Ballard’s budget omits funds for police, fire recruitment
The Republican mayor's administration also is trying to renegotiate scheduled 3 percent pay raises for officers and firefighters for $5.5 million in budget cuts.
Public Safety
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Public safety due for budget cuts, mayor says
Public safety and criminal justice are the only places left in the city-county budgets to look for ways to close a $27 million spending gap for 2013. Sheriff, police, fire and court budgets account for 85 percent of the $569 million general fund.
Bar owners challenging smoking ban seek injunction
The 10 Indianapolis business owners want a federal judge to prevent the city of Indianapolis from enforcing new public smoking restrictions until a ruling is made on their lawsuit. Their original complaint claims the ordinance violates parts of the U.S. Constitution.
Fire, water worries grow worse amid Indiana drought
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is banning lawn watering in the city beginning Friday, and all smoking has been banned during a county fair in central Indiana because of the conditions caused by this summer's drought.
Pence wants moratorium on new business regulations
Mike Pence said that if elected governor, he’ll issue an executive order against new regulations and ask his budget office to review existing rules to ensure they use the least-costly approach and aren’t burdensome to job-creation efforts.
American Legion challenges Indiana smoking ban
An American Legion post in northeastern Indiana has asked a federal judge to put a hold on a statewide smoking ban set to take effect Sunday.
Indiana smoking ban brings new sign rules
To comply with the statewide smoking ban that begins July 1, there's more for businesses to do than stop patrons and employees from smoking indoors. The same law compels businesses to post an array of signs that announce the ban.
Indiana State Fair Commission OKs emergency plan
The Indiana State Fair Commission has unanimously approved an emergency management plan following the 2011 stage collapse that killed seven people and injured dozens of others.
Smoking-ban lawsuits face long odds, legal expert says
A constitutional law professor at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis said he doubts 10 bar owners have a chance fighting the city’s smoking ban in court. The ban goes into effect Friday.
Indiana prison education cuts cost Ball State jobs
A new law denying state grants for college education to prison inmates has cost the jobs of more than 70 Ball State University employees.
Indiana panel approves new stage-rigging rules
An Indiana commission has approved the state's first rules governing the type of temporary stage rigging involved in last summer's deadly state fair stage collapse.
Columbus ends private use of city-owned cars
Officials are putting the brakes on personal use of city-owned vehicles as part of an effort Mayor Kristen Brown says will save the city thousands and send a message about fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.
Indianapolis public safety chief leaving position
Frank Straub is resigning after more than a year of criticism over the city police department's handling of evidence in a fatal crash involving an officer.
Mayor signs tougher public smoking ordinance
The ordinance, which takes effect at 6 a.m. on June 1, expands existing citywide restrictions against indoor public smoking to include bowling alleys, hotel rooms and most bars.
Error renews questions about Indianapolis police
A fresh revelation about the mishandling of evidence in a fatal crash involving an Indianapolis police officer prompted the city's police chief, Paul Ciesielski, to step down Tuesday, and left Public Safety Director Frank Straub being grilled by a city-county committee Wednesday night.
City-County Council OKs new smoking-ban proposal
The City-County Council voted 20-9 Monday night to approve another proposal that would strengthen Indianapolis' public smoking ban.
Governor signs state smoking ban into law
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the smoking ban bill and other legislation during a ceremony Monday morning at his Statehouse office.
Smoking ban proposal advances to City-County Council
The new proposal, which passed through committee Tuesday night, is nearly identical to the last measure except that it no longer bans smoking at existing private clubs. That addition prompted Mayor Greg Ballard to veto the previous version.
Councilors to introduce new smoking-ban proposal
Two City-County Councilors are prepared to take another stab at enacting a stronger public smoking ban in Indianapolis. And this time they think Mayor Greg Ballard will approve.
Governor signs bill regarding residents resisting police
Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law a bill laying out when Indiana residents might be legally justified in using force against police officers.