Indiana drivers holding cellphones now face stiffer penalties
Violations will now result in four points against a driver’s license, BMV officials said.
Politics & Government
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Schumer: Vote on infrastructure bill could come within days
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was prepared to keep lawmakers in Washington for as long as it took to complete votes on both the bipartisan infrastructure plan and a budget blueprint.
Here’s how the bipartisan infrastructure deal would invest $280 billion in transportation
The money would be split between existing programs that fund highways, transit agencies and airports, and other initiatives designed to tackle goals such as repairing aging bridges and improving the accessibility of buses.
Infrastructure talks in political jeopardy as infighting spills into the open
For weeks, the 10 Republicans and Democrats hashing out a roughly $1 trillion package to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports and internet connections have insisted that the group was close to finalizing a deal with the White House.
Senators race to overcome snag over mass transit in infrastructure deal
As discussions continued through the weekend, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman said both sides were “about 90% of the way there” on an agreement.
As coronavirus surges, GOP lawmakers are moving to limit public health powers
In Indiana and other states, anger at perceived overreach by health officials has prompted legislative attempts to limit their authority, including new state laws that prevent the closure of businesses or allow lawmakers to rescind mask mandates.
Indiana files appeal in federal pandemic unemployment case
State officials argued in their court filings Monday that a Marion County judge “abused” his discretion last month by ordering Indiana to resume participation in the benefit programs.
State to spend $13M to prep possible merger of blind, deaf school sites
State officials say no final decisions about a combined campus have been reached, but they are forging ahead for now with the prep work, including the search for as many as 120 acres to house the schools.
Senators introduce measure for federal decriminalization of marijuana
Public support for legalizing marijuana is high, with 91% of Americans saying marijuana should be legal in some form, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll.
Council approves $135M in tax-increment financing bonds for Elanco project
The tax-increment financing bonds will be used to pave the way for Elanco Animal Health Inc. to build its new headquarters on the former General Motors stamping plant property west of downtown.
Supreme Court upholds Arizona voting restrictions
The Supreme Court decision affirmed state rights to set its own voting rules and could make it harder to challenge other voting limits put in place by Republican lawmakers following last year’s elections.
Joining Trump at border, GOP congressman eyes path to power
Whatever the future may hold, Rep. Jim Banks, 41, is working aggressively to play a prominent role in it. A politician with mountaintop ambition, he is rising in the ranks of the House Republicans—and in the estimation of the mercurial Donald Trump.
Bipartisan senators reach tentative plan on infrastructure
The group had been narrowing on a much smaller but still sizable $1 trillion proposal of road, highway and other traditional infrastructure projects.
House panel pushes legislation targeting Big Tech’s power
The ambitious legislation could curb the market power of tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple and force them to sever their dominant platforms from their other lines of business.
Biden, GOP struggle over how to pay for infrastructure package
President Joe Biden wants to increase taxes for corporations and those households making more than $400,000 a year. Republicans have ruled that out, putting forward alternatives that Democrats find unacceptable.
Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
The House voted 415-14 Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the 12th federal holiday. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk, and he is expected to sign it into law.
Biden elevates energetic critic of Big Tech as top regulator
The selection of legal scholar Lina Khan, 32, to head the Federal Trade Commission is seen as signaling a tough stance toward tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple.
Impatient Democrats prepare to go-it-alone on infrastructure
The president and the Democratic leaders have been engaged in a two-track strategy—reaching for a bipartisan deal with Republicans but also setting the stage for a potential majority-rules strategy in case talks fail.
Westfield City Council votes to toughen up transparency rules
Under a resolution approved Monday, Westfield City Council members must now disclose whether they’ve received $1,000 or more in campaign contributions from a donor before they vote or take any action on a project originated by that donor.
Senators eye $579B in new infrastructure spending as part of $1T plan
Lawmakers say the group’s tentative agreement represents important progress in fashioning a bill that can pass such an evenly divided Congress this year, but they are also aware that it could easily unravel.