Attorney General Todd Rokita Leads 7 States Concerned About Target’s Anti-child, Anti-Parent Campaign For ‘LGBTQIA+ Pride’
Attorney General Todd Rokita is leading 7 states expressing legal concern that Target Corp.’s extremist “LGBTQIA+ Pride†campaign is damaging states’ efforts to safeguard citizens.
“We work daily to protect children and uphold parental rights,†Attorney General Rokita said. “In my role, I defend Indiana laws focused on these very priorities. Further, we look out for our individual states’ economic interests as Target shareholders.â€
In a letter, Attorney General Rokita and the other states advise Target to stop promoting and selling potentially harmful products to minors.
Target has marketed girls’ swimsuits with “tuck-friendly construction†and “extra crotch coverage†for male genitalia.
It also has sold merchandise produced by the self-declared “Satanist-Inspired†brand Abprallen, which is known for designs that glorify violence.
Target has sold items featuring the phrase “We Bash Back†with a heart-shaped mace — a heavy club typically having a metal head and spikes — in the trans-flag colors. Another design includes the phrase “Transphobe Collector†alongside a skull. Yet another product features skulls beside a pastel guillotine labeled as a “Homophobe Headrest.â€
Following publicity over its decision to market such items, Target suffered a drop in sales and stock price.
“Transanity doesn’t sell,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Let’s all unite around pride in America instead of falling into the trap of dividing along lines of identity politics.â€
Attorney General Rokita’s full letter is attached.
UE Celebrates Successful 2023 Summer Camp Season
EVANSVILLE, IND. (07/06/2023) The University of Evansville (UE) is proud to announce a successful conclusion of the 2023 summer camps. The University hosted an exciting week of Pride, Art, STEM, Music, and Dance camps, which drew in a remarkable total of approximately 200 enthusiastic campers.
Throughout the week, campers had the opportunity to explore their passions and develop new skills in a variety of fields. The Pride and Dance camps, which offered a residential experience, had an attendance of nearly 50 campers. Meanwhile, the Art, STEM, and Music camps attracted an average of 125 to 135 campers daily, providing an engaging and enriching experience for all participants.
The highlight of this summer camp season was the highly anticipated Showcase, which took place in Neu Chapel on Friday, June 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This event provided campers with a platform to display their creativity and showcase the knowledge and abilities they had acquired throughout the week.
The Showcase brought in 250 family members and friends who gathered to support and witness the incredible works of art, scientific projects, musical performances, and dance routines created by the campers.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and the talent displayed by our campers during this summer season,” said Apryl Weatherford, Director of Youth Programs. “The Showcase was a testament to their creativity, passion, and growth they experienced throughout the week. We take immense pride in each and every one of them.”
Collaborative robots galore at Vincennes University showcase in Lebanon
LEBANON, Ind., July 6, 2023 – The Vincennes University Gene Haas Training and Education Center was buzzing with Indiana educators taking in all the amazing things collaborative robots can do. To help career and technical education teachers and Early College faculty from across the state discover the benefits of the emerging technology, VU hosted a Collaborative Robotics Showcase on June 28 in Lebanon.
The showcase was a unique opportunity for high school teachers to learn more about training the skilled workers of tomorrow and the pivotal role cobots play in moving Indiana businesses and industries forward. The event brought together CTE instructors, VU faculty and staff, and employees of the Carmel, Indiana-based Telamon Robotics.
VU leads the largest cobot educational project in the United States. It has an arsenal of 42 cobots at the Center for Applied Robotics and Automation on the Vincennes Campus, VU Jasper Campus, Gene Haas Training and Education Center, and partner high schools, all supported by an $8 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant.Â
“True to its trailblazing traditions, Vincennes University has brought to the state of Indiana the largest collaborative robotics educational initiative of the nation with state-of-the-art equipment and courses designed to prepare students, professionals, and companies alike for the digital manufacturing era that is upon us,†Director of the Center for Applied Robotics and Automation Paulo Dutra e Mello said. “In its latest phase, VU’s program is now selecting high schools and CTEs to take part of this initiative that will cement Indiana’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing for years to come with well-paid professionals, thriving businesses, and communities.â€
According to a recent survey report by Conexus Indiana and the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, 51 percent of Indiana manufacturers expect to adopt cobots in the next five years.
