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.
State Government
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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.
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Governor’s race not top of mind in Black community
Democrat Woody Myers is the state’s first Black gubernatorial nominee from either major political party, but Black community leaders say his campaign is getting lost in the barrage of news about COVID-19 and protests over police brutality and racial inequity.
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Sen. Rubio introduces bill to help NCAA make uniform compensation changes
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s bill would protect the NCAA from being challenged in court if the association changes its rules to allow athletes to earn money for endorsement deals and personal appearances.
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Indiana’s Holcomb mum as other governors call up National Guard
The governors of at least 12 states have called up National Guard troops to help quell the protests that have ravaged many major American cities.
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Articles
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.
Utilities face major pushback over pandemic-relief request
More than 2,300 people have complained by email to the Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor, which is on track to become the largest number of complaints for any single case in at least a decade.
State could see $3B-$4B revenue shortfall in two-year budget—about 10% of what it planned to spend
Tax revenues for fiscal year 2020 were already off by $1.2 billion by the end of May, an amount that is expected to grow to $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion before the fiscal year ends June 30.
State rep from Indianapolis resigns from office following arrest
State Rep. Dan Forestal, D-Indianapolis, 37, was jailed Friday on preliminary charges including battery of a public safety official and resisting law enforcement.
State cuts higher education funding by $103M to help deal with worsening budget
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s administration continues to make budget cuts as the state prepares for revenue collections possibly being $2 billion lower than expected by the end of the fiscal year.
State starts to dole out $2.6 billion in federal virus aid
The funding is intended to help the state navigate the pandemic, and state officials are slowly rolling out plans to spend it—while holding a sizable portion back in case COVID-19 roars back.
State disputes federal claims that IOSHA wrongly dropped fines related to Amazon worker’s death
Federal OSHA found that Amazon did not prove all of the criteria to establish employee misconduct occurred in this case, but the state agency disagrees.
State contractor OptumServe not meeting test result requirement
Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box said during Friday’s press briefing that OptumServe, which is subsidiary of United Health Group, is not providing all test results within a 48-hour window, as the contract requires.
Holcomb allocates $50M in CARES Act funding for workforce programs
Most of the funding will be used to expand Workforce Ready Grants and Employer Training Grants. The state also plans to use some of the funding to scale up career coaching efforts and other workforce development outreach.
Indiana budget off by $1.2B for fiscal year with one month to go
Pandemic-related drops in sales and individual income taxes—the state’s top two revenue sources—continue to have the most significant impact on the state budget.
Holcomb encourages peaceful protests, but says violent riots slow progress
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s remarks were made during a press conference Monday afternoon—the first time he has spoken publicly since protests started in Indianapolis and other areas of the state on Friday.
Secretary of state holds firm to absentee-ballot deadline, says county should have geared up faster
Marion County’s clerk had implored the Indiana Election Commission to extend the deadline, saying thousands of voters who planned to vote by mail in Tuesday’s election might not be able to do so.
Holcomb announces nearly $44M in new programs to help businesses
The biggest portion of the funds will go toward a $30 million grant program called the Small Business Restart Fund.
Union-connected PAC spends thousands to defeat candidate who represents non-union contractors
Believe in Indiana, a political action committee connected to the Indiana State Building & Construction Trades Council, has spent more than $51,000 to run TV commercials that criticize JR Gaylor, CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana and Kentucky, who is running against Scott Baldwin in the Senate District 20 primary.
Clerk warns that thousands of mail-in ballots might not be counted; voters can still go to polls
Marion County Clerk Myra Eldridge told state officials “it is not too late” to extend the deadline for receipt of mailed ballots. She implored the Indiana Election Commission to act.
Holcomb’s plan for $61M in coronavirus relief involves technology
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s application to the U.S. Department of Education provides a look at how he will spend federal education money that was set aside for state leaders to distribute how they choose.
State’s contractor faces big test as it ramps up contact tracing effort
Washington, D.C.-area-based Maximus is taking on a critical, massive assignment: helping health departments across Indiana contact people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to learn whom they might have exposed.
Extra jobless payments complicate effort to rehire workers
As restaurants, retailers and service providers are allowed to resume in-person operations, some employers are eager to get started. But employees are not as excited to return to work and give up their unemployment benefits.
State to cut spending 15%, sideline several projects to deal with budget shortfalls
Gov. Eric Holcomb said the budget agency is estimating that Indiana could take in $3 billion less than expected during the last two months of fiscal year 2020—which ends June 30—and fiscal year 2021.