Indiana COVID-19 cases hit second-highest mark as testing rises
Indiana has now seen more than 65,000 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Global numbers have surpassed 17 million.
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Marion County health officials cap middle, high school capacity at 50%
Marion County Public Health Department Director Virginia Caine also recommended that high-risk teachers and students be allowed to opt out of in-person instruction.
Former presidential candidate Herman Cain dies of COVID-19
Before becoming a political pundit and candidate, Cain was a highly successful food industry executive. He earned a master’s degree in computer science from Purdue University in 1971.
United States, Indiana see weekly rise in unemployment claims
More than 1.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, marking the 19th straight week that more than 1 million people have applied for unemployment benefits.
U.S. economy shrank at record-breaking 33% rate last quarter
The contraction last quarter was driven by a deep pullback in consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of economic activity.
Coronavirus relief package talks hit impasse on Capitol Hill
A meeting between top White House officials and Democratic leaders ended with no agreement on extending emergency unemployment benefits that expire on Friday, or on reviving a moratorium on evictions that lapsed last week.
Wall Street rallies as Federal Reserve keeps rates pinned at record low
Besides keeping short-term rates pinned at nearly zero, the Federal Reserve also said it will continue to buy about $120 billion in Treasury and mortgage bonds each month to support the economy.
Holcomb says he’s willing to add more money to rental assistance program
The state’s program, which launched July 13, has already received more than 20,000 applications, but the funds are expected to be enough to cover only about 12,000 households.
UPDATE: Holcomb extends Stage 4.5 of Indiana’s recovery plan through Aug. 27
In addition, the governor said he was extending the state’s landlord moratorium on evictions though Aug. 14.
Faulty bar exam software tossed in favor of emails, open books
The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday again revamping the July 2020 bar exam, opting to send test questions by email and allowing applicants to refer to notes and course materials during the test.
Housing advocates push for more CARES Act funding for rental assistance
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration set aside $300 million in federal CARES Act funding for local units of government to use for pandemic-related expenses, but so far, rental assistance programs are not among the reimbursable items.
Indiana reports 630 new COVID-19 cases on decline in testing
Marion County saw a daily increase of 142 COVID-19 cases, bringing its cumulative total above 14,000.
Insurer Anthem’s profit swells, helped by drop in claims
Anthem Inc.’s second-quarter profit doubled on a year-over-year basis as a pandemic-induced drop in claims and a new business pushed the Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer’s earnings past expectations.
GOP’s jobless benefit changes could mean big delays, states warn
Older state computer systems that took weeks to set up for the initial federal unemployment enhancement would need to be reprogrammed again twice under the new GOP plan.
Carmel cancels Christkindlmarkt, ice skating due to coronavirus concerns
The two winter attractions drew more than 300,000 people to the northern Indianapolis suburb over a four-month period last winter, the city said.
Struggling merchants, insurers battle over pandemic coverage
So many lawsuits have been filed against insurers in the U.S. that a Thursday hearing has been scheduled before a federal judicial panel in Washington to decide how to manage them all in the months—and possibly years—ahead.
Union leader: Teachers may walk out if forced into unsafe schools
The executive council of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers approved a resolution Friday giving AFT affiliates across the country authorization to stage strikes.
Law schools expecting first-year enrollment to remain steady
Despite the upheaval and uncertainty the pandemic has created for legal education, law school admissions officers say this fall’s first-year law class will likely be the same size, if not bigger, than the class that started in fall 2019.
Labor unions petition Transportation Department for mandatory mask rule
The president of the Transportation Trades Department, a coalition of 33 unions, wrote in the petition that the government needed to set clear rules for the use of masks to protect workers and passengers from the coronavirus.
Indiana reports 809 new COVID-19 cases, 16 more deaths
Indiana’s health department on Tuesday also reported 9,079 new COVID-19 tests, the seventh time in eight days when daily testing has exceeded 9,000.