Home Blog Page 1989

O’Brien Proposes Income Tax Deduction To Help Retain State’s Top Talent

0
TIM O'BRIEN

STATEHOUSE (Jan. 6, 2022) – As the state’s labor shortage stretches into 2022, State Rep. Tim O’Brien (R-Evansville) authored legislation to provide an income tax deduction to help retain Indiana’s top talent and strengthen the workforce.

The legislation, authored by O’Brien, would make it so recent in-state college graduates and those who earn a high-value job certificate pay no state income tax on up to $50,000 of their income. The tax deduction would be for two to four years, depending on the type of degree.

“This incentive could encourage more Hoosiers to apply for jobs close to home instead of leaving the state for employment,” O’Brien said. “Indiana’s employers need more highly educated workers to meet the demand and this proposal would help address our labor shortage.”

There are more than 150,000 unfilled jobs in the state, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Yet Indiana’s unemployment rate in November was 3 percent, which represents 100,096 individuals, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. O’Brien said this shows how Indiana won’t fill its job openings without attracting new talent to enter the workforce.

A 2019 study by the Senate Joint Economic Committee found Indiana suffers from a net loss of almost 11% of all highly educated adults upon graduation.

House Bill 1119 is assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration. To learn more and watch legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.

 

MEET THE CEO/PRESIDENT OF THE EVANSVILLE-VANDERBURGH COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

0

MEET ALEXIS BERGGREN CEO/PRESIDENT OF “VISIT EVANSVILLE” 

After a national search the Board Of Directors of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Convention & Visitors Inc. selected Alexis Berggren as its new Ceo/President after interviewing an impressive list of well-qualified individuals.

Setting the stage for success is something Alexis Berggren has practiced throughout her career in the live events industry. Long before she arrived in Evansville, Berggren was managing high-profile events and venue operations for convention centers, arenas and theatres across the country. Now, as she wraps her fourth year as general manager of Old National Events Plaza, she’s tapping into years of experience to help position the venue’s team for post-pandemic success. 

Berggren started her career in the Midwest, spending four years in operations at an organization dedicated to promoting the performing arts in Lincoln, Nebraska. That experience quickly led to the Mid-America Center in Iowa and then the Oregon Convention Center, holding roles in operations and event services management. 

Hollywood’s Dolby Theater attracted Berggren’s talents next, positioning her in leading production roles for events like the Oscars, America’s Got Talent, and other key accounts. She then moved to New Orleans, directing event services for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where ASM Global (formerly SMG) executives recruited her for the general manager position she’s held in Evansville since 2017.

As general manager of Old National Events Plaza, Berggren began by pursuing feedback from key stakeholders and clients and quickly identified opportunities where the convention center could improve services and quality. One immediate goal was to offer more flexibility in terms and packaging by working directly with customers and staff to ensure the venue was meeting their individual needs.  Another objective was to work towards diversifying local entertainment, booking a wider variety of performers and events for Evansville’s audiences. In addition, the increasing demand and activity at the venue called for some internal assessment and restructuring within each department, ensuring the team could fully support clientele and achieve the highest service standards. As a result, The Plaza has been successful in attracting worldwide talent to Evansville, complimenting the outstanding home-grown staff with new team members from as far as Arizona and Costa Rica.

In Berggren’s first year, she and her team outlined a five-year plan wherein the venue would work toward revenue neutrality, and by the end of 2018, the facility had performed 30% ahead of expectations. In 2019, the team continued to increase the number of events and attendance within the facility, and going into 2020, they had forecasted tremendous gains towards their goals.

The pandemic posed a new challenge for Berggren and her team as they responded to more immediate community needs. Within a week of the State’s orders to close all municipal buildings, Berggren led The Plaza team as they transitioned from managing in-person events to supporting virtual emergency meetings and, eventually, four of Vanderburgh County’s Superior Courts. In the Fall of 2020, they would assist over 9,000 early voters in passing safely through the facility, providing vital support to the County Clerk’s electoral operation.  

To ease the impact of mandatory shut-downs, Berggren partnered with officials to research recovery resources for the venue. Her quick and thorough analysis of market trends and forthcoming economic strain led her to develop several mitigation plans based on differing fiscal outcomes. Berggren worked diligently with her team to develop a comprehensive safety and reopening plan, one of the first circulated in the venue management industry at the beginning of the pandemic. She partnered with City and County leaders to ensure the safety of key civic and court staff, members of the public, as well as venue employees. This planning positioned The Plaza for proactive pandemic management and placed the venue far ahead of the industry curve, retaining a handful of essential staff to support the operation of the building and poise the facility to successfully reopen. 

