Biden selects California Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate
The choice made history by elevating the first Black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket and acknowledging the vital role Black voters could play in the election.
Government & Economic Development
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Hogsett’s $1.3 billion budget ‘threading a needle’ to stay balanced
The proposed budget takes in $113,884 more than it spends, leading Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration to characterize it as the fourth consecutive balanced budget since he took office in 2016.
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Pandemic thrusts downtown’s homelessness problem to fore
For weeks, camps of people experiencing homelessness and those suffering from substance use disorders have settled in on Monument Circle and near City Market.
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Kite Realty Group bets big on hotel, even as other projects wither
A third of planned downtown hotel rooms announced before the pandemic are now on hold.
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Public health veteran Dr. Virginia Caine both upbeat and frustrated
IBJ talked with Caine about her pandemic frustrations, how testing and contact-tracing are going and whether the Indianapolis 500 should run with fans in the stands.
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Articles
Meeting tenants’ legal needs in looming eviction cases could cost billions
As Indiana’s moratorium on evictions is set to end on Friday, legal aid providers are estimating the national price tag for helping tenants facing the prospect of losing their places to live will top $2.5 billion.
Congress deeply unpopular again as gridlock on coronavirus relief has real-life consequences
Over the past two months, congressional approval ratings have crashed downward, after a sudden previous bump in approval. Fewer than 1 in 5 voters say they like what lawmakers are doing on Capitol Hill, according to the Gallup Poll.
Hogsett says city resilient, downtown to rise again
The mayor, who is in the first year of his second term, acknowledged the challenges—and even some naivete when it came to the riots. But Hogsett, a Democrat, said he’s confident in the ability of residents, the business community and leaders to address them.
Attorney General: Holcomb has no authority to enforce statewide mask mandate
Attorney General Curtis Hill said in an advisory opinion Wednesday night that Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb should call a special session if he wants to make masks a requirement.
Indiana-based banks didn’t cede PPP loans to big rivals
Of the 20 banks issuing the most PPP loans to Indiana borrowers, 11 were headquartered in the state—many of which went to extraordinary lengths to extend as many loans as they could.
Justice center project hitting minority-contracting targets, but are they too low?
Roughly $162 million has been committed so far to minority-owned businesses helping to build the city’s $575 million criminal justice center complex in the Twin Aire neighborhood.
State revenue comes in $1.4B less than expected for fiscal year 2020
Lower than expected revenues created a budget deficit of nearly $900 million, but the state still managed to end the year in the black by cutting costs in some areas, tapping into reserves and receiving additional federal dollars for Medicaid.
Biden unveils $2 trillion climate plan with energy revamp
The proposal doesn’t include specifics on how the ambitious plan would be paid for. Senior campaign officials said it would require a mix of tax increases on corporations and the wealthy, and deficit spending aimed at stimulating the economy.
Council seeks ‘Black Lives Matter’ message on Indiana Avenue, commission on Black males
The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday passed a resolution to paint a message on Indiana Avenue condemning racism and inequality. It also proposed the creation of the Indianapolis Commission on African American Males.
Indiana’s neighbor toughens mask mandate, requires businesses to deny service
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday said businesses must comply beginning Monday or risk losing their licenses. She pointed to “stalled” progress in suppressing the virus.
Criteria for doling out federal hospital aid funds creates tensions
Some are asking whether coronavirus aid funds are flowing to the neediest hospitals, or to those that already have deep financial resources, as the money is doled out to thousands of institutions nationwide.
State rental assistance program set to launch Monday
The program is open to Hoosiers in every county except Marion, where a separate rental assistance program also opens Monday.
Lawsuit challenges Indiana limits on voting time extensions
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Indianapolis on behalf of Common Cause Indiana argues that the state law wrongly thwarts voters and political parties from protecting the right to vote.
Search the PPP list: Indiana colleges, not-for-profits, small and big firms receive loans
In Indiana, more than 90% of federal loans topping $150,000 went to companies, according to the Treasury Department data. About 6% of the loans went to not-for-profit organizations.
Locals on hook for State Road 37’s cost overruns in Hamilton County
Officials are estimating the corridor improvements will run $47 million over the project’s original $124 million budget.
I-70 to be testing ground for driverless trucks
It might be many years before fully autonomous vehicles are a common sight on public highways—but transportation officials in Indiana and Ohio are laying the groundwork now for that day.
Businesses, already bruised, pursue virus legal immunity
Businesses and the organizations that represent them fear a wave of coronavirus-related lawsuits as employees return to work and customers return to stores, restaurants and other public places.
Holcomb appoints new Department of Labor commissioner
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday morning that Joe Hoage, who has been general counsel for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles since 2017, will become commissioner of the agency on July 13.
Handheld phone ban, other laws take effect Wednesday in Indiana
New state laws affecting phone use in cars, tobacco fines, teen marriage and gasoline taxes begin this week.