Indiana’s governor asks court to review emergency law ruling
Gov. Eric Holcomb is asking the state’s high court to review a judge’s ruling that upheld a new law giving legislators more power to intervene during public health emergencies.
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Justice Department to expand redlining investigation efforts
The Justice Department announced Friday a cross-government effort to investigate and prosecute redlining, the practice of banks discriminating against racial minorities or certain neighborhoods.
Cutoff of extra jobless aid spurs little influx of job seekers
Economists point to a range of factors that are likely keeping millions of former recipients of federal jobless aid from returning to the workforce. Many Americans in public-facing jobs still fear contracting COVID-19, for example. Some families lack child care.
Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine more than 90% effective in children
Details of Pfizer’s study were posted online. The Food and Drug Administration was expected to post its independent review of the company’s safety and effectiveness data later in the day on Friday.
U.S. intel warns that China could dominate advanced technologies
U.S. officials say China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and a range of advanced technologies could eventually give Beijing a decisive military edge and possible dominance over health care and other essential sectors in America.
White House, Dems hurriedly reworking $2 trillion Biden plan
President Joe Biden mentioned during a televised town hall Thursday the challenge he faces in wrangling the sharply divergent factions in the Democratic party to agree to the final contours of the bill.
Consumer watchdog to probe Big Tech payment systems
In its first significant action under a new director, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is ordering Apple, Amazon, PayPal and other tech giants to reveal how their proprietary payment networks function.
Fed imposes sweeping new limits on policymakers’ investments
The Federal Reserve announced Thursday that its policymakers and senior staff would be barred from investing in individual stocks and bonds.
U.S. regulators endorse efforts to address climate risks
The Financial Stability Oversight Council, which is headed by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and includes Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, acknowledged in a report that climate change is a serious economic threat.
FAA proposes giving flight attendants 1 more hour of rest
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed Thursday that flight attendants get 10 consecutive hours of rest between shifts. The proposal does not change the current 14-hour limit on a flight attendant’s work day.
CDC gets behind COVID vaccine booster rollout, OKs mixing shots
About two-thirds of Americans eligible for COVID-19 shots are fully vaccinated, and the government says getting first shots to the unvaccinated remains the priority.
Consumer advocate recommends denial of Indiana utility’s rate-hike request
Bill Fine, the Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor, wrote in a filing that “after receiving base rate increases in 2018 and 2020, I&M has not made the case for this increase at this time.”
U.S. unemployment claims fall to new pandemic low of 290,000
Unemployment claims are increasingly returning to normal, but many other aspects of the job market haven’t yet done so. Hiring has slowed in the past two months, even as companies and other employers have posted a near-record number of open jobs.
White House makes big changes to ideas to pay for $2T plan
In an abrupt change, the White House on Wednesday floated new plans to pay for parts of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion social spending package, shelving a proposed big increase in corporate tax rates and scaling back other proposals.
NFL, players agree to end ‘race-norming’ in $1B settlement
The vast majority of the league’s players—70% of active players and more than 60% of living retirees—are Black. So the changes are expected to be significant, and potentially costly for the NFL.
Indiana’s GOP push against vaccine mandate faces hurdles
Some conservative Indiana lawmakers who want to stymie planned COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers are facing skepticism from their own Republican leaders and the state’s largest business group.
Fed survey finds economy facing supply-chain issues, other drags
In its latest survey of business conditions around the nation, the Fed said a majority of its 12 regions viewed consumer spending, the main driving force for the economy, as remaining positive despite the various speed bumps.
FDA OKs mixing COVID vaccines; backs Moderna, J&J boosters
The Food and Drug Administration’s decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign, which began with extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine last month.
White House details plans to vaccinate 28M children age 5-11
Federal regulators will meet over the next two weeks to weigh the benefits of giving shots to children, after lengthy studies meant to ensure the safety of the vaccines.
Consumer goods behemoth P&G warns retailers to expect higher prices
Procter & Gamble, the maker of Pampers diapers, Tide detergent and Crest toothpaste, said it’s raising prices on a range of goods as higher commodity and freight costs are set to take a bite out of its profits.