Statewide smoking ban bill clears House committee
The Indiana House Public Health Committee voted 9-3 to endorse the bill prohibiting smoking in public places and indoor work sites—after it exempted casinos and pari-mutuel horse tracks from the ban.
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Indiana House panel backs texting ban for all drivers
Drivers wouldn’t be allowed to send or read text messages on cell phones under a bill approved by an Indiana House committee.
Lawmaker wants homeowners to pay for pond safety
An Indiana lawmaker worried about the dangers posed by retention ponds wants nearby homeowners to foot the bill of erecting safety barriers such as guardrails.
Embattled prosecutor Brizzi plans new business
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said he plans a new business in reputation management. He will also work as an attorney from offices in Hamilton County and Indianapolis.
CIB seeking bids for stadium, convention security
Request for proposals calls for providing 24-hour security at both Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center, as well as providing armed guards for special events. The CIB plans to award contracts in mid-March.
Bill would ban texting while driving
Republican State Sen. Travis Holdman's bill would allow people to use hands-free headsets or speaker systems, but texting and calls that require using hands would be off limits.
State pushing to keep building-review wait times down
Wait times in the plan-review process for non-residential projects increased dramatically this year, creating a backlog of cases.
Controversial airport scanners identify more crooks than terrorists
The federal government’s latest, more-intrusive airport screening measures appear more useful in finding drugs and wads of cash than tools of terror, a review of Indianapolis Airport Police records suggests.
City rolls out revised parking-meter deal
City would reap more cash in the long run and get more flexibility to alter the deal if necessary, but the controversial 50-year term of the contract remains.
Critics of parking proposal question $500,000 penalty
City leaders argue the termination fee would be paid only if the city breaks the 50-year agreement after the City-County Council signs off on the deal, not if the contract doesn’t win approval.
Democrats charge conflict in parking meter deal
A city lobbyist who also is registered to lobby for Affiliated Computer Services Inc., which was chosen to receive a 50-year lease deal to manage meter operations, says he was not involved in the deal.
Brizzi controversies loom over prosecutor’s race
Democrat Terry Curry and Republican Mark Massa say restoring trust is job one for the next Marion County prosecutor.
Advocates renew push for statewide smoking ban
State Reps. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) and Eric Turner (R-Cicero) joined members of the Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air on Wednesday to announce legislation for a comprehensive ban they plan to introduce next year.
Police lock down Circle Centre area after gunman commits suicide
A lone gunman atop a South Meridian Street parking garage fired "indiscriminate" shots into the air Thursday afternoon
before shooting himself and falling to the sidewalk below, police spokesman Lt. Jeff Duhamel said.
Indiana State Police join social networking age
Superintendent Paul Whitesell said Thursday that the lightning-fast communication of the State Police's Facebook page
and its Twitter account give the agency one more way to "reach out to the public."
Property shuffle aims to connect police, fire services with neighborhoods
The city plans to open police-and-fire hubs in two former IPS schools, retrofit
an Eastgate mall department store into an Emergency Operations Center, and build at least two fire stations.
Deal sets way for recall of 25 Muncie firefighters
Muncie's mayor says 25 laid-off firefighters will soon be back on the job after the city reached a deal to provide fire
protection for some areas outside the city limits.
Brizzi hires ex-partner to handle public records requests
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi has hired his former legal partner and personal attorney to field public records requests.
Locally based Collignon & Dietrick PC is responsible for review and production of Prosecutor’s Office e-mails, contracts,
case files and other documents requested by members of the media or public.
Firework permits down, more private shows expected
State officials expect more backyard fireworks shows this year because budget problems have forced many municipalities to
cancel large professional fireworks displays.
IMPD suspends officer over golf cart incident
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has suspended and reassigned a supervisor on Marion County Prosecutor Carl
Brizzi's security detail who incorrectly reported that a fellow officer—and not Brizzi—was driving a golf
cart that flipped at a 2008 political fundraiser.