City planning division takes budget hit, cuts five staffers
Indianapolis will rely more on public-private partnerships to hammer out long-term goals for neighborhoods, after laying off half its long-range planning staff.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Sides speak out in hearing over so-called ag-gag bill
The debate before the Economic Development Study Committee comes five months after House Speaker Brian Bosma killed a bill that would have made it a crime to secretly shoot photos or video on private property with the goal of harming a business.
Pence balances party makeup on state education board
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is adding an Indianapolis Democrat to the State Board of Education following questions over whether the group had too many Republicans.
Postal Service seeks increase in cost of stamps, to 49 cents
The postal Board of Governors said Wednesday it wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents, citing the agency's "precarious financial condition" and the uncertain prospects for postal overhaul legislation in Congress.
Insurance rates set for Indiana, other states under exchanges
With new health insurance markets launching next week, the Obama administration is unveiling premiums for 36 states, including Indiana, where the federal government is taking the lead to cover uninsured residents.
Democrats, labor question Indiana pension change
Democratic lawmakers and labor unions representing public employees continued their push Monday against a change in how public workers invest a chunk of their savings.
Insurance broker growth part of Fort Wayne project
An insurance brokerage will relocate its Fort Wayne headquarters to a new $71 million downtown mixed-use project and create 115 jobs by 2017, Mayor Tom Henry said Monday.
City-County Council, Ballard still split on budget
The Indianapolis City-County Council approved one piece of Mayor Greg Ballard’s budget proposal Monday night, but they’re no closer to agreement on the whole $1 billion spending plan.
Indy council Democrats pitch budget alternative
City-County Council Democrats are pitching a 2014 budget alternative that would close an $8-million gap left by the majority party's refusal to go along with Mayor Greg Ballard on eliminating the homestead tax credit.
State’s longest-serving female representative dies
Phyllis Pond of New Haven was a retired kindergarten teacher first elected to her Fort Wayne-area district in 1978. The 82-year-old's legislative work included pushing measures that reduced class sizes throughout the state and helped minority students attend law school.
Law prompts some schools to end open enrollment
A new Indiana law that prevents public schools from turning away transfer students with poor grades or disciplinary problems has prompted some districts to end their open enrollment policies.
Urban farmer battles to keep chickens in Muncie
A woman fighting a city ordinance that bans chickens in residential areas says her little farm enables her to provide for her family.
House votes to derail Obamacare through funding cut
The GOP-controlled House voted Friday to cripple President Barack Obama's health care law as part of a risky ploy that threatens a government shutdown in a week and a half.
GE dropped planned investment in Bloomington factory
A GE Appliances spokeswoman says a $161 million investment announced three years ago was never made at a southern Indiana refrigerator factory where 160 jobs are now being cut.
Anderson leaders work to make most of gateways
A group of Anderson business and civic leaders is focusing on ways to change perceptions of those traveling into the city by improving interstate entrances.
Pilots heap praise on state lawmakers
Indiana aviators are still celebrating two tax breaks created in the 2013 legislative session, one eliminating a sales tax on parts and repairs and a restructuring of the fuel tax that translates to hundreds in savings per fill-up.
Central Indiana mayor traveling to Italy to lure business
Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith said he'll meet with executives from five manufacturing companies near the city of Milan during the trip that starts Saturday.
Fishers plans new development on train-station site
Incentive deals are on the table to keep two high-potential businesses in Fishers, and the town is poised to pull the trigger on redevelopment of the Fishers Train Station property—where one of the firms could occupy third-floor office space.
City votes to end tax break for tech staffing firm
The Metropolitan Development Commission voted Wednesday to cancel a tax abatement for Indianapolis-based tech staffing firm BCForward, since it didn’t hit job-creation targets laid out in a 2009 economic development agreement.
Biofuel fraud case shines light on Imperial CEO
Federal prosecutors say Jeffrey Wilson did not initially know about a fraud scheme in Imperial Petroleum’s new subsidiary, E-Biofuels, but allowed the deception to continue once he did, costing investors tens of millions of dollars.