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Committee Chairs Seated With Session Starting In January

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Committee Chairs Seated With Session Starting In January

Members of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee discuss a bill in February. The committee was assigned nearly 70 bills in the 2022 session.

Photo by Isaac Gleitz

Sixteen legislators—nine representatives and seven senators—are taking on new roles, each leading one of the 23 House standing committees and 22 Senate standing committees for the 2023 session.

What are committees? 

Legislative committees exist to help lawmakers identify important issues, gather and evaluate information, and review bills in the early stages before they head to a chamber’s floor for larger discussion.

“Committees—they are the workhorses of the legislature,” said Andrew Downs, director of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics and Purdue University Fort Wayne associate professor of political science.

The majority of work on bills typically happens in committee because basically every bill is assigned to a committee, Downs said.

It’s good to be in charge because committee chairs have a big influence on what bills are heard, which is an essential part in a bill’s passage, Downs said. Committee chairs are influenced by what the chamber leader and their party say are the important issues for that session.

According to Downs, 20-30%, depending on the year, of all legislation introduced actually passes—so 70-80% dies.

“The chairs do try to work with the other committee members, it’s not like the chair just comes in with a big hammer and says, ‘Everything I want is what’s going to be heard.’ They just spend time talking to the other committee members,” Downs said.

He also said that committees give legislators a good opportunity to collaborate with one another and with the members of the other chamber to pass legislation they see as important.

The new workhorses

Downs said this year’s chair assignments saw a decent amount of turnover.

Chamber leaders give the assignments every two years after the November election, and the roles stay in effect for the members’ two-year terms.

In a Nov. 18 press release, when Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, announced the chairs for the upcoming session, he said he believes “some of the most important work in the legislature happens at the committee level.”

“We have a group of very talented committee chairs set for the upcoming session, and I look forward to working with these talented members as they help craft good policy for the people of Indiana.”

The new chairs are:

  • Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, chair of the Corrections and Criminal Law Committee.
  • Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee.
  • Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Shelburn, chair of the Ethics Committee.
  • Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, chair of the Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee.
  • Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, chair of the Joint Rules Committee.

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, and Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, shifted to new committees. Walker will lead the Family and Child Services Committee, and Rogers is taking over the Pensions and Labor Committee.

On Dec. 2, House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, released the House committee chair appointments.

“I’m excited about the talents and wide range of experience that our chairs will bring to their committees, and I look forward to working closely with each of them,” Huston said in a press release. “As we head into the budget session, we have many challenges and opportunities in front of us, and I’m confident in our team’s abilities to vet and pass policies that put Hoosiers first.”

The new chairs are:

  • Rep. Michael Aylesworth, R-Hebron , chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.
  • Rep. Alan Morrison, R-Brazil, chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee.
  • Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, chair of the Financial Institutions Committee.
  • Rep. Chris May, R-Bedford, chair of the Local Government Committee.
  • Rep. Shane Lindauer, R-Jasper, chair of the Natural Resources Committee.
  • Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Denver, chair of the Public Policy Committee.
  • Rep. Karen Engleman, R-Georgetown, chair of the Statutory Committee on Ethics.

Two House lawmakers also shifting committees: Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, is in charge of the new Insurance Committee, and Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Garrett, moved to chair the Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee.

FOOTNOTE: Sydney Byerly is a reporter at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Lt. Gov. Crouch Announce Participants For The 2023 “My Community, My Vision Initiative”

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Community planning program teaches high school-age student groups to
enhance development and quality of life in their communities

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 8, 2022) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) have chosen seven participants for the My Community, My Vision (MCMV) program, which connects high school students across Indiana to each other and to their neighborhoods, towns, and cities. The student groups are as follows: the Batesville Mayor’s Youth Council, Frankton High School Students in Action, the Mayor’s Youth Council of Greensburg, Mishawaka Youth Advisory Council, the Monticello Next Generation Youth Advocates, the Ripley County Youth Outreach, and the Warren County Foundation Youth Council.

“Maintaining strong and viable communities is important to the health of Indiana, and we need future leaders to begin thinking about their own visions for their cities and towns,” said Crouch. “My Community, My Vision invites these future decision makers to share their ideas and plans with local officials.  By their involvement, student leaders will learn about the planning process and the collaborative efforts required to create and maintain vibrant communities.”

In collaboration with the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) Youth Council program and the Association of Indiana Municipalities (AIM) Mayoral Youth Council program, the seven selected cohorts of students representing communities across the state will participate in a four-month program consisting of in-person workshops and self-guided curriculum to assist them in planning and fundraising for a place-based community project. Utilizing elements of IHCDA’s crowd-granting CreatINg Places program, students who successfully strategize, plan, and raise a fundraising goal of between $5,000 and $50,000 towards their community project in the program’s duration will receive a matching grant from IHCDA.

