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Volume 130Number 14Two SectionsINDIANAPOLIS RECORDER USPS (262-660)Published weekly by: The George P. Stewart Printing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 18499, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Indianapolis Recorder, P.O. Box 18499, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218.Subscription price by mail or carrier: $39 per year; $19.50 for 6 mos.,75 cents per copy. National advertising representative: Amalgamated Publishers Inc., 45 W. 45th St., New York, NY 10036. Member: National Newspaper Publishers Association, Central Indiana Publishers Association, Hoosier State Press Association. SUBSCRIBERS BY MAIL: We are not responsible for replacing issues missed due to change of address or late renewals. Please allow two weeks when placing a new subscription or change of address order. Call (317) 924-5143.Follow Us!@indyrecorderSee SPARTZ, A2%u00a8See ART, A2%u00a82025Friday, April 4, 202575 cents1895 130th ANNIVERSARYIndiana%u2019s Greatest Weekly NewspaperSince 1895Preparing a conscious community today and beyondwww.indianapolisrecorder.com1895 130th ANNIVERSARY 2025See BRAUN, A2%u00a8See ACTION, A7%u00a8By CHLOE McGOWAN%u00a0chloegm@indyrecorder.comArt & Soul may look a little different this year.Art & Soul, Indianapolis%u2019s annual celebration of Black art and music, is returning, starting with the Artist Showcase on April 11. Traditionally held during Black History Month in previous years, Art & Soul is now a year-long program, hosting performances, gallery shows and free events for the community to engage with.Since 1996, Art & Soul has celebrated more than 60 of Indiana%u2019s Black writers, poets, musicians and artists of all disciplines. Each year, a theme is chosen based on the national theme set by the Smithsonian, and four artists from the community are recognized for their exemplary contributions to the creative community, according to the Indy Arts Council website.This year, musician Brandon Lott, performing artist Akili Ni Mali, wearable artist By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comGov. Mike Braun signed a series of bills into law, marking advancements in agriculture, education and public health within the state. Here is a breakdown of what they all mean:House Enrolled Act 1149: Online agricultural portalAimed at bolstering Indiana%u2019s agricultural sector, House Enrolled Act 1149 establishes an online portal for Hoosier farmers. Authored by Rep. Kendell Culp, (R-Rensselaer), the portal will be managed by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. It is intended to streamline access to information, including:Regulatory checklists: Assisting farmers in navigating complex agricultural regulations to ensure compliance.Grant opportunities: Providing a searchable database of state and federal grants, complete with deadlines and eligibility criteria.Technical support: Offering resources and guidance on best practices and innovative farming techniques.Feedback channels: Enabling farmers to communicate directly with state agencies regarding concerns or suggestions related to agricultural policies.Braun emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, %u201cHoosier farmers feed America and power our economy, and this bill makes their important job a little bit easier.%u201d House Enrolled Act 1122: Unlawful encroachmentHouse Enrolled Act 1122 establishes a 25-foot buffer zone around law enforcement officers. The bill makes it a Class C misdemeanor for someone to intentionally approach within 25 feet of an officer if they disobey an order to stop and the officer reasonably believes the person would interfere with their duties. The law aims to enhance safety for law enforcement personnel during their interactions with the public.House Enrolled Act 1056: Controlled substancesHouse Enrolled Act 1056 adds Indiana U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz Westfi eld event continues trend of contentious town hallsBy ZACH BUNDY WFYIIndiana U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz is the first House Republican to attend a town hall in Indiana after Speaker Mike Johnson encouraged GOP members to%u00a0skip them.That advice came after members of Congress faced%u00a0tough questions%u00a0from constituents at town hall meetings. Spartz%u2019s Westfield town hall Friday night was no different.%u00a0Spartz represents Indiana%u2019s 5th Congressional District and planned to answer constituent%u2019s questions about improving healthcare, balancing the federal budget, and fixing the national debt.Some people showed up as early as 3 p.m., including Christine Kassebnia, who waited two hours to get in. She said she is concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. She wanted to ask Spartz about that and said she feels under-represented.%u201cWe are not represented by this %u2026 at all. Not one thing have I heard from them, that represents me or anybody in this room. I don%u2019t think we have any billionaires here, do we? I don%u2019t think so,%u201d Kassebnia said.People wrote their questions and turned them in to Spartz%u2019s team. A team member then selected each question and read that name %u2014 for the person to ask it or opt for the question to be read aloud for them.Throughout the Q&A, Spartz covered a plethora of subjects %u2014 including tariffs, CDC funding, the recent%u00a0Signal app group chat leak, veterans affairs, immigration, and calls to reign in the Trump administration.One question came from a registered Republican named %u201cBen from Westfield.%u201d He did not stand up to ask his questions, so a staffer from the Spartz team read it aloud.%u201cWhy have Republican Congress members not reigned in the president%u2019s illegal, unconstitutional orders?%u201d the staffer read.This was met with a %u201cDo your job%u201d chant from the crowd. Spartz said, %u201cExecutive orders, it%u2019s not a way to govern,%u201d but then she said Congress can%u2019t currently get the work done.%u201cUnfortunately to pass any law right now, it would take 60 votes in the Senate. We cannot pass anything,%u201d Spartz said.The Westfield police handled security at the door, By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comThe Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) has filed a lawsuit against the Indiana Office of Administrative Law Proceedings (OALP) after the agency upheld a permit allowing a power plant to release wastewater into the White River.The permit, issued by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) in 2023, allows the Eagle Valley Generating Station, a power plant owned by AES in Martinsville, to discharge untreated wastewater from coal ash ponds into the West Fork of the White River. This section of the river is located upstream of Martinsville%u2019s municipal wells, which supply drinking water to the city.HEC argues that the wastewater contains harmful substances, including neurotoxins and carcinogens, which can be dangerous to both the environment and public health. The group says the permit violates federal and state clean water Online portal for farmers and controlled substancesBraun signs several bills into law White River pollution fi ght heads to court: Environmentalists demand actionArt & Soul 2025: Brandon Lott and Kierra Ready prepare to kick ofi artist showcaseLeft: Kierra Ready, visual artist and muralist, and one of the 2025 Art & Soul featured artists. (Photo/Kierra Ready via website) Right: Brandon Lott, songwriter, producer and musican, and one of the 2025 Art & Soul featured artists. (Photo/Brandon Lott via website)The bills signed by Braun include additions to the controlled substances list and a new online portal for Hoosier farmers. (Photo via/Facebook)Constituents voiced their concerns to U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz during the town hall. (Photo/Zach Bundy, WFYI)The Hoosier Environmental Council%u2019s suit is against the state for allegedly allowing a power plant to discharge coal ash wastewater into the White River. (Photo/Conservation Law Center)