By Logan FosterFebruary 14, 2025 South Bend Common Council’s Sharon McBride Not Charged After DuComb Center Probe Cites 2,514 Missing Hours and $134,644 in Questioned Pay SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A special prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against South Bend Common Councilwoman Sharon McBride after investigators documented thousands of hours of unexplained absences during her tenure as director of the DuComb Center, according to a newly released court filing. The DuC

OPINION: The Hypocrisy of the "No Kings" protests—When Local Democrats Rule Like Monarchs By Logan Foster On Saturday, Democrats across the country participated in the “No Kings” protests, a national demonstration against the Trump administration. They framed their participation as a defense of democracy. But while their attention was fixed on Washington D. C., a more immediate and insidious threat to democratic principles was ignored in their own community. To see this hypoc

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The South Bend Common Council set an alarming precedent on Monday, October 13th, 2025 when it allowed a parade of public comments defending South Bend Common Councilmember Karen L. White after her disturbing remarks about the sitting president. (We specifically point out "allow", as Councilmembers and Parliamentarian Palmer have a documented history of shutting down public comments even when they are germane to City Business.) White’s statement: “Okay, an

Karen White, Official Photo SOUTH BEND, Ind. — South Bend Common Council Member Karen White (At-Large) allegedly called for violence towards President Trump during the St. Joseph County Democratic Party meeting on Oct. 4, 2025. According to multiple attendees who reported the incident to Redress South Bend, White was quoted saying, “ Okay, and we're gonna put the orange man. I don't know where y'all are gonna put him, but I know where I would like to put him. I don't think j

Collier’s Cogitations: “AI is probably not taking over soon since your boss cannot even work their email” August 29, 2025 by Brian S...

Collier’s Cogitations: ‘Chief Ruskowski is Right, his 37 Years of Experience Taught him not to See Recent Events as Violent, thus he...

Scott Ruszkowski with Pete Buttigieg Photo: C-Span Video Link August 20, 2025 by Logan Foster Chief Scott Ruszkowski dismisses community...

Dr. Oliver Davis Official Photo Earlier this afternoon, South Bend Councilman At-Large, Dr. Oliver Davis, sent out the following...

Collier’s Cogitations: “If we don’t question potential local fraud and speak with one another, how can we expect things to change on the...

What mechanisms, if any, exist within South Bend’s governance structure to ensure that a staff member cannot override the directives of the Mayor? And what accountability measures apply when a public servant makes baseless accusations in an attempt to discredit a member of the public?

Councilwoman Bolden-Simpson Official Photo From: South Bend Common Councilwoman Sherry Bolden-Simpson District 5 Re: My opposition to...

Dr. Oliver Davis (Left), Jason Critchlow (Right) Photo Provided Earlier this afternoon, Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow sent...

It is important for our South Bend Public to clearly know that the revenue generated by the proposed increased fees of up to $150 per body camera video does not go to the legal department responsible for redaction, meaning the department that is reportedly overburdened receives none of the resources it needs. This important disconnect highlights a serious flaw in the bill’s design: it imposes a financial burden on the public without delivering a meaningful solution to city st

Photo: Illegal selling, criminal money concept, US dollars and bullet for a gun, cartridges on a background By alexkich Police to charge...

The idea that those running Executive Branches get to dictate agendas to the people they serve or to their equals in government, in Mueller's case, the Common Council of the City of South Bend, is erroneous, dangerous, and an egregious misunderstanding by executives. Hopefully, the South Bend Common Council takes umbrage at the notion that James Mueller calls the shots for them and dictates which items to approve, as the Common Council is meant to be a check on the mayor's po

Are the Common Council members aware that the City Clerk's office or others in government are banning emails from media outlets and citizens? If so, what threshold and policy must be crossed, and where can citizens find such a stated email policy for writing Common Council members? 

On July 28, 2025, the South Bend Common Council will vote on Ordinance 43-25, a proposal that would impose steep fees, up to $150 per video, for public access to police body camera footage. This ordinance’s timing is conspicuous, given that Scott Ruszkowski, the city’s police chief since 2015, is widely expected to run for St. Joseph County Sheriff in 2026. Adding to the speculation, Ruszkowski has already created a campaign website and set up the "Rusz 4 SJC Exploratory Comm

Let me be blunt: you should not have to pay your government to see what your government is doing. The people of South Bend already paid for the body cams, the servers, the staff salaries, and the overhead. Charging us again—especially when we’re trying to keep our officials honest—is not just wrong. It’s offensive.

On an October night in 2014, a single bullet pierced the siding of a South Bend home, ricocheted, and lodged in the wall of a neighbor’s house. It came to rest just feet from where a child slept. Gabriel Williams, the man who fired the gun, claimed he was aiming at a raccoon. But for the residents of one West Side neighborhood, the event was a near-tragedy that underscored critical flaws in St. Joseph County’s judicial system.

By the logic of the new Common Council proposal, it would seem that citizens then should get to redact anything they would like from the videos prior to turning them over to police and charging the police up to $150 per incident that is requested, desired, or utilized in any way. There should likely also be a fee paid annually to citizens who have their cameras registered with the police for this service. 

As a public, we were sold on the idea that officers carrying body cameras would help protect us all. Communities around the United States bought these cameras for police departments and the requisite training, and more, in hopes that the cameras would make our towns safer for citizens and police alike. 

