City-County Council votes to ditch mask mandate for vaccinated residents
The Democratic-majority council passed the measure 19-5, along party lines, with Republicans opposed because the order didn’t fully lift all capacity limits for businesses.
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Hurdles hinder the U.S. response in global war on ransomware
The escalating havoc caused by ransomware gangs raises an obvious question: Why has the United States, believed to have the world’s greatest cyber capabilities, looked so powerless to protect its citizens?
Boone County judge rules Zionsville mayor needs council OK to demote fire chief
Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron filed the lawsuit in March after the town council unanimously denied her request to demote Zionsville Fire Department Chief James VanGorder.
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.
Pence: I’ll likely never see eye to eye with Trump on Jan. 6
Former Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at a Republican dinner Thursday in the early-voting state of New Hampshire, gave his most extensive comments to date on the events of Jan. 6, when angry Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
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.
Mayor plans more than $3M in new spending on anti-violence efforts
In addition to more money for IMPD, the proposal includes spending on domestic violence reduction, mental health capabilities and juvenile intervention.
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.
Marion County to offer second multilingual COVID vaccine registration hotline
Bilingual volunteers will staff the nine-language hotline starting Saturday, as health disparities by race and ethnicity linger in local case counts and inoculation rates.
White House gives GOP one week to reach deal on infrastructure
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said time is running short for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, indicating that President Joe Biden will look to act without Republican support if there is no consensus when Congress returns from its Memorial Day break.
Biden’s $6T budget: Social spending, taxes on business
President Joe Biden on Friday unveiled a budget for next year that’s piled high with new safety net programs for the poor and middle class, but his generosity depends on taxing corporations and the wealthy.
Purdue plans vaccine cash drawing as IU faces policy critics
Purdue’s “Old Golden Ticket” drawing makes students who submit proof of a COVID-19 vaccination by July 15 eligible for one of 10 prizes paying $9,992. That is the equivalent of a year’s undergraduate tuition.
Senate eyes R&D bill to counter China, bolster chip manufacturing
What started as a pragmatic effort to boost scientific research has morphed into sweeping bill aimed at making the U.S. more competitive, including $50 billion in emergency funds to shore up domestic computer chip manufacturing.
Bank CEOs tell Congress they’ll work to avoid foreclosures
The chief executives of the nation’s largest banks went in front of Congress for a second day Thursday, facing questions ranging from inflation to their efforts to keep Americans in their homes after pandemic aid expires this summer.
Governor wants Indiana state employees in offices in July
Staffers for many state agencies have been working remotely, but Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a Wednesday email to employees that “it is not the optimal way for us to serve Hoosiers.”
GOP offers $928B proposal on infrastructure, funded with unused COVID aid
Republicans have rejected Biden’s proposed corporate tax increase to pay for new investments, and instead want to shift unspent COVID-19 relief dollars to help cover the costs.
AG says IU’s COVID-19 vaccine order violates new state law
Attorney General Todd Rokita’s advisory opinion contradicts a top Republican legislative leader who said he didn’t believe the law adopted last month applied to public universities or K-12 schools.
Biden asks U.S. intel officials to investigate COVID-19 origin
While the lab leak theory was initially dismissed as unlikely, recent reports about the hospitalization of Wuhan lab researchers in November 2019—weeks before the virus was identified in that city—have given it new traction.
GOP legislators protest Indiana University’s vaccine order
A letter dated Tuesday to Gov. Eric Holcomb calls on him to prohibit any state university from mandating vaccines that don’t have full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.
Noblesville OKs new vehicle taxes to chip away at Pleasant Street extension costs
The Noblesville City Council approved vehicle excise and wheel taxes Tuesday to generate $1.8 million in annual revenue starting next year. The money is slated to pay for a portion of the city’s estimated $113 million Pleasant Street extension project.