Attorney General Todd Rokita warns Hoosiers of scammers targeting taxpayers
Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning Hoosiers of post-tax season scams, which occur far too often in communities across Indiana. Â
“Scammers will steal innocent taxpayers’ identities and use it to file fraudulent tax returns,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Many families are looking forward to tax refunds to help pay their currently inflated bills or to simply get away for a few days this summer. Don’t let these con artists steal your identity and eventually, your money.â€â€¯Â
Tax-identity thieves use other people’s Social Security Numbers to file taxes and/or even obtain jobs. Most victims will likely not even be aware this has happened. Some will be notified upon e-filing that a tax return has already been filed using their SSN. Â
Attorney General Rokita reminds Hoosiers to review the warning signs released from the IRS on possible tax-related identity theft related to tax scams:Â
- More than one tax return was filed for you.
- You owe additional taxes, have a refund offset, or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return.
- IRS records indicate you received wages or other income from an employer for whom you did not work.
If you believe you have been the victim of tax-related or any other type of identity theft, you can file a complaint online by visiting indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.
Evansville Man Arrested after Brief Foot Chase during Traffic Stop
Vanderburgh County – Monday night, April 24, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Trooper Hadley was patrolling the Lloyd Expressway near Fulton Avenue when he observed a motorcycle traveling west at 76 in a 50-mph zone. The rider of the motorcycle exited the Lloyd Expressway and Trooper Hadley conducted a traffic stop near Fulton and Ohio Street. The rider was identified as David Flaherty, 55, of Evansville. A computer check revealed Flaherty’s drivers license was suspended. Moments later, an Evansville Police K-9 officer arrived to assist with the traffic stop. When officers attempted to remove a large knife from Flaherty, he got off his bike and fled on the Greenway Passage from Fulton Avenue. Officers quickly caught Flaherty, but he continued to resist arrest. During the struggle, Trooper Hadley was able to disarm Flaherty and he was taken into custody without further incident. When officers searched Flaherty, they found two large baggies containing approximately 28 grams of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers also found a glass smoking pipe on his person. Officers searched Flaherty’s motorcycle and found a small amount of marijuana. Flaherty was taken to the Vanderburgh County Jail where he is currently being held without bond.
Arrested and Charges:
- David Flaherty, 55, Evansville, IN
- Possession of Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony
- Dealing Methamphetamine, Level 3 Felony
- Battery on a Police Officer, Level 6 Felony
- Resisting Law Enforcement, Level 6 Felony
- Possession of Marijuana, Class A Misdemeanor
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Class A Misdemeanor
- Driving While Suspended, Class A Misdemeanor.
Investigating Agency: Indiana State Police
Assisting Agency: Evansville Police
Governor Eric Holcomb directs flags to be flown at half-staff
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff in Spencer County in honor and remembrance of Rockport Mayor Donnie Winkler. Winkler was serving his first term as Mayor when he unexpectedly lost his life on Monday, April 17.
Flags should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset in Spencer County on Saturday, April 22. Gov. Holcomb is asking businesses and residents in Spencer County to lower their flags as well.
Parker’s 4-under round paces UE men on Monday
Aces remain in 8th place
COAL VALLEY, Ill. – Completing the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Golf Championship with a 4-under 67, Carson Parker paced the University of Evansville men’s golf team at Oakwood Country Club.
Parker’s score was just three off the all-time program record and marked a 9-stroke improvement from Sunday’s round. With his effort, Parker jumped into a tie for 19th place with a 143. Joining Parker with a 143 is Nicholas Gushrowski. After leading the Purple Aces in round one with a 69, Gushrowski carded a 3-over 74 to tie Parker.
Michael Ikejiaini matched his opened day score, posting another round of 74. He is tied with teammate Isaac Rohlder for the 33rd spot. Rohleder lowered his score by two strokes in the second 18 holes, posting a 73. He is tied with Ikejiani with one round to play. Daniil Romashkin scored a 78 on Monday and enters the last day with a 154, tied for 48th.
Evansville remains in the 8th position with a team score of 582. The Aces are eight behind Murray State, who is 7th with a 574 and sit five shots in front of 9th-place Missouri State. Illinois State enters the third round with a 9-stroke lead over Valparaiso and a 13-shot advantage over Northern Iowa. The Redbirds scored a 276 in both rounds.
Anthony Delisanti of Valpo leads the individuals. Following a 66 on Sunday, Delisanti posted a 7-under 64 in the second round. His 130 is four in front of the second position.
