Indiana sees big cost jump with new prison medical contract
The four-year contract with Centurion Health will pay an average of about $160 million a year to the company that submitted the most expensive of four vendor proposals.
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State reports 16 new deaths from COVID-19
The state said Friday that more than 2.22 million Hoosiers had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. More than 2.47 million had received the first dose of a two-dose vaccination.
UPDATE: Indiana gears up to give Pfizer vaccine to residents ages 12-15
After final CDC approval on Wednesday for giving the Pfizer vaccine to young teens, Indiana planned to open registration with appointments available as early as 8 a.m. Thursday.
After repealing consequences for failing schools, Indiana to revisit A-F grades
Prompted by an end to state takeovers and other consequences for low performance, Indiana schools likely will also see a change in how the state measures their success.
Holcomb signs order restoring work-search rule for jobless benefits
Indiana is joining several other states creating more requirements for people to stay on unemployment, with many businesses blaming the ease of obtaining the weekly jobless benefits with making it more difficult to fill job openings.
White House to work with states on reimposing work-search requirements
States waived their work requirements for unemployment benefits at the start of the pandemic, but about 30 of them have reimposed or are planning to reimpose them. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Friday that Indiana would do the same.
Treasury to start paying out $350B in state, local aid
The funding could provide a jolt of growth after the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 6.1% in April, a sign of how difficult it can be to restart an economy despite an unprecedented degree of federal assistance.
Union leaders decry Indiana’s high rate of worker deaths
Critics are calling for improved workplace safety enforcement with the state’s rate of deaths while working about one-third higher than the national average.
Critics say Indiana COVID-19 law allows nursing home neglect
Advocates for nursing home residents say they worry a new Indiana law expanding COVID-19 liability protections for health care providers will effectively block many lawsuits over neglect and substandard treatment that weren’t caused by the pandemic.
GOP governors slash jobless aid to try to force more Americans to return to work
An unexpected slowdown in hiring nationwide has prompted some Republican governors to start slashing jobless benefits. On Friday, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he would consider whether the state should continue to participate in federal pandemic unemployment programs.
Holcomb to reinstate job-seeking rule for unemployed, study whether to ax federal benefit
Unemployed Hoosiers are currently receiving $300 per week from the federal government in addition to state benefits. The federal program also expanded who is eligible for unemployment.
Lawmakers to return to Statehouse with chance to override two vetoes
Lawmakers are set to return to the Indiana Statehouse on Monday to make technical corrections—a session in which they could also vote to overturn two vetoes by Gov. Eric Holcomb, including one affecting orders issued by local health departments during a public health emergency.
Attorney General Rokita asks judge to throw out Holcomb’s lawsuit against Legislature
Todd Rokita says that only he—or an attorney he authorizes—can file a lawsuit on behalf of the state. Plus, he argues that lawmakers can’t be sued during a legislative session.
Businesses applaud Legislature’s ‘wow’ initiatives
State lawmakers came through in big ways for business and manufacturing interests this year.
Governor signs controversial wetlands bill into law
The bill, which scales back protections on Indiana wetlands, had gained support from the Indiana Builders Association, but numerous environmental, conservation and civic groups opposed it.
Indiana’s top elections official admits making fundraising error
“The Committee to Elect Holli Sullivan has determined that it made an improper solicitation of campaign funds,” Sullivan’s campaign said in a written statement. “These public solicitations have been removed and all contributions have been returned.”
Indiana governor vetoes bill requiring ethanol warning label
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he found the “additional layer of government unnecessary and confusing.”
Quiet extension of Indiana legislative session until Nov. 15 draws legal, political scrutiny
Current and former state legislators and a former Indiana Supreme Court justice are raising concerns that a measure to extend rather than adjourn the 2021 legislative session blurs the separation of powers and could have “dangerous” implications for the future.
Census shows Indiana grows nearly 5%, retains all nine U.S. House seats
Indiana lawmakers face the once-a-decade task of drawing new districts for congressional seats, along with the 100 Indiana House and 50 state Senate districts, based on population shifts.
Recap: A glance at key issues during Indiana legislative session
The Indiana General Assembly concluded the year’s regular session late last week in Indianapolis. Here’s a look at some major issues debated during the nearly four-month session.