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Indiana House Republicans Have Largest Supermajority Since 2016 Unable to load the audio player. playpausemuteunmute Brandon Smith/IPB News Indiana House Republicans expanded their supermajority in the 2020 election, going from 67 seats to 71. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the caucus will change how it governs. House Republicans’ 71-seat supermajority is their largest since before the 2016 election. And Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics director Andrew Downs said growing that majority by four seats this past election gives the GOP a little more flexibility. “At 67, they had to ...

Credit Brandon Smith / IPB News Voter advocacy organizations are creating a “shadow” redistricting commission – an independent group to provide the public with what they say is a fairer alternative than the new legislative district maps lawmakers will create in the 2021 session. If the commission has an impact, it can be both long- and short-term. Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics director Andrew Downs said in the immediate, there’s its effect on the 2021 redistricting process, when lawmakers will seek public input. “If a shadow organization is able to draw maps and able to ge...

Land buy intended to protect iconic Appalachian Trail views December 23, 2020 GMT ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A coalition of conservation groups has purchased nearly 600 acres of land in Virginia intended to protect the scenic vistas from one of the most popular spots on the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, The Conservation Fund and the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club announced the acquisition Tuesday, the Roanoke Times reported. The groups spent more than $1 million on three private parcels of land, aided in large part by a contribution from the Mountain Valley natural gas pi...

Photos by Heather Rousseau, The Roanoke Times The purchase of nearly 600 acres of land around McAfee Knob will further protect the scenic vistas of one of the most popular spots on the Appalachian Trail, conservation groups said Tuesday. Aided in large part by a contribution from Mountain Valley Pipeline — which will cross the trail about 60 miles to the west — the groups spent more than $1 million on three private parcels of land. Acquisition of the property will preserve the views from the Roanoke County landmark, improve access to the Appalachian Trail and better conserve the sur...

December 22, 2020 Many VPs see the job as a pathway to the presidency, but President Trump is reportedly weighing another run for the White House. SHOW TRANSCRIPT Jan. 6 will be a bit of an awkward moment for Vice President Mike Pence when he presides over a joint session of Congress to count the Electoral College votes. But it’s something both Joe Biden and Al Gore did after their parties lost the White House.  "On this vote, the ayes are 54. The nays are 45," said Vice President Pence.  In this case, questions still remain about Vice President Pence’s plans to run for higher office.