#676 | Money Is the Root of All Politics! Politics Is a Synonym for Evil! | The Political Spotlight

June 3rd, 2026  |  2 hrs 15 mins

$200, $30, 000, 000.00 bond, acting mayor jeff howe, arrest of former delaware county emergency medical services (ems) office manager meagan coutinho, board of works, city of muncie, claims, conflict of interest, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, delaware county jail, deputy mayor jeff howe, director of the emergency management agency, director of the muncie redevelopment commission jeff howe, how was this possible, husband john coutinho, indiana, indiana state police, local politics, muncie indiana, new raise, no one knew, official misconduct, paid leave, probable cause affidavit, recently appointed deputy mayor, theft, theft from delta high school girls golf booster program, theft from the delaware county government

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the probable cause affidavit for the arrest of former Delaware County EMS office manager Meagan Coutinho, who faces six felony charges tied to alleged thefts from Delaware County government, Delaware County EMS, and Delta High School's golf booster program. Bilbrey examines allegations that more than $200,000 was taken over four years and poses the question many residents are now asking: How was this possible? The episode also explores county oversight, the paid leave status of Coutinho's husband, Delaware County EMA Director John Coutinho, and the broader implications for public trust. Plus, Bilbrey highlights a potential salary increase for Muncie's acting mayor and redevelopment director Jeff Howe that may have escaped public attention. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#668 | Little Bit of Everything! | The Political Spotlight

May 22nd, 2026  |  2 hrs 20 mins

2026 election, a few odds and ends, casey daniels, city of muncie indiana, delaware county indiana, fake tort claim, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana secretary of state diego morales, johnette cruz, local and state politics, muncie board of works meeting, muncie parks board meeting, muncie redevelopment meeting, randy howard, wibc

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a few odds and ends about Muncie, Delaware County, and Henry County... along with all the fuss over Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and his bid for re-election. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#625 | Delaware Co Suspends EMA & EMS Directors! + Henry Co's BEE Issue! | The Political Spotlight

March 23rd, 2026  |  2 hrs 18 mins

bees, bees ordinance, cleaning business, commissioner shannon henry, commissioner steve dellinger, commissioner susan huhn, delaware county commissioners, delaware county commissioners special meeting, delaware county ema, delaware county emergency management agency, delaware county emergency medical services, delaware county ems, delaware county indiana, ema director john coutinho, ems director mike ashley, fired, former ems officer manager meagan coutinho, henry county commissioners special meeting, indiana state police, mother nature, neighbors fighting, suspended with pay, suspended without pay, theft investigation

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers the Special Meeting held by the Delaware County Commissioners today, Monday, March 23, 2026. During this brief meeting, the Commissioners suspended both the County EMA Director and the County EMS Director. These suspensions follow the firing of a longtime County EMS Office Manager at the start of the month and amid an ongoing Indiana State Police theft investigation into allegations that county funds were stolen. How far could this go? Bilbrey questions it in this episode. Next, Bilbrey covers the controversy involving one Henry County Commissioner’s fight against the BEES in Henry County! Because there's nothing more pressing they could be focusing on, right? RIGHT! Let's get into it all! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#622 | Public Perception: (PCR & MFD)! | The Political Spotlight

March 18th, 2026  |  2 hrs 39 mins

breaking news, cheating scandal, contributing correspondent rachel clark, delaware county indiana, firefighter troy d delaney, lawsuit, marion county superior court, muncie fire department, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie parks board, prairie creek reservoir

In Episode 622 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is joined by Rachel Clark to examine growing concerns about public perception and leadership in Muncie. Bilbrey breaks down a controversial email involving Prairie Creek Reservoir and the Mayor’s Office, recaps a recent Muncie Parks Board meeting, and then dives into breaking developments surrounding the Muncie Fire Department and the ongoing “cheating scandal.” New details raise serious questions about accountability, transparency, and leadership—making this an episode you don’t want to miss. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#621 | Muncie's Drone Station! + Park Board Mtg! + The Randy Update! | The Political Spotlight

March 16th, 2026  |  1 hr 59 mins

2026 election season, comic relief, delaware county commissioners, delaware county indiana, drone base, drones, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff john m. sproles, interlocal agreement, muncie city council, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie park board, muncie police department, prairie creek reservoir, republican candidate randy a. howard

In this 621st episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the latest updates on the Muncie Police Department's effort to install a "drone charging station" at the old Delaware County Building. He then reminds viewers of the upcoming Muncie Park Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6 p.m.) and encourages those concerned about the Prairie Creek Reservoir issue to attend. Finally, Bilbrey shares an update on Henry County's Comic Relief, Randy Howard! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#567 | December 1, 2025 - Review of the Day’s Governmental Happenings! | The Political Spotlight

December 1st, 2025  |  1 hr 51 mins

delaware county commissioners meeting, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, indiana general assembly, indiana politics, indiana redistricting, indiana state house of representatives, indiana state senate, madison county commissioners meeting, madison county indiana, madison county politics, muncie city council meeting, muncie indiana, muncie politics, redrawing precinct maps

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the events from various government meetings held throughout the day (Monday, December 1, 2025).

Bilbrey covers the following meetings in this 567th episode:

• Delaware County Commissioners Meeting...

• Madison County Commissioners Meeting...

• State of Indiana General Assembly - House of Representatives (Day 1 of the 2026 Session)...

• City of Muncie City Council Meeting...

Tune in for Bilbrey's review and commentary on the proceedings of these meetings. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#566 | A Long December! Meetings & a Possible Redistricting Reversal! | The Political Spotlight

November 30th, 2025  |  1 hr 28 mins

delaware county commissioners meeting, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, indiana general assembly, indiana politics, indiana redistricting, indiana state house of representatives, indiana state senate, madison county commissioners meeting, madison county indiana, madison county politics, muncie city council meeting, muncie indiana, muncie politics, redrawing precinct maps

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey and 'The Political Spotlight' are back after the Thanksgiving 2025 break, and it's time to get back to work. Bilbrey gives an overview of the key upcoming meetings scheduled for early December 2025. He also discusses the "about-face" made by Indiana's State Senators at the very end of the news cycle last week, as everyone was heading into the Thanksgiving break. The Indiana State Senate will now be heading into session on Monday, December 8, 2025. Let's roll! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#529 | It's Going to Be Tight! | The Political Spotlight

September 23rd, 2025  |  2 hrs 4 mins

2026 budget process, city of muncie indiana, delaware county commissioners, delaware county council, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, finance committee meeting, mayor dan ridenour, muncie city council, muncie politics

The 2026 budget processes for both the City of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana, are nearing completion, and it's going to be tight. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the issues related to the processes happening in both Muncie and Delaware County. #ThePoliticalSpotlight