FBI arrests Muncie building commissioner amid probe
The U.S. attorney's office in Indianapolis confirmed the arrest of Craig Nichols on Wednesday but said it could not discuss it because records in his case remain under a court-ordered seal.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
UPDATE: House GOP budget raises cigarette tax while funding some of Holcomb’s wish list
Raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack would help pay for Medicaid spending and tobacco-cessation programs—and would help patch the $300 million annual hole in the budget created by the House’s road-funding plan.
Indiana Senate votes to override two Pence vetoes
The Indiana Senate has followed the House’s lead and voted to override two bills that former Gov. Mike Pence vetoed last year. The Senate’s votes Tuesday mean the bills become law.
Pick for Medicare post faces questions on Indiana contracts
A review by The Associated Press found Seema Verma and her small Indianapolis-based firm made millions through consulting agreements with at least nine states while also working under contract for Hewlett Packard.
‘Bottoms Up’ beer-dispenser maker faces tax-break termination
The Metropolitan Development Commission is slated to vote Wednesday to terminate a tax-abatement agreement with Indianapolis-based GrinOn Industries LLC, makers of the “Bottoms Up” beer-dispensing system, which fills cups from the bottom.
Gun licensing legislation sent to summer study committee
An Indiana House committee voted Tuesday to create a special summer committee to study the possibility of repealing an Indiana law requiring people to get a license before carrying a handgun.
S&P threatens to downgrade Indiana school debt
Citing concern about a state statute governing debt repayment, Standard & Poor’s said that it has placed a 90-day watch on the rating for loans to all Indiana school districts.
DuPont, spinoff to pay $671M in chemical leak case
More than 3,500 federal and state lawsuits allege that the DuPont Co. Washington Works plant, near Parkersburg, West Virginia, had dumped perfluorooctanoic acid into the Ohio River.
House pre-K proposal draws backlash for voucher language
Tying an expansion of Indiana’s pre-school program to its more politically touchy voucher system has drawn criticism from House Democrats, pre-K advocates and even some Republicans.
Audit: Anderson police department misplaces $16.2K in 2015
The state audit says the department didn’t have sufficient internal policies to ensure funds used for confidential drug buys were secure from loss.
Hogsett leads rally against Trump immigration orders
Mayor Joe Hogsett on Sunday said Indianapolis welcomes all immigrants, refugees and marginalized people, but he stopped short of declaring the capital to be a sanctuary city.
State seeks new funding for Pence’s bicentennial projects
The dilemma comes after Gov. Eric Holcomb said Thursday he would terminate a tentative deal to lease the state’s cellphone towers for potentially $260 million over 50 years.
Fountain Square eatery temporarily closed by state
The Asian restaurant that’s been closed since Feb. 1 isn’t set to reopen until Feb. 15, allegedly due to violating state tax code, according to a sign on the door.
From ISTEP to ILearn: GOP test plan clears first legislative hurdle
A proposal to replace ISTEP won approval from Indiana’s House Education Committee on Thursday, putting what is likely another nail in the deeply unpopular exam’s coffin.
IHPC administrator more than ‘hired help’
For 30 of the commission’s 50 years of existence, David Baker has been a powerful but low-profile force in saving some of the city’s oldest structures from demolition.
Widely supported work-sharing bill dumped—again
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce, organized labor groups and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have for years pushed the Legislature to implement a work-sharing program.
Grant in limbo adds doubt to key transit vote
Federal inaction on a $75 million grant IndyGo is counting on to help fund a planned rapid-transit bus line is complicating a City-County Council decision about a transit tax increase.
Dying patients have Pence’s backing on ‘right to try’ policy
Vice President Mike Pence may have just picked another fight with pharmaceutical companies—one that doesn’t involve drug prices.
Big utilities try to tilt solar energy market in their favor
On Thursday, Indiana legislators will begin debating a proposed law that could eventually eliminate much of the financial benefit Indiana homeowners, businesses and even some churches currently reap harvesting the sun's rays.
Contamination at former Coca-Cola plant site extends into neighborhood
The developer who is planning a $260 million redevelopment of the downtown property says a contaminant has seeped into the adjacent Chatham Arch area.