UPDATE: Panel approves Pence’s balanced budget amendment
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's request for a proposed balanced budget constitutional amendment has cleared a legislative committee after first hitting a bump.
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UPDATE: Senate panel approves repeal of construction wage law
Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee members voted 8-5 Tuesday to support eliminating the boards that establish construction wages for each state or local project.
Bill opening adoption records access stalls in Indiana House
A proposal that would have expanded Indiana adoptees' access to more than 50 years of sealed records appears to be dead this session, to the disappointment of some advocates.
Indiana ports commissioner quits over common wage law flap
A Republican member of the Indiana Ports Commission says he's resigning in protest of Gov. Mike Pence's support for a GOP-backed effort to repeal the law that sets wages for public construction projects.
Indiana insurance marketplace failing smokers
The American Lung Association says Indiana's health insurance marketplace is failing to provide all the coverage it should to help people quit smoking under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Groups aim to further expand gay rights at state level
Gay rights advocates are hoping to parlay the momentum from their legislative victories in Indiana and Arkansas this week into further expanding legal protections for gays and lesbians in those states and others.
Low 2014 voter turnout highlights challenges in Indiana
Indiana's record-low voting turnout in the 2014 election reflects challenges with midterm elections and raises scrutiny of how states register their voters, a new report says.
Religious freedom fight over gay marriage will persist
Conservative faith leaders who have made religious liberty a rallying cry as gay marriage spread throughout the states have been stunned by Indiana's abrupt retreat from a law some advocates said would protect objectors from recognizing the unions.
RFRA controversy complicates tech recruiting efforts
Tech leaders say the religious freedom law has been a burdensome headwind over the past week, making job discussions longer than necessary and injecting unease in the minds of some candidates.
Some argue RFRA revision is too much, or not enough
While many hailed the revisions to the state’s new “religious freedom” law as a salve for the wounds suffered by the state after its passage, neither religious conservatives nor gay rights activists are satisfied.
Answers to common questions about religious objections bills
Arkansas and Indiana leaders have agreed to modify new state laws that were billed as protecting religious freedom but drew criticism from across the country as opening the door to anti-gay discrimination.
Emmert’s stance puts the NCAA on offense for a change
The NCAA president, who famously ended his debacle of a Final Four news conference two years ago with, "I'm still standing. I know you're disappointed," has been striking a much different tone this year.
Pence approves revision to RFRA after national furor
The revised legislation prohibits providers from using the law as a legal defense for refusing to provide services, goods, facilities or accommodations. Legislators hammered out the change after critics claimed the “religious freedom” law could be used to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Doctors, nurses flock to Indiana Healthy Indiana Plan
The number of health care providers contracted with the Medicaid managed care plans and Healthy Indiana Patients surged 17 percent in just seven weeks after the federal government approved Gov. Mike Pence’s expansion of the Healthy Indiana Plan on Jan. 27.
Lawmakers approve revisions to RFRA, pass to Pence
Indiana lawmakers have approved changes to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to address charges that it could allow discrimination against lesbians and gays. Gov. Mike Pence has not indicated whether he’ll sign it.
Michigan governor warns he’ll veto RFRA legislation
The Republican for months has expressed skepticism with a proposed state-level Religious Freedom Restoration Act if there is no accompanying measure with gay protections.
NCAA in ‘wait and see’ mode on RFRA revision
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday the association spoke with lawmakers and the governor of Indiana about how best to revise the state’s new religious objections law.
Proposed RFRA amendment draws mostly positive response
Eli Lilly, Cummins, Anthem, Indiana University Health, Dow Agro, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce said they were encouraged by the new legislation. Angie’s List, however, said it wasn’t enough.
Cumberland mounts last-ditch effort to save church
Town officials have contacted more than 50 developers to gauge their interest in saving the century-old building, which is in danger of being demolished to make way for a service station.
Salesforce CEO: ‘This isn’t about politics; it’s about economics’
In an interview with IBJ, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said he was bullish on Indiana until the religious freedom law passed, and he’s encouraged by proposed changes being made at the Statehouse.