Articles

Bill to handle abandoned homes still on track

State Sen. Jim Merritt wanted to help an eastside Indianapolis church gain possession of some long-abandoned, derelict houses, tear them down and establish a park. The difficulty in doing so led to a bill that would make such improvements easier.

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Looser superintendent rules advance on tiebreaker

A proposal to no longer require Indiana's local school superintendents to hold a state superintendent's or teacher's license passed the state Senate after Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann cast her first tie-breaking vote.

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Senate passes new criminal sentencing rules

Supporters hope changes to sentencing laws will direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs. It also would require those convicted of the most-serious crimes to spend more time in prison.

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Lawmakers debate what counts as gambling expansion

The differences between the electronic and standard table games are being portrayed to state lawmakers as one of life and death, with proponents of a bill that would allow racetrack table games saying they would add jobs while not substantially changing what the racetracks already offer.

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Indiana lawmaker: Coal-gas plant no longer feasible

An Indiana lawmaker who opposes a 30-year contract with the developers of a proposed $2.8 billion coal-gasification plant told a House committee Wednesday that the surge in U.S. shale gas production has driven down natural gas prices, leaving synthetic gas projects unfeasible.

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House sends governor IEDC transparency bill

The state House of Representatives sent Gov. Mike Pence a bill Tuesday that requires the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to make job-creation reports transparent to taxpayers and policy makers.

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