(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) Nobody loves data centers. They require astounding amounts of resources – especially water and electricity – and most employ only a handful of people. Some rely heavily on fossil-fueled backup generators that can affect air quality in the surrounding area. I’ve yet to … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) “Why are we not teaching kids how to be responsible in public?” Someone on the local chatter site was furious that local schools hadn’t lived up to their responsibility to teach proper behavior to young people. A couple juveniles had been photographed causing … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) Want to know what many of your neighbors don’t realize about local elected officials and local government workers? They’re human. Mere mortals. They live their daily lives much the way the rest of us do. They glow in moments of joy and struggle … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) I’m pretty sure that Siri thing knows more about me than I do. I’m even starting to suspect it’s capable of mind-reading. I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Siri started taking the initiative. “Please tell me you’re not going to wear THAT blue … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) Last time, I responded to the common myth that local districts either pretend no bullying happens in their schools or simply choose to ignore it. (The short version is that state law contains very specific rules about how public schools must respond to … Read more
As appeared in Inside Indiana Business, September 3, 2026. Every generation eventually reaches a moment when the world quietly shifts beneath their feet. Often, that moment arrives in a dimly lit restaurant. They open the menu, glance down at the text, and realize something unsettling: they can’t decide what to order, because they have no … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) Quick! Tell me which Hendricks County school district is the subject of these comments: “My kid got bullied for two years and the school wouldn’t do anything about it.” “Bullying is out of control, and the superintendent pretends it isn’t happening.” “That other … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) There’s a particular irony that the generation of Americans known for challenging everything and refusing to accept anything without questioning it has somehow grown into the most gullible. (Before anyone accuses me of generation-shaming, it’s important to note that I’m a Boomer, born … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) If there’s one thing Hendricks County communities dislike, it’s change. Whatever your idealized vision of your community may be, it’s probably based on the way it looked years ago. Grow up here, and you probably think about the great stores that lined Main … Read more
(This week’s civic education and engagement column from Danville’s The Republican newspaper.) Short answer: because it isn’t one. A local government body, board, or agency is a form of legal organization that is vastly different from a commercial business. People generally start businesses with the goal of making money. Government isn’t allowed to do that. … Read more