Politics & Policy

Lawmakers ask Braun for diesel alternative for farmers

Seymour council holds hearing on $29.9M 2027 budget

BEA schedules Personal Income and Outlays (August 2026) for Sept. 30, 2026

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis lists its Personal Income and Outlays report for August 2026 on the release schedule for Sept. 30, 2026. The schedule also shows BEA will publish the GDP (Third Estimate) and related state measures the same day.

Court proceedings begin for 5 IMPD officers charged in Flock camera scandal

Court proceedings have begun for five Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers charged with allegedly misusing Flock Safety ALPR searches; initial appearances and additional court dates were set and IMPD says it is auditing data and has tightened policies while Flock requires customers to enable proactive audits.

Indianapolis City-County Council chief of staff looks at other cities using Flock following officer misuse

Indiana officials say pre‑1996 teacher pension could reach full funding by FY2028, potentially freeing $1B a year

Indiana Public Retirement System officials told a legislative committee on Sept. 24, 2026 that the pension fund for teachers hired before 1996 could reach 100% funded as soon as the state’s 2028 fiscal year; a projected $160 million payment in 2027 was cited as the key step and leaders said it could eliminate roughly $1 billion in annual state payments.

Chief Terry: License plate cameras ‘save lives’ despite misconduct by 5 officers

An audit found five Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers conducted thousands of unauthorized Flock Safety license-plate searches; IMPD has updated policy to require a case number for each search as it continues internal audits, Chief Tanya Terry said.

Indiana nabs $175M from feds to fix regional electricity ‘choke point’

Shelbyville Common Council approves city's 2027 budget

Westfield swears in two lateral firefighters as city highlights public-safety spending in 2027 budget

Westfield Mayor Scott Willis and Fire Chief Robert Gaylor administered the oath to lateral firefighters Enis Becirevic and Nolan Bastien during the Westfield City Council meeting on Sept. 14, 2026. The swearing-in comes as the city’s proposed 2027 budget continues prioritizing police and fire, noting 36 fire positions added since 2024.

Senator Jim Banks Talks Inflation, Pell Grants & H-1B Visas

Marshall County Council approves Solid Waste Management District's 2027 budget

State utility advocate, regulators to share digs

The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission plan to relocate in December 2026 to a renovated 22,000-square-foot 10th floor at Indiana Government Center North, consolidating from separate PNC Center leases and aiming to reduce annual rent after a nearly $2 million remodel.

Fishers proposes $224M 2027 budget with raises, wastewater boost and 6.7‑cent property tax-rate increase

Mayor Scott Fadness presented a draft 2027 Fishers budget on 2026-09-21 that totals about $224 million (roughly $20 million higher than 2026). The plan includes 3% raises for all employees, a higher retirement match, a longevity pay increase for first responders and a proposed 6.7‑cent increase to the city property tax rate; the council will vote Oct. 12, 2026.

Man thrown out of Indy Council meeting Files Tort Claim

Man thrown out of Indianapolis City County Council meeting files tort claim

Federal order keeps three Indiana coal units available through Dec. 18; utilities seek to recover costs

The U.S. Department of Energy on Sept. 18 ordered two NIPSCO Schahfer units and CenterPoint’s Culley Unit 2 to remain available Sept. 20–Dec. 18, 2026; NIPSCO has asked federal regulators to approve roughly $38 million in cost recovery and CenterPoint is preparing to recover operating costs.

Complaint accuses Marion County deputies of excessive force in council meeting incident

Indianapolis-based Damar Services to pay $65,000 and change hiring policies in EEOC settlement

Indianapolis-based Damar Services agreed to pay $65,000 and implement policy and operational changes under a settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after the EEOC alleged its hiring practices screened out applicants with hearing and vision disabilities and rejected a deaf applicant in 2023.

Plymouth council reviews $14.4M proposed 2027 General Fund; DLGF lists $25,495,169 city budget

The Giant FM report says Plymouth City Council reviewed a proposed $14.4 million 2027 General Fund on 2026-09-21. Indiana DLGF unit lookup lists Plymouth Civil City's full 2027 proposed budget as $25,495,169 and shows a public hearing on 2026-09-14 with adoption scheduled for 2026-09-28.

Indianapolis says River Road south of 96th will be rebuilt by end of 2026; repair cost about $2.5M

City officials say the section of River Road washed away by White River flooding on Aug. 15, 2026 is expected to be rebuilt by the end of 2026. Contractor F.A. Wilhelm is draining the site and the repair is estimated at roughly $2.5 million.

McCordsville Woman Charged in Federal Pandemic Fraud Sweep

Sandra Pierce, 42, owner of Sandy’s on the Run in McCordsville, is among more than 160 defendants arrested in a DOJ sweep called Operation No Doze; federal filings allege she fabricated 22 loan applications, took kickbacks, and caused about $632,905 in losses.

Review of $71 million AES Indiana rate hike to stretch into 2027

Rising fuel prices squeeze Indiana households and farmers; Braun extends gas-tax holiday through Oct. 5

Indiana gas prices averaged $3.92 and diesel $6.42 per gallon on Thursday, and Gov. Mike Braun extended the state gas-tax holiday through Oct. 5, 2026, while diesel remained taxable, economists say the spike is creating an “affordability crisis.”