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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. Current Rep. Donna Schaibley, R-Carmel, announced in October that she would not seek reelection in 2024. House District 24 includes parts of Boone and Hamilton counties. Smith played for the Colts from 1999 to 2008, then played an […]
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. That’s prompted a divided response over what to do instead. It’s a chance for reform, some government transparency and ethics advocates say. But others — industry leaders, experts […]
Lottery Commission approves $50k payout to man with torn-up winning ticket
Two recent lottery winners got differing results from Tuesday’s Hoosier Lottery Commission meeting — one reaped thousands while another received nothing. Paul Marshall had a winning $50,000 Powerball ticket. Hoosier Lottery participating retailers can’t pay tickets of more than $600, so when Marshall took his to a retailer, a machine spat out written instructions to […]
Holcomb releases five-dozen videos promoting Hoosier attractions
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Imagine Indiana — a nonprofit that promotes Indiana — recently released 62 videos touting the state’s top attractions. Dubbed, “All Around Indiana,” the project features a buffalo preserve, caves, parks, racing, sandhill crane migration and more — plus, a variety of industries. Holcomb narrates the videos. The project, Holcomb said, is […]
Indiana abortions drop steeply after ban goes into effect — but don’t hit zero
Indiana abortions plummeted to low double-digits after a near-total ban went into effect over the summer, according to data from the state’s health department. Abortion clinics stopped providing the procedures August 1, although the ban officially took hold on August 21. The law, which strips clinics of their licenses, includes several narrow exceptions: for the […]
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. They’re also planning to tackle student truancy, antisemitism and more during the non-budget session, which will begin in earnest Jan. 8 and […]
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. They’re not taking on gambling expansions, water fights or costly initiatives during the shorter non-budget session, which begins in January and must end by mid-March. “We’ve had three aggressive sessions — three years, in which we’ve […]
Democrat Destiny Wells launches attorney general bid
Democrat Destiny Wells on Monday announced that she’s running for Indiana attorney general. It’s the party executive, lawyer and veteran’s second bid for public office; she lost a 2022 race for secretary of state. Wells said incumbent Republican Todd Rokita has used his powers “in an abusive way” — and said that as attorney general, […]
FSSA extends applications for employer-sponsored child care grants
Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) on Friday announced it will extend the application period for its employer-sponsored child care grants by adding a second window. The $25 million program offers employers seed funding for child care initiatives using some of the state’s remaining pandemic-era federal relief funds. The agency opened the program, which […]
Young to take on alumni, donor college admissions — without stepping on religious toes
When the nation’s highest court overturned race-conscious admission decisions, affirmative action supporters and detractors alike set their sights on another controversial admissions practice: the consideration of applicant relationships to alumni and donors. Among them was U.S. Sen. Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana. He called the practice an “impediment to fair admissions standards” and said […]
Holcomb visits Hoosier soldiers in Kenya ahead of Thanksgiving
Indiana National Guard members stationed in Kenya — who will miss Thanksgiving at home and likely Christmas — asked Gov. Eric Holcomb only for more ping pong balls and corn hole bags during a visit this week. “I think I can do that,” Holcomb told reporters of the requests. “(The soldiers) just ooze duty, honor, […]
INDOT faces fiscal cliff without road funding changes
Indiana’s Department of Transportation (INDOT) expects to lose billions of dollars in revenue in the coming decades as more Hoosiers buy alternative fuel-using and fuel-efficient vehicles. That might mean changes to a popular grant program’s funding mix, and more. “We already see that we’ve got an issue, and if we don’t do something in the […]