This is Episode 2 of Inside the Box, Brad Hochgesang’s source-linked series about issues shaping Indiana Senate District 48.

The second episode follows the money behind the Mid-States Corridor, compares its projected cost with projects communities have built across southern Indiana, visits neighbors in the road’s path, and asks elected officials to answer one direct question: do you support the corridor?

“It’s a yes or no question.”

Episode 2 chapters

• 0:00 — Cold open
• 0:59 — My answer
• 1:10 — How it started
• 3:55 — Follow the money
• 5:28 — What a billion dollars buys here
• 7:07 — The costs that are not in the state's price tag
• 9:49 — It does not fix your drive
• 11:23 — Say they're right
• 13:17 — Nobody told us
• 14:14 — A way of life
• 15:56 — So I asked
• 18:56 — The phone call
• 20:34 — I asked the councils
• 22:43 — The letter
• 26:05 — The third poll
• 27:14 — Searching for representation
• 30:16 — Where they stand
• 32:50 — Behind the scenes
• 35:56 — Home
• 37:45 — Credits: “Mid States Goodbye”

Episode 2 recording notes and credits

Every recording in this episode is real. Some recordings were cleaned up to improve the sound, and all were cut and trimmed to fit. No one’s words were changed. When an edit skips ahead or back in time, the subtitles identify it. Subtitles were transcribed to the best of our ability.

Thank you to You Are The Power, founded and led by Spike Cohen (https://youarethepower.net), and to everyone who let us use their recordings and stories. Thank you to the more than 200 members of the Property Rights Alliance for standing up for our community.

Music: “Mid States Goodbye” by Broken Acre, from the album “Broken Promises” (2025). Brad Hochgesang and Maggie Marystone made this song.

Episode 2 sources and end credits

This list follows the order of the episode’s end credits. Items without public links identify campaign recordings, interviews, public meetings, or working records retained with the production files.

