Indiana News & Current Events | Public News Service

BP's refinery in Whiting, IN covers 1,400 acres in northwestern Indiana, just a few miles from the Chicago loop. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

BP, Feds Reach Settlement over Pollution from NW Indiana Refinery

WHITING, Ind. -- International oil-and-gas producer BP will pay more than $500,000 to the federal government as part of a legal settlement over air …

The average monthly payment for Indiana student-loan borrowers is $252. (Yuri Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

IN Borrowers Worry as Student-Loan Payments Resume Next Year

INDIANAPOLIS -- Student-loan borrowers have had a reprieve from making payments during the pandemic, set to end in 2022. Starting in February…

Advocates say states extending foster care-related supports to young adults beyond age 18 is one step toward improving outcomes for those who've experienced the foster-care system. (mizinra/Adobe Stock)

Support Needed for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

INDIANAPOLIS -- As the holiday season draws near, groups are spotlighting ways to support young people transitioning to adulthood after spending time …

Gas bills in Indianapolis are expected to be on average $10 more per month this winter compared with last year. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Hoosier Households Urged to Apply for Heating Assistance

INDIANAPOLIS - As cold weather moves in, state agencies are working to make sure Hoosier households know how to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy …

This year's Andrus Award recipient in Indiana helps with AARP's Driver Safety program. (and.one/Adobe Stock)

Group Spotlights Community Service Contributions in the Hoosier State

INDIANAPOLIS -- As we enter the holiday season, groups are spotlighting community service and the value it brings for both volunteers and the people …

Nationally, only 22% of children are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. (Adobe Stock)

School Counselor: Indiana Needs More Mental-Health Professionals

INDIANAPOLIS - More women and young people have faced behavioral-health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report. Nationwide…

More than 6,000 people from Afghanistan are awaiting resettlement at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

Indiana Universities Work to Support Displaced Afghan Scholars, Students

BLOOMINGTON, IN -- Universities in Indiana are working to support Afghan students and scholars; both those still in Afghanistan and those arriving to …

A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found young people have been disproportionately affected by the last three recessions. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — A report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce found young people have been disproportionately affected by the last three recessions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Students Need More Career Readiness to Reduce Disparities

INDIANAPOLIS -- As finding a career becomes more difficult for young people, a new report said the U.S. needs a more comprehensive approach to …

In a Human Rights Campaign poll, 73% of voters agreed that sports are important to young people's lives, and that transgender youth should be able to participate safely and comfortably. (Adobe Stock)

For LGBTQ Hoosiers, Equality Act Would End Patchwork of Protections

INDIANAPOLIS -- It is National Coming Out Day, but many LGBTQ Americans say they still face discrimination in employment, housing, public …

The Freedom to Vote Act, introduced in the Senate, among other measures, would prevent partisan gerrymandering and ensure transparency in the redistricting process. (tampatra/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Federal Legislation Needed to Open Up IN Redistricting Process

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Eric Holcomb signed new voting district maps for the General Assembly into law this week, but good-government groups say not …

Advocates for ending hunger say pandemic-related SNAP increases played a role in keeping food insecurity numbers stable in 2020. (jetcityimage/Adobe Stock)

Hoosiers to See Increase in SNAP Benefits Next Month

INDIANAPOLIS -- Hoosiers enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see an increase in their monthly benefits start…

The latest USDA statistics say 40% of single-parent households led by women faced food insecurity in 2020. (habrovich/Adobe Stock)

New Numbers Shed Light on Who's Going Hungry in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS -- Overall food insecurity in Indiana remained steady in 2020 in terms of numbers, but disparities remain. Data from the U.S. …

Indiana ranks 44th out of 50 states for bankruptcy. (Andriy Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Coalition Launches to Push Back Against Predatory Lending

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new coalition is forming to push back against predatory lending and urge state lawmakers to take action to protect consumers…

AARP surveys have shown that, nationwide, three in four people would prefer to age at home. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Survey Aims to Better Understand Unmet Needs of IN Caregivers

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana officials are conducting a survey to better understand the unmet needs of caregivers across the state, which they say will …

Studies show that having more diverse leadership teams leads to higher innovation revenue. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Program Aims to Build Pipelines to Executive Positions for Women, Minorities

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new partnership in Central Indiana is aiming to build pipelines to the executive suite for women and ethnic minorities. Business …

In the 2019-2020 school year, Indiana schools reported more than 171,000 "safety and disciplinary incidents." Only 173 were referred to law enforcement. (Ron Alvey/Adobe Stock)

Community Advocates Urge End to Police Presence in IN Schools

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As students across Indiana begin the new school year, some communities are reevaluating the need for police officers in schools…

A Georgia study found masking in schools reduced COVID cases by 37%, and improving ventilation in schools reduced transmission 39%. (WaveBreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Doctors: Mask Up in Schools, Get Vaccine to Protect Hoosier Kids

