Seymour, IN (May 20, 2022) - Guardian Bikes announced it would build a highly automated factory to move production of its safety-focused kids’ bikes to the United States. Guardian has selected a site at the Freeman Field Industrial Park in Seymour, Indiana, where the company expects to invest nearly $7 million and employ around 100 workers by 2026.
Guardian Bikes mock up of first U.S. bike factory in Seymour, Indiana. Photo: Guardian Bikes
Guardian Bikes makes children’s bikes with a patented Sure Stop brake system that prevents head-over-handlebar accidents, and was featured on Season 8 of Shark Tank. According to the company, approximately 11 million kids’ bikes are purchased in the U.S. annually, and 10.5 million of them (96%) are imported from China.
“Guardian’s vision is to challenge this status quo in every way. We’ve said NO to disposable unsafe kids bikes, and instead, make the safest bikes, ones kids LOVE to ride, and soon will be built right here in the USA,” Brian Riley, CEO and Co-Founder, Guardian Bikes wrote in a company statement.
“By moving production of our bikes to the USA, and then fulfilling our bikes straight from our U.S. factory floor direct to your door, we begin to create a sustainable supply chain system, which allows us to not only be a Guardian for the kids in your family with the safest bikes available for them, but also be a Guardian for the future of the planet they will grow up on,” added Riley.
ABOUT: Guardian Bikes
Founded in Irvine, CA, Guardian moved to Austin, TX in 2020. The company’s transition to U.S. production will happen in several phases: Phase 1 will involve final assembly of parts and frames, which will begin in June of this year.
To support the Seymour, Indiana project, the Seymour Redevelopment Commission has approved a four-year $100,000 ECLIPSE loan. The Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation (JCIDC) developed the ECLIPSE program to provide a cash loan to help offset startup costs based on job creation.
Loan proceeds come from tax increment finance or economic development income tax funds, and the amount of the loan is tied directly to the number of permanent, full-time jobs and wages. The Seymour City Council also approved a $275,000 tax abatement for Guardian’s initial investment for equipment and machinery.
Indianapolis, IN (March 19, 2020) - The Indiana Flower + Patio Show will launch its new Virtual Showroom on March 20. While the Indiana Flower + Patio Show was cancelled at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, it will be available through a new online experience.
The Indiana Flower + Patio Show Virtual Showroom is a searchable hub that connects homeowners to create the home of their dreams. This year’s Virtual Showroom features 200-plus vendors, many of whom will offer exclusive show specials and discounts.
The Virtual Showroom will be available starting Saturday, March 20, giving those planning their next project and getting ready for Spring to search exhibitors any time right from their own homes.
In addition to exhibitor show specials there is an opportunity to enter to win a $500 VISA gift card with the Sweet Space Sweepstakes to help consumers get started on their next project.
Beech Grove, IN (March 19, 2021) - Amtrak fans across the country may soon spot a few freshly painted locomotives featuring new anniversary logos rolling down the tracks as America’s Railroad® celebrates 50 years of service this year.
The first of six different commemorative 50th anniversary locomotives has already entered service on the national network.The first of which, P42 #46 in “Phase V 50th,” has already entered service on Amtrak’s national network.
Amtrak trains are being painted to mark 50 years of service. Image courtesy of Amtrak
Each P42 locomotive is being painted and overhauled at the Amtrak Beech Grove shops in Beech Grove, Ind., rolling out over the coming months and entering service across the national network. Employees will also ensure that these locomotives are maintained to high performance and safety standards.
ALC-42 #301 is currently being manufactured by Siemens in Sacramento, Calif. and is expected to be delivered in April to undergo testing in the Northeast Corridor before entering service on the national network.
Among the six locomotives, you can expect to find the following paint jobs:
P42 #46 in “Phase V 50th” — Amtrak’s standard livery for the past two decades, with a special slogan commemorating the company’s 50 years in business;
P42 in “Midnight Blue” — A new paint scheme celebrating the dedication of employees;
P42 in “Phase VI” — The first adaption of the latest Amtrak livery phase on a P42;
P42 in “Phase I” – A rendition of Amtrak’s first-ever livery phase, dating to 1972;
P42 in “Dash 8 Phase III” — The design made for the Dash 8 fleet in the early 1990s, adapted for the first time to a P42 locomotive; and
ALC-42 #301 in “Day 1” scheme — A recreation of the design used for the first day of Amtrak operations on May 1, 1971. Painted on Amtrak’s newest locomotive.
