January jobs report filled with positive economic news
Employers raised pay, more people felt confident enough to look for work, and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.9 percent, its lowest level since 2008.
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UPDATE: Nightingale CEO claims state retaliated for report of ‘racially tinged’ remarks
The home-health firm’s lawsuit alleges state officials discriminated against the company and CEO Dev Brar when they conducted inspections that led Medicare to terminate payments to the company.
U.S. House passes bill to shelter munis from threat of bank rule
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill by a voice vote that would force banking regulators to classify investment-grade municipal bonds as liquid assets. The bill was written by Rep. Luke Messer, an Indiana Republican.
UPDATE: Indy man gets 27 months for international spam scam
Phillip Fleitz was accused of helping send millions of illegal spam messages to U.S. and international cellphones and computers.
U.S. economic growth slows to crawl in fourth quarter
Much of the weakness last quarter reflected a slowdown in consumer spending, which grew at an annual rate of just 2.2 percent, compared with a 3 percent rate in the previous quarter.
Ringleader in $90M fuel scam sentenced to 20 years
A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to running a massive scheme involving biofuels and tax credits out of a small town east of Indianapolis.
Survey: U.S. progress on health insurance stalled in 2015
The share of U.S. adults without health insurance was 11.9 percent in the last three months of 2015, essentially unchanged from the start of the year, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.
Three GOP Senate hopefuls agree to debate
Fourth District Republican Chairman Craig Dunn announced that candidates Eric Holcomb, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young have confirmed they’ll participate in the Jan. 16 debate at a Kokomo restaurant.
Judge limits discovery Pence sought in Syrian refugee case
A federal judge has signaled unwillingness to permit wide-ranging discovery that the administration of Gov. Mike Pence sought as it continues to oppose a charity’s resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana.
U.S. applications for jobless aid continue decline
The U.S. job market continues to appear strikingly robust. Over the past 12 months, the number of people collecting unemployment benefits has dropped 7.7 percent to 2.2 million.
State awards $135K in federal funds for tree programs
Recipients for tree inventory and analysis included Elkhart, $20,000; Kendallville, $17,425; West Lafayette, $18,562; and Pendleton, $11,575.
UPDATED: University Loft reaps $3.5M from unfair-competition claims
The Greenfield-based furniture maker blew the whistle on a Dallas-based rival that failed to pay duties on furniture imported from China, the Justice Department said.
State gets federal grant to plan for impact of defense cuts
The $2.7 million grant will help pay for a study to analyze which manufacturers, cities and towns will be most affected by the cuts.
Main Street’s muni-market fight with Fed gains force in Congress
Main Street and Wall Street are fighting the U.S. Federal Reserve over municipal bonds—and they’re gaining ground.
Bose adds veteran lobbyist Queisser to staff in Washington, D.C.
Brad Queisser previously served in the administrations of Govs. Evan Bayh and Frank O’Bannon, as well as in the Indiana Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee.
Orentlicher to run for Bucshon’s southwest Indiana seat
David Orentlicher, who served in the Indiana House for six years, said he plans to move from Indianapolis to Terre Haute, where he teaches at IU's regional medical school.
Investors betting no on Anthem mega-deal
Lots of investors are betting health insurance giants Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. won’t ever make it to the altar—an outlook driven by concerns antitrust regulators or other obstacles will prevent consummating the $45 billion deal.
Pence objects to new federal review of HIP program
Gov. Mike Pence fired off a letter to the Obama administration on Thursday asking it to cancel its contract with what he described as biased contractors recently hired to evaluate the Healthy Indiana Plan.
Indiana expected to receive $5B in federal highway funds
Congress has dedicated the money to Indiana roads and bridges as part of a 5-year, $281 billion compromise over transportation spending. The measure also includes $500 million for public transit in Indiana.
More than 18,000 lose food stamp benefits in Indiana
About 18,300 people in Indiana this month have lost an average of $125 of monthly food stamp benefits after a change in work and job training requirements.