The showcase featured many cobots performing various tasks, including welding, stacking boxes, and loading and unloading a machine.
The demonstrations impressed River Forest High School Industrial Maintenance and Industrial Arts Teach Karl Pineda. He envisions students learning to program cobots and preparing for jobs of the future.
“I saw a lot of opportunities for young students to get involved in the manufacturing industry,†Pineda said. “I saw huge advantages of cobots and automating processes. I can see VU’s investment with cobots will deliver good results to Indiana and the U.S. economy.â€
Cobots are an extension of a human worker more so than a replacement. They perform repetitive and mundane work in a shared space while humans execute the more complicated tasks. The advanced technology is used in various industries, including manufacturing, medical, and aviation, and can create new jobs.
“You are looking at the future,” said Area 31 Career Center Precision Machining Instructor Greg Hill.Â
He sees cobots and demand for new skills as opportunities for students to gain an edge in today’s competitive career landscape.
“This is another way of increasing a worker’s worth,†Hill said. “Your employability goes up.â€
USSSA GREAT LAKES NATIONAL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO EVANSVILLE
Beginning Tuesday, July 11 through Saturday, July 15, Deaconess Sports Park, Newburgh Girls Softball Complex, and Newman Park Athletic Complex in Henderson, KY will host the 2023 USSSA Fast Pitch Great Lakes National Championships. This year’s tournament boasts 175 teams of fast-pitch softball players from around the country, ranging in ages from eight to 18, and will attract nearly 6,000 athletes and visitors to the area.
“We are thrilled to bring the USSSA Great Lakes Nationals back to Evansville, Indiana. We’ve united a passion for the game with a city that embraces sportsmanship and hospitality. This year’s tournament will witness fierce competition, skill and teamwork as we proudly showcase the indomitable spirit of the softball community,†said Tim Foster, USSSA Tournament Director.
Great Lakes National Championships is the largest tournament hosted at Deaconess Sports Park in 2023. The event is expected to generate over 2,300 hotel room nights and nearly $2 million in economic impact for Evansville and the surrounding area.
An opening ceremony will be held Monday, July 10 from 3 PM – 6 PM at Garvin Park and Deaconess Aquatic Center. Teams will convene to be welcomed by local vendors, enjoy music, swimming, pin trading, and celebrate the kick-off of the tournament. The opening ceremony will also precede the first of three USSSA Pride games to be held at Bosse Field. The USSSA Pride is a member of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league and will play the Texas Smoke for a three-game series July 10, 11 and 12.
For more information, visit the tournament website at:infastpitch.usssa.com/event/usssa-great-lakes-nationals-2/.
What: Â USSSA Fast Pitch Great Lakes National Championships
When: Tuesday, July 11 – Saturday, July 15, 2022
Where: Deaconess Sports Park (4300 Heckel Road, Evansville) Â Newburgh Girls Softball Complex (5433 South Vann Road, Newburgh)Â Newman Park Athletic Complex (1020 Madison, Henderson, KY)
Tickets: Day passes: $15/adults and $10/seniors Weekend passes: $40/adults and $25/seniorsAges 10 and under are free
Support All The Democratic Candidates At The 2023 Poker Run!
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Registration/Scorecard Pickup Participating locations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Ruby McGlown was elected as the Pigeon Township Trustee on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at a caucus held by the precinct committeepersons in Pigeon Township. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Crushers outlast Otters in series finale
The game start time was delayed by an hour due to rain and then amounted to the Otters’ first three hour nine-inning game of the season, ending past 11 PM local time. The loss meant Evansville suffered their first time being swept this season.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the eighth, the Otters mounted a rally. John Dyer led off with a base hit. Jake Green would later follow with a single and Bryan Rosario walked to load the bases.