As the team at Old National Events Plaza plans for the upcoming year, they’re met with a more complex industry landscape than that of 18 months ago. Berggren continues to lean into the network of venue professionals she’s cultivated within ASM Global’s management team and as an active member of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) and Trustee of the IAVM Foundation.  

Berggren also serves as one of two County Commissioner appointees to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. She has proven to be a strong source of support in the collective efforts of Evansville’s downtown partners and enjoys networking with peers and community changemakers as a member of the Evansville Rotary Club.

Business is strengthening for the convention center in Q3-Q4 of this year and is building for next year, although perhaps more slowly than anticipated. As events contract for 2022, forecasts are nearing 80% of pre-pandemic event levels. Berggren and her team are ready for what comes next.  “In terms of convention centers and theatres within our management company, The Plaza is weathering the pandemic better than most,” notes Assistant General Manager, Nick Wallace. “Many venues are just now reopening and have suffered tremendous losses. I’d attribute our current position to quick collaborative planning by local officials, and our team’s dedication to managing through the challenges.” 

The Old National Events Plaza continues to announce new upcoming shows. Fans can look forward to an array of live performances in 2021 and 2022 including Styx, TobyMac, Joe Bonamassa, Soul Asylum, Straight No Chaser, and comedians Leanne Morgan and John Crist. We’re told more announcements are on the way in the coming weeks. 

It’s been a dynamic four years at Old National Events Plaza for Alexis Berggren, both personally and professionally.  She added two children to her family in 2018 and 2020, making this season in her life a time of dramatic change and growth. Both at home and at work, she knows there’s a lot to do in the future. However, Berggren’s perspective remains clear. “The Old National Events Plaza, and facilities like it, are so unique in that they can drive both significant economic impact and cultural influence within a community.  Connecting people to their passions and providing for a higher quality of life is a tremendous responsibility, and we can make the greatest advancements by being effective ambassadors and dependable partners.”

HOT JOBS

0
Clinical Office Assistant Virtual Hiring Event
Deaconess Health System 3.5 3.5/5 rating – Evansville, IN
Urgent Care clinics offer 12 hours shifts with rotating weekends and holidays for those who desire non-traditional schedules.
1 day ago
Bookkeeper/Office Manager
Hoosier Wheel – Evansville, IN
$37,000 – $43,000 a year
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, paid vacation and holidays. We offer very competitive pay.
Easily apply
Just posted
Pleasant Ridge – Office Administrator
YES Communities 3.1 3.1/5 rating – Evansville, IN
Competitive salary | Comprehensive health benefits | Life, long and short-term disability insurance | 401(k) with company match.
Easily apply
5 days ago
Office Personnel
Advantage Print Solutions – Evansville, IN
$14 an hour
Advantage Print Solutions* is seeking an individual to work inside the office with a focus on customer service. Greet/handle/process walk in client orders.
Easily apply
5 days ago
Administrative Assistant
JR3 Properties, Inc – Evansville, IN
Responsive employer
Your job is to make every interaction with JR3 Properties whether it be a phone call or a face-to-face meeting a pleasant experience.
Easily apply
3 days ago
Office Assistant – Pediatrics, Full Time, Days
Ascension 3.6 3.6/5 rating – Evansville, IN
From routine checkups to long-term care, Ascension’s pediatric teams provide complete, expert care for infants, children and adolescents.
5 days ago
PT MAIL ROOM CLERK
Berry Global, Inc 3.3 3.3/5 rating – Evansville, IN
Open, separate, and distribute incoming mail. Attach required documentation and mail AP checks. Must be able to work every other full week.
4 days ago

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

0
EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

MEDIA

NOAH ROBINSON OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR SHERIFF OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY

0

 SHERIFF’S DEPUTY NOAH ROBINSON FILING DAY SPEECH

WELCOMING REMARKS

After meeting with thousands of Vanderburgh County residents at their homes, offices and places of worship I am pleased to announce that I will be your Democratic candidate for Vanderburgh County Sheriff. 

Thank you to my tireless wife for putting up with me over this past year; she is my confidant and partner in every respect. Thank you to my family who have made great sacrifices in order to make our campaign possible. Thank you to the dozens of sheriff’s deputies and confinement officers who are here supporting me, as well as countless other friends and supporters. 

Thank you to my campaign manager, City Councilman Ben Trockman, whose work ethic inspires me and friendship sustains me. Thank you to my Treasurer, Knight Township Trustee Kathryn Martin, whose caring nature and selflessness has shown me what it means to be a true public servant. Thank you to the elected officials standing behind me who are a continual source of guidance and support, including City Clerk Laura Windhorst, City Councilwoman Missy Mosby, Darmstadt Clerk-Treasurer Mallory Lowe, and City Councilwoman Kaitlin Moore Morley. 

