General Assembly wraps session distinguished by cooperative tone

INDIANAPOLIS | Hands were shaken, hugs were shared and state lawmakers, who spent the past four months passionately opposing each other in great and small policy debates, were all smiles Saturday morning after House Speaker Brian Bosma gaveled out the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.

Lawmakers set to approve state budget, adjourn for year

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled General Assembly early this morning was on the verge of approving a two-year state budget plan that reduces taxes on Hoosiers by $1.1 billion.

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.

Legislature busy as session nears end

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House and Senate met intermittently for more than 10 hours Thursday, approving changes to legislation recommended by conference committees and sending those measures on to the governor for his signature or veto.

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.

Majestic CEO asks lawmakers to take a risk for Indiana's casinos

INDIANAPOLIS | The head of Gary's Majestic Star casinos told state lawmakers Monday it's past time for them to act on legislation giving Indiana's casino industry a fighting chance versus new, out-of-state competition.

Pence OKs legislative study of South Shore Line

INDIANAPOLIS | State lawmakers this summer will review possible expansion plans for the South Shore Line and consider changes to the membership of its operating board, under a measure signed into law last week by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

Ind. lawmakers drop call for U.S. constitutional convention

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana will not be leading the call for a limited constitutional convention intended to re-balance the relationship between the federal government and the states.

Senate gives final OK to Whiting lakefront liquor licenses

INDIANAPOLIS | A key element in Whiting's plans to develop new restaurants near Lake Michigan is headed to the governor.

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.

Thaw of levy freeze not a done deal

INDIANAPOLIS | Lawmakers will take another look at legislation lifting the Lake County property tax levy freeze and providing for studies of region economic development projects.

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.

Revenue forecast set to shape budget debate

INDIANAPOLIS | The leader of the Indiana Senate claims to believe education policy debates, and not the budget, will dominate Statehouse discussions over the next two weeks as the 2013 session of the General Assembly races toward adjournment.

Senator faces decision on lifting Lake levy freeze

INDIANAPOLIS | The decision on whether the Lake County property tax levy freeze is lifted, even if the county doesn't enact an income tax, is now in the hands of state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso.

Governor set to sign new restrictions on abortion-inducing drugs

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosier women may find it more difficult to legally obtain abortion-inducing pills after the Indiana Senate voted Thursday for new restrictions on their use and the clinics that distribute them.

Senate approves flurry of legislation

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate voted in favor of 40 proposals Wednesday, the final day for the Senate to act on House-approved legislation.

Senate OKs plan making more students eligible for vouchers

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate approved a scaled-down expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program Wednesday that still will enable the number of voucher students to grow to an estimated 15,000 by 2015, from 9,000 this year.