The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Delaware County Indiana”

#729 | Tuesday, September 08, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is back from the Labor Day 2026 holiday for the 729th episode of The Political Spotlight!

The program gets back on track as the 2026 general election season approaches; there's work to be done concerning the election and all the insanity in local, state, and national government.

Bilbrey begins with a look at the City of Muncie's proposed 2027 budget and the ongoing Delaware County Budget meetings. This is just a teaser, as a more in-depth episode is coming.

Also, as another teaser, Bilbrey again mentions the McKinley Neighborhood ordeal currently underway in Muncie. As he has always known, this is going to be a bigger story than it has already been made out to be.

From there, Bilbrey turns to Henry County, where he has heard of another concerning situation involving a former employee of the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

The conversation then shifts to candidates, campaigns, and political behavior.

Bilbrey wants people to understand what they need to know before they file to run for public office. It seems like many don't fully understand the responsibilities that come with becoming a candidate and, if elected, a public servant.

That discussion includes the latest round of craziness involving Randy Howard and what his behavior says about candidates, campaigns, and the people who decide to put their names on the ballot.

Finally, Bilbrey heads west to Madison County, where tonight's County Council meeting became heated — giving us one more example of why local government deserves far more attention than it usually receives.

Episode 729 is a bit of a catch-all:

Muncie budgets. Delaware County government. Henry County concerns. Candidates behaving badly. Randy Howard. Madison County politics.

As election season 2026 comes into focus, The Political Spotlight is back on track and moving onward and upward.

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VIDEO version of Ep 729: https://youtube.com/live/R2hVEciBVvc

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🚨🚨🚨
'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey
Produced by: Kate Thornburg & Brandon Rudd
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#719 | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Due to ongoing technical issues, this episode was cut short. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey did not complete the full show. What was NOT covered here will be covered in a future program!

In this 719th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the latest email from Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand regarding the "Delaware County-City of Muncie Dispatch Communications Issues," a topic that has been discussed for the past week.

The City of Muncie still has not responded to The Political Spotlight with answers to the questions Bilbrey has been trying to get answered. Bilbrey highlights what Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour has done over the past several days, which leads to a discussion of the Special meeting of the Muncie City Council set for tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 145 p.m.

Lastly, Bilbrey reviews a few meetings held in Muncie over the past couple of days:

Muncie Parks Board Meeting (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)...
Muncie Board of Works Meeting (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)...
Muncie Sanitary District Board Meeting (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)...

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VIDEO version of Ep 719: https://youtube.com/live/mvJVQX2HwM4

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#718 | Monday, August 17, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This 718th episode will be a free-for-all!

First up, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes back Madison County's contributing correspondent, Dr. Katherine Callahan. Callahan joins Bilbrey to break down several major developments in Madison County and the City of Anderson over the past month and a half, including:

The most recent Election Board meeting on July 30, 2026...
The recent historic weather event—Callahan shares her thoughts on the flooding in her neck of the woods and how she feels public servants and elected officials have handled the situation...
The "emergency" Madison County Council meeting, held today, Monday, August 17, 2026. The meeting concerned appropriating funds from the Rainy Day Fund — 1186 for flood relief — to the Madison County Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security...

Then, from Madison County to Delaware County... the focus shifts back to the ongoing discussion of the issues faced by the Delaware County (City of Muncie) 911 Emergency Communications Center during the historic flooding on August 12-13, 2026.

During a regularly scheduled meeting of the Delaware County Commissioners today, Monday, August 17, 2026, Delaware County 911 Director Fred Cummings addressed the Commissioners and the public regarding the ongoing public-safety communications situation. His latest remarks appeared to walk back several statements he made at last week's "emergency" meeting while also offering significant new claims about the system's current status.

Bilbrey examines what has changed, what has been clarified, and what questions still remain—and oh yes, there are still plenty of questions. That said, it appears that The Political Spotlight is making some headway!

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VIDEO version of Ep 718: https://youtube.com/live/3eGK_NigSIs

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#717 | Sunday, August 16, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 717th episode, The Political Spotlight continues its coverage of last week's historic flooding in Muncie, Delaware County, and elsewhere across East Central Indiana, focusing on the lives lost and the major property damage.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey also continues to investigate the serious public-safety communications problems reported during the event. We now have more information — but we also have two very different accounts of what happened.

