Indiana Black Caucus pushes for more police accountability
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus on Thursday called for state lawmakers to increase accountability and transparency for the state’s police officers.
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New Indiana COVID-19 cases top 1,000 again as testing surges
The Indiana State Department of Health on Thursday reported 1,046 new COVID-19 case, the fifth time in the last eight days that new cases have exceeded 1,000.
Holcomb backs delay to possible Indiana school funding cuts
Indiana’s public schools would be assured of full state funding for the rest of this year under a plan announced by the governor Wednesday to sidestep a warning from a top fellow Republican that schools could face a 15% cut if they didn’t hold in-person classes.
Split COA reverses state ruling against 3 teacher union contracts
A divided appellate panel Wednesday overturned the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board’s final decisions that three contracts negotiated and ratified by Indiana teachers unions and their respective school employers did not comply with state law.
Indianapolis warns fines coming for virus rules violations
Indianapolis businesses not following the city’s coronavirus restrictions will face a greater chance of fines as officials said Tuesday that they will ramp up enforcement. Increased enforcement comes as Indiana reported its highest COVID-19 daily death count in two months Tuesday.
State officials pressured to set school-shutdown benchmarks
With at least 31 positive cases of the coronavirus reported in Indiana schools since buildings began reopening in late July, district leaders, teachers and parents are pressuring state officials to identify benchmarks for what would require schools to go back online as confirmed cases of the virus increase.
States strain to carry out Trump order on unemployment aid
Governors and state labor department officials were scrambling Monday to determine whether they could implement President Donald Trump’s executive order to partially extend unemployment assistance payments to millions of Americans struggling to find work in the pandemic-scarred economy.
Report blames Daleville in online school enrollment fraud
State auditors have determined a central Indiana school district should repay $2.2 million for failing to properly supervise two online charter schools accused of padding their enrollments by about 14,000 students over eight years.
Meeting tenants’ legal needs in looming eviction cases could cost billions
As Indiana’s moratorium on evictions is set to end in a week, 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.
Indiana state superintendent says schools can safely reopen
Indiana’s top education official said Thursday that she think schools can safely reopen despite mounting reports of students and staffers testing positive for the coronavirus within days of returning to the classroom in some districts.
7th Circuit declines to reinstate exhibitor’s license for controversial Charlestown zoo owner
In a second legal defeat in one week, the owner of the controversial Charlestown zoo appearing in Netflix’s “Tiger King” series has lost his bid to reinstate his federal exhibitor’s license.
Reversing rulings for quadriplegic, 7th Circuit asks ‘how much’ court may order state to pay
A quadriplegic woman requiring nearly around-the-clock care was stripped of a federal court ruling permitting her to dictate the terms of her own home health care at the state’s expense. In so ruling, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals asked, “How much state expenditure outside the scope of the Medicaid program may a court command?”
Indiana’s death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 2,800
The Indiana State Department of Health on Wednesday reported 740 new COVID-19 cases, the ninth time in the past 10 days that new cases have exceeded 600.
Teachers union backs strike if schools can’t reopen safely
Indiana’s second-largest teacher organization announced Tuesday that its members may resort to striking to ensure a safe return to school as the state continues to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Indiana co-authors amicus brief in COVID-19 abortion drug case
The Indiana Attorney General’s Office co-authored an amicus brief in support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after a federal district court lifted certain medication-assisted abortion drug regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge rules for PETA in suit against embattled Charlestown zoo
A federal judge has ruled that an embattled private Charlestown zoo harmed and harassed big cats in violation of the Endangered Species Act, setting the stage for the transfer of its animals to “a reputable sanctuary.” The ruling is a victory for an animal-rights group in one of several legal actions against the zoo owner who appeared in the Netflix series “Tiger King.”
Progress slow on virus relief bill as negotiations continue
Negotiators on a huge coronavirus relief bill reported slight progress after talks resumed Monday afternoon in the Capitol, with issues like food for the poor and aid to schools struggling to reopen safely assuming a higher profile in the talks.
Suit: Election Day deadline to receive mailed ballots disenfranchises voters
Indiana law that says mail-in ballots must be received by noon on Election Day will disenfranchise voters and should be blocked, a federal lawsuit filed Thursday says.
COA reverses Owen County denial of trash transfer station
A family-owned trash collection business hoping to set up a new transfer station in Owen County won a reversal from the Indiana Court of Appeals following its struggle to proceed due to a dispute with county officials.
Source: US, Oregon in talks about pulling agents in Portland
The Trump administration has started talks with the Oregon governor’s office and indicated that it would begin to draw down the presence of federal agents sent to quell two months of chaotic protests in Portland if the state stepped up its own enforcement, a senior White House official said Tuesday.