While wars overseas raged, the United States found itself fighting on several fronts. Inflation, considered tamed many years ago, flared up as oil prices surged and product shortages took their toll on the average consumer. The year was also marked by labor strikes, including the Hollywood writer’s strike, an actor’s strike and UAW strikes against automakers. The writer’s strike delayed production on popular shows, and traditional networks had to figure out how to keep people from jumping to streaming services to binge on popular programs.
In Congress, Kevin McCarthy was voted Speaker of the House in January by a slim majority after many ballots, only to lose his speakership in October after battling with several ultra-right Republicans. Mike Johnson, a relative unknown, took his place. McCarthy left Congress at the end of the year. New York Representative George Santos was arrested on 13 charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to Congress. The House voted to expel him — the first since the Civil War who wasn’t first convicted of a felony. New Jersey Senator Bob Mendez was charged with bribery and influence peddling when he was found to have taken considerable sums of money to help a business in Egypt.
Confidential and top secret documents were found all over the place in 2023, including in President Biden’s old office at the University of Pennsylvania, and his home garage in Delaware. The documents were handed over promptly. Top secret documents were shared in an online group and distributed in public after a Massachusetts National Guardsman obtained them. Jack Teixeira was indicted on six counts of holding and distributing classified information.
Former President Trump’s legal woes got worse in 2023, and he became the first former president indicted on criminal charges. Donald Trump was indicted on several counts of financial fraud, among other issues. He was indicted on conspiracy and obstruction in regard to mishandling classified documents. In September, the Trump organization was found guilty in civil court of financial fraud in the valuation of properties in the state. The judge ordered all of Trump’s business licenses and property be pulled in New York. The judge also issued a gag order. In Georgia, charges were brought against him for election interference.
Hunter Biden, the president’s son, was brought up on federal gun charges, and Congress began special investigations into his financial past and possible links to his father. As of December, the investigations have stalled.
Indiana has remained pretty quiet in comparison to news from the rest of the nation. A tornado outbreak at the end of March cut a wide path through the Midwest, including Indiana, where 17 tornadoes were confirmed, killing at 5 people.
A large fire at a plastics recycling facility in Richmond forced the evacuation of thousands of residents as a toxic cloud engulfed part of the city in April.
Controversy swirled around water sourcing in the proposed LEAP development as plans in Boone County to take water from an aquifier 40 miles away met with resistance.
In Indianapolis, two IMPD officers were indicted in the death of Herman Whitfield III in April 22. The victim was in the midst of a mental health crisis and officers used a stun gun on him while handcuffed, which lead to his death.
In July, Marion County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Durm was killed by an inmate at the Criminal Justice Center during a transfer from the hospital to the jail. Deputy Durm was a 38-year veteran of the force.
A shooting in the parking lot of Castleton Square Mall left one dead and another seriously injured in January. In June, three people were killed in Broad Ripple during a weekend that claimed several other lives throughout the city. A 4th of July block party on the east side was disrupted when a gunman opened fire, injuring 3 and killing one person. Overall for 2023, homicides were down from 2022, from 226 to 216.
As of December, there were 18 officer-involve shootings in Indianapolis, prompting a call to investigate IMPD practices on the use of deadly force.
Indianapolis voters had a choice between Joe Hogsett and Jefferson Shreve, a former City-County council member. There were several upsets in the City-County elections, as incumbent Zach Adamson lost to Jesse Brown and Brienne Delaney ousted 30-year-incumbent Monroe Gray. Hogsett won handily in the election, and voters added one more Republican to the council, along with some new faces.
We lost many celebrities this year, and Indiana lost beloved author James Alexander Thom, Indy Star sports writer and Pacers executive David Benner, WNAP DJ Buster Bodine, co-founder of Angie’s List Bill Oesterle, Indiana Senator Jack Sandlin, former Colts player Matt Ulrich, artist William Rasdale, Pacers legend George McGinnis, Indy businessman and builder Paul Estride Jr., former Lawrence North basketball star and NBA player Eric Montross, and former IU Basketball head coach Bobby Knight. Former astronaut Frank Borman, born in Gary, also passed in 2023. We also lost astronauts Walter Cunningham and Ken Mattingly.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter passed, as did the first female Justice of the Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor. Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State, died. Maryanne Trump Barry, former judge and older sister of the former president, passed. The year saw several beloved multi-gifted entertainers die, including Harry Belafonte, Mark Russell, Jim Brown, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, and Paul Reuben (Pee-Wee Herman). Sports icons we lost in 2023 include Jay Briscoe, Dick Butkus, Robby Kneivel, Bobby Hull, Vida Blue, and Willie Hernandez. The daughter of Elvis, Lisa Marie Presley, died suddenly. Charlie Munger of Berkshire Hathaway died.
It was a terrible year for sex symbols as we lost Raquel Welch and Gina Lolabrigida. Rock and roll icons Jeff Beck, Sinead O’Connor, Jimmy Buffett, Gary Wright, Gordon Lightfoot, Robbie Roberston, Roger Whittaker, and Shane MacGowan passed away. Burt Bacharach died. We also lost many TV and movie stars, including producer Norman Lear, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Andre Braugher, Suzanne Somers, Cindy Williams, Richard Belzer, Lance Reddick, Treat Williams, Alan Arkin, Ron Cephas Jones, Michael Gambon, Burt Young, Richard Roundtree, Piper Laurie, Tommy Smothers, Ray Stevenson, Tom Wilkinson, and Matthew Perry. King Constantine II of Greece passed.