The Political Spotlight obtained firsthand accounts from Muncie police, fire, and EMS personnel, along with an end-of-shift report from MPD Lt. Justin Peters detailing intermittent police radio issues, problems with Fire/EMS paging, flooding at the Sampson Avenue communications site, alternative methods of dispatching officers, Priority 1-only responses, and concerns about the availability of a fully operational backup system.

Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand has now responded, stating that the county's backup and failover communication processes worked, emergency communications continued despite flooding at the Sampson Avenue tower control building, backup channels were used, and he is not aware of any critical communication failures or public consequences.

So which description is correct?

Possibly both — which is exactly why more answers are needed.

In this episode, Bilbrey examines what we KNOW, what we DON'T KNOW, and the critical questions that remain:

Was MPD limited to Priority 1 calls — and for how long?

What exactly failed or degraded?

What backup systems were activated, and what capabilities did they provide?

How do the county's claims of a successful failover align with what Muncie first responders reported in real time?

Is the communications system fully back to normal today?

What equipment was damaged, what will repairs or replacement cost, and who will ultimately pay?

And perhaps most importantly: What will Muncie and Delaware County do differently before the next catastrophic emergency?

This is not about manufacturing a controversy. It is about establishing the facts surrounding one of the most important pieces of public-safety infrastructure in Delaware County.

If the backup system worked exactly as intended, the public deserves to understand how.

If weaknesses were exposed, the public deserves to know how they will be corrected.

And if The Political Spotlight reported something incorrectly, officials have been invited to identify exactly what was wrong and provide the correct information.

In this episode, Bilbrey lays out the entire timeline and follows the evidence wherever it leads.

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VIDEO version of Ep 717: https://youtube.com/live/SfLBHkFIUJU

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#716 | Thursday, August 13, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explores the extraordinary weather emergency and disaster that has struck East Central Indiana, particularly the southern portions of Muncie and Delaware County, extending into Henry and Randolph counties, as historic flooding — reportedly the worst in more than 113 years — has overwhelmed roads, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and emergency services.

As police, firefighters, EMS personnel, emergency management officials, and first responders worked to protect the public during the flooding, the Muncie City–Delaware County 911 Dispatch Center and the public-safety communications system faced an emergency of their own.

The dispatch center handles emergency and non-emergency communications for police, fire, and EMS throughout the City of Muncie, Delaware County, and the smaller communities and departments across the county. During one of the area's most serious weather emergencies in generations, critical radio communications encountered major problems.

The Political Spotlight obtained information from within the Muncie Police Department indicating that city police radios went in and out throughout much of the overnight shift from Wednesday, August 12, through the morning hours of Thursday, August 13, 2026. Officers were reportedly informed that the primary Motorola communications tower near 18th Street and Sampson Avenue in Muncie had been found underwater.

By approximately 4:45 a.m., the paging-tone system used for Fire and EMS was reportedly down, with no estimated time for restoration.

Personnel were further advised that there was no fully operational “Plan B” to replace the affected tower if it failed completely. AEP was expected to shut off power to the tower to protect whatever equipment could still be salvaged — a move that would further disrupt MPD radio and dispatch operations.

With communications compromised, MPD personnel were reportedly responding only to Priority 1 calls at the time, while dispatchers and supervisors relied on alternative communication methods to coordinate officer responses.

In this 716th episode, The Political Spotlight examines what happened, how severe the communications failure was, what contingency measures were — or were not — available, and the questions that Muncie and Delaware County officials will now have to answer about the reliability and redundancy of one of the county's most critical public-safety systems.

Questions have been asked; have answers been provided yet? Tune in for more.

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VIDEO version of Ep 716: https://youtube.com/live/AOGJS1RpZaA

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#715 | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

After initial rumors in early 2026 that something was amiss at the Delaware County EMS office, the story began to unfold publicly on March 12, 2026, when The Political Spotlight reported that longtime Delaware County EMS Office Manager Meagan R. Coutinho was no longer employed by Delaware County amid allegations of an internal theft investigation.