“We chose locomotives already budgeted for new paint as part of our life cycle preventative maintenance program and used the opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone on the most iconic component of our business,” said Amtrak President Stephen Gardner.“The locomotive designs uniquely honor our heritage and our vision of connecting communities, economies and families nationwide.”
Amtrak began service with 184 trains a day on May 1, 1971. The first train departed New York City for Philadelphia shortly after midnight that day. Amtrak continues to prepare for the future. It is completing renovations and expansion at D.C.’s Union Station that will double the station’s concourse capacity. It will take delivery of new, faster Acela trains in 2022.
Amtrak’s long-term goal is tripling passenger capacity and doubling train capacity over the next 20 years.
Indianapolis, IN (November 26, 2020) - Legislative leaders are open to the idea of hiking Indiana's cigarette tax in an effort to reduce the state's 21.8% adult smoking rate, one of the highest in the nation.
But the top Republicans and Democrats in both the Indiana House and Senate recently said any proposal to raise the current $1 per pack cigarette tax must be accompanied by a specific plan for how the additional money will go toward improving public health.
"The pandemic has taught us that poor quality of health, unfortunately, has dire consequences, and we need to figure out ways to improve Hoosier health," said House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers.
At the same time, Huston said his experience as the former chairman of the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee taught him that while increasing the cigarette tax is likely to decrease smoking rates, it also will make some state revenue less reliable.
"The whole genesis of increasing the cigarette tax is it's the one thing, more than cessation programs and other things, that's been shown to reduce smoking," Huston said. "So literally the day you implement a new tax rate is the most amount of money you're going to collect if the policy is successful."
"So you have a declining revenue source and you just have to be thoughtful and manage that appropriately."
House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said that makes it challenging to do innovative things with the money raised by a higher cigarette tax because the revenue will decline in subsequent years. But it's probably still worth doing, he said.
"I just don't want it to go back into the General Fund or something like that. I'd like to really see some concrete programs that we're going to use the money for to improve the health of Hoosiers," GiaQuinta said. "There's a lot of needs out there."
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has recommended boosting the cigarette tax by $2 per pack for a total state tax of $3 per pack.
That would be two cents higher than Illinois' $2.98 per pack cigarette tax. Cigarettes sold in Northwest Indiana still would be a comparative bargain because Cook County ($3) and Chicago ($1.18) each add a local cigarette tax to every pack sold in their jurisdiction.
Indiana Senate President Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, said if the Republican-controlled House endorses a cigarette tax hike — since all tax legislation is constitutionally required to begin in the House — the Republican-controlled Senate would be happy to consider it.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said if lawmakers want to tax smoking to raise revenue, the best course would be to legalize and tax recreational marijuana as most of Indiana's neighboring states, including Illinois, already have done.
"We're going to be on an island out here by ourselves," Taylor said. "The implementation of medical or recreational marijuana in Indiana would raise more money than any cigarette tax that we could ever think about."
Taylor said a tax on legal marijuana would raise money for a variety of state and local needs and save money if Indiana no longer is locking up people nabbed by police with small amounts of marijuana, including substances legally purchased in a neighboring state.
However, even if marijuana legalization somehow were to win General Assembly approval, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has said he opposes legalization as long as marijuana is classified as a prohibited controlled substance by the federal government.
The Legislature is due to convene its four-month annual session January. 4 at the Statehouse in Indianapolis.
Indianapolis, IN (November 11, 2020) - Ring issued a recall Tuesday for hundreds of thousands of its smart doorbells after receiving several reports of the devices catching fire.
The recall affects around 350,000 second-generation Ring doorbells sold in the US and roughly 8,700 more sold in Canada, according to a notice posted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The video doorbells were sold on Ring's website and on Amazon between June and October, according to the notice.
