New bid planned to end Indiana’s Sunday alcohol sales ban
Indiana House Public Policy Chairman Tom Dermody of LaPorte said he's working on a bill legalizing Sunday sales that he expects to file next week.
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Influential senator, health advocate Miller to retire
Indiana Sen. Patricia Miller, who has represented the southeast portion of the Indianapolis area for 34 years, has served as chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services since 1993.
UPDATE: State education panel leader wants to re-score ISTEP
Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, said he wants to hire a contractor to re-score the 2015 ISTEP test, which he calls a “disaster.” Meanwhile, the House education committee approved a measure sparing teachers from having their performance pay reduced as a result of the scores.
84 Lumber to add manufacturing facility, 100 jobs in Franklin
The building materials supplier plans to invest $5.59 million to purchase, renovate and equip the former Trussway facility at 1850 North Graham Road.
LGBT rights loom as lawmakers set other priorities
While leaders for the GOP majorities in both chambers discussed an array of policy priorities, they had much less to say about the debate over adding discrimination protections for lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people to state law.
Legislative leaders back money for third Regional Cities grant
Republicans who control the Indiana Senate are supporting a request from Gov. Mike Pence for an extra $42 million toward the new state grant program. And House Speaker Brian Bosma says it will likely pass.
Veteran state senator Rogers announces retirement
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, announced Tuesday that she has decided to retire after serving 26 years in the state Senate and eight years in the House.
Indiana GOP picks Conexus executive as director
David Buskill, an Indianapolis political consultant and fundraiser, has been named executive director of the Indiana Republican Party.
Senate GOP to press road funding, malpractice reform, drug sentences
The legislative priorities for Indiana Senate Republicans include $418 million to improve local roads, another $42 million for the Regional Cities program, and protecting educators from negative impacts of ISTEP.
Carmel City Council votes to change city to second-class status
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard wasted no time Monday night upgrading the city to second-class status with the approval of the newly elected Carmel City Council.
Pence signs on to Ritz approach to ‘pause’ sanctions
Democrats and Republicans are backing a proposal expected to be considered by the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. The bill proposes schools may not receive a lower grade for 2015 than they received in 2014.
Pence releases legislative agenda for education, jobs, roads
On the eve of the 2016 legislative session, the governor released a list of bills that doesn’t include proposals to expand civil rights protections to people who are gay or transgender.
New rule extends life cycle of Indiana license plates
The state's license plates will be redesigned and replaced every seven years, rather than every five years. The new rule took effect Friday.
Vaping industry sues state over new regulations
Manufacturers and distributors of e-liquid claim the Indiana law is unconstitutional because it regulates products used in vaping devices but not e-cigarettes.
IBJ’s most-read stories of 2015
Despite national attention paid to RFRA and Jared Fogle, most of IBJ’s top-read online stories this year were the result of deeply sourced reporting on people, issues and businesses specific to central Indiana.
Indiana adoption advocates optimistic about legislation
The leader of an advocacy group for Indiana adoptees says there’s a good shot that state lawmakers will endorse a bill to expand access to sealed adoption records.
Judge limits discovery Pence sought in Syrian refugee case
A federal judge has signaled unwillingness to permit wide-ranging discovery that the administration of Gov. Mike Pence sought as it continues to oppose a charity’s resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana.
Missed vote puts spotlight on Brainard’s business trips
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard traveled out of state using public money nearly every month this year. His trips aren’t lavish, but he was gone on city business a total of 79 days, raising questions about both the hard and soft costs.
No relief in sight for shortage of affordable housing in area
Marion County is suffering from a severe shortage of affordable housing and the inventory is not expected to increase anytime soon. The most popular financing option to help build affordable housing projects is so limited that only a small fraction of the developments get built.
Michigan’s minimum wage rising to $8.50 an hour
Michigan workers making the minimum wage will see a 35-cents-an-hour raise starting Friday. Indiana’s minimum wage will remain $7.25 per hour.