U.S. jobless claims tick up to 412K from pandemic low
The latest numbers show Hoosiers filed 4,641 initial unemployment claims during the week ended June 12, a drop of 465 from the previous week.
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Former surgeon general to join WISH-TV as resident medical expert
Dr. Jerome Adams has strong ties to central Indiana, having served as Indiana state health commissioner from 2014 to 2017. After the close of the Trump administration, he returned to the Indianapolis area to practice medicine.
Millions fear eviction as end of federal moratorium nears
The U.S. Census Bureau’s biweekly Household Pulse Survey shows that nearly 4.2 million people nationwide report that it is likely or somewhat likely that they will be evicted or foreclosed upon in the next two months.
Congress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
The House voted 415-14 Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the 12th federal holiday. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk, and he is expected to sign it into law.
Biden elevates energetic critic of Big Tech as top regulator
The selection of legal scholar Lina Khan, 32, to head the Federal Trade Commission is seen as signaling a tough stance toward tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple.
Impatient Democrats prepare to go-it-alone on infrastructure
The president and the Democratic leaders have been engaged in a two-track strategy—reaching for a bipartisan deal with Republicans but also setting the stage for a potential majority-rules strategy in case talks fail.
Senate approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
The bill would lead to Juneteenth becoming the 12th federal holiday. It is expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Bayh, Coats taking Indiana University roles
Former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh will work with the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, while Former Sen. Dan Coats will join the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies.
Federal COVID relief will be less than some cities expected
Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville are among roughly 50 cities nationwide that are now projected to receive less than half of the federal COVID-19 relief money they originally expected.
Senators eye $579B in new infrastructure spending as part of $1T plan
Lawmakers say the group’s tentative agreement represents important progress in fashioning a bill that can pass such an evenly divided Congress this year, but they are also aware that it could easily unravel.
New federal COVID-19 safety rules exempt most employers
The Biden administration has exempted most employers from long-awaited rules for protecting workers from the coronavirus, angering labor advocates who had spent more than a year lobbying for the protections.
Another big jump in prices tightens squeeze on U.S. consumers
American consumers absorbed another surge in prices in May—a 0.6% increase over April and 5% over the past year, the biggest 12-month inflation spike since 2008.
Senators chide NCAA for not solving athlete-pay issue, as fast federal help looks unlikely
Warning of a looming threat to amateur sports, college athletics leaders urged Congress on Wednesday to take bipartisan action as states prepare to allow athletes to earn money from their names and personal brands.
Biden ends GOP infrastructure talks, but new group emerges
Shortly after the Biden-Capito talks collapsed, 10 senators huddled late Thursday over pizza—five Republicans, five Democrats—emerging after three hours with some optimism their new effort could create a viable path forward.
Senate passes $250B effort to boost U.S. tech industry, counter rivals
The bill sponsored by Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., includes $10 billion to fund regional technology hubs—one of which Indiana officials are hoping to land—for five years.
Sen. Todd Young’s bill could lead to innovation hub in Indiana
Government and business leaders are preparing to bid to host one of the regional tech hubs that would be created by the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, even though the bill has yet to pass.
House Dems unveil $547B infrastructure bill amid Biden talks
The bill would boost investment in roads and bridges by about 54% with an emphasis on fixing existing infrastructure. It would dedicate about $4 billion to electric vehicle charging stations and would provide record levels of investment for pedestrian and cyclist pathways.
Sources: U.S. report makes no definitive finding about UFOs
The report due to Congress later this month examines multiple unexplained sightings from recent years that in some cases have been captured on videos of pilots exclaiming about objects flying in front of them.
Biden offers tax changes to Republicans in infrastructure talks
President Joe Biden is trying to break a logjam with Republicans on how to pay for infrastructure improvements, proposing a 15% minimum tax on corporations and the possibility of revenues from increased IRS enforcement as a possible compromise.
Biden, GOP senator talk as time drags on infrastructure deal
Privately, the president has sized up the GOP’s latest $928 billion offer as unworkable, in large part because it taps unused COVID-19 funds. Instead, Biden wants to hike the corporate tax rate—a nonstarter for Senate Republicans—to generate revenue for his $1.7 trillion package.