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Kristine Phillips

@bykristinep.bsky.social
435 followers 264 following 55 posts

Investigative reporter for the Indianapolis Star. Mama of two. Aspiring data nerd. Previously: The Washington Post, USA TODAY, The Oregonian

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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
New York Magazine @nymag.com · 02/05/2025
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs officially rejected a plea deal in his trial for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and prostitution. If convicted, he could face what amounts to a life sentence.
vulture.com
Diddy Rejects Plea Deal in Sex Trafficking Trial
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs officially rejected a plea deal in his trial for sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and prostitution. If convicted, he could face what amounts to a life sentence.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
From 1986-1991, Steve Ambrose had nearly 20 misconduct allegations. 5 led to disciplinary actions, including a suspension for placing a foot on the head of a handcuffed man. In 1992, he became detective Part III of “Lawless,” our investigation into the Wolverines: www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Indiana city still paying for past failures to hold rogue officers accountable
Since 2006, courts have exonerated six people wrongfully convicted of crimes in Elkhart. It’s the highest per capita rate in Indiana and fifth in the U.S.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
There was so much blood that Carolyn Jenks wasn't sure where exactly the young man was injured. But the rookie officer was certain: Demetrius Pegues did not fight back as officers beat him. This is Part II of "Lawless," our investigation into the Wolverines: www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Cops known as Wolverines targeted Indiana city's Black residents like it was a game
Former officers and residents recounted troubling stories about a band of young, aggressive, White cops in the 1980s and 1990s known as the Wolverines.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
There was so much blood that Carolyn Jenks wasn't sure where exactly the young man was injured. But the rookie officer was certain: Demetrius Pegues did not fight back as officers beat him. This is Part II of "Lawless," our investigation into the Wolverines: www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Cops known as Wolverines targeted Indiana city's Black residents like it was a game
Former officers and residents recounted troubling stories about a band of young, aggressive, White cops in the 1980s and 1990s known as the Wolverines.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
ProPublica @propublica.org · 29/04/2025
NEW: A DOGE staffer who is helping carry out the downsizing of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau owns stock in companies that could benefit from the agency’s dismantling, ProPublica has found.
propublica.org
A DOGE Aide Involved in Dismantling Consumer Bureau Owns Stock in Companies That Could Benefit From the Cuts
Gavin Kliger helped oversee mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau while holding stock in companies that experts say likely stand to benefit from dismantling that agency — a potentia...
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Who are the officers identified as part of the Wolverines? One was promoted to detective despite allegations of brutality. Another became police chief. Another is in federal prison for robbing banks in 11 states. www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Here are the cops identified by other officers as Wolverines
An IndyStar investigation found officers' aggressive, 'us-versus-them' approach helped foster a troubling culture that still plagues Elkhart, Indiana.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Gregg Doyel @greggdoyelstar.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
"ELKHART, Ind. — On the streets of this northern Indiana city, a rogue band of cops who patrolled Black neighborhoods was known by different nicknames." via @bykristinep.bsky.social www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Legacy of racist, brutal police culture still plagues city of Elkhart
Officers who called themselves Wolverines abused power for decades, an IndyStar investigation found — particularly targeting Black people in Elkhart.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Lawless: Rogue group of officers known as the Wolverines brutalized Black Elkhart residents for years. Powerful mini-documentary by @mykalmceldowney.bsky.social: www.indystar.com/videos/news/...
indystar.com
Watch Lawless: Cops known as Wolverines harassed, brutalized Black residents in Indiana city for years
Elkhart officers racked up more than 1,500 citizen complaints as the Wolverines made a game of policing a Black neighborhood, an IndyStar investigation found.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
They were a "gang in blue" that operated like "special ops." They were known as the Wolverines, a rogue band of cops who abused their power for years, cloaking themselves in a code of silence and operating with impunity. www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Lawless: Legacy of racist, brutal police culture still plagues city of Elkhart
Officers who called themselves Wolverines abused power for decades, an IndyStar investigation found — particularly targeting Black people in Elkhart.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
This has been a long time in the making. Watch out tomorrow for “Lawless,” our multi-part series about a group of Indiana police officers who brutalized citizens for years. www.indystar.com/videos/news/...
indystar.com
Previewing Lawless, an investigation into an Indiana police force's legacy of racist brutality
Officers who called themselves Wolverines abused power in Elkhart, Indiana, for years, IndyStar found, particularly targeting Black people.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Abolishing the death penalty was for years a dormant issue in Indiana and previous legislative efforts had failed. This session, a GOP-backed bill has bipartisan support and advocates are optimistic. www.indystar.com/story/news/p...
indystar.com
Bill to abolish the death penalty gaining bipartisan support in Indiana. Will it pass?
