Back to: WFYI News Now

IU Responds to Whitten Plagiarism Accusations, Potential Funding Changes for Indiana Medicaid Program, Hoosiers Might Help Pay for Nuclear Reactors, Bill Aims to Improve Rape Kit Process

IU Responds to Whitten Plagiarism Accusations, Potential Funding Changes for Indiana Medicaid Program, Hoosiers Might Help Pay for Nuclear Reactors, Bill Aims to Improve Rape Kit Process

January 27, 2025

Indiana University President Pamela Whitten is facing accusations of plagiarism in her doctoral dissertation. A House committee approved a bill that would make several funding changes to Indiana’s Medicaid expansion program. Several bills that would make Hoosiers pay some of the cost of building small modular nuclear reactors are working their way through the Indiana Statehouse. A House committee unanimously advanced a bill last week to help eliminate a backlog on rape kits waiting to be tested.

Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts.

Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Drew Daudelin, Zach Bundy and Abriana Herron, with support from News Director Sarah Neal-Estes.

Listen

Immigration Vigil, Immigration Support Event, Audiochuck grant for IYG, Homelessness criminalization bill passes, Social media ban bill change, Indy Car street race
Listen
Immigration Vigil, Immigration Support Event, Audiochuck grant for IYG, Homelessness criminalization bill passes, Social media ban bill change, Indy Car street race
February 2, 2026

Indianapolis News: A vigil last Friday on the east side of Indianapolis remembered those…...

National Guard Policing Bill, Hospital Funding Challenge, Firing Squad Bill Fails To Pass House, Protection From Pollution, IPS Enrollment Slides
Listen
National Guard Policing Bill, Hospital Funding Challenge, Firing Squad Bill Fails To Pass House, Protection From Pollution, IPS Enrollment Slides
January 30, 2026

Indianapolis News: A bill would allow Indiana National Guard military police to make arrests…...

IMPD Names New Chief, Mears Files For Reelection, Foreign Adversaries Bill, Syringe Services Programs Bill, Indiana LGBTQ Day At Statehouse
Listen
IMPD Names New Chief, Mears Files For Reelection, Foreign Adversaries Bill, Syringe Services Programs Bill, Indiana LGBTQ Day At Statehouse
January 29, 2026

Indianapolis News: The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has its new chief…...

Bill To Post Ten Commandments In Classrooms, Ball State's Economic Forecast, Bill Would Eliminate Natural Resources Commission, More Indiana Trails Get Grant Funding
Listen
Bill To Post Ten Commandments In Classrooms, Ball State's Economic Forecast, Bill Would Eliminate Natural Resources Commission, More Indiana Trails Get Grant Funding
January 28, 2026

Indianapolis News: A bill that would have required Indiana schools to post the Ten…...

Special Judge Appointed In Judge, Wife Shooting Case, Despite Weather Senators Still Meet Monday, Civilian Led Police Board, Indiana Civic Health Index, Wienie 500 Returns
Listen
Special Judge Appointed In Judge, Wife Shooting Case, Despite Weather Senators Still Meet Monday, Civilian Led Police Board, Indiana Civic Health Index, Wienie 500 Returns
January 27, 2026

Indianapolis News: Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush appointed a special judge…...

Marion Co. Travel Warning, Execution Method Expansion Bill, Marriage Education Bill, Online Lottery Sales Bill Shelved, Mendoza On Talk Shows
Listen
Marion Co. Travel Warning, Execution Method Expansion Bill, Marriage Education Bill, Online Lottery Sales Bill Shelved, Mendoza On Talk Shows
January 26, 2026

Indianapolis News: Marion County travel warning urges all residents to avoid all non-emergency…...

Arrests Made In Judge, Wife Shooting, FBI Investigating Jim Irsay Death, IN Supreme Court To Weigh In Abortion Records Access, Lawmakers Push For Chicago Bears To Relocate To IN
Listen
Arrests Made In Judge, Wife Shooting, FBI Investigating Jim Irsay Death, IN Supreme Court To Weigh In Abortion Records Access, Lawmakers Push For Chicago Bears To Relocate To IN
January 23, 2026

Indianapolis News: The Lafayette Police Department announced Thursday night that five…...

Judge, Wife Recover After Shooting, Gender And Sex Legislation, Affordability On The Minds Of Lawmakers, AED School Requirement Bill, Eviction Programs Merge, NCAA Men's Basketball
Listen
Judge, Wife Recover After Shooting, Gender And Sex Legislation, Affordability On The Minds Of Lawmakers, AED School Requirement Bill, Eviction Programs Merge, NCAA Men's Basketball
January 22, 2026

Indianapolis News: A Tippecanoe County judge and his wife continue to recover after they…...

IU Beats Miami To Take Home National Championship, Carmel Students Take Part In Nationwide Protest, Lawmakers Try To Dissolve Townships, IPS Changes Stance On Undocumented Students
Listen
IU Beats Miami To Take Home National Championship, Carmel Students Take Part In Nationwide Protest, Lawmakers Try To Dissolve Townships, IPS Changes Stance On Undocumented Students
January 21, 2026

Indianapolis News: The Indiana Hoosiers wrote the final chapter of a remarkable season..

