Holcomb hits some workforce goals, still faces hurdles on others
In 2018, Holcomb boldly outlined specific goals, One year later, he has exceeded some targets, but hasn’t met other goals.
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Panel backs proposal to move up appointing state schools chief
Indiana’s governor would begin appointing the state schools superintendent in 2021 instead of 2025, under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by the House Education Committee. Voters traditionally have elected the superintendent.
Gov. Holcomb announces plan to pay off pension liability, free up money for teacher raises
On Tuesday night, Holcomb said in his State of the State speech that the state will use $150 million from its surplus to pay off a teacher pension liability that schools have been gradually paying down.
Gov. Holcomb says ‘what’s next’ could be soccer stadium
The Republican governor did not take a position on an Indy Eleven plan to have state and local taxpayers fund a new stadium, but he said officials always need to embrace the future.
Holcomb remains against legalizing marijuana, despite moves by neighboring states
Several Indiana legislators support marijuana legalization bills that could be considered during the General Assembly session that starts in early January.
Gov. Holcomb wants to keep Pacers in Indy, will consider plans to improve CIB facilities
The Capital Improvement Board of Managers will ask lawmakers for more long-term funding that could be used in part for improvements at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The governor says he’s ready to listen.
Gov. Holcomb wants hate-crimes bill to include gender identity
The Indiana governor announced his 2019 agenda on Thursday, and it included passing a hate crimes law to get Indiana off the list of five states without such protection. Holcomb referred to it as being on the “naughty list.”
Holcomb’s 2019 agenda focuses on economy, workforce development, public health
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s list of priorities, which he announced Thursday afternoon, also includes a bias-crimes bill, teacher pay, the Department of Child Services and the state superintendent of public instruction.
IBJ Podcast: Rethinking downtown Indy’s interstate highway system
Podcast host Mason King talks with Rethink 65/70 member Paul Knapp, the CEO of Young & Laramore, about the group’s plan to put parts of the highway below grade. Then he talks with INDOT spokesman Scott Manning and HNTB’s Kia Gillette about whether the state will consider Rethink’s ideas.
Local officials mum amid reports Amazon zeroing in on D.C. for HQ2
Amazon is approaching its end-of-year deadline for deciding where it will locate the $5 billion campus, and two national newspapers reported over the weekend that an area in northern Virginia is far along in negotiations.
$20M in state incentives targeted to help airport lure international flights
An ongoing effort to attract nonstop flights between Indianapolis and places like Asia, Mexico and Europe is in line for a big boost.
Broadband blitz to lift economy, study says
Bridging the digital divide between rural and urban communities will take years to complete, but a first-of-its-kind $100 million state grant program is expected to be a significant start.
UPDATE: Holcomb plans $1B in infrastructure projects funded by hike in toll road fees
The projects that were announced Tuesday are part of Holcomb’s Next Level Connections initiative to expand broadband access, add more biking and hiking trails, improve roadways, attract more direct international flights and accelerate completion of the Interstate 69 project.
Gov. Holcomb appoints new press secretary
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has appointed a new press secretary after losing his previous one to the Indiana Commission for Education, his office announced Friday.
Gov. Eric Holcomb, top state Republicans call for AG Curtis Hill to resign
House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate Pro Tem David Long released a joint statement Thursday evening saying they believe the state lawmaker and legislative staffers who have accused Hill of inappropriately touching them. Gov. Eric Holcomb followed minutes later with a statement agreeing with Bosma and Long.
House speaker ‘disturbed’ DCS failed to act on past reports
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday that he was "disturbed" after finding out that the state's child welfare agency failed to take action after five different reviews conducted in recent years found problems at the agency.
Indiana GOP platform keeps marriage between man and woman
The delegates to the party's biennial state convention chose the existing plank in its party platform over one floated by Gov. Eric Holcomb's hand-picked party chairman that was intended to be more inclusive.
Groups sue over new state law that toughens abortion rules
The plaintiffs—Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana—called the measure "a cruel intimidation tactic."
Holcomb optimistic about Canadian partnerships after trade mission
Back from a three-day trip to Canada that included meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Gov. Eric Holcomb told IBJ he's confident Indiana's strong trade relationship with the country is poised to grow despite uncertainty about the future of trade between Canada and the U.S.
Emails show Pence took criticism in 2015 for changing religious freedom law
The correspondence from former Gov. Mike Pence’s official and private email accounts offers a window into one of the most challenging periods of his political career.