DC statehood approved by House as Senate fight looms
A decades-long movement to reshape the American political map took a further step Thursday as the House of Representatives approved a bill to make the nation’s capital the 51st state.
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Michelle Allen named Director of Office of Administrative Law Proceedings
Michelle Allen, deputy director and general counsel of the Office of Administrative Law Proceedings, has been selected as the office’s new director, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday.
Bill restricting local officials’ health orders passes
Indiana lawmakers voted Wednesday in favor of limiting the authority of county or city health departments by allowing local elected officials to overturn orders or enforcement actions issued during emergencies.
SCOTUS wants Indiana to respond to absentee voting suit
U.S. Supreme Court justices want Indiana to justify its absentee voting restrictions and have formally requested the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to respond to a constitutional challenge after the state previously waived its right to reply.
Indiana budget plan invests revenue bump in education, infrastructure
An extra $2 billion in revenue has led to new and “historic” investments in education, small businesses and broadband, Indiana legislative and executive leaders announced Tuesday.
Legislators back expanded gambling at tribe’s South Bend casino
Indiana legislators have endorsed a deal allowing the tribal casino in South Bend to become a full-fledged competitor to Indiana’s other casinos.
Holcomb signs bill expanding aid to small businesses hurt by pandemic
Additional relief from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be on the way to Hoosier small businesses, as Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill Monday creating a grant program that extends and expands existing aid.
Indiana agrees to deal giving local officials say over health orders
Indiana legislative negotiators have reached an agreement on limiting the authority of county or city health departments by allowing local elected officials to overturn orders or enforcement actions issued during emergencies.
Police ID 2 guns used by FedEx shooter, cite white supremacist websites
Police on Monday identified the two weapons used by Brandon Scott Hole when he shot and killed eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis late last Thursday.
JNC to interview candidates to succeed Kirsch on COA in May
All 23 lawyers and judges who applied to succeed Judge James Kirsch on the Indiana Court of Appeals will be interviewed by the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission next month.
SCOTUS rejects lingering 2020 election challenge case
The United States Supreme Court on Monday said it will not hear a case out of Pennsylvania related to the 2020 election, a case that had lingered while similar election challenges had already been rejected by the justices.
Indiana budget outlook shows bigger tax revenue jump
A new state tax revenue forecast given to state legislators Thursday projects those collections going up by more than 4% in each of the next two years. That could mean about $2 billion more available for the new two-year state budget being completed by legislative negotiators after the last forecast in December projected growth between 2% and 3%.
Judge: BP’s Whiting refinery violated soot emission limits
A BP refinery in northwestern Indiana repeatedly violated air pollution standards for soot emissions between 2015 and 2018, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by environmental advocates.
General Assembly overrides veto, sets stage for court fight over governor’s emergency powers
The Indiana House on Thursday morning voted to override Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of a bill giving legislators more authority to intervene during emergencies declared by the governor.
Wetlands deregulation bill advances to Indiana governor
Lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a disputed bill seeking to remove protections from Indiana’s already diminished wetlands amid mounting criticism that the legislation could cause damage to the state’s waterways, wildlife and vegetation.
Indiana House sends Lake, St. Joe judicial selection bill to Holcomb
Despite final pleas from Lake County Democratic lawmakers to kill a controversial judicial selection bill that one said treats their county and St. Joseph County “as stepchildren,” the Indiana House voted Wednesday to agree to Senate amendments, sending House Bill 1453 to Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Indiana to pause using J&J vaccine, switch to Moderna shot at mass vaccination clinic
Indiana health officials say they will pause using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 at all clinics that use it, following reports of potentially dangerous blood clots, and instead use the two-dose Moderna vaccine.
Student fires at officers at Tennessee school, is killed
A student opened fire on officers responding to a report of a possible gunman at a Tennessee high school Monday, and police shot back and killed him, authorities said. The shooting wounded an officer and comes as the community reels from off-campus gun violence that has left three other students dead this year.
House passes juvenile justice bill on strong bipartisan vote
Described as a “model of the nation,” an Indiana juvenile justice reform bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives with Democrats and Republicans all voting in support of the measure.
Indiana lawmakers plan on return for redistricting votes
Indiana lawmakers won’t be done for the year when their regular legislative session ends later this month. Legislative leaders are laying the groundwork for a return by all 150 lawmakers to Indianapolis months from now to approve new congressional and General Assembly districts based on data from last year’s census.