A portion of Camp Atterbury will soon be home to a proving and testing ground for new technologies that could be useful to both civilians and the military — largely those involving autonomous vehicles.

Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill Wednesday that would make it easier to court-martial and administratively punish Indiana National Guard troops. As it made its way through the legislature, House Bill 1076 faced opposition from a small, but growing group of lawmakers and left questions about existing disciplinary procedures.

A bill making it easier to court-martial and administratively punish Indiana National Guard troops is one step away from becoming law despite debate that has divided military advocacy groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Indiana National Guard leaders have told lawmakers since January they are “not able” to convene general courts-martial to address the “most serious” cases of misconduct within the Guard, including four sexual assaults last year.

Indiana sent more than a dozen soldiers, three flight crews and mechanics, along with two Black Hawk helicopters Sept 29, the day after Hurricane Ian slammed into the southwest Florida coast. They were sent home Sept. 30.

Mohammad Zaki Ahmadi recited the oath of enlistment and signed his paperwork for a three-year commitment to the Guard during a March 3 ceremony at the Indianapolis Military Entry Processing Station in Lawrence.

A Senate committee dramatically scales back the House’s vaccine mandate bill. The Indiana Department of Health releases new school COVID-19 guidance. And COVID-19 data continues to improve.

Atterbury housed more than 7,200 evacuees that have found permanent homes in 45 different states.

Indiana National Guard Adjutant General Dale Lyles has been promoted to major general.

The first national guard team arrived in Muncie Wednesday, and other IU Health hospitals are expecting them in the coming days.