Notre Dame to require students to obtain Covid vaccinations
Ahead of the Fall 2021 semester, the University of Notre Dame will require all students to get a COVID-19 vaccine. In a letter to the campus community, university officials announced undergraduate, graduate and professional students will all need to be fully vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. That’s unless they have a documented medical or religious exemption. University spokesperson Dennis Brown says faculty and staff will be “strongly encouraged” to get vaccinated, but as of now, they will not be required to.
Brown County taxes to increase
Property taxes may increase for Brown County residents. This week commissioners approved the first reading of a higher maximum tax rate on a Zoom public meeting that took place Wednesday afternoon. The increase could mean an extra $1.85 a year for a home assessed at $192,000. Commissioner Diana Biddle said the fund pays for the county’s IT expenses, maintenance on buildings, the county’s GIS system, and grounds upkeep, including ADA compliance. The commissioners’ second reading of the proposal is scheduled for April 21st. County council has until August to decide on an actual increase.
Small Business assistance available through state grants
Small businesses that meet the eligibility requirements can apply for reimbursement of qualified business expenses incurred at their Indiana operations between March of 2020, and May of 2021. These qualified expenses include payroll and non-payroll expenses, such as insurance premiums, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, safety investments, and more. The application, along with additional details and instruction, is available at backontrack.in.gov. Eligible small businesses may apply until Dec. 31, 2021, but are encouraged to apply and submit expenses for reimbursement as soon as possible, as grants will be issued in the order they are received until funding is exhausted.