On March 23, 2026, the situation escalated dramatically when Delaware County Commissioners announced the suspension of County EMA Director John Coutinho — Meagan Coutinho’s husband — and County EMS Director Mike Ashley, as the Indiana State Police investigation into the alleged theft continued.

The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of Meagan R. Coutinho on June 3, 2026, and to the public release of the Probable Cause Affidavit, which detailed what Indiana State Police investigators alleged had occurred within Delaware County government and beyond.

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More than five months after The Political Spotlight first publicly reported that something was happening inside the Delaware County EMS office, and more than two months after the arrest, the case has reached another major milestone.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office formally filed 10 felony counts against Meagan R. Coutinho, including multiple counts of Theft and Fraud, as well as one count each of Conflict of Interest and Official Misconduct.

The formal charges stem from allegations involving approximately $181,749.93 in unauthorized compensation, thousands of hours of allegedly unauthorized overtime, money allegedly taken or diverted from a Delaware County EMS-related account, undeposited checks payable to Delaware County EMS, allegations related to retirement funds or benefits, an alleged conflict of interest involving a private cleaning company that received money from Delaware County, and, last but not least, allegations of theft from the Delta High School Girls Golf Boosters.

In this 715th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes viewers through a recap of the entire timeline — from the first rumblings of trouble inside Delaware County EMS to the Indiana State Police investigation, the June arrest, and the official filing of 10 felony charges by Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

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Beyond the criminal allegations, several important questions remain for Delaware County Government:

If the allegations are true, how could this have persisted for years without detection?

Who was responsible for reviewing payroll?

Who authorized — or failed to question — thousands of hours of overtime?

What internal controls were in place?

Who was overseeing the funds?

What changes, if any, have been made to ensure that something like this cannot happen again?

And one of the most important questions of all:

Was Husband John Coutinho, or anyone else, involved?

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Meagan R. Coutinho is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The allegations in the charging documents and Probable Cause Affidavit remain allegations unless established through the judicial process.

In this 715th episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey leads the audience through the paper trail, examines the charges, breaks down the potential penalties, and continues to ask the questions Delaware County taxpayers deserve answers to.

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Timeline of other episodes connected to this topic:

First Mention: Episode 618 (03.12.26):
https://youtube.com/live/KHsZo1vua7A . . .

Commissioners Suspend EMA & EMS Directors (03.23.26):
https://youtube.com/live/GAKNvIVHY_o . . .

Arrest of Meagan R. Coutinho (06.03.26):
https://youtube.com/live/oa9h375x6QM . . .

News Relating to John Coutinho (06.10.26):
https://youtube.com/live/peN24gRaVfc . . .

Commissioners Terminate John Coutinho (06.16.26):
https://youtube.com/live/631ScX-qidM . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 715: https://youtube.com/live/jx3z8xsN2mM

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#709 | Sunday, August 02, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This is the calm before the storm! In the 709th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey outlines the government events scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, August 3, 2026, in the City of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana.

This episode airs on the eve of what is certain to be a consequential and potentially contentious Muncie City Council meeting, set to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026. Bilbrey previews the major issues expected to come before the Council, including:

• The Council’s investigation into the internal operations and financial controls of the Muncie City Controller’s Office, authorized by Resolution 8-26.

• Ordinance 9-26, along with Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, concerning a proposed construction project for a new fire station at the current Station 5 location.

• The future of the vetoed Ordinance 13-26. Will the Council allow the mayoral veto to stand, effectively killing the ordinance, or will at least six of the nine Council members vote to override it?

• Ordinance 15-26, a watered-down version of Ordinance 13-26, sponsored by District 5 Councilman Jerry Dishman. Bilbrey argues that Dishman should withdraw the ordinance or that the Council should reject it if it overrides the veto of Ordinance 13-26.

• The highly debated vote on Ordinance 14-26, a transparency and accountability measure intended to prevent the mayor from appointing members of the mayor's staff and other city employees to city boards and commissions.

Bilbrey will also share his thoughts ahead of the Delaware County Commissioners' meeting, set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2026.

With multiple controversial ordinances, a possible veto override, an ongoing investigation, and major decisions on public accountability and city operations, Monday could be one of the most significant days in recent Muncie government.

