Page 21 - Ryan Hatfield News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Coronavirus: State Opens Vaccines To Hoosiers 65+, Relaxes School Quarantine Guidelines Provided by IU Health The Indiana Department of Health reported 296 additional confirmed deaths over the last week, along with 1,507 historical deaths from a year-end audit. That brings the state’s total to 11,401 confirmed deaths. The state also reported slightly more than 13,000 new cases in the last week – the fewest weekly reported total since mid-October. Indiana has administered 694,945 initial vaccine doses, with 216,389 Hoosiers fully vaccinated. Here are your statewide COVID-19 headlines...

Indiana Lawmakers Fast-Track COVID-19 Lawsuit Shield Indiana legislators are poised to finalize a fast-tracked proposal that will give a broad shield protecting businesses and others from lawsuits by people blaming them for contracting COVID-19. The proposal is a top priority of Republican legislative leaders and GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb even though supporters don’t point to any such lawsuits in the state. Supporters maintain that the liability protection is needed to remove a “cloud of uncertainty” for factories, restaurants, stores and other institutions like universities so that they ca...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana legislators are poised to finalize a fast-tracked proposal...

Credit Justin Hicks / IPB News Legislation to crack down on unemployment benefits fraud passed a House vote yesterday and now heads to the Senate. Even with amendments, some groups say it still has the potential to harm those who make honest mistakes. The bill would disqualify and penalize people who lie or withhold information in their applications for unemployment benefits. Legislators say it's intended to help the Department of Workforce Development efficiently weed out fraudulent claims.  "The department has assured us that their review of applications will not change and that they inten...

State considers cigarette tax hike Panel looks into $1 increase per pack; vaping included NIKI KELLY | The Journal Gazette INDIANAPOLIS – A House panel is considering hiking the state cigarette tax by $1 a pack, doubling the current amount, and instituting the first-ever vaping tax under a proposal heard Monday. But some members believe more of the proposed tax increase should go to health causes than the bill is written, so a vote was delayed to craft an amendment. “If this bill is about health care, why are we not dedicating the funds to health care?” asked Rep. Ryan Hatfield, D-Evans...