Campbell's Catch Up: August Update
Supporting our international students, new hospitals and more.
Immigration Assistance for Our International Students
Many in our community were shocked and appalled to hear about the detainment of Purdue Pharmacy student, Yeonsoo Go, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Thankfully, Yeonsoo Go was released from detainment on Monday night.
Still, Go’s story is harrowing. It‘s a reminder of the cruelty many in our nation, and now in our state, are experiencing. She was following the law, and ICE arrested her outside of court after an immigration hearing. ICE claims her visa expired, but an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where her mother works, says Go’s current visa doesn’t expire until December. She spent five days in detention and was transferred to Louisiana. Her parents found out about her transfer through online records. Go does not have a criminal record, and she’s an active member of her community in New York and West Lafayette. You can read more about Go’s story at this link.
This is a troubling time for our international students. I wanted to share the following resources:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): What Colleges and Universities Need to Know
Includes information on how to register as a non-citizen.
Immigrants’ Rights from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Indiana.
Know Your Rights: What To Do If You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration
Purdue University’s Guide for Incoming International Students
Includes information on how to apply for a student visa and the paperwork needed.
Many of our international students are here to pursue their studies. They are attempting to navigate the proper legal channels. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their legal status.
If you need additional assistance, please reach out to my office at h26@iga.in.gov.
Two Full-Service Hospitals Coming to West Lafayette
Last month, Indiana University Health and Parkview Health both made separate commitments to build full-service hospitals in West Lafayette. The Parkview Health Hospital will be located near the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF), while the location for IU Health’s hospital has yet to be announced. This is great news for our community!
These two commitments join a couple of other health care projects in the works on the West Side. In June, Franciscan Health announced the construction of a standalone emergency room on U.S. 231. In 2022, Ascension St. Vincent and Purdue announced plans for a neighborhood hospital, but the project has stalled.
Although two other projects are in the works, Parkview and IU Health will be full-service hospitals. These will be our first full hospitals within city limits. This will make a big difference since Purdue University and other parts of town are a 20-minute drive from the closest emergency room.
Building new hospitals will bring services closer to our community, expand access to care and reduce emergency room wait times. Ambulance rides will be shorter, and we’ll have more physicians and specialists in the area. The new hospitals will also give college students majoring in health and human sciences additional opportunities to work and volunteer. West Lafayette is the fastest-growing metro area in the United States, and it’s important that we expand services as we grow.
Thank you to IU Health and Parkview for choosing our community. I look forward to the construction and the eventual opening of both hospitals.
Electric Bills Increased by 17.5% This Year
Throughout the state, Hoosiers are seeing their electric bills increase by an average of 17.5%. According to data from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the average Indiana household will pay an extra $28 per month, making this the steepest annual increase in over 20 years.
For Duke Energy customers, you can expect your electric bill to increase $26 per month. For households struggling to make ends meet, this 20% increase could be devastating.
This rate hike is partially due to state laws allowing the high electricity needs of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be passed on to residential households. AI can be used to innovate and bring economic growth, and Purdue has been at the forefront of the technology. But Hoosiers shouldn’t foot the bill for huge tech companies. We need to pursue technological innovation in a cost-effective way that doesn't burden taxpayers.
If you live in the Tippecanoe County area and need help with your energy bills, Indiana has an energy assistance program (EAP). The program provides a one-time annual benefit to assist low-income Hoosiers with the high cost of home energy and prevent disconnections. You can apply for the program through the Area IV Agency on Aging.
The 2025-2026 EAP opens on October 1, 2025. If you’re interested in applying, you can call the Area IV Agency at (765) 447-7683 ext. 400 or apply online at this link.
You can also visit the agency in person at 660 N 36th St., Lafayette, IN 47905
Staff are present in the office Monday through Friday each week from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
For more information on the bill increases, click here.
Visit the Indiana State Fair
August means it is time for the Indiana State Fair! The fair started on Friday, Aug. 1 and runs until Sunday, Aug. 17. This year’s State Fair features unique food items, local art and live music. It’s also important to attend the fair to support our Hoosier farmers and our kids who participate in 4-H.
Families can purchase tickets at this link.
My Interim Study Committees
Each summer, when legislators are not in session, we meet for interim study committees. We received our interim committee assignments in the middle of July. As an audiologist, I’m particularly excited to serve on the Interim Study Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance. I’ve seen a person’s health insurance be a barrier to getting hearing aids or other needs, instead of a helping hand.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve this summer, and I look forward to speaking up for our district. Here’s a full list of my interim study committee assignments:
Interim Study Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance
Medicaid Advisory Committee
Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission (INAIAC)
A full list of study topics is available here. As always, please contact my office at h26@iga.in.gov if you have any questions or need assistance.
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In service,
Chris Campbell
Your lack of action or voice on the SK Hynix-Purdue Research Foundation's decision to build a heavy industry facility that will contain large amounts of hazardous materials and generate toxic waste next to a densely populated residential area has cost you my support and vote.
Take me off your mailing list and your donation list.