Ending capital punishment had been a dormant issue in Indiana, but advocates now believe a Republican-led effort to abolish it is gaining traction.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
The day after President Trump freed people who attacked police and tried to prevent the transfer of power, he freed a man convicted of drug trafficking.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
New: Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH. No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts. And no indication how long the pause will last. With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
washingtonpost.com
Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review
The agencies are charged with making decisions that touch the lives of every American and are the source of crucial information to health-care providers.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Gregg Doyel @greggdoyelstar.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
🎖️U.S. Congress honors my dad. 🐩🧥Pictures of my Cap’s winter wardrobe. 😡 Readers react to Chris Ballard, Mike Woodson. It's the weekly Mailbagg.™ It's always open. www.indystar.com/story/sports...
indystar.com
Doyel: Mailbagg™ details U.S. Congress honor for Dad, dissects Chris Ballard, Mike Woodson
Always eclectic Mailbagg™ discusses my Cap's winter wardrobe, my dad's U.S. Congressional honor and reader reaction to Chris Ballard and Mike Woodson.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
NEWS: WSJ is reporting that Biden is considering death row commutations for “most, if not all,” of the 40 men on federal death row — and that Garland has recommended the “most.” WSJ says those who could be excluded, if any are, likely would be Tsarnaev, Roof, and Bowers. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
WASHINGTON-President Biden is considering commuting the sentences of most, if not all, of the 40 men on the federal government's death row, people familiar with the matter said, a move that would frustrate President-elect Donald Trump's ability to resume the rapid pace of executions that marked his first term.A decision from the president could come by Christmas, some of the people said. A principal question is whether the president should issue a blanket commutation of all the
condemned men, or whether death sentences should remain for the most heinous convicts,
these people said.Attorney General Merrick Garland, who oversees federal prisons, has recommended that Biden commute all but a handful of the
sentences, the people familiar with the matter said, excepting a few terrorism and hate-crimes cases. The Justice Department
had no immediate comment.Possible exceptions could include Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three and wounded more than 250 others, Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people in the 2018 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, and Dylann Roof, who in 2015 killed nine at the Emanuel African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 19/12/2024
A Post investigation found at least 1,800 law enforcement officers were charged with crimes involving child sexual abuse from 2005 through 2022. After years of reporting on children being violated by the officers sworn to protect them, here’s what we’ve learned:
washingtonpost.com
The Post investigated cops accused of sexually abusing kids. Here’s what we learned.
The Post spent two years reporting on kids exploited by police officers. Here’s what we learned about the systemic failures that allow these crimes to occur.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Allen is facing up to 130 years in prison. In court filings Wednesday, defense attorney Andrew Baldwin said they plan to present minimal arguments at the hearing and focus their efforts on Allen’s appeal, which they expect will involve “a neutral, detached and unbiased tribunal.”
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Richard Allen’s sentencing for the Delphi murders is starting this morning. Follow along here: www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Richard Allen sentencing in Delphi Friday in deaths of Liberty German and Abigail Williams
A jury found Richard Allen guilty in November of all four charges in the deaths of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Richard Allen and his defense team seem confident he’ll be granted a new trial where he’ll be allowed to present a full defense (Odinism/third-party suspects) www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Delphi murderer Richard Allen maintains his innocence, won't cooperate with 'state actors'
Delphi murderer Richard Allen proclaims his innocence in the killings of Libby German and Abby Williams and is finished talking with "state actors."
