Indiana News & Current Events | Public News Service

The 2018-2023 Farm Bill is projected to cost around $428 billion, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Indiana Family Farmers Want More Say in Federal Farm Bill

Agriculture advocates in Indiana say the upcoming reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill should emphasize serving community needs, not corporate …

The renewable-energy industry is expected to create more than 9,800 clean-energy jobs over the next five years, according to the Clean Grid Alliance. (Franco Lucato/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Indiana Communities Can Benefit from Clean Power Grid

As the economy has changed with the pandemic in the past few years, Indiana's small communities have seen an exodus of jobs and people. However…

CDC research shows that proper gun storage could help prevent an estimated 26,000 firearm-related suicides that occur annually in the United States. (vectorass/Adobe Stock)

Gun-Safety Advocates Face Uphill Battle with Indiana Lawmakers

Advocates of gun-law reform face an uphill battle to push their ideas through the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly, but say public …

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 Yale University study showed a majority of Americans (64%) said they are at least

Indiana Schools Adding Climate Change Studies to Science Curriculum

Major changes are coming to Indiana schools, as state educators are adding a new climate change curriculum to science classes. New state science …

Research shows that the rate of bystander-administered CPR is 12% higher in states where high school-age teens are required to learn resuscitation techniques. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

NFL Player's Cardiac Arrest Points up Importance of CPR Training

Lifesaving measures are getting a lot of attention this week after an NFL player went into cardiac arrest during a game, and Indianans are being …

More people in the United States are dying prematurely, including a notable increase in drug deaths, according to a new report released by United Healthcare. (krisana/Adobe Stock)

Report: Drug Overdoses Killing More People in Indiana, Nationwide

More Indianans are struggling with substance use disorders, according to the latest America's Health Rankings report. State data show six Indiana …

Studies show at least 25% of today's global warming is driven by human-caused methane emissions. (bednarek/Adobe Stock)

Tougher EPA Methane Regulations Could Improve Indiana Air Quality

As part of the U.S. clean-energy transition, the Biden administration has made slashing methane emissions a priority, and has new supplemental …

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…

Early diagnosis rates in America have increased 17% over the last five years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

State of Lung Cancer Report has Indiana Behind the Curve

The American Lung Association has released its 2022 State of Lung Cancer report, which shows Indiana has some work to do. The leading cause of lung …

Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been cosponsored by the Small Business Administration since 2011. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Small Business Saturday Keeps Dollars in Local Economies

Holiday shoppers this week have no shortage of options, with Small Business Saturday being observed Nov. 26. Sandwiched between Black Friday and …

Indiana has maintained an average of four wild turkeys per square mile in recent years. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Wild Turkeys: A Model for New Conservation Efforts

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, many may not realize a century ago, wild turkeys were near extinction. Conservation groups point to their …

Adoption takes time, with most adoptive parents able to meet all state requirements within six to 12 months. (Adobe Stock)

Interest in Adoption Growing Despite Myths, Challenges

November is National Adoption Month, and survey results suggest attitudes about adoption are changing. A recent Harris Poll survey commissioned by …

The report presents evidence of groundwater contamination at more than 265 sites nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly All Indiana Coal Power Plants Polluting Groundwater

Nearly all Indiana coal plants are releasing toxins into the local groundwater, according to information released in a new report from two nonprofits…

More than 90% of the applications to the EPA program were for electric buses. (Sylvie Bouchard/Adobe Stock)

Indiana School Districts Awarded $5 Million for Cleaner School Buses

Six Indiana school districts have been awarded more than $5 million in funding for cleaner school buses. The Environmental Protection Agency's Clean …

More than 55 million people live with dementia worldwide, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana University Awarded $50 Million to Continue Alzheimer’s Research

November is Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, and researchers at Indiana University were recently awarded $50 million to study the field further…

In 2020, 98% of Indiana schools conducted staff training for bullying prevention, according to the Indiana Dept. of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Highlight Importance of Awareness in Bullying Prevention

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and experts are reminding Hoosiers to be aware of the patterns within bullying. One in …

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 …

Hoosier Hills Food Bank distributes approximately five million pounds of food per year through partner agencies. (Adobe Stock)

Million Meals Program Helping Needy Hoosiers

While the most extreme impacts of the pandemic have eased, the demand at Indiana food banks has not. Indiana pork producers and Feeding Indiana's …

Future Conscious Conversations will be announced on the Legacy Foundation website. (Adobe Stock)

'Conscious Conversations' Tackle Racial Inequity in NW Indiana

What it's like to walk a mile in another person's shoes isn't always easy to imagine, but one nonprofit group in Indiana is doing what it can to help …

In most regions of the United States, teacher turnover is higher in cities than in other types of school districts, although in the West, turnover is higher in smaller towns and rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Struggles with Ongoing Teacher Shortage

As this school year is well underway, Indiana is part of the national trend of school districts wrestling with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID…

The new National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health calls on states to attempt to process all SNAP applications within one week. (Mikhailov Studio/Adobe Stock)

Indiana Group Cheers New National Strategy on Hunger

At least one in 10 people in Indiana is considered food insecure, so the Biden administration's announcement of a new National Strategy on Hunger…

Both liberals and conservatives underestimate support for climate action, according to a new study. (Stuart Miles/Adobe Stock)

