Coronavirus, COVID-19

State and fedCaerally-funded workforce programs need to continue sharing data and resources while adapting to changes brought by COVID-19. That's the biggest takeaway from Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency annual workforce programs report for legislators.

More than 5,000 Hoosiers have now died from COVID-19. While state officials have tried to slow the spread of the virus, some health experts say it wasn't enough. 

GARY - Gary Mayor Jerome Prince on Monday laid out new COVID-19 restrictions in his city to help mitigate the spread of the virus.  Last week Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb designated Lake County as a red county, which means the county has to adhere to the highest level of restrictions, and locally mayors and other city leaders are free to implement higher restrictions than set by the state.  After discussing the matter with his administration, Prince announced the rules being imposed on the residents and businesses in the city of Gary.

Indiana has crossed 300,000 positive COVID-19 cases. Monday’s newly reported cases were the fewest in nearly a week – though the state has reported more than 5,000 cases every day since Nov. 10. 

After low prices the last few years, wholesale turkey prices increased during the pandemic by about 15 percent over last year. The increase will hit those with lower incomes especially hard.

Indiana’s unemployment rate fell to 5 percent, continuing an encouraging downward trajectory since the start of the pandemic. But the number of people in the labor force is falling too – and that’s not a good sign.

As COVID-19 numbers continue to surge across the state, more hospitals are forced to send non-emergency patients elsewhere. But that doesn’t mean local hospitals will stop caring for patients needing urgent care. 

NORTHWEST INDIANA - Northwest Indiana residents will be able to go to several local pharmacy chains in the Region to get the COVID-19 vaccine for free once it's available to the public.

The "Times" reports several pharmacy chains, many of which are in big-box stores, are set to get allocations of the vaccine once it's approved in the United States.

Republicans rejected an effort Tuesday to require House lawmakers to wear masks during the upcoming legislative session.

When do we expect the national economy and local economy to return back to the pre-pandemic normal? “Regionally Speaking” host Chris Nolte recently spoke with Abbey Omodunbi, an assistant vice president and economist for The PNC Financial Services Group about the economic recovery post-election.  Abbey says “…the resurgence of the coronavirus and the absence of an additional stimulus package are the biggest risks”.

Here’s the full conversation.

CROWN POINT - The City of Crown Point’s Clerk Office is moving to Bulldog Park temporarily.

Bette Babjak, Chief Deputy for the Crown Point City Clerk Treasurer, says the office is moving due to renovations being made.

"Bascially due to COVID we've got 13-plus people in this space and the mayor and our clerk felt the need to do something to try to spread us out," Babjak said.

The move is a short-term arrangement and the office staff hopes to be back into its old space by March of 2021.  

Indiana legislative leaders say liability protections around COVID-19 could be the first order of business when the General Assembly starts its new session.