South & Southwest Fort Wayne Indiana News
It’s hard to believe my time in public service has come to an end. Thirty years ago I was elected to my first term as a Fort Wayne city councilman, where I served for eight years, and I then spent the next 22 years as the State Senator representing Senate District 16, serving for 12 of those years
Over the past few decades, internet-connected devices have become increasingly prominent in our lives. According to Pew Research Center, 95 percent of Americans now own a cellphone, myself included. Further, many features of our homes can be connected to the internet and controlled by our smart
Indiana leaders work hard to improve our state, and I’m proud to see our policies and laws continue to pay off. Since last year, Indiana has been ranked in the top 10 states for doing business by Chief Executive Magazine, Area Development Magazine, Site Selection Magazine and Forbes, which al
Each year, Hoosier parents entrust their children’s education to our teachers. Given that teachers have the tremendous responsibility of helping shape our children’s futures, it is imperative that we have great teachers and continue to support them.
Due to a variety of reasons, Indiana, like ma
Indiana’s tech sector is growing at a rapid rate, making it even more crucial for Hoosiers to have access to reliable high-speed internet. In recent years, the General Assembly passed legislation to pave the way for telecommunications investment across the state, and now, we are receiving
During each legislative session, the Indiana Senate provides internship opportunities for college students, graduate students and recent college graduates. Throughout the legislative session, interns learn about Indiana’s current issues, network, practice leadership skills, de
Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America,” and we do our best to make sure our transportation infrastructure lives up to the name.
Quality roadways help attract new businesses, grow our economy and keep our citizens safe as they travel through our communities and state. In 2016, the Indiana
Over the past 20 years, schools in the United States, including in Indiana, have seen an increase in shootings and other violence.
Just a few months ago, a shooting occurred at Noblesville West Middle School. Thanks to the exceptional bravery of a teacher there were no deaths, but this tragedy empha
In December of 2017, Indiana’s Department of Child Services (DCS) made news headlines across the state when the agency’s ability to adequately protect Hoosier children was called into question.
To get a full understanding of the issues facing DCS, Gov. Eric Holcomb called for the Child Welfare
In our modern digital age, it seems that any piece of information, no matter how broad or specific, can be found with a quick Google search. More and more we find ourselves turning to the internet to look up the answers to our questions, but did you know that Indiana has been hard at work making informati
There is no question that one of today’s major health concerns is the issue of mental health. As our society continues to understand how mental health conditions can affect individuals, families and communities, we also recognize the importance of addressing mental health issues as a matt
Each year during the legislative session, members of the Indiana General Assembly conduct committee hearings, participate in debates and take part in discussions with constituents as we consider new laws that will address important issues facing Indiana.
However, throughout the session, law
The Indiana General Assembly convened May 14 for a one-day special session called by the governor. During this time, my colleagues and I passed four time-sensitive bills that could not wait until the 2019 session. This legislation will add additional funding for school safety, update our tax code
The Indiana General Assembly works diligently each year to implement policies that will help fill open jobs and encourage businesses to grow or locate in our state, and we continue to see positive results.
For example, our state’s unemployment rate has remained below the national average f
During the 2017 session, the General Assembly passed a two-year budget, which included up to $7.04 billion for school funding, or about $5,956 per student, which was based on estimated enrollment numbers for the 2017-18 school year.
Over half of our General Fund is dedicated to K-12 education, but
One of Indiana’s biggest long-term challenges is the skills gap that exists between available jobs and available workers. For example, nearly a third of Indiana employers responded to a survey conducted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce saying they felt that filling an open position is th
The Indiana General Assembly concluded the 2018 legislative session earlier this month, passing 210 bills, 99 percent of which received bipartisan report.
Among these bills are those that accomplish our legislative agenda. At the beginning of the year, my colleagues and I considered the issues
Opioid abuse is a growing issue in our state, costing Indiana billions of dollars and destroying Hoosier lives. For example, 488 opioid pain reliever-related deaths occurred in Indiana in 2016 alone, which is a nearly 2,000-percent increase since 2000.
At the national level, deaths caused by dru
During the first half of the legislative session, my colleagues and I researched, discussed and voted on legislation authored by members of the Senate. Now, with the 2018 session in its second half, we have started considering bills passed by the House of Representatives.
Below are some of the majo
The Indiana General Assembly recently reached the half-way point, meaning the Senate and House of Representatives will begin considering legislation passed by their counterpart since session began January 3.
Nearly 440 bills were authored in the Senate this year, and of those, a number continu
An opioid epidemic continues to plague our state and the rest of the nation, affecting individuals, families and entire communities in the process.
In 2016 alone, 488 Hoosiers died of an opioid-pain-reliever overdose, an almost 2,000-percent increase compared to the number of deaths in 2000, ac
The Indiana General Assembly is now in session, and I recently joined some of my fellow senators to announce the Senate Republicans’ 2018 Agenda.
This year, we are working to continue to fight the drug epidemic, improve Indiana’s workforce, support Hoosier schools, reform civil forfeitur
The Indiana General Assembly reconvenes next month for the 2018 legislative session. Between January 3 and mid-March, my colleagues and I will conduct research, listen to testimony, and author and vote on legislation that addresses issues facing our state.
It’s important for me to get fee
Indiana has had a record year for economic development in 2017, with nearly 29,000 new jobs planned for the future.
Since the year began, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation has secured 270 commitments from businesses inside and outside of our state to grow or locate in Indiana. Together
Indiana lawmakers recently convened at the Statehouse for Organization Day — the ceremonial start of the legislative session.
Once the General Assembly officially reconvenes January 3, legislators will delve deeper into topics, authoring and passing bills that will make Indiana a better plac