Former Colts punter Hunter Smith launches Statehouse bid
Hunter Smith, an Indianapolis Colts punter turned farmer, is running for an open Statehouse seat as a Republican.
Indiana Capital Chronicle
Articles
State files to dismiss media legal challenge to law enforcement “buffer zone”
The state’s highest legal office filed to dismiss a challenge Friday from a group of media entities to the state’s “buffer zone” law, which creates a 25-foot zone around law enforcement officers during certain activities.
With gambling legislation on pause, some push for reform
The leaders of the Statehouse’s dual Republican supermajorities have been clear: after recent gambling industry scandals involving former lawmakers, next year’s legislative session will include no expansion.
Committee provides updates on Medicaid programs for aging, maternal health
An estimated 130,000 Hoosiers over the age of 60 using Medicaid will receive notices in early 2024 advising them to choose a Managed Care Entity (MCE) to coordinate their health coverage under the state’s Pathways for Aging program.
Indiana teachers union presses reticent state lawmakers to reopen budget in 2024 session
Indiana’s largest teacher’s union is calling for better collective bargaining, increased pay for support staff and more say over curriculum in the upcoming legislative session.
DCS annual staffing report nearly 100% statewide
Staffing levels for family case managers meet 99% of the need statewide, according to the annual staffing and caseload report from the Department of Child Services. But some areas of the state face a greater need than others.
Lawmakers to revisit reading proficiency, holding back third-graders
Too many Hoosier third-graders can’t read at an appropriate skill level — and some shouldn’t be going on to fourth grade, Indiana lawmakers said Tuesday during the ceremonial start to the legislative session.
Less ‘aggressive’ legislative session coming, Statehouse leaders say
Moderate your expectations for the next legislative session, say Indiana’s lawmaking leaders: more tweaks and fine-tuning, and fewer overhauls.
Young to take on alumni, donor college admissions — without stepping on religious toes
Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young from Indiana and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, introduced a bill this month banning accredited institutions from offering preferential treatment to applicants with relationships to alumni or donors.
State, localities start to spend $507 million from National Opioid Settlement
Almost a year after distributions started from the National Opioid Settlement, only $7.1 million has been put to use so far in Indiana as local units of government wrestle with how to make the most of the payments.
Rep. Bob Cherry won’t seek reelection, ending 25 years in seat
Rep. Bob Cherry announced Friday he won’t seek reelection in 2024, retiring after serving out his current term.
Judge denies request to quash attorney general’s civil demands
Two Indianapolis hospitals and a Goshen clinic will be forced to further answer civil demands on health care provided to transgender Hoosier minors, a judge has ruled.
Senate candidate Rust pushes for primary ballot access in court
A Marion County judge heard hours of argument Wednesday about whether an Indiana law disenfranchises Hoosiers from running on their preferred primary election ballot.
Indiana legislative committee weighs cannabis legalization but fails to make recommendations
Could Indiana be moving toward less stringent marijuana laws, or even total cannabis legalization?
Health entities providing gender transition care turn to court to quash attorney general’s request
Three health care entities urged a Marion County judge to quash civil investigative demands from Attorney General Todd Rokita on Tuesday, part of an ongoing battle over gender transition care.
State lawmaker panel weighs solutions to Indiana’s lawyer shortage
Indiana’s legal community is raising alarms about a statewide shortage of attorneys that has already led to barren courtrooms leaving hundreds of Hoosiers unrepresented.
Lawmakers grapple with legal, educational implications of AI
Artificial intelligence promises to revolutionize how people work, and nearly every aspect of life could be transformed — prompting lawmakers in an interim commerce committee to scrutinize the new technology and how to best regulate it.
Hoosiers gave ‘Zoom court’ high marks
For thousands of Hoosiers undergoing civil proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic, remote hearings or “Zoom court” allowed them to attend safely and conveniently.
New performance report cards go live on each Indiana school’s website, replacing A-F grades
To increase transparency around Indiana students’ education performance, new report cards issued by the state education department are now required to be posted on nearly every Hoosier school’s website.
Replacing income tax with sales tax hike would cost poor Hoosiers more, experts say
Axing Indiana’s individual income tax and replacing just half the revenue with a sales tax hike would cost the state’s poorest residents an additional $62 and hand the top 1% of earners a $30,000 tax cut, a think tank told state lawmakers Friday.