Diego Morales Responds To Criticism Of Using “Veteran†To Describe Himself
Diego Morales Responds To Criticism Of Using “Veteran†To Describe Himself
Morales said in an interview with The Statehouse File that he considers himself a veteran. “I tell you this: We all use that word, actually,†Morales said of service members who enlisted.
He added that he’d leave the legal definitions to others, saying he knows he’s “in compliance to the law and … so proud to have served the greatest country on earth, the United States of America.â€
“Morales’ military service might very well be exactly what he says it is. But he has a history of making questionable claims,†James Briggs wrote in an IndyStar column published Wednesday, citing earlier reports of Morales’ troubled employment history in the Office of the Secretary of State.
The Indiana Democratic Party later issued a press release with the headline, “Investigation finds Diego Morales inappropriately described himself as an American veteran,†stating, “He served our nation, but never achieved official status as ‘veteran.’† In a subsequent press release, Indiana Republicans defended Morales.
“Their attacks on Diego’s service in the Indiana National Guard are extremely disappointing,†Kyle Hupfer, Indiana Republican Party chairman, said in a statement. “Diego—like thousands of Hoosiers—has honorably served our state and nation, and we at the Indiana Republican Party are thankful for this service and dedication.â€
Statutorily, the federal government and Indiana have different definitions of who qualifies as a veteran.
U.S. Code says, “The term ‘veteran’ means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” And qualification for active duty is “full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training.â€
Legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2016 defined “Hoosier veteran†as someone who lives in the state and “served in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the Indiana National Guard.†A Hoosier veteran must also have “completed any required military occupational specialty training and was not discharged or separated from the armed forces or the Indiana National Guard under dishonorable or other than honorable conditions.â€
Documents the Morales campaign has released suggest that he falls under the definition of Hoosier veteran only, as his DD-214characterizes his separation as “release from active duty training.â€
Teresa Mankin, who was formerly the executive director of the National Guard Association of Indiana, told The Statehouse File, “I believe that he could call himself a Hoosier veteran,†but he doesn’t meet the federal requirements.
“But the average person probably doesn’t care about that,†Mankin said. “If you served your country honorably, you are a veteran.â€
Mankin did say, however, that she would not describe herself as a U.S. Army veteran—as Morales does in his Twitter bio, for example—and would instead use “Army National Guard veteran.â€
Attorney General Todd Rokita Kicks Off 7-State Summit
Attorney General Todd Rokita on Thursday delivered opening remarks at the We Are All Border States Summit, a forum sponsored by the sheriffs’ associations of seven Midwestern states.
“Illegal immigration directly impacts all our states, so we must fix the problem given to us by the federal government,†Attorney General Rokita said. “And, we must hold the federal government accountable for doing its job under the Constitution.â€
The event, which began Thursday and runs through Friday, is jointly sponsored by sheriffs’ associations from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
Participants attended sessions focused on such issues as how law enforcement can best fight criminal activities and other problems that originate along the border such as cartel violence, human trafficking and the fentanyl crisis.
“Our brave men and women in law enforcement are on the front lines,†Attorney General Rokita said. “They are the ones who come face to face with the violent predators threatening our families and neighborhoods.â€
Partnerships among the states are key to reducing crime and violence going forward, he added, as well as pressuring federal officials to fulfill their responsibilities to secure the border.
“Everyone who understands what’s at stake must unite together,†Attorney General Rokita said. “We must collaborate wherever possible and prioritize this particular aspect of preserving our republic.â€
Attorney General Rokita lamented that the current presidential administration has reversed policies that were previously working to reduce illegal immigration.
“They’ve stopped the progress on building more border wall,†Attorney General Rokita said. “They’ve ended the Remain in Mexico policy. And they’ve refused to deport some of the most dangerous criminals, even though the law requires them to.â€
The data shows these initiatives worked to reduce the drug, prostitution and crime surges.
Since taking office in 2021, Attorney General Rokita already has traveled three times on fact-finding missions to the U.S. Southern Border.
Among other actions to combat illegal immigration, Attorney General Rokita this year filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its willful refusal to secure the border and enforce U.S. immigration laws. The lawsuit alleges that Indiana has sustained tangible, monetary harm — and seeks a declaration that the administration’s border policy is unlawful.
Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Meeting
 The Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will meet for the regularly scheduled Board meeting Monday, September 19, 2022 at 5:30 PM in the Board Room of the EVSC Administration Building located at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN.
Board meetings can also be observed by tuning to EVSC’s radio station, 90.7 WPSR, or live streamed online at https://www.wpsrhd.com/. As noticed previously, the Board of School Trustees will also hold a Public Hearing to take public testimony from Vanderburgh County residents regarding the Additional Appropriation for 2022 General Obligation Bonds.
Prior to the regularly scheduled Board meeting, members of the Board, along with district administrators, will hold a Town Hall beginning at 5:00 PM. This Town Hall is for Vanderburgh County residents to speak directly with Board members in attendance about issues involving EVSC schools.
The Town Hall will be held in the Technology and Innovation Center located at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN. Members of the public who would like to attend the Town Hall should register by completing the Town Hall Registration Form located on the EVSC’s website at district.evscschools.com.
Hoosier History Highlights: Artist John Wesley Hardrick Born
September 18 – September 24The Week in Indiana History |
||||||||
   From the list below, select the five writers who are from Indiana: Ernest Hemingway, Helen Keller, Jessamyn West, Samuel Clemens, Kurt Vonnegut, Booth Tarkington, Jack London, Gene Stratton Porter, Mark Twain, James H. Madison
“Fencerow to fencerow.†— Earl Butz.  (1909-2008)    Born to a farming family near Albion in Noble County, he became Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University. In 1971, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.  The quote refers to the nation’s transition from small family farms to industrial operations.
