Indiana

CHICAGO — Indiana is bracing for the loss of up to $300 million of annual revenue as neighboring Ohio prepares to open four new high-profile casinos in major cities later this year.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week tapped a new commissioner of the Department of Revenue after the outgoing commissioner and two of his top deputies resigned in the wake of a pair of high-profile accounting errors.

It's the second high-profile mistake by the Indiana Department of Revenue in the last year, and prompted the resignation of Revenue Department Commissioner John Eckart.

The Indianapolis office of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP announced last week that the firm has hired Jonathon Weinzapfel, the former mayor of Evansville, as counsel.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Sen. Connie Lawson as the new secretary of state after Charlie White was convicted of six felonies, including voter fraud.

Indiana lawmakers ended their brief 2012 session Friday after passing controversial labor legislation, an automatic taxpayer refund, and a phase-out of the estate tax, among other measures.

Indiana collected less revenue than expected last month, though revenues remained up for the first eight months of the fiscal year, officials said this week.

CHICAGO — The governors of Kentucky and Indiana Monday released the first comprehensive financing plan for a massive $2.6 billion bridges project that will rely heavily on tolls.

The mayor of Hammond, Ind., said last week he won’t move forward with a plan to sell the city’s water company due to costly legal fees and an uncertain market.

The Indiana Senate and the House have both passed separate measures that would eliminate or significantly reduce the state’s inheritance tax, which generates roughly $150 million annually.

Legislation that would pave the way for a $1.3 billion bond-funded regional transit system for central Indiana is likely dead after the Senate president said last week he would not advance the bill.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded to Baa2 from Baa3 its rating on Ball Memorial Hospital, affecting $101 million of bonds.

CHICAGO — Indianapolis is expecting an infusion of anywhere from $125 million to $400 million from hosting Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels touted his legislative agenda — which includes a controversial labor bill — and his achievements during his eight-year tenure at his final state of the state address last week.

Indiana has become the fourth state in the country to reach an agreement with Amazon.com Inc. for the retail giant to collect state sales tax on Internet purchases.

The Indiana Finance Authority has issued a request for qualifications from legal firms interested in serving as transaction counsel on the state's portion of the $2.6 billion bi-state Ohio River Bridges project.

CHICAGO — Indiana's chief budget official is stepping down.

Indiana lawmakers returned to work Wednesday for a short session that begins with controversial labor legislation but will also likely include bills advancing a $1.3 billion bond-funded mass transit plan and raising more revenue for cash-strapped local governments.

Kentucky and Indiana officials announced last week that they reached consensus on a basic plan to finance and build the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project.

Fitch Ratings last week upgraded to AAA from AA-plus its rating on $60 million of ad valorem bonds issued by the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank, which functions as the borrowing arm of the triple-A rated Indianapolis.