Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter has retired following a career in law enforcement which spanned nearly 40 years. He was born and raised in Laporte, Indiana, and after graduating from LaPorte High School in 1980, he went on to attend Ball State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis on Management, Leadership and Organizational Structure from Indiana Wesleyan University. The son of a State Trooper, Carter followed in his father’s footstep and in July 1984 he was accepted into the 42nd Indiana State Police Recruit School.
He served eighteen years with the Indiana State Police from November 1984 until December 2002 and was assigned to the Pendleton State Police District while serving in Hamilton County. In 2002, Carter sought the elected office of Sheriff of Hamilton County and ultimately served two terms from January 2003 through December 2010 as the elected Sheriff.
Appointed by Governor Mike Pence, Carter became Indiana’s 20th Superintendent of the State Police on January 14, 2013, and was reappointed by Governor Eric Holcomb on January 13, 2017.
Not one to shy away from the public spotlight, he led the State Police through some of the most difficult times to include civil unrest in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased public perception of law enforcement and two of the highest profile cases in the agency’s history, the Delphi double murders and Flora fire investigations.
Through it all, Carter and his staff continued to take the State Police forward by providing body/in-car cameras for all Sergeants and Troopers, state-of-the-art communications equipment, moving to an all-SUV patrol fleet, a more robust training program, bringing more resources for mental health assistance to employees, and an increased effort in recruiting and retention, to name a few.
Carter, who served as Superintendent for 12 years, was the longest serving Superintendent in the nearly 92-year history of the Indiana State Police.
Carter resides in Hamilton County with his family.
Distinguished Awards:
- Sagamore of the Wabash presented by Governor Evan Bayh
- Indiana State Police Silver Star Award for Meritorious Service and Outstanding Heroism
- Public Service Award – Indiana University Kokomo School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Government Agency Partnership Award – Indianapolis Department of Public Safety
- Sagamore of the Wabash presented by Governor Eric Holcomb
The newly released “AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025” official logo features colors sourced from the WNBA’s signature orange and the Indiana Fever’s brand colors of red, blue and gold reflecting the intense Hoosier passion for basketball culture.
In addition to the logo unveiling, the WNBA All-Star 2025 Board of Directors released its membership, which includes prominent civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders. The board and the WNBA All-Star Host Committee will meet regularly in the coming months to plan and execute July’s event.
AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025 includes the fan fest WNBA Live!, and downtown activations that bring together sports, culture and community leading up to the main events, including the skills challenge and 3-point contest on July 18, and game on July 19, hosted at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The event will also coincide with Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration.
“As a former player who had the privilege of representing our amazing city and home team in many WNBA All-Stars, there’s nothing more exciting than Indy taking over the world stage to host the best of the best in women’s basketball,” said WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee Co-Chair and Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings. “WNBA All-Star is more than just a game — it’s going to be an epic celebration of the tremendous growth of our sport and diverse fanbase, and an opportunity to deliver big wins for our community through unique events and impactful philanthropic partnerships.”
Tickets are expected to go on sale this spring and fans can anticipate a series of exciting AT&T WNBA All-Star related announcements and news in the months leading up to the event. Fans can sign up for updates by visitingwnbaallstar2025.com. To celebrate the logo reveal, a WNBA All-Star Game t-shirt and hoodie are available to purchase through wnbastore.nba.com.
Board of Directors:
Allison Melangton, Senior Vice President, Penske Entertainment Corp.
Sarah Myer, Chief of Staff and Strategy, Indiana Sports Corp
Dan Parker, Chief of Staff and Chief Deputy Mayor, City of Indianapolis
Terina Perry, Senior Director of Experiential Marketing, Lucas Oil Products
Melissa Proffitt, Partner-in-Charge of Client Relations, Ice Miller LLP
Marci Reddick, President, Capital Improvement Board of Marion County
Dave Ricks, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Eli Lilly
Julie Roe Lach, Commissioner, Horizon League
David Rosenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences
Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Cummins, Inc.
Taylor Schaffer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Downtown Indy, Inc.
Amy Schumacher, Chief Executive Officer, The Heritage Group
Kevin Speer, Chief Executive Officer, Ascension St. Vincent
Alice Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Black Expo, Inc.
Donna Wilkinson, Chief People Officer, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Marsha Wurster, Senior Director of Commercial Enterprise, Indianapolis Airport Authority
Co-Chairs – Public Safety:
Todd Taylor, President Business Operations, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Sarah Meyer Simon, Founder of The Simon Collective
Brandi Davis-Handy, President, AES Indiana
Kenzi Inman, Associate Vice President of Business Ventures & Strategic Development, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Kristyn Laffoon, Director of the Office of the CEO, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Julie Arnold, Special Projects Coordinator, WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee
Susan Baughman, Lead Event Director, WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and all Senate Republicans in reintroducing the Laken Riley Act. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, is expected to be considered later this week in the Senate.
The legislation would require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest illegal aliens who commit theft, burglary, larceny, or shoplifting offenses and would mandate that these aliens are detained until they are removed from the United States so they cannot reoffend or commit further crimes. The bill would ensure states have standing to bring civil actions against federal officials who refuse to enforce immigration law or who violate the law.
“Laken Riley should still be with us today. The man who killed Laken entered the United States illegally and was arrested and released multiple times before killing Laken,” said Senator Young. “Securing our border is a national security priority, and this bill is one of many steps we should take to reverse the Biden Administration’s open border policies.”
The entire Senate Republican Conference cosponsored the Laken Riley Act for the 119th Congress, including Senators Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Boozman (R-Mont.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Curtis (R-Utah), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Rounds (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also cosponsored the legislation.
