Casey Smith

Indiana Farm Bureau outlines priorities for farm bill

Indiana’s largest farmer advocacy group says it’s prioritizing commodities, conservation and nutrition in its lobbying efforts around the next federal farm bill.... Read More

Some Hoosiers might not qualify for student debt relief

Some Hoosiers may no longer qualify for President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan after federal officials quietly changed the eligibility qualifications late last week. The U.S. Department of Education indicated Thursday that privately held loans will not be forgiven. ... Read More

Can Indiana’s religious freedom law strike down the state’s abortion ban?

Indiana’s controversial religious freedom law is at the heart of at least two ongoing lawsuits that seek to strike down the state’s near-total abortion ban, fueling debate about where to draw lines between religion and policy.... Read More

Indiana BMV weighs more branch closures, pushes for more digital transactions

Some Hoosiers are pleading with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to keep local branches open as the agency debates additional closures and pushes for more digital service transactions. The BMV has closed eight branches around the state since 2019.... Read More

Indiana’s abortion ban officially takes effect; Here’s what you need to know

Indiana’s near-total ban on abortions officially takes effect Thursday. The state is the first in the nation to approve abortion-restricting legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade.... Read More

Indiana job training program loans out nearly $1 million

An interest-free loan program funded by Indiana taxpayers has dished out nearly $1 million to students seeking technical training, although some advocates caution that such lending plans could be misleading to students.... Read More

$240K for Indiana’s special legislative session

Indiana taxpayers were out close to a quarter of a million dollars for the special legislative session that saw the passage of a near-total ban on abortions in the state, as well as a deal providing wraparound social services and inflation relief.... Read More

Study: Indiana refugees need language services, housing, job access

Language services, affordable housing and access to jobs are among the top needs of Indiana’s growing refugee population, according to a new report published this week by Indiana University researchers.... Read More

Many Indiana students have to pay for school lunches again — which could increase debt

After two years of receiving free school lunches, thousands of Hoosier families will have to pay for them again this fall, including at dozens of Indiana schools that could continue offering free food but choose not to.... Read More

Braun pushes for more spending on agriculture research, development

Indiana Sen. Mike Braun said increasing government spending on agriculture research should be a top priority for the federal government as lawmakers in Congress craft their ongoing response to food security issues.... Read More