Bill to regulate autonomous vehicle use moves forward
House Bill 1341 allows people to operate automated vehicles on public highways but only under certain conditions. Critics, including auto manufacturers, said the bill would stifle innovation.
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Ex-Indiana child services director hired by attorney general
Former Indiana Department of Child Services Director Mary Beth Bonaventura plans to join the Indiana Attorney General’s Office as special counsel Monday, a move that comes about a month after she resigned from her DCS post.
City rolls out community match program for infrastructure projects
Mayor Joe Hogsett on Thursday announced a new public-private partnership program that will award up to $4 million next year in matching funds to community organizations for certain infrastructure projects.
Food insecurity, hunger vex large swath of Indianapolis residents
Nearly 175,000 food-insecure people live in the city. About 47,000 of them are children, whose ability to learn and thrive can be hampered, according to panelists at a local hunger summit on Friday.
Trump considers former Lilly exec for HHS post
Before joining Eli Lilly and Co., Alex Azar served as the general counsel and deputy secretary of Health and Human Services Administration under President George Bush.
Neighborhood effort Lift Indy launches with $4.5M investment
The Monon16 area on the near-north side is the first to be selected as part of Lift Indy, designed to deliver concentrated doses of federal community development funds.
Lawrence utility bond rating increases after years of struggle
Ratings agency Standard and Poor’s recently upgraded the rating on the city of Lawrence’s waterworks utility revenue and refunding debt—a move officials say could eventually save taxpayers money.
Former DWD chief used ex-colleagues to build key data tool
Steve Braun says Inquidia Consulting was uniquely qualified to help create the state’s groundbreaking “Demand Driven Workforce System,” which will influence how millions of dollars in training and education money is spent.
City launches ‘Street Reach’ effort to help homeless, curb panhandling
Central to the campaign is a new full-time manager who will focus on business engagement and connecting homeless individuals to housing and addiction treatment options.
Council to vote on spending $14M for roads, bridges, streetlights
The spending is possible due to the state’s decision to raise the gas tax this year and its decision last year to return county option income tax revenue to cities.
City to steer $500K into grocery development in low-income areas
The Hogsett administration plans to use federal grant funding to stimulate the development of one or more grocery stores and help eliminate food deserts.
Indianapolis tries to halt Carmel’s 96th Street roundabout plan
In a lawsuit filed this month in Marion Superior Court, Indianapolis claims its northern neighbor is encroaching on the city’s corporate boundary. The seven-page complaint is seeking a preliminary injunction preventing Carmel from continuing with plans to build four roundabouts.
Indy looks to data to find ‘smart’ answers to big problems
The city is using data to try to predict crime before it happens and solve problems with food deserts and prevent water main breaks.
Holcomb vetoes public records search-fee bill
In his only veto so far this Legislative session, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb shot down a bill that would have allowed public agencies to charge a fee if a public records request took longer than two hours to complete.
Lawmakers pass budget with investments in education, entrepreneurism
The final version of the bill eschews a proposed $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. But it includes many of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s priorities.
House Republicans’ road plan includes gas-tax increase, user fees
The proposal calls to raise three taxes and implement new user fees. House Speaker Brian Bosma said he expects the plan to cost most Hoosiers about $4 per month.
City shifts approach to homeless services, lands $5M in federal funding
Advocates last year described funding cuts from the federal government as a “self-inflicted” wound. This year Mayor Joe Hogsett’s team is celebrating a funding increase.
Critics decry Pence team for letting state fair stage collapse rule expire
Regulators had more than three years to approve permanent rules establishing stricter design and construction requirements for outdoor event equipment but did not do so before the emergency rules expired this year.
2016 TOP STORIES: Dramatic year sends Pence to D.C., Republicans to Statehouse
Donald Trump’s big victory in Indiana means his running mate Mike Pence will be vice president. It also swept Eric Holcomb into the governor’s office and Todd Young into the U.S. Senate.
City-County Council votes to expand downtown TIF district
Council members voted 24-1 to include in the TIF district the former General Motors stamping plant property and the Market East District.