Study: Americans Underestimate Support for Climate Action

The political divide over climate change seems well entrenched, but a recent study suggested the conventional wisdom is wrong. The study, published …

The National Alliance on Mental Health reports 11% of American adults with mental illness lacked health insurance coverage in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Depression Screening Day Raises Awareness on Mental Health

With many people still struggling in the wake of the pandemic, this week's National Depression Screening Day on Oct. 6 is a reminder to Hoosiers to …

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 …

Pew Research reports 97% of American adults own a cell phone. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Alleges Cell Phones Responsible for Brain Tumors

Evidentiary hearings are underway in a Washington, D.C., courtroom this week, to decide if a massive lawsuit against the cellphone industry will be …

More than 726,000 people, including almost 224,000 children, are facing hunger in Indiana, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Investment to Boost Emergency Food Aid in Indiana

Amid struggles with higher food and transportation costs, fewer donations and increased demand, food banks in Indiana will soon have additional …

Total book challenges in 2022 are on pace to exceed last year's record. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Libraries Highlighting Censorship During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

The Giffords Law Center says nearly 56% of all suicide deaths in Indiana involve firearms. Gun-control advocates say that's another reason why it's important to limit access to firearms. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IN Group: Restricting Gun Access Could Help Prevent Suicides

This week is National Suicide Prevention Week, and Indiana advocates pushing for stricter gun laws say access to firearms should get more attention…

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 …

The percentage of Hoosier children ages three to 17 with anxiety or depression rose nearly 40% between 2016 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier Kids Still Suffering from Mental-Health Crisis

Children in Indiana are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression, according to the 2022 Kids Count Data Book, released this week by the …

Indiana voting advocates are attempting to ensure first-time voters have access to the ballot box. (Adobe Stock)

Complaint Alleges Voter-Signup Obstacles in Tippecanoe County

Young people often see registering to vote as a rite of passage, but voting advocates discovered one Indiana county has created new obstacles for …

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric-vehicle sales nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022. (Adobe Stock)

IN Electric-Vehicle Infrastructure Plan Open for Public Comment

The Indiana Department of Transportation wants Hoosiers to weigh in on the state's proposed electric vehicle charging network. The state is …

A new report from WorkingNation and Lightcast predicts green-job employment nationally will increase by about 5.7% in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Challenges, IN Clean-Job Sector Poised for Growth

By Laura Aka for Working Nation.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Indiana News Service reporting for the Working Nation-Public News Service Colla…

Only Missouri and Illinois ranked higher than Indiana in Black homicide victimization rates for 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IN Ranks Third in Nation for Black Homicide Victimization Rate

More than 200 Black Hoosiers lost their lives to homicide in 2019, and a new report reveals the state has one of the highest overall rates of Black …

The case at hand, Moore v. Harper, concerns alleged partisan gerrymandering in North Carolina's congressional maps. The case could shift an unprecedented amount of election administration authority to state legislatures. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court Case Could Dramatically Expand Power of State Legislatures

During its next session, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the legal validity of the "Independent State Legislature" theory. The case could cause …

The advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety ranks Indiana 25th in the nation in terms of the strength of its gun-control policies. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Gun-Control Ruling to Have Limited Impact in IN

The U.S. Supreme Court took a step to limit states' abilities to pass gun-control legislation Tuesday, a move which likely will not directly impact …

According to the Indiana Department of Health, opioid overdose deaths spiked by more than 50% from 2019 to 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Survey Aims to Create Holistic Picture of IN Addiction-Recovery Needs

The State of Indiana wants to learn more about Hoosiers' experiences with substance-use disorder and addiction-recovery services. Administered by …

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 …

The March for Our Lives was started by the survivors of a 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Students, Teachers Demand Gun-Safety Steps

Teachers and students from across Indiana will march in Indianapolis on Saturday to demand action on preventing gun violence. The event is part of …

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 …

According to a new report, about 600,000 Americans were locked up in county jails in 2021, 75% in pre-trial detention. (Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals Stark Racial Disparities in IN Bail Costs

A new report from Indiana University revealed stark racial disparities in bail costs, and outlined how those higher costs can have long-term impacts …

According to the Human Rights Campaign, from January through early May 2021, lawmakers across the country introduced more than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills. (Adobe Stock)

IN Poised to Pass Transgender-Student Sports Ban

Earlier this spring, Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed a GOP-authored bill banning transgender girls from school sports. Now, Holcomb's own party is poised to …

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program has a recurring annual budget of $1 billion through 2026, <a href=

according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. (Adobe Stock)">

IN Officials Ask Public to Weigh in on Electric-Vehicle Infrastructure

Indiana is in line to receive about $100 million from the federal government to support new electric-vehicle infrastructure. State transportation …

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 …

According to its website, The Bail Project has provided resources and support for more than 22,000 people nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Challenges IN Law Restricting Charitable Bail Funds

The state of Indiana is facing a lawsuit over a new law placing restrictions on charitable bail funds. Among other provisions, the law would limit …

According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 94% of Hoosiers live within five miles of a pedestrian trail. (Adobe Stock)

IN Officials Announce $65 Million for New Pedestrian Trails

Gov. Eric Holcomb has announced $65 million to fund new pedestrian infrastructure in Indiana. The grant money, distributed as part of Indiana's …

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