Holcomb names new state budget director
Zachary Jackson, who has been deputy state budget director since 2013, took over the position as of Friday.
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Susan Brooks to step down from Congress after fourth term
The Republican lawmaker who represents Indiana’s 5th District said she wants to have more time to spend with friends and family.
Child services agency sees improvements year after critical report
Staff turnover is down, caseload sizes are dropping and the ratio of supervisors to case managers has improved in the year since an outside review found numerous shortcomings in the Indiana Department of Child Services.
First Merchants Bank settles federal lawsuit alleging redlining
According to the complaint, First Merchants “engaged in unlawful redlining in Indianapolis by intentionally avoiding predominantly African-American neighborhoods because of the race of the people living in those neighborhoods.”
Merritt accuses Hogsett of ‘fraud’ on effort to rehab or demolish 2,000 homes
State Sen. Jim Merritt, a Republican running against Mayor Joe Hogsett in this year’s mayoral election, accused Hogsett of “purposely inflating” the number of blighted properties his administration had “improved” in Indianapolis.
Indiana loses bid for USDA research agency offices
Indiana had been named a top-three finalist to become the new home of the USDA’s Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. But the USDA announced Thursday that it had selected the Kansas City region for the new location.
While Trump wages trade war, Pence tries to ease GOP anxiety
Vice President Mike Pence is on a quiet mission to advance the administration’s top legislative priority for the year—the troubled trade deal—and, with it, just maybe hold together a fraying Republican coalition.
Dems seek best option to challenge Holcomb
So far, three Democrats have publicly talked about the possibility of running for governor—state Rep. Karlee Macer, state Sen. Eddie Melton and former Anthem Inc. Chief Medical Officer Woody Myers.
City to unleash millions in tax credits for ‘signature’ projects
The city of Indianapolis is set to receive $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which it will use to finance high-impact projects in low-income or distressed areas.
City expands pilot program in reaction to Walmart closure
City of Indianapolis officials on Wednesday decided to add more stores to a yet-to-be-launched food-insecurity program after learning that a Walmart Neighborhood Market on the far-east side was preparing to close.
Indy 500 winner Simon Pagenaud relishes White House visit
Simon Pagenaud has been living in the United States long enough to know that in a time of revved-up partisanship, an invitation to the White House might come with some speed bumps. But the native of France didn’t hesitate to accept President Donald Trump's invitation.
Abuse, neglect in nursing facilities frequently unreported, study says
Nursing facilities have failed to report thousands of serious cases of potential neglect and abuse of seniors on Medicare even though it's a federal requirement for them to do so, according to a watchdog report released Wednesday.
Buttigieg lays out vision for foreign policy, climate change
Buttigieg used the nearly one-hour speech at Indiana University to address an issue his campaign says has not received the attention it deserves from the 2020 Democratic field.
Trump orders simpler path for genetically engineered food
The move comes as companies are turning to newer genetic engineering techniques that make it easier to tinker with the traits of plants and animals.
U.S. House mulls antitrust help for news industry
Members of both parties on Tuesday suggested legislation may be necessary for the financially struggling U.S. news industry as lawmakers began a bipartisan investigation into the market dominance of Silicon Valley companies.
Creation of TIF district in Old Southside approved by council panel
City officials said the area is primed for redevelopment, especially after being designated a Lift Indy neighborhood, which means the city will direct about $4 million in investments to the area over three years.
IBJ Podcast: It’s not your grandfather’s library system anymore
Host Mason King talks with Indianapolis Public Library CEO Jackie Nytes about the system’s construction spurt and how it will actually help the library better balance its budget. And Nytes also describes how the new buildings and renovations better support the needs of neighborhoods and the people who live there.
Holcomb administration pushes $1 billion tax hike for unemployment fund
The proposed 17% increase would bring the premiums paid by companies to a level recommended by the federal government, which is meant to prepare the unemployment fund for the next recession.
Pete Buttigieg’s high college debt draws attention to the issue
With loans totaling more than $130,000, the Hoosier presidential hopeful and his husband are among the 43 million people in the United States who owe federal student loan debt.
Trump’s threatened tariffs on hold after deal with Mexico
A joint declaration released by the State Department said the U.S. “will immediately expand” a program that returns asylum-seekers, while their claims are under review, to Mexico after they have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexico will “offer jobs, healthcare and education” to those people, according to the agreement.