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Indiana executes Joseph Corcoran by lethal injection after 15-year death penalty pause Corcoran’s final words: “Let’s get this over with.” www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Indiana executes Joseph Corcoran by lethal injection after 15-year death penalty pause
The process started just after midnight CST, and Corcoran was pronounced dead at 12:44 a.m., according to the Indiana Department of Correction.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
UPDATE: US Supreme Court denied Joseph Corcoran’s attorneys’ request to stop his execution, which is set to be carried out tomorrow morning. www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?...
supremecourt.gov
Search
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Joseph Corcoran has requested Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for his last meal, according to a statement from IDOC. The next statement will be issued after the execution has been carried out (barring any last-minute intervention from SCOTUS or Gov. Holcomb).
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
UPDATE: Corcoran’s attorneys have asked SCOTUS to review his case and to issue an emergency stay of his execution, which is set to be carried out tomorrow morning.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Alexandria Burris @allymburris.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
"The state of Indiana hasn't carried out a death sentence for 15 years, but that's scheduled to change this week." By @bykristinep.bsky.social www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Indiana is about to execute its first state prisoner in 15 years. Catch up on the case
Joseph Corcoran, 49, of Allen County, is scheduled for execution before sunrise on Wednesday.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Barring a court ruling, Indiana is about the carry out its first execution in 15 years. Catch up on Joseph Corcoran’s case here: www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Indiana is about to execute its first state prisoner in 15 years. Catch up on the case
Joseph Corcoran, 49, of Allen County, is scheduled for execution before sunrise on Wednesday.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
In 2015, an Indianapolis pastor was charged for manufacturing more than 10 tons of synthetic marijuana or “spice.” He lured members of his church into the multimillion-dollar drug scheme. It was the real-life Indiana version of “Breaking Bad.” www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
IndyStar investigation: Indy's spice road
Probe uncovers tale of pastor, teacher and cops involved with synthetic drugs, bundles of cash and real trouble
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Biden grants clemency to Baptist pastor who ran Indy version of 'Breaking Bad' drug ring www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Biden grants clemency to Baptist pastor who ran Indy version of 'Breaking Bad' drug ring
Robert Jaynes Jr., a former pastor at the fundamentalist Irvington Bible Baptist Church, is one of nearly 1,500 people whose sentences have been commuted.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Biden grants clemency to Indiana nursing home CEO who led $19 million fraud scheme www.indystar.com/story/news/i...
indystar.com
Biden grants clemency to Indiana nursing home CEO who led $19 million fraud scheme
James Burkhart orchestrated a fraud scheme involving county-owned nursing homes. He then spent money on private jets, gold bars and vacation homes.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Federal judge rejects request to stop Joseph Corcoran's execution due to mental illness www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Federal judge rejects request to stop Joseph Corcoran's execution due to mental illness
Joseph E. Corcoran is set to be executed before sunrise on Dec. 18, 2024.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
@nytimes.com, WHAT is this.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
A NY mom lost custody of her toddler & newborn for 5 months after testing positive for fentanyl the hospital had given her in her epidural. In Oklahoma, a newborn was placed in foster care for 11 days after the mom tested positive for meth. The culprit? a heartburn drug the hospital had given her.
themarshallproject.org
Hospitals Gave Them Meds During Childbirth. Why Did Patients Get In Trouble?
Mothers were reported after they were given medications used routinely for pain or in epidurals, to reduce anxiety or to manage blood pressure during cesarean sections.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
I spent some time looking through the trove of court records spanning 25 years in the case of Joseph Corcoran, who’s set to be the first inmate to be executed by the state of Indiana in 15 years. 🧵 www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
The solitary life and crimes of Joseph Corcoran, who's set to be executed Dec. 18
Joseph Corcoran is set to be executed on Dec. 18. It would be the first lethal injection of a state prisoner since Indiana paused executions in 2009.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
From October until December 2, daily users on X dropped 8.4 percent and rose on Bluesky by *1,064 percent* www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...
theguardian.com
From X to Bluesky: why are people fleeing Elon Musk’s ‘digital town square’?
