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‘We cannot afford to be complacent’: Chamber releases 2035 economic vision for state
Indiana’s influential Chamber of Commerce on Monday released its third long-term economic plan for the state — two years ahead of schedule, and as both Indiana and the chamber itself prepare for major leadership changes. The ambitious vision seeks to advance workforce, education, business climate, infrastructure, quality of place and health initiatives. “Indiana Prosperity 2035 […]
Coffee and color-coded ballots: Hoosier elections chief includes Guatemala on his travel tour
Ten Hoosiers stood in Guatemala City, Guatemala on a Sunday in late June, watching streams of people socialize, drink coffee and listen to music. It was June 25: Election Day. Led by Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who immigrated from Guatemala in 1999, the team had traveled to observe how the country puts on […]
Longtime solicitor general leaves for the private sector
Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher will leave for a “school choice” advocacy organization next month, after nearly two decades in his role with the Attorney General’s Office. He was the first to hold the position. “It has been the professional honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Indiana as solicitor general, representing Hoosier […]
AES Indiana says state storm outage inquiry not warranted
AES Indiana says existing state regulations are sufficient — and no investigation is needed — following lengthy weather-related power outages in late June and early July that affected an estimated 100,000 people. The electricity provider, a subsidiary of Virginia-based AES Corp., serves Hoosiers living in the Indianapolis area. As a large investor-owned utility, it’s subject […]
Nonprofit executive Tim Smith joins 3rd Congressional District race
Nonprofit CEO Tim Smith on Wednesday launched his campaign for Indiana’s Third Congressional District, running as a Republican with decidedly conservative messaging. The district covers the state’s northeast corner. “In Congress, I will put a stop to the radical left’s agenda that is threatening the very freedoms that we value as Americans. I’ll fight for […]
Judge denies injunction against elementary school ban on ‘human sexuality’ education
Elementary school teacher Kayla Smiley will begin a new academic year with Indianapolis Public Schools on July 31. And she’ll do it in accordance with a new state law that supporters say shields too-young children from sex education but that critics say could ban discussions about LGBTQ+ people in schools. That’s despite her efforts to […]
A little-known nonprofit boosts Indiana’s economic development agency
Outside organizations donated nearly $3 million to a state economic development agency’s nonprofit arm over the last three years — but who the donors are, and how the agency spends their contributions are largely unknown under state rules that either don’t require or outright prohibit disclosure of that information. The groups behind all but two […]
‘I am currently suffering’: Most employers aware of staff mental health struggles, survey says
Almost two-thirds of Hoosier employers knew they had employees struggling with mental health last year, according to a Wellness Council of Indiana survey released Thursday — but just a quarter trained management on how to spot the signs and take action. The nonprofit, a subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, also found that less […]
Candidate Hill would ditch equity office launched after Floyd protests
Republican gubernatorial candidate Curtis Hill says he’d get rid of Indiana’s Office of Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity if elected — calling it “pandering” and a “drain” on resources in a Monday news release. Hill also said he wanted to “eliminate all” such “state-funded programs,” although this particular office is funded by CenterPoint Energy’s charitable arm. […]
Hoosiers $46 million in debt to state’s biggest utilities
Indiana residents owed $45.6 million to the state’s “big five” investor-owned utilities in March, the most recent month for which complete data is available — with thousands among them cut off from service. Fewer were reconnected. That’s according to data reported to Indiana’s Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, current as of June 30, under a […]
Dentists and state regulators at odds over compliance fund spending
Indiana dentists and hygienists have for a decade paid a $20 compliance fee every other year as part of license renewals. But that changes this year, after a long-simmering dispute between dentists and state regulators boiled over, sparking a state investigation and legislation. Lawmakers created a dental compliance fund in 2011 to pay for investigations […]
Indiana lawmaker participates in White House child care policy session
State Rep. Carey Hamilton, a Democrat representing Indianapolis, joined lawmakers from across the country Wednesday at a White House discussion of state-level child care policy. “Affordable child care strengthens families by freeing up income for needs such as quality food and secure housing and it strengthens our economy by growing a critical component of our […]