Indiana

Education, Medicaid highlight fast-paced legislative session

Published

10 months ago

March 9, 2024

Education, Medicaid highlight fast-paced legislative session

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In the span of barely two months, lawmakers sent Gov. Eric Holcomb a flurry of bills dealing with issues from literacy and absenteeism to birth control access and a partial fix for a troubled Medicaid program.

Literacy, absenteeism top education concerns

State education officials in August revealed nearly 1 in 5 Indiana third-graders can’t read at grade level. Around the same time, they found a similar number are chronically absent from school. State lawmakers and Holcomb said in the months leading up to the session those issues would be their top priorities.

Lawmakers’ plan for literacy carried the designation Senate Bill 1, indicating it was that chamber’s top legislative priority. The final version of the bill moves the IREAD exam from third grade to second grade, and requires reading interventions for any student who fails the test. Students would be held back for one year if they fail the test three times. Students would not be retained if they are English language learners, have an intellectual disability or demonstrate math proficiency.

On the absenteeism front, a bill approved on the last day of session requires schools to hold attendance conferences with parents of habitually absent students and come up with plans to provide services that ensure the student is able to get to class on time.

Higher education drew lawmakers’ attention as well. Legislation on the governor’s desk would require Indiana’s four-year institutions to investigate the feasibility of offering three-year bachelor’s degrees. The bill also codifies into state law Ivy Tech Community College’s reverse credit transfer program, under which students who complete at least 75 credit hours at a four-year institution can transfer the credits to Ivy Tech in order to receive an associate’s degree.

Attendant care program draws tougher scrutiny

December’s revelation of a projected billion-dollar Medicaid funding shortfall overshadowed the 2024 legislative session. The following month’s revelation the Family and Social Services Administration would begin removing families from the attendant care program led to weekly protests by parents of children with severe medical conditions. Lawmakers in the closing hours of session approved legislation to require new transparency and oversight rules of FSSA and to require a full accounting of what led to the forecasting issue. The legislation also requires the FSSA to set a minimum reimbursement level for families transitioned away from the attendant care program to another program, structured family caregiving. Lawmakers at one point floated setting their own minimum but ultimately chose to leave the decision up to the agency.

Child care, birth control and more

Legislation now on the governor’s desk will make child care workers eligible for the On My Way Pre-K program and Child Care Development Fund vouchers if they make up to 85% of the state’s median income. The bill also lowers the minimum age to be a child care worker from 21 to 18.

A Democratic-backed bill requires doctors to offer long-acting, reversible contraception to new mothers who are Medicaid recipients. The bill’s backers said doing so is one way to prevent unwanted pregnancy, especially among the most vulnerable of the state’s residents.

Holcomb will have to decide whether to sign a bill that ends restrictions on the hours 16- and 17-year-olds can work and to make it easier for 14 and 15-year-olds to be excused from school to work. There is also a bill to prohibit foreign adversaries from buying any new agricultural land in Indiana or from buying land within 10 miles of a military installation. A House priority bill codifies into state law the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, declares antisemitism a form of religious discrimination and prohibits it in educational settings.

The governor will have seven days to act on legislation from the time it is officially presented to him.

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Indiana

How to watch Iowa vs Indiana today: Time, TV channel for Big Ten basketball game

Published

3 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Iowa vs Indiana today: Time, TV channel for Big Ten basketball game

Iowa basketball is ready to hit the court again in Big Ten Conference play.

The Hawkeyes (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) remain at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday for a men’s matchup against Indiana. Head coach Fran McCaffery’s group is hoping to carry its momentum from last outing’s overtime win over Nebraska, 97-87, on Tuesday.

Here’s how to watch Iowa men’s basketball vs Indiana, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Watch Iowa vs. Indiana men’s basketball on FUBO

What channel is Iowa vs Indiana on today?

TV channel: FOX

Livestream: FUBO (free trial)

Iowa vs Indiana will be broadcast nationally on FOX. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Can I watch Iowa vs Indiana for free on livestream?

The Iowa vs. Indiana game can be streamed on FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Iowa vs Indiana time today

Date: Saturday, Jan. 1
Start time: 7 p.m. CT

The Iowa vs Indiana game starts at 7 p.m. CT from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Iowa basketball schedule 2024-25

Record: 11-4 (2-2 Big Ten)