Photo: www.facebook.com/SOSDiegoMorales Title: OPINION: Diego Morales, A Man of the People,  A Statesman Reclaiming the Role of Public...

Eric Trump Greeting VIP Guests Before the LDD on June 20th, 2025 Title: Behind The Scenes With Jackie Horvath: Scheduling and Planning...

Lincoln Day Success! Eric Trump Keynotes Historic St Joseph County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner!

Below, you will find a copy of an official complaint submitted to: The South Bend Common Council Rules Committee , The South Bend Animal... Regarding Canneth Lee

ShotSpotter Coverage Map Proved By SBPD Title: SBPD ShotSpotter Map Released to Redress South Bend Author: Logan Foster Date: 06/12/2025 ...

Amy Rolfes, St. Joseph County’s Republican Clerk, recently took the national stage at the highly attended SCTESNC in Washington, D.C.

When it comes to ensuring election integrity and protecting the votes of Hoosiers, Diego Morales has made it clear that he is a leader who delivers results. Running for re-election as Indiana’s Secretary of State in 2026, Morales is attempting to rally Republicans across the state with his proven record of accomplishments and dedication to election security.

South Bend’s 3rd District Democratic Councilwoman, Sharon McBride, is once again under scrutiny as new developments in her ongoing residency lawsuit raise pressing questions about her eligibility to serve. A recent court order has revealed a stunning detail that could serve as a critical piece of evidence in the contentious case.

On May 24, 2025, Dr. Westerhausen, Chair of the St. Joseph County Democratic Party and a three-time failed candidate, held a press conference to challenge President Donald Trump’s "Big, Beautiful Bill."

Sharon McBride, a Democrat and Common Council member for South Bend's 3rd District, is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that she intentionally vacated her constituency to reside outside her elected district. McBride admitted during a November 10th, 2023 deposition that she has lived with her mother in South Bend’s 2nd District since September 2020, a move that, if true, would disqualify her from holding office in the 3rd District under Indiana law.

At its heart, a ratio study evaluates the fairness and accuracy of property assessments. Local government assessors determine how close a property’s Assessed Value (AV) is to its Market Value-in-Use by comparing residential and commercial sales data. The formula is simple: Assessed Value ÷ Sale Price = Ratio studies

Sandra Ort pauses thoughtfully, speaking with the calm authority that comes from decades of experience. Her tenure as Greene Township Trustee, which began in 1983, has made her one of the longest-serving Republican Township Trustees in the state of Indiana. After over 40 years of service, Ort has announced her retirement, effective May 31st, 2025.

Doris Portolese, a Republican and Penn Township Trustee since 2015, has consistently leveraged her leadership to deliver measurable results. This marks the third profile in our series on Republican township trustees, highlighting their impact and vision for their communities.

"Tax Increment Financing": The Reason Your Assessed Value Skyrocketed By Logan Foster Date: 05/01/25 No matter where you live in Indiana,...

Photo Credit: Facebook.com 03/31/25 - South Bend's State of the City Public Service or Self-Service? Sheila Niezgodski's Path from...

Will Miller: Olive Township's Republican Trustee and Community Advocate Date: 04/18/25   Author: Logan Foster When you think about local...

SB Council Sharon McBride (Left), State Senator David Niezgodski, Mayor James Mueller, Sheriff Bill Redman, SB Council President Canneth...

Kelly Carrico (Right) With Her Husband Mike (Left) and Son Walker (Center) Republican Kelly Carrico Brings Passion and Progress to Union...

Mark Rolfes Presenting His New Election Data Software On 02/25/25 St. Joseph County GOP Launches New "Data Analytics Elections Committee"...

New Judge Assigned to McBride Residency Lawsuit Date: 04/03/25 Author: Logan Foster South Bend, IN  – On April 3, 2025, the Honorable...

Inside the Assessor's Office: Mike Castellon Works For You, The Taxpayer By Logan Foster Date: 03/29/25 For many residents, the St....

Canneth Lee (Left) with Sharon McBride (Right) after a South Bend Common Council Meeting on January 13th, 2025 The Sharon McBride...

Amy Rolfes Brings Transparency and Structure to St. Joseph County Clerk's Office Date: 03/23/25 Author: Logan Foster Initially taking...

College Republicans President Macy Gannell (Front Left), St Joseph County Chair Jackie Horvath (Front Right), Members of the College...

Karen DePaepe Cross Examination May 6th, 2021 Understanding the South Bend Police Tapes Case (And An Admission That Tim Corbett Is Not On...

Saturday’s Chairman’s Breakfast: Chair Horvath Delivers a Unity Message and Refocuses the Republican Party Date: 03/15/25 Author: Logan...

Hon. Andre Gamage Photo: SouthBendIN.Gov BREAKING: Judge Andre Gammage Expected to Step Down in May 2025 Date: 03/13/25 Author: Logan...

UPDATE: Hearing Scheduled for State of Indiana v. Marvin Joe Layne Date: 03/05/25 Author: Logan Foster A hearing is set to take place on...

Picture 03/01/2025 After Horvath's Victory Post Caucus Update: Chair Jackie Horvath's Commitment to Party Growth Date: 03/05/25 Author:...