Musk’s platform has lost 2.7 million active US users in two months, while its rival has gained 2.5 million
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
After a loss in the Indiana Supreme Court last week, Joseph Corcoran's attorneys turn to federal court to save him from death penalty www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Joseph Corcoran's attorneys turn to federal court to save him from death penalty
Joseph Corcoran is set to be executed on Dec. 18. It would be the first lethal injection of a state inmate since Indiana paused executions in 2009.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Women drop groping lawsuit against ex-AG Curtis Hill on eve of trial. “…even if we won at trial, we would not accomplish our goals of causing meaningful change in the way sexual harassment claims are handled for those working in and around the Statehouse.” www.indystar.com/story/news/p...
indystar.com
Women drop groping lawsuit against former AG Curtis Hill on eve of trial. Here's why
The Republican had been accused of groping four women at a party of political staffers.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Indiana Supreme Court denies requests to stop execution of Joseph E. Corcoran www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Indiana Supreme Court denies requests to stop execution of Joseph E. Corcoran
Joseph Corcoran is set to be executed before sunrise on Dec. 18, 2024. He will be the first state prisoner to be executed in Indiana since 2009.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Trial underway for two IMPD officers accused of killing man in 2022 www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
Trial underway for two IMPD officers accused of killing man in 2022
Herman Whitfield III died after being restrained face down and naked in April 2022. Officers Steven Sanchez and Adam Ahmad were indicted in his death.
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
Alexandria Burris @allymburris.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Here's a good one from @bykristinep.bsky.social. Read the full story at indystar.com "A heinous crime, lingering unsolved for five years. Two young and unlikely victims. And, eventually, an equally unexpected suspect." www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
The impact of the country's obsession with true crime, in this case and in others, reduces someone's grief and trauma to consumable content — to a branding opportunity in an influencer-driven social media culture, said University of Oregon professor Whitney Phillips.
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Kristine Phillips @bykristinep.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
The Delphi murders and the true crime phenomenon: ‘It's the Wild West out here’ www.indystar.com/story/news/c...
indystar.com
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
ProPublica @propublica.org · 30/11/2024
As policymakers rushed to equip cops with body cams, they often failed to grapple with a fundamental question: Who controls the footage? They defaulted to leaving police with the power to decide what is recorded, who can see it and when. By @ericumansky.bsky.social, w/ @farooqumar.bsky.social
propub.li
How Police Have Undermined the Promise of Body Cameras
Hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars have been spent on what was sold as a revolution in transparency and accountability. Instead, police departments routinely refuse to release footage — even…
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Reposted by Kristine Phillips
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 29/11/2024
Breaking News: In the first case of its kind in Canada, major news outlets are suing OpenAI, accusing the company of illegally using their content.
nytimes.com
Major Canadian News Outlets Sue OpenAI In New Copyright Case
A coalition of some of Canada’s biggest media companies is seeking billions of dollars in compensation for what they say is copyright infringement on their work through ChatGPT.
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Alexandria Burris @allymburris.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
“All Americans, and particularly our nation’s leaders, have a duty to push back against the promotion of hate-filled ideologies we are witnessing nationwide,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Via IndyStar.com www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
indystar.com
KKK fliers found in Hamilton County. Here's what's being done.
“This should be aggressively, publicly and vocally condemned," said Eunice Trotter, as police in Indiana investigate the distribution of KKK flyers.
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John Writes Stuff @johnwritesstuff.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Hello! If you're like me, journalism matters. It's more important now than ever, frankly. If you live in Central Indiana or the Midwest, here's a starter pack of reporters, columnists and sports folks at the Indianapolis Star, a 2021 Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper, that you can follow on Bluesky.
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Tony Cook @tonycook317.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Who reelected Greg Taylor Senate minority leader after harassment allegations? What we know www.indystar.com/story/news/p...
indystar.com
Who reelected Greg Taylor Senate minority leader after harassment allegations? What we know
The private caucus leadership vote, which resulted in Taylor's reelection, revealed deeper schisms within the already fractured party.
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Katie Wiseman ◡̈ @katiewiseman.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
To get your Indianapolis news fix, this Starter Pack lists all the IndyStar reporters who are on Bluesky! 📰 Put together by our very own @johnwritesstuff.bsky.social go.bsky.app/KZdU816
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Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
In case you missed it (as did I): www.indystar.com/videos/news/...
indystar.com
Indiana will resume executions of prisoners after a 15-year pause
The state of Indiana is set to execute Joseph Corcoran via the lethal injection on Dec. 18, 2024
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