Pence signs Indiana ban on powdered alcohol into law
Indiana residents will be barred from purchasing, selling or using a powdered form of alcohol under a bill Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law.
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Deal allows inland moves for Indiana’s riverboat casinos
Lawmakers have approved a deal to allow Indiana's riverboat casinos to build on-land facilities, but live dealers won't be working table games anytime soon at the state's two horse track casinos.
Lawmakers pass bill that will let Ritz stay chair of education board
A bill passed Wednesday gives the State Board of Education more authority to oversee Indiana’s ISTEP program and a new grant program that gives more money to charter schools, while keeping Superintendent Glenda Ritz as chair until the next election.
Indy Eleven stadium bill dies as session nears close
A bill that would have funneled state money into a new or substantially renovated soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven has died in the legislative session's final hours.
Lawmakers reconsidering search fee for public records
House members have approved a proposal that would allow government agencies to charge a searching fee for record requests that take over two hours. After that time, they could charge up to $20 an hour.
Gambling, education, criminal justice bills still unresolved
Indiana lawmakers were still working late Tuesday to make deals on key bills about gambling, education and local criminal justice programs with just one day left in the 2015 legislative session.
Budget bans state archives building on Central Canal
The Pence administration would be banned from constructing a new, $25 million state archives building along the Central Canal in downtown Indianapolis under the budget bill lawmakers plan to approve Wednesday.
Budget deal means more for schools, less for roads
Most charter schools would get additional money, teachers would get a $100 tax credit and the governor’s regional cities initiative would be funded under a budget compromise the Indiana House and Senate reached Tuesday.
NFL relinquishing long-held tax-exempt status
In a letter to team owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league office and its management council will file returns as taxable entities for the 2015 fiscal year. Goodell said the NFL has been tax-exempt since 1942, though all 32 teams pay taxes on their income.
Indiana lawmakers send tougher ethics bill to Pence
Indiana legislators gave final approval Monday to a state ethics law overhaul that requires greater financial disclosure by lawmakers and expressly prohibits elected officials from using state resources for political purposes.
Lebanon power tool company plans $6.8M expansion
Lebanon-based tool manufacturing Festool USA on Monday announced plans to add 55 workers as part of a $6.8 million expansion.
Proposed change to education bill would allow Ritz to keep chair
Senate Republicans unveiled a proposal Monday to allow the Indiana State Board of Education to choose its own leader, but not until Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, completes her first term in office.
Indiana lawmakers enter final 3 days with unsettled issues
Indiana lawmakers are entering the final three days of this year’s legislative session with final decisions looming on the new state budget and some other difficult issues.
Pence planning May trade mission to China
Pence will travel with a delegation of Hoosier business leaders to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, Indiana’s Chinese sister-state. The delegation plans to leave May 9 and return May 16.
Pence picks longtime aide Lloyd to be communications chief
Matt Lloyd served as communications director on Mike Pence’s congressional staff for 10 years and as a senior advisor to his gubernatorial campaign.
Deal calls for special study of ISTEP exam’s future
Some senators had pushed a bill calling for replacement of the exam with an "off-the-shelf" test in hopes of saving millions of dollars. But House members favored keeping ISTEP in place while undertaking a special review of a possible overhaul.
Republicans eye more rules on Ritz, education board dealings
Indiana legislative leaders are considering steps to broaden the Republican-backed proposal aimed at allowing the state Board of Education to replace the state superintendent of public instruction—currently Democrat Glenda Ritz—as its leader.
Downtown TIF district awash in cash
The Indianapolis downtown TIF district is so flush with cash that the mayor can cover all its debt payments, fund two layers of reserves, and still have tens of millions to spend at his discretion.
Geofeedia mulling moving HQ here
Chicago-based Geofeedia opened an Indianapolis office last December, which now hosts 26 of its 45 employees. It recently committed to adding 336 more Indiana workers by 2020 in an economic development deal with the state.
Brainard, Sharp spar over calculating Carmel’s debt
The issue has been at the heart of the mayoral campaign in Carmel this year, with incumbent Jim Brainard and challenger and Carmel City Council President Rick Sharp consistently citing different numbers and sources.