VA unable to reinstate GI Bill benefits for ITT students
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wants the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to reinstate GI Benefits for students who enrolled in ITT Technical Institute, but that may not be legally possible.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
FedEx planning $170 million in improvements at airport hub
According to a tax-abatement application with the city, FedEx plans to install $170 million in new package-sorting equipment, while adding 27 full-time jobs and 178 part-time jobs. It would also retain 728 full-time and about 3,200 part-time workers.
Opposition mounts to VA’s plan for Crown Hill columbarium
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants to build the structure on nearly 15 wooded acres owned by the cemetery, but a group led by the Indiana Forest Alliance is hoping to stop the project.
Indiana video gambling fans to plan legislative strategy
The Video Game Coalition advocates electronic terminals in places such as bars and truck stops that allow patrons to gamble on poker, blackjack or other games.
Pence releases tax returns, while Trump’s remain a secret
Pence's income topped out at $187,000 while he was still a member of Congress, but dropped to $113,000 last year. The family has donated 10 percent of take-home pay to charity, the campaign said, which reflects an average 7.4 percent of their adjusted gross income.
Poll finds Gregg leads Holcomb by 5 points, Bayh leads Young by 4 points
Both the U.S. Senate and Indiana gubernatorial races could be tossups by the time Election Day rolls around.
Food producer relocates to southern Indiana from Illinois
Enjoy Life Foods said Thursday it plans to create 200 new jobs in Jeffersonville by the end of 2017. It already has hired 100 employees there.
Clinton’s drug proposals ‘very negative’ for industry, top CEO says
The head of Pfizer Inc., America’s biggest drugmaker, said Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s proposals to contain the price of pharmaceuticals would be “very negative” for the industry and are a step toward single-payer health care.
Shortage of residency slots plugs doctor pipeline
A new state board is trying to grapple with how to handle the big shortage in medical residencies, which will grow even worse as the state graduates more and more doctors.
Pension system may up bets on state firms
Indiana’s public pension system over the next several months will consider participation in a $1 billion economic-development initiative proposed by outgoing Republican Gov. Mike Pence.
Transit referendum spawns efforts to educate, influence
Advocates and opponents of a Nov. 8 referendum that would let the City-County Council increase taxes to pay for a mass transit plan are gearing up to vie for your vote.
Both sides of liquor fight say it’s about fairness
A Marion County judge’s ruling has heated up the battle between liquor distributors and a group of beer distributors operating in the state and Indianapolis-based beer wholesaler Monarch Beverage Co.
Northern suburbs racing to be bike-friendly
For years, the cities and towns in Boone and Hamilton counties have invested in trail systems; now they are adding other bike-friendly elements, like dedicated bike lanes, bike routes and loops, and bike-share programs.
Fairbanks study: Indiana should raise cigarette tax, smoking age
The study said more than 11,000 Hoosiers die prematurely each year from smoking and another 1,400 die as a result of second-hand smoke. Twenty-three percent of Indiana adults smoke, higher than the U.S. median of 18 percent.
State makes potential $260M deal to lease communications infrastructure
The state said Tuesday that it has agreed to lease its communications infrastructure, including its existing cell towers, for as much as $260 million over the next 50 years to a Canton, Ohio-based private operator.
Indiana could see a push for school choice savings accounts
Critics worry the accounts would be too unregulated and could divert even more money from public schools.
Bill to shield retired union miners divides coal-state Republicans
The bill would affect more than 30,000 retired union miners in West Virginia, and tens of thousands more in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and Alabama.
Democrats counting on Indiana as they eye Senate takeover
Putting Indiana in their likely win column was a major coup for Democrats in this year’s costly fight for Senate control. Republicans command a slim 54-46 majority, and Democrats need to pick up four seats to take back power if they hang onto the White House.
Longtime attorney named to fill open IURC position
Gov. Mike Pence on Friday named Sarah Freeman as a commissioner on the five-member Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Is free trade political rhetoric in step with reality?
Experts say the impacts of free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, have been a mixed bag.