Pence requests $15 million for 100 caseworkers over two years
The additional staff should bring the Department of Child Services in line with caseload guidelines in state law, according to a new report that Deloitte Consulting released Wednesday.
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UPDATE: House panel passes bill banning powdered alcohol
Supporters of a ban say Palcohol would encourage underage drinking and could easily be concealed at school events.
Indiana House backs 3-year ban on building nursing homes
Indiana would have a three-year moratorium on construction of most new nursing homes under a proposal the state House narrowly approved Tuesday.
Jury returns guilty verdicts in Land Bank case
A federal jury on Wednesday evening returned guilty verdicts on eight felony counts including wire fraud and bribery against Reggie Walton, a former city employee who managed the Indy Land Bank.
Indiana Senate passes ‘right-to-try’ trial drugs bill
The Indiana Senate has approved a measure that would allow terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs that are not yet on pharmacy shelves.
Local tech firm Blue Pillar moving headquarters to East Coast
Blue Pillar, which just landed nearly $14 million in equity funding, agreed to move its headquarters from Indianapolis to Maryland after getting $500,000 from a state-sponsored venture capital fund.
Upscale neighborhood in Fishers gets go-ahead
City officials on Monday approved rezoning 150 acres along Southeastern Parkway for a 277-unit development with homes from $275,000 to $450,000.
Bill to ban microbeads headed to governor’s office
Legislation that would prevent the sale of any products containing microbeads in Indiana, is headed to the governor’s office for final approval.
Greenwood manufacturer plans expansion, move to Indy
A Greenwood firm that manufactures wireless monitoring and control devices plans to move operations into an abandoned plant on the south side of downtown Indianapolis, allowing it to expand and add 25 workers before the end of the decade.
Panel moves religious objections bill to full House
An Indiana legislative committee has endorsed a contentious proposal that would prevent the government from compelling people to provide services for activities they consider strongly objectionable, including same-sex weddings.
Lawmakers mull early payoff that could save businesses $327M
At issue is an extra $126 per employee that Hoosier companies will pay to the federal government in 2016 if Indiana has an outstanding unemployment loan on Jan. 1 of that year. If a payoff takes place by the end of 2015, that extra payment goes away.
Indiana considers $20 search fee for public record requests
A bill that aims to simplify school management by cutting obsolete or duplicate rules in education could also change how public records are handled by all types of Indiana agencies.
Mayor Ballard vetoes ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has vetoed a proposal supporters called a “Homeless Bill of Rights,” saying it would have created liability issues.
Universities request more funding to keep tuition affordable
A budget proposal before the House would increase higher education funding by 3.5 percent over the next two years, about an additional $45 million, but state universities are asking for more.
Pence picks Statehouse aide as new Indiana GOP chairman
Gov. Mike Pence nominated a top adviser, Jeff Cardwell, to replace Tim Berry, who resigned Thursday without giving a reason.
Maker-space movement touches down in Indy
The corner of Brookside Avenue and 10th Street, just off Massachusetts Avenue, could soon be the center of what city planners hope is a model to address industrial blight.
Council President Maggie Lewis campaign reports thin on details
Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis received more than $10,000 from her campaign over the past three years as reimbursement for various expenses. Her campaign reported almost all of the payments with no other description of purpose than a one-letter code, “O” for operations, as required by law.
State’s pensions stung by oil plunge
The drop in oil prices since July left more money in consumer bank accounts, but it was costly to Indiana’s pension funds.
City still crunching numbers on justice center savings
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s deputies are finally revealing the numbers behind the promise that Marion County can build a $1.7 billion criminal justice center without a tax increase. And they are a work in progress.
Education roundup: One bill reducing super’s power left
The Senate Education Committee is considering numerous pieces of education-related legislation, including a bill aimed at removing the state superintendent of public instruction as chair of the Indiana State Board of Education.