States hesitant to adopt digital COVID vaccine verification
Far more states have banned proof-of-vaccination policies than have created smartphone-based programs for people to digitally display their vaccination status.
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Bipartisan infrastructure deal back on track after Biden’s walk-back
Republican senators who brokered the agreement with the White House and Democrats to fund badly needed investments in roads, bridges, water and broadband indicated they were satisfied with President Biden’s comments that he was dropping the both-or-nothing approach.
Judge rules Indiana must continue extra federal unemployment benefits
Gov. Eric Holcomb and the state’s Workforce Development office “will discuss an immediate appeal of the judge’s order with the Attorney General,” the governor’s office said.
‘Blindsided’ GOP senators put infrastructure deal in doubt
Livid over President Joe Biden’s refusal to sign a bipartisan infrastructure deal without separate passage of his broader priorities, Republican senators Friday were frantically considering options.
Break them up? Five ways Congress is trying to rein in Big Tech
Groundbreaking legislation is advancing in Congress that would curb the market power of tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple and could force them to untie their dominant platforms from their other lines of business.
China slams U.S. curbs on solar materials as economic attack
The U.S. move is a potential hurdle for President Joe Biden’s ambition to promote solar power. Hoshine is one of the biggest global suppliers of polysilicon, a material used to make solar panels.
Pence defends his Jan. 6 actions in speech that also likened Trump to Reagan
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he was proud that Congress reconvened the night of Jan. 6 to certify Joe Biden’s win even after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, which left five people dead.
Congress repeals Trump-era regulations on payday lenders
Congress on Thursday overturned a set of regulations enacted in the final days of the Trump administration that effectively allowed payday lenders to avoid state laws capping interest rates.
White House replaces regulator for mortgage giants after Supreme Court ruling
The White House replaced the regulator who oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after the Supreme Court ruled that the leadership structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency was unconstitutional.
Bipartisan senators reach tentative plan on infrastructure
The group had been narrowing on a much smaller but still sizable $1 trillion proposal of road, highway and other traditional infrastructure projects.
House panel pushes legislation targeting Big Tech’s power
The ambitious legislation could curb the market power of tech giants Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple and force them to sever their dominant platforms from their other lines of business.
From Congress to the classroom, Susan Brooks joins IU McKinney
The former congresswoman will be returning to her alma mater, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, as a distinguished scholar and ambassador at large, the school announced Wednesday.
Q&A with Mike Schmuhl, new chairman of Indiana Democratic Party
IBJ recently had a chance to talk to Schmuhl about his rebuilding efforts—and the prospect of Pete Buttigieg coming back to Indiana to run for office.
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.
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.
Nate Feltman: Waking up from my political hangover
Let’s examine some water cooler chatter about the 2024 governor’s race (even though it’s early).
IBJ Podcast: Sen. Todd Young on how his Endless Frontier Act could boost innovation in Indiana
David Johnson, the president and CEO of the Central Indiana Community Partnership, also joins the podcast talk about how Indiana should prepare for the act’s passage.
Marion County pandemic restrictions could change this week
Counties around Indiana are dropping their mask mandates and other coronavirus restrictions after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control released new, looser guidance Thursday for people vaccinated against COVID-19. Marion County could be next, with changes expected this week.
More than 1.9 million people could see severe cuts in unemployment aid as Republicans seek to curb assistance
Indiana is not among the states cutting workers off from federal benefits. But on Thursday, Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., encouraged states to “pull the plug” on the benefits.
Hogsett administration plans to spend $25M to repair run-down residential streets across Indy
The city identified 605 residential lane miles across Indianapolis that are in particularly poor condition. The city is allocating enough money to fix only about 10% of those miles, starting as soon as next spring.