Qualifications 

I’ve spent the past 23 years of my law enforcement career learning how to listen to people and understand their problems. I have a track record full of decisive actions and measurable accomplishments. When I say I am going to do something, I do it.

I served nearly ten years patrolling the streets, learning firsthand about the problems facing our families and businesses. I was a training deputy for over six years, helping to mold new sheriff’s deputies into competent law enforcers. I became a certified law enforcement instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy so that I could train the next generation of sheriff’s deputies. 

I took hundreds of drunk drivers off the road and taught dozens of deputies how to do the same. I spent five years developing our agency’s policies and procedures, ensuring our deputies operated with sound tactics and on solid legal footing. I conducted dozens of internal investigations and treated every accused employee with fairness and dignity. 

I expanded our agency’s social media presence, focused on communicating crime information directly to our many neighborhood organizations, and created our first ever Bicycle Patrol. I obtained over a million dollars in grant funding for our Office so that we could better serve the citizens of our county. I pushed for the expansion of our Information Technology Unit, doubling the size of the staff and improving responsiveness. I served as Human Resources director, overhauling our hiring process and improving our record keeping system. I worked to strengthen the relationship of our Office with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation and enhance the safety of our schools by improving information sharing and cooperation. 

I have served in every rank the sheriff’s office has, including Chief Deputy and second in command. I don’t have to learn how to run the Sheriff’s Office; I know how to run the Sheriff’s Office. 

CAMPAIGN PLATFORM 

My campaign platform reflects my experience and my expertise. 

I Will Keep Our Kids Safe. School Safety is and has always been my top priority. The best way to combat crime is to prevent our kids from becoming criminals. This means more than just having a police officer present in a school. Our specially trained deputies will mentor our youth and build relationships so that there will be no “school to prison” pipeline on my watch. 

I Will Protect Our Neighborhoods and Businesses. Our residents deserve to feel safe in their own homes. To that end, I will dramatically re-imagine the way sheriff’s deputies are deployed within our community. The residents of our neighborhoods, subdivisions and business districts will see and know the deputies who protect their homes, workplaces, and places of worship. Our deputies will be focused on preventing, detecting, and solving crimes by partnering with our residents and becoming valuable members of the neighborhoods they serve. 

I Will Root Out Violent Criminals and Drug Dealers who destroy our neighborhoods and poison our community. I will assign additional staff to the local ATF Task Force in order to trace, intercept and stop the flow of illegal guns into the hands of criminals who terrorize our neighborhoods. I will ensure the Sheriff’s Office continues to aggressively pursue drug dealers, while also seeking funding to treat drug users in the grips of addiction. 

I Will Hold Offenders Accountable and Make Our Jail More Efficient. Our law enforcement officers work hard to take criminals off the street and keep our community safe. As a community, we have a duty to do our best to keep one-time criminals from becoming repeat offenders. I will implement an aggressive substance-abuse and P.O. Box 15016, Evansville, IN 47716 | 812.647.6970 | noahforsheriff.com 

mental health treatment program combined with life skills and vocational job training. When offenders rejoin our community, they must have the prospect of employment, stable housing, and a drug free routine in order to interrupt the cycle of criminal behavior. I will not advocate for any jail expansion that is not specifically designed and purpose built to treat our inmates’ mental health and substance abuse issues. We cannot continue to operate our jail with half the required staff. We must fairly compensate and incentivize our confinement officers for the challenging work they do and empower them with the training and autonomy needed to make positive changes in the lives of the inmates they care for. 

I Will Invest in Modern Training, Hire a Diverse Staff, and Remove Conflicts of Interest. When a citizen is stopped by a sheriff’s deputy, I want the interaction to be safe, respectful, and professional. We will train our staff in the most modern and forward thinking law enforcement techniques, procedures, and strategies while ensuring our deputies and officers understand the issues of bias in law enforcement. I will seek out and hire the best, most qualified, and diverse workforce available. For a law enforcement agency to be effective, the agency must be perceived as both legitimate and transparent. We will end the practice of conducting our own criminal investigations of shootings involving our sheriff’s deputies. When an individual loses their life while being apprehended by a deputy or while in the custody of our Jail, an outside agency will conduct the investigation. 

 CLOSING REMARKS 

These are just some of the changes I will implement during my first term. I look forward to discussing my plans further in the coming days and months. This is a grassroots campaign, made up of thousands of supporters who believe in my vision for the Sheriff’s Office.

