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HEALTH OFFICIALS PROVIDE UPDATE ON COVID-19
Teachers Act Passes House Of Representatives, Heads To President’s Desk
WASHINGTON – The Consider Teachers Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Mike Braun, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Senator Tina Smith, Senator Raphael Warnock, and Senator John Cornyn, and in the House by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz aimed at fixing a broken system burdening teachers with unfair loans, passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. This legislation was passed in the Senate in April and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The TEACH Grant program provides grant assistance to students who serve four years as a full time teacher in high-need, often underserved communities. However, often due to basic clerical mistakes, thousands of teachers have found their grants converted into loans that must be paid back with interest. The Consider Teachers Act aims to fix this broken system permanently, and provides extra time for teachers to complete service requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The TEACH grant is an important program to incentivize teachers to serve in neglected communities, but 12 years of poor government management has turned these grants into groans for thousands of teachers,” said Senator Mike Braun. “The passage of the Consider Teachers Act in the House and Senate shows our appreciation for America’s great teachers, and now I look forward to this bipartisan bill being signed into law.”
“Arizona teachers receiving TEACH grants serve in low-income schools, helping Arizona students access quality educations across our state,â€Â said Senator Kyrsten Sinema. “The government made a promise to these teachers—and our commonsense, bipartisan bill ensures the government honors its obligation and protects our teachers from surprise bills.â€
“The TEACH Grant program has done so much for Texas students in high-need areas, but it’s crucial that we make sure this program is implemented responsibly and efficiently,” said Senator John Cornyn. “The Consider Teachers Act would streamline this grant process, ensuring that teachers will not be saddled with debt as a result of the bureaucratic inefficiencies in this program. I’m proud to join my colleagues in the Senate and House in shepherding this important bill through Congress.”
“TEACH grants not only help support the next generation of teachers, but help ensure Georgia students receive a quality education, no matter their parents’ income or zip code,â€Â said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “I’m proud to support this bipartisan legislation to give our teachers the security they deserve.â€
“As a mother and educator, I understand the importance of strong teachers for high quality learning,†said Congresswoman Victoria Spartz. “I was happy to join my Senate and House colleagues in leading the Consider Teachers Act, which clarifies and streamlines some processes for the TEACH Grant program.â€
“I am pleased the House today passed the Consider Teachers Act of 2021, which will reform the TEACH Grant program, which is unfairly converting many teachers’ grants to loans,â€Â said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. “Currently, many teachers are finding their grants converted to loans because of small administrative errors. This bill will correct the administrative process and extend the period teachers have to fulfill their service requirements by three years for those who were affected by the coronavirus crisis. It will now head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. As the daughter of a teacher in the D.C. public schools, Vela Holmes, this bill pleases me personally.â€
“The TEACH Act is a perfect example of well-intended policy that, when put in to practice, produced a bureaucratic headache for those it intended to help, said Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader Virginia Foxx. “A lesson Congress should always remember – policies that look good on paper must convert to real world success. The bipartisan Consider Teachers Act will help more teachers obtain their promised student loan forgiveness, as long as they fulfill their four-year service obligation, without fear that bureaucratic folly could leave them indebted for life.â€
“Finally, we have some good news for teachers participating in the TEACH Grant program who wrongly had their grants converted into loans—with back interest due,â€Â said Senator Tina Smith. “This bipartisan legislation will reform the program’s administration processes so minor paperwork issues don’t cause crushing financial consequences. This never should have happened in the first place, and it took too long to fix, but I’m glad we’re making changes to improve the program and support these teachers.â€
“It is critical that the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program would actually work as intended as we recover from the global health emergency that cost education jobs, exacerbated achievement gaps, and worsened the teacher shortage in many states and districts,â€Â said Chairman Robert C. “Bobby†Scott. “However, administrative issues with the program have inadvertently converted thousands of these grants into loans which must be paid back with interest. The Consider Teachers Act is a bipartisan legislative fix that would ensure TEACH grants can continue to strengthen and expand our nation’s teacher workforc
Gov. Beshear Updates Kentuckians On COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations
Gov. Beshear Updates Kentuckians On COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations
Five monoclonal antibody injection teams coming to Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Following the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s amended authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Gov. Andy Beshear said today that his administration recommends the following Kentuckians who received a Pfizer vaccine series get a booster six months after their second shot:
- Individuals 65 and older;
- Those living in a long-term care facility;
- People 18 to 64 who have a medical condition that increases their risk of severe COVID-19 infection – examples of these include diabetes, heart, kidney or lung disease, or a BMI greater than 25; or
- People 18 to 64 who are likely to get exposed at their place of work – examples of high-risk work environments include health care and education.
