February 6 – February 12The Week in Indiana History |
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“Dancing is like bank robbery, it takes split-second timing.” —Twyla Tharp Born in Portland, Indiana, in 1941, Twyla Tharp has become a famous American dancer, choreographer, and author. Her work often employs classical music, jazz, and pop music.
Answers: 1. C  2. A  3. D  4. B |
Hoosier History Highlights: Maya Angelou Visits Indianapolis
1861   On February 12th, Abraham Lincoln woke up on his 52nd birthday at the Bates House Hotel in Indianapolis (pictured). He had breakfast with Governor Oliver P. Morton. Lincoln’s wife, Mary, and son, Robert, joined him on the train as he continued his trip to Washington, D.C., to take the oath as the nation’s 16th President.
1981   Author and poet Maya Angelou spoke at the St. Peter Claver Center. She was part of the Indianapolis Public Library’s African American History Month. She recited her own poetry and emphasized the value of artistic expression. She said, “If a writer tells the truth about his or her experiences, every human being in the world understands it.”
EPA Announces $3.8 Million in Grants to Train Environmental Workers
EPA selects 19 organizations to receive Brownfields Job Training Grants to boost workforce training in underserved, overburdened communities
WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the selection of 19 organizations to receive a total of $3,797,102 in grants for job training programs across the country. Job training and workforce development are an important part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advance economic opportunities and deliver environmental justice to underserved communities to build a better America.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a better America and that means new, good-paying jobs. The Brownfields Job Training grants announced today will prepare over 1,000 individuals for new environmental jobs like those,â€Â said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This program will directly impact people’s lives, boosting the environmental workforce while helping to transform communities that need it the most.â€
Funded through the Agency’s Brownfields Job Training Program, these grants provide funding to organizations that are working to create a skilled workforce in communities where assessment, cleanup, and preparation of brownfield sites for reuse activities are taking place. Individuals completing a job training program funded by EPA often overcome a variety of barriers to employment. Many of these individuals are from historically underserved neighborhoods and reside in the areas affected by environmental justice issues.
Each selected grantee will be receiving approximately $200,000.  Today’s selected grantees are:
- Alaska Forum, Inc.                                                                    Anchorage, Alaska
- City of Pittsburg                                                                        Pittsburg, California
- City of Richmond                                                                      Richmond, California
- Los Angeles Conservation Corporation                  Los Angeles, California
- Hunters Point Family                                San Francisco, California
- Pioneer Bay Community Development Corporation         Port St. Joe, Florida
- OAI, Inc.                                                                                    Chicago, Illinois
- Workforce, Inc. dba Recycle Force                      Indianapolis, Indiana
- Civics Works, Inc.                                   Baltimore, Maryland
- City of Springfield                                   Springfield, Missouri
- Heartland Conservation Alliance                       Kansas City, Missouri
- St. Louis Community College                          St. Louis, Missouri
- Pathstone Corporation                               Rochester, New York
- City of Rochester                                                                    Rochester, New York
- Laborer’s Local 17 Training and Educational Fund         Newburgh, New York
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes                        Concho, Oklahoma
- Auberle                                                                                   McKeesport, Pennsylvania
- Coalfield Development Corporation                    Wayne, West Virginia
- Great Lakes Community Conservation Corp, Inc.         Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rather than filling local jobs with contractors from distant cities, these organizations provide training and offer residents of communities historically affected by environmental pollution, economic disinvestment, and brownfields an opportunity to gain the skills and certifications needed to secure local environmental work in their communities. Individuals typically graduate with a variety of certifications that improve their marketability and help ensure that employment opportunities are not just temporary contractual work, but long-term careers. This includes certifications in:
- Lead and asbestos abatement,
- Hazardous waste operations and emergency response,
- Mold remediation,
- Environmental sampling and analysis, and
- Other environmental health and safety training.
President Biden’s leadership and bipartisan congressional action have delivered the single-largest investment in national brownfields infrastructure ever. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) invests more than $1.5 billion through EPA’s brownfields program. Of that investment, $30 million will be invested into future Brownfields Job Training grants. During the next five years, communities, states, and tribes will have the opportunity to apply for larger grants to include and enhance the environmental curriculum in existing job training programs. This investment will help trained individuals access jobs created through brownfields revitalization activities within their communities. EPA anticipates awarding as many as 50 additional grants to job training entities with BIL funding, beginning in fiscal year 2023. Application guidelines will be available in Spring/Summer 2022.
