State and local road funding, harsher penalties for drug dealers, and holding schools harmless for a drop in ISTEP scores - those are some of the initiatives Gov. Mike Pence says will be part of his legislative agenda for the upcoming session.

The legislators plan to introduce a bill that would force the Division of Forestry to set aside 10 percent of each state forest, with no logging allowed in those areas.

Students at West Lafayette's Cumberland Elementary School sent state Sen. Ron Alting more than 800 postcards and letters seeking his help in their mission to get the firefly named Indiana's official insect.

Joe Hogsett, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor of Indianapolis Friday afternoon.

Greg Ballard is ending eight years as Indianapolis mayor on Thursday, capping a period during which he oversaw the city's hosting of the 2012 Super Bowl while also struggling with persistent violent crime problems.

The Lifeline law provides drunk minors with immunity from underage drinking charges if they seek medical or police help for any reason. Indianapolis Republican Sen. Jim Merritt wants to expand it further, this time providing immunity from drug charges for people under 21.

That bill will likely push the state to study tolling major interstates from border to border. But, some lawmakers are skeptical about that proposal's potential.

Cancer prevention advocates have long called for Indiana to raise its cigarette tax - something the state hasn't done in eight years. But, it's a road funding priority that's finally generating momentum for the controversial move.

There are several municipal lawmakers leaving the ranks of the Indianapolis City-County Council at the end of this year. There are, naturally, also new names to be added.

Indiana's sales tax revenues have underperformed this fiscal year and a new revenue forecast predicts the state won't collect as much as previously predicted.