May 28 Local News Indiana Begins Gathering Input for Raw Milk Study Indiana officials begin gathering online input this week for a study on the sale of raw milk. The information will be turned to the 2013 General Assembly. Current Indiana law prohibits the sale of milk that has not been pasteurized. But its proponents say raw milk from pasture-fed animals contains beneficial nutrients depleted by the […] By Rick Howlett May 28 Local News Indiana Begins Gathering Input for Raw Milk Study Rick Howlett
Mar 19 Local News Daniels Signs Nepotism, Open Meetings Bills; Still Mulling Police Entry Measure From the Associated Press: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has signed into law bills cracking down on nepotism in local government and toughening penalties for public access violations Daniels signed the measures Monday along with another bill that reduces the number of state boards and commissions. Public officials will now face court fines if they violate […] By Rick Howlett Mar 19 Local News Daniels Signs Nepotism, Open Meetings Bills; Still Mulling Police Entry Measure Rick Howlett
Mar 19 Local News Daniels Signs Smoking Bill; Will Take Effect July 1 Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has signed the state’s smoking ban into law. The law prohibits smoking in many public places, including restaurants and other work sites, but includes exemptions for casinos, bars, private clubs and other buildings. Daniels says that although everyone might not have been happy with the bill, it was best to get […] By Rick Howlett Mar 19 Local News Daniels Signs Smoking Bill; Will Take Effect July 1 Rick Howlett
Mar 13 Local News Indiana Officials Preparing for Smoking Ban Enforcement The Indiana State Health Commissioner says it will mostly be left up to citizens to report violations of the Hoosier State’s new smoking ban. The law passed on the last day of the 2012 legislature prohibits smoking in many public buildings, but includes exemptions for casinos, bars, private clubs and other sites. Commissioner Dr. Gregory […] By Rick Howlett Mar 13 Local News Indiana Officials Preparing for Smoking Ban Enforcement Rick Howlett
Mar 9 Local News Indiana Smoking Ban Wins Final Legislative Approval The Indiana Senate has given final approval to a statewide smoking ban. The measure now goes to Governor Mitch Daniels for his expected signature. The Senate approved the bill today by a vote of 28 to 22. It contains exemptions for bars, casinos, private clubs and other facilities. The House passed the compromise measure last […] By Rick Howlett Mar 9 Local News Indiana Smoking Ban Wins Final Legislative Approval Rick Howlett
Mar 8 Local News Indiana House Approves Smoking Ban By a vote of 60 to 33, the Indiana House of Representatives has approved a watered down statewide smoking ban that contains numerous exemptions, including loopholes for bars and taverns. The compromise measure emerged today following several days of negotiations by House and Senate lawmakers. The Senate will vote on the measure tomorrow. That’s where […] By Rick Howlett Mar 8 Local News Indiana House Approves Smoking Ban Rick Howlett
Mar 8 Local News Anti-Smoking Groups Urging ‘No” Vote On Proposed Indiana Smoking Ban From the Associated Press: Sponsors of the Indiana smoking ban bill scrambled today to line up support among legislators for their proposal even as health advocates began lobbying against it because the compromise version doesn’t cover bars and taverns. The Indiana Campaign for Smokefree Air and the American Cancer Society argue the exemption for bars […] By Rick Howlett Mar 8 Local News Anti-Smoking Groups Urging ‘No” Vote On Proposed Indiana Smoking Ban Rick Howlett
Mar 7 Local News Indiana Lawmakers Still Negotiating Smoking Ban Compromise From the Associated Press: House sponsors of Indiana’s proposed smoking ban bill say they’re still pushing to have bars included in the ban while time dwindles in this year’s legislative session. A draft compromise that’s been circulating among lawmakers would exempt bars from the ban. But House sponsors say they aren’t sure whether they will […] By Rick Howlett Mar 7 Local News Indiana Lawmakers Still Negotiating Smoking Ban Compromise Rick Howlett
Mar 6 Local News Indiana General Assembly Winding Down With information from the Associated Press Indiana lawmakers are working toward final agreement on several tax and spending issues in the last days of this year’s legislative session. House and Senate budget leaders have agreed on a plan to prohibit school districts from charging fees for full-day kindergarten in a bill directing millions of dollars […] By Rick Howlett Mar 6 Local News Indiana General Assembly Winding Down Rick Howlett
Mar 5 Local News Negotiations Underway On Indiana Smoking Ban A panel of Indiana House and Senate lawmakers has begun work on a compromise statewide smoking ban. Both chambers have passed smoking ban bills, but the Senate version contains more exemptions, including a loophole for bars and taverns. Rep. Eric Turner, who authored the House measure, says he can’t support another Senate provision that would […] By Rick Howlett Mar 5 Local News Negotiations Underway On Indiana Smoking Ban Rick Howlett
Mar 1 Local News Indiana House Approves Use-of-Force Bill From the Associated Press: The Indiana House has approved a bill laying out when people are justified in using force against police officers. The House voted 74-24 Thursday in favor of the bill that’s a response to the public uproar over a state Supreme Court ruling that residents could not resist officers even during an […] By Rick Howlett Mar 1 Local News Indiana House Approves Use-of-Force Bill Rick Howlett
Feb 29 Local News Weakened Smoking Ban Clears Indiana Senate By a vote of 29-21, the Indiana Senate has passed a heavily-amended statewide smoking ban. The Senate measure includes exemptions for casinos, bars, private clubs, tobacco stores, bingo parlors and other places. It will be sent to a conference committee next week. That’s where lawmakers will try to reconcile it with the House version, which […] By Rick Howlett Feb 29 Local News Weakened Smoking Ban Clears Indiana Senate Rick Howlett
Feb 27 Local News Indiana Senate Scheduled To Take Up Smoking Ban Proposal This Week The full Indiana Senate is expected to consider a proposed statewide smoking ban this week. The House has passed various smoking bans for the past six years, but this is the first such bill to make it past the Senate committee level. The Senate’s Public Policy Committee advanced the bill last week after some four […] By Rick Howlett Feb 27 Local News Indiana Senate Scheduled To Take Up Smoking Ban Proposal This Week Rick Howlett
Feb 22 Environment Smoking Ban Proposal Clears Indiana Senate Committee An Indiana Senate committee has approved a bill that would ban smoking in many public places across the state. Today’s vote by the Public Policy Committee was 8-2. The House-passed measure contains exemptions for casinos, private clubs, hookah bars and retail tobacco shops. Bars and taverns would be given 18 months to phase in the […] By Rick Howlett Feb 22 Environment Smoking Ban Proposal Clears Indiana Senate Committee Rick Howlett
Feb 22 Local News Indiana Senate Panel Takes Up Proposed Smoking Ban An Indiana Senate committee has been hearing hours of of public comment today on a proposed statewide smoking ban. The House-passed measure contains exemptions for casinos, private clubs, hookah bars and tobacco shops. Bars and taverns would be given 18 months to phase in the ban. Opponents such as Charles Rogers questioned why the government […] By Rick Howlett Feb 22 Local News Indiana Senate Panel Takes Up Proposed Smoking Ban Rick Howlett