Judge turns away challenge to smoking ordinance
A federal judge has denied a challenge to a smoking ordinance passed last year by the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council.
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School corporation’s renovation of building violated public bidding laws
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s renovation of a building to be used to house all administrative offices violated the state’s Public Bidding Laws.
Senate panel to hear problem-solving courts, ‘sovereign citizen’ bills
Proposals to expand services offered by problem-solving courts and to attempt to curtail fraudulent liens and other tactics of so-called sovereign citizens will be heard Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
House committee to hear sex offender, immediate detention bills
The Senate Corrections & Criminal Law Committee meets Tuesday morning to hear four bills, including a bill altering registry requirements and procedures for sex offenses and sex offenders.
Medicaid expansion not dead but Legislature still divided
When talking about expanding Medicaid under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, both sides of the aisle in the Statehouse focus on the same point – costs.
Environmental groups lob new suit at I-69 work
An Indiana environmental group once again is attempting to stop construction of the Interstate 69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis by filing suit in federal court.
Bill creating study of judicial retirement benefits moves to House
A Senate bill asking the Legislative Council to have the Pension Management Oversight Commission look at the retirement, disability and death benefits provided to judges and full-time magistrates passed out of the Senate Tuesday by a vote of 50-0.
Senate defeats DNA collection bill
Legislation that would require every person arrested after June 30 for certain crimes to submit a DNA sample failed to pass the Senate Tuesday.
Long expects Criminal Code revision will get Senate approval
Indiana’s first major rewrite of the state’s Criminal Code in more than 30 years is now in the hands of the Senate where the Senate leader believes it will ultimately be approved.
Company loses inverse condemnation claim
The 17-month period beginning when a Terre Haute Board of Zoning Appeals ordered a company seeking a special exception to provide public water to surrounding homes and ending when that condition was overturned by a judge did not constitute inverse condemnation, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Wednesday.
Giving felons a chance to wipe their records clean
The Indiana General Assembly moving forward with expungement bill.
Overhaul of Criminal Code approved by House
The bill rewriting Indiana’s Criminal Code gained approval of the House of Representatives Monday by an 80 to 13 vote. The measure now moves to the Senate.
IDEM’s application of new antidegradation rule raising ire
After more than 10 years of protracted and, at times, contentious debate, Indiana finalized protections for some of its most clean waters. But less than a year after taking effect, a short letter denying an antidegradation application has unleashed criticism that the state is not implementing the rule as intended.
Tracking fracking in Indiana
Recent laws provide regulations, but an effort for advance plan approval gains little traction.
Will small claims court stay or will it go?
Marion County’s busiest docket is at the center of a judge-trustee tug-of-war over location.
Legislature considers changes to prosecutors’ and judges’ retirement funds
In the House of Representatives, a bill that would change features of the Prosecuting Attorneys Retirement Fund is eligible for a third reading vote. In the Senate, a bill calling for a study of judges’ pensions is ready for second reading Monday as well.
Ban on police cell phone searches in texting-while-driving cases advances
Police would be restricted in most cases from retrieving information from cell phones and similar devices for violation of texting-while-driving laws under a measure that passed the Indiana Senate on Thursday.
Bills on magistrates; custody and visitation pass House
The Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1041 Thursday morning 96-0. The bill addresses petitions to modify custody and visitation involving children who have been abused or neglected.
7th Circuit rejects hospital’s claims for $20M more in federal aid
Columbus Regional Hospital, which was flooded following heavy rains in southern Indiana in 2008, is not entitled to an additional $20 million in disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in addition to the $70 million it already received, the 7th Circuit concluded Wednesday.
Proposed changes would make convicted felons serve at least 75 percent of sentence
The worst-of-the-worst criminal offenders will be facing more time while low-level offenders will be given intensive probation under the new sentencing provisions included in the rewrite of the Indiana Criminal Code.