Bill to tighten management of Indiana veterans fund advances
The measure comes after revelations that a state agency awarded some grants for struggling veterans to its own employees.
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Senate approves hate crimes law without specific categories of victims
Critics of the latest version of the bill have charged that it would be ineffective without listing the personal characteristics—such as race, religion and gender identity—that it covers.
Senate panel votes to legalize sports betting, move Gary casino to Terre Haute
Spectacle Entertainment—a company founded by some of the same investors that operated Centaur before it was purchased by Caesars Entertainment—is in the process of buying Gary-based Majestic Star Casino I and Majestic Star Casino. It has said it wants to move one of the casinos to the Interstate 80/94 corridor and the other to Terre Haute.
City sports, tourism board could reap extra $15M annually under amended bill
A change made to legislation designed to boost funding for the Capital Improvement Board means the quasi-governmental agency could see an additional $15 million in tax funds annually—nearly double what was initially proposed.
After embracing Indiana, immigrant helped state land huge Infosys deal
Raju Chinthala had never heard of Indiana before he came to the United States from India in 1994. In the 25 years since, he has become one of the state’s greatest champions.
With House plan that adds money for vulnerable kids, all Indianapolis districts would gain
Even though some districts are projected to lose students, they would still get more state money because of changes to Indiana’s funding formula that add funds for vulnerable students and because lawmakers put more money in the budget overall.
Holcomb announces $750,000 in grants to fight drug crisis
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office announced this week that 10 substance abuse coalitions each will receive a $75,000 grant to develop, improve and enhance treatment and recovery initiatives.
Members of Congress voice alarm about report that Trump has grown frustrated with Coats
Indiana’s Rep. Susan Brooks said it would be “worrisome” if Trump were to remove Coats as director of national intelligence. And Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana said he seems no indication a change is coming.
Business leaders say they’ll fight for changes in what is now ‘not a hate crimes bill’
The Senate amended Senate Bill 12 so it no longer specifies that crimes motivated by bias based on race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other categories are eligible for stronger penalties.
Supreme Court won’t hear appeal from Indiana residents on lakefront property rights
Two residents with a home on Lake Michigan contended lakefront landowners should have the right to limit who uses the beaches abutting their properties.
Trump grows frustrated with Dan Coats, leading some to fear he might be fired
The president has never seen Coats—the nation’s top intelligence official and a former senator from Indiana—as a close or trusted adviser, sources told The Washington Post. But Trump has become more frustrated with him in recent weeks over public statements that Trump sees as undercutting his policy goals.
Some Americans floored by tax bills, changes in law
The first tax filing season under the new federal tax law is proving to be surprising, confusing—and occasionally frightening—for some Americans, especially those accustomed to getting money back from the government.
House committee advances Republicans’ $34.6B budget bill
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee fended off amendments and objections from Democrats on Tuesday and ushered the bill to the full House for consideration.
Lawmakers move to eliminate ‘growth-only’ grades for all schools, not just those in IPS
The more generous scale has boosted IPS’ performance as it launches a new strategy of partnering with charter operators, by allowing some innovation network schools to earn high marks despite overall low test scores.
Vision for Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers includes rec center, playgrounds, reading nooks, plazas
Fishers intends to start construction on the first section of the trail, from 106th Street to 126th Street, later this year.
House Republicans focus on child services, education in two-year, $34.6B budget
The spending plan includes the additional $286 million per year requested by the Indiana Department of Child Services, covers increases in Medicaid costs, and hikes K-12 spending by 2.1 percent in 2020 and 2.2 percent in 2021, which is slightly higher than the 2 percent annual increase suggested by Holcomb.
Indiana Senate committee moves bias crimes bill forward
After more than three hours of testimony and discussion on Monday morning, the Senate Public Policy Committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for consideration.
Indiana Dunes becomes state’s first national park
The Dunes were initially recommended to become a national park in 1916, because of their biological diversity and geological features.
Hundreds of companies excused from steel tariff, analysis shows
Two Indianapolis-area subsidiaries of Japanese companies are among hundreds of firms granted permission to import millions of tons of steel without paying the hefty tariff President Trump put in place to protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs.
Amazon paid no federal taxes on $11.2 billion in profits last year, according to group’s analysis
Thanks to a variety of tax credits and a significant tax break available on pay handed out in the form of company stock, Amazon actually received a federal tax rebate of $129 million last year, giving it an effective federal tax rate of roughly -1 percent.