Braun among GOP lawmakers sponsoring bill to ban federal mask mandates
The Indiana senator pointed to a “rising trend” in mandates being brought back at certain schools around the country.
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EPA delays new ozone pollution standards until after 2024 election
The decision over air quality standards for ground-level ozone—better known as smog—was made despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health.
Millions more would get overtime under proposed Biden administration rule
The proposed rule would have the biggest impact on retail, food, hospitality, manufacturing and other industries where many managerial employees meet the new pay threshold.
Makers of billion-dollar drugs set to face their first U.S. price negotiations
Analysts expect Johnson & Johnson’s Xarelto blood thinner and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co.’s Jardiance for diabetes to be among the medications chosen.
Hoosier companies contributing to NASA’s mission to Mars
The space agency’s Artemis program aims to build sustainable moon infrastructure that can serve as a launching pad for human missions to Mars. Indiana companies from all over the state are helping to make the huge endeavor a reality.
Indiana leaders submit application for federal tech hub designation
Indiana is competing with its Midwestern neighbors to land up to $75 million to create one of three tech hubs in the region.
Feds want more teeth to fight fake online reviews
The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would give it authority to fine businesses that write, buy or sell fake reviews, provide compensation for positive or negative reviews, or sell fake social media followers.
Inflation is down, but Inflation Reduction Act doesn’t deserve credit, experts say
While price increases have cooled over the past year—the inflation rate has dropped from 9% to 3.2%—most economists say little to none of the drop came from the law.
Biden issues order restricting U.S. investments in Chinese technology
Senior administration officials said the effort stemmed from national security goals rather than economic interests, and that the categories it covered were intentionally narrow in scope.
Credit downgrade for federal government shocks Biden aides, as more debt fights loom
While it caught the White House by surprise, the decision to downgrade U.S. government debt reflects Washington’s persistent battles over rising federal debt, now projected to approach levels unseen since the end of World War II.
Job openings fall to lowest level in 2 years as demand for workers cools
The government’s report also showed that the number of people who quit their jobs in June fell sharply to 3.8 million, from 4.1 million, another sign the job market is slowing.
Latest plan to cut student loan payments could be in for legal battle
The Biden administration calls it a “student loan safety net.” Opponents call it a backdoor attempt to make college free. And it could be the next battleground in the legal fight over student loan relief.
Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record temperatures persist
President Joe Biden on Thursday plans to announce new steps to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible, the White House says.
Senators introduce college sports bill to standardize NIL rules, regulate collectives
Charlie Baker, president of the Indianapolis-based NCAA, called the legislation “a major step in the right direction.”
Federal grant helps IEDC expand minority services to small businesses
The agency last year received $1.6 million from the federal Minority Business Development Agency and added $400,000 in matching funds.
White House taking on corporate mergers, landlord junk fees and food prices
The Biden administration on Wednesday proposed new guidelines for corporate mergers, took steps to disclose the junk fees charged by landlords and launched a crackdown on price-gouging in the food industry.
Biden administration announces cybersecurity labeling program for smart devices
Officials likened the new U.S. Cyber Trust Mark initiative to the Energy Star program, which rates appliances’ energy efficiency.
Three tax prep firms shared ‘extraordinarily sensitive’ data about taxpayers with Meta, lawmakers say
Their report urges federal agencies to investigate and potentially go to court over the wealth of information that H&R Block, TaxAct and Tax Slayer shared with the social media giant.
Councilor Keith Potts announces run for Braun’s U.S. Senate seat
Potts, a Democrat in his first term on the City-County Council, works with several local not-for-profit arts organizations.
Wait for passports creating travel purgatory, snarling summer plans
People who thought they were renewing or applying for new passports in plenty of time for their summer trips have flooded what the State Department says is a system still short-staffed from cuts during the pandemic.