Indiana House passes $291M surplus spending bill
The Indiana House has approved a spending bill that uses $291 million in surplus dollars to pay for several capital projects at higher education institutions with cash instead of issuing debt.
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Krupp enters AG race: ‘Time for Hoosiers to hire a new lawyer’
Indiana State Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Krupp announced Monday he will challenge incumbent Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill for the Republican Party nomination, saying he will promote “leadership, integrity and results.” Krupp joins a crowded field seeking to topple the embattled AG.
Justices hear Holcomb v. Bloomington annexation appeal
Arguments were heard Thursday before the state’s highest court in an annexation dispute between the City of Bloomington and the Indiana Governor’s Office, with the city defending its award of summary judgment and Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office arguing for a reversal.
Indiana may toughen retailer penalties with 21 smoking age
Indiana lawmakers are looking to toughen the penalties stores face for selling tobacco products to underaged customers as they raise the state’s minimum age for smoking and vaping from 18 to 21 to conform with the new federal law.
Pair of lawsuits battle over legality of recent push for Equal Rights Amendment
Nearly 50 years after it was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification, the Equal Rights Amendment is inciting a new round of litigation just as the Virginia Legislature is expected to soon ratify the constitutional provision.
Report blames 65 Indiana child deaths on abuse or neglect
A new report shows that 65 Indiana children died from abuse or neglect during 2018, the same number as its last year-long review. The Indiana Department of Child Services said it investigated 242 child fatalities that happened in 2018, determining 26% of those deaths were from abuse or neglect.
Indiana asks SCOTUS to uphold Louisiana admitting-privileges abortion law
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has requested that the United States Supreme Court uphold a Louisiana law requiring all ambulatory surgical centers, including abortion clinics, to hold admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.
Senator tries again to ban Indiana vouchers over gay firings
A proposal aimed at banning private schools that discriminate against gay employees and students from receiving Indiana voucher program money is being backed by the state’s Republican school superintendent.
No charges against ex-senator over Indiana lobbying contract
Prosecutors have decided a former Indiana state senator won’t face criminal charges over possible violations of state lobbying laws involving his work with the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs.
Year in Review: Baer death penalty reversal most-read IL story of 2019
A federal appeals court’s reversal of Madison County killer Fredrick Baer’s death sentence was the most-read story on the Indiana Lawyer’s digital edition, www.theindianalawyer.com. Indiana Lawyer readers clicked on stories on our website more than 2.6 million times between Jan. 1 and Dec. 10, 2019, according to Google Analytics. Here are the 50 most-viewed story headlines during that time.
Holcomb opts in to accepting refugees
Gov. Eric Holcomb is giving the green light for federal officials to continue placing refugees in Indiana, following in the footsteps of a growing group of both Democratic and Republican governors who are opting in to the federal program. The move comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in September that, for the first time, required states and local government to provide written consent to continue to receive even a handful of the 26 million refugees worldwide.
State expecting to bring in more revenue than previously estimated
The state is expecting an additional $531 million in revenue over the next biennium, according to a forecast released Friday. The revenue forecast shared with the State Budget Committee predicted an increase of $239 million and $292 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively, from the previous forecast released in April.
Report: 5th straight year with under 30 executions in US
Fewer than 30 people were executed in the United States and under 50 new death sentences were imposed for the fifth straight year, part of a continuing decline in capital punishment that saw only a few states carry out executions, a new report issued Tuesday said.
Indiana resisting marijuana trend of neighboring states
Indiana’s Republican Statehouse leaders are firmly against taking any steps toward following neighboring states in legalizing marijuana use during the upcoming legislative session. But they might not be able to avoid talking about it during the 2020 election campaign.
Newspaper report questions spending by AG’s office under Hill
A newspaper investigation has exposed questionable spending of taxpayer money by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office under embattled Republican officeholder Curtis Hill.
Ex-Evansville mayor enters Indiana attorney general race
A former mayor of Evansville is the second Democrat seeking to unseat embattled Republican Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill, setting up potential convention fights for the nomination next year in both political parties.
DCS troubles continue with arrest of former caseworker
Despite the attention the Statehouse has given to the Indiana Department of Child Services in the past two years – hiring outside consultants to review the agency and passing numerous laws regarding policies and practices within the department – an arrest of a former caseworker on neglect charges is bringing another call for more changes.
Teacher pay, health care costs to feature in 2020 legislative debate
With the start of the 2020 legislative session about a month away, party leaders are formulating their plans for the short session, with teacher pay continuing to be a point of contention.
Holcomb, labor officials insist Amazon death investigation handled properly
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Labor insist that the investigation into an Amazon employee’s death in 2017 was handled appropriately, even though the safety violations that were initially issued were eventually dismissed. Reveal, part of the not-for-profit Center for Investigative Reporting, recently highlighted the investigation as part of a report on […]
Judge dismisses lawsuit in John Dillinger exhumation case
A judge will hear an Indianapolis cemetery’s bid Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a relative of 1930s gangster John Dillinger who wants to exhume Dillinger’s gravesite to determine if the notorious criminal is actually buried there.