A bill that would give Hoosier workers the right to refuse employer-mandated vaccines had its first hearing in a committee Wednesday morning. It would go further than current federal laws and excuse workers based on their conscience.

The Indiana Department of Health said the variant was identified in the state through testing by the state agency's laboratory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but Monday's announcement included no additional information on its discovery in the state.

The Indiana Department of Health announced Monday a new strain of COVID-19 -- which had previously been identified in the United Kingdom -- is also in Indiana.

The Indiana Department of Health reported 502 additional confirmed deaths over the last week. That brings the states total to 8,613 confirmed deaths. The state also reported more than 37,500 new cases in the last week.

On Chicago's Southwest side, a colorful mural pays tribute to Americas essential workers. It features three of the community's very own: Rosalinda, a retail clerk; Javier, a postal carrier and Juan, a butcher shop worker. Underneath their portraits are the words El Corazon de Chicago: The heart of Chicago.

Registration opened to Hoosiers aged 80 and older on Friday, which represents about 4 percent of the population.

Health officials say Marion County is experiencing a bump in cases after the holidays.

In some counties, initial doses have already become available for teachers, while others are still waiting without much information about when they'll get their shot.

Indiana has used less than half of the total vaccine doses it's received so far. But Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver said many more appointments are scheduled through the end of January and no vaccine will be wasted.

The next vaccination steps announced Wednesday come after vaccinations of Indiana health care workers began Dec. 16 and extended to nursing home residents and staffers last week.