Attorney shortage commission makes budgetary, legislative recommendations
More than half of Indiana’s 92 counties are considered “legal deserts,” defined as less than one lawyer per 1,000 residents, according to the American Bar Association.
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
Judge dismisses professor-led ‘intellectual diversity’ lawsuit, calls claims ‘premature’
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit alleging the state’s new university “intellectual diversity” requirements are unconstitutionally vague, and declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the new law.
Judge spares Gary gunmaker lawsuit, rejects new law’s retroactivity
A Lake County judge on Monday declined to dismiss a long-pending lawsuit waged by the city of Gary against a range of gun manufacturers and dealers despite a state law designed to end it.
Democratic governor nominee blasts GOP-led diploma redesign
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick on Monday denounced an ongoing high school diploma redesign as “dismantling” educational rigor in favor of filling positions at Hoosier companies facing worker shortages.
Buttigieg touts homegrown EV manufacturing, union jobs at Kokomo stop
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a South Bend native, said the nation has entered a “manufacturing renaissance.”
State officials celebrate as public pension system completes Chinese divestment
Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Treasurer Daniel Elliott praised the pension system’s “speedy action” following 2023 legislation requiring divestment.
Lieutenant governor candidates to meet at agriculture-themed debate
Agriinstitute, a Danville-based agricultural advocacy group, will host the Aug. 13 debate. It’s scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the Indiana State Fairgrounds’ Purdue Extension Building.
INDOT to launch camera speed-enforcement pilot for highway construction zones
The agency will kick its pilot off Aug. 14 in Hancock County’s Interstate 70 construction zone and plans to add other sites to the program “over time,” it said.
Indiana Chamber, some companies continue DEI work despite backlash
DEI efforts remain popular with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and some prominent members of the Hoosier business community even as companies elsewhere back away from what has become a culture war flashpoint.
Marion County no longer majority white, Census shows
The consolidated city-county recorded a net loss of about 8,000 residents between 2020 and 2023, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data.
Indiana ethics body approves DCS chief of staff’s move to major contractor
Chief of Staff Aaron Atwell—who has also worked as DCS’ chief financial officer—has been offered a job as the chief financial officer of The Villages, an Indianapolis-based not-for-profit child and family service provider.
Feds approve Indiana’s initial application for $868M in broadband funding
The national “Internet for All” initiative, dubbed the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program, was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Indiana awards communities $51M in housing infrastructure boost
About a dozen Hoosier communities will split $51 million in state funding for public infrastructure set to support construction of 2,400 homes.
Indiana elections chief directs 100-plus federal agencies to halt alleged ‘unauthorized involvement’
President Joe Biden’s spring 2021 order, titled “Promoting access to voting,” mandates federal agencies to “consider ways” to encourage citizen participation in the electoral process.
Carmel-based transmission operator warns of electric capacity deficit over many states
Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which serves Indiana, 15 other states and a Canadian province, could face a capacity deficit as soon as next summer.
Randy Head emerges as likely Hoosier GOP chief
The lobbyist and former state lawmaker would succeed Anne Hathaway, who recently resigned after a 10-month stint chairing the party.
Water withdrawals in decline in Indiana’s north-central region, agency reports
The Indiana Finance Authority, at Gov. Eric Holcomb’s behest, assumed control of an Indiana Economic Development Corp. water study connected to development of the controversial LEAP district.
As bird flu continues to spread, Indiana holds off on mandatory dairy cattle testing
So far, scores of dairy farm cows in 12 states—including Michigan and Ohio—have been infected with H5N1, also known as bird flu.
Farmers ask for property tax ‘intervention’ as communities, schools face challenges
Property taxes again took center stage during tax reform discussions Tuesday—with farmers asking for a reprieve and local units of government seeking to head off significant cuts in revenue.
DNC awards $70,000 to Indiana Democratic Party in down-ballot ‘boost’
The Indiana Democratic Party hopes to break GOP supermajorities in the Legislature.