Brown County getting state’s largest nature preserve
A state panel has set aside a 3,300-acre tract of Brown County State Park for the largest nature preserve owned by the state.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Quick hits: Indianapolis and Kansas City are close match in tourism
Indianapolis and Kansas City, a metro area with feet in both Missouri and Kansas, are not only similar demographically, but
the cities' convention and tourism trades have some measures in common, like number of annual visitors.
Hoosiers can file for back jobless benefits Aug. 3
The state Department of Workforce Development says about 80,000 Hoosiers will get restored eligibility covering about 250,000
weeks of payments thanks to a federal law signed last week.
Council advances utilities transfer proposal
City-County Council members voted 19-10 Monday night to approve Republican Mayor Greg Ballard’s $1.9 billion plan to
transfer Indianapolis’ water and sewer utilities to Citizens Energy Group.
Exchanges sprout around the country
When the Indiana Health Information Exchange launched in 2004, it was one of nine truly operational exchanges around the country.
Today, the Indianapolis-based organization is one of 73, according to the latest national survey by the eHealth Initiative.
Key vote ahead for utilities transfer
A plan to transfer the city's water and sewer utilities to Citizens Energy Group faces a key vote Monday night at a meeting
of the City-County Council.
Proposal: Link federal aid to performance of ITT, peers
The Obama administration released a proposal that would tighten for-profit colleges’ access to federal student aid,
threatening an industry that received $26.5 billion in U.S. funds last year. Carmel-based ITT Educational Services
is among those potentially affected.
Deal sets way for recall of 25 Muncie firefighters
Muncie's mayor says 25 laid-off firefighters will soon be back on the job after the city reached a deal to provide fire
protection for some areas outside the city limits.
Obama signs unemployment bill; checks are coming
President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a restoration of benefits for people who have been out of work for six
months or more. The move ended an interruption that cut off payments averaging about $300 a week to 2½ million people
who have been unable to find work in the aftermath of the nation's long and deep recession.
Big budget cuts will make for bitter state politics
As Indiana’s reserves dwindle toward zero and federal stimulus money disappears, trying to keep political debate friendly
and the budget in the black will be quite a challenge. Half a year before they must craft the next state budget, Democrats
and Republicans already are squabbling.
Indianapolis native Marie Johns named SBA deputy administrator
The U.S. Senate recently confirmed her appointment to the No. 2 job.
BP donates to Indiana candidates, some return cash
BP's employee political action committee donated nearly $24,000 to Indiana legislative candidates in June, but not everyone
wants to cash the checks after the biggest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
Federal government asking questions about lease deals
The federal government is asking questions about how the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration handles office
leasing after an IBJ investigation raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Historic financial overhaul signed into law by Obama
Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, a member of the House GOP leadership, on Wednesday joined House Minority Leader John Boehner of
Ohio in calling for the law’s repeal.
Indiana changes food stamp policy that drew fire
Indiana will no longer reduce a state grocery benefit paid to hundreds of developmentally disabled people simply because they
receive food stamps
SHOUP: Emancipation is near for independent contractors
State regulators are gearing up to crack down on companies thought to be treating people as though they are independent contractors
instead of employees.
Jobless benefits bill would aid 80,000 Hoosiers
A bill advancing in Congress that would restore unemployment benefits for millions of Americans could help about 80,000 Indiana
residents who have been out of work more than six months.
Opponents claim I-69 extension a drain on other road projects
Some opponents of the Interstate 69 extension says it’s not too late to kill the project even
though concrete has been poured for two miles in southern Indiana, and another 60 miles or so is under construction or in
an engineering phase.
Daniels criticized for lopping costs on I-69 extension
Detractors of new-terrain route say cost cuts undermine economic development premise for extending the interstate.
Indiana: IBM welfare intake work flawed from start
The state is suing IBM for more than $1.3 billion, claiming the company breached one of the biggest outsourcing deals in state
history. IBM wants Indiana to pay $52.8 million it says it’s owed in deferred payments and equipment costs.