White House Overdue To Declassify Lab Leak Intel As Blinken Meets With Xi
Vanderburgh County Health Department and NAACP Evansville Branch Announce Community Lead Screening
(Evansville, Indiana) The Vanderburgh County Health Department and NAACP Evansville Branch, #3048-B announce our joint community health initiative, “Get the Lead Out,†an opportunity for families with at-risk children to become more informed about lead exposure and its consequences, to be screened for lead, and to receive essential information for following up on results.
Many in the community know of the risks from lead through exposure to paint chips or dust in houses built before 1978. But there are other ways families have been exposed. Lead poisoning has had devastating effects on children and families in Flint, Michigan, for instance, as a result of poor decision-making and systemic biases. Locally many in the Jacobsville area of Evansville have seen the Superfund effort to remove contaminated soil from yards and lots over the past decade, again a result of decisions made not by those living in those homes but by business and civic leadership decades ago. We at NAACP Evansville Branch and the Vanderburgh County Health Department take seriously our charge to elevate health equity and environmental justice.
Lead is a heavy metal used for centuries for a number of purposes, including plumbing, and in the past century as a fuel-additive. Lead is relatively easy to extract and use for industrial purposes. But lead is not easy on the human body. Lead plays NO role in normal human metabolism and is, in fact, toxic. Acute lead poisoning can result in muscle pain, weakness, difficulty concentrating, abdominal pain, constipation, anemia, and seizures. Lead exposure is potentially devastating, especially for young children, whose brain development can be critically harmed by the metal. It was only in the late 20th century that compelling evidence on lead’s harmful effects finally resulted into policy change. Communities are still dealing with the legacy of lead contamination across much of the environment.
Why does screening for lead matter? Â There are several risk factors in addition to the age of the home in which a family presently resides. Despite the various symptoms some may show from lead exposure, many children with elevated lead levels may look and act healthy. Identifying those cases and taking corrective steps may prevent long-term health consequences. While lead screening is recommended for all children under 7 years of age and while Medicaid requires screening for all participating children at 1 and 2 years, there are still families who may have not had updated testing.
We recognize some families may have not had the chance for well-child visits lately for many reasons, including the pandemic. This community screening event sponsored by VCHD and Evansville Branch NAACP and hosted by Zion Missionary Baptist Church is the opportunity for all families to be checked.
This free event will be 6 pm on JUNE 15 2023 at Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Advanced registration/parental consent is encouraged. Vanderburgh County Health Department staff will be there to answer additional questions you may have about potential lead exposure. On-site testing will be provided for eligible children and results will go to the parent/caregiver within minutes.
The health department will notify doctors’ offices of test results and coordinate with families on follow-up for any abnormal results. NAACP Evansville Branch Health Committee will also be there to hear the family’s additional concerns and connect them with the advocacy work of the NAACP.
Families interested in having their child tested at the event should complete the online consent form –
USDA FOOD INSPECTION RECALL
BCI Foods Inc. Recalls Chicken Noodle Soup Products Produced without Benefit of Import Reinspection
BCI Foods Inc., the importer of record located in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, is recalling approximately 13,561 pounds of chicken noodle soup products that were not presented for import reinspection into the United States.
Distribuidora El Paisano Import, LLC, a distributor and the importer of record located in Providence, R.I., is recalling approximately 1,715 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork rind product that was imported from Guatemala, a country ineligible to export meat products to the United States.
No break for TheStatehouseFile.com after its 17th session and a raft of awards
No break for TheStatehouseFile.com after its 17th session and a raft of awards
Sophomore Ashlyn Myers and junior Xain Ballenger spent the spring semester working full time at the Indiana Statehouse press corps, reporting on everything from school censorship to throwing stars, as part of the immersive program that has helped send FC Pulliam School of Journalism grads everywhere from Indianapolis Business Journal to CNN.
Franklin is one of just 20 colleges or universities maintaining a student newsroom in a state capitol. It’s also among the smallest and one of just two private schools. Previously sharing its coverage with 35 paying media outlets, The Statehouse File is now able to offer its content for free to any professional outlet thanks to a fall 2022 grant from Lumina Foundation.
“Our students learn by doing under tremendous pressure, and they rise to the occasion every time,†said Executive Editor Colleen Steffen. “It’s a unique and really effective way to learn, and I’m always impressed with their tenacity and determination.
“At the same time, they are filling gaps in state news coverage and helping give Hoosiers the information they need, so I’m very proud of them and what they’re able to accomplish in a short time.â€
Myers, of Franklin, ended her semester at the Statehouse in time to start an internship at The Daily Journal. This spring, she won the Jerry Miller Memorial Scholarship and the Marilyn Leap Student Fund Scholarship, with which she traveled to Atlanta this month to speak at the Education Writers Association National Seminar. She was also named incoming editor-in-chief for campus news outlet The Franklin.
A feature writer by inclination, Myers learned to love hard news at the Statehouse, writing stories about the state budget and the efforts to restrict trans health care.
“My semester with TheStatehouseFile.com was fully transformative,†said Myers. “Prior to this spring, I felt that I only had real skill when it came to human interest and feature stories, but the Indiana Statehouse quickly pushed me out of my comfort zone. Digging through legislative jargon and finding out the causes and effects of different political decisions made me realize that any topic is fundamentally human interest. You just have to find the right humans and give them a voice.
