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.
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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.
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.”
House panel votes to reverse Indianapolis-area ban on light rail
A proposal to reverse the ban that has precluded Marion County and surrounding suburbs from building or acquiring a light-rail mass-transit project passed an Indiana House committee Wednesday.
Judge blocks big Chatham Arch housing-retail project over zoning issue
A Marion Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of a neighborhood resident, who fought the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission’s decision to give the project the green light.
Hogsett says Amazon bid focuses more on quality of life than sites, incentives
The mayor also told IBJ that the city is “prepared to look at anything and everything” that would help it secure Amazon’s planned second U.S. headquarters—as long as any action is fiscally prudent.
Bosma says Legislature might move on Amazon incentives this session
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said lawmakers could move an incentives bill “expeditiously” to attract Amazon’s proposed second headquarters, if necessary, but he wouldn’t be in favor of doing what Wisconsin did to lure Foxconn.
Council panel OKs spending $55M for some justice center construction costs
The same proposal also authorizes the city to spend $4.2 million for the acquisition of 140 acres of land from Citizens Energy Group as the site for the new jail, courthouses and mental health center.
Carmel works to balance short-term rental rights, concerns
The Indianapolis suburb has adopted rules on short-term home rental services like Airbnb as state lawmakers are again considering whether to ban such local regulations.
After ‘coup,’ new council president increases GOP power despite Democratic control
Republican Minority Leader Mike McQuillen said the decision by the council’s president, Stephen Clay, showed “we’ve basically seen the Democratic caucus fall apart in some regards.”
Special prosecutor to handle child molestation charges against Jeff Miller
The Republican council member had requested a special prosecutor because Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry, a Democrat, had donated to Miller’s political opponent, Emily Shrock, in the last election. Shrock also formerly worked in the prosecutor’s office.
Indy council president Lewis ousted in ‘coup’ by pastor facing sexual misconduct allegation
Five Democrats joined nine Republicans on the council to propel Stephen Clay over the finish line for the body’s top leadership post.
Area residents rush to prepay property taxes to try to secure deduction
But it’s unclear whether some of the people prepaying will actually be able to claim the deduction, as the IRS has issued guidance that limits what qualifies.
Tax overhaul could mean fallout for state, local governments
The big changes in the federal tax code aren’t happening in a vacuum. They will force officials in most states to decide whether to apply similar changes, while some residents ponder whether they now might be better off living somewhere else.
Indy, other cities possess 2 worlds: one violent, another prosperous
Slayings in Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are becoming concentrated into small areas where people are dying at a pace not seen in years, if ever. Around them, much of the rest of the city is growing more peaceful, even as the total number of homicides rises.
Broad Ripple project to get $2.7M boost from city bonds
The developer-backed bonds will support a 87-unit, $18.9 million mixed-use apartment building that’s been in the works for about two years.
Jeff Miller expelled from Indy council GOP caucus
Miller has been charged with three felony counts of child molestation. However, he has been adamant about remaining on the council.
Anderson settles lawsuit by eight workers fired by mayor in 2012
The former employees said they were illegally dismissed by then-Mayor Kevin Smith's administration because they supported his Democratic opponent in the 2011 election.
City agrees to pay $4.2M for land to build justice center
The city of Indianapolis has taken a major step toward building the $572 million criminal justice center in Twin-Aire neighborhood where the Citizens Energy coke plant once stood.
City rolls out community match program for infrastructure projects
Mayor Joe Hogsett on Thursday announced a new public-private partnership program that will award up to $4 million next year in matching funds to community organizations for certain infrastructure projects.