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USI set for Senior Day Sunday Eagles hope to get on track at home

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer returns to the friendly surroundings of Strassweg Field looking to break a three-match losing streaking and get back into the hunt for a berth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. The Screaming Eagles (5-7-0, 4-6-0 GLVC) welcomes Maryville University (10-2-1, 8-2-0 GLVC) Friday at 5:30 p.m. before concluding the homestand with Senior Day versus Missouri University of Science & Technology (5-6-1, 4-5-1 GLVC) Sunday at noon.

Game coverage for 2021, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.

Fans can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN), which is available both on your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. More information can be found at GLVCSN FAQs.

All broadcasts on GLVCSN are subject to weather or other unforeseen circumstances that could prevent the games from being broadcast.

USI Men’s Soccer Week 8 Notes:

USI in the GLVC: With four matches remaining in 2021, USI starts this week 10th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings with 12 points, four points behind a two-way tie for seventh between Lindenwood University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The top eight qualify for the GLVC Tournament slated to begin November 7 with the top four team hosting first round matches. The GLVC Tournament semifinals and finals are slated for November 12 and 14.

USI last week: The Eagles lost both ends of their road trip last weekend, falling at Drury University, 3-1, and at Southwest Baptist University, 1-0.

Barton, Schoenstein lead the Eagles in 2021: USI sophomore forward Zach Barton and freshman forward Zach Schoenstein (Evansville, Indiana) lead the Eagles in scoring this year with 13 points each (six goals and one assist). Sophomore midfielder Brian Winkler (Philpot, Kentucky) follows with 11 points on one goal and a team-high nine assists.

Santoro is USI’s all-time leader: Head Coach Mat Santoro is the program’s all-time leader in victories (109). Santoro, who has a 109-94-22 overall record at the helm, has guided the Eagles to a pair of NCAA II Tournament appearances; the 2018 GLVC regular season crown, and seven GLVC Tournament appearances during his tenure.

Maryville in 2021: Maryville is second in the GLVC with 24 points, on point behind front-running University of Indianapolis. The Saints were 2-0-0 last week, defeating UMSL, 2-1, in overtime and Lindenwood University, 3-1, and have won six-stright .

USI versus Maryville: USI has a 9-4-1 series lead over Maryville since the Saints joined the GLVC in 2008. Maryville has won the last two meetings, including last spring 3-0 in St. Louis, and three of the last five.

Missouri S&T in 2021: The Miners of Missouri S&T looking to break a four-match losing streak and a six-match winless streak. Missouri S&T, which visits the University of Indianapolis Friday night, lost a pair in double-overtime last week, 2-1, to McKendree University and UMSL at home.

USI versus Missouri S&T: The Miners lead the all-time series with Missouri S&T, 15-13-1, but USI has won the last four meetings. The Eagles took last season’s match-up in Rolla, 2-0.

Eagles to celebrate Senior Day Sunday USI brings winning streak back for homestand

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer is riding a five-match winning streak as it comes home to Strassweg Field to prepare for the final regular season homestand of 2021. The Screaming Eagles (7-4-2, 5-4-1 GLVC) is slated to host Maryville University (5-6-1, 4-5-1 GLVC) Friday at 7:30 p.m. before honoring the team’s six seniors for Senior Day versus Missouri University of Science & Technology Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Game coverage for 2021, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, can be found on GoUSIEagles.com.
Fans can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN), which is available both on your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. More information can be found at GLVCSN FAQs.

USI Women’s Soccer Week 8 Notes:

USI in the GLVC: With four matches remaining in 2021, USI starts this week seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings with 16 points. The Eagles, who started last week 10th in the league, are one point away from a tie for fifth with Lewis University and Missouri S&T and three points away from fourth-place University of Indianapolis. The top eight qualify for the GLVC Tournament slated to begin November 7 with the top four team hosting first round matches. The GLVC Tournament semifinals and finals are slated for November 12 and 14.

USI sweeps road trip: USI swept its road trip and its second-straight weekend with a 2-1 win over Drury University and a 1-0 win at Southwest Baptist University. Sophomore midfielder Madison Crawford (O’Fallon, Missouri) led the way offensively with three points (one goal, one assist) in the win over Drury University.

For the season: Sophomore midfielder Jill DiTusa (St. Charles, Missouri) leads the Eagles in scoring with 11 points on a  team-high five goals and one assist. Freshman midfielder Avery Schone (Galena, Ohio) follows with 10 points on four goals and two assists.

