The Indiana Publisher

Editor's note: This column from Indianapolis Star executive editor Katrice Hardy originally ran online on June 11, the day the Pulitzer Prize recipients were announced. Katrice Hardy Indianapolis Star It is a unique privilege to work in a profession you love and that also serves others. But that's exactly how I and every one of IndyStar's journal- ists feel each morning when we log onto our computers and start the workday. Today started as a day like any other. Some reporters and photojour- nalists combed through public records to find stories of govern- Publisher The Indiana Volume 86, Issue 6 • June 2021 Published monthly In addition to the public notice bills that HSPA outlined in the May edition of The Indiana Publisher, HSPA also worked or monitored an additional 63 bills during the 2021 legislative session. Below are the bills that concerned public access under the Access to Public Records Act or Open Door Law umbrellas. Public Access H.B. 1418 – This bill for the Indiana Economic Devel- opment Corporation eliminates public access to IEDC offers to companies that did not end up being consummated. Rep. Sharon Negele, R-Attica, was the author. IEDC testified that its intent was to "clarify" what economic efforts should be made available to reduce litigation over the question. The clarification actually eliminates the public's ability to know the scope of offers made when a deal falls through for whatever reason. Rep. Negele met with HSPA and connected HSPA with the IEDC lobbyists, who were honest about their intentions. Although IEDC representa- tives said it wasn't connected, HSPA believes the legislation was prompted by a lawsuit filed by Tax Analysts, who were attempting to determine what offer was made by IEDC Legislative Wrap Lawrence Andrea Indianapolis Star The Indianapolis Star's investigation into police dog bites won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting. IndyStar reporter Ryan Martin led reporting on the proj- ect, and photojournalist Mykal McEldowney and graphics reporter Stephen Beard provided visual reporting. Alvie Lindsay, news director overseeing investi- gations, edited IndyStar's stories in the series. The announcement was made IndyStar wins Pulitzer for series investigating IMPD's dog bites Hardy See Pulitzer, page 13 HSPA tackles scores of bills through end of 2021 session The following bills that HSPA flagged during the 2021 legislative session touched upon the First Amendment, advertising, multi-state compacts and other items, such as the state budget. First Amendment S.B. 198 – This bill, authored by Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, focuses on rioting. The language raised First Amendment concerns for both HSPA and the American Civil Liberties Union-Indiana. HSPA discussed its concern on whether language regarding the seizure of property from people organizing rallies included an element of intent be proven before the state could act. Sen. Young said intent to commit a crime was covered in the criminal code under aiding and abetting. The bill was approved by the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee, chaired by Young, and the Senate, 37-8. It died for lack of a hearing in the House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee, chaired by Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Hun- tington. The sponsor was Rep. John Young, R-Franklin. S.B. 34 – This bill con- cerned unlawful assembly and was authored by Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville. HSPA and the American Civil Liberties Union-Indiana believed the bill raised First Amendment See Bills, page 8 See Access, page 6 Reader support made Pulitzer Prize possible See Readers, page 12 Contest Update: Better Newspaper results to be announced in July. Watch email for details. Read the winning story at https://bit.ly/3zO5lR5 This photograph by Mykal McEldowney from Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, ran with IndyStar's coverage on police dog bites. In the image, Mary Rose Kendall, with the Bolingbrook Police Department, prepares to continue her K-9 bite training with dog Ava at Vohne Liche Kennels in Peru, Indiana.

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