Conservative lawmaker says leaders drew maps to oust him
Freshman Rep. John Jacob spent his first year in the Indiana House of Representatives pushing what he calls “ultra conservative” issues.
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Students, experts discuss red flag statute, other topics during IU McKinney gun law symposium
The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law on Friday hosted national gun law and gun violence experts at the Program on Law and State Government’s fellowship symposium exploring state governments’ responses to gun violence across the United States.
Senate Democrats hosting own redistricting hearings
Senate Democrats are making one last effort to have an influence on Indiana’s Republican-controlled redistricting process by hosting their own additional public hearings around the state this week and next.
Indiana governor’s lawyers could bill nearly $200K for suit
The Indiana governor’s office has signed a contract paying a law firm up to nearly $200,000 for challenging the increased power state legislators gave themselves to intervene during public health emergencies.
Indiana health officials announce COVID-19 testing expansion
Indiana will increase free COVID-19 testing across the state through a partnership with Gravity Diagnostics.
Marion Superior judge keeps whistleblower lawsuit against state treasurer under seal
The whistleblower lawsuit filed against Indiana State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell remains largely under seal after the Marion Superior Court released an order clarifying that only the complaint has been made public while all other filings in the case remain concealed.
Indiana landlords turn to Rokita for help as fears of evictions rise
A group of Hoosier landlords has asked Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita for help in getting compensation from the state for the rent they lost during the eviction moratoriums and is preparing to take legal action against the state and federal governments.
Indiana sets up blue-ribbon commission to modernize state’s public health system
Gov. Eric Holcomb is setting up a blue-ribbon commission to examine Indiana’s public health system as the state continues to struggle with some of the highest rates of obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, annual immunizations and public health funding in the nation.
DOC: Indiana lethal injection drugs long expired
A lawsuit that sought information about the drugs Indiana plans to use in lethal injections and that motivated the Legislature to use a late-night session to keep the veil of secrecy intact has come to a close, with the state paying more than $800,000 in legal fees and disclosing that its supply of lethal injection drugs has long been expired.
Lawsuit seeks report on AG’s former private sector job
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Marion Superior Court is giving fresh scrutiny to Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s continued employment at a private company while he was beginning his term as the state’s top lawyer.
Crane steps down as head of state’s Department of Administration
Lesley Crane is stepping down as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration to join the private sector.
Mississippi argues Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade
The U.S. Supreme Court should overturn its landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide and let states decide whether to regulate abortion before a fetus can survive outside the womb, the office of Mississippi’s Republican attorney general argued in papers filed Thursday with the high court.
Hoosiers getting state tax refund after surprising revenue surplus
Indiana taxpayers can expect to see a refund when they file their state income taxes in 2022 because state revenue collections for this year exceeded expectations.
Appeals court: Indiana must resume unemployment benefits
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the state must temporarily continue payment of federal unemployment benefits, affirming an earlier court order that Indiana must restart the extra $300 weekly payments to unemployed workers.
Indiana FSSA chief Jennifer Sullivan takes out-of-state job
Dr. Jennifer Sullivan is stepping down as leader of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and deputy state health commissioner to take a job in North Carolina. Gov. Eric Holcomb named Dr. Dan Rusyniak, FSSA’s chief medical officer, as the new secretary, effective Aug. 1.
$12M OK’d for design work on rebuild of Westville Correctional Facility
The State Budget Committee has approved spending $12 million for engineering and design work on a planned $400 million rebuild of a deteriorating state prison in northwest Indiana.
New law establishes process for removing no-show elected officials from office
Motivated by a Lake County recorder who did not show up for work for more than a year, the Indiana General Assembly took an unusual step during the 2021 session and created a narrow pathway for local governments to remove one of their own instead of waiting for the voters to take action.
New laws: Legislature makes moves despite COVID
The Indiana General Assembly convened in-person for its 2021 session with COVID-19 protocols in place. Here’s the full list of legislation it enacted this year.
One company’s bill for testing Hoosiers for COVID-19: $139.6 million (and counting)
The state of Indiana has paid an outside vendor $139.6 million to perform more than a half-million COVID-19 tests during the pandemic.
Indiana rushes to spend virus relief aid on new jobs program
Indiana legislators scrambled in the final days of their session to make decisions on spending the state’s $3 billion share of the $350 billion in federal coronavirus relief money approved this year for state and local governments.