The state of Indiana is launching a public service campaign to urge Hoosiers to wear a mask when in public to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Indiana will largely press pause on its reopening plan instead of moving to the final phase this weekend.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created to help small businesses in response to the coronavirus was set to expire Tuesday. According to some advocates, most businesses owned by people of color did not get the chance to take full advantage of the program.

The new law aimed to prohibit people from requesting money within 50 feet of sites such as ATMs, business and restaurant entrances, public monuments or the location of a financial transaction, which includes parking meters.

The 2020 legislative session ended in March but many of the major education and health care measures passed by the state legislature go into effect on Wednesday.

Many Hoosiers who are unable to pay their energy bills won't face shutoffs for another 45 days. On Monday, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission ordered some utilities to continue the moratorium on shutoffs through Aug. 14.

The state has approved Duke Energy's rate increase, but for less than half as much money as the utility had requested. The utility had asked for $395 million last July and was approved for $146 million.

Indiana BMV branches began to re-open in May, with a full re-opening earlier this month to walk-in customers. Now, those late fees will also resume

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to deny the request by utilities, who had said they needed to recover millions of dollars in lost revenue over the last few months as businesses closed their doors and factories cut hours and used less electricity.

The reenergized movement against racial inequality has amplified the voices of Black candidates, in some cases pushing the political debate over race into Republican-leaning areas.