Weather Brings Many Abscences As Indiana Session Starts

Indiana's House and Senate have found just enough members to begin business after a major winter storm crippled the state.

The House of Representatives opened its first day of the 2014 session Tuesday with 67 of its 100 members reporting to the Statehouse.

The number was just enough to achieve the quorum needed to start work.

The Senate started an hour late with barely enough members to conduct business. Thirty-four of fifty senators showed up.

Dozens of lawmakers were excused Tuesday because of weather and travel conditions. The House and Senate both canceled Wednesday sessions and aren't expected to return until Thursday.  

The polar vortex which dropped temperatures into the negative teens Monday and Tuesday continued to hinder snow removal throughout the state Tuesday.