Niki Kelly

Numerous bills fail to make it to the finish line

From birth control and bats to gambling and marijuana, lawmakers will likely have to try again next year on these measures.... Read More

First Lady to raise money for Dolly Parton’s library program

After slashing a popular reading program from the budget, Gov. Mike Braun said Friday he asked First Lady Maureen Braun to spearhead an initiative to keep Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Indiana.... Read More

County jails on the hook as state stops paying prisoner costs

The Indiana Department of Correction has run out of money to pay county jails for holding low-level felons and state prisoners. County jails haven’t received payments in months, and there are still four months left in the July-to-June fiscal year.... Read More

Republican leaders cast doubt on new state tax relief

Despite being a top priority for new Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Republican leaders in the General Assembly seem to be taking a more cautious approach to new state tax relief in budget discussions.... Read More

Braun endorses next state GOP chair

Gov.  Mike Braun has officially endorsed Fort Wayne City Clerk Lana Keesling to serve as chairwoman of the Indiana Republican Party. The state committee must officially elect Keesling, who would be the fourth GOP state chair in the last two years.... Read More

Proposal would outlaw use of abortion pills and tighten rape exception

A new bill would further clamp down on abortions in Indiana by banning procedures using pills and requiring women to file an affidavit of rape to meet one of the state’s few exceptions.... Read More

Gunshot wounds top abuse and neglect report for Indiana’s children

The Indiana Department of Child Services released its annual report on child deaths on New Year’s Eve. It investigated 261 child deaths in 2023 and determined 56 were a result of abuse or neglect. That is down slightly from the year before.... Read More

State employees get one-time bonus but no pay raise

Gov. Eric Holcomb is giving a one-time bonus to all state employees, but no pay raises this year after a modest revenue forecast. That stipend will cost state coffers between $20 million and $22 million, according to budget officials.... Read More

Public safety secretary named

Jennifer-Ruth Green, a combat veteran and current Deputy Commander of the 11th Operations Group at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, brings military and cyber security experience to the role.... Read More

Hoosier Survey shows support for key policy areas across partisan divide

Ball State University’s 2024 Hoosier Survey revealed Indiana residents’ top three policy priorities headed into the new year: school safety, public safety and health care.... Read More