Answers:Â Jessamyn West, Kurt Vonnegut, Booth Tarkington, Gene Stratton Porter, and James H. Madison |
||||||||
1929   Dedication ceremonies were held for the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis, one of the most impressive examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in the United States. The magnificent structure of Indiana limestone includes stained-glass windows, carved woodwork, patterned ceilings, and a 54-bell carillon.
Gov. Holcomb Selects David E. Veleta To Fill IURC Vacancy
Gov. Holcomb Selects David E. Veleta To Fill IURC Vacancy
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced that he has appointed David E. Veleta to fill a vacancy on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) caused by the resignation of David Ober on June 21, 2022. The current term will end on January 31, 2024.
“David is well-respected in the utility industry, by the IURC Commissioners and staff members,†said Gov. Holcomb. “He has a solid understanding of the complex industry as it relates to assessing affordability and exploring current and future generations. He will be an asset to Indiana’s utility regulation.â€
Veleta is a senior administrative law judge (ALJ) with the IURC and has been with the commission for 13 years. Prior to his time with the IURC, he served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County and before that he worked in private practice.
Veleta earned his bachelor’s degree from Franklin College and received a law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law. Veleta resides in Johnson County.
When a vacancy occurs on the IURC, applications are solicited from the public and accepted by a seven-member nominating committee. The committee, comprised of four legislative and three gubernatorial appointments, screens the applications and conducts interviews that are open to the public. After conducting the public interviews, the nominating committee recommends three candidates to the governor who then names a new member to the commission.
The IURC Nominating Committee consists of Carol Stephan who served as chair and was assisted by Bill Champion, Michael Leppert, Jonathan Mayes, Carolene Mays, and Jim Merritt.
The Committee received seven applications and, following the withdrawal of two applicants, interviewed the remaining candidates on July 27, 2022. The Committee unanimously recommended three candidates.
THE SOURCE
THE SOURCE
GAVEL GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
When former President Donald Trump moved out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. he took fifteen boxes of stuff with him that he stored at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. Someone tipped off the FBI that the boxes were stashed in some closets. Who might that have been is one of the matters the FBI and the Department of Justice wish to keep confidential. That information is most likely part of what was redacted from the Affidavit that was filed with the application for the Search Warrant. We in the general public, therefore, do not know who the source was; I certainly do not. However, I do have a theory for your consideration, Gentle Reader.
It is reported that the 15 boxes contain governmental documents with news articles and magazines interspersed. Who would be concerned with such stuff being left sitting around the house? If The Donald is like most husbands, he probably does not get exorcised over a few extra items thrown into an attic, a basement, or a closet. However, if Melania is anything like Peg, she takes a dim view of stacks of stuff cluttering up her house.
I remember when Peg and I last moved she took it as an opportunity to jettison a great deal of what I held dear, such as stories about my youth and old files from legal cases long forgotten. Anytime I was not vigilant Peg would trash my treasures to make room for her new acquisitions in our new residence. Clutter is to Peg as the contents of the Augean Stables were to Hercules and it seems most of what I hold dear as personal history Peg decrees to be stable staples. We are in perpetual yang and yin of store or shovel when it comes to my inclination to preserve what Peg sees as dross. My guess is Donnie and Melania live a similar dynamic.
Now I do not know what was in the boxes. I do know the stuff sat around Florida from when the Trumps left Washington on January 28, 2021 and the country seemed to chug along okay until August 08, 2022 when the Search Warrant was executed. The stuff in the boxes did not seem to affect America’s decision to send billions of dollars of military equipment to help Ukraine defend the war against Russia’s invasion. It is probably what the psychologists would call my retrogressive inhibitions from the 1960s, but for some reason, visions of Viet Nam and Afghanistan keep muddling around in my brain. The contents of the boxes may be of no more significance than the contents of the file cabinets I struggled to schlepp down three flights of steps from my attic in our old home and haul to a barn at our new one.
That is not to say Donald should not turn them over to the National Archives. Maybe they are important, or not, but they still belong to all of us. And I wonder if Melania may not have been that unhappy to see the closet doors open for the FBI to haul the offending boxes away so that they have now become the National Archives’ problem instead of hers.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegOsageRanch
Southern Indiana Reading Series Returns With Award-Winning Author Lydia Conklin
The Southern Indiana Reading Series will host a reading event with award-winning author Lydia Conklin at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, September 22 in the USI Performance Center. Conklin will read from their debut collection of short fiction, Rainbow Rainbow. A Q&A session and book signing will follow, and light refreshments will be provided. The event is free and open to the public.
Conklin is an Assistant Professor of Fiction at Vanderbilt University. Previously, they were the Hellen Zell Visiting Professor in Fiction at the University of Michigan. Conklin is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writer’s Award, three Pushcart Prizes, a grant from the Elizabeth George Foundation, among other honors. Their fiction has appeared in Tin House, American Short Fiction, The Southern Review, The Gettysburg Review and elsewhere.
They have drawn graphic fiction for Lenny Letter, Drunken Boat, and the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and cartoons for The New Yorker and Narrative Magazine. Conklin’s story collection, Rainbow Rainbow, was published in June 2022 by Catapult and explores queer, gender-nonconforming, and trans characters and their struggles to find love and forgiveness.
