Notes for a Thursday
How you can help this year’s homelessness Point-in-Time Count. Why Sen. Young says he flipped on a measure to limit action in Venezuela. And Tim’s Picks … still fresh.
Some more notes for a Thursday …
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR POINT-IN-TIME COUNT: Agencies that deal with issues surrounding homelessness are looking for volunteers to take two-hour shifts Jan. 29 in and around Tippecanoe County for the annual Point-in-Time Count, an effort meant to document the scope and connect residents with resources they might need.
The outdoor count will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day, with volunteers meeting at 515 Columbia St. in Lafayette. Volunteers are trained and deployed in pairs to engage individuals who may have spent the previous night outdoors, in vehicles, tents or other places. Volunteer shifts are two hours, with training is provided in advance.
The Point-in-Time Count, part HUD-required annual data collection, will also include counts of people staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs across the community, including through LTHC Homeless Services, the YWCA Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, the Greater Lafayette Family Shelter and Lafayette Urban Ministry.
In a local region that includes Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties, the 2025 Point-in-Time Count identified 304 individuals experiencing homelessness, an increase from 219 individuals in 2024, according to LTHC figures. Of those, 46 were part of households with children, 18 were unaccompanied youth and 35 were identified as experiencing chronic homelessness, according to LTHC.
“While this count is only for one night of the 365, it at least provides us with an opportunity to talk with our unhoused neighbors,: Jennifer Layton, president and CEO of LTHC Homeless Services, said in a release. “Our community is robust with resources to help people manage their homelessness. What we don’t have is enough housing for those who need it.”
To volunteer for the Point-in-Time County, go to bit.ly/PIT2026. Organizers also have an Amazon wish list for sundries, hand warmers and other items that will be distributed during the count, at bit.ly/PIT2026Needs.
SEN. TODD YOUNG CHANGES COURSE ON RESOLUTION TO LIMIT ACTION IN VENEZUELA: Last week, Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, joined four other Republicans to advance a measure that would have block the Trump administration from conducting further military action in Venezuela after the recent raid to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, that country’s president. On Wednesday, Young was one of two GOP senators who changed gears.
Via Associated Press reporter Stephen Groves: “Senate Republicans voted to dismiss a war powers resolution Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela after two GOP senators reversed course on supporting the legislation. Trump put intense pressure on five Republican senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week and ultimately prevailed in heading off passage of the legislation. Two of the Republicans — Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Todd Young of Indiana — flipped under the pressure. Vice President JD Vance had to break the 50-50 deadlock in the Senate on a Republican motion to dismiss the bill. The outcome of the high-profile vote demonstrated how Trump still has command over much of the Republican conference, yet the razor-thin vote tally also showed the growing concern on Capitol Hill over the president’s aggressive foreign policy ambitions.” For more, see: “War powers resolution fails in Senate as 2 Republicans bow to Trump pressure.”
After the vote, Young issued this statement:
“I support President Trump’s decision to bring Nicolás Maduro to justice, but I am deeply skeptical about sending American troops to stabilize Venezuela. I strongly believe any commitment of U.S. forces in Venezuela must be subject to debate and authorization in Congress.
“After numerous conversations with senior national security officials, I have received assurances that there are no American troops in Venezuela. I’ve also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces are needed in major military operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress in advance to ask for an authorization of force.
“For over a decade, under multiple presidents, I’ve pushed for Congress to fulfill its role defined in the Constitution on matters involving American boots on the ground. Since U.S. involvement in Venezuela began last year, I’ve pushed for briefings and congressional engagement. On that note, I am pleased that Secretary Rubio has agreed to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to provide an update on Venezuela immediately after the recess.
“Regardless of who serves as president or which party controls the White House, Congress must get back to carefully fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.”
STATE OF THE STATE: Indianapolis Star reporter Kayla Dwyer had this on Gov. Mike Braun’s half-hour State of the State address from Wednesday evening: “Braun wants the Chicago Bears and other takeaways from his State of the State.” For a full version of the speech, check this link … in case you had your eyes on the Boilers’ 79-72 win over Iowa going on at the same time. (Here’s J&C reporter Sam King’s first look at that tight one: “Braden Smith’s second-half heroics enough for Purdue.”)
TIM’S PICKS, STILL FRESH: There’s no fresh Tim’s Picks this week. But last week’s edition included these tips from BiL correspondent Tim Brouk for things to do that still hold up this week:
“The Hobbit,” 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17; 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17 and 18, Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, 313 N. Fifth St., Lafayette — Civic Theatre’s first show of 2026 will feature a youthful, compact retelling of “The Hobbit,” the classic J.R.R. Tolkien children’s tale that introduced us to the world of Middle Earth and all of its fantastical characters and creatures. Directed by Neil Radtke, Civic Youth Theatre’s take on the novel will be a condensed 60-minute play that still features our hero Bilbo Baggins (played by Nolan Gorski), the wise Gandalf (Gunnar Berger) and Gollum (Ellie Boszor), who wants the “precious” Ring more than your kid wanted a Labubu for Christmas. $16.50. Tickets.
Night Ranger, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, Long Center, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette — Hard rock fans of a certain age will be “motoring” to downtown Lafayette to catch multiplatinum recording artists Night Ranger make its Long Center debut. The band led by bassist and vocalist Jack Blades and drummer and vocalist Kelly Keagy had a string of hits back in the 1980s, led by the unmistakable power ballad “Sister Christian.” That tune, which was inspired by Keagy’s little sister Christy, spent 24 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984, peaking at No. 5 on the charts. The song had a major resurgence later with memorable appearances in films like “Boogie Nights” and on TV shows like “South Park.” Night Ranger also scored hits in “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and “(You Can Still) Rock in America.” For now. $70-$92. Tickets.
Murder Burger, Sleigher, Emulsified and Lyra, 7:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — The Doom Room will help kick off 2026 with a rare all-local bill of four furious bands. On the heels of the 2025 Random Band Challenge, Murder Burger and Sleigher will join forces. The two eclectic acts are examples of bands formed at previous Doom Room Random Band Challenges that stayed together and perform somewhat regularly. The musicians clicked to the benefit of local metal fans. Also performing will be death metal powerhouses Emulsified and Purdue University metal heads Lyra. $10.
Concrete Chicken and The Cheswicks with THIS, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, North End Pub, 2100 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette — Two bands that cut their teeth at Purdue house shows that graduated to the Lafayette bar venues will headline a show of youthful indie and psyche rock. Something called THIS opens.
Tim Brouk is a longtime arts and entertainment reporter. He writes here (almost) weekly, tracking things to do for Based in Lafayette.
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Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Ah well, if Todd Young got private verbal assurances from an admin that totally never lies about anything then I suppose we're all good.
The best-case scenario for the Bears-to-Northern-Indiana story is that the team is trying the time-tested "I'm a billionaire, give me a huge pile of money or we'll leave" ploy to get Illinois and Chicago to give them a huge pile of free money. The worst case scenario is that Indiana actually does end up giving them a few billion dollars of free money, probably in the same dumb way that Kansas just did for the Chiefs. Nothing a rich guy like Braun loves more than giving loads of money to other rich guys, why should he care if his state is perpetually in a state of austerity?
Young wrote, “After numerous conversations with senior national security officials, I have received assurances that there are no American troops in Venezuela. I’ve also received a commitment that if President Trump were to determine American forces are needed in major military operations in Venezuela, the Administration will come to Congress in advance to ask for an authorization of force..." Oh, baby - you really believe what THIS president and THIS administration have said? That's how we ended up with brain-worm guy endangering our children.