THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY VOTE CENTERS FOR MAY 2, 2023
VC-2 Bethel United Church of Christ 3029 N. Green River Rd 47715
VC-5 Calvary Temple Assembly of God 5050 N. First Ave 47710
VC-6 Â Fairlawn United Methodist Church 2001 Parker Dr. 47714
VC-7 St. Lucas United Church of Christ 33 W. Virginia St. 47710
VC-9 Memorial Baptist Church 605 Canal St. 47713
VC-10 Methodist Temple 2109 Lincoln Ave. 47714
VC-11 Caze Elementary School 2013 S. Green River Rd. 47714
VC-12 Glenwood Leadership Academy 901 Sweetser Ave 47713
VC-13 Northeast Park Baptist Church 1215 N. Boeke Rd. 47711
VC-14 Academy for Innovative Studies (AIS) 2319 Stringtown Rd.47711
VC-15 Cedar Hall Elementary School 2100 N. Fulton Ave. 47710
VC-16 Southern Indiana Career and Technical Center (SICTC) 1901 Lynch Rd. 47711
VC-17 St. James West United Methodist Church 3111 Hillcrest Terrace 47712
VC-18 Plaza Park Middle School 7301 Lincoln Ave. 47715
VC-20 Simpson United Methodist Church 2201 W. Illinois St 47712
VC-21 Washington Square Mall 4801 Washington Ave. 47715
ELECTION FOOTNOTES
The Elections for 2023 are for residents living in the city limits of Evansville only.
Previously, a voter was required to vote at the polling place within the precinct they resided. Now, a voter can choose to vote at any Vote Center that is convenient for them.
On Election Day, May 2, 2023, the polls open at 6:00 AM and close at 6:00 PM.
If you need information about a voter’s registration, you can call the Voter’s Registration Office at (812) 435-5223.
For other election questions, you can call the Election Office at (812) 435-5122.
And he absolutely detests the “servant†piece.
That much is made clear by the lengths to which the attorney general will go to prevent the public from knowing what he’s doing and for whom he works. He seems to believe that the voters and the taxpayers are entitled to know nothing about his activities.
Marilyn Odendahl of The Indiana Citizen broke yet another illuminating but devastating story about Rokita the other day. (Disclosure: TheStatehouseFile.com and The Indiana Citizen have a partnership.)
Odendahl reported that the attorney general had hired heavyweight conservative lawyer James Bopp to represent him in a lawsuit. That suit focuses on Rokita’s attempts to keep the public from seeing an inspector general’s report regarding the attorney general’s employment with Apex Benefits.
When Rokita was elected attorney general, he had a lucrative gig with Apex that he was reluctant to give up even though he would be holding public office.
He asked for the inspector general to review the situation. The inspector general did so. Through a staffer, Rokita indicated the inspector general found no ethical violations—but then he also stopped working for Apex.
An Indianapolis resident, Barbara Tully, asked to see the inspector general’s opinion. Rokita refused. Tully sued.
In January, a Marion County Superior Court judge ruled that Rokita had to release the inspector general’s report, but also that the attorney general could redact much of it.
Rokita’s fighting now to prevent the public from reading even a version he can edit himself.
That’s why he brought in Bopp.
Bopp is not just a heavy hitter in socially conservative legal circles. He may be the heavy hitter.
He argued the now infamous Citizens United case before the U.S. Supreme Court that unleashed the floodtide of dark money across the political landscape and turned our elections into combinations of livestock auctions and mudwrestling matches. He also writes much of the legislation restricting reproductive rights in state legislatures all over America.
The fact that Rokita hired Bopp to represent him is one signal that the attorney general is determined—and maybe even desperate—to keep the inspector general’s general from being made public.
Another signal is a change slipped into the state’s budget late in the Indiana General Assembly’s session. A provision calls for informal advisory opinions by the inspector general to any current, former or prospective state employees to be confidential.
It also is retroactive, which means that, if it stands, Rokita can rely on the legislators’ action to continue to hide what the inspector general said.
There’s a great deal about all this that doesn’t smell right.
