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From Hawaii to Taiwan, state picks up the tab when legislators hit the road
When the Indiana General Assembly is not in session, state legislators are often traveling to conferences on the taxpayer’s dime — but not all are run-of-the-mill policy talks. From organizations with religious undertones to opportunities for corporate influence, legislators are rubbing shoulders with a range of controversial actors. And the state of Indiana pays for […]
Push to shape future of Indiana forests draws backlash
When agencies burn Indiana forests, they hope to see oak rise from the ashes. But environmentalists believe the solution for the oak problem is costing the climate, clean water and wildlife. For decades, Hoosier activists have been fighting what they view as improper forest management plans by government agencies like the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) […]
Midway rides, fried food and livestock highlight the Indiana State Fair
From deep-fried corn to heightened public safety rules, here’s all Hoosiers need to know about this year’s Indiana State Fair. The fair begins Friday and goes through Aug. 20, although it will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Last year more than 837,000 people attended the event. This year, a new public safety rule will […]
Indiana announces $2 million in funds for food banks
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture this week announced a historic $2 million in funding for the state’s 11 food banks, doubling last year’s funding. The money was authorized by the Indiana General Assembly as part of the budget bill passed last session. “Providing for Hoosiers who are food insecure across our state is a […]
Homeownership dream dwindling as high mortgage rates are the latest to affect housing prices
The American dream of homeownership is getting further out of reach for many Hoosiers. As pandemic-era supply shortages began to return to normal, home prices fell, giving prospective homebuyers hope they could find something affordable. But those hopes were dashed for some who found they could not pay the high mortgage rates, which are currently […]
Final round of broadband grants open today
The fourth and final round of Indiana’s Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program opened today, offering telecommunications providers and utilities a total of $80 million in grants to deliver high-speed internet to Hoosiers. “Whether I’m meeting with realtors in Allen County or farmers in Montgomery County, access to affordable and reliable high-speed connectivity is the […]
Indianapolis to host annual conference for state lawmakers across nation
Indianapolis will host The National Conference of State Legislatures’ 48th annual Legislative Summit at the Indiana Convention Center from Aug. 14 through 16. The summit is held in a different city each year, with the previous two summits being held in Denver, Colorado and Tampa, Florida. The conference was set to be held in Indianapolis […]
“Game changer” bill aims to revolutionize mental health care system
Several weeks ago, Porter-Starke Services — one of Indiana’s 24 community mental health clinics — received a call. A person was experiencing a mental health crisis and was suicidal, but the office was closing. The only option left was Starke County’s hospital, which Sandy Carlson, Porter-Starke’s vice president of clinical services, said is small and […]
Attorney General criticizes Target for Pride merchandise, alleges breach of duty to shareholders
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita criticized Target’s Pride campaign in a letter released Thursday, claiming the corporation is infringing on states’ ability to “safeguard citizens.” The letter was signed by the attorney generals of six other states — Idaho, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina and Kentucky — and expresses legal concerns over Target’s “possible violation of […]
Indiana now has a comptroller
State Auditor Tera Klutz will now be known as the State Comptroller to dispel the common misconception that the job of the state auditor is to audit — which has never really been the case. The change became official July 1, when House Enrolled Act 1001 took effect. A comptroller, which generally oversees the accounting […]
Learning to lead at Future Presidents of America camp
While many young Hoosiers are enjoying their summers at the pool or playing video games at a friends’ house, a group of 18 teenagers are in a classroom planning for the future. As they listen to a speech from Marion Superior Court Judge Ryan Gardner, students take notes, sip water or Dunkin iced coffee and […]
Youth tobacco use declines, e-cigarettes used more frequently
While overall youth tobacco use is at its lowest since 2012, minors are using e-cigarettes more frequently than previous years, according to the 2022 Indiana Youth Tobacco survey released Tuesday. The survey takes place every two years, gathering responses from more than 2,900 high school students and 2,500 middle school students in 2022. The findings […]