John Krull commentary: Susan Bayh and the steel behind the smile
When the news broke that Susan Bayh had died, several memories of her floated to the forefront. Strangely, the most prominent one may have been the most trivial. It was from 1992. She and her husband, Evan, were campaigning in Evansville as part of a bus tour with the newly anoin “...”
Vote-by-mail, other amendments to elections bills are again voted down along party lines
Indiana lawmakers continued Thursday to debate how to best hold state elections after a presidential election cycle coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The overlap of the last election and a contagious virus prompted many questions about how to balance voter access with “...”
Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission announces schedule of public hearings
The Indiana Citizens Redistricting Commission, a bipartisan citizens group formed to advise and offer an alternative to the upcoming redrawing of congressional and legislative district lines by the Indiana General Assembly, has announced a schedule of virtual public hearings to d “...”
Buttigieg confirmed as transportation secretary
Hoosier Pete Buttigieg has been confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation, becoming the first openly gay person to hold a cabinet-level position in the national government. Formerly the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Buttigieg has put Indiana in the spotlight since ru “...”
Young joins COVID relief talks with White House
Senate Republicans and newly inaugurated President Joe Biden are stepping into negotiations around a new COVID-19 relief package for Americans after the deadliest month for the virus to date. While hospitalizations are down and vaccines are being rolled out nationwide, 95,000 Ame “...”
House committee votes down no-excuse absentee voting amendment
A House committee on Monday voted down an attempt to amend an omnibus elections bill to allow no-excuse absentee voting in Indiana. The amendment, proposed by Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, would have allowed Indiana to join other states that allow vote-by-mail, also known as n “...”
Senate passes COVID lawsuit immunity amid debate
Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, told his fellow Senators Thursday that businesses need protection from COVID-19 lawsuits to ensure they can continue to serve their communities and protect jobs. “This bill does carefully balance the rights of employees to a safe workplace and pro “...”
John Krull commentary: Holcomb talks, rather than speaks
Gov. Eric Holcomb did something sly with this fifth State of the State address Tuesday night. He made a case for government and government action. Holcomb argued from the start of his prosaic speech that the state was better off because Indiana’s government had functioned and b “...”
Holcomb praises Indiana’s position despite pandemic in virtual State of the State
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s State of the State Address, held virtually for the first time Tuesday evening, highlighted Hoosier perseverance and accomplishments while paving a path for the 2021 legislative session amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held online due to worry about “...”
Bill targeting unemployment fraud draws debate
As thousands of new Hoosiers made unemployment claims when COVID-19 led to mass layoffs, suspicions of fraud also increased—and in some cases triggered long wait times for people who desperately needed help. That’s why Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington, said in a meeting of th “...”