Madison County prosecutor considering challenge to Attorney General Todd Rokita
Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings is exploring a possible bid at the Indiana Republican Party’s state convention in June.
Politics & Government
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McConnell to step down as Senate Republican leader in November after record run
The 82-year-old Kentucky lawmaker is the longest-serving Senate leader in history.
Reading bill clears Indiana House; controversial tenure bill also approved
Lawmakers voted Tuesday to approve two contentious education bills—one would require school corporations to retain students who fail to pass the IREAD exam and another would push state universities to include more politically diverse instruction.
House panel weakens bill limiting Indiana governor’s executive powers
Despite the changes, bill author Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, said he was “supportive of the bill moving” and professed “trust” in the legislative process.
Appeals court lifts injunction that allowed gender-transition procedures for minors in Indiana
In his ruling, the judge emphasized that each side agreed about the need for more research on the long-term effects of gender-transition procedures.
Indiana Election Commission, state high court rule against John Rust, removing him from ballot
Rust, running to succeed U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, was seeking to challenge Congressman Jim Banks for the GOP nomination in the May 2024 primary.
Indiana’s absenteeism bill could bar students from extracurriculars, ban parents from campus
A revised bill targeting absenteeism would require schools to prohibit habitually truant students from extracurricular activities, and would also impose a penalty on parents who make unproven allegations against teachers.
Blue Line ‘on life support’ after transit bill advances in Indiana House
Senate Bill 52, a Republican-authored bill that leaders of Indianapolis’ public transit agency say could kill the planned Blue Line, advanced out of committee to the full Indiana House on Tuesday.
House keeps retention mandate in literacy overhaul bill, tweaks higher ed measures
A mandate to require reading-deficient third graders in Indiana to be held back a year in school withstood challenges from Democrats on Monday—although some Republican lawmakers joined in opposing stricter retention.
Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry says he has late-stage stomach cancer
Henry, 72, was elected to his fifth term as mayor of the city of about 270,000 residents in November.
Supreme Court casts doubt on GOP-led states’ efforts to regulate social media platforms
In nearly four hours of arguments, several justices questioned aspects of laws adopted by Republican-dominated legislatures and signed by Republican governors in Florida and Texas in 2021. But they seemed wary of a broad ruling.
Indiana’s bills on civics education get major changes in final weeks of session
One bill has been stripped of language on civics education to instead focus on allowing chaplains in public schools.
Manufacturer-friendly ‘forever chemicals’ bill abandoned by Indiana Senate committee
The proposal sought to proactively exempt the chemicals in case state or federal regulators try to ban them in the future.
Bills, bills, bills. What could still pass—and what might die—in Indiana’s 2024 session
Among the measures awaiting further action are those dealing with property taxes, 13th checks, foreign ownership of agricultural land, limits to the governor’s executive powers and expanded firearm carry rights in the state capitol complex.
Lawmakers likely to study state takeover of Washington, Meridian streets in Indianapolis
The discussion comes amid a debate over plans by IndyGo—the city’s public transportation agency—to create bus-only lanes on Washington Street (previously U.S. 40) as part of its planned Blue Line rapid-transit service.
Bill sets up cosmetology apprenticeship as licensing alternative to beauty school
Dozens of beauticians, barbers and stylists flooded the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, urging senators to take action on a bill establishing a cosmetology apprenticeship programs.
Bills on ambulance insurance, alcohol, bobcat hunting advance at Indiana Statehouse
Legislation that would require health plans to pay out-of-network ambulance providers for transports at rates set by local units has passed the Indiana Senate.
Indiana lawmakers join GOP-led states trying to target college tenure
Legislators in Indiana advanced a bill Wednesday that would limit tenure at public colleges and universities, joining conservative lawmakers across the country creating state laws to influence operations on campuses they view as unfriendly or hostile to conservative students and professors.
Supreme Court seems poised to halt EPA plan to cut cross-state pollution
Three states—Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia—and various industry groups asked the high court to put the EPA plans on hold while they work to defeat the rules in the lower courts.
Biden’s latest student-loan plan cancels $1.2B in federal loans for 153,000
The administration began sending email notifications on Wednesday to some of the borrowers who will benefit from what the White House has called the SAVE, or Saving on a Valuable Education, program.