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.
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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.
Council to hear plan for stricter smoking ban
A proposal that would prevent smokers from lighting up in all indoor public places in Marion County is expected to meet fierce
resistance from bar owners who oppose a stricter smoking ban.
Bill extends jobless benefits in Indiana, 26 other states
With no end in sight to the country’s job market woes, the U.S. House has agreed to give the jobless in a majority of states,
including Indiana, another 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits.
FedEx trying to fend off reclassification of its workforce
FedEx brass have been trying to counter legislation pending in Congress being pushed by arch rival United Parcel Service
and the Teamsters union.
House bill puts state student-loan jobs in danger
The U.S. House of Representatives is nearing a vote to push private lenders out of the federal college loan business—a
move that could cost Indiana hundreds of jobs.
Groups take sides in debate over Sunday alcohol sales
Supporters and foes of repealing Indiana’s ban on Sunday take-out alcohol sales made their cases before a group of lawmakers yesterday in a preview of what could be a divisive debate in the next legislative session.
Westfield makes smoking illegal in most public places
The Westfield City Council passed a smoking ban 7-0 last night that will prohibit smoking in most public places, including
outdoor arenas, stadiums and amphitheaters.
EDITORIAL: Indiana’s Sunday booze ban should be tossed
Sunday is the second-busiest grocery-shopping day of the week in Indiana, but there’s one product Hoosiers aren’t
allowed to put in their shopping carts that day even though it’s perfectly legal the rest of the week. That’s
because an archaic blue law prohibits carryout liquor sales on Sundays.
Indiana expects jobless fund troubles until 2015
Indiana officials say it will take longer to resolve the state’s bankrupt unemployment insurance fund’s funding troubles
than projected when a law designed to start fixing the system was enacted in April.
Rokita proposes new plan for redistricting
Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita pitched a plan today that would make it illegal for lawmakers to consider political
data when redrawing congressional and legislative district maps.
Panel sets first meeting on jobless system
A new committee formed to provide oversight of Indiana’s unemployment insurance fund is set to hold its first meeting tomorrow.
Liquor stores fear push for Sunday alcohol sales
Some Indiana liquor store owners worry that a push to allow Sunday alcohol sales in the state could hurt their businesses
if lawmakers were also to permit grocery stores to sell cold beer.
Local panel to discuss climate bill’s possible business impact
A panel of energy and legal experts will gather tomorrow evening to discuss what the climate change bill now before Congress
could mean for Indiana businesses.
State law aims to attract doctors to areas in need of care
A state law that went into effect July 1 attempts to attract young physicians and mental health practitioners to underserved
areas by forgiving part of their student loans. But Indiana’s budget woes prevented lawmakers from allocating funds
to support the program.
MARCUS: Let’s reassess reassessment
The process of assessment could be simplified and performed uniformly and inexpensively.
General Assembly, governor bypass green reforms
Indiana environmental advocates had lots of disappointments this year regarding government reform efforts.
Consider progressive taxes
Put some progressivity into Indiana tax rates when passing the Indiana state budget.
Manufacturers to help pay for TV, computer recycling
The Indiana Recycling Coalition scored big in the just-concluded session of the Indiana General Assembly with the passage
of House Bill 1589, which requires that electronics manufacturers help pay for recycling of their old televisions and computer
monitors.
Interior designers win right to receive certification
Interior designers in Indiana, who have been pushing for the chance to become certified, finally got their wish.