INDIANAPOLIS -- Hospitals in Indiana are seeing an increase in children being admitted with complications due to the coronavirus, which they say is a …

Voting districts, which are being redrawn this year using the 2020 census results, must have nearly equal populations and cannot be discriminatory based on race. (Christian Hinkle/Adobe Stock)

Groups Rally for Bipartisan, Transparent Redistricting Process

INDIANAPOLIS - The long-awaited, detailed demographic census data is set to be released Thursday, and in Indiana, good-government groups are urging …

A clean closure of the Michigan City Generation Station could create roughly 70 jobs in the surrounding area. (Larry Lawhead/Adobe Stock)

Report: Remove Coal Ash to Clean Up Toxic Pollution of IN Groundwater

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new study reinforces the view of many Indiana environmentalists the best way to clean up toxic coal ash is by removing it, rather …

An exhibit looking at the opioid crisis in Indiana features personal stories and art installations from people in the recovery community as well as medical professionals. (The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites)

Exhibit Aimed at Reducing Opioid-Use Disorder Stigma Heads to Muncie

INDIANAPOLIS -- An exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, "FIX: Heartbreak and Hope Inside Our Opioid Crisis," is leaving Indianapolis Sunday and …

More than 400 laws have been introduced this year that would restrict voting rights across the country. (Lakshmiprasad/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Lawmakers to Protect, Not Restrict, Voting Rights

INDIANAPOLIS -- Voting-rights advocates applaud this week's federal appeals-court decision to prevent Indiana from purging some voters from the rolls …

Indiana kids experiencing homelessness or who are in foster care pass the ILEARN test at lower rates than their peers, according to the state Department of Education. (visoot/Adobe Stock)

Indiana Parents Urge More Transparent, Consistent Standardized Testing

INDIANAPOLIS -- Results from Indiana's standardized test, ILEARN, were released this week, and just 28% of students passed the math and reading …

Cover crops can improve water infiltration into the soil and some, like legumes, also are natural fertilizers. (bmargaret/Adobe Stock)

Report: Indiana Farmers Planted More Cover Crops than Ever

INDIANAPOLIS -- There's good news for soil conservation efforts in a new survey by the Indiana Conservation Partnership: Farmers in the state planted …

More than 950 evictions were filed in Indianapolis in June alone. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Indiana to Expunge Evictions Filed During Pandemic

INDIANAPOLIS - Groups advocating for affordable housing warn that once the federal moratorium on evictions ends, thousands of Hoosiers will be at …

Prior to the pandemic, nearly 120,000 Indiana families with children lacked health insurance. That reflected progress in reducing the overall rate, but a new report says the pandemic has reversed it. (Adobe Stock)

Child Well-Being Report: More IN Families without Health Insurance

INDIANAPOLIS -- Like many other states, Indiana saw progress in improving children's lives before the pandemic, but an annual report said the crisis …

Food banks have distributed millions of pounds of food over the past 18 months as demand soared during the pandemic. (Aerogondo/Adobestock)

Indiana Food Banks Preparing to Upgrade, Expand

INDIANAPOLIS -- Food banks across Indiana are prepping to make good use of a million dollars in funding over the next fiscal year; money that starts r…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

INDIANAPOLIS -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program is run through the Universal Service Administrative Company, part of the Federal Communications Commission. (Gregg Segal/AARP)

Unexpected Benefit of Pandemic: Broadband and Laptop Discounts

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new federal pandemic program is offering people who qualify $50 a month off of high speed internet service and a one-time discount o…

286,641 Indiana residents will be impacted when federal unemployment benefits are cut off a week from Saturday. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Work to Support Hoosiers as State Cuts Federal Jobless Benefits

INDIANAPOLIS - With Indiana ending federal unemployment benefits a week from Saturday, advocates for working families want people to know that there …

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of many areas that would benefit from increased federal funding to improve water quality in the Great Lakes. (M. Woodbridge Williams/National Park Service)

Clean Water Advocates Look to Biden Proposals for Help

INDIANAPOLIS -- Groups that fight for clean, affordable water are speaking out in favor of President Joe Biden's proposed budget, which would put …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that 140,000 jobs were lost in December, and all those jobs were held by women. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Could Worsen Educational Inequity for Indiana Women

INDIANAPOLIS - The pandemic may have long-term consequences on women's ability to earn degrees and make inroads in the workforce, and higher-…

Between the start of the 2018 steel tariffs and the start of the pandemic, 3,200 jobs were created in the U.S. steel industry. (kasarp/Adobe Stock)

Report: Steel Tariffs Key for Economic Recovery

GARY, Ind. - Northwest Indiana is the largest steel-producing region in the United States, and supporters of the industry say keeping the 2018 steel …

