Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has rescinded new Statehouse security rules that put a 3,000-person limit on the number of people allowed in the building at any one time. Daniels said today that he told state police to return to past practices of allowing all visitors into the Statehouse after they've cleared security checkpoints.He says state police and the state fire marshal raised valid public safety concerns about large crowds inside the building, but he decided it was important to keep as much public access as possible."If there comes a point at which safety and security seem to be in jeopardy, weβll entertain the idea or they have my authority to do something different at that point," Daniels said at a press conference outside his office. The start of the legislative session today was expected to draw thousands of demonstrators opposed to union-related legislation. The limits would have capped the number of Statehouse visitors at about 1,300 because it took into account 1,700 people who work there or who have access passes, including about 250 lobbyists.(Information for this story also came from the Associated Press)
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