Noah Myers grounded a ball to the Crushers’ second baseman, who threw the ball away – scoring two runs to tie the ballgame.
The Crushers responded in the bottom of the eighth. A leadoff base hit started the inning. The Crushers runner stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. A two-out wild pitch scored the game-deciding run.
The story early in the game was one-run innings. Jomar Reyes answered the Crushers’ first run of the game with a 351 foot solo home run to left field in the second inning. Evansville took a temporary lead on a Dakota Phillips RBI single in the third.
Lake Erie tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third before taking the lead with one run in the fourth and adding insurance with a run in the sixth.
James Krick provided key relief for the Otters, pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Jhon Vargas took the loss for Evansville, allowing three runs over four and two-thirds with four strikeouts.
Evansville received hits from eight different players and worked six walks but left 11 runners stranded.
Evansville returns home this weekend for a three game series with the Windy City Thunderbolts before the All-Star Break. Friday night’s first pitch is slated for 6:35 PM CT as part of Old National Bank Employee Appreciation Night.
All home and road Otters games this season are televised on FloSports with audio-only coverage available for free on the Evansville Otters YouTube page.
The Evansville Otters are the 2006 and 2016 Frontier League champions.
Peter Funk named Assistant Coach/Chief of Staff for UE Men’s Basketball
Funk joins the Purple Aces from Valparaiso
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Peter Funk has been named the Assistant Coach/Chief of Staff for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team in an announcement from Purple Aces head coach David Ragland.
“I am very excited to announce the addition of Peter Funk to our coaching staff. Peter is as well rounded of a young coach as I have had the pleasure of being around,†Ragland said. “Peter is extremely relational to everyone he encounters, especially student athletes which is huge in our program. He is also knowledgeable of the game of basketball and has a strong ability to clearly communicate instructions with players. I have known Peter since he was a student manager while I was on staff at Valpo. I have had the opportunity to watch him grow in this profession as a GA and most recently the Director of Basketball Operations all at Valpo.â€
Funk brings a familiarity of the Missouri Valley Conference as he joins the UE staff from Valparaiso. As the Director of Basketball Operations for the Beacons from July of 2021 until May of 2023, he performed a multitude of duties with the program. When it came to game-planning, he oversaw the scouting, facilitation and development of opponent scouting reports.
He played a vital role in their recruiting efforts, overseeing aspects of the process for both domestic and international recruits. Along those lines, he facilitated and organized on-campus recruiting visits and presentations. When it came to the day-to-day operation of the Valpo program, Funk was instrumental in multiple different ways. He was responsible for organizing team travel, overseeing player academics, putting together the daily team and staff schedules, working with student managers, serving as the liaison to compliance and more.
“Peter will assist with our offensive game plan while also serving as our chief of staff. As our chief of staff, Peter will oversee our staff’s administrative duties and assist when needed,†Ragland continued. “With the new rule changes, men’s and women’s basketball staffs are allowed to add additional staff members to assist in on court coaching and some recruiting responsibilities. Peter will have a heavy hand in some assistant coaching responsibilities while he oversees the administrative duties for our staff.â€
Prior to his full-time work at Valparaiso, Funk was a graduate assistant from 2019 through 2021. One of the highlights of his time as a GA was being named to TopConnect Graduate Assistant Leadership Academy. Funk worked heavily in player development while gaining experience in areas that he would later to on a full-time bases as the Director of Basketball Operations.
In 2019, Funk received his undergraduate degree from Valpo, earning summa cum laude distinction. He received his Master’s in Sports Administration from the institution in 2021, graduating with Highest Distinction and a perfect 4.0 GPA.