Government

By Colby Gray— DELAWARE COUNTY, IN—Rural property owners in Blackford and Delaware counties can more easily start implementing conservation practices on their land with help from a free program offered through the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). The program is called “First Steps” and involves one-on-one consultation with a local conservation representative. The SWCD representative helps the property owner identify conservation goals for the property by collecting, analyzing, and discussing environmental variables such as soil types, topographical information,…

By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle— INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Dozens of Indiana laws took effect on July 1, 2022, including a new tax on vaping products, a ban on transgender females playing on girls sports teams and the elimination of handgun permits. Overall, more than 150 bills passed during the legislative session but some went into effect immediately. Here’s a rundown of the notable laws: Transgender athletes A law banning transgender females from competing in girls school sports will take effect despite…

By Danielle McGrath, President, Indiana Energy Association— INDIANAPOLIS, IN—At a time when costs are increasing across the board, Hoosiers will soon benefit from the elimination of a special tax on utility bills. The repeal means monthly savings for all customers beginning July 1, 2022.  The Utility Receipts Tax and Utility Services Tax is currently a 1.46% addition to energy bills based on usage. The elimination of this tax is one of many recent actions taken by the Indiana General Assembly and…

By Keith Roysdon— DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. – A group of neighborhood residents will lead an effort to identify former industrial properties for cleanup using $500,000 in federal funds. The East Central Indiana Regional Planning District won the $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA chose 10 Indiana organizations and communities that would receive part of $9.4 million in funding to assess or clean up brownfield sites, which are properties with suspected contamination from former industrial plant operations. The…

By Amy Howell, Director of Tourism, Marketing and Communications — INDIANAPOLIS – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, are teaming up to launch the Indiana Arts and Culture Passport. “From music venues and theaters, to museums and more, communities across Indiana are using art as a way to come together and build a sense of place,” Crouch said. “All of these attractions reflect the values of residents…

By Mike Pence Press Office— COLUMBUS, Ind. – Today, the Office of Congressman Greg Pence (IN-06) released the following statement regarding his health procedure over the weekend: Congressman Greg Pence is recovering from a heart procedure over the weekend after experiencing minor chest discomfort. Congressman Pence is expected to make a full recovery from home with his wife Denise and family. The Pence family is grateful to the entire Columbus Regional Hospital team for their exceptional care and professionalism. “I…

By The Arbor Day Foundation— Small percentage of Tree City USA participants ultimately earn Growth Award Honor due to a continued dedication towards building a sustainable community LINCOLN, Nebraska – Muncie has received a Tree City USA Growth Award by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. A Growth Award is bestowed to a community alongside their Tree City USA recognition for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care. The Growth…