A new Ball State University study finds increasing the minimum wage may have eliminated 160,000 low-paying positions. Director of Ball State's Bureau of Business Research Mike Hicks believes the job losses are likely clustered in rural areas and among young workers, who represent the bulk of minimum wage employees. The legislation to increase the minimum wage passed in July, affecting 26 states. The remaining 24 states were already above the federal requirements.

Governor requesting assistance for 10 more counties

Governor Mitch Daniels is requesting 10 more counties be added to the disaster declaration for last month's severe weather. They are Clark, Crawford, Dearborn, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Pike, Spencer and Switzerland counties. Preliminary assessments indicate the amount of damage in these counties is less than the six counties that have previously been approved for federal aid, but the Governor is hopeful assistance will be provided.

Sluggish holiday shopping season predicted

A Purdue University professor believes retailers are bracing for their worst holiday season in more than 15 years. Richard Feinberg is a researcher with the Purdue Retail Institute and director of the Center for Customer-Driven Quality. He says a preliminary national outlook shows overall sales will be flat or at most two percent above last year. Feinberg says it could be worse in Indiana due to parts of the state hit by auto and financial layoffs.