Etienne between the posts: Sophomore goalkeeper Maya Etienne (Midland, Michigan) has a team-best five shutouts this season, raising her career total to 26 in two-plus seasons. She is two shutouts away of shattering the USI mark (27.5) that has been held by Angie Gries since 1999.

Schoenstein is second all-time at USI: Head Coach Eric Schoenstein is second all-time at USI with a 60-34-14 mark in five-plus years at the helm of the Eagles. He has led the Eagles to their only GLVC regular season and tournament championships, along with the program’s second trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Maryville in 2021: The Saints of Maryville is tied for ninth in the GLVC, one point behind eighth place University of Missouri-St. Louis and three points behind seventh-place USI. Maryville, which tied UMSL, 0-0, in double-overtime and defeated Lindenwood University, 1-0, last weekend, has been on a roll the last three weeks, going 4-1-1.

USI versus Maryville: USI has a 7-5-1 series lead over Maryville since the Saints joined the GLVC in 2009. The Eagles have taken three of the last five match-ups, including a 3-1 win in St. Louis last spring.

Missouri S&T in 2021: The Miners of Missouri S&T are tied for fifth in the the GLVC after sweeping a homestand last weekend, defeating McKendree and UMSL, 1-0, each. Missouri S&T also has won three of its last four matches.

USI versus Missouri S&T: The Miners lead the all-time series with Missouri S&T, 11-6-1, but USI has won the last four meetings. The Eagles took last season’s match-up, 5-1, in Rolla.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY RECENT BOOKING RECORDS

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https://vanderburghsheriff.org/jail-recent-booking-records/

USI Satellite, UNITE CubeSat, Nears Reentry

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The Milestone Comes As Satellite Nears 1,000th Day In Orbit

As UNITE CubeSat, USI’s student-built satellite, nears yet another milestone, 1,000 days in orbit, it is also reaching the mission-critical phase of its journey where it will descend back into the earth’s atmosphere, tracking critical data during reentry.

It’s been nearly two years and seven months since a handful of USI students and professors sat, eyes glued to screens, as NASA’s Mission Control announced the deployment of UNITE CubeSat. The 18th Space Control Squadron of the U.S. Space Force is now predicting that the satellite could reach reentry as early as this Thursday, October 21. The 18th Space Control Squadron is tasked with providing support to the space surveillance network, maintaining the space catalog, and managing the United States Space Command’s space situational awareness sharing program to the United States, foreign governments, and commercial entities.

Designed and built by a team of University of Southern Indiana undergraduates, UNITE is the first orbiting satellite designed by students at an Indiana public university and was also the first functional CubeSat in orbit to have been made as part of NASA’s Undergraduate Student Instrument Project, which provided funding for the undergraduate design and construction of satellites across several institutions.

“I’m stunned that it has worked every day—not perfectly, but every day—for almost 1,000 days,” says Dr. Glen Kissel, Associate Professor of Engineering and lead advisor to the UNITE CubeSat team. “I would never have guessed that it would work that long and stay in touch for that long.”

Asked to what he attributes the unit’s longevity, Kissel says with a grin, “It was built here at USI!” But pressed further he aptly passes credit to the students involved with its construction and those who joined the team later to see through the testing and delivery to NASA. He also points out that “we kept it simple.”

As the CubeSat nears the end of its lifespan, its mission is to measure plasma levels in the lower ionosphere, record its own internal and exterior temperatures and measure its orbital decay as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. As of Monday afternoon, the satellite was still around 125 miles out from the surface of the Earth. Kissel explained that at around 50 miles it would begin to break up. While data is coming in daily, Kissel says he most likely will not know exactly when and where UNITE burns up during reentry.

Kissel is quick to point out that this is not the end of the mission. There will be significant amounts of data to review as it becomes available. “Orbital operations will come to an end, but we still have data to look at and examine,” he says.

As many as 12 students previously worked on various stages of the project over the past five years, most of whom are now graduated and have moved on to careers in engineering and aerospace. Currently, due to complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, only one student, the newest to join the project team this past year, is working with Kissel. Clayton Davis, a mechanical engineering major from Normal, Illinois, is analyzing the data being sent back by UNITE and will continue to do so both during and after burn up on reentry.

