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Indiana will distribute new federal unemployment benefits. It will just take time.

Indiana will issue unemployment benefits to workers who do not typically qualify. But distributing new federal stimulus money will take time.

       




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'Where are they when you need help?' Restaurants want insurers to cover coronavirus losses

Business interruption insurance replaces income lost when a business must close. But insurers say policies don't cover coronavirus-related closures.

       




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Indiana's unemployment funds will likely run out, experts say

Indiana's unemployment trust fund was recovering from the Great Recession. Then coronavirus hit. How long will the state's unemployment benefits last?

       




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Grocery store operating hours, latest shopping changes during the coronavirus pandemic

Here's how grocery stores are trying to accommodate shoppers with new hours, special times for at-risk customers and other changes as of April 29.

       




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Cummins is using Wisconsin facility to aid respirator production during COVID-19 outbreak

Cummins is partnering with Minnesota-based 3M to make filters for use in respirators used during the COVID-19 outbreak.

       




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A glimmer of hope as fewer workers in Indiana, U.S. file initial unemployment claims

Nearly 120,000 more Indiana workers filed for unemployment, but the amount is less than the week before, signaling some encouragement.

       




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Some Indiana workers could see extra unemployment benefits soon

The federal boost to unemployment compensation is retroactive to March 29, though some Hoosiers will still be waiting.

       




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Here are the safety measures businesses should adopt if operating during the coronavirus

Indiana businesses operating during the coronavirus should follow certain sanitation measures. Guidelines vary based on a worker's risk of exposure.

       




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Why Indiana's March unemployment rate is so low amid empty streets and empty stores

More than 22 million Americans are out of work because of how the coronavirus has shut down much of the economy.

       




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Former Eli Lilly head Richard Wood dies; led company for nearly two decades

Richard Wood led Eli Lilly and Co. through prosperous times, thanks to products like Prozac. Colleagues say his foresight paid off.

       




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Indiana unemployment: Your questions answered

A compilation of question and answers about filing for unemployment insurance benefits in Indiana.

       




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Conrad hotel in Downtown Indianapolis temporarily ceases operations

The Conrad Indianapolis temporarily suspended operations as occupancy rates for Downtown hotels nosedive because of the coronavirus outbreak.

       




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More than 75K additional Indiana workers apply for unemployment insurance

The number of workers seeking unemployment benefits in Indiana rose for another week during the coronavirus pandemic.

       




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Indiana coal company with ties to Trump administration gets $10 million in coronavirus aid

The parent company of Indiana's second largest coal company, with ties to the Trump administration, landed $10 million in coronavirus relief aid.

       




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Self-employed, independent Indiana workers now can apply for new unemployment insurance

Here's how the self-employed, gig workers and others who don't typically qualify for state unemployment benefits can receive new federal benefits.

       




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Plastic shields, capes: How salons, gyms plan to re-open after coronavirus closures

"This may become the new normal." The fitness and beauty industries may look much different after Indiana's coronavirus stay-at-home order is lifted.

       




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Leaked memo details Simon plans to reopen Indiana malls Saturday

Simon Property Group plans to reopen on Saturday Indiana malls shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a leaked internal memo.

       




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What business owners and experts say about how and when Indiana should reopen its economy

Here's what business leaders and economists say Indiana needs to do to reopen the state's economy and recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

       




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Shopping malls could reopen soon. Here are the changes you can expect.

Simon Property Group has published protocols to keep shoppers safe during coronavirus. Here's what changes the shopping mall owner is planning.

       




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Indiana receives more than 57K new initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits

New data from the U.S. Department of Labor reflects the continued toll of the coronavirus on Indiana workers.

       




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Simon plans to reopen its malls on Saturday. Indianapolis says that's not feasible.

Indianapolis officials say they have concerns about Simon Property Group's timelines to reopen shopping malls in Marion County.

       




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Scared of the coronavirus? Refusing to work could affect your unemployment benefits

Indiana workers could lose their eligibility for unemployment benefits if they are recalled to work but refuse to return over fears of the coronavirus

       




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Simon changes opening date for Indianapolis malls; others in Central Indiana open Monday

Simon Property Group has changed the opening date for malls in Indianapolis to May 16. Its other shopping centers in Indiana will reopen earlier.

       




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Indiana businesses receive another $2 billion in payroll protection loans

Indiana businesses are receiving a second round of payroll protection loans to assist with the economic downturn from the coronavirus pandemic.

       




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43,777 Hoosiers filed new unemployment claims last week, fewer than previous week

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in Indiana last week has dropped compared to the number of new claims filed a week earlier.