Among the malodorous parts is the question of who is paying Bopp for his legal services. He told Odendahl that he had a contract with Rokita that called for Bopp to be paid “the incredibly favorable rate†of $200 per hour.
Whether the rate is favorable or not, the question of who is paying Bopp’s fees should be answered. If it’s the taxpayers, they have a right to know that the attorney general has hired outside counsel simply to protect him from personal embarrassment.
But that’s not all that smells about this.
The effort to bury a legislative “solution†to Rokita’s problem in the state’s budget also stinks. The fact that this sneaky provision was made retroactively just increases the stench.
There is an important principle involved here.
If legislators are allowed to rewrite laws retroactively, the potential for mischief and injustice increases dramatically. What would stop lawmakers in the future who face a budget deficit from saying the tax bill you paid in previous years was too low—and rewriting the code to present you with a bill for fresh sums due? What prevents future legislatures from imposing criminal penalties on activity that is legal today?
There must be something in that inspector general’s report that Todd Rokita really, really doesn’t want the public to see. He’s willing to go to extraordinary lengths to keep whatever that report contains from seeing daylight.
But that’s Todd Rokita.
He likes everything about being a public servant but remembering that the attorney general serves the public.
John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. The views expressed are those of the author only and should not be attributed to Franklin College.
Gov. Holcomb commends the Indiana General Assembly for approving the governor’s historic and transformational 2023 Next Level Agenda
May 1, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today lauded the conclusion of the legislative session that enacted his 2023 Next Level Agenda providing transformational changes to the way public health is delivered to Hoosiers, historic investments in K-12 education and workforce, pivotal contribution towards the economic development toolkit and another $500 million dedicated to the successful READI program to enhance the quality of life of Hoosiers in every corner of Indiana.
“First and foremost, we balanced our 10th straight budget which enables us to strategically prioritize key areas in health, education and workforce that will elevate Indiana to the Next Level,†Gov. Holcomb said. “I’m proud of what was accomplished this legislative session and through collaboration and hard work we will be able to make transformational investments that will better the lives of Hoosiers and build a better today and stronger tomorrow.â€
The Indiana General Assembly approved key components of Gov. Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda.
Public Health
Dedicating $263 million over the biennium to fulfill the recommendations of the Governor’s Public Health Commission to improve the health outcomes of Hoosiers by providing the necessary resources and delivery of services.
Of the total, $225 million will directly go toward local public health departments that opt-in to the local/state partnership. The remaining $38 million will be used for state resources to assist local health officials improve health outcomes. This includes integrating public health data and analytics, improving emergency preparedness through EMS training and readiness programs, increasing the state’s strategic stockpile of supplies and promoting childhood and adolescent screenings.
The new legislation will provide $100 million for mental health services and resources to more Hoosiers by expanding mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization units and continuing to offer the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline services.
The state will implement the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among veterans and service members to partner with communities, state agencies and veterans to come up with strategies and a prevention plan.
The state also will strategically invest the more than $500 million the state will receive in the coming years from the national opioid settlement to create more community substance use programs to help those suffering from addiction.
Education and Workforce
K-12
The state will continue to make historic investments in K-12 education with an additional $1.47 billion in tuition support over the next two years. The increase will empower local public schools to reach the goal of achieving a statewide average teacher salary of $60,000.
With the General Assembly’s support, the state will remove a hidden tax on Hoosier parents by eliminating textbook and curriculum fees for more than 1 million students in traditional public and charter schools.
The state will also launch Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide by investing $6 million over the next two years to provide every child high-quality books from birth to age five. State funding will be put toward literacy initiatives to achieve the state’s goal of 95% of third-grade students indicate reading proficiency skills by 2027.
Higher Education
Through legislation, the Commission for Higher Education will implement the governor’s goal of auto-enrolling eligible students in the 21st Century Scholarship Program.
The budget also delivered on the governor’s promise to support first-generation and low-income minority students by dedicating $10 million to Martin University and several other programs with similar initiatives.
