Holcomb to bring measuring stick to State of State address
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in his Tuesday evening speech plans to lay out benchmark goals in key priority areas—especially in workforce development.
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Senate committee to take up cold beer, Sunday sales bills
Sen. Ron Alting said the Sunday sales measure will be heard Wednesday. He also has scheduled a hearing for Jan. 17 on a bill that would allow convenience and big-box stores to sell cold beer.
Influential GOP lawmaker calls for medical marijuana study
One of the most powerful Republicans in the Indiana House of Representatives says the Legislature should study the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana.
Longtime Indiana Statehouse leader to retire
Rep. Bill Friend of Macy, the speaker pro tempore, said he will finish out his term, but won't run again in 2018.
Indiana House GOP wants small townships to consolidate
Nearly a third of Indiana's 1,005 townships would be consolidated with others under a plan proposed by House Republicans.
Key lawmakers, governor skeptical about chance for redistricting reform this year
Despite strong support from influential Republicans and fired-up grassroots activists, redistricting reform legislation faces several significant hurdles in the short session.
Tax, education, broadband bills top legislative priorities for tech industry
Gov. Eric Holcomb is asking lawmakers to clarify that the state’s sales tax doesn’t apply to software provided on the cloud. But that’s not the only tech-related legislation introduced at the General Assembly.
Democratic leader questions GOP ‘secrecy’ on child agency
Statehouse Democrats say they are troubled by Republican "secrecy" as Gov. Eric Holcomb and the GOP majority scramble to contain fallout from a burgeoning crisis in Indiana's child welfare agency.
Indianapolis-area counties see big surge in early property tax payments
Thousands of residents in central Indiana pre-paid their property tax bills before Jan. 1, resulting in more than $31 million in early payments, according to research by IBJ. The early payments marked a significant increase for most areas.
Ivy Tech hopes to double degree output, increase enrollment
Ivy Tech Community College has a five-year goal to grow enrollment by more than 25 percent and more than double the number of degrees and certificates it awards each year.
Indiana bill would tap savings to fix $11.8M school-funding shortfall
Indiana lawmakers have a proposal to shuffle state money around to cover an $11.8 million shortfall in school funding that emerged late last year.
Long-serving House Democrat won’t seek re-election
Rep. Linda Lawson of Hammond says the climate in the Legislature has become “toxic” with Republicans holding large majorities in recent years and ignoring Democrats.
Tech startup SnapShyft to hire 20 employees this year
Founded in 2016, the Indianapolis-based company created an app that matches food-service establishments with professionals seeking work.
Judge orders IBM to post $25M bond in Indiana welfare case
IBM Corp. must the bond as it appeals a $78 million judgment in a long-running case that stems from the company’s failed effort to automate much of Indiana’s welfare services, a judge has ruled.
Indiana GOP lawmakers don’t plan to act on child services crisis
The two most powerful Republicans in the Indiana Legislature said they do not plan to take major action to address a growing crisis in the Department of Child Services during this year's session, which kicked off Wednesday.
Health, business coalition seeks to repeal ‘smoker’s bill of rights’
An alliance of doctors, hospitals, insurers and employers wants to roll back a 27-year-old Indiana law that prohibits employers from screening job candidates for tobacco use.
Return of medical-device tax dismays firms across state
The medical-device industry will see a resumption of the 2.3 percent federal excise tax beginning this month, following a two-year moratorium that expired Dec. 31.
Indiana lawmakers return for possibly contentious session
The General Assembly could be an intense 10 weeks dominated by pet issues, social issues, and an effort to repeal Indiana’s prohibition-era ban on retail Sunday alcohol sales.
Bill seeks tax credits for boosting minimum-wage worker pay
State Sen. John Ruckelshaus has introduced a bill that would provide a state tax credit to employers that give minimum-wage workers a pay raise after they complete a training program.
Federal court agrees to hear Monarch affiliate’s case
The decision gives new life to efforts by Monarch, the state’s largest beer and wine distributor, to sell liquor in Indiana—efforts that have been shot down repeatedly by the Legislature and have led to several other lawsuits.