The challenge for Davis and Kissel is that UNITE is not responding to new commands designed to ramp the satellite back into high-data mode. Early in its mission, UNITE was sending back data too frequently, which was costly, and had to be forced into a lower data frequency mode, a task that gave the team some fits as it was slow to respond. Now, as it nears its mission-critical phase, it needs to be sending data more frequently but is again slow to respond to commands. “The key now is the plasma data,” says Kissel. “We will be getting some, but ideally we would be constantly taking in data, as well as constant temperature data. If we don’t get a continuous data stream, we may be missing some things.”

Despite the hiccup, Davis continues to analyze incoming data with a current focus on the satellite’s decay rate as it continues to near reentry. His first task was to reevaluate the original predicted mission time, using the same tools that the original predictor used, and spot any mistakes. In doing so, he found the cause of miscalculations that initially predicted a much earlier reentry date in 2016. Kissel explains that UNITE was deployed during solar minimum, a period of low solar activity that may have affected drag on the satellite and why it took longer to get to reentry.

“It’s very exciting to be a part of the project as the mission comes to an end,” says Davis, “I never thought I would be involved in such an important project for USI Engineering, during my collegiate career.”

NASA’s part in the project ended with a final report in June 2020 and Kissel looks back fondly on the two major papers and presentations students gave during conferences in 2019. He has remained in touch with several members of the core student team over the years and says he even consulted several of them during recent attempts to get the CubeSat back into high-data-rate mode. He looks forward to congratulating all of them as UNITE pings its final signals back to Earth.

Relive UNITE’s journey to space:

Watch the UNITE CubeSat’s deployment (courtesy of NASA/NanoRacks) and the UNITE CubeSat team’s reaction to the deployment.

 

THE CHANGES HAVE JUST BEGUN

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THE CHANGES HAVE JUST BEGUN

By John Krull, TheStatehouseFile.com

Updated

A banner draped across the front of the business says the place is hiring. The wages are $16 per hour plus tips.

Another restaurant not far from it bears a similar sign. It promises $17 per hour. This eatery doesn’t mention tips, but it pledges to pay a signing bonus to anyone who comes on board.

At the same time, we read reports that record numbers of Americans have left their jobs in recent months. Many of them are leaving low-wage service jobs, such as the ones the restaurant and hospitality industry provides.

Welcome to the new economy.

There are many politicians—particularly conservative ones—who have been moaning about this supposedly newly discovered labor shortage. They complain that it is the result of pandemic relief payments that, they say, paid people not to work. They also say that Americans are now lazy, self-indulgent and reluctant to work.

They’re wrong on every count.

Their observations just demonstrate, once again, that most politicians don’t pay close attention to what’s really going on and that they would prefer to waste their time—and ours—with silly fights.

Economists have been warning that a labor shortage is coming for at least a decade. There are several causes. Declining birth rates over the past couple of generations mean there are fewer people available. This was compounded by the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009.

As a result, economists have said that, by the year 2030, there will be a labor shortage as great as 25 percent.

That means the changes we’re seeing now will become even more dramatic.

Businesses, communities, states, and countries will be prodded by these changed circumstances to make themselves more attractive to workers. That’s why the savvier nations around the globe are talking not about building walls to keep people out but revising their immigration policies to make it easier for talented people to relocate and labor within their borders.

Here in this country, states with leadership that looked ahead to this emerging reality didn’t waste time and resources on, for example, silly and perhaps self-destructive battles over things like right-to-work legislation and campaigns to encourage skilled LGBTQ citizens not to consider Indiana a good place to make a home.

But the alterations in the ways we live and function will go beyond traditional politics.

We’re seeing that already.

The relative scarcity of labor means, of course, that wages will go up. That will lead to similar rises in prices, especially for those goods and services that are the most labor-intensive.

But it also will tilt the balance of power between labor and capital at least a little bit back in labor’s direction. Part of the reason so many workers have quit working at restaurants and hotels is that they are confident in this new economy that they can find jobs elsewhere—often ones that pay better.

Those laborers who aren’t leaving their jobs are organizing to demand better pay and better conditions in the ones they already have. We have begun to see strikes pop up around the country.

The companies and states that assume hardline positions with the unions run a great risk. It isn’t just that those businesses will face unrest and disruptions in the short term. It’s also that they send a signal to potential future workers that they have no interest in working with or even listening to their employees.

In a labor market that’s right now and only going to grow tighter, that’s not just foolish. It’s borderline suicidal.

But that’s a new reality.

