Area builders see big jump in home-construction applications
After a slowdown in May, applications for home construction permits made a solid rebound in the Indianapolis area in June despite the pandemic.
IPS delays school reopenings due to COVID-19 concerns
In-person classes and remote learning will now begin on Aug. 17, instead of the previously planned Aug. 3 start. Families can also reconsider whether they want full-time virtual learning when school starts.
Indiana sees increase of 917 COVID-19 cases as testing hits daily high
Cumulative testing in Indiana rose by 12,425 in Sunday’s report, the biggest increase since the beginning of the pandemic.
Trump seeks payroll tax cut while GOP insists on liability protections
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to introduce an approximately $1 trillion stimulus bill in coming days that will include a limited extension of federal unemployment benefits. Those benefits are set to expire as soon as this week.
Indiana reports second-highest daily increase in COVID-19 cases
Indiana has seen new COVID-19 cases rise for five straight days and has reported more than 700 new cases for four straight days.
Bank CEOs warn of tougher economic road after recent gains
The road to recovery for the U.S. economy will be uneven, unclear and uncertain as the coronavirus retains its hold on business and Americans’ everyday activities, according to the heads of the nation’s biggest banks.
Clay Terrace hits pause on pre-pandemic plan to add apartments, offices, hotel
Columbus, Ohio-based Washington Prime Group has told the city of Carmel it has decided to put the brakes on an ambitious plan to diversify the lifestyle center.
Public health veteran Dr. Virginia Caine both upbeat and frustrated
IBJ talked with Caine about her pandemic frustrations, how testing and contact-tracing are going and whether the Indianapolis 500 should run with fans in the stands.
Indiana-based banks didn’t cede PPP loans to big rivals
Of the 20 banks issuing the most PPP loans to Indiana borrowers, 11 were headquartered in the state—many of which went to extraordinary lengths to extend as many loans as they could.
Indiana reports more than 700 new COVID-19 cases for third straight day
The Indiana State Department of Health on Friday said more than 600,000 tests for COVID-19 have been administered in the state during the pandemic, with 9.1% of those tested found positive.
Two local restaurant groups to require masks at all eateries
Cunningham Restaurant Group and Huse Culinary—which altogether operate more than 30 eateries—said they were taking the step to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect diners and employees.
Group planning weekend anti-mask rally at Indiana Statehouse
The Indiana Conservative Alliance and Grassroots Conservatives previously held protests against Indiana’s stay-at-home orders in April.
Federal Reserve expands lending program to not-for-profit groups
The Fed said Friday that its Main Street Lending Program, which is targeted to mid-sized businesses, will now extend credit to not-for-profits with at least 10 employees and endowments of less than $3 billion.
Indiana educators brace to return to classrooms despite coronavirus health risks
Even in schools and districts that are offering virtual programs, it’s unclear how many teachers will be dedicated to remote instruction and whether those positions will go to teachers who are high risk.
New House bill seeks equal pay, protections for growing numbers of temporary workers
Critics of the bill, including the American Staffing Association, say the bill would reduce companies’ flexibility in the labor market and hurt job creation at a time when too many people are already unemployed.
Experts say Twitter breach troubling, undermines trust
The FBI said Thursday it is investigating the hacks, and said the high-profile accounts “appear to have been compromised in order to perpetuate cryptocurrency fraud.”
NCAA lays out plan for playing, but warns of surging pandemic
The NCAA handed down its latest guidelines for playing through a pandemic while also sounding an alarm: The prospect of having a fall semester with football and other sports is looking grim.
State revenue comes in $1.4B less than expected for fiscal year 2020
Lower than expected revenues created a budget deficit of nearly $900 million, but the state still managed to end the year in the black by cutting costs in some areas, tapping into reserves and receiving additional federal dollars for Medicaid.
Indiana’s virus testing program falling short on sites, results
Indiana’s state-sponsored coronavirus testing program has not been meeting the levels of testing or the speed of results that were touted when it was started in May under contractor OptumServe Health Services.
Target latest retailer to require customers to wear masks
Target follows Walmart, Kohl’s, Best Buy and several other large retailers that are making masks mandatory in all stores.
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC Resources for Businesses and Employers OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 Indiana State Department of Health Indy Chamber Rapid Response Hub Small Business Administration The SBA is making low-interest loans for working capital available to Indiana small businesses. Indiana Unemployment Information Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Dashboard Critical Industries Hotline(for business and industry only)
877-820-0890
covidresponse@iedc.in.gov State’s virus-related executive orders State plan to reopen Indiana