Early Learning
Eligibility for On My Way Pre-K will be expanded by raising the income eligibility limits for the programs from 127% to 150% of the federal poverty limit. The governor will simultaneously expand eligibility for Child Care and Development Fund vouchers to provide program access to about 5,000 more lower income working families.
Workforce
The budget delivers on Governor Holcomb’s sustained commitment to provide Hoosiers with more opportunities to obtain the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow by investing $58 million over the biennium in Next Level Jobs Grant programs to benefit employers and employees.
Aligned with the governor’s proposals, the enacted budget provides increases across the state’s adult education ecosystem to offer Hoosiers more opportunities to obtain skills to enter the workforce, including $12 million to reduce waiting lists and expand capacity for adult education training programs as well as $16.3 million to expand adult charter high schools, including the Excel Center.
Economic Development
Thanks to the agreed upon budgets, Indiana will continue its global reach to bring growth to our state by:
Formalizing a deal-closing fund totaling $500 million over the biennium and an additional $250 million-per-year tax credit cap
Establishing an ongoing revolving fund of $150 million for site acquisition efforts
Doubling resources for the Manufacturing Readiness Grant Program
Appropriating dollars to complete four capital projects: the new Westville Correctional Facility, new state archives building, co-location of the state’s blind and deaf schools and a new state park inn at Potato Creek State Park
Investing in Indiana tourism by increasing the Indiana Destination Development Corporation’s funding
Community Development
The legislature passed the governor’s proposal of an additional $500 million for the second round of the Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative (READI). READI has become a nationally recognized innovative program that connects communities to build sustainable partnerships for growth.
The Indiana General Assembly further showed its support of community development by:
Funding Next Level Trails to expand the state’s trails system and move even closer to the governor’s goal of becoming the most trail-friendly state in the country
Allocating dollars for land conservation efforts
Providing the funds to pursue more direct flights options from Indianapolis International Airport
Appropriating dollars to provide upgrades to regional airports throughout the state
Partnering with the state’s Food bank network by doubling funding to $2 million a year
Good Government
The governor’s budget supported salary increases for the Indiana State Police and other agency law enforcement officials by raising the starting salary of state police troopers from $53,690 to $70,000 a year.
With the support of lawmakers, the state will invest more than $7 million in a regional firefighter training infrastructure to provide a standardized training model across the state. With the help of the Department of Homeland Security, the existing training locations will be enhanced, and new sites will be created to help cover gaps that exist in area of Indiana.
The state will dedicate $10 million to purchase necessary equipment for volunteer firefighting organizations.
To bolster school safety, the state will increase the Secured School Safety Grant Fund to $25 million per year and expand how schools can utilize the grant dollars. The state will invest in more free trainings for school safety specialists.
Bill decried as taking away teachers’ rights heads to Gov. Holcomb
By Xain Ballenger, TheStatehouseFile.com
Apr 28, 2023
(Editor’s note: This story was corrected to clarify that SB 486 affects teachers’ right to mandatory discussions, not collective bargaining)Â
The Indiana Senate voted last Tuesday to concur with House amendments on a bill to end mandatory discussions between school districts and teachers in a relatively close 27-23 vote, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto or sign into law.
Teachers will still have the right to collective bargaining, but school districts will not have to entertain discussions with teachers on a host of certain topics, such as class size if they choose not to. Collective bargaining is the process in which people negotiate employment terms with their employers through a representative, arriving at decisions about “pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance work and family, and more,†according to the AFL-CIO, which calls collective bargaining “a way to solve workplace problems.â€
Senate Bill 486 is authored by Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Centerville, and Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport. The bill was opposed by senators from both parties, including Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, and Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis.
Bohacek said that whenever he looks at an education bill, he asks if it’s going to provide a better, safer educational experience for children and if it will do it more efficiently. He said the bill “does neither.â€
“I will be voting against the bill because I see nothing in this bill that’s going to improve the educational outcomes for our children,†Bohacek said.
Hunley said the bill was not a “deregulation†bill as it had been sold to lawmakers.
Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, rises in opposition to SB 486, saying it is not a “deregulation†bill as it has been sold to lawmakers.
