(Lauren Chapman / IPB News)
Noon Edition airs on Fridays at noon on WFIU.
Monroe County dropped into the blue advisory on the state’s COVID-19 map this week – indicating the lowest level of viral spread.
The drop in cases is reminiscent to last spring and summer, when the state last experienced low levels of spread.
And having met its goals for low community COVID spread , the county lifted its mask mandate this month.
Indiana’s unemployment rate fell to 2.4 percent in January– the lowest rate in the Midwest. But the state’s labor force participation rate hasn’t moved much and isn’t on par with national numbers.
While low COVID-19 spread has officials optimistic for further economic recovery, inflation remains high and economists don’t expect it to fall anytime soon.
This week on Noon Edition, we’ll talk with business owners and local economic experts about how they are adapting to this next stage of the pandemic and how they’ve been affected by recent economic trends.
You can follow us on Twitter @NoonEdition or send us questions for the show at news@indianapublicmedia.org.
Note: This week, our guests and hosts will participate remotely to avoid risk of spreading COVID-19.
Guests
Jeff Mease, CEO, One World Enterprises
Gabe Gloden, managing director, Cardinal Stage
Eric Spoonmore, president, Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce