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Indiana-based craft distiller West Fork Whiskey broke ground on its second location Tuesday. The company said it will be one of the state's largest agritourism destinations.

An invasive insect called the spotted lanternfly has arrived in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says it was found in Switzerland County — located about halfway between Cincinnati and Louisville. The spotted lanternfly poses a threat to wineries and orchards in Indiana and across the country.

A virtual preschool program will expand its reach in Indiana this year as it becomes available statewide for the first time. The national nonprofit behind the program is partnering with the state as COVID-19 cases rise.

The Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University want to build a stretch of highway that would charge electric cars as they drive. INDOT said electrifying the state's highways would reduce pollution and support Indiana companies that make parts for new electric heavy trucks.

More than 100 drivers at a Pepsi bottling facility in northwest Indiana have been on strike for over two weeks now, fighting against a proposed increase in health care costs.

The Indiana Department of Health reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday. This is the first time the state has surpassed 1,000 new cases in a day since May 14.

The Indiana State Fair returns, starting July 30, a year after it was canceled for the first time since World War II.

Hoosier business leaders around the state are calling for Congress to pass the Equality Act that will extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ people.

Unions across Indiana rallied Friday to pressure Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun into voting for pro-union legislation. The Protecting the Right to Organize , or PRO, Act has already passed a House vote, but doesn't have enough support in the Senate.

Montgomery County has seen their COVID-19 positivity rate spike to roughly twice Indiana's statewide rate, causing local health officials to raise the alarm.

Purdue University on Friday announced its first “Old Golden Ticket” recipient, who will receive a year's free tuition to the university.

A federal labor board sided with an Indiana union Wednesday in a dispute over a display outside of a trade show in Elkhart. It signals government support for a classic labor protest symbol, known by many as Scabby the Rat.

The topic of traditional masculinity has become a prominent issue of discussion in today's social climate. Man Enough , written by director, activist, and Jane the Virgin star Justin Baldoni, seeks to tackle the sometimes uncomfortable topic of what it means to be a man, and attempts to redefine the idea of the male role for a generation that is all too familiar with the idea of toxic masculinity. A book for everyone (not just men), Baldoni encourages us to be confident enough to be vulnerable, and brave enough to be honest, while sharing his own experiences along the way. West Lafayette Public Library Director Nick Schenkel has the review.

After hitting pandemic lows for new COVID-19 cases, Indiana is seeing new spikes in infections. Wednesday was the second day in a row with more than 700 new cases reported – the highest since May 21.

This week on WBAA's Ask The Mayor: Montgomery County's health department issued a plea to residents this week to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the school year gets closer and the Delta variant continues its spread. After the Indiana Department of Health elevated the county into its orange category this week, how do local officials plan to slow the rising tide of infections among the unvaccinated?

After hitting pandemic lows for new COVID-19 cases, Indiana is seeing new spikes in infections. Wednesday was the second day in a row with more than 700 new cases reported – the highest since May 21.

We've Come a Long Way, Ladies: A Centennial Celebration of the 19th Amendment Through Song takes place Thursday, July 22 at 7 pm at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, 638 North Street in downtown Lafayette. WBAA's Greg Kostraba spoke with vocalist Audrey Johnson, who created the program, and two composers whose music will be included in the performance, Alicia Armstrong and Jessica Buford, about the event.

The Tippecanoe County Health Department attended the 4-H fair on Tuesday in an effort to promote COVID-19 vaccines.

U.S. Senate Democrats have proposed a clean energy standard that calls for getting the country's electricity from sources that don't emit — or can capture — their greenhouse gases by 2035. But that could be a tall order for a state like Indiana.

Unionized health care workers in northwest Indiana demanded better pay and pushed lawmakers to mandate a $15 an hour minimum wage as they rallied outside their union hall in Merrillville.

Indiana University researchers have found a helpful microbe (Bombella apis) in the stomachs of queen bees and their larvae that can fight deadly funguses. Researchers hope this discovery will eventually lead to medicine that can protect the honey bees that Indiana farmers rely on.

A federal judge will decide this week if she will temporarily block a new law aimed at teachers unions. The court heard arguments Tuesday morning on extra steps the state wants to add for teachers to pay union dues.

The federal government recently dismissed an investigation into the Indiana Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights earlier this year opened an investigation citing “disturbing reports” from parents of students with disabilities who said their children were forced into “one size fits all” remote learning programs. Ron Hager, managing attorney for education and employment with the National Disability Rights Network, said the federal inquiry into IDOE is unique. Hager said he knows of no other instance in which the U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation into a state department of education over its handling of special education complaints. “So, what this case says is there were complaints to the [Indiana] education agency, that these school districts were taking this one size fits all approach, and the [Indiana] education agency didn't do anything about it,” he said. Hager said his organization has heard from families across

Teachers unions will get their day in court Tuesday as they seek an emergency injunction against a law that would change how union dues are deducted. Senate Enrolled Act 251 was signed into law earlier this year, but takes effect July 1.

Campus tours happen all the time at Purdue University, but one recently was a little different. Instead of fresh-faced high schoolers, they're actively recruiting adults with jobs that allow them to work remotely.

Indiana's unemployment rate ticked upwards in May to reach 4%, compared to 3.9% in April. Although the number of unemployed Hoosiers rose, so did the number of people with jobs or looking for work. The state lost 3,600 jobs in manufacturing – but saw an increase in government, leisure and hospitality jobs.

Indiana abortion providers took another step this week in their effort to strike down many of the state's abortion regulations. The providers argue that a host of state laws unconstitutionally burden people's access to abortion.

