Compromise on lobbying, ethics legislation likely
The Indiana House and state Senate each passed bills to tighten ethics and lobbying rules, and the Senate Rules Committee
will take up the House bill on Monday.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Gambling to remain an issue in General Assembly
Issue likely to land in House, Senate conference committee.
Light in the gloom
More industrial construction is going on in Indiana than in any nearby state.
East-west rail line could boost Indianapolis’ core
With traffic congestion growing, the idea of sending streetcars zipping down Washington Street—from
far-east-side Cumberland to Indianapolis International Airport on the west—is making a return. And
the route could offer the best bang for the buck in spurring transit-oriented development.
Census expected to show Hamilton County tops in coveted demographics
Hamilton County is poised to become the demographic all-star of the decade. Its 269,785 residents make up the fastest-growing,
most educated and wealthiest county in the state, according to estimates from the Indiana Business Research Center.
Smoking ban legislation appears dead in Statehouse
Legislation that would ban smoking in all public places, enclosed areas of places of employment and certain state vehicles
appears headed for an Indiana General Assembly summer study committee.
Indiana jobless fund tax increase hot topic at Statehouse
Whether to delay increases in taxes that employers pay to Indiana’s unemployment insurance fund is becoming a contentious
issue in the General Assembly.
Gun bills on fast track
Want to leave a gun in your car at work? Your employer’s policy may become irrelevant.
City seeking proposals to privatize parking operations
Indianapolis leaders are officially seeking proposals from companies interested in running the city’s parking operations—and
possibly additional spaces managed by other government entities.
Senator backs down on bill altering historic-district rules
Sen. Patricia Miller will put on hold a bill that would have have stripped the Indianapolis Historic Preservation
Commission
of much of its authority. The bill was
prompted by incidents including a dispute over St. John United Church of Christ.
Education by statistics
Inconceivable as it might sound, will the increasing focus on academic performance in public schools give private schools
a run for their money? It wouldn’t be the first time statistics upset an apple cart.
Seymour officials question trooper post closing
Officials in Seymour are protesting the announced closing of an Indiana State Police post in their city.
Task force endorses regional taxes for mass transit
After 30 years of government
studies of a regional transportation system, a private-sector group on Wednesday is set to unveil its own
plan that includes commuter rail and toll lanes added to congested interstate highways.
Colts won’t disclose which legislators got game tickets
The team sold Super Bowl tickets to 26 state lawmakers, 27 members of the City-County Council, 10 members of Mayor Greg Ballard’s
office, six other state officials, and four Congressmen.
Connersville eager for Carbon Motors to rev up
The jobs can’t come soon enough for Connersville, where unemployment is at 13.8 percent.
Shelbyville tech park keeps tax incentives
State officials are giving Shelbyville’s struggling Intelliplex business park another chance to use tax incentives to land
new companies
and high-paying jobs.
Daniels says he’d sign bill to push back school start
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he’d sign legislation that would prevent most schools from starting classes before Labor Day
if the General Assembly approves the proposal.
City program gives firms incentive to hire ex-offenders
A pilot project is providing jobs for 70 ex-convicts, with their $10-an-hour wages covered
by Uncle Sam for six months. City officials hope they can then transition into other jobs or receive recommendations that
help them to find other work.
Government reform, unemployment taxes chug through Legislature
Key measures cleared their chambers of origin by the Feb. 3 deadline.
Mayor Ballard, snow fighter?
Rating Ballard on his promises to master basics including snow removal and fixing potholes.