Speedway bailout crosses finish line

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has agreed to loan the Indianapolis Motor Speedway $100 million in state funds to pay for renovations, video boards and other improvements to the home of the Indianapolis 500 auto race.

Taxpayers may get hit with 'convenience fee' under new pay-to-pay law

INDIANAPOLIS | Hoosiers soon may be forced to pay a "convenience fee" when using a credit or debit card to pay municipal or utility charges under a new law signed by Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

Pence backs study of county government reforms

INDIANAPOLIS | State lawmakers are expected to study the structure of Indiana county government this summer with an eye toward establishing a single county executive.

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.

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.

Gary lawmaker tapped for Midwest education policy review

INDIANAPOLIS | A Gary state lawmaker and education expert has been selected to help shape education policy throughout the Midwest.

Pence's career education plan set to become law

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence will soon sign into law one of the top items on his legislative wish list.

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.

Hoosiers cheer public schools at Statehouse rally

INDIANAPOLIS | Migdalia Romero and Emily Romero, the mother and aunt of students attending Lake Ridge Schools, joined nearly 300 parents, teachers and school leaders from across Indiana at the Statehouse Tuesday for a rally celebrating public education.

House honors retiring M'ville schools superintendent

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House honored retiring Superintendent Tony Lux of the Merrillville Community School Corp. Monday, unanimously adopting a resolution thanking Lux for his "years of dedicated service to the children of our state."

House honors region's former Ivy Tech leader

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House on Monday saluted retired Northwest Indiana Ivy Tech Chancellor J. Guadalupe Valtierra for his 17 years of work at the community college.

Region legislators to host two public forums

INDIANAPOLIS | Several Northwest Indiana state lawmakers will appear at two public forums to personally update their constituents on legislative action at the Statehouse.

3-year-olds dropped from state preschool proposal

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House agreed Thursday to limit participation in a preschool voucher pilot program to 4-year-olds only.

House backs referendum on Griffith leaving Calumet Township

INDIANAPOLIS | Griffith is halfway toward winning legislative permission to hold a referendum on whether to leave Calumet Township and join another Lake County township.

Gary mayor to begin toll-free calls for legislative updates

GARY | Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson will start a call-in program today to update Gary residents about the latest legislation in the General Assembly.

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.

EDITORIAL: Keep quality standards for school superintendents

A number of good proposals and policies have come out of Indianapolis in recent years to reform local government, and many of those measures have been tailor-made to the many government-borne problems in Northwest Indiana. However, legislation now pending in the Indiana House of Representati…

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.