       




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U.S. unemployment rate climbs to 14.7% in April, with 20.5 million jobs lost

The unemployment rate in the United States is surging because of business closures and disruptions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

       




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Honda to start resuming production at U.S. plants Monday

Honda announced Friday it would start resuming production at its U.S. and Canada plants, including one in Greensburg.

       




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Jonathan Turley: Focus on facts in Ferguson

When facts do not support a criminal charge, prosecution is barred regardless of demand.

       




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Katrina Trinko: Put family, not shopping, first on Thanksgiving

Consumers could fight back by not shopping on Thanksgiving.

       




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Editorial: Behning's ethical bump says a lot about Statehouse culture

It's only two weeks into the legislative session and the Indiana General Assembly has already hit an ethical speed bump. Who's steering this bus?

       




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Editorial: Helping Indy's young black males requires city-wide effort

More than 100 companies and nonprofits have pledged support for the Your Life Matters initiative, created to help the city's most vulnerable residents. That's a great start, but momentum is critical.

       




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Editorial: The next mayor needs to drive revival of neighborhoods

The payoffs for such turnarounds can be extraordinary for the residents who live nearby and for the city as a whole.

       




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Editorial: The Indy 500 — a greatness that endures

At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, even the old and the great must constantly be made new in today's world, and that's happening. The greatness of the Indianapolis 500, and of race weekend, remains.

       




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Letter from Editor Katrice Hardy: Thank you for supporting local journalism

The pandemic has impacted us in many ways, but despite these challenges, our commitment to our community and you is stronger than ever.

       




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US Unemployment Rate Soars To 14.7%, the Worst Since the Depression Era

The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 14.7 percent in April, the highest level since the Great Depression, as many businesses shut down or severely curtailed operations to try and limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus. From a report: The Labor Department said 20.5 million people abruptly lost their jobs, wiping out a decade of employment gains in a single month. The speed and magnitude of the loss defies comparison. It is roughly double what the nation experienced during the entire 2007-09 crisis. As the virus's rapid spread accelerated in March, President Trump and numerous governors imposed restrictions that led businesses to suddenly shed millions of workers, putting the economy in a deep freeze. Analysts warn it could take many years to return to the 3.5 percent unemployment rate the nation experienced in February in part because it's unclear what a new economy will look like even if scientists make progress on a vaccine, testing, and treatment.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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Samsung To Launch a Samsung Pay Debit Card This Summer

In a blog post yesterday, Samsung announced plans to launch a Samsung Pay debit card this summer. The Verge reports: Samsung will launch the card, which will be backed by a cash management account, in partnership with personal finance company SoFi, Ahn said. Samsung is also developing a "mobile-first money management platform," according to Ahn. His blog doesn't detail what features that money management platform or the upcoming debit card may have, but he does say that Samsung will share more details "in the coming weeks." Samsung joins Apple in offering a branded payment card. Google is reportedly working on its own branded payment card as well, though Google's will apparently be a debit card, like Samsung's. Google will also supposedly offer spending-tracking tools for the card.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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US Field Hospitals Stand Down, Most Without Treating Any COVID-19 Patients

An anonymous reader quotes a report from NPR: As hospitals were overrun by coronavirus patients in other parts of the world, the Army Corps of Engineers mobilized in the U.S., hiring private contractors to build emergency field hospitals around the country. The endeavor cost more than $660 million, according to an NPR analysis of federal spending records. But nearly four months into the pandemic, most of these facilities haven't treated a single patient. Public health experts said this episode exposes how ill-prepared the U.S. is for a pandemic. They praised the Army Corps for quickly providing thousands of extra beds, but experts said there wasn't enough planning to make sure these field hospitals could be put to use once they were finished. "It's so painful because what it's showing is that the plans we have in place, they don't work," said Robyn Gershon, a professor at New York University's School of Global Public Health. "We have to go back to the drawing board and redo it." But the nation's governors -- who requested the Army Corps projects and, in some cases, contributed state funding -- said they're relieved these facilities didn't get more use. They said early models predicted a catastrophic shortage of hospital beds, and no one knew for sure when or if stay-at-home orders would reduce the spread of the coronavirus. "All those field hospitals and available beds sit empty today," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said last month. "And that's a very, very good thing." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said: "These 1,000-bed alternate care sites are not necessary; they're not filled. Thank God." Senior military leaders also said the effort was a success -- even if the beds sit empty.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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SpaceX's Starship SN4 Prototype Fires Rocket Engine For First Time

SpaceX's newest Starship prototype has fired its engine for the first time, potentially paving the way for a test flight in the very near future. Space.com reports: The SN4, the latest test version of SpaceX's Mars-colonizing Starship vehicle, aced a "static fire" Tuesday night (May 5), lighting up its single Raptor engine briefly while remaining on the ground at the company's South Texas facilities. "Starship SN4 passed static fire," SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said via Twitter late on Tuesday. [You can see video of the static fire here.] With the static fire in the rearview mirror, SpaceX can begin prepping the SN4 for its next big moment: an uncrewed test flight, which Musk has said will take the vehicle to a target altitude of about 500 feet (150 meters).

