop. The opening of the property hotel and Altitude Bar and Lounge will follow on May 15th.

The casino opening celebration will kick off at 10:30AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, symbolizing THCR’s commitment to becoming an integral part of the community. Throughout the day, the property will come alive with captivating live entertainment, promising an unforgettable experience for all attendees. Guests can also look forward to exciting promotions throughout the celebration and the first
1,000 customers will receive a special Terre Haute Casino opening T-shirt.

“Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley have waited a long time for this vision to become a reality. Churchill Downs Incorporated is excited to open one of the premier gaming destinations in the Midwest on April 5.” said Mike Rich, Vice President & General Manager of THCR. “The launch of Terre Haute Casino Resort extends beyond physical structure; it’s about creating a vibrant and integral part of this
community, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this exciting chapter to life.”

Event Details:
• Date: April 5, 2024
• Time: 10:30AM
• Location: 4500 E Margaret Dr, Terre Haute, IN 47803

Woman Sentenced for Threatening to Murder U.S. Probation Officer
Tammy Morgan, 56, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to time served in federal custody after pleading guilty to Transmitting a Threatening Interstate Communication. At the time of her sentencing, Morgan had been held in federal custody for approximately 14 months.

According to court documents, on multiple occasions spanning from October 2018 through August 2022, Ms. Morgan sent repeated voicemails, texts messages, and physical notes threatening Victim 1, a federal probation officer. In the course of her official duties, Victim 1 supervised the release of the defendant’s husband, who was placed under federal supervision following his release from federal prison following a conviction in the Southern District of Indiana.

Specifically, on March 16, 2021, Morgan called Victim 1 at her office and left a voicemail stating, “I have a driving while suspended on my record, and I’m going to have a murder charge on my record…” Three days later, Morgan left another voicemail stating, “I’m going to hurt somebody…And I’m going to blow your f*****g head off.”

On June 22, 2022, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt issued an Order prohibiting Morgan from entering the U.S. Courthouse in Indianapolis. In the Order, Chief Judge Pratt referenced a January 13, 2022, incident wherein Morgan warned an employee, “You look scared, and you should be.” The Order also referenced a June 1, 2022, incident wherein Morgan informed another court employee that “somebody’s going to get hurt.”

According to the same Order, on four occasions, Morgan attempted to enter the U.S. Courthouse with a pocketknife. On July 14, 2022, Morgan approached a U.S. Probation Officer as she walked to her parked vehicle and asked if Victim 1 was at the office. One month later, Morgan left a note on the same Officer’s vehicle that read “I lost my everything because of [Victim 1.] She lied and stole my children and our money, I want justice.”

This Week in Hoosier History

1801 – William Henry Harrison appointed the first Territorial Governor of the Indiana Territory. President John Adams appointed Harrison as the first governor of the territory on May 13, 1800, but Harrison did not arrive in the territory to begin his duties as governor until January 10, 1801. John Gibson, the territorial secretary, served as acting governor until Harrison’s arrival at Vincennes.

When the Indiana Territory was formed in 1800, its original boundaries included the western portion of the Northwest Territory. This encompassed an area northwest of a line beginning at the Ohio River, on the bank opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River, extending northeast to Fort Recovery in present-day western Ohio, and north to the border between the United States and Canada along a line approximately 84 degrees 45 minutes West longitude.

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