Protecting Firefighters from PFAS, Economic Report Card, Scholarship for Teacher Shortage, Commercial Flights at Purdue, Charter School Renewal Terms

State legislators passed two laws aimed at protecting firefighters from toxic PFAS (PEE-fass) this year - one requires fire stations to buy PFAS-free gear and another sets up a pilot program to test firefighters’ blood for the chemicals. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce just released its economic report card - Indiana improved in some key economic areas, but in many areas, that improvement is being outpaced by other states. The Commission for Higher Education expanded a statewide Educator scholarship to reduce Indiana’s teacher shortage. Purdue University officials announced the school’s airport will begin hosting commercial flights starting in April of 2024. Some charter schools in Indianapolis have received 15 year renewal terms. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit https://wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily. Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Darian Benson, Abriana Herron, Drew Daudelin and Kendall Antron with support from Sarah Neal-Estes.