Fishers renews $240K deal with Senate candidate’s wife
Unlike many government contract attorneys who are paid by the hour or project, Jennifer Messer receives the same $20,000 monthly check from Fishers regardless of how much she works.
Government & Economic Development
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Governor appoints new head for Indiana administration agency
A high-level Republican staffer in the Indiana House of Representatives has been appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb to lead the state’s purchasing and property management agency.
Decision to add citizenship question to census draws outcry
The 2020 U.S. Census will include a question about citizenship status, a move that brought swift condemnation from Democrats, who said it would intimidate immigrants and discourage them from participating.
Indianapolis turns up effort to lure more experienced teachers
It’s the newest effort by Indianapolis education leaders to build the pool of teachers at a time when many schools struggle to fill teaching vacancies and rely on temporary educators.
McConnell seeks to remove hemp from controlled substance list
The U.S. Senate's top leader said Monday he wants to bring hemp production back into the mainstream by introducing legislation to legalize the crop as an agricultural commodity.
Doctors, store owners say they approve of Indiana cannabis oil law
Doctors said CBD has therapeutic benefits with little to no THC, the compound causing the high usually associated with marijuana use.
Two manufacturers plan new plants in Whitestown, nearly 200 jobs
A food-packaging maker and one of the world’s largest bearing manufacturers have plans to spend more than $22 million and lease more than 400,000 square feet of space in Boone County if tax incentives are approved.
Carmel thumbs nose at Indiana’s new short-term rentals law
Indiana is the fourth state, following Florida, Idaho and Arizona, to approve statewide standards for short-term rentals.
U.S. charges nine Iranians in massive hacking scheme
The Trump administration announced criminal charges against Iranians accused in a government-sponsored hacking scheme to pilfer sensitive information from hundreds of universities, private companies and American government agencies. Indiana was among the targets.
Hogsett proposes ‘cap and trade’ system allowing electronic billboards
Under the proposal, sign owners could convert existing billboards to electronic ones, as long as twice that amount of signage space is removed from the city’s urban core.
Indiana’s unemployment rate eases down to 3.2 percent
Private sector employment grew by 5,200 over the month and is up 28,200 over the past year, the state said.
Congress OKs $1.3 trillion budget, averting another shutdown
Senate passage shortly after midnight averted a third federal shutdown this year, an outcome both parties wanted to avoid.
Lawmaker sexual harassment bill signed into law
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a law Thursday requiring Indiana lawmakers to complete at least one hour of training a year intended to prevent sexual harassment.
Governor signs four laws combating Indiana’s opioid crisis
Like many states, Indiana has been struggling to contain the opioid epidemic, which has caused the number of overdose deaths to skyrocket and has led to a surge of children in foster care.
Indy council member: Amazon bidding war is ‘race to the bottom’
An Indianapolis City-County Council member has signed onto a pact with two other council members from the cities of New York and Austin, Texas, to oppose the “tax-break bidding war that Amazon has begun” in pursuit of its second headquarters.
Indiana governor signs bill letting ‘Dreamers’ get licenses
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed legislation to lift a prohibition on immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children from obtaining state professional licenses.
Holcomb signs bill allowing Indiana sale of CBD oil
Cannabidiol, commonly referred to as CBD, is derived from marijuana and hemp and is believed to have therapeutic benefits, but it lacks the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high.
Sunday sales, software bills become law
Here is a rundown of key issues from the 2018 legislative session, and where they stand:
Without state fix, federal tax change could cost Indiana firms $100M
Indiana businesses and individual taxpayers might have double the work (and double the cost) to calculate their taxes next year if May’s special session fails to address the problem.
UPDATE: Governor signs Indiana workforce development bills
Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed two workforce development bills on Wednesday that he believes will help Indiana tackle its shortage of trained workers. He also made personnel changes in conjunction with the new law.