Thank You Hoosier Nurses
Thank You Hoosier Nurses
By State Representative, Tim O’BrienÂ
Hoosier nurses work hard and selflessly serve our communities. These professionals are heroes for being on the frontlines to help Hoosiers in their most challenging and vulnerable moments. As we celebrate National Nurses Week through May 12, let’s come together to voice our appreciation for those who dedicate their careers to this worthy profession. From births and broken bones to surgeries and scrapes, the care provided by nurses is critical. It’s also a time to shine a light on the need for more skilled nurses in Indiana as demand continues to outpace supply. Thankfully, our state is stepping up to help.
Even before the COVID-19 virus began to spread, hospitals across our nation experienced a severe nursing shortage. The pandemic exacerbated an already stressful situation for nurses and Indiana is projected to need 5,000 additional nurses by 2031. This means we will need 1,350 additional students above what’s projected to graduate from nursing school each year to meet our needs.
With more than 4,000 nursing job openings statewide, I voted for a new law already in effect which allows nursing programs to increase enrollment at faster rates and accept more clinical simulation hours, all while maintaining high-quality training for all nursing students.
With the demand for nurses, competitive salaries and numerous specialties to choose from, launching a nursing career can be very rewarding. To learn more about a career in nursing, including scholarships dedicated to those who agree to work in Indiana upon graduating, visit ic4n.org.
Please take a moment to thank a nurse this week. Whether in an emergency room, at our schools or in the workplace, nurses are there for us in our time of need. Thank you, nurses, for your dedication and care.
USI Softball Nabs Top Seed iI MW Regional
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball was awarded the top overall seed for the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament Monday morning in an announcement by the national office on ncaa.com. The Screaming Eagles will play host to the four-team NCAA II Midwest Region #1 Tournament Thursday-Saturday at the USI Softball Field.
The Eagles (43-10), who won their fifth Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title and first since 2017 Sunday, square off against No. 8 seed Saginaw Valley State University Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in game two. The opening game, scheduled for Thursday at noon, features the No. 4 seed, Lindenwood University, taking on the No. 5 seed, Drury University.
The winners of game one and game two will meet Friday at noon in the winner’s bracket, while the losers of those two contests will square off in the elimination bracket Friday at 2:30 p.m. There will be one more elimination bracket game Friday at 5 p.m., while the championship and “if necessary” games are Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m., respectively.
This marks the second time in program history that USI has hosted the NCAA II Midwest Regional and the first time since 2017. It is the first time USI has hosted as the No. 1 seed.
If the Eagles come out of their half of the bracket, they’ll face the winner of the NCAA II Midwest Region #2 Tournament May 19-20 at the USI Softball Field.
The University of Indianapolis garnered the No. 2 seed and is hosting the NCAA II Midwest Region #2 Tournament. UIndy faces the No. 7 seed, the University of Findlay, in the opening round, while the No 3 seed, Grand Valley State University, takes on the No. 6 seed, Ohio Dominican University, in the other first-round contest.
Tickets for this weekend’s regional are $5 for adults and $3 for college students with valid ID and youth (ages 3-17). All games will be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network, while USI’s games also will be carried on 95.7 The Spin as well as ESPN 97.7 The Ref. Live stats , audio and video links will be available on GoUSIEagles.com.
US Marshals Service Are Investigating The Death Of Vicky White, Fugitive From Alabama
The Vanderburgh County Coroners Office, the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office, and the US Marshals Service are investigating the death of Vicky White, fugitive from Alabama.
White died at Deaconess Hospital at 19:06 hrs CST. An autopsy is scheduled for 17:00 hrs. tomorrow. Additional information will be available after the autopsy.
The Sheriff’s Office can provide investigative information as it becomes available.Â
Simon Scherry named MVC Player of the Week
Scherry is the sixth Ace this season to earn an MVC weekly honor, joining Mark Shallenberger, Tanner Craig, Shane Gray, Evan Berkey, and Nick Smith, who won the honor twice this season.
The Aces are back on the field at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on Wednesday night for a 6 PM first pitch against SIUE.
Senator Mike Braun Presses HHS Secretary Over Government Health Guide
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Braun pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on his Department’s recommendations for “Gender Affirming Care†drugs and surgeries for adolescents.
The Health Resource guide from the Department of Health and Human Services says that, “for transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being.â€
The guide goes on to define the term “gender affirming care†as including social affirmation, but also puberty blocking drugs, “partially†irreversible testosterone/estrogen hormone therapy, and completely irreversible “gender-affirming surgeries†such as double mastectomies and genital surgery on a “case by case†basis for adolescents.
Senator Braun asked Secretary Becerra under what “case by case†conditions a sex change surgery would be appropriate for a minor, and whether the Secretary understood that puberty blockers and hormone therapy are not FDA approved for the purpose of gender transition which the Department is recommending.
