Indiana’s governor backing schools on mask mandates
Indiana’s governor gave his support Monday to the growing number of school districts across the state issuing mask mandates for students and staff as they try to head off more COVID-19 outbreaks.
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Biden administration OKs largest boost to food assistance benefits in SNAP history
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is expected to announce Monday morning that benefit amounts for the program, formerly known as food stamps, will rise an average of 25% above pre-pandemic levels.
Pelosi faces new threat from Dem moderates in budget fight
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced a fresh hurdle Friday to passing President Joe Biden’s multi-trillion dollar domestic policy aspirations, as nine moderate Democrats threatened to derail a budget blueprint crucial to opening the door to much of that spending.
Wholesale costs up 1% for second straight month
Prices at the wholesale level over the past 12 months are up a record 7.8%, the largest increase in that span of time in a series going back to 2010.
Indiana lawmakers head to next step in redistricting after hours of initial public testimony
Lawmakers heard more than two hours of testimony Wednesday at the Indiana Statehouse from citizens who spent most of their time asking for a fair redistricting process.
Senate push for expansive electric-vehicle incentives in $3.5T budget could hit bumps
The Senate dust-up Tuesday reflects long-standing disagreements on Capitol Hill over the benefits of financial incentives to spur the transition to electric vehicles, which make up about 2% of U.S. sales.
Top Dem sees tough pathway for $3.5T social, climate plans
The real test will be when Democrats write and vote on subsequent legislation actually enacting the party’s priorities into specific spending and tax policies.
Senate Dems unveil $3.5T budget for social, climate efforts
The measure lays the groundwork for separate legislation later this year that over a decade would pour mountains of federal resources into Democrats’ top priorities, with much of it paid for with tax increases on the rich and corporations.
Indiana construction projects boom thanks to new budget plan
The new state budget adopted in April by the Republican-controlled General Assembly is awash in federal coronavirus relief money, allowing the state to give sizeable funding to projects that had for years been shelved and left out of spending plans.
Biden considers withholding funds, other measures to spur vaccinations
If the Biden administration goes forward with the plans, it would amount to a dramatic escalation in the effort to vaccinate the roughly 90 million Americans who are eligible for shots but who have refused or have been unable to get them.
Budget office: Infrastructure bill adds $256B to deficits
Nearing decision time, senators are wrapping up work on the bipartisan infrastructure plan, and talks were under way late Thursday to expedite consideration and voting on the nearly $1 trillion proposal.
U.S. automakers pledge huge increase in electric vehicles
Declaring the United States must “move fast” to win the world’s automaking future, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a commitment from the auto industry to produce electric vehicles for as much as half of nationwide sales by the end of the decade.
Indiana records nearly 500 eviction petitions filed at start of August
In the window between the end of the previous moratorium on evictions and the issuance of the current ban, 486 eviction cases were filed in Indiana from Aug. 1 through midday Aug. 4, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Holcomb resists renewed mask mandate as virus variant spikes
The governor has maintained he won’t reinstate a statewide mask mandate or other restrictions, instead leaving such decisions to local officials.
Real estate, landlord groups file legal salvo to stop new eviction moratorium
Only one day after the Biden administration issued a new policy protecting renters from eviction, a series of real estate and landlord groups is trying to invalidate it.
CDC issues new eviction ban for most of United States
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, President Joe Biden was uncertain whether the new moratorium could withstand lawsuits about its constitutionality.
Rokita loses first attempt at state high court to stop governor’s suit against General Assembly
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s emergency petition to halt a trial court from continuing proceedings in the governor’s lawsuit against the Legislature.
Carmel council’s harassment investigation won’t include details of city settlement
The Carmel City Council voted Monday to continue its investigation into allegations that former city attorney Doug Haney harassed a city employee without including detailed information from the city’s settlement with the complainant.
Senators unveil $1T infrastructure bill with 2,700 pages
The bipartisan bill calls for $550 billion in new spending over five years above projected federal levels, in what could be one of the more substantial expenditures on the nation’s roads, bridges, waterworks, broadband and the electric grid in years.
Pelosi, Democrats call on Biden to extend federal eviction ban
Congress was unable to pass legislation swiftly to extend the ban, which expired at midnight Saturday, and the Democratic leaders said it was now up to President Joe Biden’s administration to act.