“What I want to do is clear up any confusion that’s out there and let you know who can get the boosters,†said Gov. Beshear. “If you are eligible, go get them. There are plenty of vaccine doses out there.â€
In addition, the Governor said for immunocompromised individuals – for example, people who are undergoing cancer treatment or who are taking a high dose of an immunosuppressant – a third shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is recommended at least 28 days after the second shot.
For those who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, no booster dose is recommended at this time.
“It appears that because of these vaccines, new cases may not only be plateauing, but we may be seeing a decrease in cases, hospitalizations and the positivity rate,†said Gov. Beshear.
He added: “With that said, we are still seeing far too many deaths, and this strain is killing more and more younger Kentuckians, primarily those who are unvaccinated. On Saturday, our report included a 39-year-old woman from Bell County. If you’re in your teens, 20s, 30s or 40s – don’t wait. Get vaccinated as quickly as possible.â€
Gov. Beshear also said the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services has confirmed five monoclonal antibody injection teams will arrive this week to provide treatment courses for Kentuckians with severe COVID-19.
“The teams are trained folks from the federal government that are going to come in and take over doing the monoclonal antibody treatments, which frees up other people in the hospital to tend to patients. Thursday, we are going to have our website up showing the 50-plus locations that you can get monoclonal antibodies, which will be in each area development district,†said Gov. Beshear. “We have been aggressive and we have argued our cause, which allowed us to receive more than the original ration, but over time that probably will not be the case. With our current rates of infection, there will not be enough for everyone.â€
The injections will be administered subcutaneously (under the skin). Today, a team arrived at Baptist Health Corbin; on Sept. 29, teams will arrive at Highlands ARH Regional Medical Center in Floyd County and Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky; and on Oct 1, teams will arrive at Taylor Regional Hospital in Campbellsville and ARH Middlesboro. Each team will include two to four nurses and/or paramedics to assist with injections.
Kentucky National Guard, Nursing Student and Testing Support for Hospitals
Currently, over 500 Kentucky National Guard members are deployed at hospitals across the commonwealth to assist health care heroes as they fight COVID-19. In addition, 27 hospitals are receiving nursing student support from Galen College of Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University, Jefferson Community and Technical College System campuses and regional Kentucky Community and Technical College System campuses.
The state is also sponsoring six community testing sites across Kentucky, in partnership with Gravity Diagnostics, the University of Kentucky and Wild Health.
“With the recent spike of the delta variant, we have been providing the community with quick testing so we can stay on top of this,†said Jordan Kelsey, clinical specialist at Gravity Diagnostics. “If we don’t have testing, people are going to spread this even worse than it currently is. We are able to provide a safe environment besides the emergency room (ER). Here, we can get people in and out quickly and help relieve the ER. We get results back in 24 hours, while other clinics can take up to two or three days.â€
To see an updated map of all Kentucky National Guard, nursing student and testing support for hospitals, click here.
To learn more about the aggregate, anonymized demographics of Kentuckians who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, including age, race, gender and ethnicity, click here.
COVID-19 Case Information Update
Number of people who have received at least one vaccine dose in Kentucky: 2,688,829
Number of people who received at least one vaccine dose since Friday: 16,537
From March 1 to Sept. 22, 86.7% of COVID-19 cases, 92.1% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 84.6% of COVID-19 deaths in Kentucky have been among those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.
The Governor reported that 60% of all Kentuckians, including those that are too young to be eligible, have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose; 71% of Kentuckians 12 or older, or 71%, of all eligible Kentuckians, have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose; and 73% of Kentucky adults have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Eleven Kentucky counties have reached the milestone of at least 60% of residents receiving at least their first dose: Anderson, Boone, Boyle, Campbell, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Kenton, Perry, Scott and Woodford.
Sept. 25, Cases: 3,171
Sept. 25, Deaths: 37
Sept. 26, Cases: 1,563
Sept. 26, Deaths: 31
New Cases Today: 1,729
New Deaths: 19
Today’s Positivity Rate: 10.55%
Current Hospitalizations: 2,045
Current Intensive Care Admittances: 617
Currently on Ventilators: 399
Attorney General Todd Rokita: ‘California Liberals Should Not Set Environmental Policy For Indiana’
Attorney General Todd Rokita: ‘California Liberals Should Not Set Environmental Policy For Indiana’
Attorney General Todd Rokita today expressed his strong objection to new standards on greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which are based on a unique consideration of California priorities.
