|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE AREA
Responsive employer
Shabazz Awaits Response From AG Rokita, SPJ Demands An Apology
Shabazz Awaits Response From AG Rokita, SPJ Demands An Apology
- By Haley Pritchett, TheStatehouseFile.com
- Oct 18, 2021, Updated 5 hrs ago
The Indiana Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is demanding an apology from Attorney General Todd Rokita to journalist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz after excluding him from a news conference.
Shabazz was denied access to Rokita’s press conference on robocalls Thursday after receiving an invitation to the event and sending his RSVP. Shabazz said he was told that he was not credentialed media, adding that in his 30-year journalism career covering politics, this is the first time he has ever been told his Indiana Department of Administration access badge was not enough.
Indiana SPJ said in its letter Friday that the organization found Rokita’s decision to deny access to Shabazz reckless and unconstitutional. The attorney general’s office did not respond to questions about Shabazz Friday or Monday.
“These actions reflect a cavalier and indifferent regard for not only the First Amendment but the Indiana state laws which you are sworn to uphold,†the letter said. “We find these actions to be a threat to press freedom and to our very democracy.â€
Shabazz said that he believes he has turned away due to Rokita’s personal feelings about him.
“Why the attorney general would do that makes no sense to me, particularly because of the legal consequences for locking out the media from your news conference,†he said.
Michael Puente, board president of the Indiana Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, said that elected officials picking and choosing who gets to cover their press conference does not serve the public, and he thinks this is happening more.
“They should be upholding the laws of the Constitution of the United States, the state of Indiana, and calling for freedom of the press,†he said. “You can’t deny access.â€
Shabazz said that he was especially alarmed that Rokita would limit First Amendment freedoms after his attempts to pass the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which gives parents the power to question school officials publicly.
“I just think it’s very hypocritical for an elected official, who by the way took an oath to uphold the Constitution, which includes the First Amendment, and has been yelling and screaming about school boards, to go around and do the exact same thing that he’s accusing other people of doing,†he said.
Shabazz has yet to receive a response from Rokita after sending an email on Friday asking for clarification on how he defines credentialed media.
“We demand an apology for Mr. Shabazz and for his credentials to once again be recognized by your office, as they have been by countless other elected and appointed officials throughout his 30-year career,†Indiana SPJ said in its letter.
FOOTNOTE: Haley Pritchett is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERSÂ REGULAR MEETINGÂ In KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERSÂ In ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEXÂ On WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021Â At 12:00 NOON
 AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. MEETING MEMORANDUM Â OCTOBER 6, 2021
3. CONSENT AGENDA Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
       a. Request Re: Approve and Execute 2022 Board of Park Commissioners Meeting Dates.                                              Â
4. Â Â Â Â OLD BUSINESS Â
       N/A
5.     NEW BUSINESS Â
       a. Request Re: Permission for a reduced rate of $3.00 for the skating portion of the  Park-n-Rec Halloween Spooktacular event being held at Swonder Ice Arena.  Proceeds from the skate to benefit the Parks Foundation.- Crook
       b. Request Re: Permission to reduce Pickleball rates at C.K. Newsome.- Schneider
       c. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments
6.     REPORTS      Â
7.     ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS
8.     ADJOURN
Vincennes University Jasper Unveils Collaborative Robots Lab
JASPER, Ind., October 18, 2021 – We are surrounded by technology, and it is changing at lightning speed. In many cases, the future is now. It used to be humans and robots sharing a workspace safely as co-workers were unimaginable. Collaborative robots or cobots currently work side by side with humans in a myriad of fields, including manufacturing, medical, and aviation.
Vincennes University is bringing advanced technology and training to Dubois County to support the manufacturing employers throughout the area as well as helping build a talent pipeline in advanced automation and cobots. VU and its partner Carmel-based Telamon recently installed 11 collaborative robots at the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing (CTIM) on the Vincennes University Jasper Campus.
According to VU Provost Dr. Laura Treanor, “Vincennes University is proud to invest in bold projects that keep Indiana moving forward. We are committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve, and we are proud to offer access to the latest technologies and modern processes to those we partner within the Jasper area. The cutting-edge cobot learning lab in the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Manufacturing at VUJ will be an exceptional resource for existing industry and education partners, as well as new connections.”
The cobot lab in the CTIM is part of a larger investment VU is making in the Jasper Campus. A $2 million renovation of the Jasper Administration Building is slated for completion in December. With funding from the Lilly Endowment, the University and VU Jasper are expanding their partnerships with local schools to enhance learning and career awareness in critical Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. VU has partnered with the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center (IN-MaC) at Purdue and has placed two Design & Innovation Studios in elementary schools, and is launching a summer STEM academy for area high school students.
Robotics technology and automation are transforming the workforce and altering the look of workplaces. Cobots, which are deployed to support and improve the efficiency of the human worker, can be additional support for the human, giving them an extra set of hands. They enhance productivity rather than replace humans in the workplace.
