Unemployment benefits set to drop 10.7 percent due to sequester

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosiers out of work for more than 26 weeks and collecting unemployment will see their weekly benefit payments shrink 10.7 percent starting April 8.

Bosma defends dropping Pence tax cut in letter to GOP leaders

INDIANAPOLIS | House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, is not letting Republican Gov. Mike Pence's expressed disappointment with the House Republican budget go unanswered.

Sequester leads to furloughs, project delays at Indiana National Guard

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana National Guard felt the first pinch Monday as federal budget cuts known as the sequester began to take their toll on Hoosiers.

Lieutenant Governor works to bring defense jobs to Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann is not letting the federal budget sequester, which will slice $492 billion from defense spending over the next 10 years, ruin her plans to lure defense companies to the state through the new Indiana Office of Defense Development.

State drops plan to halt unemployment payments

INDIANAPOLIS | State officials have canceled a plan to suspend unemployment payments for more than 32,000 out-of-work Hoosiers that was prompted by automatic federal budget cuts known as the sequester.

Coats hopes federal budget cuts prompt serious look at spending

INDIANAPOLIS | U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., believes an $85 billion across-the-board cut in federal spending may be just what the United States needs to finally get serious about its "unsustainable" finances.

Coats named top Republican on Congressional economic panel

INDIANAPOLIS | U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., was selected Thursday to help lead House and Senate Republicans in reducing federal spending.

E.C. looking to outsource EMS Department

EAST CHICAGO | Residents soon may see a privatized ambulance service responding to their medical emergencies as the city looks to deflate a bloated budget.

Prison cuts include reductions to drug counseling, job training

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | Not only does Gov. Pat Quinn's state budget proposal call for shoehorning more inmates into fewer prisons, it also would reduce drug counseling and job training programs for prisoners.

Visclosky wants Gary mail center off closure list

INDIANAPOLIS | As the U.S. Postal Service looks to cut costs by closing half its mail processing centers nationwide, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, will fight to keep the Gary Processing and Distribution Center open.

Status of government employee unions key difference between Illinois, Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | The differences in state government between Illinois and Indiana stood in stark contrast last week.

Auditors again question Gary's viability under tax caps

INDIANAPOLIS | For the third consecutive year, state auditors say they don't know whether Gary will be able to "continue as a going concern."

Lawmakers face critical state infrastructure needs

INDIANAPOLIS | State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, sees a bleak path ahead for Indiana's roads -- and rails, bridges and ports -- unless the General Assembly starts mapping a new route to ensure the viability of the state's infrastructure.

Resident unhappy with employment reduction in Merrillville

MERRILLVILLE | A Merrillville resident who is not pleased with recent budget cuts the Town Council has made hopes others who share his opinion will speak up.

Town wants parks position filled before Sept. 1

MERRILLVILLE | Some councilmen hope to have a parks superintendent hired before Sept. 1, a position the council created last week in a budget-cutting move.

Gains in cutting overtime costs threatened by budget mess

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. | Illinois' lingering budget woes could threaten the state's recent success in reducing the cost of overtime in the prison system.

Daniels keeping wary eye on federal debt negotiations

Gov. Mitch Daniels is keeping a close watch on federal debt negotiations he believes could endanger Indiana's economy. "The lockup in Washington ... is definitely an economic threat," he said.

Daniels keeping eye on debt negotiations

Gov. Mitch Daniels is keeping a close watch on federal debt negotiations he believes could endanger Indiana's economy. "The lockup in Washington ... is definitely an economic threat," he said.

Quinn's budget plan cuts addiction services

Gov. Pat Quinn's budget would cut all addiction treatment funding for non-Medicaid clients and all addiction prevention funding in general, an Illinois Department of Human Services spokeswoman said.

Merrillville department heads trim spending, but more help needed

MERRILLVILLE | Town department heads have provided assistance to reduce spending, but the town must take more action to cut costs, town officials said.