“What this bill is doing is it is taking away a formal process of discussion, a formal process that ensures that there are voices that are heard from all parties in the school building,†she said.
“What this bill is doing is it is taking away a formal process of discussion, a formal process that ensures that there are voices that are heard from all parties in the school building—from teachers who are part of the exclusive collective bargaining unit, from teachers who may not be from building, administrators—and keeping in mind the needs of the student,†she said.
Qaddoura added: “You’re removing the ability for teachers to demand improving student learning conditions because teachers’ working conditions are student learning conditions.
“We’re not in short of good public policies to lift up our students and close that achievement gap. But rather we come here and introduce policies under the description or the framing of ‘we’re helping education’ when 40,000 teachers disagree. There’s something wrong.â€
The bill also would also eliminate some training for teachers and change performance reviews amid other provisions.
Rogers closed by saying, “This bill … is all about flexibility for our educators in the classroom, at the building level and a corporation level. The goal is to eliminate mandates that are either outdated or unnecessary [so] your state teachers can focus on educating Hoosier kids.â€
FOOTNOTE: Xain Ballenger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Announces Red Shoe Luncheon Honorees
(Evansville, IN) – The Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., celebrates 45 years of service in the Evansville community and will hold a luncheon on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11:30 am at Venue 812, 1401 N. Boeke Road, Evansville, IN 47715. The Red Shoe Luncheon will honor women in the Evansville community who are leading in areas that support Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s mission and the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust – Economic Development; Educational Development; International Awareness and Involvement; Physical and Mental Health; and Political Awareness and Involvement. In addition to recognizing outstanding women in the community, the event includes a scrumptious meal and entertainment. The following women will be recognized at the luncheon:
Economic Development
Serita Cabell, Executive Director, Memorial Community Development Corporation
Educational Development
Wendy Chinn, Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, Ivy Tech Community College
Educational Development
Aleisha Sheridan, CEO, Building Blocks
International Awareness and Involvement
Jaimie D. Sheth, CEO/President, JD Sheth Foundation
Physical and Mental Health
Arlinda Payne, Founder/President, Evansville Area Black Nurses and Tristate Advocates, Inc.
The organization Fabulous After 30 (FATE) Evansville will be recognized for doing exceptional community outreach.
Founded in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is a non-proï¬t organization whose purpose is to provide services and programs to promote human welfare. The Evansville Alumnae Chapter was chartered April 22,1978. Programs throughout the years include building homes for families under the Habitat for Humanity program, voter registration drives, hosting seminars on women’s health issues, mentoring programs for young girls, and a scholarship fund to assist students with expenses upon entering college.
Tickets and sponsorships may be purchased by visiting www.evansvilledeltas.com. The deadline to purchase tickets and sponsorships is May 8, 2023. To obtain additional information, email the Chapter at DSTEvansvilleAlum@gmail.com or contact Diane Clements-Boyd at (812) 457-1148.
Regards,
Diane Clements-Boyd, Executive Director
Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission
Tiebreaker Competition for IU & Purdue in the 7th annual Red & Black Give Back Food Drive
MAY 2, 2023
The Indiana University Alumni Association Chapter of Greater Evansville (IUAA) and the Purdue Alumni Club of Evansville (PACE) are hosting their 7th annual Red & Black Give Back food drive competition this Saturday, May 6 between 8 am-12 noon at the six Schnucks locations in Evansville and Newburgh. Donations for the competition can also be made now through noon on May 6 by texting RED-BLACK to 71777; then follow the instructions to support your favorite team.
The winner will be determined by which alumni club can collect the most food and raise the most dollars to benefit Tri-State Food Bank. This will be a tiebreaker year for the competition, which currently has a 3-3 tie between the two teams. Over its 6-season history, Red & Black Give Back has raised over $25,000 and has collected nearly 11,000 pounds of food to help our Tri-State neighbors in need.
The winner is not only competing for a worthy cause but bragging rights and their own Old Oaken Bucket. “The Purdue vs. Indiana rivalry goes back over 100 years, with the Oaken Bucket going back to the 1920s. It represents not just a competition, but the greatness of each school through the history of our state. While our Oaken Bucket doesn’t go back that far, we believe this food drive competition doesn’t just show the greatness of our alumni, but their dedication to give back to our community,†stated Nate Hahn, Purdue Alumni Club of Evansville Board Member.