"The video doorbell's battery can overheat when the incorrect screws are used for installation, posing fire and burn hazards," the notice said.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Ring has received 23 reports of its doorbells catching fire and causing minor property damage. The company has also received eight reports of minor burns as a result fires associated with its doorbell.
"The safety of our customers is our top priority," a Ring spokesperson said. "We have and continue to work cooperatively with the CPSC on this issue and have contacted customers who purchased a Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) to ensure they received the updated user manual and follow the device installation instructions.
"Customers do not need to return their devices," the spokesperson said.
Consumer can check whether their Ring doorbells are subject to the recall by entering the serial number printed on the back of the device at on the company's support website.
Oakland, California (November 11, 2020) – Alphabet Inc’s Google will start limiting how many high-quality photos users can store on the company’s cloud back-up service starting next June, it announced on Wednesday, in a move that could help protect profit margins.
“Growing demand for storage” means Google Photos can no longer honor a years-old policy of unlimited capacity for high-quality images, the company said in a blog post. Storage of images, along with files in Google’s document editing services, will instead be capped at a combined total of 15 gigabytes.
“Original quality” images, or incredibly high-resolution copies, were the only ones to previously count against the limit. Google’s plans for additional storage, dubbed Google One, start a $2 a month.
More than 1 billion people use Google Photos each month, but the company estimated fewer than 20% of them will need to upgrade for extra storage in the next three years.
Google has faced eroding profits in recent years as it invests heavily in cloud storage systems without experiencing a related increase in revenue. But the company this year has been aiming to close the gap by adjusting perks of its Google One offering to draw more sales.
Indianapolis, IN (November 9, 2020) - Steak ‘n Shake and its franchisees appear to have closed another 13 locations as the brand continued its pullback during a pandemic that has sapped it of much of its customer traffic.
The Indianapolis-based chain, part of the Biglari Holdings conglomerate, has been shuttering locations at a steady pace as years of sales declined have deteriorated its finances.
The company appears to have closed another 11 locations in the third quarter, while franchisees closed another two, based on Biglari Holdings securities filings. Steak ‘n Shake currently operates 528 locations, including 260 company units, 69 operated by “franchise partners,” and 199 by traditional franchisees.
Some 37 of those 260 company-operated locations remain “temporarily closed,” according to the filings.
Steak ‘n Shake has been permanently closing locations all year due to the pandemic. It started 2020 with 610 units, suggesting 82 restaurants have shut down so far this year, or 13% of the chain.
The closures have come as traffic has taken a nosedive during the pandemic. According to the filing, same-store traffic plunged 54.2% in the third quarter ended Sept. 30. Traffic has fallen 44.6% so far this year.
Same-store sales numbers were not published, but the company has seen steady decreases in recent years that have presumably worsened in recent months during quarantine-related dine-in restrictions.
To combat that, Steak ‘n Shake has been shifting its traditionally full-service business into a counter-service model—a rare shift, yet indicative of the challenges facing traditional dine-in concepts at a time when consumers are taking their food with them.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected our restaurant operations and financial results,” Biglari Holdings said in a filing. The company has been adding equipment in reopened restaurants to shift the restaurants’ model to one that emphasizes counter service and does away with wait staff. Yet details in the earnings report suggest the effort has been "limited."
But, the company noted, “the funds needed for the transition are limited under its current debt agreement.” Steak ‘n Shake has $153 million in debt that Biglari Holdings doesn’t guarantee—and refuses to guarantee.
That has put the chain under some pressure to turn itself around before next March, when the debt comes due. “Absent a resolution with the lenders, Steak ‘n Shake may need to seek refinancing options, which may not be available,” the company said. The pandemic could also limit those financing options.
Steak ‘n Shake has been shifting many of its restaurants to operators who would take ownership in exchange for a fee of “up to 15%” of sales and a split of the remaining profits. The company now has 69 such restaurants run by those franchise partners.
But traditional royalties have plummeted during the pandemic: Franchise royalties and fees fell 33% in the third quarter and are down 31.5% for the first nine months of the year.
Indianapolis, IN (October 31, 2020) - Governor Eric Holcomb signed an executive order Friday extending Indiana's public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic until at least December 1, 2020.
