Lawmakers consider statewide restrictions on the location of sexually-oriented businesses
House Bill 1122 would prohibit a registered sexually-oriented business from operating within 1,000 feet of a facility that caters to minors.
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Businesses want statewide standards for renewable-energy-farm siting
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is again calling for legislation that it says would remove some of the local hurdles such projects now face.
Anger over mask mandates, other COVID rules, spurs states to curb power of public health officials
At least 19 states, including Indiana, have this year restricted state or local authorities from safeguarding public health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Boone County considering income tax hike to expand jail
The clock is ticking for officials to decide whether they’ll raise local income taxes to pay for a $45 million to $50 million jail expansion and justice center to alleviate overcrowding.
Council committee advances inflation wage change, paid parental leave
An Indianapolis City-County Council committee on Tuesday unanimously voted to advance a plan allowing public employees’ wages to rise with inflation, as work continues on the city’s first public pay scale change in more than a decade.
Carmel council agrees to fund $11.5M garage with income tax distributions
The amount dedicated to building a 296-space, three-story parking garage servicing the city’s new police station and other adjacent users has grown from $8 million to a projected $11.5 million.
City-County Council votes to ditch mask mandate for vaccinated residents
The Democratic-majority council passed the measure 19-5, along party lines, with Republicans opposed because the order didn’t fully lift all capacity limits for businesses.
Boone County judge rules Zionsville mayor needs council OK to demote fire chief
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed the lawsuit in March after the town council unanimously denied her request to demote Zionsville Fire Department Chief James VanGorder.
Hogsett, Caine make another push for residents to get vaccinated
Officials still plan to seek City-County Council approval to lift mask mandates for fully vaccinated people on June 7 and hope to further ease other restrictions if the county can reach a 50% vaccination rate by July 4.
Former Muncie mayor pleads guilty to federal theft charges
Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler, 78, admitted to receiving $5,238 to steer Public Board of Works contracts to an unnamed company.
Marion County expects to lift mask mandate, ease capacity limits June 7
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the county was waiting until June 7 to allow more time for people to be vaccinated and for big events such as the Indy 500, proms and graduations to take place under more restrictive conditions.
Indianapolis to continue mask mandate, capacity restrictions
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said Thursday he plans to take a “common sense approach” to determining when the city will lift its restrictions through continued conversations with the Marion County Department of Public Health.
City-County Council passes measure to limit delivery fees on restaurants
The measure limits total fees to no more than 20% of a meal’s price. It also prohibits third-party delivery services from attempting to make up lost fees by passing costs on to drivers or customers.
Indianapolis, Marion County expected to get $424M from latest relief bill
The funding is part of an overall $1.9 trillion bill that could send as much as $5.87 billion to the state, including roughly $237 million to Indianapolis and another $187 million to Marion County.
Move over, Muncie: Five Indiana cities could lose status as metro areas
The federal government is proposing to downgrade 144 cities in all from the metropolitan statistical area designation, which some areas fear will affect federal funding and their ability to lure businesses and talent.
Carmel council OKs $60M in road bonds, continues questioning $65M for other projects
Some councilors have concerns about what the bonds would be spent on—including public art—while others worry the city’s plans to acquire more properties would harm small businesses.
State lawmakers consider new emergency session rules
The House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee on Thursday amended a bill to create what would be called an “emergency session,” which would allow lawmakers to convene at any time during a statewide emergency.
Ambrose sells GM stamping plant property, withdraws suit against city
According to Ambrose, the sale resolves the year-long legal dispute between the developer and the city of Indianapolis that started after the company withdrew from the $1.4 billion Waterside development agreement involving the 103-acre property west of downtown.
City sets Wednesday deadline for pandemic rental assistance applications
The program, which opened in July to help tenants avoid eviction during the pandemic, has provided more than $26 million in federal money to more than 12,000 households.
To shut down or not to shut down? Officials must contend with backlash.
Cities and states are trying to avoid full-blown lockdowns by enacting almost every other kind of restriction: nighttime curfews, bar closures, stricter mask mandates, and 10-person gathering limits, for example.