INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE - Key Persons
Casey Smith focuses on education, courts, environment and election coverage for the Capital Chronicle. She previously reported on the Indiana Legislature for The Associated Press. Smith has had internships and fellowships at the Investigative Program in Berkeley, California, The Indianapolis Star, the Investigative Reporting Workshop in Washington, D.C., The Washington Post, National Geographic, USA Today and other publications. Internationally, she has reported on water quality across South America. She holds a master's degree in investigative reporting and narrative science writing from the University of California/Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. She previously earned degrees in journalism, anthropology and Spanish from Ball State University, where she now serves as an instructor of journalism.
Leslie covers state government for the Indiana Capital Chronicle with emphases on elections, infrastructure and transportation. She previously covered city-county government for the Indianapolis Business Journal. She has also reported on local, national and international news for the Chicago Tribune, Voice of America and more. She holds an undergraduate degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Bray Spokeswoman Molly Fishell said Young was removed because he wasn't attending the Judiciary meetings.
Young also hasn't attended other committee meetings.
He left the Senate Republican caucus last summer during a special session targeting abortion restrictions. He expressed concern in a letter about exceptions in the ban and also listed other reasons for his departure.
Since then, Young has lost his chairmanship of the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee.
Additionally, Young's longtime chamber seat surrounded by fellow Republicans was moved to the corner by the Democrats.
Young clarified his committee removal, noting that he was asked to choose five committees he would like to serve on last year. Bray appointed him to none of those.
As a result, Young said he told Bray he would not attend the five committees he was named to. But he told Bray to replace him so that Republicans have enough votes to move legislation.
Niki has covered the Indiana Statehouse since 1999 - including five governors. She has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and Hoosier State Press Association for stories on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, criminal justice issues and more. She also is a regular on Indiana Week in Review, a weekly public television rundown of news. She shifts her career to helm a staff of three and ensure Hoosiers know what's really happening on the state level.
A native of upstate New York, Whitney previously covered statehouse politics for CNHI's nine Indiana papers, focusing on long-term healthcare facilities and local government. Prior to her foray into Indiana politics, she worked as a general assignment reporter for The Meridian Star in Meridian, Mississippi. Whitney is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University (#GoBonnies!), a community theater enthusiast and cat mom.