So far, this is the eighth extension of the coronavirus emergency initially declared by Indiana's chief executive March 6, 2020 after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Indiana.
A state law enacted in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks entitles vast authority on the governor when he determines the state has been struck by one or more of 30 potential disasters, including a "public health emergency."
The governor is authorized during a disaster to "employ any measure and give any direction" in accordance with the recommendations of the State Department of Health or local boards of health, both of which have a statutory obligation to "do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease."
Governor Holcomb's directive for residents to wear face masks in public places is among the powers derived from his emergency declaration is one example.
Indianapolis, IN (October 21, 2020) - PayPal Holdings said on today it will allow customers to hold bitcoin and other virtual coins in its online wallet and shop using cryptocurrencies at the 26 million merchants on its network. The new service makes PayPal one of the largest U.S. companies to provide consumers access to cryptocurrencies, which could help bitcoin and rival cryptocurrencies gain wider adoption as viable payment methods.
The San Jose, California-based company hopes the service will encourage global use of virtual coins and prepare its network for new digital currencies that central banks and companies may develop, President and Chief Executive Dan Schulman said in an interview.
“We are working with central banks and thinking of all forms of digital currencies and how PayPal can play a role,” he said.
U.S. account holders will be able to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies in their PayPal wallets over the coming weeks, the company said. PayPal plans to expand the service to its peer-to-peer payment app Venmo and some other countries in the first half of 2021.
The ability to make payments with cryptocurrencies will be available from early next year, the company said.
Other mainstream fintech companies, such as mobile payments provider Square Inc SQ.N and stock trading app firm Robinhood Markets Inc, allow users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, but PayPal's launch is noteworthy given its size.
The company has 346 million active accounts around the world and processed $222 billion in payments in the second quarter.
PayPal’s shares were up 4% at 1418 GMT, set for their best day in a month.
Bitcoin and other virtual coins have struggled to become established as widely used forms of payment despite being around for more than a decade. Cryptocurrencies’ volatility is attractive for speculators, but poses risks for merchants and shoppers. Transactions are also slower and more costly than other mainstream payment systems.
PayPal believes its new system will address these issues as payments will be settled using traditional currencies, such as the U.S. dollar. This means PayPal will be managing the risk of price fluctuations and merchants will receive payments in virtual coins.
“We are going about it in a fundamentally different way to make sure we provide the maximum amount of safety to our merchants,” Schulman said.
PayPal's service comes as some central banks have announced plans to develop digital versions of their currencies, following a Facebook-led FB.O cryptocurrency project Libra in 2019, which was met by strong regulatory pushback..
PayPal was among the founding members of this project but dropped out after a few months.
PayPal has secured the first conditional cryptocurrency licence from the New York State Department of Financial Services. The company will initially allow purchases of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies called ethereum ETH=BTSP, bitcoin cash BCH=BTSP and litecoin LTC=BTSP, it said.
PayPal is teaming up with cryptocurrency firm Paxos Trust Company to offer the service.
Marion County, IN (September 25, 2020) - Today, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Dr. Virginia Caine, Director of the Marion County Public Health Department provided an update of Marion County restrictions on various activities and current COVID-19 data.
One restriction that won't ease up is the current requirement that taverns, nightclubs and restaurants all close at midnight.
Starting on Monday, September 28, the following changes go into place:
Restaurants, taverns, nightclubs and food establishments can have up to 50 percent indoor capacity and 100 percent outdoor capacity.
Restaurants and taverns will continue to be closed at midnight.
Museum, cultural sites, music venues and other similar businesses are now able to open to 50 percent capacity.
Gyms, fitness centers and similar businesses can also expand to 50 percent capacity.
Live entertainment can resume at taverns, clubs and performance venues with certain social distancing precautions in place. A 10-foot buffer should be maintained between the stage and audiences, as well as audiences social distancing themselves.
Assisted living facilities may be open to indoor visitation.
Funeral homes and churches can have indoor services at 75 percent capacity.
Outdoor services can operate at 100 percent capacity.
Mayor Hogsett said the seven-day moving average rate for all tests has fallen from 5.6 percent at the beginning of the month to 4.8 percent as of Thursday, Sept. 24.