“Placemaking is an important element of building stable communities where Hoosiers of all ages want to live, work, and play for years to come,” said Jacob Sipe, IHCDA Executive Director. “The My Community, My Vision program gives young people a chance to invest in their hometowns and make their voices heard. These students are the future of Indiana’s workforce, economy, and local leadership, and we can’t wait to see what ideas they bring to life through this program.”

Youth councils, alongside their foundation or local unit of government sponsor, will work throughout the spring semester to determine a project, craft a budget, develop a fundraising goal and strategy, and raise the needed funds for all materials during a 30-day fundraising campaign. Students will attend three required in-person workshops hosted by IHCDA where they will learn about different subjects such as placemaking, fundraising strategies, and stakeholder engagement to give students knowledge about the aspects of community planning, help reach their set project goal and provide networking and leadership opportunities. At the final in-person workshop, students will present their work and success to their peers and Indiana’s community development leaders.

Ivy Tech Offering Free Laptops To New Students Who Enroll In January And March

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EVANSVILLE, IN – Ivy Tech Community College Evansville is again providing free laptops for new students enrolling for the Spring 2023 semester*. Enrollment is currently underway and 8-week classes begin on January 17 and March 20.

Tuesdays@theTech is an event designed for students to come to campus to tour, meet advisors, talk about financial aid, and meet with career coaches. This event is a good way for individuals to learn more about Ivy Tech and its programs. To RSVP for Tuesdays@theTech go to https://link.ivytech.edu/TTT

To qualify for a free laptop, students who would like to start in January or March must first apply and enroll in classes. www.ivytech.edu/admissions/apply-now

Call 812-492-0106 for additional information.

Aces Win A Thriller Over Campbell

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UE overcomes a 6-point deficit in the final four minutes

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing by six points with 3:08 remaining, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team finished the game on a 16-4 run to hang on for a 72-66 win over Campbell University on Wednesday at the Ford Center.

Antoine Smith Jr. and Marvin Coleman II each hit pivotal 3-pointers during the final stretch as UE clinched its third victory of the season.

“I thought at the beginning that we had the right energy defensively and we were able to finish the game in a similar way to how we started it,” Purple Aces head coach David Ragland said after the win.  “We played with the right energy from start to finish.  Our guys really felt the energy from the fans over the last three minutes and that made a huge difference.  We appreciate our fans and community for their support.”

Coleman, Yacine Toumi, Gabe Spinelli and Chris Moncrief all set career scoring marks in the contest. Both Coleman and Toumi scored 18 points and hit 7 out of 11 attempts.  Coleman tied his career mark with four 3-pointers.  Spinelli had a nice game, hitting four out of his six attempts to score nine points while Moncrief recorded four tallies.

Finishing the night with 15 points was Antoine Smith Jr.  He was 4-for-6 from the field and 3-of-5 from long range while adding five boards.  Smith hit the 3-pointer that put Evansville in the lead for good with one minute remaining.  Capping off the night’s records was Kenny Strawbridge Jr., who dished out a career-high seven assists.

Marvin Coleman II got the Aces on the board with a jumper as the team started 2-for-3 from the field to take a 4-3 lead.  The next six points belonged to the Camels as they went up 9-4 six minutes into the contest.  Yacine Toumi took over at that point, scoring seven Evansville points in a row.

Toumi found an open Antoine Smith Jr. for a triple to complete a 10-0 run that gave Evansville a 14-9 advantage with 7:32 remaining in the half.  Campbell missed six attempts in a row but regrouped to convert four out of their next five field goals to go back in front at 21-19.  The Camels went back up by four when a bucket by Anthony Dell’Orso gave them a 28-24 advantage with just over two minutes left.

Smith knocked down his second triple of the night on the ensuing possession to help the Aces complete the half on a 7-0 run.  Toumi hit another basket before Kenny Strawbridge Jr. hit two free throws in the final second to send UE to the break with a 31-28 lead.

Campbell knocked down four of its first five field goal tries of the second half to tie the score at 36-36.  Coleman kept UE on pace, hitting his second triple.  The shots continued to find the bottom of the net for the Camels as they started the period 6-for-9 on their way to a 43-37 advantage.

After starting 1-for-7 in the second half, Gabe Spinelli drained two shots as UE hit three in a row to retake a 44-43 edge.  Strawbridge made a perfect pass to Spinelli, who dunked it and was fouled.  Spinelli went on to finish the 3-point play.  As the half moved past the midway point, the Camels wrestled away a 52-47 lead but it was the freshmen who brought UE back.

Chris Moncrief and Spinelli had back-to-back dunks while Coleman hit triple #3 of the game to tie it at 54-54.  As the game entered the final four minutes, the Camels once again took a 6-point lead with a pair of triples making it a 62-56 game.  After Toumi connected on his 7th make of the night, Strawbridge found Coleman for his fourth triple to make it a 1-point game.