EPA is also planning a listening session to receive feedback from current and potential grant applicants regarding the BIL and the future of the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program. The listening session is scheduled for February 9, 2022, 12:30-2:00 p.m. EST: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1604678094
Since this program began in 1998, the Brownfie
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS FOR COVID-19 TESTING, VACCINATION CLINICS
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Senators Braun, Burr, Representatives Foxx, Keller send letter to Labor Secretary Walsh calling for public engagement before new overtime rules
Senator Mike Braun (Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety), Senator Richard Burr (Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) and Representative Virginia Foxx (Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Labor) and Representative Fred Keller (Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections) sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh calling for “robust public engagement†before proposing any new overtime pay requirements, which the Department of Labor has stated it intends to issue in April 2022.
The Members write:
“We write to request that the Department of Labor (DOL or Department) conduct robust public engagement prior to any Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on overtime pay requirements. The Administrative Procedure Act recognizes the value of public participation in rulemaking, especially for rules that significantly affect the public. Given the past and present stakeholder interest in regulatory changes to overtime pay requirements, we request DOL conduct a Request for Information (RFI) and hold stakeholder meetings with the regulated community before commencing its process of writing an NPRM. Such steps will help DOL assess if changes are prudent and necessary at this time and gather information to better inform the substance and timing of any proposed changes.â€
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The letter goes on to question the need for overhauling the current overtime pay regulations, and emphasizes the need for public engagement with the employers and employees who will be affected by the changes before making them:
“The current overtime pay regulations were carefully developed with significant public input and at cost to the taxpayer. While DOL has stated its intention to issue an NRPM in April 2022, it is not evident that there is a real or pressing need to overhaul the current framework, which has only been in place for a scant two years. We therefore encourage the agency to engage first and foremost in an RFI process prior to developing new regulations.â€
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Todd Roki Files Multistate Lawsuit Against Precious-Metals Business That Schemed Elderly Victims
Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that schemed to trick elderly victims into investing in wildly overvalued precious metals.
At least 16 Indiana residents invested a total of more than $860,000 into silver coins and other products offered by Safeguard Metals. Nationally, at least 450 investors paid more than $68 million to the company.
Safeguard Metals’ customers generally and almost immediately suffered substantial losses on their investments due to fraudulently overpriced products. The company is operated by a California man named Jeffrey Santulan, also known as Jeffrey Hill.
“This con artist persuaded elderly folks to withdraw funds from safe and secure retirement accounts in order to throw their money away,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Secretary of State Sullivan and I are working together to bring him to justice and restore his victims, including Hoosiers right here in Indiana.â€
Attorney General Rokita is bringing the lawsuit on behalf of the Indiana Securities Division, which he previously oversaw in his capacity as Indiana Secretary of State. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the 27 states filed this legal action today in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
State financial agencies nationwide are investigating numerous more precious metals investment companies on similar allegations. To prevent any further damages, investors are advised to be particularly cautious when purchasing precious metals and to check for outrageously high commissions, spreads or markups as high as 30 to 70 percent.
As the market continues to fluctuate, authorities anticipate seeing more fraudsters capitalize on investors’ uncertainty and use fear to manipulate consumers out of their hard-earned money.
The investors in this case were advised to liquidate their holdings at registered investment firms to fund investments in precious metals, bullion, and bullion coins through self-directed individual retirement accounts. Self-directed IRAs should not be confused with traditional IRAs or other retirement vehicles.
In this case, the defendants are accused of failing to disclose the markup charge for their precious metals bullion products and that investors could lose the majority of their funds once a transaction was completed. In many cases, the market value of the precious metals sold to investors was substantially lower than the value of the securities and other retirement savings investors had liquidated to fund their purchase. Many investors liquidated their existing retirement accounts, which contained securities, to obtain funds to purchase the metals.
Attorney General Rokita thanked Deputy Attorney General Jefferson Garn for his work on this case.
Those suspecting they have been targeted by precious metals investment schemes may contact the Indiana Securities Division at securities@sos.in.gov or (317) 232-6681.
Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of any type of scam may file a complaint at indianaconsumer.com or call Attorney General Rokita’s office at 1-800-382-5516.
The complaint is attached.