Whatever you do, do not miss episode 709 of The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 709: https://youtube.com/live/SpmaKWVtb9Q

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines the Probable Cause Affidavit for the arrest of former Delaware County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) office manager Meagan Coutinho.

Coutinho was arrested earlier today, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, by the Indiana State Police on six felony charges. She was booked into the Delaware County Jail on a $30,000.00 bond and was able to bond out of jail almost immediately.

Her charges stem from two separate incidents. One involves allegations of theft from the Delaware County Government, and the other involves allegations of theft from a sports booster program at Delta High School.

Coutinho's charges are as follows:

Count 1: Theft
(Delta Golf Boosters)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 2: Theft
(Delaware County Government)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 5 Felony...

Count 3: Theft
(Delaware County EMS)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 4: Theft
(Delaware County Government)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 5: Official Misconduct
IC 35-44.1-1-1 Level 6 Felony...

Count 6: Conflict of Interest
IC 35-44.1-1-4 Level 5 Felony...

Coutinho is alleged to have taken more than $200,000 over the past four years, during which she was among the 20 highest-paid employees in Delaware County. Bilbrey demands to know how this was possible!

There is much to unpack about Coutinho's actions, but that is only half the story. Her husband, John, is the Director of the Emergency Management Agency of Delaware County. He has been on paid leave while this investigation runs its course. What did he know? How could he not have known? Again, HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE?

Bilbrey examines the broader implications of this situation.

While keeping the focus on fiscal questions, Bilbrey shifts to the City of Muncie. The Board of Works held its weekly meeting earlier today, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The meeting raised a serious concern for careful observers.

Did Jeff Howe, the Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission and the recently appointed Deputy Mayor, who is also currently the "Acting" Mayor of the City of Muncie, receive a raise around the first of the year (2026) that no one knew about?

All this and more in an ACTION-PACKED episode!

This episode connects to episode 681. Click the following link to listen to that episode: https://youtube.com/live/peN24gRaVfc . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 676: https://youtube.com/live/oa9h375x6QM

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🚨🚨🚨
'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey & Brandon Rudd
Produced by: Kate Thornburg
https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
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https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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© 2026 Mud Creek Studio.
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#668 | Little Bit of Everything! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 668: https://youtube.com/live/9tXrFuKIBn0

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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!

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VIDEO version of Ep 625: https://youtube.com/live/GAKNvIVHY_o

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Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#622 | Public Perception: (PCR & MFD)! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This 622nd episode of 'The Political Spotlight' is going to be a BIG ONE! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Rachel Clark to discuss "public perception" and the growing disconnect between local leadership and the community.

First, Bilbrey provides an update on a recent email he requested from the City of Muncie regarding communications between Mayor Dan Ridenour's Office and employees at Prairie Creek Reservoir. The email concerned the "perception" that PCR employees gave citizens when citizens complained about rate increases at the park. Even though the employees at PCR were "technically correct" in their responses to citizens, the Mayor's Office didn't want them to keep using that response.

What was that response, and why didn't the Mayor's Administration want it released? Bilbrey examines all of this and then provides a brief overview of the March 17, 2026, Muncie Parks Board meeting, sharing his frustrations with how it unfolded.

BUT THEN, BILBREY AND CLARK MOVE ON TO THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE EPISODE! THE BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE MUNCIE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT!

This BREAKING NEWS surrounds the ongoing legal battle between MFD firefighter Troy Delaney and the department—widely referred to as the “cheating scandal”—which takes center stage as new information adds to mounting concerns about leadership, accountability, and the department’s ability to properly address critical internal issues. This is an issue not only for the Fire Department but also for the Mayor and his entire Administration.

As the situation evolves, Bilbrey and his team are investigating and working to bring transparency to issues affecting the Muncie community. DO NOT MISS THIS PROGRAM!

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VIDEO version of Ep 622: https://youtube.com/live/UyEolLxQR4s

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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!

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VIDEO version of Ep 621: https://youtube.com/live/peY-GiHqHjQ

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 567: https://youtube.com/live/65C1J3k8E5U

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

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!

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VIDEO version of Ep 566: https://youtube.com/live/dDpWfpXd1k0

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 529: https://youtube.com/live/nE8ujipUMSM

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