MITCH DANIELS

St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President James Bullard, one of the most hawkish members of the central bank since it started it aggressive rate-hiking campaign, is stepping down.

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he won't seek that state’s open U.S. Senate seat next year, ending weeks of speculation about whether the longtime Republican figure would enter a possibly vicious GOP primary fight with a combative defender of former President Donald Trump.

Congressman Jim Banks of Indiana has launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being given up by fellow Republican Mike Braun.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, file photo, Indiana Gov. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)INDIANAPOLIS Former Indiana Gov. Kernan died at a South Bend health care facility, said Mary Downes, who was his governor's office chief of staff. Kernan, a Democrat, won three elections as South Bends mayor before being elected lieutenant governor with Gov. Kernan lost what was then Indianas most-expensive gubernatorial campaign to Daniels, who had been President George W. Bushs federal budget director and is now Purdue Universitys president.