Effective today, and in support of Governor Eric Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-02 declaring a public health disaster emergency in Indiana due to COVID-19, Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Bob Grennes has waived several Motor Carrier Services (MCS) requirements until May 22, 2020.

The waivers affect:

• Out-of-state motor carriers who are delivering COVID-19 supplies do not need to obtain trip permits or register with the International Registration Plan (IRP) or the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) before entering Indiana. Upon request, drivers must be able to prove they are hauling food, goods, medical supplies, other equipment and supplies to address the public health threat posed by COVID-19. This waiver will expire on May 22, 2020.
• IRP or Base Plate registrations (BPR) expiring on March 31, 2020, or April 30, 2020, will not expire until May 31, 2020. Also, an Indiana-based IRP or BPR registrant may delay a registration renewal and/or payment for registrations effective May 1, 2020, until May 31, 2020.
• Any delayed IRP renewal registrations and/or payments must have an effective renewed IRP registration submitted to DOR by June 1, 2020.
• Indiana-based IFTA licensees that file quarterly motor carrier fuel tax returns may delay the first quarter’s return (ordinarily due April 30, 2020) to May 31, 2020. Also, following IFTA’s recommendation, DOR waives the requirements to display or possess IFTA credentials until May 22, 2020.

Full details are available here or on DOR’s Motor Carrier Services webpage,

Although DOR in-person customer service is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 health emergency, our MCS customer service team continues to provide support by phone and email, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., EST.

To find contact information for specific MCS sections, refer to the contact information listed online.

State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem) encourages Hoosier workers and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic to access recently expanded state and federal resources for help.

Under Indiana’s temporary “stay-at-home” order, many businesses deemed not essential have laid off staff or cannot pay employees while they are shut down.

To help, Gov. Eric Holcomb expanded unemployment coverage to those impacted, including Hoosiers whose work hours were reduced, those under medical quarantine and employees who cannot continue to work because of lack of child care options.

“During this unprecedented time, Indiana along with the federal government are streamlining and expanding assistance to help Hoosiers impacted by the coronavirus,” Davisson said. “Whether you’re a restaurant worker who suddenly lost their job or a small-business owner who had to close your doors, resources are available to help.”

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Hoosiers should file for unemployment insurance if their employment has been interrupted or ended due to COVID-19, and their claim will be evaluated. Individuals must apply for UI benefits online, using a computer or smart phone at Unemployment.IN.gov. For questions, the state asks Hoosiers to review the Frequently Asked Questions, the Claimant Handbook or the online video tutorials before calling the 1-800-891-6499 helpline, which continues to experience a high volume of calls.   

Indiana waived the one-week waiting period for payment of unemployment benefits, and it is retroactive to March 8, 2020. Qualified claimants can typically receive benefits for up to 26 weeks, but this has been extended by an additional 13 weeks. Davisson said thanks to the action of the federal government, unemployed workers who file and are approved will see an extra $600 per week for four months.

Davisson said small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and nonprofits can receive up to $2 million in low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration‘s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses, which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The loan interest rates for small businesses and nonprofits are 3.75% and 2.75%, respectively, with terms up to 30 years.

“Many of our small businesses changed their business models to try to make the best adjustments to remain open,” Davisson said. “To help these business owners and those who have shut down completely, these loans can help keep them from closing permanently so they can eventually return to normal operations.”

Davisson said businesses’ merit rate/tax rate will not be impacted if they lay off employees due to the coronavirus.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today signed two executive orders to aid in the fight against COVID-19.

Executive order 20-14 extends the requirements for bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to stay closed to dine-in patrons until April 6 at 11:59 p.m. They may continue to provide take-out and delivery services.

The Governor expects bars, nightclubs, and restaurants to comply with the directive for the safety of Hoosiers in their communities without the need to call for enforcement measures.

However, the state and local boards of health and the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) have been directed by the Governor to take all available administrative and enforcement actions against establishments that continue to offer in-house dining services, in violation of the governor’s order.

Executive order 20-15 eases government operations including permitting electronic notary services to remotely review and approve documents.

On Tuesday, state health officials say an additional 14 people died in Indiana from coronavirus-related illnesses. This brings the state’s total to 49.

Of the new COVID-19 deaths, five involved Indianapolis residents and four were from Lake County. Elkhart, Decatur, Hancock, Ripley and Warren Counties also reported a death.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases grew by 347 to 2,159. The virus has now been reported in 81 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Marion County continues to have the most new reported cases. The county now has 964 cases.

Additional steps taken by the state today include:

• The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will hold a virtual job fair for more than 1,000 construction and related positions at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 16.

o   To register for the INDOT Virtual Job Fair, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7684424500148015117.

o   All registrants will receive a link to the recording of the virtual job fair whether they are able to participate live or not.

• The Indiana Commission for Higher Education will offer free virtual FAFSA filing help for students and families from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

o   Help will be available through the Commission’s Learn More Indiana social media platforms: Facebook (facebook.com/LearnMoreIN), Instagram (@LearnMoreIndiana) and Twitter (@LearnMoreIN)

To see copies of the executive orders, click here: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces lane closures for pavement operations on U.S. 50 between Shoals and Bedford.