“I pushed myself, and it was hard, but I’m a different and better journalist because of my experience. With the help of my colleague, Xain Ballenger, we put faces and names to the Hoosiers that really depend on their lawmakers to make educated choices, and I’m so proud of our work.â€
Ballenger, originally from Mooresville, will continue to work for The Statehouse File this summer as a freelancer. He received the TSF Transformation Award at May’s Pulliam School of Journalism annual banquet for his dramatic growth over the spring semester. A photographer and videographer, he came to the Statehouse wanting to improve his abilities as a writer.
“My time at the Statehouse was very unique,†said Ballenger. “The thing I really wanted to work on was writing. I felt it was not up to par with some of my other skills, so the Statehouse helped me develop that skill.
“However, it wasn’t just in writing. I learned how to really prepare, take notes, ask questions, and how to really focus even if the information isn’t the most exciting. I was nervous that I wouldn’t be good enough, but with the help of my editors Colleen, Kevin and Marilyn, and my colleague Ashlyn, I was able to grow my confidence as the semester went on.
“This was the best experience a journalism major could have because even though you aren’t thrown into shark-infested waters, it still gives you a real look into being a journalist and what it takes to be a professional. This semester solidified that this is what I want to do.â€
Kevin Morgan, former editor of The Indiana Citizen, helped edit student work as part of a partnership with The Statehouse File before retiring earlier this year. Taking over for him in both capacities is longtime Indianapolis reporter Marilyn Odendahl.
This spring also saw The Statehouse File collect a spate of awards in both student and professional journalism contests—most recently, when four students were tapped as 2022 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence National Winners.
Taylor Wooten, a 2022 graduate from Clarksville, captured first place in the Breaking News Category for her story on the 2022 transgender sports bill before the Indiana General Assembly. Alexa Shrake, a 2022 graduate from Martinsville, Isaac Gleitz, a 2023 graduate from Corydon, and Sydney Byerly, a senior from New Albany, claimed first place in the General News Category for their series on the criminal case involving former Franklin College President Thomas J. Minar.
Other awards recognizing Statehouse File work from 2022:Â
Society of Professional Journalists Regional Mark of Excellence Awards
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Winner, breaking news reporting: “Transgender sports bill receives further testimony at Senate Education Committee†by Taylor Wooten
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Finalist, breaking news reporting: “Anticipating state abortion ban, protesters descend on Statehouse†by Zachary Roberts
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Winner, general news reporting: “Thomas Minar series†by Alexa Shrake, Isaac Gleitz and Sydney Byerly
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Finalist, general news reporting: “Twitter beef raises the specter of Lucas’ 2020 divorce hearing†by Jack Sells
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Finalist, in-depth reporting: “Hoosiers see lasting effects from time KKK dominated state politics†by Taylor Wooten
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Finalist, in-depth reporting: “The social symptom: Educators worry about the pandemic impact that has not healed†by Zachary Roberts
IndyPro Society of Professional Journalists
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Column writing: John Krull
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Medical or science reporting: “More pregnancies will mean more deaths—but numbers are difficult to pin down†by Jack Sells
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Best use of social media: Election Night 2022 by Maggie McGuire, Sydney Byerly, Jack Sells, Tabby Fitzgerald
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Breaking news: “Impending abortion ban fills Statehouse with voices desperate to be heard†by Haley Pritchett
Indiana Collegiate Press Association Contest
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Second place, overall website
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Third place, use of social media: Election Night 2022 by Maggie McGuire, Sydney Byerly, Jack Sells, Tabby Fitzgerald
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Third place, breaking news reporting online: “Anticipating state abortion ban, protesters descend on Statehouse†by Zachary Roberts
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Second place, news/feature reporting online: “Uncovering Thomas Minar†by Isaac Gleitz
The Statehouse File publishes year-round. This summer, a small team will follow up on many of the new Indiana laws set to take effect July 1, and reporters also will spend three weeks creating feature content at the Indiana State Fair before the fall semester ushers in a new class.
For more information or to support TSF’s work, contact Steffen at csteffen@franklincollege.edu.
CRAIG FERGUSON RETURNS TO VICTORY THEATRE
CRAIG FERGUSON RETURNS TO VICTORY THEATRE ON NOV 9THÂ
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, JUNE 23 @10AM
Evansville, IN– Craig Ferguson returns to the Victory Theatre with his “The Fancy Rascal Tour†on Nov 9th! Tickets are on sale Friday, June 23 @ 10 AM! Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-American comedian, actor, writer, and television host. He is best known for hosting the CBS late-night talk show The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–2014), for which he won a Peabody Award in 2009 for his interview with South African archbishop Desmond Tutu that year. He also hosted the syndicated game show Celebrity Name Game (2014–2017), for which he won two Daytime Emmy Awards, and Join or Die with Craig Ferguson (2016) on History. In 2017 he released a six-episode web show with his wife, Megan Wallace Cunningham, titled Couple Thinkers.
After starting his career in the UK with music, comedy, and theatre, Ferguson moved to the US, where he appeared in the role of Nigel Wick on the ABC sitcom The Drew Carey Show (1996–2004). Ferguson has written three books: Between the Bridge and the River, a novel; American on Purpose, a memoir; and Riding the Elephant: A Memoir of Altercations, Humiliations, Hallucinations & Observations. He holds both British and American citizenship.
He has written and starred in three films, directing one of them, and has appeared in several others. In animated films, he provided the voices of Gobber in the How to Train Your Dragon film series (2010–2019), Owl in Winnie the Pooh (2011), and Lord Macintosh in Brave (2012).
Tickets may be purchased at Ford Center Ticket Office or www.Ticketmaster.com
For more information about the Victory Theatre, visit:
www.victorytheatre.com www.facebook.com/VictoryTheatre www.twitter.com/Victory_Theatre