Casey Smith

Throwing stars, EMS, food and beverage tax bills moving through legislature

Dozens of bills are already advancing through committees and legislative chambers halfway through the third week of Indiana’s 2023 session.... Read More

Bills backed by national pet store chain draw pushback

A national pet brand chain is a driving force behind two Indiana bills that would block local communities from enforcing outright bans on the retail sale of pets, drawing pushback from animal advocates. ... Read More

Bills to increase semi truck speed limits faces tough road

A pair of bills filed in the Indiana Legislature seeks to raise the speed limit for large trucks on certain state highways and interstates, but continued pushback from a Hoosier truck drivers group is likely to keep the measures from becoming law.... Read More

Indiana bill seeks to answer ‘Hoosier’ question for good

Refer to someone from Indiana as an “Indianan” and your ignorance might invoke an eye roll or a glare, but — if you’re really lucky — you’ll get a comedic interruption of an 1800s-era Indiana settler who’s just heard a knock at the door.... Read More

Uncertainty remains about big K-12 spending requests

Top K-12 education requests for Indiana’s next two-year budget plan center around new spending on literacy improvement initiatives and workforce readiness, as well as an increase to the K-12 tuition support formula.... Read More

Curriculum, pre-k and culture war bills among 2023 education priorities

Changes to K-12 curriculum, increased access to early childhood education and a response to the teacher shortage are top of mind for Indiana lawmakers. Republican lawmakers have also hinted at the return of a contentious “curriculum transparency” bill.... Read More

AG asks Supreme Court to hear class-action suit against Ball State

The Indiana attorney general wants the Indiana Supreme Court to weigh in on a lawsuit that seeks punitive damages for COVID-related college campus closures. The class-action lawsuit against Ball State University was filed by a student at the school last year. ... Read More

Lawmakers, teacher unions outline education priorities

Indiana’s top Republican lawmakers said they plan to prioritize school choice and enact a plan to “reinvent” high school education during the next legislative session. That will largely involve an expansion of work-based learning opportunities.... Read More

New report says rural Indiana needs more investment

Rural Hoosiers “desperately” need state leaders and lawmakers to make greater investments in Indiana’s lesser-populated regions, especially as the younger and more educated workforce moves to more urban areas of the state.... Read More

Indiana higher education commission advances funding model

Indiana’s higher education officials on Thursday approved recommendations for a new approach to funding higher education that is based on school-specific goals, rather than blanket recommendations.... Read More