Indianapolis, IN (September 24, 2020) - Indiana's six-month effort to combat the coronavirus by restricting personal liberties and business operations is coming to a close.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Wednesday he will sign an executive order moving the state to Stage 5 of his five-stage Back on Track reopening plan for at least a three-week period.
At Stage 5, all businesses may reopen to full capacity, including restaurants, bars and nightclubs; gyms, entertainment and cultural destinations may operate at 100% capacity; and there no longer are any attendance limits at sporting events, conventions or community gatherings — absent more stringent local or industry requirements.
The governor still is directing Hoosiers to wear masks, or another face covering, when they are unable to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other people in public places, and businesses can continue requiring every person entering their premises to wear a face mask.
In fact, Holcomb credited voluntary Hoosier compliance with his July 24 mask order for making it possible for Indiana to fully reopen ahead of its neighboring states.
"I know no one wants to wear a face mask. I mean, this is different, especially for Americans and Hoosiers. I get it. It's not my preference either," Holcomb said. "But it's not my preference that the pandemic is on top of us either and follows us around."
"And while our numbers are tracking in the right direction, enabling us to further open up, it's because of this,” Holcomb said while holding up a cloth face mask during his weekly COVID-19 press conference in his Statehouse office.
According to the State Department of Health, Indiana is conducting approximately 15,000 COVID-19 tests per day, with a seven-day positivity rate of just 3.9%.
Data show hospitals have sufficient capacity to treat COVID-19 infections and a force of contact tracers is alerting Hoosiers who have been in close proximity to anyone confirmed to have the coronavirus.
"We have been very Steady Eddie, very methodical, about this. Very data driven. And that's how we'll continue to be," Holcomb said.
At the same time, Holcomb is encouraging Hoosiers to continue doing their part to minimize the potential spread of the virus by wearing masks, regularly washing their hands and routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
He's also asking restaurants and bars to ensure all their customers are seated, and not standing, as well as continuing to follow social distancing practices, even if it means operating at slightly less than full capacity.
"We like the path that we're on, the direction that we're moving," Holcomb said. "But we really have to just underscore how important it is for our citizens and our businesses to continue to make those adjustments and operate in a very safe manner."
"It has a huge impact beyond your personal space."
The governor's order does not immediately change the capacity and spacing restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Indiana's 13 casinos.
Sara Tait, executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, said her agency will review Holcomb's forthcoming executive order and listen to gaming industry leaders on how they propose moving forward with steps like reopening poker rooms, given the governor's recommendation that businesses continue promoting social distancing in their operations.
The governor's Stage 5 announcement came exactly six months to the day of his unprecedented March 23 executive order commanding Hoosiers to stay home, except for "essential" purchases and employment, following the initial spread of COVID-19 in Indiana.
Dr. Woody Myers, the Democratic candidate for governor, said it's wrong for Holcomb to take Indiana to Stage 5 when the state needs "more vigilance, not less."
"It was only recently that Indiana had the highest one day total of cases reported since the beginning of the pandemic. With the arrival of autumn, public health experts are warning we can soon expect a significant increase of new COVID-19 cases," Myers said.
"The pandemic isn't going away anytime soon — Gov. Holcomb's decision today is simply wrong."
Washington, D.C. (September 15, 2020) - Amtrak President William Flynn has told members of Congress that the company needs a $4.9 billion appropriation for fiscal 2021 to avoid employee furloughs and reduced long-distance train frequencies planned for October.
Flynn, Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews, and labor officials representing the Transport Workers Union and Transportation Communications Union testified Tuesday at the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Rail Subcommittee hearing titled, “Amtrak’s response to COVID-19.”
Amtrak CEO William Flynn testifies during Wednesday's online House hearing on Amtrak's response to COVID-19.
Amtrak declined to provide the figure needed to avoid the job and service cuts to Capitol Hill staffers until late last week, despite requests from elected officials in June [see “Senators seek more details on Amtrak service, job cuts,” Trains News Wire June 29, 2020.
That drew sharp criticism in the opening statement from subcommittee chairman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) for “just now submitting their amended FY21 supplemental request to Congress less than one month before the current fiscal year expires and Amtrak plans to implement these furloughs.”