Whether businesses like it or not—whether politicians like it or not—we’re going to have to stop refighting and refighting battles from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s and focus on finding new ways to work together.

Because paying $16 per hour plus tips to make and deliver pizzas is just the beginning.

FOOTNOTE: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students

 

THANKFUL FOR GOODNESS

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THANKFUL FOR GOODNESS

by Marie WILLIAMS

Today at noon the City-County Observer will recognize several public servants for their service to our community and thank them for their hard work, commitment to improving our quality of life, and willingness to be vulnerable.

It could not be a more appropriate time to recognize goodness!

Citizens in our community, like most of those throughout our country, have been faced with increasing challenges in the last few years.  The “United” within and among our States is seriously at risk.  Social media threatens the effective dialogue that has been the source of conflict resolution since the beginning of our nation.

Political alliances have inhibited, if not prevented, negotiations for the best decisions in the interest of public welfare, and have promoted greed for power.  And the network media contribute to the chaos by spreading lies, half-truths, and attacking those who disagree with them.  All of this contributes to a world in which effective leaders resist stepping forward to seek and/or accept leadership positions in public service.

Our community is blessed with many effective leaders who serve as outstanding stewards of their abundant gifts.  The City-County Observer is proud to recognize some of them tomorrow at our annual “Outstanding Community Service” luncheon at Bally’s-Evansville.

While this event is a small token of our appreciation, it is an important one that we hope will encourage all to express their appreciation for all those who elect and are elected to make a positive difference in our lives.

Please join us in thanking Attorney Charles L. Berger, retired Superior Court Judge Rich D’Amour, former County Treasurer and County Clerk-Susan Kirk, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, State Senator Vaneta Becker, City Councilman Alex Burton, and Community Volunteer Lisa Vaughn for their hard work, commitment to the community, and their willingness to take a risk on our behalf!

October Fire And Safety Academy Training News & Updates 

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October Fire And Public Safety Academy Training 

by ZACH MATHEWS

We’ve been made aware some people did not have access to the full content of the October Academy Training News and Updates. We are sending this message again to make sure everyone has the information they need to know. 

All Academy updates are posted to the Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy webpage after distribution.

The Academy has been remarkably busy over the last few months. The inaugural Fire Chief Executive Training Program was a big success and a new Emergency Response Support Training Program has been implemented to assist volunteer fire departments with recruitment.

The Academy would like to welcome Zach Mathews to the team. Zach will be the Academy’s Curriculum Development Program Director and will be working to keep the state training curriculum current with NFPA standards, manage the Public Safety Leadership course and several other stand-alone leadership courses.

TRAINING NEWS:

  1. Emergency Response Support (ERS): Meets legislative requirements IC 36-8-10.5-7. This program is life in Acadia and a fire instructor must request the course for their local fire department. If your department does not have an active instructor, please reach out to your Academy program manager listed below:
  2. Fire Chief’s Executive Training Program: Meets legislative requirements IC 36-8-10.6-3-9.
    • After Jan. 1, 2022, a newly appointed fire chief of a political subdivision must successfully complete the executive training program within one (1) year of appointment.
    • Next Course Offering: Feb. 21 – 25, 2022. Please look for and enroll for this course in Acadia.
  3. Executive Leadership: Executive Leadership is being rebranded to Public Safety Leadership to reduce confusion with Indiana Fire Chief’s Academy.
    • This course is for upper management through executive leadership in five public safety disciplines: Fire, EMS, EMA, Telecommunications, and Law Enforcement.
    • To request this series to be brought to your location, please email Zach Mathews at ZMathews1@dhs.in.gov
  4. Mandatory Firefighter Training Program: Academy will sunset the Mandatory Firefighter Training program as of March 1, 2022.
    • Any new mandatory courses must be registered no later than March 1, 2022, and be concluded no later than July 1, 2022.
  5. Exam Challenges: Exam challenges webform will no longer be accepted. Instructors wishing to use the self-study method for their student(s) should apply for their course number no less than 15 days before the initial start of the self-study program. The student will be required to take the written and practical skills exams. Instructors are responsible for ensuring students obtain all Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) prior to testing.
  6. Improved Course Registration for Combined Course Requests: Firefighter I/II (FFI/FFII), Hazmat Awareness and Operations (HMA/HMO). A new option for instructors during the initial course requests will be available to select a combined registration for the HMA/HMO programs and the FFI/FFII programs. If students are brand new to the fire service and will be registering for all four programs, instructors should select the Fire Academy (FA) option for their course requests.
  7. Reminder: A course lead instructor shall be at a minimum an Instructor I and cannot evaluate and/or proctor examinations.
  • 655 IAC 1-1-5.2 Requirements for teaching certification classes
    • Authority: IC 22-14-2-7
    • Affected: IC 22-14-2-7
  • Sec. 5.2. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), the only individual who is permitted to deliver any class for certification is a lead instructor.
    • (b) The lead instructor:
      • (1) shall be certified:
        • (A) as at least an Instructor I; and
        • (B) by the board in the certification level or levels or the advanced levels of these certifications being taught; and
      • (2) may use one (1) or more subject matter specialists to assist in the delivery of the class

