The three Republican candidates for Indiana's open U.S. Senate seat met here for their first debate Saturday.

Fourth District Republican Chairman Craig Dunn announced Monday that candidates Eric Holcomb, Marlin Stutsman and Todd Young have confirmed they'll participate in the Jan. 16 debate at a Kokomo restaurant.

Leaders from Indiana's medical device industry and both of the state's U.S. senators hailed Congress' passage Friday of a more than $1 trillion spending bill. The measure temporarily halts a controversial medical device tax.

Republican Sen. Dan Coats says he'll oppose short-term government funding measures until Congress addresses what he sees as a coming fiscal crisis. Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly says shutting down the government would threaten an improving economy.

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly says he was inspired by Pope Francis' historical address to Congress Thursday and hopes lawmakers will take the speech's message to heart. Republican Sen. Dan Coats praised the pope's message as one that transcends national borders and political divides.

Next year's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Dan Coats remains at three challengers with State Sen. Mike Delph's announcement Tuesday that he will not enter the race.

Sen. Dan Coats has introduced legislation that would deny federal benefits for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for a felony or parole violations.

Former congressman Lee Hamilton and Sen. Dan Coats react to the Iran nuclear deal.