This May, I humbly ask for your vote in order that my plan can become a reality. 

–

THUNDERBOLTS HOST HUNTSVILLE, TRAVEL TO VERMILION COUNTY THIS WEEK 

0

 Evansville, Ind: After playing three games against the Peoria Rivermen this past weekend, the Thunderbolts play this week’s games a bit earlier than usual, hosting the Huntsville Havoc on Thursday and traveling to Vermilion County on Friday, with no games on Saturday or Sunday.

  The Week Ahead: 

The Thunderbolts host the Huntsville Havoc on Thursday night at Ford Center, opening face-off at 7:00pm CT.  For tickets, call (812)422-BOLT (2658), go to EvansvilleThunderbolts.com, or visit the Ford Center Ticket Office.  On Friday, the Thunderbolts will play in Vermilion County against the Bobcats at the David S. Palmer Arena, starting at 7:00pm CT.  Friday’s game can be viewed online with a paid membership to SPHL TV through HockeyTV or can be listened to for free on the Thunderbolts Radio Network; at EvansvilleThunderbolts.com/fan-center/listen, or via the Thunderbolts Mixlr Channel.

Scouting the Opponent: 

Huntsville Havoc: 

    • Record: 20-3-1, 41 Points, 1st Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Jacob Barber (17 Goals)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Jacob Barber (37 Points)
    • Primary Goaltender: Hunter Vorva (7-2-1, .923 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 21-22 Record vs HSV: 1-1-0

      The Havoc lost both games this past weekend, the first time all season they have lost back-to-back games.  On Thursday at home against the Knoxville Ice Bears, Christian Faggas opened the scoring for Huntsville, but the Ice Bears would take the lead and not look back, defeating the Havoc 4-2, with Huntsville’s other goal scored by Robbie Fisher in the third period.  In a penalty-filled contest in Roanoke on Friday night, Huntsville again scored first, this time by Jacob Barber.  However, the Rail Yard Dawgs scored the next four goals en route to a 4-1 victory.  For actions late in Friday’s game, Dominick Procopio and Mathieu Newcomb both received a one-game suspension, and Nolan Kaiser received a 9-game suspension.

  • Vermilion County Bobcats: 
    • Record: 3-15-2, 8 Points, 10th Place
    • Leading Goal Scorer: Houston Wilson (6 Goals)
    • Leading Point Scorer: Houston Wilson (11 Points)
    • Primary Goaltender: Ben Churchfield (2-3-0, .904 Save %)
    • Thunderbolts 21-22 Record vs VCB: 2-0-0
The Bobcats started the past weekend with a 4-3 upset victory over the Quad City Storm, with goals scored by Declan Conway, Justin Portillo, and Houston Wilson, who scored twice.  Wilson’s first goal tied a 2-1 deficit in the second period, and the second goal proved to be the game-winner, scored on the power play to break a 3-3 tie with 2:31 remaining in regulation.  Ben Churchfield made 29 saves on 32 shots for the victory. The following night was less fortunate, as Quad City avenged themselves with a 4-0 shutout victory.

Call-up Report 

– Kyle Thacker (Adirondack Thunder – ECHL) 
– Games Played: 19 (5 with Iowa, 14 with Cincinnati, 0 with Adirondack) 
– 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 Point, 6 PIM

– Cooper Jones (Idaho Steelheads – ECHL) 
          – Games Played: 10 (1 with Jacksonville IceMen, 9 with Idaho) 
– 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point, 2 PIM

– Cole Stallard (Iowa Heartlanders – ECHL) 
– Games Played: 19
– 3 Goals, 5 Assists, 8 Points, 33 PIM

– Scott Kirton (Cincinnati Cyclones – ECHL) 
          – Games Played: 1
– 0 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Point, 0 PIM

Transactions:  

Wed. 1/5: Danny Cangelosi signed to professional tryout
Tue. 1/4: Tate Leeson signed to contract
Tue. 1/4: Jake Henderson placed on 21-day Injured Reserve
Tue. 1/4: Ned Simpson traded to Knoxville in exchange for future considerations
Sun. 1/2: Hunter Atchison moved from 21-day to 30-day Injured Reserve
Sun. 1/2: Andrew Green placed on waivers
Sun. 1/2: Matt MacKay signed to contract
Fri. 12/31: Connor Chatham signed to contract
Fri. 12/31: Andrew Green signed to contract
Fri. 12/31: Jake Henderson signed to contract

The Thunderbolts are currently competing in their fifth season in the SPHL (Southern Professional Hockey League).  Season tickets are less than $9 per game.  To order your tickets for this season, call 812-422-BOLT(2658).

