Educators say cuts to ISTEP test times not enough
Indiana school administrators say they welcome efforts to shorten the standardized test that 450,000 students soon will begin taking, but they say the exam will still take too long.
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Ritz addresses speculation on possible gubernatorial bid
State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz, who has been at loggerheads with Gov. Mike Pence for most of his first term, isn’t ruling it out.
U.S. sent 800,000 Healthcare.gov customers wrong tax info
The Obama administration says it sent about 800,000 HealthCare.gov customers the wrong tax information, and officials are asking those consumers to delay filing their 2014 taxes.
Conservative groups oppose Indiana net metering bill
Like Common Core to the education world, the utility issue of net metering is drawing opposition from conservative groups with a libertarian bent.
Feds award indiana $11.8M for home visits program
The funds will support home visits by nurses and others to check on low-income pregnant women and those with young children.
Governors could signal presidential intentions at confab
Mike Pence and other pols will be scrutinized this weekend at the National Governors Association meeting for signs they want to be part of the 2016 conversation.
House rejects changes to Sunday alcohol sales bill
An effort to dial back proposed restrictions on grocery, convenience and drug stores in a bill that would legalize Sunday carryout alcohol sales was narrowly defeated Thursday in the Indiana House.
New Indy transit center balances utility, dignity, design
The team charged with designing and engineering downtown’s $20 million transit center—which has begun to emerge south of Washington Street between Delaware and Alabama streets—took on three core challenges.
UPDATE: Local tax overhaul added to bill allowing casino changes
Local economic agreements between the state’s casinos and local communities would be scrapped and the admissions tax that provides revenue to local governments eliminated.
Elwood mayor to resign following police investigation
Elwood Mayor Ron Arnold is expected to step down March 27 as leader of the Madison County city about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
Indiana House committee passes bio-cremation measure
A measure that would legalize the chemical disposal of human bodies has passed an Indiana House committee, but a similar measure has died in an Indiana Senate committee.
Bill that trims funding to shrinking districts advances
The changes, combined with declining enrollments in a number of schools, mean that 91 of the state’s 289 traditional districts would receive less overall funding in 2016 than this year.
Vaping retailers face regulation under advancing bill
Indiana is one step closer to placing regulations on e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes and vapor pens after a House committee passed a bill on Wednesday, sending it to the full House for debate.
Bill that riles solar industry passes House committee
A controversial bill to change the guidelines governing Hoosiers using alternative energy sources – including solar and wind power – passed a House Committee on Wednesday.
Senate panel quickly advances religious freedom bill
Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee Brent Steele said he had warned members they needed to be on time for a meeting during which the panel advanced a proposed religious freedom law.
Bill advances to remove Interstate 69 route restriction
Indiana legislators have advanced a bill that would lift a state law restricting the route for the final leg of the Interstate 69 extension near Indianapolis.
Senate OKs bill allowing board to vote for leader
The move most likely would result in Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, being removed from the position.
UPDATE: House panel backs repeal of public projects wage law
The Republican-controlled House Labor Committee voted 8-4 Tuesday in favor of eliminating the boards that set construction wages for each state or local project costing more than $350,000.
Senate panel backs bill dealing with big-box store values
The Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously supported a bill requiring certain special-purpose properties to be assessed based on the cost of construction for the first seven years.
House panel backs moves to shorten student testing time
The House Education Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to advance a bill permitting some steps that Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz proposed last week.