New 2024 Population Estimates Show Nation’s Population Grew by About 1% to 340.1 Million Since 2023
Following historically low growth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. population grew substantially by almost 1% since 2023, outpacing average annual growth since 2000 and signaling a significant turnaround from the meager population gains at the start of this decade.
By 2024, after three consecutive years of population growth exceeding 0.5%, the United States seems to have recovered from pandemic-era lows.
The U.S. Census Bureau today released July 1, 2024, population estimates for the nation and states. The U.S. population reached 340.1 million, up 0.98% from 336.8 million on July 1, 2023 — the highest year-over-year increase since a jump of 0.99% between 2000 and 2001.
Population Trends Since 2000
Since 2000, the nation has grown by almost 58 million, with an average annual growth rate of approximately 0.8%. The most robust growth occurred between 2001 and 2008, fueled by changing migration trends and higher birth rates.
However, population trends have fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting how major world and national events can influence population growth.
For instance, national security concerns immediately following 9/11 resulted in fewer migrants, slightly tempering population growth between 2001 and 2003.
Similarly, the financial crisis which started in 2008, dubbed “The Great Recession,” impacted both fertility and immigration in the United States. Between 2008 and 2009, births dipped by nearly 3% and net international migration fell almost 12%.
By the early 2010s, the pace of U.S. growth had begun to slow down. After a slight uptick in 2014-2015, population growth slowed again and 2016 ushered a new period of sluggish growth brought on by declining net international migration and falling birth rates (Figure 1).
That marked the start of a prolonged period of below-average growth.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery
At the start of the 2020s, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the nation’s population growth further.
A national emergency declaration resulted in travel restrictions, temporarily limiting entry. Also during this time, the number of deaths surged and births declined. This combination resulted in the United States experiencing the slowest period of growth on record in 2021 — as the population increased by just 0.16% — underscoring the pandemic’s effect on the population.
When the nation recovered from the pandemic, its population growth did as well, more than doubling from 2021 to 2022.
As travel restrictions started to ease and migration increased, the pace of growth quickened. A slight rise in births and decrease in the number of deaths supported the turnaround.
By 2024, after three consecutive years of population growth exceeding 0.5%, the United States seems to have recovered from pandemic-era lows.
What Influences Population Change?
Natural increase (births minus deaths) and net international migration (immigration minus emigration) are the major influences on population growth, but their relative contributions to growth have changed over time (Figure 2).
Natural increase has historically been the cornerstone of U.S. population growth. Yet, in recent years, its contribution has dwindled due to fewer births and more deaths. The aging of the population is fueled by the large number of Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 entering high mortality ages.
There was a brief uptick in births from 2021 to 2022, but rates returned to their downward trend in 2023.
In contrast, net international migration’s influence on population trends has increased over the last few years. Since 2021, it accounted for the majority of the nation’s growth — departure from the last two decades, when natural increase was the main factor.
More U.S. and state population and demographic components of change are available in the most recent population estimates release.
ODON – One team, one fight, one community. A unifying message of collaboration and shared commitment between the Naval Support Activity Crane installation and the counties surrounding the base was a common theme at the Crane Regional Defense Group’s State of the Installation Dec. 11 at WestGate Academy.
Cmdr. Luis Martinez delivered the State of the Installation address, which was the final engagement of CRDG’s Key Leader Series of 2024.
Martinez shared Team Crane’s strategic goals and gave an overview of proposed construction projects that will impact local businesses and communities.
Martinez was named NSA commander in 2023. NSA is home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Crane Army Ammunition Activity. As the third largest Navy installation in the world, the base is spread out over 62,000 acres. It contains 3,000 buildings, 1,800 storage magazines, 500 miles of road and 95 miles of active rail.
The base has grown to a workforce of 6,500 people made up of 98% civilians and defense contractors. NSA Crane is unique among military bases in that just 2% of its workforce serves in a military unit, Martinez said.
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Infrastructure is one of the responsibilities of the base commander. Martinez said Crane’s infrastructure has been largely unchanged since the base was established in 1941. Future upgrades are necessary to support ongoing and planned modernization of CAAA and NSWC operations. Martinez outlined those projects:
15-year modernization plan for CAAA and NSWC
- $160 million for the new CAAA pyrotechnics complex that will replace the current facility that was built in the 1940s. The new complex is needed to build the munitions of 2050, which includes countermeasures. The new complex, expected to exceed 50,000 feet of floor space, will have room to expand and offer increased levels of safety buffers over the current location.
- $35 million rail renovation that is currently in progress.
- $30 million hypersonics integration facility at WestGate will create 60-150 jobs with an average annual salary of $80,000
- $120 million in total investment for the microelectronics facility at WestGate. The facility will be contractor owned and operated.
- Projects that will soon be completed include a Strategic Systems Engineering Facility, Missile Technology Evaluation Facility and Flash X-ray.
Defense spending
Looking to the future of NSA Crane, Martinez said Indiana currently ranks No. 28 ($6.4 billion in fiscal year 2023) for national defense spending. Texas, ($71.6B) Virginia ($68.5B) and California ($60.8B) are the top three states, according to the US Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.
Martinez wants to see Indiana break into the upper tier of the rankings.
Moving up in the rankings will take effort on all fronts from across the state both inside and outside the military bases, and a mindset shift from “This is good enough” to “We can be more.”
A skilled workforce, improved infrastructure, modernization and community resiliency to expand housing are necessary for bringing more people and investment to the region around Crane.
It’s a challenge that he said is worth pursuing.
“We have to make NSA Crane so important, it can’t be replaced, that’s what we need to do here,” he said.
About 100 attended Martinez’ address. To learn more about CRDG, register for 2025 events, or become a member, visit craneregionaldefensegroup.org.
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