Legislators in no rush to fix local judge selection process
Marion County’s unique power-sharing judicial-election system won’t be fixed anytime soon, even though a federal judge has ruled the four-decade-old system is unconstitutional.
Legislation
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Legislators need stricter disclosure rules, advocate tells panel
Indiana legislators need to be more transparent about conflicts of interest and should never lobby for issues that could impact their finances, an open-government advocate said Monday.
Indiana Dems criticize GOP legislative agenda
Indiana House Democrats haven’t yet released their own caucus agenda, but that isn’t stopping them from attacking a legislative priority list issued by Republicans.
House GOP wants to rewrite state school-funding formula
Indiana House Republicans say they will work in 2015 to boost money for public schools and rewrite the formula that distributes those dollars to try to reduce the gap between the state’s highest and lowest funded districts.
Hamilton County communities battle tax appeals
Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville are trying to head off appeals that cause tax revenue to come in lower than expected, especially for projects within tax-increment-financing districts.
Legislators to reconsider aid for struggling casinos
Indiana legislators were lukewarm to assistance for casinos in 2013, but two years of declining revenue and new leadership on the issue could change their minds.
State needs better water management, report says
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce warns that demand for water from businesses and residents could outstrip the available supply in coming decades.
Second judge declares right-to-work law unconstitutional
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said Wednesday that he will ask for a stay to prevent the decision from taking effect immediately. A similar case is already pending before the Indiana Supreme Court.
Prosecutors: Expungement law has good, bad sides
An Indiana law allowing some criminals to have their records expunged is drawing mixed reviews from judges and attorneys, who say parts of the law don't make sense.
Ag-gag laws facing federal court challenges
The years-long fight between farm organizations and animal rights activists over laws prohibiting secretly filmed documentation of animal abuse is moving from state legislatures to federal courts as laws in Utah and Idaho face constitutional challenges.
State to scope downtown block for new offices, parking
The Office of Management and Budget will study a state-owned parcel just north of the Statehouse, potentially to house the judiciary and provide more legislative office space.
State firms up crowdfunding rules for businesses
Indiana firms can use the Internet to raise up to $2 million in a single securities offering, and Hoosiers can invest up to $5,000 each online, according to new state rules.
New state incentives to keep quality students lack funding
A plan to keep top-performing students home in Indiana after they graduate from college passed the General Assembly unanimously earlier this year, but it could face trouble as lawmakers decide how to fund it.
Lawmakers approve fixes to criminal sentencing
The General Assembly met Tuesday for its first "technical corrections day" — a special one-day meeting with limits placed on it so lawmakers do not have to do a full-blown "special session."
Senators: Administration must support biodiesel
The Obama administration is considering changes that would significantly reduce the required amount of biodiesel in the United States. Industry groups, farm state lawmakers and others have called on the administration to reconsider.
Council OKs smoke-detector ordinance, road repair funds
The Indianapolis City-County Council voted 24-5 Monday night to update the city code on smoke detectors. It also voted 24-5 to spend $8.3 million from the Rebuild Indy fund on emergency road repairs.
Turner skips hearing, documents claim no misdeeds
Indiana House Speaker Pro Tem Eric Turner missed an ethics review Wednesday but claimed in filings submitted to the panel that he did nothing wrong when he fought legislation that could have cost him millions of dollars.
Ethics panel set to review Turner lobbying situation
The Indiana House Ethics Committee on Wednesday will review the actions of a senior lawmaker who worked in private to block legislation that would have cost his family's company millions of dollars.
Turner case tests bounds of ‘citizen legislature’
Lacking black-and-white guidelines on Eric Turner's actions, the members of the House Ethics Committee will have to examine shades of gray in deciding which conflicts of interest are acceptable and which ones go too far.
Education officials release draft of academic standards
The proposed standards for grades K-12 combine elements of Common Core, previous Indiana guidelines and recommendations from outside organizations. State law requires standards be approved before July 1 for use in the 2014-15 school year.