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.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the smoking ban bill and other legislation during a ceremony Monday morning at his Statehouse office.
A state education official said Monday's accident was the first fatality of a school-age child riding or getting on or off an Indiana school bus since 2009.
The Indiana Senate has narrowly approved a statewide smoking ban proposal, sending it to the governor for his expected signature into law. The ban exempts Indiana's bars, casinos and private clubs such as veterans and fraternal organizations.
The Indiana House voted Thursday night to approve a statewide smoking ban bill, setting up a vote Friday in the state Senate on whether the restrictions will be on their way to becoming law.
Legislators finished work Wednesday without an agreement yet on just how comprehensive a statewide smoking ban they might adopt and without the support of a major police group for a proposal laying out when residents might be legally justified in using force against police officers.
The Indiana House has given final legislative approval to a proposal toughening state laws that prohibit businesses from selling synthetic stimulants nicknamed "bath salts" or other drugs that mimic marijuana.
Legislators began negotiations Monday toward a compromise on proposed statewide smoking restrictions, with a leading supporter of a comprehensive ban saying the bill shouldn't prevent cities and counties from adopting tougher ordinances.
Legislators have approved changing Indiana law to shield people from arrest on alcohol charges if they seek out medical help for someone who is intoxicated.
The Indiana Senate voted 41-5 Thursday in favor of the bill giving the state Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission the power to regulate stages and other temporary structures.
For all the bluster a statewide smoking ban sparked at the beginning of the 2012 legislative session, the version Indiana lawmakers may end up approving seems little more than a wisp of smoke.
Indiana senators are ready to begin tinkering with a proposal to ban smoking statewide in some private establishments.
All large, temporary outdoor stages like the one in last summer's deadly Indiana State Fair collapse would face temporary state inspection standards under a bill approved Monday by the Indiana House.
The proposal follows the deadly collapse of outdoor stage rigging during high winds at last summer's Indiana State Fair.
Since 2006, six people have been killed and 27 people have been seriously injured in violent crimes at late-night stores in Indiana.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he hopes legislators will send him a statewide smoking ban bill with a short list of exemptions.
Indiana legislators are nearing agreement on a bill that would shield people from arrest on alcohol charges if they report that someone is intoxicated and needing medical help.
Anti-smoking advocates aren't happy about an 18-month exemption for bars that's included in a bill for a statewide smoking ban, and are aiming to prevent the proposal from being watered down.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard plans to veto a proposed ordinance that would expand the city’s public smoking ban, his spokesman confirmed Thursday.
Sugarland resisted delaying the start of a concert at the state fair despite threatening weather that caused a deadly stage collapse, the fair's top official testified against the company that built the stage rigging.
The State Labor Department says the company that built the stage ahead of last summer's deadly Indiana State Fair collapse showed "plain indifference" to safety standards.