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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US Military Is Furious At FCC Over 5G Plan That Could Interfere With GPS

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: GPS is facing a major interference threat from a 5G network approved by the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. military officials told Congress in a hearing on Wednesday. In testimony to the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy disputed the FCC's claims that conditions imposed on the Ligado network will protect GPS from interference. When the FCC approved Ligado's plan last month, the agency required a 23MHz guard band to provide a buffer between the Ligado cellular network and GPS. Deasy argued that this guard band won't prevent interference with GPS signals. Results from tests by federal agencies show that "conditions in this FCC order will not prevent impacts to millions of GPS receivers across the United States, with massive complaints expected to come," Deasy said. The FCC unanimously approved Ligado's application, but the decision is facing congressional scrutiny. "I do not think it is a good idea to place at risk the GPS signals that enable our national and economic security for the benefit of one company and its investors," Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said at the hearing, according to CNBC. "This is about much more than risking our military readiness and capabilities. Interfering with GPS will hurt the entire American economy." A spokesperson for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called the military's concerns "baseless fear-mongering" in a statement quoted by Multichannel News. "The FCC made a unanimous, bipartisan decision based on sound engineering principles," the spokesperson said. The FCC said "the metric used by the Department of Defense to measure harmful interference does not, in fact, measure harmful interference," and that "testing on which they are relying took place at dramatically higher power levels than the FCC approved." "Ligado said Wednesday in a statement that it has gone to great lengths to prevent interference and will provide 'a 24/7 monitoring capability, a hotline, a stop buzzer or kill switch' and will 'repair or replace at Ligado's cost any government device shown to be susceptible to harmful interference,'" CNBC reported. The FCC also said it imposed a power limit of 9.8dBW on Ligado's downlink operations -- "a greater than 99 percent reduction from what Ligado proposed in its 2015 application," Pai said.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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Caddis Fly Larvae Are Now Building Shelters Out of Microplastics

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Crawling along the world's river bottoms, the larvae of the caddis fly suffer a perpetual housing crisis. To protect themselves from predators, they gather up sand grains and other sediment and paste them all together with silk, forming a cone that holds their worm-like bodies. As they mature and elongate, they have to continuously add material to the case -- think of it like adding rooms to your home for the rest of your life, or at least until you turn into an adult insect. If the caddis fly larva somehow loses its case, it's got to start from scratch, and that's quite the precarious situation for a defenseless tube of flesh. And now, the microplastic menace is piling onto the caddis fly's list of tribulations. Microplastic particles -- pieces of plastic under 5 millimeters long -- have already corrupted many of Earth's environments, including the formerly pristine Arctic and deep-sea sediments. In a study published last year, researchers in Germany reported finding microplastic particles in the cases of caddis flies in the wild. Then, last month, they published the troubling results of lab experiments that found the more microplastic particles a caddis fly larva incorporates into its case, the weaker that structure becomes. That could open up caddis flies to greater predation, sending ripple effects through river ecosystems. In the lab, the researchers found that the larvae chose to use two kinds of microplastics to build their cases, likely because the plastic is lighter than the sand, so it's not as hard to lift. The problem is that the cases with more plastic and less sand collapse more easily, weakening the larvae's protection from predatory fish, among other things. A more long-term concern is bioaccumulation. "A small fish eats a larva, a bigger fish eats the smaller fish, all the way on up, and the concentrations of microplastic and associated toxins accumulate over time," the report says. "The bigger predators that people eat, like tuna, may be absorbing those microplastics and the chemicals they leach." The study has been published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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'Video Vigilante' Arrested After Filming a Hospital's Emergency Ramp

