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Amid ongoing concerns from community members and elected officials, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has issued civil investigative demands (CID) to the Seymour and South Bend police departments seeking information on whether their immigration policies comply with state law.

“We are working to ensure units of local government are following the law,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are putting Hoosiers first – not illegal aliens.

In the CID, Attorney General Rokita states his office is asking for information regarding both police departments’ immigration-related communications, cooperation and enforcement policies.

Indiana law limits the attorney general to investigating and enforcing local government entities that have policies that restrict or limit communication or cooperation with federal immigration authorities or the enforcement of federal immigration law.

Attorney General Rokita has instructed Seymour and South Bend police to produce all documents responsive to his inquiry by November 8, 2024.

“A failure to comply with the CID may result in legal action,” Attorney General Rokita said. “If the documents produced show that either police department has unlawful immigration policies on the books, we will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.”

On top of issuing the CIDs, Attorney General Rokita is currently suing the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for its refusal to rescind its unlawful immigration policies and recently sent demand letters to officials in Lake and St. Joseph counties warning them of impending legal action if they fail to come into compliance with state law.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Rokita sent similar letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and West Lafayette, which all worked to rescind their unlawful immigration policies to comply with state law after receiving these communications.

Attorney General Rokita said his office will continue to evaluate other local governments.

Duke Energy supports fellow first responder agencies with grants for emergency preparedness

Emergency management agencies in Clark, Crawford, Decatur, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Rush, Scott, Switzerland and Washington counties among those statewide receiving support

INDIANAPOLIS – First responders statewide, including a local sheriff’s office and fire and emergency management agencies (EMAs) in southeast Indiana, will benefit from grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The funding, which totals nearly $215,000 for organizations across the state, will help public safety agencies increase their response capabilities during severe weather and other emergencies through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.

“You don’t have to look any further than the severe midsummer storms that impacted our service territory in 2023 and 2024 to see how Duke Energy and local first responders consistently come together to assist our restoration efforts and help people get back on their feet,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana, during his remarks at the Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana’s annual conference in Indianapolis Oct. 16. “That’s why I’m so grateful that today we’re able to help equip our fellow first responders with the tools and training to handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way. In the end, it will help us build a more resilient state.”

During major emergencies and natural disasters, local emergency management agencies play a critical role in providing information, resources and support that Duke Energy relies on to speed power restoration for its customers.

“Grants like these are key to helping smaller communities reduce their vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters,” said Reigna Zeigler, president of the Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana. “This funding from the Duke Energy Foundation will go a long way toward ensuring that our citizens are safer, our first responders are prepared, and our communities can recover from disasters quickly.”

In southeast Indiana, Duke Energy Foundation shareholder-funded grants were awarded to the following organizations:

City of Rushville Fire Department (Rush County)

$5,000 in support of the purchase of a new Fire Prevention Safety Education House

City of Seymour (Jackson County)

$4,000 to purchase foam response equipment for firefighters

Clark County EMA

$3,140 to increase access to emergency and severe weather alerts for residents lacking smart cellphones or weather radios

Decatur County Sheriff’s Department

$2,700 for communication accessories that will help provide a safe and secure environment for the county’s residents and visitors

Crawford County EMA

$3,500 for weather radios that will be distributed to citizens throughout the county, as well as new TV monitors in the emergency operations center

Fayette County EMA

$4,500 to buy an enclosed pull-behind trailer, as well as additional gear and equipment needed for law enforcement, the search and rescue team, and incident management team personnel

Floyd County EMA

$3,076 for weather alert radios for the deaf community

Franklin County EMA

$2,500 for items such as "go kits" (emergency vests, flashlights, boots, incident management supplies, printed maps), tablets for volunteers and staff to conduct damage assessments, a fuel canister and a portable battery for laptops

Harrison County EMA

$3,140 to purchase supplies for classroom crisis kits to immediately treat injuries from any traumatic bleeding event in Harrison County schools

Jackson County EMA

$2,500 in support of the build-out of the EMA’s response group, including new and updated equipment

Jefferson County EMA

$3,100 to purchase disaster response and recovery equipment, including battery- powered chain saws and scene lighting

Marion Township Volunteer Fire Department (Decatur County)

$5,000 to purchase an off-road emergency response vehicle that will be outfitted to respond to multiple emergency call types to include search and rescue, EMS, and wildland fire

Scott County EMA

$3,140 for scene lighting and hand lights to use to help search crews while looking for people or items

Switzerland County EMA

$7,500 to buy water rescue and search recovery equipment

Washington County EMA

$3,140 to help fund “Reverse 911,” which will allow the agency to better notify residents of pending dangers and provide lifesaving instructions

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 900,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Emergency care and urgent surgeries remain unaffected;
Some non-emergent procedures may be rescheduled to preserve supplies

Oct. 21, 2024 (INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana hospitals are closely monitoring the ongoing national shortage of IV fluids that has impacted hospitals and health care providers across the country. While hospitals are experiencing varying degrees of impact related to the shortage, recent delays in shipments from third party vendors have forced some hospitals to reassess their stock levels and prioritize their current supply for patients in critical need.

