Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s plan, funded largely with federal coronavirus relief, gives $33 million to traditional law enforcement efforts, $82 million toward community-led programming and $51.5 million toward “root cause” services like mental health care, hunger relief and workforce development.
The measure lays the groundwork for separate legislation later this year that over a decade would pour mountains of federal resources into Democrats’ top priorities, with much of it paid for with tax increases on the rich and corporations.
The new state budget adopted in April by the Republican-controlled General Assembly is awash in federal coronavirus relief money, allowing the state to give sizeable funding to projects that had for years been shelved and left out of spending plans.
Nearing decision time, senators are wrapping up work on the bipartisan infrastructure plan, and talks were under way late Thursday to expedite consideration and voting on the nearly $1 trillion proposal.
Only one day after the Biden administration issued a new policy protecting renters from eviction, a series of real estate and landlord groups is trying to invalidate it.
The bipartisan bill calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels, in what could be one of the more substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.
Violations will now result in four points against a driver’s license, BMV officials said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was prepared to keep lawmakers in Washington for as long as it took to complete votes on both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and a budget blueprint.
State health officials say they have no authority to require anyone to get a vaccine, including state employees.
The federal government directly employs about 4 million people (including about 38,900 in Indiana), but Biden’s action could affect many more when federal contractors are factored in.
The money would be split between existing programs that fund highways, transit agencies and airports, and other initiatives designed to tackle goals such as repairing aging bridges and improving the accessibility of buses.
Former TV sportscaster Wil Hampton has represented the city’s District 4 since he was first elected in 2015. He has accepted a job as associate director of athletics for a Florida university.
For weeks, the 10 Republicans and Democrats hashing out a roughly $1 trillion package to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and internet connections have insisted that the group was close to finalizing a deal with the White House.
As discussions continued through the weekend, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said both sides were “about 90% of the way there” on an agreement.
In Indiana and other states, anger at perceived overreach by health officials has prompted legislative attempts to limit their authority, including new state laws that prevent the closure of businesses or allow lawmakers to rescind mask mandates.
The group said Jonathan Weinzapfel would serve as interim president and chief executive officer through the end of 2021.
Supporters say the rule will provide more transparency when city councilors vote on projects that benefit campaign donors. Critics say the change will benefit councilors who can bankroll their own campaigns.
The usual gerrymandering is expected this year as the Legislature embarks on the once-a-decade process of redistricting, though public scrutiny is expected to be much greater than in previous years.
The hearings will be the first public steps by the Republican-dominated Legislature on the once-a-decade redrawing of election maps based on population shifts.
The nearly $1 trillion measure calls for about $579 billion in new spending over five years on roads, broadband and other public works projects, to be followed by a much broader $3.5 trillion measure from Democrats next month.
