The Lovely Mrs. Shabazz and I are on vacation this week, but I still want to make sure you have the news you need to know. So here are the headlines from today’s Indy Politics Statewide Summary.
Indiana taxpayers can expect to see a refund when they file their state income taxes in 2022 because state revenue collections for this year exceeded expectations. (IBJ)
Fewer than one-third of elementary and middle school students in Indiana recorded passing scores on the latest round of state standardized tests, results released Wednesday show, confirming education officials’ concerns that the coronavirus pandemic has fueled substantial learning losses. (AP Indiana)
Hoosiers who have been waiting several weeks for the federal pandemic unemployment benefits to resume will receive back pay to cover the weeks they were eligible and were not paid, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. (Fox 59)
News 8 emails have been flooded with complaints about unemployment, and desperate pleas for help. (WISH-TV)
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A federal judge in South Bend is hearing the case from eight Indiana University students who are suing the school over its vaccine policies. (WIBC)
Last week, Attorney General Todd Rokita introduced a Parents Bill of Rights, calling for parents to be involved and question employees of their children’s schools —but many view this as an attempt to stop change in Indiana. (The Statehouse File)
In its fight to fend off $145,000 in sanctions for filing a lawsuit challenging the November 2020 election results in Wisconsin, the Indianapolis law firm of Kroger Gardis & Regas is arguing that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ motion to recover attorney fees and costs is “deeply flawed” and an attempt to score “political points by making unsupported claims.” (Indiana Lawyer)
Wildlife experts have been testing songbirds this month, trying to determine the cause of the mysterious illness that has killed hundreds of them across Indiana and other states. (WFIU)