Unemployed Hoosiers celebrate after an Indiana judge ordered the state Friday afternoon to restart federal unemployment benefits. That order directs officials to contact the federal Department of Labor “immediately” to restart the agreement.

With the Tokyo Olympics just on the horizon, global sports fans will come together to cheer on their nation in familiar, and unfamiliar, athletic events. Based on a true story and coming off the success of the 2020 documentary of the same name (narrated by Grammy-winning artist Common), A Most Beautiful Thing explores the somewhat unfamiliar sport of rowing, and the determination of a group of Chicago-based high school students who emerge as the first all Black high school rowing team in the nation. An inspiring story of hardships, willpower, and triumph; there's no better way to get inspired just before the biggest athletic event of the year. West Lafayette Public Library Director Nick Schenkel has the review.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita released a document this week called the "Parent Bill of Rights" that, in part, condemns teaching about race in schools. But some say the document is a political tool aimed at stirring division – not supporting parents and students. Rokita's "Parent Bill of Rights" includes ways for parents to interact with school boards and review curriculum and state standards. A spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education said it was not involved in creating the 17-page document that includes explanations of curriculum and state academic standard setting processes, as well as how school boards and the Indiana State Board of Education work. In the document, diversity, inclusion and social emotional learning (SEL) initiatives in schools are framed as avenues for local officials to sneak lessons on race and more comprehensive lessons about the country's history with racism into classrooms. But Rachel Burke, president of the Indiana Parent Teacher

This week on WBAA's Ask The Mayor: a production facility for Tempur Sealy is headed to Montgomery County, along with hundreds of new jobs. How will this investment impact Crawfordsville residents, the local job market, and current and future businesses in the area?

A new study says school choice options in Indiana have saved the state millions in education spending. But researchers say the cost-savings come as the state spends less on education than it did more than a decade ago.

Indiana's current legislative maps are more skewed towards one party – in this case, Republicans – than 95 percent of all legislative maps in the country over the last 50 years.

Indiana may be forced to reinstate federal unemployment benefits following a hearing in Superior Court on Wednesday where groups argued for an emergency injunction to stop the state from ending those benefits. Jennifer Terry, attorney with Indiana Legal Services, told Marion Superior Court Judge John Hanley that federal benefits were like a car that the state has already built and is fueled by money from the federal government. But state leaders decided to throw away the keys. She argued that Indiana employment law mandates that all rights and benefits of federal law must be given to workers and employers. "Frankly judge, these unemployment benefits are keeping the claimants out of poverty," Terry said, pointing to language in state law declaring economic insecurity due to unemployment a "serious menace" to health, morale and welfare to citizens. But the law Terry cited was merely “aspirational language,” said Jefferson Garn, a lawyer from the attorney general's office. The state's

The landscape of collegiate amateur sports is changing with the most recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. The NCAA is facing increasing pressure to change policies following the court's unanimous decision Monday that the Indianapolis-based organization is violating antitrust laws and could change the competitive field of college recruitment.

A controversial zinc oxide manufacturing plant can now start operating in Cass County. The state approved an air permit for Waelz Sustainable Products last week. Concerned residents said they're disappointed.

Federal courts won't expand vote-by-mail in Indiana any time soon after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case on the issue Tuesday.

Indiana's COVID-19 metrics have exponentially improved over the last several months. Last week, the state hit record lows for confirmed positive cases.

The initial fate of a major provision in Indiana's newest anti-abortion law will be decided soon.

Everything from Lego figures, chimpanzees, and even pizza have successfully made it into space but Purdue University researchers are trying to crack a mystery that has long plagued NASA: how to make a refrigerator work in zero gravity.

Starting next week, the Indiana Department of Insurance will have a new commissioner for the first time in more than a decade.

Indiana just designated two areas – one on the border of Louisville and the other in north central Indiana – as "talent regions." It means local agencies are planning ways to turn existing residents into skilled workers while also attracting outside talent to fill local jobs.

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor: Indiana’s federal unemployment pandemic benefits end next month, as Gov. Eric Holcomb underlines unfilled jobs across the state. How do Crawfordsville employers and potential employees view the state of the job market, and what’s the most accurate way to gauge how and why hiring seems more difficult?

The Indiana NAACP wants investor-owned utilities in the state to offer community-owned solar programs.

The 47th Annual Round the Fountain Art Fair takes place Saturday, May 29th from 9 am to 4:30 pm on the Courthouse Square in downtown Lafayette. Ruthie Shook and Keith Austin, who sit on the committee for the art fair, recently talked to WBAA’s Greg Kostraba about the event.

Indiana Senate Democrats are renewing their calls for increasing the state’s minimum wage as typically lower-wage businesses like restaurants say they can’t hire enough workers.

A group of Indiana faith leaders has teamed up with IUPUI to provide free, anonymous lead testing kits in Indianapolis, Muncie and, eventually, statewide. The program aims to break down barriers for Black, Brown and other communities of color, and lower-income communities who are more likely to be exposed to lead at home.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is in Israel Tuesday and Wednesday, visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders.

Indiana will award a group of eight electric utilities more than $5.5 million to set up charging stations for electric vehicles across the state. The money comes from the settlement with Volkswagen over its Clean Air Act violations.

Indiana will elect a new state treasurer next year. And a county Republican Party official became the first to officially throw his hat into the ring Monday.

Indiana’s unemployment rate is 3.9 percent for April, remaining unchanged from the month before. The data is preliminary, but may show a slight slowing in economic recovery from the ongoing pandemic.