With 1:38 on the clock, Toumi hit a pair of free throws that put Evansville on top – 63-62.  A layup put Campbell back on top before UE took the lead for good when Coleman found Antoine Smith Jr. for a triple.  From there, the Aces held strong to finish with the 72-66 victory.

“It feels good,” Antoine Smith Jr. exclaimed.  “We had a few games come down to the final few minutes so it feels great to finish.”

UE shot 49.1% for the game with Campbell finishing at 44.2%.  Both teams finished with 30 rebounds.  Evansville returns to the road on Saturday for a 1 p.m. CT game at Ball State.

New Harmony Gazette December 2022

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New Harmony Gazette December 2022

LABOR OF LOVE INFANT MORTALITY SUMMIT TO MARK 10th ANNIVERSARY WITH FOCUS ON MATERNAL HEALTH

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INDIANAPOLIS — Members of the media are invited to attend the 10th anniversary of Indiana’s Labor of Love infant mortality summit. The theme of this year’s event is the “Year of the Mom,” a nod to the importance that maternal health plays in ensuring healthy pregnancies and improving both maternal and infant mortality rates.

The summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Downtown Marriott, 350 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis. State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG, will open the event, which will also feature an afternoon keynote by Rose L. Horton, MSM, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, a nationally recognized leader on issues of maternal morbidity and mortality and founder and CEO of NotOnMyWatch Consulting Partners.

Breakout sessions throughout the day will feature topics including breastfeeding and postpartum support, mental health and substance use, fetal and infant loss, maternal mortality, health risks, racial disparities, and more. A complete agenda can be downloaded here.

Media interested in covering opening remarks should arrive by 7:50 a.m. Those planning to stay for the entire event are encouraged to register in advance using the code LOVE MEDIA. All media should check in at the event registration desk upon arrival.

USI Women’s And Chamber Choirs To Perform Holiday Concert

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The University of Southern Indiana Philip H. Hagemann Department of Performing Arts is proud to present “Music for the Feaste of Christmas,” a concert by the USI Women’s and Chamber Choirs. The concert is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, December 11 at Old North United Methodist Church, located at 4201 Stringtown Road in Evansville. The concert is open to the public at no charge.

“This is a lovely concert for those who love to hear choral music in a sacred setting,” says Daniel Craig, Associate Professor of Music. “It is a perfect way for anyone to start their holiday with song, especially if they did not get a chance to attend the USI Madrigal Feaste.”

The concert will feature carol singing led by the choirs and a concert of music for the holiday season. Works by Clereau, Praetorius, LaBarr, Rutter, Carey, Craig and more will be performed.

Vanderburgh County Crash Report

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Crash Report

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

MEDIA

FOOTNOTE: This information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

 

Lady Blazers pick up tough win in Region 24 battle with Shawnee

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VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers looked to get back on track in their Region 24 schedule Wednesday night in the Physical Education Complex when VU hosted Shawnee Community College.

The Lady Blazers entered the fourth quarter in a 49-49 tie with the Lady Saints before coming away with the 73-68 win over Shawnee.

VU got off to a slow start Wednesday against the Saints, falling behind by eight points late in the first quarter before closing out the first 10 minutes on a 5-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to 19-16 after the first period.

Vincennes continued to battle early in the second quarter, with VU finally taking their first lead of the game at the midway point of the second period at 25-23.

The Lady Blazers added pressure throughout the rest of the first half to out score Shawnee 13-6 to take a 38-29 lead into the locker room.

VU continued to grow their lead to begin the second half, getting the advantage up to 12 points before the Lady Saints rallied back with an 8-0 scoring run.

Shawnee held tough in the third quarter, tying the game late in the third period and ending the third quarter with the score even at 49-49.

Vincennes opened the fourth quarter on a 13-4 scoring run to take a nine-point lead.

Shawnee would cut the deficit back down to three points before VU answered with a small scoring run to grab the momentum back and come away with a 73-68 victory.

The Lady Blazers were led offensively by sophomore Daylynn Thornton (Lafayette, Ind.) who set a new season-high with 20 points and was just two points off her career-high. Thornton also led the Blazers with four steals defensively.

Sophomore Kennadi Harris (Columbus, Ohio) came off the bench to add a spark with 10 of her 13 points coming in the second half.

Freshman Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) reached double figures for the eighth time this season, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) held her own in a tough battle in the paint on her way to seven points and team-highs 10 rebounds and four blocks.

The Lady Blazers will be on the road the rest of the way in December, kicking off this four-game road stretch Saturday, Dec. 10 at Hillsboro, Mo. against Jefferson College. Tip-off time Saturday is set for 3 p.m. eastern.

Vincennes defeated Jefferson College earlier this season 75-54 Nov. 8 at the P.E. Complex, in VU’s home opener.

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