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Experts say evidence proves children are harmed when families lack enough food and are are forced to move because they cannot pay rent. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Hoosier mom: Bring back expanded child tax credit

The U.S. House has approved a measure to expand the Child Tax Credit. It would help 16 million children from low-income families in Indiana and …

According to a new poll, 71% of currently and previously enrolled student borrowers report delaying at least one significant life event because of student debt. (Adobe Stock)

Debt dilemma poll: Hoosiers wrestle with college costs

A new Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll unveils a concerning reality: Hoosiers may lack clarity about the true cost of higher education. The survey …

Seg�n una nueva encuesta, el 71% de los prestatarios estudiantiles actuales y anteriores afirman haber retrasado al menos un acontecimiento importante de su vida debido a la deuda estudiantil. (Adobe Stock)

Encuesta sobre dilema de deuda: Hoosiers luchan con costos universitarios

Una nueva encuesta de Gallup y la Fundación Lumina revela una realidad preocupante: que los habitantes de Indiana no tienen muy claro el verdader…

An Indiana State Teacher's Association report from 2023 lists raising teacher pay, hiring additional educators and offering more mental health and behavioral support for students as some of the top issues affecting teacher retention. (Adobe Stock)

IN nonprofit wants to strengthen teachers' impact on students

Teachers spend hours with students every day and can have the greatest impact on their decision-making and life choices. A program in one Indiana …

Large numbers of women have entered the workforce in the past 50 years, but the Institute for Women's Policy Research warns it could be decades before they are paid the same as men for the same job. (Adobe Stock)

Pay Equity Day measures salary gap between working women, men

CORRECTION: The AAUW of Indiana co-president is Sherry Watkins. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated her last name as Watson…

Anderson teacher Ashley Zornes says House Bill 1304 essentially punishes students because a teacher's working conditions are students' learning conditions. (Adobe Stock)

IN teachers 'stunned' by lawmakers' bid to bypass collective bargaining

Indiana teachers know more than anyone the power of words. They are speaking out about proposed legislation touted to make students smarter - citing …

If approved, SB 8 would also require public four-year institutions to submit a report to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education assessing the feasibility of awarding associate degrees. (Adobe stock)

Legislation would expand Indiana college degree options

Indiana lawmakers on the House Education Committee have unanimously approved a Senate bill designed to lower college debt and expand educational oppor…

Si se aprueba, el proyecto de ley SB 8 tambi�n exigir�a a las instituciones p�blicas de cuatro a�os que presenten un informe a la Comisi�n de Indiana para la Educaci�n Superior en el que se eval�e la viabilidad de conceder t�tulos asociados. (Adobe stock).

Legislación ampliaría opciones de titulación universitaria en Indiana

El Comité de Educación de la Cámara de Representantes ha aprobado por unanimidad una ley que introduce nuevas opciones de titulació…

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book serves as a call to action in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IN youth making progress despite challenges

The newly released 2024 Kids Count Data Book finds the well-being of Indiana is better this year than last. More than 1.5 million children live in …

According to the Indiana Association of Realtors, high interest rates, low supply, and strained household budgets are influencing the state's current homebuying market. (Adobe Stock)

IN plan's backers hope homeownership boosts teacher retention, recruitment

Homeownership continues to be out of reach for many Americans but one Indiana program is helping educators achieve the dream in hopes of boosting recr…

Food banks universally need four things: Donations of food, financial donations, volunteers and advocates. (Adobe stock)

Indiana's 30th 'Soup Bowl' sells out in effort to sack hunger

A fundraiser timed to kick off on the heels of Super Bowl 58 will help tackle food insecurity in Indiana. Since 1994, Hoosier Hills Food Bank has …

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority said total energy assistance program benefits in Indiana between Oct. 2022 and Sept. 2023 totaled almost $86 million. (Adobe Stock)

Now's the time to apply for home-heating assistance in Indiana

Chilly temperatures in Indiana mean turning up the thermostat at home, which can pose challenges for families on a tight budget. Indiana's Energy …

WGU Indiana stresses existing partnerships and creating new partnerships between higher education and employers will create a jobs pipeline of educated talent. (Adobe Stock)

New urgency to close skills gap between college and employment

Preparing students to find a job straight out of college is not always easy in Indiana. However, barriers graduates must jump to successfully …

WGU Indiana enfatiza que las asociaciones existentes y la creaci�n de nuevas asociaciones entre la educaci�n superior y los empleadores crear� una fuente de empleos de talento educado. (Adobe Stock).

