Jacob Rund - TheStatehouseFile.com

Indiana Department of Education officials presented their two-year budget proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, which included large increases to the Non-English Speakers Fund, textbook relief funding, and tuition support.

Due in part to an increase in private sector jobs, Indiana's unemployment rate held steady during the month of November.

Gov. Mike Pence said Wednesday he isn't as concerned that his proposed expansion of the Healthy Indiana Plan receives federal approval on his original timeline of Jan. 1 - as long as it is eventually approved in its original format.

The Indiana State Budget Committee approved the release of nearly $1.1 million Thursday to be used for repairs and updates to the state's original capitol and related buildings.

Peggy Welch will serve as the lieutenant governor's liaison to city, town and county elected officials. She will serve as a member of Ellspermann's management team.

Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill Thursday in Valparaiso to infuse the Major Moves Construction Fund with up to $400 million dollars to be used for highway construction and expansion.

The Indiana Department of Transportation will launch an expansive study seeking new ways to finance road construction and maintenance if a bill passed by the Indiana legislature is signed into law.

Key legislators say they have reached a compromise on a bill that gives local officials in several counties the authority to expand mass transit throughout Central Indiana.

The bill would ban an employer from refusing to hire anyone because of his or her status as a veteran of the U.S. military. It also requires the Indiana Civil Rights Commission to enforce alleged violations of the practice.

The bill would require a health care provider to approve the player's return to a game or practice. The bill also adds athletic trainers to the list of health care providers who can make that call.