If Senate and House conferees don’t come up with the $4.9 billion (which includes the $2 billion Amtrak originally asked for in its annual Grant and Legislative Request in February), Flynn told Lipinski that with a “cash burn at nearly $250 million a month right now, we would have to make very dramatic reductions across the company to stave off bankruptcy.” He added that this would include “substantial reduction in all services and perhaps some elimination of some long-distance services if that’s the cash burn we’re having with no supplemental funding.”
In questioning from U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), Flynn repeated management’s previous assertions that in fiscal 2019, “we were generating a surplus on our Northeast Corridor — essentially a break-even level of operation in our state-supported network, but the operational subsidy fundamentally underpins the long-distance services. So the vast majority, if not all, of that subsidy, if we were to do it on a service line basis, would be on the long-distance service.”
Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews pushed back against Flynn and the assertion by Babin and four other GOP lawmakers that Amtrak is required to make a profit.
“It is not — it is only required to minimize subsidies,” Mathews said. “A conversation about (Amtrak) profit ignores the benefit that communities receive.” In his opening statement, he unveiled research that quantifies by long-distance route exactly what those benefits are.
The document lists the direct and indirect economic impact of daily service, and the negative effects when four of seven weekly departures are eliminated.
The model, developed by the Rail Passengers Association with the help of Transportation 4 America, contends that the cuts will result in a “$2 billion bomb on ‘Flyover Country.’” It is available here.
Other revealing exchanges during the session:
— Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) raised concerns about aspects of Amtrak’s accounting methodology, such as considering taxpayer-funded state payments as revenue and not including depreciation in operating results.
— Flynn said that there were no plans to furlough any employees at the Beech Grove Heavy Maintenance Facility, and in fact Amtrak had to hire essential workers after some employees decided to take the company-wide buyout offer.
— Acela lead service attendant Amy Griffin, who testified as Local 1460 president of the Transport Workers Union of America, recounted a July incident in which she had been ordered to continue working after a co-worker tested positive for COVID-19. She eventually was told to quarantine, but then was ordered back to work after 10 instead of 14 days by Amtrak’s medical staff because she showed no symptoms
— Flynn was criticized by several lawmakers for reinstating a 401K retirement plan company match for management beginning Oct. 1 at the same time it counted on receiving bailout money and was laying off 2,000 employees. He defended the decision because it helped the company retain personnel and would not agree to reverse it, but did say Amtrak would withdraw a communications Request For Proposal that allowed outsourced bidders to shift jobs offshore.
--Near the end of session, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told Flynn, “I fully support using money you make on the north end of the Northeast Corridor to provide service to some of those rural areas — the ‘red’ states. Those lines don’t necessarily benefit my district but they benefit the country. … I hope you take very seriously the credibility that you will lose by engaging in these furloughs, and the representational damage that comes to Amtrak management. I’m asking you to reconsider that [because] it is not going to save the day.” Cutting 2000 employees, Lynch said, “is going to reduce service and spiral that bottom-line deficit. You’re going to lose the faith of members of Congress like me, who are behind you, because of this decision.”
Video of the entire 2 1/2 -hour hearing and links to the witnesses’ prepared testimony is below.
Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19
Subcommittee: Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Time: 11:00 AM
Beech Grove, IN (September 12, 2020) - Don’t look for any pumpkin stuffed marshmallows this Halloween, or green trees at Christmas time.
Although Peeps traditionally releases seasonally-shaped marshmallow treats for Halloween and Christmas, due to the coronavirus pandemic, that won’t be possible this year.
Just Born, the family-owned candy manufacturer behind Peeps, Mike and Ikes and Hot Tamales, confirmed that the festive seasonal releases “will not be in stores again until 2021.”
“While PEEPS® Marshmallow Candies, MIKE AND IKE® and HOT TAMALES® would typically be available in fun shapes and packaging sizes for the Halloween and holiday seasons, unfortunately, the seasonal varieties will not be in stores again until 2021,” the company said in a statement.
Due to coronavirus concerns, the company “temporarily suspended production” earlier this year, and “resumed limited production” in May “after making extensive changes in our plant that ensure the safety of our associates.”