Senator Braun to Secretary Becerra: “I think the government shouldn’t be pushing kids toward irreversible sex change therapy. We’re moving into territory we’ve never been in as a government. These kids are having a hard time and we should be focusing more on mental health and not surgeries for kids that are totally irreversible. You’re promoting things that are out of sync with most of America and I think it would be wise to back up a little bit.†– Senator Mike Braun
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Mike Braun pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on his Department’s recommendations for “Gender Affirming Care†drugs and surgeries for adolescents.
The Health Resource guide from the Department of Health and Human Services says that, “for transgender and nonbinary children and adolescents, early gender-affirming care is crucial to overall health and well-being.â€
The guide goes on to define the term “gender affirming care†as including social affirmation, but also puberty blocking drugs, “partially†irreversible testosterone/estrogen hormone therapy, and completely irreversible “gender-affirming surgeries†such as double mastectomies and genital surgery on a “case by case†basis for adolescents.
Senator Braun asked Secretary Becerra under what “case by case†conditions a sex change surgery would be appropriate for a minor, and whether the Secretary understood that puberty blockers and hormone therapy are not FDA approved for the purpose of gender transition which the Department is recommending.
Senator Braun to Secretary Becerra: “I think the government shouldn’t be pushing kids toward irreversible sex change therapy. We’re moving into territory we’ve never been in as a government. These kids are having a hard time and we should be focusing more on mental health and not surgeries for kids that are totally irreversible. You’re promoting things that are out of sync with most of America and I think it would be wise to back up a little bit.†– Senator Mike Braun
Waupaca Graduation on May 13 at noon
Waupaca Graduation Ceremony
Friday, May 13
noon-1 p.m.
Ivy Tech Career & Technology Center
1034 31st Street., Tell City
Background:Â Employees at Waupaca Foundry will celebrate earning an Interdisciplinary Workforce Certificate, along with their invited guests. The ceremony will take place at Noon.
Contact at the event: Katie King, director, Tell City Career & Technology Center
Attorney General Todd Rokita Fights Again To Preserve Trump-era ‘Remain In Mexico’ Policy
Attorney General Rokita Leads An 18-state Coalition In Another U.S. Supreme Court FilingÂ
Attorney General Todd Rokita today led an 18-state coalition in his latest action aimed at preserving the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico†policy, which successfully stemmed the tide of illegal immigrants pouring into the United States until the Biden administration illegally suspended it in January 2021.Â
“We’re going to keep fighting for the rule of law because the safety and well-being of Hoosiers depend on it,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Illegal aliens crossing the U.S.-Mexico border can show up in Indiana within 48 hours, and we have Hoosier communities overwhelmed by fentanyl, drug trafficking, and human trafficking brought here by the cartels.â€Â   Â
In April, Attorney General Rokita led a 19-state coalition in an initial amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to sustain the “Remain in Mexico†policy — formally titled the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).Â
Today, Attorney General Rokita filed a supplemental amicus brief addressing several procedural issues, such as whether the U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction to settle the questions raised in this case. Â
“The Biden administration is grasping for ways to justify its intentional disregard of the law,†Attorney General Rokita said. “But there is no such justification, and we are holding them accountable.â€Â
MPP is designed to ensure compliance with longstanding immigration laws passed by Congress requiring that immigrants not clearly authorized to cross the Mexican border into the U.S. be either 1) detained, 2) required to stay in Mexico or 3) “paroled†into the United States based on narrowly defined case-by-case circumstances featuring “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.â€â€¯Â
Attorney General Rokita has traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border twice to assess conditions and discuss issues of mutual concern with leaders from other states. He will visit for a third time this week to meet with his Mexican counterparts. Â
Genealogy Virtual Event
I’ve Got My Ancestry DNA Test Report:
Evaluating My Test Results for Connections
This is a VIRTUAL program hosted by Willard Public Library and the Tri-State Genealogical Society.
QUICK PROGRAM DETAILS:
May 10, 2022Â Â Â 6 – 7:30PM
Zoom Link Below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89997607716?pwd=T2dxdHpHSEJ5bExaQWNmVCtuYXhmQT09
This presentation will be available via Zoom. Please contact Special Collections Librarian Vickie Olson at volson@willard.lib.in.us or the Tri-State Genealogical Society President Vannetta McDowell at president.tsgs@gmail.com for the link.
This event will not be recorded!
Our Speaker: Patti Todd Gillespie
Patti Todd Gillespie brings energy and humor to her classes. She is a huge believer in lifetime learning and inclusive, respectful presenting. An avid hobby genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research company, 6 years ago. She stays busy researching for clients and speaks to groups, small and large, in and out of Texas—usually virtually now. She presented two sessions at RootsTech Connect 2021; in 2020 she presented several sessions for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS); she has spoken several times at Texas State Family History Conference. A former teacher of French & English, Patti very much enjoys presenting. She watches as many genealogy webinars as possible when not attending to her husband, children, grandchildren, landscaping, and rescue dog. Eventually Patti plans to continue her blog for the 25 avid readers she treasures.