Hoosiers will soon start hearing the cicadas' Brood X mating call at a constant, high volume. And it's expected to last four to six weeks. (Smuangtim/Adobe Stock)

Surviving Cicada Swarm May Mean Protecting Young Trees

INDIANAPOLIS - The largest brood of 17-year cicadas, known as the Great Eastern Brood, is on its way - and Hoosiers can expect to see their swarms …

Once a center for industrial jobs, work in Indianapolis is becoming increasingly based in technology. (SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock)

Exploring Future of Indianapolis' Middle Class

By Eric Tegethoff A WorkingNation-Indiana News Service Collaboration INDIANAPOLIS - A new digital magazine explores the middle class in cities acros…

The Pandemic EBT program is expected to reach nearly 650,000 children in Indiana this summer. (Olesya/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic EBT to Help Feed Indiana Families This Summer

INDIANAPOLIS -- Many Indiana families will have an easier time feeding their children this summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has …

Indiana has an estimated one million smokers. (AdobeStock)

Health Group: Indiana Passes on Another Chance to Reduce Smoking Rates

INDIANAPOLIS -- Health care advocates in Indiana are once again disheartened to see another legislative session pass without action on the state's cig…

Indiana is one of 13 states that recently lifted statewide mask mandates by gubernatorial order.(Adobe Stock)<br /> — Indiana is one of 13 states that recently lifted statewide mask mandates by gubernatorial order.(Adobe Stock)

IN Lawmakers Add Barriers to Public-Health Orders in Emergencies

INDIANAPOLIS - A bill adding more layers of approval for emergency public-health orders is now headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk. Critics of …

During virtual learning, Wayne Township bus driver Erica Woods helped manage coursework and schedules for more than three dozen high school seniors. (Aaricka Washington/Chalkbeat)

Bus Drivers Help Steer Indy Students Through Virtual Learning

By Aaricka Washington for Chalkbeat.org.Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann for Indiana News Service INDIANAPOLIS -- On a recent morning, several …

Some Indianapolis high school students are raising their own concerns about climate change and advocating for real change. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Students Tackle Climate Change Head On

By El'ad Nichols-Kaufman, The Daily Echo, as part of Earth Charter Indiana's Youth Environmental Press Team program in partnership with Indiana …

One acre of wetland can store more than 1 million gallons of floodwater. (Bob/Flickr)

Opponents Amplify Calls to Reject Indiana's Wetland Deregulation Bill

INDIANAPOLIS -- Opponents of a wetland deregulation bill in Indiana are amplifying their pleas to lawmakers to reject the measure. More than 80 …

Full-time working women earn on average $891 a week compared with men's earnings of $1,082. (Adobe Stock)

The Pandemic Could Set Women's Pay Back a Generation

INDIANAPOLIS - While the wage gap between men and women has narrowed over time, there are concerns the pandemic's disproportionate economic toll on …

Food banks in Indiana distributed enough food to provide 125 million meals in 2020. (USDA/Flickr)

Federal Hunger Relief Heads to Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's food-assistance network is welcoming parts of the new federal COVID-relief package that will help in the fight against hunger…

Indiana's 100 State House districts were heavily Republican in the 2016 presidential election. (MGG Redistricting Lab)

Indiana Voting-Rights Group Tackles Redistricting Reform

INDIANAPOLIS - Troubled by the lack of redistricting reform at the Statehouse, voting-rights advocates in Indiana are taking matters into their own …

Only 9% of Hoosiers have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, but that's a higher percentage than in any of its neighboring states. (Adobe Stock)

IN Researchers Track COVID Vaccine Uptake, Online Misinformation

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana has a somewhat high rate of COVID vaccine refusal, and researchers are investigating whether false information online is …

Data show 14.4% fewer FAFSA applications this year from Indiana students in high schools with high minority populations. (AC Taylor Jr/Pixabay)

Fewer Student-Aid Applications Could Mean Less College Enrollment

INDIANAPOLIS -- New data show a big drop of just over 9% in the number of Indiana students applying for federal student aid this year, and experts …

Indiana has more than 56,000 public-school teachers and support staff. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers Singled Out in Indiana Union Membership Bill

INDIANAPOLIS - Some Indiana educators are speaking out about legislation they contend is anti-union and singles out teachers. Under Senate Bill 251…

About 67% of COVID 19 vaccines distributed to Indiana have been administered. (AdobeStock)

Indiana COVID Vaccine Rollout Continues to Evolve

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's vaccine rollout is rapidly evolving, and advocacy groups are working to make sure people who want the vaccine know how to …

A "super gauge," installed on a bridge spanning the Wabash River, monitors water quality. (USGS)

Small "Super" Device Could Hold Key to Better Soil, Water

INDIANAPOLIS -- A state-of-the-art tool is helping researchers in Indiana better understand the effectiveness of soil-conservation practices…

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