• Huntingburg town hall, Sept. 21, 2026 (Brad's recording)
• Tom Bartelt on The Rob Kendall Show, Aug. 6, 2026: https://youtube.com/watch?v=T8Iw2TN7g6s
• Doug Uebelhor, Dubois County Council meeting, Nov. 24, 2025: https://youtube.com/watch?v=9MWAqowmcoM
• Mark Messmer, Jasper Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast, Jan. 29, 2022, recorded and published by 18 WJTS: https://youtube.com/watch?v=pFtv7JYLZ5U
• Dubois County Free Press, Feb. 1, 2022: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/local-legislator-discuss-agenda-with-constituents
• Indiana Senate Republicans news release, Oct. 11, 2018: https://indianasenaterepublicans.com/road-funding-legislation-leads-to-indot-mid-state-regional-development-authority-partnership
• Indiana Code 3-9-5-14: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/3#3-9-5-14
• Indiana Election Commission State Form 4606, Schedule A-1: https://forms.in.gov/download.aspx?id=8678
• Indiana campaign finance database: https://campaignfinance.in.gov
• Federal Election Commission: https://fec.gov
• Jason McCoy, Property Rights Alliance, Huntingburg City Council meeting, July 8, 2025: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4X--42Y_z6I
• Indiana Department of Transportation estimate with land, $1.18 billion, July 2026, in the Dubois County Free Press, July 20, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/new-analysis-projects-8b-in-long-term-benefits-from-mid-states-corridor-indot-says-some-figures-require-context
• Dubois County Free Press, Apr. 21, 2016: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/5-9-million-allocated-to-jasper-parklands-hoosier-desk-project-and-trail-extension
• Aim Indiana, July 17, 2018: https://aimindiana.org/terminal/jasper-opens-parklands
• Dubois County Free Press, Jan. 2, 2019: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/huntingburg-stellar-enters-final-year
• 14 News, May 20, 2026: https://14news.com/2026/05/21/tell-city-river-road-project-complete-after-nearly-20-years
• Inside Indiana Business, July 15, 2025: https://insideindianabusiness.com/articles/a-transformative-quality-of-life-project-5m-trail-grant-to-connect-pike-county-parks
• Princeton Daily Clarion: https://pdclarion.com/news/south-gibson-community-center-project-renovations-begin/article_dde2a443-4a08-52b7-a26b-bb6bf1ff4e43.html
• Indiana Department of Transportation roads schedule, Jan. 15, 2026
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Next Level Trails, Round 4: https://secure.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/recreation/grants/next-level-trails/awards-and-news/next-level-trails-round-4-awards
• Bob Pfister, Vickie Rountree and Dave Ring, interviewed for You Are The Power's documentary on the Mid-States Corridor: https://youarethepower.net
• Dubois County Free Press, May 6, 2025: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/county-officials-discuss-potential-relinquishment-of-u-s-231-from-state-control
• Dubois County Free Press, Aug. 27, 2025: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/huntingburg-jasper-considering-interlocal-agreement-to-study-potential-u-s-231-takeover
• Dubois County Herald, Nov. 20, 2025: https://duboiscountyherald.com/news/local/commissioners-discuss-10-matching-cost-of-mid-states-corridor-u-s-231-aquistion/article_7c9b272c-bf0f-5756-b67d-4d6b33f853c8.html
• Chad Blessinger, Dubois County Commissioners meeting, Nov. 17, 2025: https://youtube.com/watch?v=54XT2FBmgxc
• Federal Register notice of intent, Mid-States Corridor Section 2, June 1, 2026: https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10919.pdf
• Jason McCoy on The Rob Kendall Show, May 2026: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Pdqk4jKGssY
• Tier 2 Screening of Alternatives Report, Section 2, Oct. 2025, Table 6, p. 28, and pp. 17 and 32: https://midstatescorridor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mid-States-Corridor-Screening-of-Alternatives-Report-compressed.pdf
• Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors: https://openstreetmap.org/copyright
• The Indiana Department of Transportation's Tier 2 draft Alternative 2B map, Oct. 2025: https://midstatescorridor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Alternative-2B-North.pdf
• State of Indiana orthophotography, IndianaMap, 2022 to 2025 (the Meridian Road and 2nd Avenue crossing, measured Oct. 11, 2026): https://indianamap.org
• Washington Times Herald, "City clears way for first retail operation at I-69 exit": https://washtimesherald.com/news/local_news/city-clears-way-for-first-retail-operation-at-i-69-exit/article_87a9b71f-de94-590c-a654-36a5a06c8110.html
• U.S. 231 bypass around Dale, completed in 2011 under Major Moves
• Srinivasan and Kockelman, "The Impacts of Bypasses on Small- and Medium-Sized Communities," University of Texas at Austin, 2002: https://caee.webhost.utexas.edu/prof/kockelman/public_html/TRB01Bypasses.pdf
