U.S. Rep. Jim Baird to seek reelection, dispelling retirement rumors
Just two other candidates have filed to face Baird in 2024: Charles Bookwalter and Jerry Jones.
Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
Budget experts recommend caution before Indiana considers tax overhaul
Key Indiana Republicans at a task force meeting heard tepid support on Friday for their hopes to cut or scrap the state’s individual income tax.
Indiana contemplating own strategic medical stockpile following national shortages
Pandemic shortages forced the state to run more lab tests—with results taking days rather than minutes—which former State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said delayed quarantines and medication referrals.
‘Success coaches’ to hit Indiana colleges after budget approval
The Indiana State Budget Committee on Friday approved $2.5 million to embed 31 success coaches in higher education institutions across the state.
Lawmakers explore site readiness, regulations, demographics in first land-use task force
State legislation creating the task force gave it five issues to examine: growth trends, growth barriers, developer siting, local self-investment and food insecurity.
Breach exposes information of 200K-plus Hoosier Medicaid members
The exposed information includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, gender, medical conditions, diagnoses, medications, allergies, health conditions and more.
Delta-8 legal dispute: Following attorney general’s guidance, industry files suit
When Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the opinion in January this year finding that delta-8 and other hemp-derived products are illegal, law enforcement around the state took note.
Utility regulator staffer leaving to work as industry lobbyist
Ryan Heater has served as the IURC’s staff chief since 2019, but he’ll soon head to Indiana Electric Cooperatives to be the group’s vice president of government relations.
Experts carefully optimistic about state’s fiscal footing as lawmakers look to cut taxes
The Interim State and Local Tax Review Task Force, which began meeting Wednesday, will examine Indiana’s corporate tax, individual income tax, property tax, sales tax, and others.
Indiana attorney general leading tenants-protection movement
Republican state lawmakers have long resisted taking up legislation strengthening tenants’ legal rights, making Todd Rokita an outlier at the state level—but a possible ally for advocates who’ve struggled to advance such changes.
More than 744k Hoosiers on Medicaid affected in software breach
Their names, addresses, case numbers and Medicaid numbers were exposed in a contractor’s late May security breach, Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration announced.
Indiana water utility briefly seeks to charge customers for Pacers seats
Indiana American Water quietly backtracked in filings Tuesday after consumer advocates contested the expense.
GOP leaders say changes in lieutenant governor selection unlikely
Conservative pastor Micah Beckwith’s bid for Indiana’s second-highest office has rankled some Republican politicos—but don’t expect changes to the lieutenant governor selection process, according to party leaders.
Indiana Chamber releases 2035 economic vision ahead of schedule
The ambitious vision seeks to advance workforce, education, business climate, infrastructure, quality of place and health initiatives.
Longtime solicitor general leaves for the private sector
Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher will leave for a “school choice” advocacy organization next month, after nearly two decades in his role with the Attorney General’s Office. He was the first to hold the position.
AES Indiana says state storm outage investigation not warranted
State and not-for-profit utility consumer advocates filed a joint petition on July 11 asking the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to investigate the utility’s “practices and procedures for storm outage restoration.”
Little-known not-for-profit boosts Indiana’s economic development agency
Outside organizations donated nearly $3 million to a state economic development agency’s not-for-profit arm over the last three years—but who the donors are, and how the agency spends their contributions are largely unknown.
Most employers aware of staff mental health struggles, survey says
An overwhelming 93% of respondents at least somewhat agreed that it “makes good business sense” to recognize and respond to mental health dilemmas, but far fewer said they were prepared.
Top GOP gubernatorial contenders haul in donations
Three top GOP candidates for Indiana governor far outraised their fellow hopefuls in semi-annual campaign finance reports released Monday, with U.S. Sen. Mike Braun recording the largest haul.
Consumer advocates seek probe into long AES power outages after storm
State and not-for-profit utility consumer advocates have asked state regulators to investigate the utlity after a recent storm left some customers without power for nearly a week.