State’s pensions stung by oil plunge
The drop in oil prices since July left more money in consumer bank accounts, but it was costly to Indiana’s pension funds.
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Education roundup: One bill reducing super’s power left
The Senate Education Committee is considering numerous pieces of education-related legislation, including a bill aimed at removing the state superintendent of public instruction as chair of the Indiana State Board of Education.
Committee passes bill to OK online gambling on horse racing
House Bill 1270 would allow horse racing fans to bet on their favorite horses from their personal phones or computers.
School chiefs weigh in on proposed new funding formula
Leaders from some of Indiana's poorest school districts said Tuesday they fear proposed funding cuts they're facing, while those from growing districts are worried proposed increases for them won't be enough.
State rep from Indy apologizes for Weiner-like behavior
Rep. Justin Moed, D-Indianapolis, issued an apology Tuesday for what he calls “poor judgment” following an online report that he sent nude photographs of himself and gifts to a woman tied to a 2013 sexting scandal involving a former New York congressman.
Key lawmakers draw scrutiny for ties to soccer team
House Speaker Brian Bosma and House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Greg Steurwald did legal work for the Indy Eleven and owner Ersal Ozdemir's Keystone Construction Corp.
Veteran advocates say issues have been tabled in Legislature
Dozens of proposals have been sidelined, including one that would create a $2 million program to treat those with traumatic brain injuries.
State tax revenue misses expectations again
For the first eight months of fiscal year 2015, Indiana tax revenue is down 1 percent, or about $91 million. Tax receipts have missed expectations in six out of those eight months.
Kenley: Slower-than-expected tax revenue warrants caution
Indiana Senate budget chief Luke Kenley said he might be a bit more restrained with spending in his version of the next two-year budget because the state has not been meeting its revenue projections for the current fiscal year.
Ballard: Polluters dawdling on brownfield cleanup
The owners of more than 20 polluted industrial sites in Indianapolis are hiding behind the legal protections of a state-run voluntary program to delay cleanup, Mayor Greg Ballard alleges in a letter to state regulators.
Analysis: New nursing homes didn’t cause glut
An IBJ analysis of occupancy data from nursing homes built since 2012 and open at least one year found that newer facilities are filling their skilled-nursing beds at a lower rate than established nursing homes statewide.
Senate panel advances bill to ban microbeads
Senate Commerce and Technology Committee members voted 6-0 Thursday to advance the measure that would gradually phase out the sale and production of cosmetics with microbeads. The House unanimously passed the legislation last month.
Senate committee considering teacher tax credit bill
Indiana teachers would get a $200 tax credit to help pay for classroom supplies under legislation considered Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee.
Indiana lawmakers advance rules for e-cigarette liquids
Several owners of vaping-related businesses told Senate committee members it would cost them thousands of dollars to comply with the proposed regulations.
Senate panel considers ‘right-to-try’ trial drugs bill
An Indiana Senate committee is considering a bill that would give terminally ill patients easier access to experimental drugs that have not received full federal approval. Indiana is one of nearly two dozen states that are considering the legislation.
Bill would educate students about their college loans
Students using loans to pay for college might get some extra help when it comes to gathering information about their debt load if an Indiana House bill becomes law.
Zoeller to lawmakers: Pay attention to health risks of e-cigarettes
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller told lawmakers he wants to see Indiana do more when it comes to “the issues of e-cigarette and liquid nicotine” use, and he wants to see legislators address the issue this session.
Lawmakers slash funding for economic development plan
The Regional Cities initiative, an economic development proposal focused on Indiana’s struggling metropolitan areas, will come before the Senate with less than a quarter of the funding proposed by Gov. Mike Pence.
Debate on common wage repeal lingers during contractor event
A proposal to repeal the state law that sets wages for public construction projects requires further study instead of a quick vote, opponents of the measure said Monday at the Indiana Statehouse.
Consultants map out steps to avoid repeat of testing uproar
Indiana needs to improve communication between its education leaders, hire more staff and take other steps to prevent a repeat of the “thorny issues” surrounding the length of this year’s ISTEP+ exam, two consultants hired by the state say.