Greenwood, IN (September 9, 2020) - Milwaukee Tool, a maker of hand and power tools, storage, and accessories will establish a new tool service hub in Greenwood. Milwaukee Tool will lease a 150,000-square-foot facility on Southtech Drive in Greenwood that will house tool repair and warehousing space. It is expected to be open by March 2021.
“Milwaukee Tool continues to grow, and a new, centrally-located service hub here in Indiana will support the company’s increased demand and strengthen the customer experience,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “Indiana’s advanced manufacturing workforce will be a key asset for this growing company, helping Milwaukee Tool provide high-quality service to its customers and contributing to its mission of continuous innovation and commitment to the trades.”
Pending approval by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) board of directors, the IEDC will offer Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation up to $4.5 million in conditional tax credits and up to $500,000 in training grants based on the company’s plans to create up to 481 new Hoosier jobs.
These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired. The city of Greenwood approved additional incentives.
Milwaukee Tool is currently hiring key management and operations roles for the Greenwood service hub. Interested applicants can apply online. The company plans to create more than 450 new jobs by the end of 2025.
Indianapolis, IN (August 12, 2020) - The Kroger Company, America’s largest grocery retailer, announced Kroger Ship will expand to offer an extended ship-to-home assortment through a marketplace offering of third-party sellers powered by Mirakl, the leading software platform enabling B2C and B2B digital marketplaces.
“Our customers are increasingly turning to our e-commerce solutions provided at Kroger.com for their grocery and household essential needs. To better serve our customers, we’re continuing to invest in technology that enables us to expand our digital services to deliver anything, anytime, anywhere,” said Jody Kalmbach, Kroger’s group vice president of product experience. “Leveraging Mirakl’s best-in-class marketplace solution, we are broadening Kroger’s ship-to-home capabilities by offering more relevant products for our customers through exciting new partnerships with reputable third-party sellers.”
Kroger Ship, which launched in August 2018, will offer customers an extended aisle of products made available through marketplace partners. Initially, more than 50,000 additional items will be available to customers across multiple categories, including natural and organic, international food, specialty items, housewares and toys.
“Kroger has long been a retail giant, and by integrating an online marketplace into its leading eCommerce experience, Kroger is continuing to lead from the front,” said Adrien Nussenbaum, CEO and Co-founder of Mirakl. “It’s clearer than ever that digital marketplaces are the foundation of the next generation of commerce, and we look forward to supporting Kroger as it takes advantage of this opportunity.”
Kroger’s marketplace products are expected to launch this fall. Eligible Kroger.com orders earn loyalty rewards like fuel points.
“The expansion of our Kroger Ship platform will continue to bring together our industry-leading customer insights and merchandising data to offer our customers a digital shopping experience that includes staples available in our physical stores as well as products that are exclusive to Kroger.com,” said Stuart Aitken, Kroger’s senior vice president and chief merchant and marketing officer. “As part of our continuing transformation, we look forward to accelerating the development of our e-commerce platform and providing our customers with even more choices.”
Kroger’s strategic investments in e-commerce technology and channels over the past two and half years under Restock Kroger have positioned the company to more effectively respond to the sustained, increased demand of delivery, pickup and ship-to-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marion County, IN (July 23, 2020) - Indianapolis Mayor Hogsett announced new COVID-19 restrictions for Marion County today. The new changes will go into effect tomorrow, July 24.
Masks will remain mandatory. They must be worn in a way that covers the nose and mouth.
Social gatherings cannot exceed 50 individuals, other than religious ceremonies.
Indoor religious ceremonies can operate up to 50% capacity. Outdoor services can continue without restrictions.
Bars and nightclubs that do not serve food will close through at least August 12.
Restaurants will operate at 50% capacity, and all restaurants must close between midnight and 5 a.m.
Personal services such as hair salons and tattoo parlors will be by appointment only.
For K-12 schools, in-person instruction can not begin until August 5.
Gyms will operate at 25% capacity.
No travel restrictions are being made at this time, but travel to states with high virus rates should consider quarantining for 14 days upon returning, the mayor said.
The positive rate in Marion County jumped by 50%. Hogsett said, “Without a response, that trajectory will undo all the hard work we’ve done, have put in, over the past four months.”
