Pence orders cuts in Calumet Township spending

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith leaders were ecstatic Friday after Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed into law mandatory reductions in Calumet Township spending and a path for Griffith to exit the township if its excessive spending continues.

Pence OKs new criminal code, expungement law

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has approved two of the most significant changes to Indiana's criminal law in decades.

New law entitles recent vets to in-state college tuition

INDIANAPOLIS | Military veterans who return or move to Indiana after completing their service are entitled to in-state college tuition under a new law signed last week by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

RICH JAMES: GOP should remember its treatment of Lake County

There’s nothing funny about abuse of power, but I couldn't let it pass without a good belly laugh.

Senate approves thaw of Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | Legislation lifting the Lake County property tax levy freeze and providing new economic development opportunities for Gary is headed to the governor.

Senator drops plan to direct Lake income tax spending

INDIANAPOLIS | A controversial plan to have the General Assembly decide how revenue from a Lake County income tax could be spent likely is dead.

State may direct how Lake income tax is spent

INDIANAPOLIS | The General Assembly may control how most of the money raised by a Lake County income tax can be spent.

Lawmakers still divided on lifting Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | A House-Senate conference committee, made up mostly of Northwest Indiana lawmakers, remained far apart Tuesday following more than an hour of discussion on whether the General Assembly should lift the Lake County property tax levy freeze.

Plan for unlicensed school chiefs heads to governor

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled Indiana House voted 55-40 Monday to allow school corporations to hire any person as superintendent so long as he or she has a master's degree in any subject.

Black lawmakers seek veto on Calumet Twp. spending limits

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana's black state lawmakers want Gov. Mike Pence to veto legislation that would force Calumet Township to reduce its administrative spending and potentially enable Griffith to leave the township.

Eight NWI lawmakers to decide on thaw of Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | Eight state lawmakers from Lake and Porter counties, along with two senators from outside the region, have been tapped to decide whether the General Assembly lifts the Lake County property tax levy freeze.

Bowman basketball team honored at Statehouse

INDIANAPOLIS | They started from the bottom, but on Tuesday the 12 members of the Thea Bowman Academy boys basketball team were honored by the top political leaders in the state.

EDITORIAL: Mixed news on public access issues

Hoosiers must remain ever vigilant when the Indiana General Assembly is in session, alert to any action that could affect the public's access to government records and government meetings. There's mixed news so far this session.

Rogers ensures public records remain accessible

INDIANAPOLIS | Led by state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, the Indiana Senate last week voted to maintain a requirement schools publish their annual financial reports in widely read newspapers instead of on poorly trafficked websites.

Senate panel backs plan for unlicensed school superintendents

INDIANAPOLIS | School boards are edging closer to being allowed to hire any person as superintendent, regardless of whether he or she holds a state superintendent's license.

Senators back Griffith, refuse to change plan limiting Calumet Twp. spending

INDIANAPOLIS | If some day Griffith succeeds in separating from Calumet Township, no one can say state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, didn't try to stop it from happening.

State lawmakers to meet constituents in Hobart, Lake Station

INDIANAPOLIS | Three Northwest Indiana state legislators will participate in town hall-style meetings in Hobart and Lake Station on April 6.

Senate committee shrinks voucher expansion plan

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate panel scaled back a House-approved expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program Thursday by keeping most current eligibility requirements and only slightly increasing the value of a voucher.

Senate panel restores chance for Griffith to leave Calumet Twp.

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith has won back the chance to leave Calumet Township, but only if the township fails to reduce spending on its own next year and a subsequent state takeover also fails.