U.S. Senate confirms financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary
At his confirmation hearing last month, Lutnick dismissed as “nonsense” the idea that tariffs contribute to inflation.
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U.S. reverses plan to shut down free COVID test program
Internal documents show that officials at HHS had been considering whether to continue the program or dispose of millions of tests.
Some local governments are slowing spending as lawmakers debate property tax cuts
The bill would reduce property taxes—and therefore reduce local government revenue—by about $1.4 billion over three years, according to the bill’s fiscal plan.
Partisan school boards, payday lending bills move forward
With the committee deadline over, lawmakers are now working with fewer bills in the 2025 session.
Elon Musk advises Trump but doesn’t work for DOGE, White House says
The government’s representation comes in stark contrast to Musk’s public image as the power behind the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.
Indiana panel advances AG-backed immigration crackdown
The bill would also ban employers from “knowingly or intentionally” recruiting, hiring or employing people not authorized to work in the U.S.
Trump casts psychiatric and weight-loss drugs as threats to children
President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to scrutinize the “threat” to children posed by antidepressants, stimulants and other common psychiatric drugs.
New neighbors? Bill to explore annexing Illinois counties moves out of House committee
House Bill 1008 would create a commission to discuss how Indiana could “embrace” counties in Illinois who want to secede from their state.
Public camping ban passes key legislative deadline despite law enforcement concerns
A lobbyist for the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association testified House Bill 1662 could put additional strain on already-crowded county jails.
Trump administration tries to bring back fired nuclear weapons workers in DOGE reversal
The layoffs were part of a Department of Government Efficiency purge that targeted about 2,000 Department of Energy employees.
Mike Pence emerges as one of the few Republicans willing to challenge Trump 2.0
The former vice president’s refusal to break with Trump defined their time together in office until the two had a falling out over Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.
Opposition brings likely end to Indiana utility siting bill, but the issue isn’t going away
A key lawmaker called the bill a response to ongoing resistance of local governments to greenlight solar, wind and other renewables projects that are necessary to support the state’s growing energy demands.
State posts second straight month of better-than-expected revenue
Income taxes drove the overall increase, with collections up 4.7% more than the agency anticipated.
Musk’s DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS
The news comes as roughly 150 million taxpayers prepare to file returns by the April 15 deadline.
ICE struggles to boost arrest numbers despite infusion of resources
The administration has stopped publishing daily numbers, and Trump officials said they will release the data on a monthly basis to conserve resources.
As Musk reshapes the government, some ask: Where are the guardrails?
In the long term, it’s still possible that many existing fire walls could stop or slow Musk’s efforts to collect mountains of data and slash thousands of federal jobs.
Five takeaways from the just-released House Republican budget plan
The two-year spending plan funds many of Gov. Mike Braun’s agenda items—including additional funding for private school vouchers—but doesn’t include several state tax cuts the new governor proposed.
New rule aims to help consumers cancel subscriptions, memberships
The click-to-cancel rule went into effect Jan. 14, although sellers have until May 14 to comply.
Q&A with entrepreneur Brian Schutt on tariffs: ‘It’s just math’
“I don’t think there’s going to be a company immune to the rising tide of costs.”
Advocates warn of wide-ranging impact of proposed HIP changes
Senate Bill 2 would introduce restrictions on the Healthy Indiana Plan, a Medicaid program that pays for the health care needs of more than 750,000 Hoosiers.