Governor to merge state museum into new agency
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is planning to merge the Indiana State Museum, 12 historic sites and state library under one new
agency, according to sources close to the museum.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
Daniels expands youth conservation program
Gov. Mitch Daniels says a program that hires young adults to improve Indiana parks and trails has been so successful that
he’s extending it for another year. The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps has given jobs to nearly 1,900 residents ages 16
to 24 since it was created this year using federal stimulus money.
State receives nearly $2.4 billion from stimulus
Indiana has received nearly $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money and has spent nearly $780 million so far, according to
preliminary data released Thursday.
Consultant: Indianapolis water utility lax in overseeing Veolia
The city too often relied on the Department of Waterworks’ board, on consultants and on the private
operator, Veolia Water, rather than on the department’s own staff “to ensure safe and efficient
operation, maintenance and management” of Indianapolis Water. That’s one of several critical
findings of a consultant hired by the department and filed as part of a 35-percent rate-hike request
pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
HICKS: Flu season offers prelude to health care reform
This flu season looks to provide us an inkling of the real dangers inherent in large-scale health care reform, most especially
a full-blown national health care option.
City trying to land headquarters of storytelling organization
The National Storytelling Network will consider Indianapolis, along with eight other cities, as it looks to move its headquarters
from Jonesborough, Tenn.
Baucus health reform bill draws fire in Indiana, too
The health insurance industry’s sudden counterpunch to the Senate version of health reform echoed in Indiana and
opened a key issue for the rest of the debate: Will covering half of the country’s uninsured mean raising premiums for
the 85 percent of Americans who already have insurance?
Indiana cancels $1.3B welfare contract
Indiana is ending its troubled $1.34 billion deal with a team of vendors to automate the application process for food stamps,
Medicaid and other benefits.
Funding cut jeopardizes popular Indiana Artisan program
A state-run program aimed at boosting business for local artisans—ranging from painters to syrup makers—and
turning them into a draw for tourists is in jeopardy because of dramatic funding cuts.
Bloomington mayor to roll out chain-store ordinance for downtown
Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan believes this beloved college town loses a bit of its identity every time a national chain sets up shop.
Social Security makes it official: No raise in 2010
There will be no cost of living increase for more than 50 million Social Security recipients next year, the first year without
a raise since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975.
Tougher smoking ban passes committee
An ordinance that would prohibit lighting up in bars, bowling alleys and nightclubs, and nearby outdoor seating areas as well, was endorsed 4-2 by a City-County Council committee Wednesday night.
Indiana State Museum chief Dressel abruptly resigns
Barry Dressel has resigned as the president and CEO of the Indiana State Museum, the state’s Department of Natural Resources
confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
City strengthens building-permit process
The pre-permit review could add nearly three weeks to the current permitting process
CIB improves financial situation with more cuts
The Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board’s dire financial situation might be improving enough that it may forego the
first installment of a $27 million state loan.
Frequent GOP candidate Scott wants to face Carson
A Butler University professor who has run for Congress several times says he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge
Democratic Rep. Andre Carson of Indianapolis next year.
Stimulus spending likely helping teachers the most
Teachers appear to have benefited most from the effort to save jobs with the $787 billion recovery package, which sent billions
of dollars to states that were on the verge of ordering heavy layoffs in education.
Study: Taxing services could yield state $6.8B
The non-partisan Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute this morning released a new study exploring the ramifications of expanding
the state’s sales tax to include services.
Economist: Recovery at hand, but barriers exist
Leading
indicators show that an economic recovery likely will take hold in 2010, although several challenges remain that could delay
a solid rebound from the worst recession in a generation, an economist said Friday morning at IBJ’s annual Economic Forecast.
Federal workers dodging layoffs
One of the best places to have waited out this recession was in federal government. Federal workers have pretty much gotten
a bye on pink slips at a time private sector employees have taken it on the chin.