Indiana will move to its final reopening phase on Saturday, with one big caveat -- the statewide mask-wearing order will remain in effect.

Gov. Eric Holcomb's statewide mask mandate and six months of other coronavirus restrictions has stirred discontent among conservatives, complicating his front-runner campaign against underfunded Democratic challenger Woody Myers.

Holcomb also requested businesses and residents across the state to lower their flags to half-staff in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Indiana won't participate in the payroll tax deferral for state workers offered by President Donald Trump last month.

The debate over how and when schools should reopen for in-person teaching continues across the country. Unlike leaders in other states, Gov. Eric Holcomb has been reluctant to issue orders for public health data to dictate when a school building can open, or if it should close.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Woody Myers wont say who he is considering to appoint as the first state superintendent of public instruction since the law was changed, but on Saturday he described the main qualification as an expert public school educator.

Gov. Eric Holcomb extended Wednesday the statewide face mask order that he first issued a month ago aimed at slowing the coronavirus spread.

The state will stay in its current phase or reopening -- Stage 4.5 -- for at least another month. That means, for instance, restaurants can only be at 75 percent capacity, while bars, nightclubs and tourism sites are at 50 percent.

The political action committee tied to the largest teachers union in Indiana is not endorsing a candidate in the race for governor.

Members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus say Gov. Eric Holcomb's announced steps on addressing racial inequity are a start -- but still far from what's necessary to fix the state's pervasive problems.