The University of Evansville will cover 100% of undergraduate tuition and fees for eligible Indiana students beginning next fall. Students in the Indiana 21st Century Scholars program or from families earning $60,000 or less will also receive $2,500 annually for educational expenses, or up to $15,000 toward on-campus housing and meals for those with the greatest financial need. The university is providing more than $27 million in scholarships and grants this year and has recently expanded dual-credit and transfer opportunities. The initiative comes as college-going rates have declined sharply in Vanderburgh County and across Indiana.

Indiana’s nonprofit sector employs one in 10 paid workers and accounts for 10% of state payroll, making it a significant part of the economy rather than merely a support system. A 2026 analysis found that 363 United Way of Central Indiana-funded nonprofits directly employed 19,205 workers, supported another 7,279 jobs, and contributed more than $2.34 billion to Central Indiana’s GDP in 2025. Nonprofits also address barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, caregiving, food access, and workforce training, while providing rapid community responses during crises such as flooding. Businesses are encouraged to engage nonprofits through funding, expertise, volunteering, networking, and listening, with nonprofit leaders included from the outset of Indiana’s workforce and economic-development planning.

Farmer optimism improved, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rising nine points to 135. For the first time since June 2025, more producers expected their operations to be financially better off in a year than worse off. Despite this optimism, farmers remain reluctant to make major capital investments, largely because of high input costs, weak crop and livestock prices, and elevated interest rates. Expectations for farmland values also strengthened, while producers increasingly emphasized strategic planning and potential uses of artificial intelligence. About half of respondents believed the United States was moving in the right direction, though that remained well below late-2025 levels.

Indiana has completed the approach bridges and roadways for the I-69 Ohio River Crossing in Evansville, following Kentucky’s completion of its approach work in Henderson. The elevated approaches will provide all-weather access for crews constructing the main bridge across the Ohio River, which is expected to begin construction in spring 2027 and open to traffic in 2031. A contractor is due to be selected by the end of the year through a design-build process. The new bridge will use electronic tolling beginning in 2032, while officials continue discussing the future of the existing U.S. 41 bridges.

Sen. Jim Banks is urging the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy to select Grissom Air Reserve Base and the surrounding Grissom Aeroplex in north central Indiana as the academy’s permanent home. He cited the site’s connection to astronaut Gus Grissom, its available classroom, housing and training capacity, and its 12,501-foot runway. Banks also argued that Indiana’s universities, aerospace and defense industries, advanced-manufacturing workforce, and 21 companies supplying NASA’s Artemis program could support the academy’s mission. The commission, chaired by Jared Isaacman, must recommend an academy framework and location to President Donald Trump within 120 days of the order establishing it.

Michigan City-based DwyerOmega has acquired Lenexa, Kansas-based SOR Controls Group in a deal with undisclosed financial terms. The acquisition adds SOR’s pressure, temperature, level and flow instrumentation businesses and brands to DwyerOmega’s global measurement and control technology portfolio. SOR, founded in 1946, serves power generation, energy infrastructure, chemical processing and water treatment, while DwyerOmega operates under the ownership of Arcline Investment Management.

Parcl Labs data indicates that sellers are losing leverage in parts of Texas, Florida, Colorado, and the broader Mountain West as inventory growth outpaces demand. Austin, San Antonio, Tampa, Dallas, Denver, and Colorado Springs show elevated seller motivation, frequent price cuts, and year-over-year price declines, while markets such as Rochester, New York, remain tight and seller-friendly. The combination of a high Motivated Seller Index, excess supply, and falling prices may give buyers and real estate investors greater negotiating power, but the analysis cautions that taxes, insurance, crime, employment, development, and other local conditions must be evaluated before purchasing.

The Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium will hold a job fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday to recruit full-time, part-time and seasonal workers ahead of the Indianapolis Colts season and other events. Available roles include event supervision and administration, concessions, security, event setup, housekeeping, gate staffing and carpentry. Hilton, Reliable Staffing, Best Security, Sodexo Live and the Teamsters Union will also participate, with interviews and some on-site hiring available.

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved a revised performance-funding formula seeking to restore state funding incentives for public colleges and universities. The formula prioritizes on-time degree completion, affordable tuition, credentials for high school students and financial-aid recipients, and alignment with workforce needs, including work-based learning. Performance funding was eliminated in the last budget amid fiscal concerns, but state reserves are now nearing $4 billion. The proposal must receive final approval from the State Budget Committee before the next legislative session.

The Trump administration imposed additional tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on exports from 60 economies, citing inadequate enforcement of bans on goods made with forced labor. Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and China rejected or questioned the claims, with several governments warning that the duties raise costs and undermine trade. Chinese exporters say the impact is currently limited, although some have shifted sales toward Europe. Experts believe the tariffs may be more legally durable and less disruptive than earlier measures because of lower rates and broad product exemptions, but they are still expected to increase prices and uncertainty, with further duties potentially coming over alleged excess capacity.