Hospitalizations from COVID-19 reach highest mark since last year
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in Indiana have reached their highest level since late last year, according to the latest figures from the Indiana State Department of Health.
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Legislation pits religious freedoms against employer rights
It’s one of the trickiest paths an employer must tread: when to make allowances for workers who express sincerely held religious views on matters ranging from work schedules to dress and grooming practices. And for the past year, Indiana employers have faced one more sensitive area: whether to enforce COVID-19 vaccination mandates on workers who say the vaccines violate their religious beliefs.
National Guard helping virus-sapped states, hospitals
More U.S. states desperate to defend against COVID-19 are calling on the National Guard and other military personnel to assist virus-weary medical staffs at hospitals and other care centers.
Overwhelmed by latest surge, hospitals again delay elective surgeries
Hospitals across Indiana are once again delaying elective surgeries and procedures, and some warn they are operating near full capacity due to the latest COVID-19 surge.
Pew study finds benefits, problems with virtual courts
Virtual hearings have been touted as providing easier access to the courts for low-income and self-represented litigants. But in a recent study, The Pew Charitable Trusts concluded the online judicial system is still designed for lawyers, and those parties without attorneys continue to be at a disadvantage.
Indiana Sen. Braun backs businesses setting vaccine rules
An Indiana senator heading a congressional fight against President Joe Biden’s proposed federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates said Wednesday he was against state-level efforts to block businesses from imposing their own workplace vaccination requirements.
Judge blocks Biden vaccine mandate for federal contractors
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors, the latest in a string of victories for Republican-led states pushing back against Biden’s pandemic policies.
Holcomb frustrated with ‘absurd’ vaccine-refusal reasons
With Indiana’s COVID-19 hospitalizations doubling in the past month, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb expressed frustration Tuesday at the “absurd” reasons some cite for refusing vaccinations, although he isn’t offering any new state actions to combat the spread of the virus.
Inmates seeking COVID compassionate release face higher hurdle with 7th Circuit ruling
Since March 2020, attorney Kathryn DiNardo has taken up dozens of cases through the Indiana Federal Community Defenders from inmates hoping to be released early because of the pandemic. Those cases are but a drop in the bucket of inmates who have applied for compassionate release, and a July ruling from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has seemingly further dwindled their chances of success.
Editor’s Perspective: The post-COVID ‘normal’: Cameras in courts
Here’s my plea to those who are studying cameras in Hoosier courtrooms: Don’t let this pilot program just be lip service.
Hospitals set new pandemic record, with 70% of staffed beds in use
The latest surge in COVID-19 cases is taking its toll on Indiana hospitals, which set a new record over the weekend with 70% of all staffed hospital beds currently in use.
House GOP again tries to expedite bill to limit vaccine mandates, will hold hearing on Dec. 16
Efforts to advance state legislation that would restrict employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates took another unusual turn Friday as Republican leaders scheduled a House committee hearing on the bill for later this month, more than two weeks before the formal legislative session kicks off.
COA affirms dismissal of COVID-19 lawsuit by Granger parents against local school corporation, health department
A pair of Northern Indiana parents did not present a legal cause of action in a lawsuit filed against their local health department and children’s school corporation regarding decisions to conduct virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
Senate passes stopgap funding bill, avoiding shutdown
The Senate has passed a stopgap spending bill that avoids a short-term shutdown and funds the federal government through Feb. 18, after leaders defused a partisan standoff over federal vaccine mandates. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Indiana COVID-19 health emergency likely extending into 2022
The Indiana governor’s office acknowledged Wednesday that the statewide COVID-19 public health emergency will likely extend into the new year after a failed attempt by legislators to quickly approve steps the governor sought to let the declaration expire.
Holcomb again extends public health emergency in Indiana
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday signed executive orders extending Indiana’s public health emergency for the 21st time.
Lawmakers formally file legislation to limit business vaccine mandates
More than 50 Indiana House Republicans have signed on to a bill filed for the 2022 legislative session that would restrict employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates and put in place actions to end the statewide public health emergency order.
Biden vaccine rule for health workers blocked in 10 states
A federal judge on Monday blocked President Joe Biden’s administration from enforcing a coronavirus vaccine mandate on thousands of health care workers in 10 states that had brought the first legal challenge against the requirement.
More omicron cases pop up as world rushes to learn more
Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on opposite sides of the world Sunday and many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it’s not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus.
Indiana lawmakers won’t return for one-day session on COVID-19 legislation
Republican legislative leaders have decided against bringing state lawmakers back for a one-day session on Monday to vote on a bill that would have restricted employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates and put in place actions to end the statewide public health emergency order.