U.S. budget deficit jumps to record $1.7 trillion
The deficit has been driven higher by trillions of dollars in support Congress has passed in successive economic rescue packages since the pandemic struck in early March 2020.
Associated Press
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Microsoft buying speech recognition firm Nuance in $16B deal
The acquisition will get Microsoft deeper into hospitals and the health care industry through Nuance’s widely used medical dictation and transcription tools.
U.S. colleges divided over requiring student vaccinations
U.S. colleges hoping for a return to normalcy next fall are weighing how far they should go in urging students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including whether they should—or legally can—require it.
White House gives Indiana C- in state-by-state infrastructure report
The Biden White House is amplifying the push for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package with the release of state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability.
Cummins among companies at White House chips-shortage summit
President Joe Biden’s top economic and national security advisers are hosting more than a dozen CEOs on Monday to discuss the administration’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan and the global semiconductor shortage, according to a White House official.
Duke Energy division planning $180M Indiana solar farm
The project, which would be on built on leased land and span 1,500 acres, including 896 acres in Vigo County and 604 acres in Sullivan County. It would be located on a reclaimed coal strip mine currently being used for crops.
More than 100 execs hold call to discuss halting donations, investments to fight voting bills
Leaders from dozens of companies including Delta, American, United, Starbucks, Target, LinkedIn, Levi Strauss and Boston Consulting Group, along with Atlanta Falcons team owner Arthur Blank, were included on the call, according to people who listened.
Fed’s Powell sees U.S. boom ahead, with COVID still a risk
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that he doesn’t expect to raise the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, currently pegged at nearly zero, this year.
Indiana lawmakers planning on return for redistricting votes
Legislative leaders are laying the groundwork for a return by all 150 lawmakers to Indianapolis months from now to approve new congressional and General Assembly districts based on data from last year’s census.
Gov. Holcomb vetoes bill curtailing his emergency powers
Holcomb’s fellow Republicans pushed the bill after months of criticism from some conservatives over COVID-19 restrictions the governor imposed by executive order during the statewide public health emergency over the past year.
Proposed new Indiana vaping products tax blasted as ‘measly’
The president of the state’s largest business organization says the Senate’s proposed tax amounts to “a measly one-tenth” of the state’s cigarette tax and is “arguably worse than no increase at all.”
Advocates call on NCAA to act in response to anti-trans sports laws
Conservative lawmakers in at least 28 states have introduced legislation to ban or limit transgender athletes from competing on teams or sports that align with their gender identity.
Airlines pull Boeing Max jets to inspect electrical systems
Boeing said Friday that the issue affected planes used by 16 airlines. The company did not say how many planes are affected or how long it will take for inspections and, if necessary, repairs.
Amazon secures enough votes to block union effort
Amazon, which has more than 950,000 workers in the United States, has cut off a path that labor activists had hoped would lead to similar efforts throughout the company and beyond.
Castroneves starts getting acclimated to new team, color
Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who spent 21 seasons driving for Team Penske, was sporting new team colors at Thursday’s IndyCar test session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Amazon union organizers deflated as vote tilts against them
For Amazon, which has more than 950,000 workers in the United States and has fought hard against organizing attempts, a union loss could chill similar efforts around the company.
Indiana Legislature OKs religious activities as essential
The measure, which heads to the governor, would prohibit state and local orders from restricting anyone’s ability to attend religious services during disaster emergencies.
Lawmakers adopt penalties for failing to protect monuments
The Indiana Legislature passed a bill Thursday that allows the state to withhold funding to cities that fail to protect public monuments and memorials from vandalism.
Chip shortage forces more production cuts by General Motors
The shutdowns likely will crimp dealer inventory of vehicles made at the plants, but GM says it has managed to keep factories humming that make hot-selling and very profitable full-size pickup trucks and SUVs.
Indiana panel drops contentious requirement from voting bill
A legislative committee has overhauled a contentious proposal to require Indiana voters to submit identification numbers with mail-in ballot applications.