NEW ALBANY — Fistful of Tacos has become a staple of Southern Indiana’s food truck scene since it launched in 2015, and over the years, the taco business has continued to expand with additional food trucks, a catering business and the opening of a brick-and-mortar storefront in 2018. Read more

SOUTHERN INDIANA — There was “considerable improvement” on the jobs front locally from April to May, though experts aren’t ready to state that the recession is over. Read more

NEW ALBANY — A sculpture depicting Lucy Higgs Nichols fleeing slavery with her infant daughter was vandalized early Friday morning — a year to the day after the statue was dedicated on the grounds of the historic Second Baptist Church. Read more

INDIANA — Indiana’s jobless rate remains elevated, but there are positions open and some businesses are struggling to find enough laborers to meet demand. Read more

GOSHEN — Trust. Read more

While COVID-19 may have wreaked havoc on much of the retail market in the past few months, it's seemingly had the opposite impact on fireworks. Read more

The drop to 11.1% national unemployment in June is good news -- and perhaps even more so than it might appear at first glance, said an Indiana State University economist. Read more

Classes begin Aug. 11 for the Vigo County School Corp. — but for those reluctant to send their children back to school buildings because of COVID-19s, the district is expanding its virtual school to serve grades K-12. Read more

With most public pools in the Madison County area closed and 90-degree heat forecast for the holiday weekend, the White River is sure to attract people looking to cool off. Read more

A fourth teenager has been arrested for his involvement in a home invasion-style robbery and burglary last week in Alexandria. Read more

SOUTHERN INDIANA — A judge has ruled that a man involved in one of several cases against Charlestown roadside zoo Wildlife in Need must provide veterinary records related to animals owned by the zoo’s founder. Read more

Just over a year ago, three friends made a split-second decision to pool their experience, knowledge and passions into a shared ambition. That ambition was to own a local, farm-raised butcher shop right in the heart of Boone County. Read more

JEFFERSONVILLE — The lighting and visual guidance systems on the original runway at Clark Regional Airport will be upgraded thanks to a federal grant. Read more

Tragic events play a powerful role in shaping the future of our lives. Read more

GOSHEN — Swimming pools are a hot commodity this year as families opt for more home activities this summer while the COVID-19 pandemic carries on. Read more

Grace House’s newest project is Madison Park Church of God’s Dove Harbor Transitional Housing Ministry building, 1400 Broadway, which Karl Lazar purchased May 1 and plans to turn into a long-term treatment center. Read more

Vigo County has added 29 cases of COVID-19 in the past three weeks, according to online data updated today by the Indiana State Department of Health. Read more

Ivy Tech Community College officials have named Dr. Mia D. Johnson as interim chancellor for the Anderson campus as they continue their national search for a replacement for James Willey, whose final day is Friday. Read more

CLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Redevelopment Commission has finalized the purchase of the former Marathon property and will be soliciting bids for development there. Read more

After a successful first year as a high school, the Vigo County School Corp. is announcing that Vigo Virtual Success Academy, its full-virtual school, is expanding to serve grades K-12 for the 2020-21 school year. Read more

Indiana is ninth in the country for most firework spending per capita, according to U.S. trade census data, and sales are sizzling this year. Read more

NEW ALBANY — After almost two years of conducting public meetings and garnering input, planners of the Sherman Minton Renewal are ready to submit their traffic proposal for the $90 million improvement project. Read more

Terre Haute on Thursday took its first official step in making an $18 million downtown police headquarters a reality. Read more

The Blues at the Crossroads Festival has been canceled for this year, event organizer Connie Wrin announced late this afternoon. Read more

ANDERSON — A 64-year-old Anderson man told police, reportedly, that several sexual encounters were initiated by a 6-year-old girl starting in 2016. Read more

ALEXANDRIA – The City of Alexandria is teaming up with a county animal welfare organization to help get a colony some believe includes about 100 stray cats, possibly the largest ever reported in the county, spayed and neutered. Read more

INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday delayed a full reopening of businesses and activities in Indiana. The state was originally set to enter Stage 5 of the reopening plan on July 4, but Holcomb is moving to Stage 4.5, calling it a “cautious step forward” as state officials use the next two weeks to gauge whether Indiana will continue to move forward or take a step back like other states who have seen increases of the virus. Meanwhile, across Indiana, the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been on the rise. That is why Holcomb said that he is delaying a full reopening of the state’s businesses and activities until July 18. The state’s reopening plan had called for those restrictions to be lifted this weekend, but Holcomb said he would keep them in place until at least July 18. The state will also continue its current 250-person limit on social gatherings rather than eliminating that maximum. “The volatility that we see, even in some areas of our own state, but especially around the country and especially around our borders is of concern,” Holcomb said. Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the state health department, reported an increase of 371 COVID-19 cases from the previous day, bringing the total number of confirmed infected Hoosiers to 45,952. There were eight more deaths, totaling 2,456 in the state, not including the 194 Hoosiers who had symptoms of the virus but were not tested before they died. “We’ve seen what’s happening in states like Florida, California, Texas and South Carolina, which are seeing their highest of seven-day averages in cases, and in many cases they are pausing or rolling back their reopening by closing bars and gyms and restaurants and continuing to prohibit indoor dining,” Box said. “That’s not where we want to be going forward.” “More than recognize it, we have to accept the fact that this virus is on the prowl, and it’s moving, even within our borders,” Holcomb said. “And we are living on virus time.” While there will be a temporary pause on increasing capacity in restaurant dining rooms, bars and entertainment venues during Stage 4.5, Holcomb gave the “green light” to mostly outdoor activities since the risk of transmission of the virus is known to be much smaller while outdoors. Dr. Woody Myers, Democratic candidate for governor, released a statement after Wednesday’s briefing in response to the delay in Stage 5, saying while he applauded the governor for delaying a full reopening, Holcomb is putting Hoosiers at increased risk for contracting COVID-19. “Our focus should be implementing a statewide mask order and encouraging Indiana to stay home,” Myers said in the statement. While Holcomb and Box have always recommended the use of face coverings, they have never mandated that people wear them in public. Instead, they are putting their efforts into campaigns to encourage mask-wearing in public. They previewed two videos during the press briefing to promote their newest initiative, #MaskUpHoosiers, which will show government leaders, celebrities and Hoosiers of all kinds sharing their reasons to wear a mask. “This good example needs to spread faster than the virus,” Holcomb said. “It may be inconvenient, but it works.” To keep the public safe during the pandemic, the 2020 Indiana State Fair was cancelled last month. However, a summer carnival will be replacing it at the state fairgrounds from July 31 through Sept. 7. The Fairgrounds Fun Park will be open from noon to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, with more than 50 rides and 540 food vendors on the site, according to a press release from North American Midway Entertainment, who will be hosting the carnival. This has raised concern from many Hoosiers wondering why children showing their animals in the 4-H competitions was cancelled, but the carnival rides, which are frequently touched, will be allowed. INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb on Wednesday delayed a full reopening of businesses and activities in Indiana. The state was originally set to enter Stage 5 of the reopening plan on July 4, but Holcomb is moving to Stage 4.5, calling it a “cautious step forward” as state officials use the next two weeks to gauge whether Indiana will continue to move forward or take a step back like other states who have seen increases of the virus. Meanwhile, across Indiana, the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been on the rise. That is why Holcomb said that he is delaying a full reopening of the state’s businesses and activities until July 18. The state’s reopening plan had called for those restrictions to be lifted this weekend, but Holcomb said he would keep them in place until at least July 18. The state will also continue its current 250-person limit on social gatherings rather than eliminating that maximum. “The volatility that we see, even in some areas of our own state, but especially around the country and especially around our borders is of concern,” Holcomb said. Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the state health department, reported an increase of 371 COVID-19 cases from the previous day, bringing the total number of confirmed infected Hoosiers to 45,952. There were eight more deaths, totaling 2,456 in the state, not including the 194 Hoosiers who had symptoms of the virus but were not tested before they died. “We’ve seen what’s happening in states like Florida, California, Texas and South Carolina, which are seeing their highest of seven-day averages in cases, and in many cases they are pausing or rolling back their reopening by closing bars and gyms and restaurants and continuing to prohibit indoor dining,” Box said. “That’s not where we want to be going forward.” “More than recognize it, we have to accept the fact that this virus is on the prowl, and it’s moving, even within our borders,” Holcomb said. “And we are living on virus time.” While there will be a temporary pause on increasing capacity in restaurant dining rooms, bars and entertainment venues during Stage 4.5, Holcomb gave the “green light” to mostly outdoor activities since the risk of transmission of the virus is known to be much smaller while outdoors. Dr. Woody Myers, Democratic candidate for governor, released a statement after Wednesday’s briefing in response to the delay in Stage 5, saying while he applauded the governor for delaying a full reopening, Holcomb is putting Hoosiers at increased risk for contracting COVID-19. “Our focus should be implementing a statewide mask order and encouraging Indiana to stay home,” Myers said in the statement. While Holcomb and Box have always recommended the use of face coverings, they have never mandated that people wear them in public. Instead, they are putting their efforts into campaigns to encourage mask-wearing in public. They previewed two videos during the press briefing to promote their newest initiative, #MaskUpHoosiers, which will show government leaders, celebrities and Hoosiers of all kinds sharing their reasons to wear a mask. “This good example needs to spread faster than the virus,” Holcomb said. “It may be inconvenient, but it works.” To keep the public safe during the pandemic, the 2020 Indiana State Fair was cancelled last month. However, a summer carnival will be replacing it at the state fairgrounds from July 31 through Sept. 7. The Fairgrounds Fun Park will be open from noon to 9 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, with more than 50 rides and 540 food vendors on the site, according to a press release from North American Midway Entertainment, who will be hosting the carnival. This has raised concern from many Hoosiers wondering why children showing their animals in the 4-H competitions was cancelled, but the carnival rides, which are frequently touched, will be allowed. Read more

ELIZABETH — Employees at Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth delivered a petition Wednesday to management demanding better compliance with guests wearing masks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. It was signed by 305 people in the company. Read more

NEW ALBANY – The Indiana Commission for Higher Education, in partnership with Indiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, awarded $25,000 to IU Southeast to support the high school graduating students of 2020 as they transition to college. Read more