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CenterPoint Energy Offers Outage And Safety Tips For Customers Ahead Of Winter Weather Forecast
CenterPoint Energy Offers Outage And Safety Tips For Customers Ahead Of Winter Weather Forecast
​Evansville – Feb. 2, 2022 – CenterPoint Energy continues to monitor weather conditions, as it is forecasted that the southwestern Indiana area will be experiencing ice and snow accumulation in the coming days. Safety is CenterPoint Energy’s top priority. The company is preparing for the upcoming weather conditions and wants customers to be prepared as well.
For The Latest Information On Power Outages Or To Report An Outage:
- Report an outage by texting OUT to 83212 or online via centerpointenergy.com.
- Customers are encouraged to sign up for Power Alert Service, which automatically notifies customers via SMS text, email or phone call when a power outage is detected at or near their address;
- Follow @CNPAlerts_INÂ on Twitter for electric restoration updates; and
- Visit Electric Outage Center for general outage locations, outage and safety tips and other resources.
CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to have an emergency plan, particularly if they depend on electricity for life-sustaining equipment and natural gas or electricity to heat their homes. The company is offering these tips to ensure safety and adequate heating in the coming days:
Electric:
The current weather forecast is predicting the chance for significant ice accumulation, which could impact power lines. Ice accumulation of 1/4″ or more can cause power lines to bow and potentially break. Always assume downed lines or wires are energized and potentially dangerous if contacted.
- ​Do not go near downed lines or fallen wires.
- Keep your distance from objects touching downed lines (tree limbs, vehicles, fences, etc.).
- If someone is actively being shocked due to contact with a power line, do not try to rescue them – you can’t help if you become a victim. Instead, call 911 immediately.
- Report downed power lines to both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-227-1376.
- Never use an electricity generator inside your home or any other building.
- While CenterPoint Energy might be aware of a particular outage, the cause might not be immediately identified. Customers are encouraged to notify CenterPoint Energy of any visible issues with infrastructure or equipment.
 Natural Gas:
- Make sure your heating system is working properly. Malfunctioning home heating equipment can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Check that outside furnace vents aren’t blocked by snow or ice. Keep your furnace filter clean for safe, efficient operation.
- Use space heaters safely. Use a space heater with an automatic shut-off feature, and keep children, pets and all items at least three feet away. A space heater that uses gas, propane or wood should be vented to the outside. Stoves and ovens should never be used for space heating.
- Check your carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke alarms. These devices are essential to warn you of a fire or dangerous condition involving a furnace, water heater, fireplace or stove. Test your alarms monthly and change batteries as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Immediately report a suspected natural gas leak. If you smell the “rotten egg†odor of natural gas, immediately leave on foot, go to a safe location and call both 911 and CenterPoint Energy at 800-227-1376. Don’t use electric switches/outlets, phones (including cell phones), drive or start a car inside or in close proximity to the location, or do anything that could cause a spark.
- Proceed with caution when removing snow and ice around natural gas meters. Ice and snow accumulation can interfere with the proper operation of the gas meter given it needs to be able to release gas in case of a malfunction. If your gas meter is encased in ice, allow the ice to melt on its own – do not attempt to melt and/or chip the ice, as this could cause damage to the meter. Use a broom – not a shovel – to clear snow from your meter assembly and vents.
- Energy Efficiency
Cold temperatures also mean increased energy usage. CenterPoint Energy recommends the following tips for more efficient heating:
Furnace: A furnace is the largest natural gas-consuming appliance.
- Set your thermostat no higher than 68 degrees. If possible, set it at 65 degrees when you are home and 60 degrees when you are away from home.
- Lowering your thermostat can help you save on your annual heating costs. Installing a programmable thermostat can help you automatically control your heat usage. Add on extra layers of clothing to keep warm.
- Change your air filters monthly. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can increase the operating cost of your furnace by as much as 10 percent. A good reminder is to change the filter each time you receive your natural gas bill.
Other appliances: Although they consume less natural gas, you can still maximize their efficiency.
- Run your washing machine, dishwasher, and gas dryer only with full loads.
 Make Your Home Hore Airtight And Keep Cold Air Outside:
- Seal leaks around doors, windows, and other openings such as pipes or ducts, with caulk or weather-stripping. The most common places where air escapes in homes are floors, walls, ceilings, ducts, fireplaces, plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, fans, vents and electrical outlets.
- If it has been a while, consider adding more insulation in your attic.
- On sunny days, open draperies and blinds to let the sun’s warmth in. Close them at night to insulate against the cold air outside.
Additional storm safety and energy efficiency tips can be found by visiting www.centerpointenergy.com.