Indiana State Senator Jim Merritt to Retire in November
The longest-serving current Republican to serve as Indiana state senator, State Senator Jim Merritt has announced he will retire in November. State Sen. Merritt was elected in 1990, he was responsible for representing residents of Marion and Hamilton counties. As Merritt recollected on his life in public office, he said that it was his “greatest...
Former Indiana ITT Tech Students to be Relieved of $10 Million of Loan Debt
For 1,354 former ITT Technical Institute Students in Indiana, financial relief is on the way. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office has been able to win their case against PEAKS Trust for $10 million of debt relief for the former students. PEAKS Trust provided private loans during the 2008 financial crisis for students who were unable...
Indianapolis Venues Light Up Red in September
On the first day of the month of September, landmarks across Indianapolis were lit up with a bright red light. The symbolism was to acknowledge the many financial challenges that both workers as well as many businesses in the live event industry have been going through since the pandemic hit. This was referred to as...
Indiana Joins Child and Family Well-Being Learning Cohort
With each state handling the pandemic in their own way, 13 states are teaming up by involving themselves in the Child and Family Well-Being Learning Cohort. This national network was developed to examine the fallout from the current crisis and how it has affected Americans. It is aimed at helping support families by developing strategies...
Prolonged Unemployment and Bankruptcy in Indiana
Without a job, paying the bills, and staying current can be a difficult task. As of August 21, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks Utah as the state with the lowest unemployment rate at 4.5. The highest unemployment rate was found in Massachusetts at 16.1. The state of Indiana comes in at number 19...
Gov. Holcomb Requesting a Delay in School Enrollment Count This Fall
In an attempt to ensure that all of Indiana schools are fully funded, Governor Eric Holcomb said that he wants the Indiana State Board of Education to postpone the Indiana student enrollment count in the fall and through December. Due to the current climate, in which schools are beginning the year with all-virtual instruction in...
Indiana Unemployment Insurance Funds Running Dangerously Low
The coronavirus pandemic has caused many Hoosiers to lose work and require the assistance of Indiana unemployment insurance compensation. Due to the rising numbers of applicants, the funds are rapidly being consumed. According to Josh Richardson, chief of staff for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, at the rate the state’s residents are collecting, the...
Indiana Renters Worry About Evictions as Moratorium Date Gets Closer
Many people lost their jobs and had to utilize their savings to get through the economic shutdown that the pandemic has caused the nation and the world in 2020. With the economy now reopening, more people are starting to see opportunities for work, but it is not easy for everyone. A multitude of Indiana renters...
Be Well Crisis Helpline is Helping Hoosiers in Distress During the Pandemic
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration have responded to the increase in calls received to suicide hotlines in the state. The coronavirus pandemic has affected individuals’ daily lives significantly in many ways including their mental health. As a result, the Be Well Crisis Helpline was created to be a resource for Hoosiers struggling with...
How to Help Children at Every Age Cope With Divorce
Divorce is hard on everyone in the family from parents to their children. The process of divorce can be stressful by itself, and when parents are also coping with how to talk to their children about what is happening in a way that will help them transition, it can be challenging to understand what to...