Statehouse interest in local government reform fading

INDIANAPOLIS | The effort to reform local government in Indiana, prompted in part by a 2007 bipartisan report that recommended eliminating townships and making other changes, appears headed for the dustbin of history.

Anti-gay marriage amendment could cause legal pitfalls

INDIANAPOLIS | Opponents of a possible amendment to the Indiana Constitution prohibiting gay marriage and any "legal status" that's "substantially similar" to marriage believe they have the law on their side -- 614 laws to be precise.

EDITORIAL: Dyer situation shows need for new law

When the Dyer Town Council votes on a 17 percent increase in police pension benefits, how will Councilman Joe Cinko vote? Or will he vote at all?

HB 1005 offers long-overdue ethics reforms

When Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law House Bill 1005, banning conflict of interest and nepotism in local governments, he was implementing long-overdue reforms recommended by the bipartisan Kernan-Shepard report of 2007.

Daniels signs bans on local government conflicts of interest, nepotism

INDIANAPOLIS | Starting next year local government employees will no longer be permitted to serve as elected officials of the governments they work for.

EDITORIAL: Prevent built-in conflicts of interest

House Bill 1005 is local government reform everybody and his uncle should love — or maybe not. This is the long-awaited anti-nepotism legislation the Indiana General Assembly finally passed this year.

Term-limited governor says his work is not done yet

INDIANAPOLIS | With his eighth and final legislative session now in the rearview mirror, Gov. Mitch Daniels isn't planning to just coast through the last nine months of his second term.

Daniels expected to approve ban on conflicts of interest, nepotism

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels will get to sign into law one of his top legislative priorities after the Republican-controlled House voted 62-19 Tuesday to ban conflicts of interest and nepotism in local government.

State rifle, proposals by region lawmakers on way to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mitch Daniels will soon decide if Indiana has an official state rifle and whether three measures sponsored by Northwest Indiana legislators that also received final legislative approval Tuesday become law.

House set to approve ban on local government double-dipping, nepotism

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House is expected to consent next week to changes the Senate made to legislation banning local government employees from serving as elected officials of the governments they work for.

Senate votes to end local government double-dipping

INDIANAPOLIS | A proposal to ban local government employees from serving as elected officials of the governments they work for appears likely to become law.

Indiana Senate votes to ban nepotism, conflicts of interest in local government hiring

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled state Senate voted 39-11 on Monday to limit nepotism and conflicts of interest in local government employment.

Bills could limit municipal worker election

INDIANAPOLIS | Separate committees of the Indiana House and Senate have approved legislation this week prohibiting local government employees from serving as elected officials of the governments they work for.

Ethics expert touts need for involvement

VALPARAISO | Being unethical doesn't always mean a person is doing something illegal, Carla Miller told a group of about 80 who attended Wednesday's luncheon presentation on ethics at Valparaiso University.