kokomo

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited several facilities in Howard County.

The READI program gives public money to regions, rather than individual communities. Those regions decide how to use the funding, and housing has been a major focus.

Eleven union auto manufacturing plants will receive a $1.7 billion federal grant to increase production of electric vehicles and parts.

Electric vehicle parts are often less complex than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles. Union leaders worry jobs will be lost in the transition.

Construction already is underway on the companies’ first joint venture factory in Kokomo, which is scheduled to open early in 2025.

For the third week in a row, no Ford, General Motors or Stellantis facilities in Indiana were called to join the picket lines.

In a statement Wednesday, the company said the anticipated layoffs are due to the United Auto Workers' "targeted" strike at an assembly plant in Toledo, Ohio.

The jury deliberated less than 90 minutes Friday night before acquitting 36-year-old Jesse McCartney of Kokomo of all charges in the death of 21-year-old Destiny Pittman.

A 64-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell on Feb. 26. The cause of death is being investigated.

Stellantis said that operations at the plant in Kokomo will resume late Monday after UAW Local 1166 workers voted to ratify the agreement.