With Roe v. Wade ruling expected by year’s end, a special session might be on the way
Above: While pro-abortion-rights protesters gathered Oct. 2, 2021, in downtown Indianapolis in response to a new Texas abortion law, anti-abortion advocates assembled nearby for a counter-protest. Over 100 Indiana lawmakers are asking Gov. Eric Holcomb to call a special session i â...â
Shabazz v. Rokita lawsuit could hold long-term implications for journalists
The maneuvering continues in the federal lawsuit between Attorney General Todd Rokita and journalist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz (above) that a First Amendment expert says could hold significant implications for how the press covers public officials. The lawsuitâShabazz v. Rokitaâste â...â
City-County Council receives redistricting report, continues to rebuff proposal for citizens commission
The following report from Indianapolis Recorder writer Tyler Fenwick was first published in the Recorder, and is shared through The Indiana Citizen redistricting reporting project. A consulting group tasked with gathering input on redistricting for the City-County Council release â...â
A NEW VOICE FOR REFORM: In northern Indiana city of Goshen, mayor’s call leads to independent redistricting commission
Goshen has joined the very short list of Indiana cities that are turning to citizen commissions to take at least some of the politics out of redistricting. The northern Indiana city of 35,000 will establish a commission to redraw its five city council election districts in respon â...â
Citizens commission launches âshadowâ Indianapolis city-county redistricting process
The Indianapolis Citizens Redistricting Commission began its work Saturday with a webinar on redistricting basics and a call for the city-county council to adopt a more âopen and transparentâ approach to redrawing city election districts. The citizensâ commission will also â...â
Redistricting reformers announce members of independent citizens panel to propose new city-county maps
UPDATE: The Indianapolis Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent, politically balanced group formed to propose redistricting maps for the Indianapolis City-County Council, has announced its members. Like the Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission formed in 2021 to pr â...â
Sine die: Landmark tax bill, constitutional carry legislation await governorâs action as 2022 session ends
The Indiana General Assembly adjourned sine die after midnight Wednesday, sending a slate of bills to Gov. Eric Holcombâs desk and signaling the end of the 2022 legislative session. Debate went on through Tuesday evening and into early Wednesday, much of it in the Senate on the â...â
Lee Hamilton commentary: Democracy takes it on the chin in redistricting
Around the country, states have been taking on the task of coming up with new lines for congressional districts. And with about two-thirds of the districts for the next decade mapped out, a recent New York Times analysis found something discouraging. The people drawing redist â...â
House concurs with Senate amendment removing new restrictions on absentee voting, sending HB 1116 to Gov. Holcomb
UPDATE: Stripped by the Senate of its most criticized provisions to discourage absentee voting, House Bill 1116 went to the governor’s desk Monday after the House concurred with the Senate amendment. A conference committee had been appointed to try to resolve the difference â...â
Legislators rush to send bills over finish line of 2022 session
As the General Assembly reaches the final week of the 2022 session, legislators are trying to finalize bills in conference committees. These committees, which are intended to iron out differences between the Senate-passed and House-passed versions of bills, are legislatorsâ las â...â