“The IU Alumni Association of Greater Evansville is excited to once again battle with the Purdue Alumni Club of Evansville for the benefit of Tri-State Food Bank. We look forward to taking back possession of the Old Oaken Bucket, but the real winner in this endeavor are all those who are served by Tri-State Food Bank. We’re Hoosiers fighting hunger. GO IU!†stated Kyle King, Indiana University Alumni Association of Greater Evansville Chapter Board Member.
The six Schnucks locations participating in the Red and Black Give Back event are as follows:
Darmstadt – 600 East Boonville-New Harmony Rd, Evansville, IN
Evansville West – 4500 West Lloyd Expwy, Evansville, IN
Evansville North – 3700 First Ave, Evansville, IN
Lawndale Commons – 5000 Washington Ave, Evansville, IN
Green River – 3501 North Green River Rd, Evansville, IN
Newburgh – 8301 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh, IN
All food and tax-deductible monetary donations will benefit Tri-State Food Bank. Now in its 41st year, Tri-State Food Bank operates out of an 80,000-square-foot facility in Evansville and disburses over 14 million pounds of food each year to over 300 agencies and feeding programs in 33 counties throughout the Tri-State.
For anyone with questions, or looking to donate or volunteer at the event, please contact the alumni group for your team of choice (listed below). Both groups can be reached promptly by e-mail.
VINCENNES, Ind. – Vincennes University sophomore point guard and 2023 All-Region 24 member Tasos Cook (Columbus, Ohio) signed his letter of intent Monday afternoon to continue his athletic and academic careers at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.
“I personally chose Campbell University to continue my athletic and academic career because of many things,†Cook said. “Everything about Campbell caught my attention. The location, the campus, the athletic facilities and much more. The hospitality and love I got from the entire coaching staff and players was huge for me as well and I felt comfortable there the minute I showed up.â€
“After being at Campbell for my visit, I can see bright things in my future here and that made my decision very easy that this was the place for me,†Cook added.
Cook joined the Trailblazers after playing his freshman season at Stetson University in Florida.
Cook instantly made an impact with the Blue and Gold, scoring a game-high 20 points in just his second game at VU.
Cook helped guide the Trailblazers to a 30-6 record this past season and helped VU earn a spot in the NJCAA Division I National Quarterfinals in Kansas.
Cook was the only member of the 2022-23 VU squad to start in all 36 games this past season and ended his year averaging 10.9 points, a team-high 4.2 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game and hitting 35-percent from behind the three-point arc.
Cook was selected as a member of the 2023 All-Region 24 team and continued to lead the Blazers at the NJCAA National Tournament, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds in VU’s opening round win over Trinity Valley.
“My favorite memory from this past season at VU was definitely our entire trip at Hutch,†Cook said. “I feel we achieved many accomplishments while there and came together as a team. One of our main goals was to get there and we were able to make that happen.â€
Cook joins a Campbell squad that finished last season with a record of 16-18 under Head Coach Kevin McGeehan and reached the Championship game of the Big South Conference Tournament in March.
The Fighting Camels will be transitioning to being a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) next season.
Cook is the first Vincennes University men’s basketball player to sign with Campbell University and 283rd men’s basketball player to sign with a four-year school in VU history.
“Athletically here at Vincennes, Coach Franklin has challenged me all year to be the best version of myself when playing,†Cook said. “I have been prepared both physically and mentally for the next level while being here at Vincennes and it will all make the transition back much easier. I have learned a lot from playing for Coach Franklin that I can take with me to the next level to be a better player for my next program.â€
“Academically, what I have taken away from Vincennes is to continue to hold myself accountable,†Cook added. “To be responsible for classes, assignments and of course, time management during the season. I have been prepared with many college courses that will have me ready to continue my major at Campbell University.â€
The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Tasos Cook on his signing with Campbell University and wishes him good luck as he continues his basketball career next season.
