State receives nearly $2.4 billion from stimulus
Indiana has received nearly $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money and has spent nearly $780 million so far, according to
preliminary data released Thursday.
Government
Articles
Consultant: Indianapolis water utility lax in overseeing Veolia
The city too often relied on the Department of Waterworks’ board, on consultants and on the private
operator, Veolia Water, rather than on the department’s own staff “to ensure safe and efficient
operation, maintenance and management” of Indianapolis Water. That’s one of several critical
findings of a consultant hired by the department and filed as part of a 35-percent rate-hike request
pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Funding cut jeopardizes popular Indiana Artisan program
A state-run program aimed at boosting business for local artisans—ranging from painters to syrup makers—and
turning them into a draw for tourists is in jeopardy because of dramatic funding cuts.
Assessing the stimulus in Indiana
The preliminary numbers are out on the effect of the $787 billion federal stimulus on Indiana.
Bloomington mayor to roll out chain-store ordinance for downtown
Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan believes this beloved college town loses a bit of its identity every time a national chain sets up shop.
Social Security makes it official: No raise in 2010
There will be no cost of living increase for more than 50 million Social Security recipients next year, the first year without
a raise since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975.
Tougher smoking ban passes committee
An ordinance that would prohibit lighting up in bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs, and nearby outdoor seating areas as well, was endorsed 4-2 by a City-County Council committee Wednesday night.
City strengthens building-permit process
The pre-permit review could add nearly three weeks to the current permitting process
Frequent GOP candidate Scott wants to face Carson
A Butler University professor who has run for Congress several times says he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge
Democratic Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis next year.
Taking Ostrom to Indiana forests
How rich that Elinor Ostrom, the Indiana University professor who won a Nobel prize for economics yesterday, got her nails
dirty researching how people in pockets of forests in undeveloped nations allocate their natural resources.
Stimulus spending likely helping teachers the most
Teachers appear to have benefited most from the effort to save jobs with the $787 billion recovery package, which sent billions
of dollars to states that were on the verge of ordering heavy layoffs in education.
Federal workers dodging layoffs
One of the best places to have waited out this recession was in federal government. Federal workers have pretty much gotten
a bye on pink slips at a time private sector employees have taken it on the chin.
West Lafayette delays switch to metered trash pickup
West Lafayette’s city council has delayed implementation of a new “pay as you throw” garbage collection system.
Stimulus to brighten city’s traffic lights
The bright lights of Indiana’s largest city are getting brighter—at hundreds of street intersections, anyway.
Green year for city hall, businesses
It’s been a year since Republican Mayor Greg Ballard launched the City’s Office of Sustainability. On Oct. 6,
Ballard and his sustainability director, Karen Haley, outlined accomplishments in the first year.
House OKs defense bill that funds Rolls Royce engine
Despite a vaguely worded veto threat by President Barack Obama, the House on Thursday easily adopted a major defense
policy bill that calls for continued development of a costly alternative engine for the Pentagon’s next-generation fighter
jet.
Daniels warns of more cuts amid revenue declines
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels warned Thursday morning that more state budget cuts could be forthcoming in light of a prolonged
drop in
tax collections. Indiana collected $3.3 billion in total revenue during the fiscal first quarter, 14 percent less than the
same period last year.
New jobless claims fall to lowest level since January
The number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits fell to the lowest level since early
January, as layoffs eased a bit amid a fledgling economic recovery.
Controversial downtown project to get tax abatement
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved a 10-year tax abatement Wednesday afternoon for a controversial
public-private plan to redevelop a vacant downtown office building.
Senate bill doesn’t fund Rolls-Royce jet engine
The measure holds potential bad news for Indianapolis engine maker Rolls-Royce because it does not contain funding for a key
jet engine the company produces, but lawmakers are expected to restore funding when the Senate and House combine bills into
a final version.