Biden to call for end of normal trade relations between U.S., Russia
Russia is not one of the United States’ top trading partners, but the goods and services exported by both countries are still substantial.
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IRS aims to fill 5,000 jobs in 30 days to help clear backlog of 24M returns
The moves, disclosed by a senior Treasury official not authorized to speak publicly, represent the agency’s most aggressive strategy to dig out from under the massive backlog, the result of lagging operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Justice Department reports more than $8B in alleged fraud tied to federal COVID aid programs
In some of the cases, suspects wrongfully obtained federal loans to bolster companies that didn’t actually exist. In others, large, transnational crime syndicates stole workers’ identities to receive generous unemployment benefits under someone else’s name.
Congress weighs permanent daylight saving time in debate as regular as clockwork
A congressional panel on Wednesday debated whether to end the nation’s “spring forward” and “fall back” daylight saving policy, citing the health effects of shifting the clock twice per year. Most agreed it was about time.
Mental health ‘epidemic’ making help increasingly hard to find
It has been difficult to find mental health counseling in much of the United States for years. But now, after two years of unrelenting stress, turmoil and grief, many people seeking help are confronting a system at or beyond capacity.
IRS rushes to hire 10,000 workers but giant backlog expected to persist
A government official said the IRS does not expect to resolve the backlog until the end of 2022. But it hopes the hiring surge, the largest at the IRS in decades, will galvanize a strong response to the mountain of unprocessed paperwork at the agency.
White House unveils new COVID plan, says shutdowns, school closures unnecessary
The 96-page road map is part of a broader White House strategy to move the country from crisis footing and convince Americans that their lives can return to normal amid the president’s tanking approval ratings.
What do women want at work? It’s not just better pay, study finds
Better pay and benefits—as well as greater work-life balance and well-being—were top priorities for both men and women. But women said other factors were just as important to them in a way men did not.
Biden pledges to make inflation battle his ‘top priority’
The president acknowledged that millions of Americans still face financial hardships, particularly as the cost of groceries, gasoline, cars and rents have skyrocketed in what has become the fastest period of inflation in four decades.
Ukrainian American Rep. Spartz takes on leading role in GOP response to Russian invasion of her home country
On Tuesday night, she will be part of the group of lawmakers who will escort President Joe Biden into the House chamber for a State of the Union address that is expected to focus heavily on the conflict happening in her home country.
More than 140M Americans have had COVID-19, according to CDC
The estimates, compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that about 43% of the country has been infected by the virus. Indiana is among 14 states where more than half the population has been infected.
Fuel prices spike amid Ukraine crisis, climbing near $5 a gallon in some markets
Americans are paying nearly a dollar more for a gallon of gas than they did last year as the growing threat of war in Ukraine moved oil prices higher.
Ex-ITT Tech students among thousands to receive $415M in loan cancellations
This is the fourth finding against Carmel-based ITT Tech that has led to the approval of debt relief claims by the department. All told, the evidence has resulted in about $660 million in discharges for roughly 23,000 students.
Mortgage rates soar to levels not seen in nearly three years
According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average has spiked in the last six weeks to 3.92%.
White House, Dems eye pause of gas tax as prices soar, election looms
The early deliberations come days after a group of vulnerable Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would suspend the gas tax of roughly 18 cents per gallon for the rest of the year.
Car dealers are raising prices. Automakers are pushing back. Consumers are stuck in between.
Soaring car prices have set off a battle between automakers and independent dealers, with consumers routinely paying hundreds, often thousands, more than the listed price amid a protracted vehicle shortage.
Senate passes bill to end forced arbitration in sexual assault, harassment cases
The bill would nullify agreements between employees and their employers in which the employees waive their rights to sue in the case of sexual assault or harassment.
College athletes advocacy group files unfair labor charges against schools, NCAA
It is the first step in a legal strategy that the group hopes will lead to free-market wages for athletes in the revenue-producing Division I sports, as well as leverage for those athletes to broker a collective bargaining agreement with the NCAA.
Inflation has Fed critics pointing to spike in money supply
The persistence of inflation, now running at an annual rate of 7%, has provided ammunition to conservative critics of the central bank known as “monetarists” for their adherence to the writings of economist Milton Friedman.
John Mellencamp still has plenty of fight left in him
Now, at age 70, after a lifetime of speaking his mind, the Indiana artist doesn’t hesitate to name his adversaries.