State unemployment rate shrinks to 6.9 percent
The improvement came despite a small decline in private-sector employment of 4,800 jobs during the month.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Obama speech to challenge Congress on minimum wage
Challenging lawmakers to help him create greater economic opportunity, President Barack Obama will use his State of the Union address Tuesday to announce he's raising the minimum wage for new federal contract workers to $10.10 an hour.
Proposed hunting, fishing amendment to start over
A Senate committee passed a proposed constitutional amendment Monday that would protect Hoosiers’ right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife – but without language to protect farming that was included three years ago.
Statehouse update: Deer hunting, miscarriages, veteran education, Indiana-grown, and more
State lawmakers on Monday weighed in on legislation involving canned deer hunting, college credit for veterans, parental options after miscarriages, out-of-state seedling sales, and more. Here’s a rundown.
States investigating ITT, other for-profit education firms
For-profit education companies are facing public criticism and regulatory scrutiny over high drop-out rates, graduates' poor job prospects and the high debt levels of its students.
Panel delays vote on bill to require prescription for cold meds
A committee heard two hours of testimony Monday on a bill that would make medicine containing pseudoephedrine a schedule III drug. The committee did not vote.
Voucher students who never tried public school on the rise
Four in 10 students using vouchers never attended an Indiana public school, even though the original 2011 law that authorized the program required it.
House expands nutrition requisite to all food-stamp recipients
Legislation to require Indiana food-stamp recipients buy only products deemed nutritious was expanded Monday to include all Hoosiers who participate in the program.
Indiana House votes to amend gay-marriage amendment
The 52-43 vote to remove the controversial second sentence likely ensures that the proposed constitutional amendment will not reach the public for a vote until at least 2016 – if at all.
Cold prompts shutdown of local government Tuesday
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said City-County government will be closed Tuesday due to the forecast of “dangerously cold temperatures.” He also imposed a two-hour delay for local government on Wednesday.
Bar Association stands against gay-marriage amendment
Backed by nearly three-fourths of its members, the Indianapolis Bar has taken the unusual step of announcing its opposition to the state constitutional amendment under debate at the Statehouse.
View of health rollout improves, but only slightly
Negative perceptions of the health care rollout have eased, a new poll finds. But overall, two-thirds of Americans say things still aren’t going well.
Indiana bill would limit use of drone surveillance
The bill introduced by Republican Rep. Eric Koch of Bedford would strictly regulate police use of unmanned aircraft and prohibit their use to conduct surveillance without a court warrant.
Minimum wage bills pushed in at least 30 states
A pitch last week from Indiana Democrats was a nonstarter. But a Quinnipiac University poll this month found 71 percent of Americans in favor of raising the minimum wage—including more than half of Republicans polled.
Senator drops bill to create Statehouse souvenir shop
Sen. Thomas Wyss, R-Fort Wayne, has withdrawn a bill that would have allowed the construction of a souvenir shop in the Indiana Statehouse over concerns about the cost.
Bill would keep state’s annuity system in-house
The Indiana House is set to consider legislation that will prevent the state from privatizing one part of public employee and teacher retirement funds.
Soccer team seeks state help for $87M downtown stadium
Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir hopes state lawmakers will help him finance construction of a multi-use soccer stadium with 18,500 seats in downtown Indianapolis.
Judges could carry firearms under proposed law
Senate Bill 3 would allow judges to carry firearms when they are on duty. The bill passed 47-1 in the Senate.
Lawmakers advance bill allowing industrial hemp crops
Hemp plants could start appearing in Indiana fields if a state Senate bill to allow growing the crop gains support from lawmakers.
Nursing home construction measure passes Senate
Senate Bill 173 would prohibit the State Department of Health from approving the development of new nursing homes.