Beginning on or around Friday, April 10, contractors will close a lane of U.S. 50 from U.S. 150 in Shoals to State Road 37 in Bedford for a pavement patch and rehabilitation project. During this operation, workers will patch areas of pavement and then mill and resurface the road.

Lane closures are expected to be in place for about 10 hours per day. During that time, traffic will be restricted to one 12-foot lane controlled by flagging operations. Loads wider than 12-feet should seek an alternate route using the nearest state-maintained routes.

Work is expected to last until the beginning of July depending upon weather conditions. INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

INDOT contractor Three Star Painting Inc. is scheduled to begin work on a $1.7 million bridge painting contract in Jackson, Jennings and Jefferson Counties next week.

Crews will begin work on the S.R. 258 bridge over the East Fork White River, west of Seymour, on or after Monday, April 6. Significant traffic impacts are not expected, but flagging may be necessary at times.

Other structures include S.R. 3 over the Muscatatuck River in Jennings County, S.R. 7 over Middle Fork Creek and S.R. 56 over Indian-Kentuck Creek in Jefferson County.

The contract was awarded in November 2019 and is expected to be complete by October 31, 2020. Motorists should slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather dependent.

Governor Eric J. Holcomb Monday signed an executive order and detailed Indiana’s plan for the anticipated spike in COVID-19 cases.

To see a copy of the executive order, click here: https://www.in.gov/gov/2384.htm

“We see a surge coming and we’re calling in the reinforcements, bolstering Indiana’s capacity to provide additional health care services during this emergency,” said Gov. Eric J. Holcomb. “By eliminating licensing barriers and tapping into the available talent pool of healthcare workers, Hoosiers are staffing up and stepping up to meet this challenge head-on.”

The executive order allows the following professionals who do not currently hold an active license to practice:

• medical professionals who retired or became inactive in the last five years
• medical professionals who hold licenses in other states
• medical professionals who held licenses in other states and retired or became inactive in the last five years
• certain medical students and graduates

These professionals must register with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency via their website at www.in.gov/pla. These professionals will be able to assist in screenings, telemedicine and other basic procedures to allow regularly licensed medical professionals to be on the frontline.

In Indiana, the baseline number of critical care hospital beds is 1,432. As of Monday, hospitals have already taken steps to increase the number of critical care hospital beds to 1,940. Overall, the state’s plan is to double the number, if needed, by taking existing noncritical care hospital beds, recovery rooms, operating rooms and outpatient facilities, turning them into critical care hospital beds.

In Indiana, the baseline number of ventilators is 1,177 ventilators. As of Monday, hospitals have identified another 750 ventilators that can be used for critical care patients. Overall, the state’s plan is to double the number, if needed, by repurposing ventilators from operating rooms, ambulatory care centers, EMS and the Indiana National Guard.

Additionally, the surge plan calls for moving less critical patients to alternate facilities including neighborhood hospitals, medical clinics and state-owned hospitals, such as unopened floors at the NeuroDiagnostic Institute hospital in Indianapolis and the Richmond State Hospital.

If needed, after all of these steps are exhausted, Indiana will be prepared to put patients in alternative facilities. The Indiana National Guard and Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with FEMA, are in charge of these plans.

The state of Indiana has been working on plans related to COVID-19 since January, and each hospital has a disaster plan in place. Planning has become more specific for state health and hospital officials as models of the projected impact of coronavirus became available. Based on those models, Indiana’s patient surge is expected to begin soon and the peak is expected to be mid-April to mid-May.

As director of Ball State University’s costume shop, Emily Ruiz is used to last second alterations. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indiana, she quickly led her team in making medical masks for area nursing homes.

In the last few days, the costume shop in the Department of Theatre and Dance has created several hundred masks from cotton fabric. The team is addressing the needs of the medical community in east-central Indiana. Although the items are not the N95 masks recommended for protection against COVID-19, they offer wearers some protection from infections.

“We went from doing last-second alterations on costumes to knocking these out as fast as we could,” said Ruiz, who has been with the University for the past six years. “Our goal was 500, and we hit are close. Then, our job will be to make as many as we can for as long as we are needed.”

She has stated Project Benny: Masks for Muncie, a group of local stitchers that include Ball State retirees, current employees, students, and members of the community. The effort is part of a national movement of theatrical organizations helping meet a critical need.

 “We have already gone through the costume shop’s materials and are seeking more to keep our group working around the clock,” she said. “The requests keep rolling in. I suspect that we will play a role in helping the medical community for some time.”

Department Chair Bill Jenkins calls the efforts heroic as members of the costume shop, Ball State students, and others rise to the challenge.

“This is a perfect example of the Spirit of Beneficence here at Ball State,” he said. “Emily and her collaborators are showing how our University is about more than educating a student. We serve our neighbors.”

But for Ruiz and other members of Theatre and Dance, their work is much like the moments leading up to the start of a major production – full of high energy. They are taking the energy reserved for those crazy moments before the show starts and pouring it into their work.

“We are used to the hems and trims, coming together at the last second to solve costume problems so that the show goes on,” Ruiz said. “I am glad that we can make a difference.”