Banks, Rust spar over residency as battle for U.S. Senate seat heats up
U.S. Senate candidate John Rust’s actual address is the latest point of contention raised by his challenger, GOP favorite U.S. Rep. Jim Banks.
Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
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Indiana senator eyes 2025 for ‘school choice’ overhaul
A top GOP state senator wants to completely overhaul Indiana’s private school vouchers with a grant program that would allow all Hoosier families—regardless of income—to choose where their students get educated.
Indiana lawmakers seem unlikely to tackle school consolidation in 2024 session
A new statewide report is fueling discussions about consolidating Indiana’s smallest school districts, but state lawmakers continue to lack an appetite for action—at least for now.
Indiana Senate Republicans prioritize literacy, health in five-part agenda
A bill to require earlier interventions for students struggling with literacy is top-of-list for Indiana Senate Republicans, who unveiled their 2024 agenda Thursday morning.
Indiana lawmakers move forward with bill to ban antisemitism in public education settings
Critics of the proposal maintain it limits free speech and conflates criticism of a foreign government with anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Suspended license? Indiana lawmakers commit to ‘fix’ BMV insurance verification notices
Hundreds of Hoosiers each year unknowingly have their licenses suspended after auto accidents—specifically for failing to respond to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ mailed requests for insurance verification.
Indiana teacher salaries on rise, but averages still fall short of governor’s goal
New data shows Indiana’s teacher pay is ticking up—but still trails averages in neighboring states—as the debate over Hoosier educator salaries continues.
Indiana lawmakers set to tackle several major education topics
Although Indiana lawmakers maintain the 2024 legislative session will be quicker, quieter and “noncontroversial,” there’s no shortage of critical—even touchy—education-related topics expected to be prioritized in the coming months.
Summons for Santa Claus: The story behind the Indiana Supreme Court case
Before Santa Claus, Indiana, became a well-known destination for amusement park lovers, two entrepreneurs engaged in a long legal battle that was eventually decided by the state’s highest court.
Why aren’t Hoosier kids showing up to school—and how can Indiana lawmakers help?
Legislators’ efforts to improve student literacy and career readiness could end up fruitless if the state can’t solve another issue plaguing schools: Hoosier kids aren’t showing up to the classroom.
Indiana teachers union presses reticent lawmakers to reopen budget in 2024 session
Indiana’s largest teacher’s union is calling for better collective bargaining, increased pay for support staff and more say over curriculum in the upcoming legislative session.
Indiana cities dishing out thousands of dollars to get out-of-state workers to relocate
Hundreds of families have already participated in the MakeMyMove program and now call Indiana home.
New research suggests Indiana’s increased charter school enrollment offers benefits
Researchers said their findings show that charter schools yield more learning and more predicted lifetime earnings per education dollar spent.
Indiana legislative group weighs cannabis legalization, but fails to make recommendations
The Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development is examining “the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Indiana as it relates to workforce impacts and teen use.”
New study says untreated mental illness in Indiana carries annual cost of $4.2B
The research published by the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health found that one in five Indiana residents with mental illness do not receive the treatment they need.
Secretary of State Morales doles out $308K in spot bonuses
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales has given a spot bonus to nearly every employee in his office this year—including a family member and his former campaign manager.
Judge dismisses Satanic Temple lawsuit over Indiana’s abortion ban
The Satanic Temple filed a federal lawsuit last year, claiming that the new abortion ban violates Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
State lawmaker panel weighs solutions to Indiana’s lawyer shortage
Indiana has about 2.3 lawyers per 1,000 residents—below the nationwide average of four lawyers. That puts the state in the bottom 10 nationally for available counsel.
Judge to consider U.S. Senate candidate John Rust’s plea to suspend Indiana election law
A Marion County judge will hear arguments next month over whether to suspend an Indiana law that U.S. Senate candidate John Rust says unfairly precludes him from appearing on the ballot.
Indianapolis lawyer Eric Miller to close Advance America lobbying group
The organization has boasted a political network that includes thousands of members drawn from nearly 4,000 Indiana churches—nearly one third of all churches in the state.