Samantha Horton

The NCAA is considering moving all 67 March Madness games to Indianapolis. The organization hopes to consolidate venues to reduce risk during the pandemic.

One in five small businesses in Indiana will have to permanently close by November without another round of federal loans, according to a small business advocacy group. The organization is urging Congress to pass additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funding.

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly is moving to Phase 3 testing of a treatment to prevent COVID-19 after initial success. The next step will be to test the drug at nursing homes where the pandemic has hit hard.

The new trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada went into effect Wednesday. The new agreement doesn’t drastically impact Indiana agriculture, but it is still welcome news to farmers. 

The new United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) is expected to help Hoosier farmers by expanding exports for poultry producers and giving American dairy farmers more access to the Canadian market.

Indiana Farm Bureau president Randy Kron said the USMCA gives farmers some certainty during a time when COVID-19 has hurt supply chains.

Small businesses are still struggling despite federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) is advocating for a bill he helped create that would provide additional help to small business owners financially hit by the pandemic.

Downtown Indianapolis will go this summer without the thousands of game enthusiasts who attend Gen Con. On Tuesday, the tabletop game convention announced it was canceling the in-person event in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tyson Foods is temporarily closing its pork processing facility in Indiana after employees there tested positive for the coronavirus. The shutdown will be felt throughout the agricultural industry in the state.

The National Pork Producers Council estimates losses of at least $5 billion to hog producers due to supply market disruptions from COVID-19.

A survey of farmer sentiment saw its largest drop in March since the monthly survey began in 2015. Most respondents pointed to financial impacts from the novel coronavirus.

The national Ag Economy Barometer saw sharp declines in current and future expectations tracking with other industries feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.