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Latest Stories
Lawmaker sees no quick action on expected road funding crunch
Indiana highway agency and construction industry officials outlined to a state task force a worrisome picture of rising costs for road projects combined with a looming loss of fuel tax revenue going toward that work. A key lawmaker, however, said after Thursday’s first meeting of the committee studying future road funding options that he didn’t …
Probate code commission votes down 2 drafts of proposed legislation
The Interim Committee on Probate Code Study Commission voted to include in its final report eight of the 10 proposed pieces of legislation included in the commission’s Tuesday meeting agenda. The pair of preliminary drafts omitted from the commission’s final report — preliminary drafts 3100 and 3110 — can still be considered by the General …
The political meteor: Victoria Spartz
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Walking in the hallway past the Indiana Senate, John Ruckelshaus felt two massive hands grab his shoulders, spinning him around. He came face-to-face with an exasperated Senate President Pro Tem David Long, who gave him a new charge: Manage then-state Sen. Victoria Spartz. The Republican Spartz had seemingly come out of nowhere …
A look at major Indiana mayoral races
INDIANAPOLIS — Downtown became the focus in the race between Democrat Mayor Joe Hogsett and Republican challenger Jefferson Shreve, who wants to reopen Indiana’s original roundabout — Monument Circle — to vehicular traffic. Shreve announced his vision for the future of downtown Indianapolis on Tuesday. Shreve said he would bring developments and strategic initiatives downtown …
Mueller vs. Upchurch: A preview of the South Bend mayoral election
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — South Bend Mayor James Mueller, the Democratic incumbent, is seeking a second term in a race against apathy. “No one seemed to know there was an election,” Mueller said of the reaction when he began campaigning in neighborhoods right after Labor Day. Mindful of the upsets of Democrats in St. Joseph …
Columns
View MoreDonald Trump is laying it all on the table
INDIANAPOLIS — As things stand today, former President Donald J. Trump is the prohibitive favorite to win his third Republican presidential nomination next year. He leads the Real Clear Politics national composite by a resounding and unprecedented 53%. He leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by 33% in Iowa and Nikki Haley by 31% in New …
Don’t expect the UAW to grow
MUNCIE, Ind. — The United Auto Workers strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis (Chrysler) is now a week old, with little evidence of progress towards a resolution. But it is always difficult to judge the progress of negotiations, so anything could’ve happened between my penning this column and you reading it. While we wait for …
Who’s to blame for the budget deficit?
GARY, Ind — Complaining about the nation’s budget deficit after partying like drunk sailors on leave is bad theater — more farce than substance. After Republicans added an obscene $8 trillion to the nation’s tab under the Trump administration, the Freedom Caucus, the most conservative of factions within the House, forced a debt ceiling …
Much ado about illegal immigration
CARMEL, Ind. — I love my country, so you can trust me when I tell you that I get it when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration. I’ve never faced unrelenting hunger, homelessness, fear of genocide, fear of drug cartels, a lack of clean drinking water or a fear of contracting a rare …
Indiana’s untold story needs telling
INDIANAPOLIS — Ashley, Indiana, is astride the border separating DeKalb and Steuben counties, north of Fort Wayne. In 2022, Ashley had 1,032 residents, just eight people short of its 1900 peak. Today, Ashley has joined so many other Indiana towns where a major employer is closing down. Just before Labor Day, Tram Inc. announced 155 employees …
News & Analysis
View MoreState health officials offer feedback on federal government’s COVID response
Indiana’s health leaders today told a commission that analyzes the nation’s biodefense capabilities how the federal government can better help the state respond to the next pandemic. Members of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, a privately funded entity, traveled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this morning to hear testimony from Gov. Eric Holcomb and other state …
Statehouse Briefs: Holcomb calls federal shutdown ‘avoidable’
Gov. Eric Holcomb said state officials have been preparing for the possibility of a federal government shutdown starting this weekend, although he called the prospect “avoidable.” The Republican governor told reporters Wednesday that he didn’t expect immediate disruptions of state government operations even if congressional Republicans and President Joe Biden can’t reach a deal by …
Indiana considering digital wallets as a way to store certificates, licenses
The Indiana Department of Administration issued a request for information yesterday that seeks ways to create “secure, dynamic” digital wallets for Hoosiers’ use. Indiana currently offers certificates and licenses from myriad state agencies for citizens. According to the RFI, millions of Hoosiers have one or more of such documents, which are “sent as paper-based documents …
Indiana Supreme Court sides with super PAC group
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that state law prohibits corporations from giving money to super PACs — siding with an organization that has asked federal courts to find such limits unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s opinion released Monday comes in a case first filed in federal court in 2021 by the Indiana Right to Life …
Ex-Rep. John Jacob seeking Sandlin’s Senate seat in bid to avenge 2022 primary ouster
Former state Rep. John Jacob is aiming for a return to the Legislature by seeking to replace Sen. Jack Sandlin following his death last week. Jacob announced his intentions in a Facebook post Monday that simply said: “I plan to run for State Senator, SD36 in the upcoming caucus. Please pray!” He didn’t immediately return …