Transmission of the coronavirus most often occurred indoors for social occasions, especially the age group 20-30 in gyms, bars and other venues, the mayor said, citing research.
Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced that face masks would be mandatory throughout the state during today's press conference.
Starting July 27, anyone over the age of 8 will be required to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces, commercial entities, transportation services or any outside public spaces where social distancing is not possible.
"The simple act of covering our faces, as odd as it may feel, can help us prevent the transmission of the virus, which is why this is the next prudent step that we as a state need to take," Holcomb said.
In school, masks will be required for any children in third grade or older, as well as faculty, staff, volunteers and anyone else in the school. Masks will also be required for co-curricular and extracurricular activities that do not involve strenuous physical activity.
While not required, it is recommended that children ages 2 to 7 wear a mask as well. While not wearing a mask is considered a Class B misdemeanor, Holcomb said enforcement will not be strict. "Please know that the mask police will not be patrolling Indiana streets," Holcomb said.
Exemptions will be made for the following:
Medical purposes
Strenuous physical activity
Eating and drinking
“I know not everyone will be supportive of this mandate. Compliance and enforcement are always in question. Our approach, if you recall, since Day 1, since the very beginning of this pandemic, has an approach of education, of appealing to one’s civic duty and public good. You might even say public pride and being part of the solution. And it will continue to be.”
Indiana’s mask mandate comes after the neighboring states of Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky begun such mandates. Ohio’s mask mandate begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Beech Grove, IN (July 22, 2020) - Due to the coronavirus pandemic, several businesses have begun to require every customer to wear a mask or some type of face covering before entering their establishment, regardless of whether or not it is required by that county, city or state.
Nearly 40 states now require masks in public places, with Alabama, Arkansas and Colorado adding mandates and Ohio requiring masks in a dozen counties. Individual businesses can choose to institute further restrictions, and the National Retail Federation is encouraging retailers to set nationwide mask policies to protect shoppers and employees.
Here is a list of businesses that have announced that customers at all of their locations nationwide will be required to wear masks or some type of face coverings before entering.
Indianapolis, IN (July 22, 2020) - After passing the 2,000-store marker, Aldi announced Tuesday that it will open over 70 new stores this year. The privately held grocer is on track to become the third largest supermarket chain behind Kroger and Walmart in terms of store count, with 2,500 stores by the end of 2022.
Aldi did not announce where the 70 new stores would be, but it will enter Arizona, its 37th state, later this year, with four new stores in the Phoenix area. Aldi will also open a new regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley, Alabama, to distribute to stores in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.
Aldi has a low-cost business model and boasts that its prices are up to 50% cheaper than traditional supermarkets. Stores, at around 12,000 square feet, are much smaller than a typical US supermarket of 40,000 square feet. More than 90% of the brands Aldi sells are its own private labels.
There are other quirks to the store, too. Shoppers need a quarter to rent a shopping cart. At checkout, cashiers hurry shoppers away, expecting them to bag their own groceries in a separate location away from the cash register.
Aldi opened its first US store in 1976, but in recent years it has invested more than $5 billion to remodel existing stores and to open hundreds of new stores.
Aldi is expanding at a moment when much of the retail industry is in turmoil. The pandemic has forced retailers such as JCPenney into bankruptcy, led to job losses and caused thousands of permanent store closures. A record 25,000 US stores may close this year.
Indianapolis, IN (July 16, 2020) — Walmart is changing up how you pay your bill. You can still use cash, but Walmart is asking customers to pay with credit or debit cards when possible. Here's a statement from Walmart Spokesperson Avani Dudhia:
“Like most retailers, we’re experiencing the affects of the nation-wide coin shortage,” spokesperson Avani Dudhia said. “We’re asking customers to pay with card or use correct change when possible if they need to pay with cash.”
Some self-checkout registers have been converted to card-only registers. Dudhia added that some stores have been moving registers to card-only on an as-needed basis.
The coin shortage was caused due to a supply chain disruption since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, government officials have explained.
This coin shortage won’t last forever. The Walmart spokesperson says their issues won’t either. But in the meantime, you’re being asked to “charge it”.
