Archive for February 2023
Get Shakin’ for Earthquake Awareness Month
February is Earthquake Awareness Month. Earthquakes in Indiana may seem unusual or unlikely, but the reality is the state is near two seismic zones. Both seismic zones have the potential to produce major earthquakes and many small quakes. About 2,000 tremors occur daily in the central United States, underscoring the need for all Hoosiers to…
Read MoreBBB Scam Alert: The Top 3 Valentine’s Day Scams
This Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the National Retail Federation, which suggests that consumer spending will reach nearly $26 billion. As you prepare to celebrate, there are few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re hoping to spark a new relationship or buying gifts…
Read MoreFarmers’ Market Opens at Indy Airport; Features Over 60 Indiana Suppliers
Travelers at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) can now truly experience Hoosier home-grown as they dine at the new Farmers’ Market restaurant, which serves up a menu of foods and products grown, produced and packaged by more than 60 Indiana Grown members from throughout the state. Earlier this week, SPP America, along with airport officials,…
Read MoreSenate Approves Doctor Non-Compete Ban
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz The Indiana Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a ban on physician non-compete agreements, a top Senate GOP priority and one of several bills meant to lower the cost of health care. But some fear Senate Bill 7 could hurt poorer hospitals. The non-compete agreements bar physicians who leave their jobs from…
Read MoreDear EarthTalk: Since When is the Transition to Electric Vehicles an ‘Environmental Justice’ Issue?
The poorest members of our society are likely to benefit the least from a widespread transition to electric vehicles (EVs) for a few reasons. For starters, those with the least income are unlikely to be able to afford to purchase a new car, let alone a Tesla. As such, gas guzzling, internal combustion cars and…
Read MoreIndiana’s GOP Lawmakers Split on Bill to Offer ‘Driving Privilege’ Cards to Immigrants
By Casey Smith Indiana’s Republican lawmakers appear divided over a bill that would expand driving privileges to immigrants without documentation. The bipartisan measure narrowly advanced 5-4 from the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and now heads to the Appropriations Committee for a fiscal impact evaluation. Bill author Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, said the “driving privilege” cards…
Read MoreYoung, Coons Introduce Bill to Counter Economic Coercion from Allies, Partners
Senators Todd Young and Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced the Countering Economic Coercion Act of 2023 to provide meaningful support to partners and allies facing economic bullying and retaliation from foreign adversaries. The bill would equip the president with new tools to reduce the impact of economic coercion by strengthening trade and commerce ties with partners…
Read MoreBills Target Hoosiers with Little Income, Farming and Speed Cameras
By Whitney Downard, Casey Smith and Leslie Bonilla Muñiz Hoosiers with a low or moderate income were the focus of several bills in the Statehouse on Monday, including tweaks to the state’s earned income tax credit, supplemental food benefits and preschool vouchers. Additionally, legislators moved bills related to cataloging state farmland and permitting speed cameras…
Read MoreDear Earthtalk: What All Is the NFL Doing to Reduce Its Environmental Impact and Carbon Footprint?
Like any major spectator sport league, the National Football League (NFL) is no darling to environmental advocates. Stadium construction, maintenance and energy use contribute significantly to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and resource depletion. Transportation of fans to games, waste generated during games, and production and disposal of merchandise and equipment can also contribute to environmental…
Read MoreAnti-ESG Pension Bill Could Drop State Pension Returns $6.7B in Next Decade
By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz A bill mandating that Indiana’s public pension system divest from firms or funds that use certain non-financial investment criteria — a flashpoint in the state’s culture wars — could slash the system’s returns by nearly $7 billion over the next decade, according to a revised fiscal analysis. Author Rep. Ethan Manning,…
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