The Boston Herald writes that a "video vigilante faces numerous charges after being arrested outside Massachusetts General Hospital where police say he was recording the emergency ramp at the height of the coronavirus pandemic." schwit1 shares their report: John L. McCullough, 41, was charged with trespassing, disturbing the peace and threats to do bodily harm after police say he refused to stop recording Sunday evening. "I informed him that I could not make him stop filming but I asked him to stop out of respect to patient privacy," the arresting officer wrote in a police report obtained by the Herald through a public records request. The next day the newspaper's senior editor posted a follow-up: John L. McCullough told the Herald Tuesday evening he is a First Amendment crusader who takes videos of police and posts them to YouTube. That's what got him a June 2 arraignment date. "I understand how people may feel, but that doesn't mean I should be locked up," McCullough said... "Did I break the law? No. I may have been rude," he added. "I understand people may feel jittery, but where peoples' feelings start my rights don't stop...." Cambridge civil-rights attorney Harvey Silverglate said McCullough will probably have his case tossed, even if what he was doing is seen as crass. "There's no amendment in the Constitution called the humanity amendment," said Silverglate. "It's a free country and you have a right to be a jerk." But taking video outside a hospital during a pandemic and as people try to social distance — and first responders, including the police, face all-too-real health risks — is "pretty distasteful," Silverglate added. Still, he added the judge will "have to throw it out." He added it's "punishment itself" to go to court in this climate. McCullough, records state, does not have an attorney yet. He did say he's ready to plead his case. "Don't be brainwashed," he added, "and it shouldn't be a problem when a black man has a camera." The Herald suggests one more interesting detail. "McCullough said '20 other cameras' were probably rolling at the same time as he was — alluding to security cameras in the area."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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Largest Study To Date Finds Hydroxychloroquine Doesn't Help Coronavirus Patients

A new hydroxychloroquine study -- "the largest to date" -- was published Thursday in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. It concluded that Covid-19 patients taking the drug "do not fare better than those not receiving the drug," reports Time: Dr. Neil Schluger, chief of the division of pulmonary, allergy and critical care medicine at Columbia, and his team studied more than 1,300 patients admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Irving Medical Center for COVID-19. Some received hydroxychloroquine on an off-label basis, a practice that allows doctors to prescribe a drug that has been approved for one disease to treat another — in this case, COVID-19. About 60% of the patients received hydroxychloroquine for about five days. They did not show any lower rate of needing ventilators or a lower risk of dying during the study period compared to people not getting the drug. "We don't think at this point, given the totality of evidence, that it is reasonable to routinely give this drug to patients," says Schluger. "We don't see the rationale for doing that." While the study did not randomly assign people to receive the drug or placebo and compare their outcomes, the large number of patients involved suggests the findings are solid. Based on the results, Schluger says doctors at his hospital have already changed their advice about using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. "Our guidance early on had suggested giving hydroxychloroquine to hospitalized patients, and we updated that guidance to remove that suggestion," he says. In another study conducted at U.S. veterans hospitals where severely ill patients were given hydroxychloroquine, "the drug was found to be of no use against the disease and potentially harmful when given in high doses," reports the Chicago Tribune. They also report that to firmly establish whether the drug has any effect, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is now funding a randomized, controlled trial at six medical institutions of hundreds of people who've tested positive for Covid-19.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.




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Brad Stevens' advice for promising rookie Romeo Langford: 'Don't get your shot blocked'

Despite a rough outing Tuesday night, Brad Stevens and Celtics believe the future is bright for the pride of New Albany.

      




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Romeo Langford on how it feels to try to dunk on Myles Turner: "Not good."

Romeo Langford reflects on a tough outing Tuesday night and what it was like playing in Indiana again.

      




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Mark Cuban is as stunned as anyone that the NBA season is suspended

Dallas Mavericks owner and IU alum is taken aback to learn the NBA is stopping play in the wake of a player's coronavirus test

      




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Indiana Pacers' Domas Sabonis an unlikely, fabulous TikTok dancer

Sabonis has two dance videos out, one in Pacers gear, the other shirtless.

      




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Former Pacers ball boy was at the start of the NBA's coronavirus reaction

Donnie Strack, now in the Thunder front office, checked out Utah's Rudy Gobert on the night of the league's first COVID-19-related cancellation.

      




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25 years ago today: Michael Jordan returns from retirement against the Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers staff had one day to prepare for what suddenly became the world's biggest sporting event

      




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Pacers waiting for symptoms before having players tested for coronavirus

The Pacers final game before the NBA went on hiatus was vs. the Celtics, whose player Marcus Smart has tested positive for the coronavirus

      




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Insider: Pacers well positioned to deal with any salary cap impact from the coronavirus

An insurance payment due to Victor Oladipo's injury gives Pacers lowest payroll in NBA