Pence signs 291 new laws

INDIANAPOLIS | Republican Gov. Mike Pence has now acted on all 295 legislative proposals submitted to him by the Republican-controlled General Assembly — signing 291, allowing one to become law without his signature and vetoing three.

Pence signs school safety grants, 40 other measures into law

INDIANAPOLIS | School corporations can each seek up to $50,000 in matching state funds to hire local police as school resource officers under a new law signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

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.

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.

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.

Veteran college progams among new laws signed by Pence

INDIANAPOLIS | Military veterans should have an easier time navigating the state's universities thanks to a new law sponsored by state Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, that was signed last week by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

House votes to unfreeze Lake property tax revenues

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House has agreed to remove a state-imposed limit on the amount of property tax revenue local governments in Lake County can collect, regardless of whether the county enacts an income tax.

Male ultrasound plan has difficult time in House

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosier men won't have to undergo penile ultrasounds prior to obtaining prescriptions for erectile dysfunction drugs thanks to a narrow reading of the Indiana House rules Monday.

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.

House OKs new services for veterans in college

INDIANAPOLIS | Veterans attending state colleges may soon gain access to specialized services under legislation sponsored by two Northwest Indiana lawmakers that was approved 96-1 by the House Tuesday.

EDITORIAL: Justice is served, once more, in Lake County

When U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody sentenced former Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot on Thursday, it was good news for ethics in government.

House approves annexation plan that could aid Lowell, Winfield

INDIANAPOLIS | Lowell, Winfield and similarly situated Indiana communities are one step closer to annexing their out-of-town water or wastewater treatment facilities without annexing the land in between.

House OKs preschool voucher program

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House voted 92-6 Monday to establish a preschool pilot program providing tuition support for up to 1,000 4-year-olds to attend preschool in five to-be-determined counties.

Restitution may soon be required for maiming, killing a police dog

INDIANAPOLIS | A criminal who injures or kills a police dog acting in the line of duty would be required to pay restitution to the dog's owner for its full value under legislation approved 97-0 by the Indiana House Tuesday.

High schools may have to remediate more students

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved legislation intended to ensure high school students are ready for college classes, but a region lawmaker accused representatives of trying to do remediation "on the cheap."

Indiana lawmaker from C.P. works to protect police dogs

INDIANAPOLIS | A person who injures or kills a police dog acting in the line of duty could be required to pay for the animal's medical treatment or its replacement cost under legislation approved by a House committee Wednesday.

House OKs hiring unlicensed school superintendents

INDIANAPOLIS | Despite warnings by region lawmakers that nothing good will come of it, the Indiana House voted 58-40 on Tuesday to allow school boards to hire any person they want as superintendent regardless of that person's training or experience in education.

Senate president stays busy killing 'statement' bills

INDIANAPOLIS | For the past two years, the Indiana House has been the source of Statehouse excitement as Democrats and Republicans repeatedly clashed in person and from afar over controversial labor legislation.

School boards may be allowed to hire anyone to lead school districts

INDIANAPOLIS | School boards could hire superintendents who have no training, experience or background in education under legislation approved by a House committee Tuesday.