U.S. retail sales saw unprecedented 8.7% plunge in March
Automobile and clothing store sales collapsed during the month, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Sales at restaurants and bars also plummeted. But grocery store business soared.
Public Health
Articles
Coronavirus immunity remains big question mark for country eager to reopen
It’s one of the biggest unknowns about the coronavirus, one that determines what comes next for hundreds of thousands of Americans who have endured COVID-19 and now appear to be fully recovered.
States map out reopening of economies, say crisis not over
Governors around the United States began sketching out plans Tuesday to reopen their economies in a slow and methodical process to prevent the coronavirus from rebounding with tragic consequences.
Coronavirus relief checks won’t have to be repaid, feds say
Videos and online reports claiming that millions of Americans will have to repay the relief checks they receive from the federal government under the $2.2 trillion coronavirus economic recovery bill are not true.
Major airlines line up to split $25 billion in federal payroll aid
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways told The Wall Street Journal that it was still in discussions with the Treasury.
Preparing for budget crunch, conferences ask NCAA for relief
Five major football conference commissioners have asked the Indianapolis-based NCAA to relax some requirements to compete in Division I for four years.
UPDATE: New Trump panel to explore path to reopening U.S. economy
The group will operate separately from the White House task force that’s leading the administration’s public health strategy to contain and mitigate the pandemic, although there is expected to be some overlap.
Indianapolis International Airport to receive $52 million from CARES Act
Following a significant downturn in airport activity across the country, the airport industry pleaded with Congress to include $10 billion in emergency funding for airports in the latest relief package.
Stocks surge amid signs of coronavirus outbreak easing
Equities extended gains after a report that President Donald Trump will make some “important announcements” in the next few days regarding state guidelines on reopening the economy.
Nursing homes can relocate patients to contain COVID-19, state orders
Nursing homes are now permitted to relocate or discharge residents to reduce the risk of COVID-19, even if families or local officials object, according to an order issued Tuesday by Indiana State Health Commissioner Kristina Box.
State reports 291 more COVID-19 cases, 37 more deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health on Tuesday reported 141 deaths in Marion County, up from 123 in Monday’s report.
Advocates warn stimulus checks could be garnished by creditors
While the federal government won’t seize stimulus checks being deposited into Americans’ bank accounts this week for owed debts, private debt collectors might, consumer advocates are warning.
City-County Council allocates $1.1 million to absentee-voting initiative
Mailing absentee ballot applications to Marion County’s nearly 650,000 registered voters is expected to cost $550,000 for the primary. The council also allocated $550,000 for the fall, in case social distancing is still being encouraged at that time.
Unpaid bills put free internet offers out-of-reach for some local families
While providers such as Spectrum, AT&T, and Comcast have touted free internet offers to bridge technological divides, some families across the country still can’t afford service, which can come with strings attached.
Virus closes major meat plants, raising fears of shortages
The meat supply chain is especially vulnerable since processing is increasingly done at massive plants that butcher tens of thousands of animals daily, so the closure of even a few big ones can quickly be felt by customers.
Government loans start flowing to small businesses
The Small Business Administration reported Monday that more than 959,000 applications had been approved for over $232 billion from the Paycheck Protection loan program.
Airlines wait as Treasury applies strings to pandemic payroll aid
The U.S. Treasury Department and leading airlines continued negotiating Monday over terms of relief payments, with the Treasury sticking to a proposal that could give the government an ownership stake in the nation’s leading carriers.
State working with 15 companies to acquire more personal protective equipment
Luke Bosso, chief of staff for the Indiana Economic Development Corp., said during Monday’s media briefing that the state has purchased 1.9 million pieces of PPE so far.
Americans starting to see federal relief payments
The one-time payments were approved by Congress as part of an emergency relief package intended to combat the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic.
State reports 308 more COVID-19 cases, with 7 more deaths
The Indiana State Department of Health on Monday reported that 44,539 people have been tested so far, up from 42,489 in Sunday’s report.