Indiana’s Senate Democrats are gearing up for the 2015 summer study committees.
Among the topics is replacing ISTEP with a new state standardized educational assessment. Typically the summer study sessions indicate some of the top issues legislators may consider in the next legislative session.
State Senator Jim Arnold is promoting legislation that he anticipates will be signed into law in the coming weeks.
Much of the legislation championed by the LaPorte Democrat provides help to military veterans and emergency responders.
A bill introduced in the Indiana Senate could make the playing field between public and private schools a bit different.
That’s according to North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson. Senate Bill 470 would allow for schools eligible to accept choice scholarships to use another nationally recognized assessment as opposed to the ISTEP program.
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Efforts that could potentially benefit Pulaski County’s economic development may have a difficult time gaining support in Indianapolis.
Representatives of the Pulaski County Economic Development Organization say there is language in the Indiana Code restricting use of County Adjusted Gross Income Tax, or CAGIT funds. Those restrictions specify that monies generated through the tax are to be used only for the maintenance and operations of the Pulaski County Justice Center.
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A bill has been filed in Indianapolis that could affect local businesses.
Senate Bill 41 looks to increase Indiana’s minimum wage from its current rate of $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour. If signed into law, the increase would put Indiana in line with other states implementing similar pieces of legislation.
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State Senator Jim Arnold is hoping several bills will assist in the efforts of the law enforcement community.
Among Arnold’s proposed bills this session is legislation that would better define a safety indicator on firearms. It would also increase penalties for those found to have modified a toy gun to resemble a real firearm.
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Legislation was recently filed in Indianapolis that could have implications for Pulaski County.
Senate Bill 58, if signed into law, would eliminate the Pulaski County Superior Court by January 1st, 2019. The bill would also remove certain appointment privileges in other counties. Continue reading
The Indiana General Assembly is anticipated to consider certain reforms to funding education, and Knox Community Schools is considering their options.
Governor Mike Pence has said he wants the legislative session that started Tuesday to be an “education session.” Discussions have included lifting the cap on education vouchers and reforming the school funding formula.
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Legislators are now in Indianapolis for the long-session of the General Assembly.
5th District State Senator Ed Charbonneau offered comment on the issue of reversion reform which could result from projected revenue increases over the next two years. Reversions allow the Governor to withhold spending in the instance of an economic downturn or other revenue shortfall.
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New laws for mopeds and scooters will take effect on January 1st in Indiana.
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A North Judson mother is mourning the death of her son, whose life was taken Friday in a traffic accident in Indiana. Etha Kallin lost her son in the I-465 crash.
Paul Kallin was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of the Marion County Coroner’s office from injuries sustained in the crash, which occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m. in Indianapolis, on city’s east side. Kallin was driving his vehicle in the far right lane, when it abruptly turned left across I-465 and was struck on the driver’s side door by another vehicle driven by Clifford Perkins, 34, of Gary. Perkins and a front seat passenger in his pickup were taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board held its budget hearing during its meeting Monday night.
“We’re one of just a few schools in the State of Indiana that operates on a fiscal year budget so our budget year is from July to June, whereas the vast majority of schools in Indiana have a budget year of January to December,” explained Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman. “In January, we will ask for action on our budget and after that, we send it to Indianapolis and the folks in Indianapolis do what they do to mess with it and ultimately we’ll get our budget order and we’ll go with that.”
John Hensler, of Hensler Nursery near Hamlet, Indiana, followed the trees he sent to Indianapolis, Monday. The trees make it on time for the ceremony, but the inclement weather prevented him from attending the affair. The ceremony for the tree provided for the Rotunda was hosted by Governor Mitch Daniels and the one for Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman’s office was hosted by the Lieutenant Governor herself.
Today, a gala will be held at the Knox Community Center to celebrate the formation of the Starke County Development Foundation. The program will begin at 12:30 p.m. CT and is open to the public.
Supporting the Development Foundation over the course of 25 years have been our U.S. Representatives who have represented Starke County. They include Republicans John Hiler, Chris Chocola, and Steve Buyer and Democrats Tim Roemer and Joe Donnelly.
WKVI’s “Airwaves Rollers” took 2 out of three this week during Tuesday night action at Bowlaway Lanes. With Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall subbing, Lenny Dessauer absent, and Pat Dunn in a two week slump, Tom Berg came to the rescue. Taking the “Rollers” high game patch away from Dunn with a 224 game, Berg paced the victors in game two. The WKVI Morning Man attributed his sterling performance to a wrist brace given to him by Dessauer and a pep talk from his mother Judy Collins of Indianapolis.
Police investigated an accident between an Amtrak train and a semi in Jasper County Friday morning.
It happened on County Road 1200 West near the small town of Fair Oaks.
According to a published report, the semi failed to yield at the crossing and the Amtrak Train from Indianapolis slammed into the semi’s trailer splitting it into two pieces.
The semi was carrying methanol bottles which are highly flammable. Hazmat crews were called to the scene to clean up the spillage. No injuries were reported.
Three Starke County government employees were recently honored at the Indiana Association of Community Corrections Annual Conference for outstanding achievement in community corrections for 2010. The Conference was held in Indianapolis.
Kimberly Kennedy was selected as the Program Supervisor for 2010 for her exceptional work in overseeing the Starke County Community Corrections Community Service Component and Robert Shawn Mattraw was selected as the Electronic Monitoring Home Detention Employee of the Year. Director, Robert Hinojosa, also received recognition for his 25 years of service to the Association.
