Indiana officials outline response to state’s virus hotspots
Indiana health officials confirmed 28 more COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, and the state’s seven-day rolling average of new cases of the respiratory disease has doubled in three weeks.
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Holcomb tests negative for COVID-19
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has tested negative for COVID-19, his office announced Thursday morning. Holcomb was tested “out of an abundance of caution” after Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box tested positive earlier this week.
Holcomb extends Indiana mask mandate; health commissioner tests positive
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday said he would extend the state’s mask mandate for another month amid sharply rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. He made the announcement while revealing that Dr. Kristina Box, the state’s health commissioner, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Stafford: Indiana has all sorts of election laws, but few favor voters
The Indiana Lawyer editorial staff has been covering Indiana’s voter suppression laws and how they are holding up to court challenges. So far, so good for several statutes, which is awful news for democracy and the right to vote.
Indiana sees most coronavirus hospitalizations since May
The number of coronavirus patients in Indiana hospitals grew over the weekend to the highest level in nearly five months, state health officials said Monday.
Indiana race opens up after attorney general’s troubles
Indiana Democrats are targeting the state attorney general’s race as their best chance to break the stranglehold Republicans have over state government.
Indiana virus dashboard lacks data from hundreds of schools
Nearly two months after Indiana officials said they would release a public dashboard to help track coronavirus cases among students and teachers, the online tool still lacks data from more than 1,000 schools.
7th Circuit affirms restrictions on absentee voting; judge stays injunction in noon deadline case
The effort to allow all Hoosiers to vote by absentee ballot in the November presidential election has been blocked by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals which, in an echo of the state’s argument, found Election Day is too close to make any changes now. In a separate case, a judge temporarily stayed pending appeal an order blocking an Indiana law that requires absentee ballots be received by noon to be counted.
AG candidate profile: Weinzapfel says attorney general should be about policy, not politics
Democratic former Evansville Mayor and lawmaker Jonathan Weinzapfel said if elected attorney general, his actions would be based on policy, not politics, and Hoosiers’ best interests. Read Weinzapfel’s recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.
AG candidate profile: Rokita says he’ll be an ‘aggressive’ attorney general
Republican former Congressman and Secretary of State Todd Rokita vows to continue a conservative approach but would emphasize partnerships if elected attorney general. Read what Rokita had to say in a recent Q&A with Indiana Lawyer’s sibling publication, the Indianapolis Business Journal.
Mail-in voting advocates alert 7th Circuit to dispute with state’s argument
Plaintiffs in Indiana’s vote by mail case are questioning the state’s assertion made this week in oral arguments to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that Hoosiers can request a special exemption from the Indiana Election Commission to cast an absentee ballot if they do not meet one of the law’s categories of who may vote by mail.
7th Circuit judges ask about Indiana voters in vote by mail case
During oral argument in the dispute over Indiana’s restrictions on absentee voting, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel focused on Hoosier voters by asking which of the proposed remedies would cause the least confusion and what remedies are currently available to the electorate.
Fort Wayne water utility to end shutoffs moratorium Monday
The water utility for Indiana’s second-largest city will lift its protections against utility shutoffs next week after Fort Wayne officials said the months-long moratorium had become “unsustainable.”
State opposes ‘last minute change’ to polling hours law
The state of Indiana is trying to stop a federal judge’s ruling that would allow Hoosier voters themselves to go to state court and file for an extension of polling hours if problems arise with balloting on Election Day.
Injured worker’s unemployment benefits correctly denied, COA rules
A man who lost his job twice after being injured at work could not convince the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday that he was wrongly denied unemployment benefits.
Indiana health officials urge use of masks as some restrictions eased
Indiana health leaders say the wearing of face masks will be as important as ever to stem the coronavirus spread, even as most of the statewide restrictions imposed by the governor were lifted as of Saturday.
Dismay over Breonna Taylor spills into America’s streets
Anger, frustration and sadness over the decision not to charge police officers for Breonna Taylor’s death poured into America’s streets as protesters lashed out at a criminal justice system they say is stacked against Black people. Violence seized the demonstrations in her hometown of Louisville as gunfire rang out and wounded two police officers. Protests in Indianapolis remained peaceful.
Holcomb moving Indiana to Stage 5 of recovery plan, but extends mask mandate
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday said he was moving Indiana to Stage 5 of the Back on Track recovery plan starting Saturday, but was extending the state’s pandemic mask order through at least Oct. 17.
1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case but not for her death
Officials in Louisville and communities throughout Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois are preparing for more protests and possible unrest as the public nervously awaits the Kentucky attorney general’s announcement about whether he will charge officers in Breonna Taylor’s shooting death.
Suit seeks $3M in damages over alleged wrongful DCS actions
Indianapolis parents who claim the Indiana Department of Child Services wrongly removed their children from the home over allegedly false accusations of sexual abuse have filed a federal lawsuit against the agency seeking $3 million in damages.