Nueva urgencia para cerrar brecha de habilidades entre universidad y empleo

Preparar a los estudiantes para encontrar un trabajo al más terminar la universidad no siempre es fácil en Indiana. Sin embargo, las …

According to Clean Grid Alliance, Indiana ranks 19th in the nation for solar power and 12th for wind-energy production. (Adobe stock)

Renewable energy fuels major economic payoffs in rural Indiana

Wind and solar projects are powering a big surge for Indiana's economy. You've probably seen tall wind turbines and row after row of flat panels on …

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average annual cost of tuition at any four-year institution is $19,806. (Adobe Stock)

Student loan repayments add to already strained IN household budgets

After a three-year pause, student loan repayments begin next week. Some families, already stretching their dollars to cover basic living expenses…

The Emergency Food Assistance Program determines the amount of food Indiana and other states receive. The totals are based on the number of unemployed persons and number of people with incomes below the poverty level in a state. (Adobe Stock)

IN Food Banks Question Congress' Inactivity on Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is federal legislation governing many nutrition, agriculture and rural development programs, and as the clock ticks down toward its …

Federal spending on USDA's food and nutrition assistance programs totaled $183 billion in fiscal year 2022. Adjusted for inflation, that's 6% less than the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Food Banks Step Up to Use Funding from Legislature

It has been one month since Indiana announced food banks across the state will share $2 million in state funds, and those food banks say it cannot …

In 2022, the wind energy sector employed nearly 7,000 workers in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

DOE Job Report Shows Gains in Indiana

A new look at clean energy jobs in the U.S. shows growth in Indiana and the prospect of greater gains in the future. The Department of Energy …

In 2015, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, 63% of Indiana high school students went to college. In 2020, that number dropped to 53%. (Adobe Stock)

IN College Applications On Decline as High School Grads Delay Higher Ed

College enrollment numbers are down in Indiana as more high school graduates are choosing to take one or more gap years, pursue vocational …

A new economic impact study suggests every job at GM translates to more than six additional jobs in the automotive industry. (Adobe stock)

Report: GM 'Integral Part' of IN Economy

General Motors is touting its return to the top in 2022 as the largest automotive manufacturer in America while it also takes a victory lap to remind …

Forbes magazine reports 38% of men work remotely full time, while 30% of women work remotely full time, suggesting a gender gap in remote work. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana's Tug-of-War: Work Remotely, or Head Back to Office?

About one in three Indiana workers now works remotely, according to the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, and some …

For more than 40 years, the Summer Food Service Program in Indiana has provided children ages 18 and under with free, nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana's Summer Meal Programs in Full Swing

Children living in income-restricted households do not always have regular access to healthy meals, especially when school is out. Almost 200 summer …

According to the Kids Count Data Book, in 2020-21, 9% of children between birth and age five in Indiana lived in families in which someone quit, changed or refused a job because of child care problems. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Child Care Remains Out of Reach for Many Hoosiers

Working Hoosiers are fighting to find child care to mesh with their work schedules, placing Indiana 24th in child well-being, according to a new …

According to Indiana Small Business Statistics, between 1994 and 2018, Indiana small business employment grew by 4.2%, reaching 1.2 million employees in 2018. (Adobe Stock)

IN Small Businesses Thrive Despite Challenges

Starting a business is fraught with decisions ranging from defining the type of business to start, choosing whether to be a home-based, online…

According to a new report, there is no certainty of when, or how, colleges and universities might return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels. (Adobe Stock) According to a new report, there is no certainty of when, or how, colleges and universities might return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels. (Adobe Stock)

Over 40 Million Americans Started College, But Didn't Finish

A new study shows the number of students who "stopped out" before getting a college degree is higher - and fewer former students are re-enrolling…

Seg�n un nuevo informe, no hay certeza de cu�ndo o c�mo los colegios y universidades podr�an volver a los niveles de inscripci�n previos a la pandemia. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Más de 40 millones de estudiantes comenzaron la universidad, sin terminar

Un nuevo estudio muestra que la cantidad de estudiantes que "dejaron de estudiar" antes de obtener un título universitario es más alta…

In today's economy, new research suggests families making less than $75,000 annually may sometimes struggle to feed their families. (Adobe stock)

Research: Tech Opportunities Could Reduce IN Food Insecurity

New research by an Indiana nonprofit coalition reveals areas for innovation which could help minimize food insecurity. The report showed technology …

Circle Up Indy says it plans to accomplish its ambitious goal of building 2,000 3D-printed homes in Indiana within the next five years. (Adobe Stock)

Is 3D Printing Key to Solving Indianapolis Housing Shortage?

A plan to build 2,000 homes using a robot could hold the key to unlocking one solution to Indiana's affordable-housing shortage. The differences …

The last decade has seen 27% fewer degrees earned in science and math education, and 44% fewer degrees for people teaching foreign languages, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (Adobe Stock)

Supply of IN Teachers Not Keeping Up with Demand

The number of educators in Indiana is dwindling, which means thousands of students every day, for at least some part of their school day, do not have …

Algunas comunidades resisten la 'invasión' de ‘Cadenas de a Dólar’ en IN

Una nueva investigación afirma que las cadenas minoristas de descuento conocidas como "tiendas de a dólar" no están teniendo un impacto…

Cada vez m�s estudiantes buscan programas de aprendizaje que se adapten a sus opciones profesionales y aumenten sus posibilidades de empleo. Indiana alcanz� un hito en 2020 con el programa SEAL n�mero 100 para aprendices. (Adobe Stock)

El aprendizaje da a los estudiantes de IN ventaja en el mercado laboral

Los graduados de bachillerato tienen la opción, antes de dar el siguiente paso académico, de elegir un "año sabático" para viajar…