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

0

Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

Vanderburgh County Crash Report

0

Crash Report

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

0

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

COVID-19 Still Tops Discussions As General Assembly Kicks Off 2022 Session

0

COVID-19 Still Tops Discussions As General Assembly Kicks Off 2022 Session

  • By Alexa Shrake, Ashlyn Myers and Ariana Lovitt, TheStatehouseFile.com
  • Jan 6, 2022 

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana General Assembly gathered Tuesday for the second year during a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that is still dominating discussion.

Legislators spoke about tackling issues such as COVID-19, economic growth and education.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, said he looks forward to working with everyone together again.

“People are welcomed to wear masks if they feel they need to,” said Bray, who was not wearing a mask himself. “We don’t have the same scenery we had last year. We wanted to try to get back to the circumstance where we could have people in committee.”

Last year, the Senate was split, with half the senators at their usual desks in the chamber and the rest in the balcony, and the Indiana House met in the government building next door rather than its customary chambers.

“It’s really a matter of personal responsibility to take care of yourself,” Bray said.

He said he encourages people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and wear a mask if they feel unwell. While a few senators wore masks, Bray said he is unsure how many legislators are vaccinated. There is no specific contingency plan if there is an outbreak, but he said he plans to address that as it comes.

“In regards to the vaccine mandate, we’ll take a look at what the House sends over, and we’re going to have a spirited debate about it and try to figure out what is the best course for the state of Indiana,” Bray said.

He said he talks to House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, every day and will continue to talk about issues.

Senate Republicans’ Optimism

A press release for the Indiana Senate Republicans highlighted specific objectives for the 2022 session.

The supermajority’s goals include state taxpayer refunds, school funding stability for students currently in quarantine, and ending the COVID-19 public health emergency first declared by Gov. Eric Holcomb in March 2020.

Senators laugh and catch up before session convens. The Senate begin 2022 session with a late start. Photo by Alexa Shrake, TheStatehouseFile.com.

The end of the 2021 fiscal year resulted in a refund of $545 million to Indiana taxpayers and provided a budget surplus. Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, will make adjustments to Senate Bill 1 to allow for an additional 900,000 eligible Hoosiers to receive a tax refund of $125 in 2022.

Of the funding received by Indiana public schools, 85% goes to benefit students utilizing virtual learning tools for at least half of their semester. These students were set to receive less funding than their in-person peers. SB 2 assesses the attendance disparities between in-person and virtual students and offers equal funding for both groups.

The supermajority is hoping to end the public health emergency while also preventing “undue harm” to Hoosiers receiving certain healthcare and insurance benefits. SB 3 ensures the continuation of these benefits despite this call to action.

—Ariana Lovitt

Hopeful House Leaders

During the House of Representatives session Tuesday, minority leader Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, opened his speech by welcoming the new year as a chance to become “united” in making Indiana a state that benefits every resident.

While taking a positive stance, GiaQuinta also talked about what he finds to be Indiana’s major economic challenges. He said the state has ranked 46th in median wage growth, with it currently being around $56,000.

“Only 42% of workers in the state earn a living wage and have employer-provided health insurance,” GiaQuinta said.

Some of the minority leader’s other concerns are unaffordable childcare, student loan debt, and medical debt, paid family leave, a child tax credit, employment, addiction and education.

GiaQuinta also talked about the turbulence the pandemic has brought to Indiana. With the recent COVID-19 variant Omicron, Indiana’s numbers have risen significantly, hitting over 4,000 daily positive cases on Jan. 2, according to Indiana’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Majority leader Matt Lehman also discussed the current state of the pandemic while mentioning his excitement about having all legislators back in the House chamber.

“It’s great to be back in the people’s house,” Lehman said.

Lehman then went on to discuss how he and GiaQuinta do share some common ground, which differs from in other states.

“I’ve been in front of my colleagues in the states that only talk about their divide,” Lehman said. “While we don’t always agree, we don’t have the divide that other places have.”

Lehman did use some of his time on the House’s floor to discuss Indiana’s population growth from the Republican perspective.

“The only issue I maybe take some umbrage with is that we are growing. We’re the only state that grew in the Midwest by the highest percentage,” Lehman said. “If you look at our neighbors, you know, Michigan went up like 2%, Kentucky went up about 2%, Ohio about 2%. We went up almost 5%—4.7%.”

FOOTNOTE: Alexa Shrake, Ariana Lovitt and Ashlyn Myers are reporters for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students

1...1,9881,9891,990...7,352Page 1,989 of 7,352