Nov. 4: Texas A&M Commerce (W, 89-67)
Nov. 7: Southern (W, 89-74)
Nov. 12: South Dakota (W, 96-77)
Nov. 15: Washington State (W, 76-66)
Nov. 19: Rider University (W, 83-58)
Nov. 22: Utah State (L, 77-69)
Nov 26: USC Upstate (W, 110-77)
Dec. 3: Northwestern (W, 80-79)
Dec 7: @Michigan (L, 85-83)
Dec. 12: Iowa State (L, 89-80)
Dec. 15: University of New Orleans (W, 104-57)
Dec. 21: University of Utah (W, 95-88)
Dec. 30: University of New Hampshire (W, 112-70)
Jan 3: at Wisconsin, (L, 116-85)
Jan. 7: Nebraska, (W, 97-87)
Jan. 11: Indiana, 7 p.m., FOX (Iowa City)*
Jan. 14: at USC, 9:30 p.m., FS1 (Los Angeles, California)*
Jan. 17: at UCLA, 8 p.m., FS1 (Los Angeles, California)*
Jan 21: Minnesota, 8 p.m., BTN (Iowa City)*
Jan. 24: Penn State, 8 p.m., FS1 (Iowa City)*
Jan 27: at Ohio State, 7 p.m., FS1 (Columbus, Ohio)*
Feb. 4: Purdue, 6 p.m., Peacock (Iowa City)*
Feb 8: Wisconsin, noon, NBC (Iowa City)*
Feb. 12: at Rutgers, 5:30 p.m., BTN (Piscataway, New Jersey)*
Feb. 16: at Maryland, 4 p.m., FS1 (College Park, Maryland)*
Feb. 19: Oregon, 7:30 p.m., BTN (Iowa City)*
Feb. 22: Washington, 3 p.m., FS1 (Iowa City)*
Feb. 25: at Illinois, 8 p.m., FS1 (Champaign, Illinois)*
Feb: 28: at Northwestern, 8 p.m., FS1 (Evanston, Illinois)*
March 6: Michigan State, 7 p.m., FS1 (Iowa City)*
March 9: at Nebraska, 11:30 a.m., FOX (Lincoln, Nebraska)*
March 12-16: Big Ten Tournament on (Indianapolis, Indiana)*

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Indiana

Indiana State Police arrest woman accused of helping man wanted for allegedly shooting deputy

Published

15 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Indiana State Police arrest woman accused of helping man wanted for allegedly shooting deputy

FOX59/CBS4 has requested a mugshot of Victoria Howard, which has not been provided as of this article’s publication. The mugshot will be added once it is released.

FLOYD COUNTY, Ind. — Authorities have arrested a woman accused of helping a man flee from authorities after he allegedly shot an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy.

Indiana State Police announced the arrest of 35-year-old Victoria Howard of New Albany, alleging that she assisted Austin Schepers after he reportedly shot Deputy Zac Andry on Jan. 3 in Orange Count.

A previous booking photo of Austin Schepers provided by Indiana State Police.

ISP said the incident occurred after Deputy Andry stopped to check on a disabled silver 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix near US Highway 150 and State Road 56. During this interaction, Schepers allegedly shot the deputy several times. Previous reports indicate Andry was transported to a Louisville-based hospital in “critical but stable condition.”

Schepers allegedly fled to a residence located in the 1800 block of Market Street in New Albany after the shooting.

*Photo of Deputy Zac Andry courtesy of Indiana State Police.*

Detectives believe Howard was aware that Scheper was wanted for his alleged role in the encounter and that police were searching for him.

ISP accused Howard of utilizing the ride-sharing app Lyft to assist Schepers as he looked for a ride from her apartment to the area of Craig Street and Wheeler Avenue in Louisville.

Schepers was found on Jan. 4 by investigators in the 3700 block of Wheeler Avenue where he was eventually killed during a shootout with police.

ISP said Howard was arrested without incident on Jan. 9 in Clarksville and taken to the Floyd County Jail where she was preliminarily charged with assisting a criminal (level 5 felony) and false informing (Class A misdemeanor).

ISP added that more individuals could face additional charges for allegedly helping Schepers while law enforcement was searching for him.

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Indiana

Latest forecast: How much snow will Indiana get Friday? When will it fall?

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Latest forecast: How much snow will Indiana get Friday? When will it fall?

The Bloomington area will get more snow today. Here’s how much the National Weather Service now expects to fall and when.

How much snow will Monroe County get Friday?

Aaron Updike, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis said the Bloomington area is expected to get between 2 and 4 inches of snow.

Southern parts of Indiana could see even more, with Bedford projected to get close to 4 inches and areas closer to Louisville possibly seeing 6 inches.

When will the snow fall today in the Bloomington area?

Updike said the NWS expects the snow to begin around 11 a.m. and end about 12 hours later. However, he said, the day will bring periods of lulls and peaks, though those are more difficult to predict.

Generally, Updike said, the heaviest accumulation will occur from mid-to-late afternoon, around 2 to 6 p.m.

He urged commuters to take extra time and care, as they may experience slippery roads and sidewalks on their way home.

What kind of snow will be falling in Indiana on Friday?

Updike said the snow should be light and fluffy. The NWS expects only light wind, with gusts of 10 to 15 mph, which means the area should not expect to see much drifting snow.

How cold will it get in the Bloomington area tonight?

The NWS projects that the cloud cover will hang around the area for a while, which will contribute to temperatures falling only to about 20 degrees.

Is there a chance of snowmelt any time soon in Indiana?

Updike said temperatures should rise to near freezing on Sunday, and the area also might see some pockets of sunshine, which should help melt some snow especially on pavement and roads.

However, he said temperatures will not rise enough in the next few days to melt all of the snow.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

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