Tippecanoe Judge shot at home, Trump vs. Bray, MLK sit-in, Medicaid bill, Blossom House Emergency Transitional Shelter, Hoosiers win
Listen
Tippecanoe Judge shot at home, Trump vs. Bray, MLK sit-in, Medicaid bill, Blossom House Emergency Transitional Shelter, Hoosiers win
January 20, 2026

Indianapolis News: A manhunt is underway after a Tippecanoe County judge and his wife were…...

Martindale-Brightwood Data Center Hearing, IHA Sells Properties, Baird Running for Re-Election, Kids' Social Media Ban, Homeless Criminalization, Nuclear Permits Deregulation Bill, IU Football
Listen
Martindale-Brightwood Data Center Hearing, IHA Sells Properties, Baird Running for Re-Election, Kids' Social Media Ban, Homeless Criminalization, Nuclear Permits Deregulation Bill, IU Football
January 16, 2026

Indianapolis News: A decision on the rezoning request to build a controversial data center...

Vop Osili Announces Run For Mayor, Gov. Mike Braun’s State Of The State, Marion County Jail At Capacity, State Senator JD Ford Announces Run for U.S. House, Changes To Bail Bill
Listen
Vop Osili Announces Run For Mayor, Gov. Mike Braun’s State Of The State, Marion County Jail At Capacity, State Senator JD Ford Announces Run for U.S. House, Changes To Bail Bill
January 15, 2026

Indianapolis News: Vop Osili announced today that he is running for Mayor of Indianapolis…...

Bill to Reduce Cost Of New Homes, “Let-Kids-Be-Kids” Bill, Legislation To Reshape Education In Indy, Lois Eskenazi Passes away, Parents Want 5th Graders Out Of Intermediate Schools
Listen
Bill to Reduce Cost Of New Homes, “Let-Kids-Be-Kids” Bill, Legislation To Reshape Education In Indy, Lois Eskenazi Passes away, Parents Want 5th Graders Out Of Intermediate Schools
January 14, 2026

Indianapolis News: A bill to deregulate zoning in an effort to reduce the cost of building...

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz Files For Reelection, New Bill Filed For Psychiatric Hospital Oversight, IU Indy Cancels MLK Day Dinner, IN Lawmakers Move To Ban Rank Choice Voting
Listen
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz Files For Reelection, New Bill Filed For Psychiatric Hospital Oversight, IU Indy Cancels MLK Day Dinner, IN Lawmakers Move To Ban Rank Choice Voting
January 13, 2026

Indianapolis News: U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz files paperwork for reelection…

Anti-ICE Protests In Indiana, Rare Earth Elements In Indiana Coal Ash, IN Named New National Drone Test Site, State Sandwich Bill Passes Out Of Committee, Respiratory Viruses On The Rise
Listen
Anti-ICE Protests In Indiana, Rare Earth Elements In Indiana Coal Ash, IN Named New National Drone Test Site, State Sandwich Bill Passes Out Of Committee, Respiratory Viruses On The Rise
January 12, 2026

Indianapolis News: Nationwide and in Indiana anti-ICE protests continued this weekend, a call… ...

Young Votes For War Powers Resolution, Hundreds Gather In Indy To Protest ICE Shooting, Bailey Named Top Aide In Hogsett Admin, Martindale-Brightwood Data Center, GOP State Legislative Priorities
Listen
Young Votes For War Powers Resolution, Hundreds Gather In Indy To Protest ICE Shooting, Bailey Named Top Aide In Hogsett Admin, Martindale-Brightwood Data Center, GOP State Legislative Priorities
January 9, 2026

Indianapolis News: Indiana’s senior U.S. Senator is one of just five Republicans to vote...

Greg Walker Reverses Decision to Retire, Swatting Bill, Firing Squad Bill, Early Child Care Funding Cut Impact, IndyGo’s Food in Transit will Be All Year, Oregon Football Player Has IN connection
Listen
Greg Walker Reverses Decision to Retire, Swatting Bill, Firing Squad Bill, Early Child Care Funding Cut Impact, IndyGo’s Food in Transit will Be All Year, Oregon Football Player Has IN connection
January 8, 2026

Indianapolis News: Republican Sen. Greg Walker is reversing his decision to retire from the…...

IN U.S. Rep Involved In Car Crash, 2025 Saw Highest Graduation Rate, IBLC Releases 2026 Priorities, Indy Officer Involved Shootings Down In 2025, CDC Cuts Number Of Recommended Vaccines For Children
Listen
IN U.S. Rep Involved In Car Crash, 2025 Saw Highest Graduation Rate, IBLC Releases 2026 Priorities, Indy Officer Involved Shootings Down In 2025, CDC Cuts Number Of Recommended Vaccines For Children
January 7, 2026

Indianapolis News: Indiana U.S. House Representative Jim Baird and his wife are in the hospital…...

> View All Audio