Veteran state senator Rogers announces retirement
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, announced Tuesday that she has decided to retire after serving 26 years in the state Senate and eight years in the House.
Government
Articles
Indiana GOP picks Conexus executive as director
David Buskill, an Indianapolis political consultant and fundraiser, has been named executive director of the Indiana Republican Party.
Senate GOP to press road funding, malpractice reform, drug sentences
The legislative priorities for Indiana Senate Republicans include $418 million to improve local roads, another $42 million for the Regional Cities program, and protecting educators from negative impacts of ISTEP.
Three GOP Senate hopefuls agree to debate
Fourth District Republican Chairman Craig Dunn announced that candidates Eric Holcomb, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young have confirmed they’ll participate in the Jan. 16 debate at a Kokomo restaurant.
Carmel City Council votes to change city to second-class status
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard wasted no time Monday night upgrading the city to second-class status with the approval of the newly elected Carmel City Council.
Pence signs on to Ritz approach to ‘pause’ sanctions
Democrats and Republicans are backing a proposal expected to be considered by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill proposes schools may not receive a lower grade for 2015 than they received in 2014.
Pence releases legislative agenda for education, jobs, roads
On the eve of the 2016 legislative session, the governor released a list of bills that doesn’t include proposals to expand civil rights protections to people who are gay or transgender.
Pence out-raises Gregg in 2015
The governor is sitting on about $6.8 million cash on hand as the election year begins compared to his Democratic challenger’s $3.5 million in cash.
New rule extends life cycle of Indiana license plates
The state's license plates will be redesigned and replaced every seven years, rather than every five years. The new rule took effect Friday.
Vaping industry sues state over new regulations
Manufacturers and distributors of e-liquid claim the Indiana law is unconstitutional because it regulates products used in vaping devices but not e-cigarettes.
Pence, House GOP not on same page as lawmakers return
A lack of consensus among Republicans on several issues—including questions about gay rights, transportation funding and ISTEP testing—looms large as lawmakers ready for the 2016 legislative session, which kicks off Tuesday.
Hogsett takes office, appoints key staffers
New Mayor Joe Hogsett picks the Indy Chamber’s Angela Smith Jones to be deputy mayor for economic development and taps his campaign manager, Thomas Cook, to be his chief of staff.
IBJ’s most-read stories of 2015
Despite national attention paid to RFRA and Jared Fogle, most of IBJ’s top-read online stories this year were the result of deeply sourced reporting on people, issues and businesses specific to central Indiana.
Indiana adoption advocates optimistic about legislation
The leader of an advocacy group for Indiana adoptees says there’s a good shot that state lawmakers will endorse a bill to expand access to sealed adoption records.
Judge limits discovery Pence sought in Syrian refugee case
A federal judge has signaled unwillingness to permit wide-ranging discovery that the administration of Gov. Mike Pence sought as it continues to oppose a charity’s resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana.
WEIDENBENER: Lawmaker’s bill aims to eradicate food deserts
Sen. Randy Head, R-Logansport, has modeled his legislation after a program in Pennsylvania that, over a decade, funded 93 projects that are providing more than 400,000 people with access to healthier food. However, Pennsylvania committed $30 million to the project and private investors offered another $145 million. The Indiana proposal would only earmark $1 million to the effort.
Water bills would rise under Citizens rate settlement
The average bill for Citizens Energy’s residential customers in the Indy metro area would jump from about $30 per month to $35.
Michigan’s minimum wage rising to $8.50 an hour
Michigan workers making the minimum wage will see a 35-cents-an-hour raise starting Friday. Indiana’s minimum wage will remain $7.25 per hour.
Ballard wrapping up 8 years as Indianapolis mayor
Greg Ballard, 61, ends eight years as Indianapolis mayor on Thursday, capping a period during which he oversaw the city’s hosting of the Super Bowl while also struggling with violent crime problems.
Indianapolis ends curb-side Christmas tree pickup
The city of Indianapolis tried curb-side pickup of Christmas trees last season, but it's going back to asking residents to resume dropping trees off at city parks.