“Despite Baxter’s return to 60% production, and the incoming shipments from international suppliers, it could take weeks until some hospitals begin receiving their allocation of IV fluids,” said Blake Dye, interim president of IHA.

Indiana hospitals have implemented comprehensive conservation plans, which include reviewing and optimizing fluid use for each patient, exploring alternative therapies, and prioritizing the available supply for critical care.

While hospitals are working to ensure continued care for Hoosier patients, some are having to reschedule elective and non-emergent procedures as part of their efforts to preserve supplies. In these cases, patients will be notified by their provider to reschedule their care.

Emergency care and urgent surgeries remain unaffected.

“We’re certainly not alone in this predicament as this is a nationwide shortage impacting every state,” said Dye. “Hoosiers should feel confident that Indiana’s hospitals are managing through the current situation, taking proactive measures that are aligned with clinical best practices, and are working diligently to minimize the impact on patient care.”

IHA continues to work closely with its 174 member hospitals, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), and the American Hospital Association, who is in frequent discussions with officials from Baxter, their distributors, and the federal administration to assess current supply levels and convey the impact of the disruption nationwide.

“We appreciate the way that Indiana hospitals are minimizing the impact this national shortage is having on patient care,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay M. Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “The Indiana Department of Health is in contact with Indiana hospitals and remains dedicated to working with our state and federal partners until the situation is resolved.”

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ABOUT INDIANA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

The Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana. IHA advocates on behalf of its members in Indiana’s General Assembly, U.S. Congress, and with multiple regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels. Dedicated to improving quality, patient safety, and Hoosiers’ health status, IHA holds numerous grants and facilitates collaboration among hospitals to improve outcomes. IHA also provides members with the data analytics that they need to ensure access to quality, cost-effective health care services across the state of Indiana. To learn more about IHA, visit IHAconnect.org.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and Secretary of State Diego Morales are asking the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to verify the citizenship status of voters who registered in Indiana without providing state-issued forms of identification.

“Hoosiers deserve to know that only eligible voters are participating in our elections and that legitimate ballots are not being diluted by noncitizens,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We are doing our part to provide this assurance.”

Attorney General Rokita and Secretary Morales sent USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou lists of certain voters who registered without state IDs — along with a joint letter formally requesting the agency’s assistance in verifying those individuals’ citizenship status.

“A fair and secure election process begins with accurate voter information,” said Secretary Morales. “As Indiana's Chief Election Officer, I am committed to ensuring that every registered voter in Indiana has met the legal requirements, including being a U.S. citizen. I’m proud to partner with Indiana’s Attorney General in taking proactive steps to gather missing information for those who completed their registration without a state-issued ID. This is crucial to maintaining the integrity of our elections and increasing public confidence. Only U.S. Citizens can vote in Indiana. Period.”

Federal law requires USCIS to respond to inquiries from state government agencies “to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law.”

The letter is attached.

As part of a multistate coalition, Attorney General Rokita is also pressing federal authorities in another letter to provide a plan for how they will verify voters’ U.S. citizenship status in response to state requests. Ohio and South Carolina are leading that effort.

October 11, 2024
Ur M. Jaddou
Director
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
5900 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, Maryland 20746

Dear Ms. Jaddou:

The Offices of the Indiana Attorney General and Secretary of State request the assistance
of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in verifying the citizenship
status of certain individuals registered to vote in Indiana. As voters in our state cast their ballots
in the coming weeks in important federal, state, and local races, it is essential that they do so with
confidence in the integrity of our elections. It is beyond question that states have a compelling
“interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process.” Crawford v. Marion
Cnty. Election Bd., 553 U.S. 181, 191 (2008). “[P]reventing voter fraud” and thereby ensuring
“public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process,” are priorities that should be pursued
vigorously at all levels of government in our country. Id. at 197. They are essential to the proper
functioning of our constitutional Republic. One of the chief ways that we can pursue these goals
is by confirming that every person registered to vote in Indiana is a U.S. citizen. Therefore, we
ask, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1373, that USCIS verify the citizenship status of the individuals
registered to vote in Indiana who are identified in Attachments A, B, and C of this letter.

As the Attorney General and Secretary of State of Indiana, we are tasked in various ways
with safeguarding the lawful and orderly administration of Indiana elections. See, e.g., Ind. Code
§ 3-6-4.1-22; Ind. Code § 3-6-3.7-1; Ind. Code § 3-7-26.3-10. Ensuring that our elections are
conducted in accordance with state law means, among other things, keeping ineligible voters off
our state’s voter rolls. See Ind. Code § 3-14-2-10. We take that responsibility seriously.

Under federal law, it is “unlawful for any alien to vote in any election held solely or in part
for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential
elector, Member of the Senate, [or] Member of the House of Representatives.” 18 U.S.C. § 611(a).
Federal voter registration laws require the form for federal elections to state “each eligibility
requirement (including citizenship).” 52 U.S.C. § 20504(c)(2)(C)(i). Likewise, falsely claiming
to be a citizen to register to vote or to vote in a federal, state, or local election constitutes a federal
felony punishable by up to five years in prison. See 18 U.S.C. §1015(f).

