A new housing project is being planned for older residents on the far east side. The Blue Line rapid transit system has been recommended to receive roughly $140 million in support from the federal government. Indy Summer Learning Labs is hiring for their summer instructional programs. David Umulis discusses how he’ll lead Purdue in Indianapolis through its split with Indiana University, as IUPUI officially becomes two.

The City of Indianapolis announced yesterday it received roughly twelve million dollars to support homelessness and housing initiatives. The governor signed a bill Monday that requires hospitals to ensure Medicaid members have the option during a delivery visit to get a long-acting reversible contraceptive — also known as a LARC. Lawmakers passed a flurry of bills this year that will have a wide impact on education in Indiana, including efforts to promote work-based learning and advance policies for school curricula. New federal data estimates that fewer than 1 in 10 Indiana community college students go on to earn bachelor's degrees.

Indy Parks will offer free, public Wi-Fi at several parks across the city. The construction of some of the most historic buildings in Indianapolis is the focus of a new archival photo project. Governor Eric Holcomb signed a bill that critics say violates federal law when it comes to removing people from the voter rolls. Gov. Holcomb signed a controversial reading retention bill into law that holds back nearly all third graders who fail the state’s reading proficiency exam. Indianapolis welcomed seven new City-County councilors this year, among them Dr. Carlos Perkins, pastor of the oldest Black church in the city, Bethel Cathedral AME Church.

Republican leaders said before the start of session they wanted it to be a quiet one, focused on small tweaks to existing policies. A bill on its way to the governor’s desk would expand several state education programs and increase funding for some students. Schools must release students for religious education under a bill headed to the governor’s desk. Legislation headed to the governor would establish a fund for research into psilocybin and its potential as a treatment for mental health issues, substance use disorders and chronic pain.

Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes haven’t had much ice this winter, and less ice can spell bad news for Indiana’s lakeshore towns. It’s now up to Governor Eric Holcomb whether to sign a bill into law that will restrict his power, and that of his successors, from extending statewide disaster emergency declarations. The number of young people between the ages of ten and nineteen who died of an overdose has more than doubled from 2019 to 2021, and continues to rise — some say school prevention isn’t keeping up.

The operations of Change Healthcare are still on hold as it works through a cyberattack that happened more than ten days ago. How can older adults and retirees efficiently and effectively file taxes in Indiana? Indiana’s public access counselor could see a significant shift in duties under a House Bill that now heads to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk. Indiana is expanding its revenge pornography law to include digitally-generated or altered images. Some teenagers will be able to work later into the evening during the summer, and possibly during the start of the school year, under legislation headed to the governor’s desk.

Politicians and educators agree that the large number of Indiana students missing school is a serious problem - there’s less consensus on what policies could help. Lawmakers want to get pregnant people who have been charged with drug crimes into treatment earlier. Adult websites would have to use stricter age verification to operate in Indiana under legislation headed to the governor’s desk. Another piece of legislation headed to the governor aims to make Indiana’s disaster relief program easier to access, while providing more money for those in need. Indiana Republicans are interfering in a lawsuit by the city of Gary against gun manufacturers and sellers.

The Indianapolis City County Council held its full monthly meeting last night. Pet stores will be able to sell dogs anywhere in Indiana, even in communities where those sales are banned by local ordinances, under a bill Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law yesterday. The Indiana Libertarian Party chose its 2024 nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate this weekend. An amendment to a wide-reaching fiscal bill could make Indiana the 30th state to eliminate retail sales tax on feminine hygiene products. Legislation headed to the governor would establish requirements for the state’s new Medicaid program.

The standardized assessment known as IREAD-3, or the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination, will be given to all third graders and most second graders during a testing window open March 4–15. A Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that would increase access to postpartum, long-acting reversible contraceptives, also known as LARCs, for people on Medicaid. Language to disqualify candidates for Indiana attorney general if they face certain sanctions to their law license was removed from a bill on the Senate floor this week. A bill that provides tax breaks for developers and homeowners that preserve wetlands is awaiting Governor Eric Holcomb’s signature. It passed the state House on Tuesday. The Indiana University Board of Trustees is keeping the Kinsey Institute at IU.

Indianapolis News: The Indianapolis Blue Line is saved as lawmakers and local officials reach compromise. The tenure bill heads to the governor’s desk.