“These proposed new standards completely disregard the distinct conditions and economies of the individual states, and they neglect important national interests critical to America as a whole,†Attorney General Rokita said. “President Biden’s EPA bureaucrats openly admit that they developed the new rule with a special focus on California. On behalf of Hoosiers, I contend that California liberals should not set environmental policy for Indiana and the rest of the nation.â€
Attorney General Rokita and 15 other attorneys general submitted a letter to the EPA registering their adamant concerns regarding the EPA’s notice of proposed rulemaking titled, “Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards.â€
“California’s unconstitutional favoritism under the Clean Air Act, and attempted domination of federal policy, is not a valid basis for promulgating nationwide emissions standards,†states the Ohio-led letter. “Moreover, the proposed standards rest on an overly speculative cost-benefit analysis and entirely fail to consider how reliance on China for raw materials and manufacturing will harm our national security.â€
By granting California special status, the letter states, the Clean Air Act itself “violates the doctrine of equal sovereignty — a doctrine inherent in our Constitution and express in Supreme Court precedent — by allowing California to exercise sovereign authority that the Act takes from every other State.â€
The letter is attached.
Deaconess Aquatic Center Releases Hours, Pricing & Upcoming Programming
The City of Evansville and YMCA of Southwestern Indiana is pleased to announce additional details about the Deaconess Aquatic Center (DAC).
Hours of Operation
Lilly King Competition Pool
5 – 9 a.m. (Monday thru Saturday for public lap swim)
3 – 6 p.m. (Monday thru Friday for swim team practice and lap swim)
Noon – 5 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday for public lap swim)
Recreational Pool & Splash Pad
9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Monday thru Friday)
3 – 7 p.m. (Monday thru Friday)
Noon – 5 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday)
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance will be available to those in need for membership and programming at DAC.
Assistance will be awarded based on a sliding scale to ensure equitable access to safe, family-fun activities and water fitness.
“We want people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds to discover the joy and health benefits of swimming,†said Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “The City of Evansville and YMCA are working together with the Dream Center, Welborn Baptist Foundation, Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation, Jacobsville stakeholders and several other community organizations to ensure access for the children of our community.â€
As Evansville’s newest asset, Deaconess Aquatic Center is available to all in our community. Although the YMCA is managing the facility, a YMCA membership is not required for admittance.
Pricing
Pool passes and memberships are available for purchase, immediately. The following are the standard rates without discounts or adjustments.
Daily Pass: $6
Pass Packages:
- 15 visits: $55
- 30 visits: $106
- 45 visits: $135
Monthly Individual Membership: $25
Monthly Family Membership: $50
Community Rooms
Two community rooms are available for birthday parties, meetings,s and event rental.
The rooms are currently being offered to neighborhood partners – Jacobsville Neighborhood Improvement Association and the Dream Center – for their respective board meetings.
Upcoming Programming & Services
October 4: GREAT Swim Club will begin training in the Lilly King Competition Pool
October 12: Morning water fitness classes begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week
October 25:Â EVSC and ECS boys and girls high school swimming season begins
October 31:Â Last day of the season for the CenterPoint Energy Splash Pad
November through December: YMCA will be scheduling stroke clinics, adult swimming workshops and other programs like masters swimming
January 1: Swim lessons will begin
For more information about passes, memberships and rentals, call 812-402-9770.
A new DAC website is currently being developed. Updates will be posted via social media athttps://www.facebook.com/EvansvilleDAC or https://twitter.com/EvansvilleDAC.
Vincennes University to take high school students electrofishing
New Indiana Connectivity Program Now Open
STATEHOUSE (Sept. 27, 2021) – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced the Indiana Connectivity Program, a new resource designed to help more Hoosiers obtain access to reliable and quality broadband, is now open.
Homeowners and business owners can now apply for consideration. This new tool can connect residents and businesses that lack internet service with internet service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to unserved and underserved locations.
“The Indiana Connectivity Program aims to bring high quality broadband service to unserved and underserved Hoosiers,” Crouch said. “The last year and a half has shined a light on the severe importance of having everyone connected. This program is a path to bring service to households and businesses that are in internet darkness or have speeds that are not meeting the demands on our students who are eLearning or our workforce teleworking.”
Hoosiers and business owners lacking internet connectivity can communicate their interest by entering their address and information into the Next Level Connections portal at in.gov/ocra/broadband.
Hoosiers can also initiate interest by calling the Indiana Broadband Connect Center, which is open on business days from from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET. Hoosiers can reach the call center at 833-639-8522.
“Through this program, we can help more Hoosiers, especially those in rural areas, have better access to quality internet service,†said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “The Indiana Connectivity Program is one more step toward expanding broadband accessibility to all corners of Indiana.â€
To be eligible, a location must have access to actual speeds of less than 25 Mbps (download) and 3 Mbps (upload). Inputting location information into the Next Level Connections Broadband portal does not guarantee extension of service.
