Indiana House approves bill to lift Indy-area ban on light rail
Lawmakers are reconsidering the ban with hopes of landing Amazon’s second North American headquarters.
Government
Articles
Indiana House Republicans kill bill to raise smoking age to 21
House Republicans justified the decision, stating that their calculations indicate the change would cost state government $14 million a year in lost cigarette tax revenue.
Push for hate crimes law fails again in Indiana Legislature
Indiana will remain one of just five states without a hate crimes law after a bill was sidelined in the Senate. Critics said the failure to pass such a law could hurt the state’s chances of landing Amazon’s planned second headquarters.
Council OKs $55M for initial justice center construction
The unanimous vote also gave approval for the city to spend $4.2 million to acquire 140 acres of land from Citizens Energy Group as the site for the new jail, courthouses and mental health center.
Indy Democrats take first steps to oust Clay as council president
Democrats acted to put the question of Stephen Clay’s removal as president to a vote at the next council meeting, in mid-February.
Eliminating handgun permit fee could shrink state revenue by $11M
Some Republicans have sought a full repeal of Indiana’s handgun permit law. Legislators compromised by proposing to eliminate the permit fee starting in July 2019.
House panel approves bill to raise state smoking age from 18 to 21
Lawmakers stripped a provision from the bill that would have boosted the cigarette tax from 99 cents a pack to $2.99.
Cities, states seek alternatives to corrosive salt for melting ice on roads
Experts suggest using beet juice, molasses, and even beer or cheese waste to make slick roads safer, in an effort to stop polluting fresh water sources with salty runoff.
FEIGENBAUM: Why firm, fair leadership matters at this point in session
Contrary to popular public belief, the session’s driving issue is not Sunday-alcohol or cold-beer sales expansion.
Mayor joins critics of downtown north-split interstate plan, seeks new options
Mayor Joe Hogsett is echoing the chorus of community leaders and downtown residents expressing concern with the state’s $250 million plan to revamp the I-70/I-65 interchange.
Donnelly’s war chest swells to $5.3M, getting help from top Democrats
Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly’s reelection campaign raised $1.2 million during the last three months of 2017. Prominent Democrats are hosting fundraisers and stumping for the vulnerable, red-state candidate.
Governor, key lawmaker differ on tech taxation exemptions
A House committee voted Thursday to fulfill half of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s request: It would exempt “software as a service” from sales tax for businesses, but individuals would have to pay a fare.
FedEx to give wage increases, bonuses to workers
The speedy package delivery giant is the 14th largest employer in Indiana with about 9,100 full-time workers.
Indiana House backs mandated training on sexual harassment
The Indiana House has voted to require training about sexual harassment for lawmakers.
Indiana House calls for study of medical marijuana
The resolution was approved Thursday without opposition and comes after 29 other states have passed laws allowing medical marijuana in some form.
House panel advances ‘hillbilly venture capital’ legislation
An Indiana House committee on Wednesday advanced a bill that the payday loan industry says would create a longer-term, higher-value loan for people who have such bad credit scores that they can’t be helped by regular banks.
Proposal toughens rules on Indiana abortion providers
A doctor who treats a woman for complications arising from an abortion would have to report detailed information about the patient to the state, under a bill approved by an Indiana Senate committee on Wednesday.
Senate confirms Azar as Trump’s new health secretary
President Donald Trump's second health secretary won Senate approval Wednesday, clearing the way for former Eli Lilly and Co. executive Alex Azar to take over a sprawling department shaken by his predecessor's early exit.
Indiana House panel dumps proposed handgun licensing repeal
Instead, the committee voted for an overhauled bill that keeps the current handgun licensing process while eliminating what is now a $100 fee for a lifetime permit.
Marion County to expand early voting, switch to vote centers in 2019
Marion County Clerk Myla Eldridge called the resolution “one of the most monumental bipartisan agreements achieved in the history of Marion County” and said it will “revolutionize how we vote.”