Tuesday will mark the final 18 holes of the tournament.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
 Vanderburgh County Board of CommissionersÂ
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING AGENDAApril 25, 2023 – 3:00 p.m.Â
Room 301, Civic Center ComplexÂ
1. Call to OrderÂ
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- 2. Attendance A. Youth Resources’ Teen Advisory Council in Attendance 1. Alex FlattÂ
- 3. Pledge of AllegianceÂ
- 4. Action Items A. Engineer 1. Highway Utility Agreement (Water Relocation Agreement): German Township Water District – Bridge #1911Â
- 2. IDEM Construction Stormwater Permit: Boonville New Harmony Road Bridge #252Â
- 3. Sidewalk Waiver Request: Villas at CambridgeÂ
- 4. Administrative Settlement: Oak Hill Road Parcel 11 – Andrew C. Effinger and LeeAnn EffingerÂ
- 5. Change Order: VC22-06-02 “Concrete Street Repairsâ€Â
- B. Sheriff 1. Evansville Police JAG Grant Agreement O-BJA-2022-171368Â
- C. Purchasing Department 1. Agreement to Rent Uniforms: Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel, LLCÂ
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- D. County Council 1. Equipment Maintenance Agreement (Color Agreement): Business Equipment Distributors, Inc. i. Toner Supply Agreement: Business Equipment Distributors, Inc.Â
- 2. Equipment Maintenance Agreement (Black Agreement): Business Equipment Distributors, Inc. i. Toner Supply Agreement: Business Equipment Distributors, Inc.Â
- E. Seventh Amendment to Exhibit A: Chapter 3.27 Vanderburgh County American Rescue Plan (ARP) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Utilization PlanÂ
- 5. Department Head ReportsÂ
- 6. New BusinessÂ
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- 7. Old Business A. State of the County Address: Rescheduled for September 5, 2023Â
- 8. Consent Items A. Approval of April 11th Board of Commissioners Meeting MinutesÂ
- B. Employment ChangesÂ
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- C. Auditor 1. Claims Voucher Reports i. April 10, 2023 – April 14, 2023Â
- ii. April 17, 2023 – April 21, 2023Â
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Drainage Board Immediately FollowingÂ
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- D. Clerk 1. March 2023 Monthly ReportÂ
- E. Engineer 1. Report & ClaimsÂ
- 2. Travel RequestÂ
- F. Highway Department 1. 2022 Annual Operational Report for Local Roads and Streets and BridgesÂ
- G. DADS 1. Travel RequestÂ
- H. Commissioners’ Office 1. Travel RequestÂ
- I. Purchasing Department 1. Request to Bid Out Copy Paper and Vehicle and Equipment BatteriesÂ
- J. Letter of Support: Foster Care in the U.S., Inc. SYPI Grant ApplicationÂ
- K. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Consent for Access to Property: 706 N Fourth AvenueÂ
- L. American Rescue Plan Act Funds Agreement: Youth First, Inc.Â
- A. No RezoningsÂ
9. Public CommentÂ
10. RezoningÂ
TWO OF COLLEGE BASEBALL’S TOP HOME RUN TEAMS MEET TUESDAY, AS UE HOSTS LIPSCOMB
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville is not necessarily known as a home run-friendly ballpark. That will be put to the test on Tuesday night, though, as two of the nation’s top home run teams will do battle, with the University of Evansville baseball team hosting Lipscomb at 6 p.m.
Evansville will enter Tuesday night’s game ranked 70th in the country in home runs with 53. The Purple Aces have launched at least one home run in nine-straight games, which ranks as the third-best streak in the last decade at Evansville, behind only an 11-game and 10-game streak set last season by UE. Lipscomb, meanwhile, ranks 20th in the country in home runs, as the Bisons have bashed 70 home runs this year, including seven over the weekend in a series victory over Bellarmine.
Individually, Evansville is led in home runs by graduate outfielder/pitcher Eric Roberts, who currently leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 14 home runs. Junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse launched two home runs over the weekend, and he currently sits second on the team with eight home runs. Fougerousse has been on fire at the plate, hitting safely in nine of his last 10 games after returning from a finger injury, and he hit an even .500 last week to raise his batting average to .283. The Purple Aces currently stand at 23-16 overall entering Tuesday night’s action.
Meanwhile, Lipscomb’s lineup features four players with double-digit home run totals, led by redshirt sophomore catcher Austin Kelly, who is hitting a team-best .326 with a team-best 15 home runs. Sophomore infielder Trace Willhoite (12 HRs), junior outfielder Alex Vergara (11 HRs) and sophomore infielder Caleb Ketchup (11 HRs) also have double-digit home run totals so far this year. The Bisons will bring a 21-19 overall record into Tuesday night’s contest, but Lipscomb is the reigning ASUN West Division champions, and are currently tied with FGCU for the top spot in the ASUN standings with a 13-5 conference record. Lipscomb also owns a series win over Notre Dame, and a mid-week win at nationally-ranked Louisville this year.
All-time, Evansville leads the series over Lipscomb, 12-6, dating back to a 10-0 UE win in 2005. Tuesday’s game will mark Lipscomb’s first trip to Evansville in 11 years, as the Bisons have not visited Evansville since a 5-0 UE victory at Braun Stadium on March 28, 2012. The first-ever game for UE head coach Wes Carroll as a member of the Purple Aces’ coaching staff came at Lipscomb on February 9, 2007, when Carroll served as an assistant coach for UE in a 10-0 victory in Nashville.
Tuesday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and the Old National Bank/Purple Aces Sports Network from Learfield.
All eyes are on the clock as the 2023 session nears its deadline
All eyes are on the clock as the 2023 session nears its deadline
- With the month of April coming to an end, so is the 2023 session.
The Indiana General Assembly has two different kinds of sessions—long and short—that alternate each year. The long session is when legislators write the state’s budget, which covers two years. That generally takes from January to the end of April, while the short session usually ends by the middle of March.
Dr. Andy Downs, emeritus director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, explained that this arrangement is written into law because Indiana’s first lawmakers did not want a full-time legislature, and the easiest way to ensure a part-time one was to specify end dates.
Downs said it’s because Indiana believes in individuality, which some would refer to as a frontier mentality.
“In other words, I will take care of myself. If I need help, I will get it from my neighbors first and then from the government second. So we were never really looking for a particularly large or involved government,†Downs said.
Legislators begin meeting in winter in part due to Indiana’s agricultural and historical heritage. Winter was (and is) the time of year when a lot of people were not engaged in farming activity, so they were able to devote time to the legislature.
Whether long or short, the session can’t run over, but it can end early. The session can end by reaching its deadline, or legislators can get done with their work and vote to end it.
FOOTNOTE: Xain Ballenger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
