Annual State of the City Muncie Highlight

Surrounded by more than 400, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour highlighted Muncie’s vast potential Thursday morning at the downtown Horizon Convention Center during his annual State of the City address. And the mayor brought receipts to back up his bold optimism.  Among the positive factors noted during a roughly 60-minute speech were the impending ribbon-cutting of a $32 million YMCA facility Saturday that will provide additional benefits for neighboring Muncie Central High School, a booming housing development market that will see 489 new units built during Ridenour’s five-year tenure, and more.

The 13-5 Ball State Men’s volleyball team readies for a Friday home match with Loyola Chicago.  Then they head to Hawaii for several matches, then return home March 28 and 29 to end the home regular season.

Big changes are coming to the Madison County sports schedule.  Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, county championship tournaments will no longer be held in the sports of volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball, according to a release from the Madison County Athletic Directors Association. Discussions are ongoing about the future of championships in tennis, golf, wrestling and track and field. All spring 2025 championships will be contested as scheduled.

Following the story of a proposed business in Muncie……

That Star Press story missed a component that we reported on – the McKinley Neighborhood Association issued a statement over the weekend on social media stating they have changed their position on the matter, and are willing to discuss with the proposed owners of the site.

During Dan Ridenour’s five-year tenure, he cited a homicide rate that has steadily decreased from 13 in 2022 to just three last year. Ridenour thanked the city’s police force for its efforts in curbing violence.  “That’s them. That’s not me. That is them. The goal is zero, and we’ll get there.”  About 400 attended the annual State of the City Address at the Horizon Convention Center.

Indiana lawmakers are considering a labeling bill for lab-grown meat products, with the Senate Agriculture Committee advancing the legislation in an 8-1 vote on Monday. The bill defines “cultivated” meat products and requires clear labeling indicating that the product is an imitation meat product. There was debate among committee members about the labeling requirements, with some suggesting using the term “fake” on labels. The Indiana Board of Animal Health is seeking to maintain jurisdiction over cultivated meat production, while some lawmakers expressed confusion about the agency’s role in regulating lab-grown meat. The bill also authorizes penalties for mislabeling violations and has sparked discussions about the future of lab-grown meat products in Indiana.

Mayor Dan Ridenour highlighted Muncie’s successes Since 2020, while overseeing an investment and development boom, Ridenour’s administration says it has trimmed nearly $12 million off the city’s debt, and the population has steadily increased after 50 years of decline. Many new residents are coming from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York City. “They want what we have here in Muncie, and we’re happy to give it to them.”

During the new ordinance section of the Muncie city Council meeting that took place on Monday The council introduced a new ordinance concerning the salary of Muncie police. here is Deputy Chief Chris Deegan, on the changes to the pay period cycle for Muncie police.

 

Reporter Kaleb Wildman filed that report.

Parts of Pres. Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress earlier this week held some of Indiana’s industries up as examples of how he believes tariffs will work.