Several years ago, Indiana's GOP leadership was focused on removing political ideology from the state's schools, but now backs a partnership with the conservative Turning Point USA.

The big picture: Earlier this month, Indiana became the eighth state to partner with Turning Point USA, endorsing its Club America initiative.

• Gov. Mike Braun called on "all Indiana schools and universities to take all steps to facilitate student organizations like Turning Point USA chapters that foster the values of liberty and freedom of speech for the next generation."
• He said the partnership, which includes a voter registration initiative, is about "evening the playing field."

Zoom out: Turning Point USA was founded by Charlie Kirk and has chapters on more than 800 college campuses and in more than 1,000 high schools nationwide. Kirk was killed last year.

Zoom in: Turning Point describes Club America as a "youth movement for freedom-loving American values" and encourages activism focused on gun rights, opposition to socialism and concerns about government overreach.

What they're saying: "I know there are people out there that will probably say … 'this is a partisan thing, or this is super Republican,'" said Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, speaking in support of the initiative at the announcement. "It's not. It's about how we can be better neighbors, better citizens, better stewards of the things that God has given us."

The other side: "Turning Point USA is absolutely not nonpartisan," says Amy Binder, sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University. "If you join a Turning Point club in high school, you are signing onto a conservative worldview and being politicized in a conservative way."

Context: In June 2021, Attorney General Todd Rokita issued a Parents' Bill of Rights that encourages parents to report if "controversial political and social ideologies are brought into Indiana classrooms."

• Later that year, Rokita told schools not to display Black Lives Matter materials because the movement should be treated as a political organization.
• Since 2022, lawmakers have made myriad attempts to ban "divisive" concepts from public school classrooms.

Between the lines: Turning Point gained a foothold on college campuses as a counterpoint to environments that traditionally lean more liberal, says Binder, and now that strategy is expanding to Hoosier high schools.

What we're watching

A building boom has slightly lowered rents in the Indianapolis metro — but that relief might fade as new construction slows.

Why it matters: Housing is unaffordable for many.

• Although the median U.S. rent for new leases has decreased by 1.5% from a year ago, it remains roughly 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels, at $1,400 per month, according to Apartment List.
• A new Harvard report finds that more than 47% of renters in the Indy metro area (137,320 households) are "cost-burdened," spending over 30% of their income on rent and utilities.

Threat level: Nearly a quarter of local renters (70,471 households) are severely cost-burdened, spending over 50% of their income on housing.

By the numbers: The median rent in the Indianapolis area dropped 0.6% this February to $1,248 compared to a year ago, according to Apartment List.

Zoom out: Austin, Texas — a building hot spot — had the nation's sharpest decline, dropping nearly 6% this February from a year earlier.

• It fell roughly 5% in San Antonio, New Orleans and Denver, according to data from Apartment List, a rental site.

State of play: Rental markets are tighter here in the Midwest, Northeast and parts of the West Coast.

Between the lines: High construction costs and a supply glut in places like the Sun Belt have made developers cautious about starting new projects.

• When new units do arrive, they're mostly luxury apartments.

Meanwhile, more people are renting — partly because homebuying remains out of reach — keeping rents from falling much further nationwide.

Go deeper

🏠 Indiana Landmarks has placed downtown's historic Kemper House on the market for $800,000. The listing includes the 1873 residence and an adjacent parking lot. (WISH-TV)

💧 Twenty-one of the 25 Indianapolis City-County councilors have signed a letter voicing their opposition to the state's plan to move water from Central Indiana to Boone County's LEAP district.

• Councilors did not condemn the LEAP district, but they said they couldn't support the project until concerns about its impact on Eagle Creek Reservoir were addressed. (IndyStar)

👭 The nonprofit Women's Fund of Central Indiana is rebranding as the Women's Foundation of Indiana and expanding its mission to invest in the well-being of Hoosier women and girls. (Mirror Indy)

🦬 Conner Prairie has unveiled its Museum Experience Center, a $44 million renovation and expansion of its former Welcome Center. It opens to the public on Friday. (IBJ)

We're getting another bouldering gym!

Climbing the news: Ripple Boulder is slated to open as early as next month, providing another outlet for Indy's growing climbing community.

• The new facility, which will feature a floating boulder (!!!), is building out in MononWorks, a multi-use commercial space just off the Monon Trail in SoBro that already houses a co-working space.

💭 Arika's thought bubble: It looks like a cool space in a great location and I can only hope another gym will ease the pressure on North Mass Boulder, the city's only other dedicated bouldering facility.

• If you've been after work on a weekday, you know what I'm talking about.

If you go: 5255 Winthrop Ave.

• Tours are available on Saturdays during construction.
• Individuals who join now get their membership rate locked into place for life.

Many Hoosiers hopping to the store for Easter treats this week are adding Reese's Peanut Butter Bunnies to their baskets.

How it works: DoorDash analyzed which Easter basket candies over-index by state, and the beloved bunnies took the top spot in Indiana and 34 other states.

Zoom out: Reese's being the national MVP is expected, but the DoorDash results include a few surprises.

• Haribo Sour Easter Grass takes the top spot in three states.
• Meanwhile, New Mexico is the only state to go high class with the Lindt golden bunny.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: No love for Cadbury Creme Eggs?! Madness.

Fun fact: DoorDash also determined that Indiana's favorite Peep color is blue.

Let this serve as a reminder to stock up before Sunday!