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.

Speedway loan plan requires second lap to pass

INDIANAPOLIS | It took two tries, but the Indiana House approved legislation Monday providing $200 million in loans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other Hoosier motorsports companies.

House panel drops changes to gaming tax distributions

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana counties and communities at risk of losing a significant chunk of their gaming tax revenue can breathe a sigh of relief -- for now.

Senate rolls the dice on casino tax cut

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate on Monday bet millions of dollars belonging to Northwest Indiana counties and cities on the chance that reducing casino tax payments will lead to new casino property developments and improve competition with out-of-state gambling halls.

Senate votes to take gaming revenue from counties without casinos

INDIANAPOLIS | Counties without casinos would also lose some of their gaming tax revenue following a change made Thursday to legislation intended to help Indiana casinos make improvements to better compete with new casinos in neighboring states.

Senate leader sees tough road ahead for gaming changes

INDIANAPOLIS | The leader of the Indiana Senate threw cold water Thursday on the idea that the unanimous committee vote for a proposal changing taxes and other rules affecting the state's casino industry guarantees the full Senate will approve the legislation.

Senate panel OKs tax cut to help casinos fight out-of-state competition

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate committee signaled Wednesday that it's ready to help Indiana's gaming industry fight encroaching competition from new casinos in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

Competition cause of predicted drop in Indiana casino tax revenue

INDIANAPOLIS | The latest state revenue forecast projects Indiana tax receipts from riverboat casino bets will decline over the next two years by $41.4 million, a 9 percent drop, due to competition from new casinos in Ohio.

Route to Gary land-based casino may pass through southern Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | The 266 miles separating Gary and Elizabeth, Ind., located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Ky., are about as far as you can travel without leaving the state, and few Hoosiers ever make the trip.

GOP state Senate leader ready to fight for casino revenue

INDIANAPOLIS | The leader of the Indiana Senate is considering how to help Hoosier casinos fight back against competition from other states, especially Illinois.

Oct. state revenue beats expectations

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana beat its monthly revenue target in October, marking the third time in the first four months of the budget year state revenue has exceeded expectations.

State budget chief optimistic despite revenue dip

INDIANAPOLIS | State tax revenue dipped below expectations in August, but Indiana's top budget official remained optimistic Wednesday about the overall condition of the state's checkbook.

Quinn vetoes casinos for Chicago, south suburbs

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday vetoed legislation permitting new casinos in Chicago and the south suburbs that would have directly competed with Northwest Indiana's five lakefront casinos.

Indiana starts budget year strong

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's 2013 budget year got off to a fast start last month, with state revenue beating expectations by 4.1 percent and coming in 10 percent higher than last July.