Brandon Smith

IN Supreme Court: House Dems' fines must be paid

Brandon Smith — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:13:56 +0000

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday it should not get involved in a lawsuit challenging the collection of fines handed down to House Democrats during their walkouts in the 2011 and 2012 sessions.

In a three to two decision, Chief Justice Brent Dickson wrote for the majority, ruling the fines imposed by House Republicans were internal matters of the legislature and not subject to judicial review.

IN Emergency Solutions Grant cut

Brandon Smith — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:55:11 +0000

The Indiana Emergency Solution Grant, federal money aimed at helping the state’s homeless population, is facing a 23% cut due to the sequester.

The grant provides money to homeless shelters across Indiana. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority expected a 5% cut in federal funding, similar to other sequester reductions. But instead the state will receive $700,000 less for the upcoming fiscal year.

ISTEP Study Committee meetings begin this week

Brandon Smith — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:50:01 +0000

In the wake of ISTEP testing disruptions that have called into question the validity of this year’s tests, the General Assembly this week will hold the first of two hearings investigating the issue.

Legislators initially hoped to have one comprehensive study committee hearing on ISTEP in June. But with results of the tests and a third-party validation of those results not expected until July, Commission on Education co-chairs Representative Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) and Senator Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn) will hold two meetings on the topic.

Purdue hires INDOT commissioner

Mike Loizzo and Brandon Smith — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:16:45 +0000

Purdue’s next vice president for physical facilities is coming from state government.

The university is hiring Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Cline. He graduated from Purdue in 1988 with a degree in civil engineering.

Cline has been with INDOT since 2006. When Purdue President Mitch Daniels was governor, he appointed Cline as commissioner in 2010. Governor Mike Pence reappointed him to the position earlier this year.

IN and KY Planned Parenthood merge

Brandon Smith — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:24:30 +0000

Planned Parenthood of Indiana is merging with Planned Parenthood of Kentucky in a move the healthcare organization says will strengthen the services offered in both states.

IN Supreme Court to hear Rockport case

Brandon Smith — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:17:50 +0000

The future of a southwest Indiana coal-to-natural gas plant is in the hands of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Rockport coal gasification plant owners Leucadia signed a 30 year contract with the state in 2011. It requires the state to buy gas from Rockport at a predetermined price, rather than using market rates. The state then resells the energy source.

IN revenue for May below projection

Brandon Smith — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:13:21 +0000

Indiana didn’t collect as much revenue as predicted in May, due in part to individual income tax collections that came in well below expectations. Still, the state is ahead of projections overall.

The state’s revenue collections last month were nearly 7% below the most recent forecast. While sales tax collections in May were better than expected, individual income tax collections were off by more than 22% from the forecast.

IN National Guard names first African-American general

Brandon Smith — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The Indiana National Guard has named its first-ever African-American general.

A graduate of The Citadel, Col. Wayne Black joined the Indiana National Guard in 1996. He is now the assistant adjutant general. Black says he doesn’t feel any added pressure as the Indiana Guard’s first African-American general, in part because he didn’t ever feel like there was a ceiling to his advancement.

IN's HIRE saves money by keeping ex-offenders out of prison

Brandon Smith — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

State leaders are calling a program to put former inmates to work a success. The Hoosier Initiative for Re-Entry – or HIRE – is a cooperative effort between the state departments of workforce development and correction, along with Indiana businesses.

Of the more than 20,000 people released from Indiana prisons each year, the Department of Correction reports 36% return to prison within three years. The recidivism rate climbs to 60% if the person is unemployed. The HIRE program was created last year to provide inmates a path to the workforce.

Seybold announces run for IN Treasurer

Brandon Smith — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:06:41 +0000

Mayor Wayne Seybold (R-Marion) is the first candidate to officially announce a run for the open Indiana State Treasurer position. With current Treasurer Richard Mourdock stepping down due to term limits, the race in 2014 is wide open.

Seybold is serving his third term as mayor and was a city councilman in Marion prior to 2003. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Indiana’s 5th District last year.

Seybold says he will use his experience in city government to connect the State Treasurer’s office to the local level.