Indiana unemployment in holding pattern above pre-pandemic rate
Indiana’s unemployment rate has been hovering at or near 4% for the last sixth months. It was 3.3% in March 2020, just before the pandemic triggered wide-scale layoffs and job losses.
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Census data will be ready Aug. 16 to begin legislative redistricting
The U.S. Census Bureau says data needed for Indiana lawmakers to redraw the state’s legislative and congressional districts will be ready Aug. 16, and legislative leaders are planning to hold hearings across the state that month to receive public input on the once-a-decade task.
Former Indiana lawmaker Dan Forestal dies at 38
Forestal resigned from his Indiana House seat about a year ago, saying he was struggling with mental health issues. He also faced several criminal charges related to alcohol and resisting arrest.
Hoosiers getting state tax refund after surprising revenue surplus
Overall tax collections came in about 14% higher than a year ago, giving Indiana a surplus of almost $3.9 billion and triggering a tax refund.
Appeals court: Indiana must resume unemployment benefits
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the state temporarily continue payment of federal unemployment benefits, affirming an earlier court order that Indiana must restart the extra $300 weekly payments to unemployed workers.
Indiana delays unemployment benefits despite judge’s ruling
Attorneys for the state maintain Indiana can’t continue paying out the benefits because the state has already ended its agreement with the federal government to administer the federal programs.
Dozens of states target Google’s app store in antitrust suit
The 144-page complaint filed late Wednesday in a Northern California federal court represents the fourth major antitrust lawsuit filed against Google by government agencies across the U.S. since last October.
Total Wine & More planning second Indianapolis store
Total Wine & More, a Maryland-based chain of liquor superstores, opened its first Indianapolis location late last year in Nora after winning a high-profile court battle.
UPDATE: Judge letting Indiana’s governor sue to block emergency law
Judge Patrick Dietrick wrote in the ruling dated Saturday that such an interpretation would give the attorney general greater power than the governor in protecting the governor’s constitutional powers.
Indiana’s parks and preserves land $57M in upgrades
Indiana’s state parks, forests and trails—long starving for cash and maintenance—will receive money for improvements at nearly 50 state properties and the first new state park inn in more than 80 years.
Governor to lead business development trip to Qatar
Indiana’s delegation is scheduled to leave Indianapolis on Monday, July 5, and return Friday, July 9.
Indiana FSSA chief Jennifer Sullivan takes out-of-state job
Sullivan—who took a high-profile role in statewide televised weekly press conferences during the pandemic—will be departing after the longest tenure of any secretary in the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s 30-year history.
NCAA D1 Council recommends allowing athletes to profit off name, image, likeness
The 24-member NCAA Division I Board of Directors is expected to approve the historic recommendation Wednesday, the eve of the July 1 date that athletes rights advocates have been pointing toward with anticipation for months.
State pours $75M into novel career training fund
The Indiana Career Accelerator Fund will award financial aid to qualified students to use for training in high-demand, high-wage sectors that leads to an industry credential in six months or less.
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.
One company’s bill for testing Hoosiers for COVID-19: $139.6 million (and counting)
More than 541,000 free COVID-19 tests have been provided at an OptumServe site since May 6, 2020, the state said last week, when it announced it was closing the vendor’s testing sites at the end of June.
State, Ivy Tech offering free career coaching to all Indiana residents
The service, announced Tuesday by the Indiana Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and Ivy Tech, will provide up to four months of one-on-one career coaching via not-for-profit InsideTrack.
Indiana to close OptumServe’s COVID-19 testing sites at end of June
At its peak, OptumServe, a division of health care insurance giant UnitedHealth Group, provided testing in 53 counties. Currently, 30 counties have an OptumServe testing site.
Incoming commerce secretary eyes ‘quality over quantity’ in economic development
Brad Chambers said he believes a “reevaluation of what the marketplace is doing” by the Indiana Economic Development Corp. will be a good thing—and a natural move for any agency or company when it changes leadership.
Longtime developer Chambers named Indiana secretary of commerce
Brad Chambers, who founded Indianapolis-based powerhouse development firm Buckingham Cos. in 1984, will take his new position July 6. He’ll succeed Jim Schellinger, who stepped down abruptly in March after 5-1/2 years on the job.