More students are seeking apprenticeships to match their career choices and boost employment chances. Indiana hit a milestone in 2020 with its 100th SEAL program for apprentices. (Adobe Stock)

Apprenticeships Give IN Students a Job-Market Edge

High school graduates have the option before taking their next academic step to choose a gap year - for traveling, relaxing, or researching different …

In Indiana, 6% of the workforce is employed in transportation and warehousing. (Adobe Stock)

Booming Trucking, Warehouse Businesses Need Indiana Workers

The transportation and warehousing industry continues to lead as Indiana's fastest-growing business sector, and has been for over a decade now…

The latest data from the nonprofit Feeding America finds one in seven Indiana children experiences food insecurity, and one in nine people overall in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation, Benefit Cuts Spur Demand at IN Food Banks

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will reduce benefits by almost $90 per person at the end of March, but the change does not …

Central Indiana students begin their Modern Apprenticeship work as high school juniors, and they are paid for learning on the job in high-demand career fields. (Ascend Indiana/EmployIndy)

Indiana Apprenticeship Initiative Win-Win for Students, Employers

An Indiana program is helping high school students find more pathways to high-paying jobs by bridging the gap between education and employers…

Los estudiantes de Indiana Central comienzan su aprendizaje moderno en el pen�ltimo a�o de la escuela secundaria, y se les paga por aprender en el trabajo en campos profesionales de alta demanda. (Ascend Indiana/EmployIndy)

Iniciativa de Aprendizaje de Indiana beneficia a estudiantes y empresarios

Un programa de Indiana está ayudando a los estudiantes de bachillerato a encontrar más vías de acceso a empleos bien remunerados…

Since 2020, the income of high-net-worth individuals has increased by $2.7 billion per day, while more than 1.7 billion working people have seen their wages decline, according to Oxfam. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Report: Top 1% Income Leaves Working Families Behind During Pandemic

The world's richest 1% took home almost twice as much wealth as the bottom 99 % combined during the pandemic, according to a new Oxfam International …

A recent report says the time it takes to earn the cost of paying for food, gas and housing is cutting into many college students' ability to complete their studies. (PR Image Factory/Adobe Stock)

Report: High Inflation Pushing Cost of College Education Even Higher

Covering the cost of a college education just got more expensive as already stressed students cope with the highest inflation rate in more than 40 yea…

Direct payments under the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit program cut in half the number of American children living in poverty. (Wikimedia Commons)

Indiana Child Advocates Demand Action on Renewing Child Tax Credit

As Congress moves toward the mid-December deadline to pass a new budget, advocates are urging lawmakers to reinstate the Enhanced Child Tax Credit…

In 2022, more than 156,000 Indiana residents purchased their health coverage online, through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. (Adobe Stock)

Open Enrollment for ACA Insurance Begins Nov. 1 in Indiana

Open enrollment season for health insurance is upon us, and Hoosiers who want to get the right kinds of coverage have a lot to consider. More than a …

Hispanic students account for about 4.7% of nursing school graduates in Indiana compared to 7.1% of the state's general population. (Adobe Stock)

Research Makes Case for Expanding Diversity in Nursing

Nurses are at the forefront of patient outcomes, and experts say a workforce that better reflects the population it serves can help reduce healthcare …

Indiana has more than 7,000 MW of clean energy in development - with the bulk of that in solar. (Branden/Adobe Stock)

Indiana Becoming America's 'Crossroads of Clean Energy'

Solar energy is growing fast in Indiana, which bodes well for clean energy as a whole in the state. Indiana ranks third among states in terms of …

According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, folks with a bachelor's degree have an average annual salary about $33,000 higher than those with a high school diploma. (Adobe Stock)

Report Details Methods to Address IN Declining College Enrollment

As fewer people in Indiana are opting to go to college, the state's Commission for Higher Education is releasing policy recommendations to increase …

According to Feeding America, more than 834,000 Hoosiers are considered food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Enhanced SNAP Benefits for IN Residents Come to End

Indiana has ended its participation in the federally enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so going forward, many food-insecure …

All told, five states -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois -- accounted for nearly 70% of the nation's more than 3.6 million shutoffs from 2020 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IN Utilities Cut Power More Than 260,000 Times from 2020-2021

From January 2020 to December 2021, utility companies shut off power to Hoosier homes more than 260,000 times. According to a new report from …

In a national report on disengaged learners, about 43% of respondents who put a hold on their college studies said they were either extremely or very likely to continue their education at a later point. (Adobe Stock)

IN Education Leaders Work to Keep College Students on Track to Graduate

College students in Indiana are gearing up to head back to class for the spring semester, but some are weighing whether to continue with higher …

A 2021 College Equity Report found Black and Hispanic/Latino students were the most likely to come from low-income homes. Indiana has about a dozen programs geared toward helping students in need find money for education. (Adobe Stock)

Padres Estrellas Helps Hoosier Students Get Financial Aid

A state-run outreach program is working to ensure Indiana's Latino and Hispanic students have equal access to financial aid for post-secondary educati…

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