Eligible locations submitted will be available to service providers within 90 days. Next Level Connections Broadband Program funding may be available to assist in expanding internet opportunities to these locations, following a 60-day bidding process. Once awarded, providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date.
Coach Mike Owen Field Dedication
Evansville Rally for Abortion Rights
Evansville, IN –  October 2nd Evansville Rally for Abortion Rights will host a rally at the Four Freedoms Monument on the Evansville riverfront along with a voter registration drive to raise awareness around reproductive rights legislation around the country that will impact the reproductive health and essential care of members of our community and the tri-state area.Â
The Supreme Court has failed millions of Texans. In the dead of the night, the Supreme Court turned its back on 50 years of precedent, rendering Roe v. Wade effectively meaningless in that state. This is unprecedented and we can not let it stand. We cannot let Indiana enact similar legislation.
 WHO: Speakers include: Kaitlin Moore, Evansville City Council Member, Katherine Rybak, Attorney, Maddie Bogan, Albion Fellows Bacon Center
WHAT: Evansville Rally for Abortion Rights https://fb.me/e/1i6CoQpLV
WHERE: The Four Freedoms Monument, 201 SE Riverside Dr, Evansville, IN 47713
WHEN:Â Saturday, October 2, 2021, 2pm
UPCOMING EVENTS AT USI
USI UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 3
USI’s Historic New Harmony hosts a No Digital Weekend on October 2 and 3
The University of Southern Indiana’s Historic New Harmony is hosting a No Digital Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of Robert Owen’s birth. As part of the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Robert Owen’s birth, Historic New Harmony is inviting people to New Harmony and asking for people to intentionally unplug for the weekend.
Artist talk at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 2
New Harmony Gallery hosts an exhibition, Describing Language: Thinking Through Access and Communication
The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art’s latest exhibition, Describing Language: Thinking Through Access and Communication is currently on display through Saturday, October 2. The exhibition will end with a virtual open conversation with artists, curators, and researchers at 3 p.m. Saturday, October 2.
Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, November 14
USI and Historic New Harmony host traveling Smithsonian exhibit and programming highlighting Water/Ways
USI’s Historic New Harmony will host the Smithsonian-curated traveling exhibit called Water/Ways at the Atheneum Saturday, October 2 through Sunday, November 14. The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. In partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the USGS Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (OKI) Water Science Center, Historic New Harmony also developed two permanent waysides to be installed on the Atheneum grounds, detailing both the history of the Wabash and the importance of conservation of the river for both people and wildlife. These waysides will be available to view starting Saturday, October 2.
Open through Friday, October 8
Trio of visiting artists highlighted in first exhibition of 2021-22
The University of Southern Indiana will host Present Perfect: A Showcase of Past Visiting Artists, the first exhibition of the 2021-22 academic year, from August 23 to October 8 in the McCutchan Art Center / Pace Galleries. Present Perfect features the works of three artists who have given workshops to USI students previously but have not exhibited at the university before. Each artist will have their own dedicated space within the Galleries as part of the exhibition.
Thursday, October 14 – Sunday, October 17
USI Theatre opens 2021-2022 with live productions
USI Theatre is proud to open its 2021-22 season with a return to live performances! Â The first production of the season, The Mad Ones, is a new musical written by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk and directed by USI Associate Professor of Theatre Eric Altheide. Â The production runs from October 14-17 in the USI Performance Center located in University Center East on the USI campus.
USI to begin an exploration into the feasibility of a move to Division I Athletics
Ronald S. Rochon, the president, announced the exploration in a message to USI students, faculty, staff, and retirees on Monday, September 27.
USI STEM education programs receive grants from Commission for Higher EducationThe University of Southern Indiana Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education has been awarded two grants totaling $440,000 by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) for sustaining programs intended to recruit and train teachers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects.
National Academy of Medicine award to advance USI research linking artificial intelligence and aging
The University of Southern Indiana has received a $50,000 Catalyst Award from the U.S. National Academy of Medicine (NAM) — part of the National Academy of Sciences — for a project to improve emotional well-being and independence for people living with dementia, especially that aging-in-place.
USI to waive undergraduate application fee through September 30 for College GO! Week
In conjunction with College GO! Week sponsored by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the University of Southern Indiana invites students to submit their undergraduate admission applications for free through Thursday, September 30.
Three named to director-level positions at USI
The University of Southern Indiana announces three recent director-level promotions in Counseling and Psychological Services, New Student and Transitional Programs and the Information Technology Department.
STUDENT EVENTS
A collection of events on campus and in the community sponsored by USI student organizations can be found on the USI events calendar by clicking here.