State projects $435M less revenue in 2017 than previously expected
The long-term forecast was sunnier, with revenue projected to increase 2.9 percent in 2018 and 3.9 percent in 2019.
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Techies team with chamber to gain clout in Legislature
Organizers of the Indiana Tech & Innovation Council say a number of factors led to its creation, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that Gov. Mike Pence signed into law in 2015.
State won’t have enough cash to fulfill wish lists
Legislative leaders have sounded alarm bells over state revenue figures, saying lawmakers will need to take a cautious approach to investing in new programs such as expanding state-funded preschool and raising teacher pay.
Workforce training in disarray, House Speaker Bosma says
Are the state’s workforce development programs a muddled, bureaucratic mess in need of reform? A top Indiana Republican thinks so.
Indiana Senate leader commits to fixing vaping law
Recent legislation has had the effect of dramatically reducing the number of players in Indiana’s vaping and e-cigarette industry and creating a monopoly for a Lafayette security firm.
Indiana GOP leaders say funding for pre-K, roads are priorities
At Tuesday’s Organization Day, Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma called for lawmakers to move past a "rough" campaign season and refocus on the priorities of state government when the Legislature convenes in early January.
Gas, cigarette tax hikes on table again as lawmakers weigh road-funding options
House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday at the Indiana Chamber’s annual legislative preview event that he wanted funding for Indiana’s roads and bridges that would last for “a generation”—and the question now is how the Legislature will go about paying for it.
City council to get two new Republicans after members elected to higher office
Candidates already have come forward to take over Districts 24 and 25 now that Aaron Freeman and Jack Sandlin have won seats in the state senate.
Marian to capitalize on state scholarship, improve teacher training program
Marian University hopes to attract high-achieving students to its education program by sweetening the pot for those who earn a new state scholarship aimed at retaining teachers in Indiana.
Legislature poised to end Ivy Tech construction ban
Ivy Tech Community College’s new president, Sue Ellspermann, might have just given the school a much-needed political reboot.
AG seeks Supreme Court ruling in Monarch-related case
Attorney General Greg Zoeller said he will ask the Indiana Supreme Court to put on hold a lower court ruling that said the state must grant a wholesaler permit to Spirited Sales LLC, a company affiliated with Monarch Beverage that wants to sell liquor.
Democrats push to be relevant at Statehouse
Indiana Republicans are playing defense this year, as they try to guard their supermajorities in the Indiana General Assembly.
Attendance dip complicating Indy Eleven’s stadium quest
The Indy Eleven are succeeding on the field this year, but struggling to maintain their spot as North American Soccer League attendance leader. And serious concerns about the NASL’s future have emerged, casting an even bigger shadow over the local team.
Vaping bill sponsor admits ‘it did’ put people out of business
At an interim meeting of the Senate public policy committee, State Sen. Ron Alting said the law did create a monopoly and cause harm to small businesses. The law and circumstances of its passage are being probed by the FBI.
Cash-short cities mull new wheel-tax option
Indiana cities with a population of at least 10,000 are now allowed to impose an excise surtax and wheel tax to fund road projects and maintenance, under legislation passed this year.
Feds push back on states targeting Planned Parenthood funds
Indiana is among 13 Republican-led states seeking to prevent government money from going to Planned Parenthood.
New system for drawing Indiana’s political maps taking shape
Members of a special committee created to study redistricting have started discussing how an independent commission might create future legislative and congressional district maps.
Tesla would scale back Indiana operations under a legislative proposal
A Tesla executive said a proposal to prohibit direct-to-consumer auto sales would, if passed, prompt the company to make a U-turn with respect to expanding operations in the state.
State park director Mays-Medley recovering after aneurysm
Carolene Mays-Medley, a former state legislator and utility regulator, was rushed to a local hospital earlier this week.
Shortage of residency slots plugs doctor pipeline
A new state board is trying to grapple with how to handle the big shortage in medical residencies, which will grow even worse as the state graduates more and more doctors.