More Government News
Airport Runway Completion Delayed, Meeting Set With Feds
07 Oct 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
When the new Salem Municipal Airport opened with a 3,000-foot runway in September 2019, it was expected the federal funding to construct the final 2,000 feet would be received in late 2022. That money from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still promised, but the runway completion has been delayed due to changes in how that agency funds projects, as well as the pandemic.
Board of Aviat ...
FCC Inmate Rules Could Dismantle Countless Local Police Investigations
03 Oct 2024
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is co-leading a 14-state lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC’s) new rule that could limit phone calls for inmates and prevent local police from performing one of their most basic functions — investigating and preventing crimes by surveilling inmate calls.
By capping the cost for inmates far below any reasonable level, the FCC will impose new costs on taxpay ...
Young, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Federal Agency Data Management
30 Sep 2024
U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize federal agencies and ensure they have the proper data protections and governance in place to adopt and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. This legislation would extend the Chief Data Officers (CDO) Council and require the Council to examine the federal government’s data management practices to improve da ...
Protecting Hoosiers from Foreign Adversaries
30 Sep 2024
While national defense is primarily the responsibility of the federal government, Indiana Senate Republicans have been working to protect Hoosiers from foreign adversaries like China, Russia and Iran. As part of these efforts, the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) recently completed a $1.2 billion divestment from Chinese government-controlled assets. This effort stems from a new law ...
30
Sep
Young, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Domestic Processing of Critical Minerals
30 Sep 2024
U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced the bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act to establish a pilot program for the Department of Energy to support domestic critical mineral processing projects.
“Our reliance on global supply chains for critical materials poses a significant national security threat, especially as the Chinese Communist Party continues to ma ...
Public Comment Period Open For Proposed Changes To Bobcat Trapping Season
30 Sep 2024
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened public comment for proposed changes to allow the limited, regulated trapping of bobcats. In March, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation (Senate Enrolled Act 241) that directs the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to have rules in place by July 2025 for bobcat harvest. Public comments can be submitted at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket u ...
Rokita Seeks Execution Date For Convicted Killer Of Beech Grove Cop
27 Sep 2024
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking the Indiana Supreme Court to set an execution date for the convicted murderer who fatally shot Beech Grove Police Officer William Toney on Sept. 29, 2000.
“Most Hoosiers and I expect justice without delay, especially when someone murders a police officer, one of the many, many brave men and women we thank and respect daily," Attorney General Rokita said. “This convicted cop killer ...
Votes Held On City Raises
23 Sep 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
City employees will receive an eight percent raise in 2025, while emergency responders will each get a $7,000 raise. Those are the most recent numbers approved by a majority vote during the Monday, Sept. 9, meeting of the Salem Common Council. The raises don’t apply to elected positions.
Council members who voted in favor of the raises were Dan Libka, Dylan Moore, Steve Crane, and Randy L ...
Salem Officials Review Loan, Rate Increase Numbers
23 Sep 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
Salem officials will use a projected $7.7 million loan to refinance existing debt used to upgrade Salem’s wastewater treatment plant and to make further improvements to the utility to remain compliant with state and federal guidelines. The financing – which included rate increase projections – was discussed during a special joint session of the Salem Board of Public Works and Safety and Common Cou ...
Congresswoman Houchin Introduces The PERIMTR Act To Strengthen Security For National Leaders
20 Sep 2024
Washington, D.C. – Following the recent assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) has been actively working to address critical security concerns. Yesterday, she proudly introduced the Presidential Election Resource Investment for Major Threat Response (PERIMTR) Act.
The PERIMTR Act mandates that major Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, as well as former Pr ...
17
Sep
Indy Used-Car Dealer's Alleged Rollback Of 14 Million Miles Springs AG Todd Rokita Into Action
17 Sep 2024
Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against an Indianapolis car dealer alleging the dealer illegally rolled back odometers on vehicles sold to unsuspecting consumers believing they were purchasing lower-mileage vehicles.
The lawsuit alleges that KBB Auto Sales LLC — along with owners and employees Brandon Billingsley, Shannon Hayes and Nicolas Fortinberry — rolled back odometers by a combined total of more than 14 million ...
Guidance To Religious Leaders And Churches On How To Participate In The Election Season
14 Sep 2024
In the midst of the election season, Attorney General Todd Rokita announced today that his office has offered guidance to religious leaders and churches in Indiana about how they can legally participate in activities available to all Americans.“Since its founding, churches have played a vital and indispensable role in our nation’s political and civic life,” Attorney General Rokita said. “There is no federal law that precludes re ...
State Comptroller Announces Deferred Compensation Plan Divestment From China and ESG fund
14 Sep 2024
Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla commends the Indiana Deferred Compensation Committee (IDCC) for eliminating two funds, one with four percent exposure to Chinese entities and the other that prioritizes environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters over return on investment. “These are positive steps to align public employees’ deferred compensation investments with the state laws governing our pensions,” Comptr ...
Laws Protect Jewish Individuals From Antisemitic Harassment On Campuses
14 Sep 2024
At a time of unprecedented antisemitism across the United States, Attorney General Todd Rokita makes clear in an advisory opinion that laws protect Jewish individuals from many forms of antisemitic harassment in educational settings.
In the three months following the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, the Anti-Defamation League recorded 3,291 antisemitic incidents across the United States — a level unprecedented during any ...
Punishing K-12 Students For ‘Misgendering’ Peers Is Unconstitutional & Undermines Parents
14 Sep 2024
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is standing up for young people’s First Amendment rights in a brief arguing that government cannot compel students to use other people’s “preferred pronouns” in violation of their own deeply held beliefs. Rokita and a likeminded coalition of attorneys general have taken on rogue school administrators across the country, who now use “anti-harassment” rul ...
