Government & Politics
Indiana Sen. Mike Braun pushes for more spending on agriculture research, development
LEESBURG, Ind. — Indiana Sen. Mike Braun said increasing government spending on agriculture research should be a top priority for the federal government as lawmakers in Congress craft their ongoing response to food security issues. The Republican senator met with agricultural industry leaders, including from Bayer and Purdue University, during a panel talk on Tuesday […]
Advocates push Indiana legislature to counter rising medical debt
Roughly one in six Hoosiers have medical debt in collections — higher than the national average — and it jumps to one in four residents for Hoosiers of color. In all, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that Hoosiers have $2.2 billion in outstanding debt. This means Indiana has the eleventh highest share of its […]
Biden signs into law Democrats’ wide-ranging climate change, health care and tax bill
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed his party’s signature climate, health care and tax package into law Tuesday, capping off more than a year of tumultuous negotiations that saw his original proposal to Congress slimmed down considerably. Flanked by a handful of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and […]
State Fire Marshal appointed
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday announced Brownsburg Fire Territory Fire Marshal Stephen Jones will serve as the Indiana state fire marshal. “Fire Marshal Jones brings 38 years of experience to the State of Indiana, and his expertise makes him the right person to lead our work in improving public safety for Hoosiers,” Holcomb said. “He […]
Moms trying to ban books claim First Amendment rights violated
A group of Georgia mothers has been trying to get certain library books banned by reading sexually graphic passages aloud at school board meetings. Now, after the board barred one of the mothers from attending, the group is claiming in a federal lawsuit that their First Amendment rights have been violated. In essence, members of the group, […]
House Republicans quiet post-abortion ban
There was no torrent of news releases from Indiana House Republicans after the late-night August 5 passage of the state’s new abortion restrictions, despite the hours of public testimony and debate that went into the legislation. While at least 17 of the Indiana Senate’s 39 Republicans released public comments day-of (44%), just two of the […]
Five Republicans seek Walorski’s old Congressional seat
Following the unexpected death of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, a handful of Republicans in the 2nd Congressional District have filed to to run for the seat, vying to fill the vacancy during a caucus later this week. The GOP must nominate someone for the remainder of Walorski’s term, which ends January 3, as well as someone […]
“I Voted” sticker competition for K12 students
Indiana Secretary of State Holli Sullivan is encouraging K-12 Hoosier students to use their creativity to help design ‘I Voted’ stickers for Indiana’s 2022 General Election. “Indiana is home to some very talented young artists,” Secretary Sullivan said. “I am excited to see the wonderful and creative designs our students will come up with. ‘I […]
Farm bill season arrives: What’s the outlook for 2023?
WASHINGTON — Over the course of the next year, lawmakers on the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture committees will draft a new federal farm bill that will shape food, farm, conservation and nutrition programs across the country for the next five years. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as crop supports now has […]
Potential foster families decry vaccine requirements
In Indiana, some families say they are prohibited from serving as foster homes because of their personal beliefs surrounding vaccines, which are required for the children of potential foster families. With the passage of an abortion ban, child advocates worry about the impact on the state’s foster care system, which doesn’t have enough families for […]
Indiana farmers adopting more cover crops, but more still needed
Indiana reported a record number of cover crops this year to help absorb nutrients and reduce runoff, but scientists and environmental activists say more should be done to help improve water quality locally and regionally. Hoosier farmers planted cover crops and small grains on 1.5 million acres of farmland in late 2021, matching a record […]
State revenue continues to exceed forecast
The state’s latest monthly revenue report had good news for Indiana’s coffers, with nearly every category of tax collections above estimates forecasted in December and largely bolstered by higher-than-expected gambling collections as the state starts the 2023 fiscal year. Overall, General Fund revenues for July totaled $1.5 billion, or $72.0 million (5.1%) above the December […]