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Indiana public health officials reported 511 new COVID-19 cases and 11 confirmed deaths Sunday as some Marion County businesses saw a surge in customers during their first weekend since reopening. (Journal Gazette)
Four months into the U.S. coronavirus epidemic, tests for the virus finally are becoming widely available, a crucial step toward lifting stay-at-home orders and safely returning to normal life. But while many states no longer report crippling supply shortages, a new problem has emerged: too few people lining up to get tested. (Washington Post)
COVID-19 continues to take a toll in lives and jobs as Indiana slowly reopens to business and prepares for the June 2 primary. (The Statehouse File)
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is walking a fine line as he balances reviving the state’s economy with managing the public health crisis. To make matters more challenging, he’s doing it in the midst of his reelection campaign. (IBJ)
As people attempt to stay up-to-date on information during the pandemic, news consumption is up. (Indiana Public Media)
Starting Monday, people will be able to sit down for a dine-in restaurant meal and get a haircut in Lake County for the first time since March. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
To help during the coronavirus pandemic, Gleaners Food Bank hosted a “mega” drive-through food distribution event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. (WIBC)
A child advocacy group is praising a federal judge’s decision that allows most of a lawsuit to move forward accusing Indiana’s child welfare agency of inadequately protecting thousands of children in its care. (Tribune Star)
Opinion/Commentary
On this week’s edition of IN Focus, panelists Laura Wilson, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, Jennifer Wagner and Mike Murphy discuss this week’s top stories, including the coronavirus crisis, Hill’s suspension and the attorney general’s criticism of the decision to limit churches in Marion County to 25 attendees as they re-open this week in the Indianapolis area. (IN Focus – Fox 59)
Along with many states, Indiana is moving slowly away from some restrictions in the stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders implemented in late March. Over that six-week period, more Hoosiers died of COVID-19 than died in the Vietnam War. The state’s economy experienced unprecedented damage. The next jobs report will be the worst since the Great Depression, even though it will understate the actual share of unemployed by 5.0 percent or more. State tax revenues were more than $1 billion beneath the expected level in April. While part of this reflects payment delays, we clearly face the bleakest government budgets in a lifetime. (Micheal HIcks, Ball State University)
Sunday was commencement at the University of Notre Dame. Sort of. Officially, it is. Realistically, it isn’t the traditional celebration for graduates and their families. The graduates and their families aren’t attending. They can’t. (Jack Colwell, South bend Tribune)
In the hours after the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission suspended Attorney General Curtis Hill for groping four women at a legislative party, there was speculation as to how Gov. Eric Holcomb would respond. (Brian Howey)
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is a piece of work. (John Krull, The Statehouse File)
John F. Kennedy once said, “In a crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.” For the last several weeks we have been focused on the crisis part—dealing with the clear and present threat of COVID-19 and the economic impact from the quarantine. (State Sen. Erin Houchin, Indy Politics)
