Will manufacturers move back to urban centers?
Effort in Indianapolis will try to entice manufacturers to rethink areas they abandoned.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Senate panel advances budget, but Kenley warns cuts may be coming
Indiana Senate Republicans revealed a two-year, $31.5 billion budget Thursday that boosts funding for schools, universities and highways and leaves the state with nearly $1.9 billion in the bank.
Muncie firm to hire 300-plus for new HQ by 2024
A-Son’s Construction Inc. plans to consolidate its operations into an existing structure whose location is under wraps for now.
House panel backs bill to let education board decide leader
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz is one step closer to losing her position as leader of the State Board of Education.
Senate panel proposes phase-in of school-funding shifts
Indiana Senate budget leaders are proposing that changes to local school funding be phased in so that cuts faced by some urban and rural districts with shrinking enrollments will be easier to manage.
Special review panel advances justice center plan
A special review committee, the Marion County Justice Complex Board, voted 4-1 Wednesday in favor of a 35-year, $1.6 billion deal with WMB Heartland Justice Partners, moving the issue closer to a vote by the full City-County Council.
School funding debate back on Indiana Legislature’s agenda
Education issues are coming back to the forefront of the Indiana Legislature as lawmakers are set to renew debates over funding for local school districts and who will head up the State Board of Education.
Supporters say justice center plan shouldn’t be delayed
Several opponents, meanwhile, say the decision should be made by a referendum rather than a vote of the Indianapolis City-County Council, currently scheduled for April 20.
Brevini pays $375K to Delaware County for unmet jobs
An Italian wind turbine maker is expected to pay a central Indiana county $375,000 for failing to meet a goal of hiring 200 workers by the end of 2014.
State tax revenue falls short for 7th time in 9 months
The report from the State Budget Agency comes as the General Assembly faces a deadline in three weeks to finish work on a new two-year state spending plan.
Senate OKs e-liquids bill, sends it to House for changes
The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that places new security requirements on e-liquid producers and bans retailers from selling them to minors.
House panel saves ISTEP, revives proposals opposed by union
A proposal to replace ISTEP with an off-the-shelf national test was derailed Tuesday as an Indiana House committee sent the idea to a summer committee for further study.
Illinois governor wants to ‘rip the economic guts’ out of Indiana
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is talking tough about challenging the Hoosier state for jobs. The feud dates back at least to 2011, when Indiana mounted a PR campaign against Illinois’ high taxes.
UPDATE: Panel approves Pence’s balanced budget amendment
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's request for a proposed balanced budget constitutional amendment has cleared a legislative committee after first hitting a bump.
UPDATE: Senate panel approves repeal of construction wage law
Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee members voted 8-5 Tuesday to support eliminating the boards that establish construction wages for each state or local project.
Bill opening adoption records access stalls in Indiana House
A proposal that would have expanded Indiana adoptees' access to more than 50 years of sealed records appears to be dead this session, to the disappointment of some advocates.
Indiana ports commissioner quits over common wage law flap
A Republican member of the Indiana Ports Commission says he's resigning in protest of Gov. Mike Pence's support for a GOP-backed effort to repeal the law that sets wages for public construction projects.
Indiana insurance marketplace failing smokers
The American Lung Association says Indiana's health insurance marketplace is failing to provide all the coverage it should to help people quit smoking under President Barack Obama's health care law.
Groups aim to further expand gay rights at state level
Gay rights advocates are hoping to parlay the momentum from their legislative victories in Indiana and Arkansas this week into further expanding legal protections for gays and lesbians in those states and others.
Low 2014 voter turnout highlights challenges in Indiana
Indiana's record-low voting turnout in the 2014 election reflects challenges with midterm elections and raises scrutiny of how states register their voters, a new report says.