For example, a robot in a manufacturing setting could be a robotic arm with a grasping mechanism that performs a repetitive task like picking and placing with the human performing the more valuable assembly of the part. Improvements in sensor technology allow robots to safely interact with humans, work at human speeds, and some are even guided by human contact. Cobots are smaller, able to be moved, and easier to reprogram to perform different tasks.
The new collaborative robotics lab in the CTIM is part of an $8 million “Developing a Workforce Ecosystem for Industry 4.0 in Indiana” grant funded by a Lilly Endowment Inc. initiative. The training lab will allow VU Jasper to provide employers with demonstrations, workshops, and access to emerging cobot technologies, applications, and models.
“We are pleased Vincennes University has selected VU Jasper for a cobot learning lab,” CTIM Director Jacob Berg said. “Cobots represent the next generation of automation within the manufacturing sector and will become part of the solution to overcoming current productivity and workforce challenges. We are excited to provide our students and partner companies with opportunities to learn about this new technology. The VUJ Cobot Learning Lab is a resource for all community partners to explore and test collaborative robots.”
Cobot competitions and boot camps are also in the works as VU strives to promote emerging technologies and engage educators, students, parents, and employers. The University anticipates offering scholarships, credentials, and degrees in STEM-focused programming.
The cobot learning lab on the VU Jasper Campus is one of VU’s three labs in Central and Southern Indiana. Cobots are currently in the Gene Haas Training and Education Center in Lebanon. The state-of-the-art Center for Applied Robotics and Automation (CARA) is under construction on the Vincennes Campus.
VUJ offers access to many one-of-a-kind opportunities for employers, students, and residents of Dubois County and the surrounding region.
VUJ has forged a significant partnership with the Patoka Valley Cooperative. Together, they launched the Automation and Robotics Academy (ARA) for high school students. They have also created additional pathways for high school students in Aviation Operations, Construction Trades, IT, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, Emergency Medical Technician, and Health Science. The ARA and Construction Trades programs have the distinction of being an Indiana State Earn and Learn (SEAL) program, a designation awarded by the Indiana Office of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship (OWBLA).
Another unique program is the Career Advancement Partnership (CAP). CAP is a major workforce development initiative between VU Jasper and local companies. VU Jasper students learn high-demand industrial maintenance skills while working internships with industry partners.
Salvation Army To Make Major Donation To Operation Allies Welcome
Donation To Fill Major Void For Afghans At Camp Atterbury
The Salvation Army Indiana Division on Thursday will announce a major donation to Operation Allies Welcome and the families temporarily housed at Camp Atterbury. Each year, The Salvation Army teams up with WTHR and Classic Cleaners to host Coats for Kids, a campaign to collect donations to keep families warm in the winter. This year, the charitable organization extended that cause to help young Afghan evacuees currently housed in Indiana.
Salvation Army representatives will be joined by leadership from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana National Guard.
Salvation Army Donation Announcement
9 a.m. Oct. 21
Kessler-Moore Readiness Center, 2625 W. Kessler Blvd. North Drive
Central Indiana collection site for Hoosier donations
Who:  Stephen Cox, IDHS Executive Director,  Major Marc Johnson, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Indiana Division, and Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles, Indiana National Guard Adjutant General
GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION TO MEET OCT. 21
|
|
|
Miah Michaelsen Named Indiana Arts Commission Executive Director
(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that Miah Michaelsen will serve as the agency’s next executive director. Michaelsen’s history with the IAC spans more than a decade, beginning as a regional arts partner for both the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Area Arts Council. She has served as the agency’s deputy director of operations since 2016.
A seven-member search committee that included artists, arts organizations, and commissioners led the search process.
“We could not be more excited to welcome Miah Michaelsen as the next executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission,†said Alberta Barker, Indiana Arts Commission chair, and chair of the search committee. “Miah has a track record of innovation, a demonstrated history of leadership, and a deeply held commitment to the arts in our state. We look forward to working with her and the great team already in place at the Indiana Arts Commission as they guide the agency into a new era.â€
Before joining the IAC, Michaelsen served as the first assistant economic development director for the arts for the City of Bloomington. In that role she developed and implemented all aspects of programming and services offered to the creative sector by the City of Bloomington and its state-designated cultural district, the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD).
She also served in executive director roles for the Bloomington Area Arts Council, the Children’s Hands-On Museum in Tuscaloosa, AL and the Kentuck Art Center and Festival in Northport, AL. She has served on panels including the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Arts Council of Indianapolis, and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. Michaelsen is a graduate of Hendrix College (Conway, AR) with a BA with Distinction in Theatre. She lives in Bloomington with her husband, Jonathan, and has two adult sons, Brendan and Wyeth.
Michaelsen replaces Lewis Ricci, who retired after 15 years of service as executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission.
Older Hoosier & Caregiver Community Conversations
There are two additional opportunities for older Hoosiers and/or their caregivers to give feedback about the services they receive and what they need. Please encourage anyone interested in participating to attend:
- Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. CDT)
- Thursday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. CDT)
Register to attend here: https://tinyurl.com/INCommunityMeeting
We also encourage you to post and/or set this flyer, available here, to make your customers, members, clients, etc. aware.
Please contact InformIN@advancingstates.org with any questions.