• Dubois County poll, Public Policy Polling, Dec. 16 and 17, 2025, 636 registered voters: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/PollResults.pdf
• Dubois County Courthouse, Jasper, Dec. 22, 2025
• The mayor's announcement, Dubois County Free Press, Jan. 5, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/mayor-vonderheide-stepping-down
• Caucus of Jan. 16, 2026, 14 News, Jan. 17, 2026: https://14news.com/2026/01/17/jasper-officials-announce-new-mayor
• Statewide poll of 554 Indiana registered voters, Public Policy Polling, February 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IndianaResults.pdf
• Brad Hochgesang, Dubois County Council meeting, Feb. 23, 2026: https://youtube.com/watch?v=mOSSmRlSRHA
• Mid-States Corridor Tier 1 Record of Decision: https://midstatescorridor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Record-of-Decision.pdf
• Spencer County Council, Mar. 17, 2026, first reading: https://citizenportal.ai/articles/7941687/Indiana/Spencer-County/Spencer-County-Council-adopts-ordinance-to-continue-Mid-States-Corridor-RDA-participation-on-first-reading-amid-public-opposition
• Ordinance options for the March 30, 2026 meeting, Dubois County
• Indiana Attorney General's office, memorandum to the Indiana Department of Transportation, March 25, 2026
• Dubois County Ordinance 2026-05, adopted April 27, 2026, and Dubois County Council minutes, March 30 and April 27, 2026: https://duboiscountyin.org/government/meeting_minutes.php
• Dubois County Free Press, March 31, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/county-council-shows-intent-to-withdraw-from-mid-states-corridor-regional-development-authority
• Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, minutes of special meeting, April 15, 2026: https://midstatescorridorrda.com/media/documents/2026.04.15_Executed_Minutes_for_April_15_2026_-_Special_Meeting25653623_1.pdf
• Dubois County Free Press, Dec. 22, 2025: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/jasper-councilmembers-announce-opposition-to-mid-states-corridor-in-light-of-new-poll
• Jasper City Council minutes, July 22, 2026: https://jasperindiana.gov/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item&id=5209
• Jasper City Council meeting, July 22, 2026: the city attorney on the board's Dec. 31, 2027 end date, and the vote: https://youtube.com/watch?v=i4cjQZQmBJw
• Dubois County Free Press, July 23, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/jasper-council-takes-no-action-on-leaving-mid-states-corridor-rda
• Indiana Code 36-7.6-2, regional development authority membership and withdrawal, from Senate Enrolled Act 128 (2017), P.L. 229-2017: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/titles/36#36-7.6-2
• Dubois County Free Press, April 20, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/vonderheide-uebelhor-seeking-republican-nomination-for-county-commissioner
• Dubois County Herald, May 2026 primary results: https://duboiscountyherald.com/news/elections/lampert-wins-sheriff-s-race-uebelhor-guth-and-kippenbrock-secure-gop-nominations-in-dubois-county/article_caeab04e-8411-59f7-a2e6-cc2619a24b4a.html
• Indiana Capital Chronicle, Feb. 24, 2026: https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/24/lawmakers-eye-road-spending-review-as-big-southern-indiana-plans-face-opposition
• Sen. Ryan Mishler, Property Rights Alliance meeting by video, Mar. 5, 2026 (Brad's recording)
• Rep. Carey Hamilton and Sen. Fady Qaddoura, Property Rights Alliance meeting by video, July 23, 2026 (Brad's recording)
• Tiffanie Arthur, her own recording (Oct. 2026) of her Facebook post, Sept. 17, 2026
• Mary Allen, candidate for U.S. Congress, Indiana's 8th District, her own recording, Oct. 2026
• Statement from Mike Braun's U.S. Senate office, 2023, in Inside Indiana Business, Nov. 22, 2023: https://insideindianabusiness.com/articles/mid-states-corridor-rolls-forward-with-business-sector-support-community-blowback
• Governor Mike Braun, interview, December 2025, published by Indiana Insight, March 24, 2026: https://indianainsight.com/2026/03/24/competing-for-the-corridor
• Amy Kippenbrock's Facebook post, Sept. 16, 2026, as quoted in the Dubois County Free Press, Sept. 17, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/letter-tell-us-where-you-stand-on-the-mid-states-corridor
• Dubois County Free Press, Jan. 30, 2026: https://duboiscountyfreepress.com/state-legislators-take-questions-rundown-legislative-priorities-for-this-session
• Senate Bill 27 (2026) and its roll call: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/27
• Indiana General Assembly, bills authored, 2025 and 2026 sessions: https://iga.in.gov

Related reading on this site

Statewide Mid-States Corridor poll results

Dubois County Mid-States Corridor poll results

Read the poll questions and results

More Inside the Box

See every episode and planned release, or watch Episode 1 on data-center deals.

Paid for by Citizens for Hochgesang.