U.S. service sector operates at highest level in almost two years
Last month’s gain came as a surprise to economists who had been looking for a slight decline given that the country was battling a severe resurgence of virus cases in January.
Associated Press
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Law enforcement reform bill advances with bipartisan support
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced to the Indiana Senate after lawmakers unanimously approved the measure in a House vote Tuesday.
Amazon founder Bezos to step down as CEO
Jeff Bezos, who founded Amazon as an online bookstore and built it into a shopping and entertainment behemoth, will step down later this year as CEO, a role he’s had for nearly 30 years, the company announced Tuesday.
Indiana Senate backs bill to ban renaming of Indianapolis
A proposal to ban Indianapolis and more than 100 other Indiana cities from ever changing their names has been approved by the state Senate.
Biden, Yellen pan GOP virus aid proposal as too small, urge action
While no compromise was reached during the lengthy session, President Biden’s first with lawmakers at the White House, talks are privately underway on various alternatives.
Senate confirms Buttigieg as transportation secretary
Praised by President Joe Biden as bringing a “new voice” to the administration, Pete Buttigieg takes over a Transportation Department with 55,000 employees and a budget of tens of billions dollars.
Feds to start sending COVID vaccine to pharmacies next week
When fully deployed, the pharmacy partnership will enlist about 40,000 drug stores nationwide, or roughly six times as many locations as are participating in the initial launch.
Biden meets with Republicans on virus aid, but rejects compromise
President Joe Biden told Republican senators during a two-hour meeting he’s unwilling to settle on an insufficient coronavirus aid package after they pitched their slimmed down $618 billion proposal that’s a fraction of the $1.9 trillion he is seeking.
Senate set to confirm Buttigieg for transportation secretary
Pete Buttigieg’s nomination was set for a final vote Tuesday in the full Senate, after the 39-year-old former mayor of South Bend received bipartisan praise at his confirmation hearing last week.
U.S. factories showed growth in January, but at slower pace
The Institute for Supply Management’s survey of businesses showed that 16 of 18 manufacturing industries showed growth in January. The contracting industries were printing and petroleum.
Congressional Budget Office projects 4.6% growth in 2021
The CBO cautioned that its projections are highly uncertain, in large part because of the pace of the vaccination and the risk of new variations of the coronavirus.
CDC to require face masks on airlines, public transportation
The 11-page CDC order takes effect just before midnight on Monday night. It makes refusal to wear a mask a violation of federal law.
Former Chevrolet plant site in Muncie eyed for solar farm
RACER Trust and Muncie officials said they have reached an agreement for the city to purchase the 53-acre main parcel of the former property.
GameStop stock soars again while Wall Street bends under the pressure
The stock market sank again Friday as a speculative frenzy over GameStop and a handful of other stocks ramped up worries over how much damage an online revolt against Wall Street bigwigs can damage the broader market.
Study: Not-for-profits lost 50,000 jobs last month from virus
That finding, in a report from Johns Hopkins University, suggests that it could take nearly 18 months for not-for-profits to regain their pre-pandemic employment levels.
U.S. employment costs rose modestly in fourth quarter
Wages and benefits for U.S. workers rose in the last quarter of the year, putting all of 2020 in somewhat of a normal range as the pandemic continued to rankle the economy.
J&J’s single-dose shot prevents COVID-19, but with less effectiveness
Johnson & Johnson said it will file an application for emergency use for the single-dose vaccine in the United States within a week and then abroad.
Lilly quarterly profit surges, helped by new COVID-19 treatment
The antibody treatment bamlanivimab was Lilly’s second-highest selling product in the final quarter of 2020, trailing only the popular diabetes drug Trulicity.
Census delay points to special session for Indiana lawmakers
State 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.
Brokerages limit trading in GameStop, sparking outcry from small investors
Robinhood and other retail brokerages took steps to tamp down the speculative frenzy surrounding companies such as GameStop, but the actions only sparked more volatility in the market and an outcry from users of the platforms.