Similarly, Indiana law prohibits non-citizens from voting. Ind. Code § 3-7-13-1. Our State
Constitution expressly reserves the franchise to citizens. See, e.g., Ind. Const. Art. 2, § 2(a) (“A
citizen of the United States, who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and who has been a resident
of a precinct thirty (30) days immediately preceding an election may vote in that precinct at the
election.” (emphasis added)). And Indiana statutes governing voter registration make clear that a
person must be a “United States citizen” to register to vote. Ind. Code § 3-7-13-1. Attempting to
register or assisting someone else to register to vote when the registrant is not an eligible voter are
crimes under Indiana law. See Ind. Code § 3-14-2-1 & 2.

In addition, Indiana is obligated by federal law to “perform list maintenance” on its
statewide voter registration list—including removing voters “who are not eligible to vote” from
the voting rolls. 52 U.S.C. § 21083(a)(2)(A) & (B). Indiana law also requires Indiana election
officials to take steps to verify the residency and citizenship of registered voters. See Ind. Code §
3-7-38.2-16; Ind. Code § 3-7-38.2-7.3. State election officials are further directed to remove
ineligible voters from the voter rolls under various circumstances. See, e.g., Ind. Code § 3-7-46-
1; Ind. Code § 3-7-45-1; Ind. Code § 3-7-38.2-1.

Under current law, there is no single method for verifying to a reasonable degree of
certainty the citizenship of all Indiana voters. We therefore seek to utilize all tools at our disposal
to verify voters’ citizenship and help ensure the integrity of our state’s voter registration system.
One of those tools is provided by federal law, which requires USCIS to “respond to an inquiry by
a . . . State . . . government agency, seeking to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration
status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law.”
8 U.S.C. § 1373(c). Federal law also prohibits USCIS from “in any way restrict[ing], any
government entity or official from . . . receiving from [USCIS] information regarding the
citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual.” Id. § 1373(a). That
means USCIS cannot restrict its own officers and employees from responding to our request for
citizenship verification. Information provided by USCIS in response to this inquiry can then be
used by Indiana state and local officials to remove ineligible voters from our voter rolls. See
Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., 570 U.S. 1, 15 (2013) (explaining that states may
“deny[] registration based on information in their possession establishing the applicant’s
ineligibility” (quotations omitted)).

Accordingly, we formally request that USCIS fulfil its obligations under 8 U.S.C. § 1373(c)
and verify the citizenship of the individuals identified in the attachments to this letter. The attached
lists of registered voters include all voters currently registered in Indiana who completed their
registration without submitting a state-issued form of identification. See Ind. Code §§ 3-7-33-4.7.
Although possession of a state-issued identification does not demonstrate that a person is a citizen,
the fact that a person obtained such identification provides some assurance that their citizenship or
immigration status may have been previously confirmed by a state official. See Ind. Code § 9-24-
11-5(c) (requiring the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue temporary identifications to an
individual who has temporary lawful status.”).

For each individual for whom we seek verification, we have provided the name and date
of birth. That information is sufficient to allow USCIS to verify these individuals’ citizenship
status through use of USCIS’s Person Centric Query Service. In total, we seek citizenship
verification for 585,774 individuals. We have separated the individuals who are the subject of our
request into three categories: (1) registered Indiana voters who registered without providing a
driver’s license number or social security number (Attachment A); (2) registered Indiana voters
located overseas (Attachment B); and (3) registered Indiana voters who registered to vote without
providing a driver’s license number (Attachment C). We request that USCIS provide us with
verification of the citizenship statuses of these individuals in this order priority—first providing
verification for the individuals in Attachment A, followed by verification of the statuses of the
individuals’ listed in Attachments B and C.

The last day to register to vote in Indiana was October 7. Election Day is a little over three
weeks away. We are thus at a critical juncture in this election cycle when verifying the integrity
of Indiana’s voter rolls is of acute importance. Because “the right to exercise the franchise in a
free and unimpaired manner is preservative of other basic civil and political rights,” Hoosiers
deserve to know that only eligible voters will be participating in our elections, and that their votes
will not be diluted or distorted by ballots cast by non-citizens. Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533,
562 (1964). We ask that you assist us, as you are required to do by law, in giving the citizens of
our state that assurance.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request.
Sincerely,
___________________________ _________________________
Todd Rokita Diego Morales
Indiana Attorney General Indiana Secretary of State

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.

Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6 percent. The COLA was 3.2 percent in 2024.

Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2025.  Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

“Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.  Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $176,100 from $168,600.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December.

This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions.

Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. People can set up text or email alerts when there is a new message--such as their COLA notice--waiting for them in my Social Security.

People will need to have a personal my Social Security account by Nov. 20 to see their COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2025 benefit amount will be available via my Social Security's Message Center starting in late November. Those who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola.