UPDATE: Lawmakers put off vote on Sunday alcohol sales
The Indiana House will wait at least until Tuesday to vote on legalizing Sunday carry-out alcohol sales.
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State warns businesses about payment scam
Businesses have recently received a letter claiming to come from a group called the Indiana Council for Corporations that some might confuse with a legitimate state form, requesting $125.
Pence keeping feet in both state, national political debates
Gov. Mike Pence has kept to his largely hands-off approach to dealing with the Indiana Legislature, even as he has stepped into the middle of some high-profile issues during his third year in office.
Indiana helps lead way in implementation of 911 texting
All but four of Indiana's 92 counties have signed on a system that allows phone users to send a text to 911 when they need emergency help, putting the state at the forefront of a technology that's slowly making its way across the country.
Educators say cuts to ISTEP test times not enough
Indiana school administrators say they welcome efforts to shorten the standardized test that 450,000 students soon will begin taking, but they say the exam will still take too long.
Ritz addresses speculation on possible gubernatorial bid
State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz, who has been at loggerheads with Gov. Mike Pence for most of his first term, isn’t ruling it out.
Conservative groups oppose Indiana net metering bill
Like Common Core to the education world, the utility issue of net metering is drawing opposition from conservative groups with a libertarian bent.
Feds award indiana $11.8M for home visits program
The funds will support home visits by nurses and others to check on low-income pregnant women and those with young children.
Governors could signal presidential intentions at confab
Mike Pence and other pols will be scrutinized this weekend at the National Governors Association meeting for signs they want to be part of the 2016 conversation.
House rejects changes to Sunday alcohol sales bill
An effort to dial back proposed restrictions on grocery, convenience and drug stores in a bill that would legalize Sunday carryout alcohol sales was narrowly defeated Thursday in the Indiana House.
UPDATE: Local tax overhaul added to bill allowing casino changes
Local economic agreements between the state’s casinos and local communities would be scrapped and the admissions tax that provides revenue to local governments eliminated.
Indiana House committee passes bio-cremation measure
A measure that would legalize the chemical disposal of human bodies has passed an Indiana House committee, but a similar measure has died in an Indiana Senate committee.
Bill that trims funding to shrinking districts advances
The changes, combined with declining enrollments in a number of schools, mean that 91 of the state’s 289 traditional districts would receive less overall funding in 2016 than this year.
Vaping retailers face regulation under advancing bill
Indiana is one step closer to placing regulations on e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes and vapor pens after a House committee passed a bill on Wednesday, sending it to the full House for debate.
Bill that riles solar industry passes House committee
A controversial bill to change the guidelines governing Hoosiers using alternative energy sources – including solar and wind power – passed a House Committee on Wednesday.
Senate panel quickly advances religious freedom bill
Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee Brent Steele said he had warned members they needed to be on time for a meeting during which the panel advanced a proposed religious freedom law.
Bill advances to remove Interstate 69 route restriction
Indiana legislators have advanced a bill that would lift a state law restricting the route for the final leg of the Interstate 69 extension near Indianapolis.
Senate OKs bill allowing board to vote for leader
The move most likely would result in Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, being removed from the position.
UPDATE: House panel backs repeal of public projects wage law
The Republican-controlled House Labor Committee voted 8-4 Tuesday in favor of eliminating the boards that set construction wages for each state or local project costing more than $350,000.
Senate panel backs bill dealing with big-box store values
The Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously supported a bill requiring certain special-purpose properties to be assessed based on the cost of construction for the first seven years.