What’s coming in impeachment: The inquiry goes public
For only the fourth time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives has started a presidential impeachment inquiry. Here’s a quick forecast of what’s coming this week.
Elections
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Democratic mayors win reelection in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne
The Democratic mayors of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne cruised to big victories in Tuesday’s local elections, denying Republicans their hopes of capturing leadership in either of Indiana’s largest cities.
Harrison home as polling site sets national example
It is fitting that a spot where hundreds of thousands of people once gathered to hear a Hoosier candidate for the White House speak is now a place where Marion County voters can cast their ballots. The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site opened its doors early Tuesday to help facilitate the fundamental activity of representational democracy.
Voters deciding Indiana mayoral races, fate of new casino
Voters across Indiana are casting the final ballots to decide who will fill dozens of mayoral offices, with Republicans and Democrats wrapping up competitive campaigns in several cities.
Suit seeks to ban Indiana voting machines lacking paper trail
A lawsuit being filed in Indianapolis on Thursday will ask a federal court to decertify voting machines in the state before the 2020 election that do not provide a voter-verified paper trail. The suit says about 58 of Indiana’s 92 counties continue to use machines at the polls that lack a paper trail and are therefore not sufficiently secure.
Indiana voters weary of more investigations as impeachment ramps up
Polling finds that support for the inquiry has grown since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced the start of the investigation last month following a whistleblower complaint. But what those numbers don’t show is the sense of fatigue among some Americans — a factor that could be significant as Democrats leading the inquiry debate how to proceed with an election year approaching.
House Democrats subpoena Giuliani in Trump impeachment probe
Democrats on Monday subpoenaed Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer who was at the heart of Trump’s efforts to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden’s family.
Indiana election upgrade leaves widespread paperless voting
Indiana officials are launching a statewide election system upgrade that will add devices to perhaps 2,000 electronic voting machines and allow them to display a paper record to voters. The State Budget Committee voted Friday to approve releasing $6 million in funding for that project.
Mears announces candidacy for Marion County prosecutor
Ryan Mears, who was tapped to serve as interim Marion County prosecutor earlier this week, announced his candidacy for the office Wednesday.
Trump ordered aid frozen; more Democrats want impeachment
President Donald Trump ordered his staff to freeze nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine a few days before a phone call in which he pressured the eastern European nation’s leader to investigate the family of political rival Joe Biden, a revelation that comes as more Democrats move toward impeachment proceedings.
Key Senate panel approves $250 million for election security
A key Senate panel on Thursday approved $250 million to help states beef up their election systems, freeing up the money after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell came under criticism from Democrats for impeding separate election security legislation.
Bopp Law Office loses attorney fees lawsuit
A former Illinois Congressman who redecorated his Capitol Hill office in an extravagant “Downton Abbey” style and then was indicted in 2016 for federal campaign finance violations has won a dispute over attorney fees against his former counsel, the Bopp Law Firm in Terre Haute.
Despite state’s ‘negligence or malice,’ court denies ballot-access injunction
An Indianapolis resident who wanted to add his name to the November mayoral ballot cannot do so now that a federal judge has upheld a finding by the Marion County Election Board that the would-be candidate failed to acquire enough legitimate voter signatures. However, the court also raised concerns about language on a candidate form that could make it “more difficult for voters to support independent candidates,” yet found the language was not enough of a burden to overrule the board’s decision.
Candidate’s suit challenges caucus to pick Johnson County prosecutor
The selection of a new Johnson County prosecutor will continue as scheduled Thursday night, even though one of the candidates filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the Republican Party caucus to select a successor to Bradley Cooper, who was removed from office.
7th Circuit: Indiana voter purge provision violates federal law
In a ruling that reminded Indiana of the need to protect the integrity of the voting process, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the state from kicking individuals off the voter rolls based solely on a match in the Crosscheck database.
7th Circuit blocks Indiana voter purge law
A federal appeals court has confirmed that Indiana’s attempt to cleanse its voter rolls by using the controversial Crosscheck database violates the National Voter Registration Act. The ruling upholds a lower court ruling in a suit brought by a national public-interest group.
Key motivator for Democrat Tallian’s AG bid: ‘Curtis Hill has to go’
Vowing an aggressive campaign in a race that in the past has often been overshadowed by upticket contests, Democratic Indiana Sen. Karen Tallian explained what motivated her to announce her candidacy for attorney general. “My answer is Curtis Hill has to go, and somebody needs to do it, and it needs to be attorneys.”
Plaintiffs challenge Mich. redistricting panel’s independence
The release of emails in the gerrymandering lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters spurred Michigan residents to strip their legislators of redistricting duties and turn the mapmaking over to an independent commission. However, a new federal lawsuit is challenging the new body, asserting the exclusion of certain individuals violates the First and 14th amendments.
Long partisan gerrymandering fight ends, but struggle continues
For a team of Indiana lawyers who successfully litigated a case contesting partisan gerrymandering in Michigan, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision was a disappointment that likely will vacate the judgment in their favor. Legal observers say the issue now will be fought in statehouses across the country.
Johnson County GOP delays selection of new prosecutor
The selection of a new Johnson County prosecutor has been delayed two weeks after county Republicans were told Thursday night that none of the candidates had filed all of the necessary forms.