Congresswoman Houchin Discusses Her Career Path With JAG Members
13 Sep 2024
By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer
United States Congresswoman Erin Houchin, representing Indiana’s 9th District, took time out of her busy schedule to give Salem High School’s “Jobs for American Graduates” (JAG) members a brief overview of her past careers. She spoke to about 120 students on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The majority of the students are in the JAG program.
Tara Kritzer is a teacher and coordinator of the program. ...
County Holds Budget Hearing
05 Sep 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
A public hearing was held for the county’s proposed $27.1 million 2025 budget.
No members of the public opted to comment on the hearing, which was held Tuesday, Sept. 3, during the Washington County Council meeting.
The proposed 2025 budget represents an increase of $1.6 million over the current year’s budget.
The Council will likely adopt the budget during the Monday, Oct. 7, regular m ...
$2 Million Highway Garage Loan Approved
05 Sep 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
Officials have approved a $2 million loan to pay for the ongoing work at the new Washington County Highway Garage facility. The vote was made during the Tuesday, Sept. 3, meeting of the Washington County Council.
Representatives from First Savings Bank detailed how the loan will work:The loan collateral will be $2 million in existing funds the county has and that will be invested in eithe ...
Congresswoman Houchin Reveals Survey Results
05 Sep 2024
U.S. Congresswoman Erin Houchin from Indiana's 9th District
By: Jerry Curry, Staff Writer
United States Congresswoman Erin Houchin, representing Indiana’s 9th District, visited Salem High School on Tuesday, Sept. 3. She discussed a survey asking constituents “What are your top priorities?”
Categories and the rankings of these priorities included the following: Inflation—35% ...
Social Security Administration Digitizes Or Removes Signature Requirements For Many Forms
05 Sep 2024
Today, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced progress this year to reduce customer burden by transitioning wet (physical) signature requirements to digital signatures for over 30 forms as well as removing the signature requirements altogether for 13 forms. These actions simplify application processes for people, including removing a potential reason for claims to be sent back or denied.
“Across forms that Americans u ...
INDOT Seeking Public Comment on STIP Amendment
03 Sep 2024
Please review the proposed amendments for the following MPOs: KHCGCC, MACOG, MCCOG, NIRCC and NIRPC here. You can use this map to find out if you live in an MPO area and which one. To access the project list, scroll to the bottom of the page and find the link under the heading "Draft STIP Documents." The link to the comment form is just below the amendment link.
Check out this map to view curr ...
East Meadow View Rezoning Gets Nod
30 Aug 2024
By Becky Killian, Staff Writer
A developer whose prior requests for rezoning met resistance has gotten a favorable vote from officials.
The majority vote to change the zoning from R-1, which allows single family homes, to R-3, which allows multiple-family dwellings like townhomes, occurred during the Monday, Aug. 26, meeting of the Salem Plan Commission.
Developer Anthony Mosby, of Pekin, intends to build about 10 single fami ...
29
Aug
Rokita Offers Lawmakers Support In Tackling Oppressive Property Tax Problems Impacting Hoosiers
29 Aug 2024
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the following statement:
"I've had the privilege to travel to every corner of the state, and our neighbors, family members and friends are all calling for property tax relief. Me too.
They cannot be ignored, especially not by those of us elected to serve them right here in the Statehouse. One of our duties at the attorney generals office is to work with legislators on their legislative ...
Loretta Rush Reappointed As Indiana Chief Justice
21 Aug 2024
On Wednesday, August 21, the Judicial Nominating Commission unanimously voted to reappoint Loretta Rush as Chief Justice of Indiana. The four other justices—Mark Massa, Geoffrey Slaughter, Christopher Goff, and Derek Molter—shared thoughts with the Commission, including their support for Chief Justice Rush to continue leading Indiana’s judicial branch.
Rush was appointed to the high court in 2012, selected as Chief Justice in 2014, and ...
Indiana Chamber Of Commerce To Hold Press Conference Regarding State Water Supply
16 Aug 2024
A decade ago, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce commissioned a study on the state’s water supply to provide an account of the resource so vital for everyday life and economic development.
Now, through the Indiana Chamber Foundation, the organization will release its follow-up research, “Water Policy and Planning: A 10-Year Update” on Monday. This new report is intended to set the stage for the production and implementation of a ...
In A Win For Law-Abiding Hoosiers, Gary Officials Repeal Unlawful Immigration Ordinance
16 Aug 2024
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the following statement:
"We sent a blunt message to Gary officials that they needed to follow the law. As a result, the Gary Common Council officially voted to repeal, in its entirety, its unlawful immigration ordinance.
This is a win for law-abiding Hoosiers and legal immigrants who are the ones negatively impacted by the flood of illegal aliens pouring across our souther ...
Senate Republicans Offering Paid Spring Internships
15 Aug 2024
The Indiana Senate Republican Caucus is offering paid spring-semester internships in our communications, information technology, legal, legislative, page and policy offices during the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Qualified candidates may be of any major and must be at least a college sophomore. Recent college graduates, as well as graduate and law school students, are also encour ...
DHPA Honors Historic Preservation And Archaeology Standouts
15 Aug 2024
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) has announced the recipients of its annual Indiana Archaeology and Indiana Historic Preservation awards, which recognize outstanding efforts in each field.The awards will be presented by DHPA director Beth McCord and the rest of the division’s staff at local award ceremonies this fall.
The recipients include professional consultants ...
Increasing Transparency in Health Care
15 Aug 2024
Hoosiers now have more information available to help make important health care decisions. The Indiana Department of Insurance launched the Indiana All Payer Claims Database (APCD). Created by a 2020 law championed by Senate Republicans and unanimously supported by the General Assembly, the APCD allows consumers to see where they can get the most cost-effective and highest qual ...
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