NEW TRAINING OFFERED BY THE ACADEMY:

  1. Communicating with Elected Leaders: (Coming Soon)
    • Pre-communication: building genuine relationships, understanding the audience and stakeholders, logical reasoning, and how to build a sound argument.
    • Communication: understand the Socratic method of dialog and how to connect with your audience using passion, emotion, credibility, and logic (Pathos, Ethos, and Logos). Learn to maximize your message with non-verbal communication and deliver an efficient and informative message without a fact overload.
    • Post communication: staying apolitical, how to take advantage of staying on message. Taking your message public, learn how to take your message to the public yourself or by using a Public Information Officer (PIO). Trust and relationship maintenance – learn to maintain the relationships you built with the elected leader and how to manage interference from others.
  2. Mitigated Speech: (Available Now)
    • Recognize mitigated speech when it occurs,
    • Identify the six levels of mitigated speech, and
    • Understand how mitigated speech can be both beneficial and detrimental.
  3. Core Values: (Available Now)
    • Develop a deeper understanding of how every agency has a set of core values whether recognized or not;
    • Learn the difference between high, medium and low core values;
    • Learn to establish a group of subject matter experts within your agency to either embrace the current core values or develop new ones; and
    • Learn the importance of weaving core values into every aspect of your decision-making process and agency.
  4. Body Language: (Available Now)
    • Learn how an office environment can be a barrier for communication,
    • Understand how body language affects communication,
    • Understand relationships between body language and verbal communication,
    • Learn to use body language cues to be a more effective communicator, and
    • Increase your ability to gather more accurate information.

If you or your fire department have an interest in hosting any of the above courses, please contact Zach Mathews at ZMathews1@dhs.in.gov.

Next Level Connections Broadband Requests Total Over $606 Million

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INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced the third round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program has received more than 250 letters of intent requesting a total of more than $606 million in state grant funding with an additional $280 million in matching funds. Decisions about how much can be awarded and to which projects are expected in the spring of 2022.

“This most recent wave of demand represents almost $900 million in potential new broadband investment in almost every county in the state. This is a strong testament to not only the need for broadband but also the growing confidence in this nation-leading program to deliver broadband to every Hoosier in the state,” Gov. Holcomb said.

These initial requests, which must be submitted ahead of the Next Level Connection’s application, come from 48 internet service providers covering more than 140,000 homes, businesses and other locations, such as schools and health clinics, in 89 counties.

This is the third round of broadband grant funding from the Governor’s Next Level Connections initiative, a $1 billion statewide infrastructure program announced in 2018 and administered by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, under the direction of Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. Of the original $100 million dedicated to broadband expansion, $79 million has been awarded to 63 projects, for a total investment of $155 million when private and local investment dollars are included. This year, the Governor advocated for additional funds for the program and signed a budget appropriating an additional $250 million for continued broadband expansion.

Service providers can apply for up to $5 million per project to expand service to unserved and underserved areas in communities around the state. Applicants must contribute at least a 20 percent match to receive grant funds.

“This overwhelming response shows the continued need we have for reliable broadband here in Indiana, amplified by the pandemic,” Crouch said. “Broadband services are essential in today’s world, and it is encouraging to see so many providers wanting to take part in this program and enhance broadband opportunities throughout the state.”

After a challenge process, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs will accept and review final applications and a multi-agency committee will evaluate the proposals.

More information on the grant proposals can be found here.

Sen. Braun Welcomes Chicago Police Officers Refusing Vaccine Mandate

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Fox News
Northwestern Indiana is seeing ‘more and more’ officers seeking to transfer out of Chicago
By Kyle Morris , Kelly Laco
October 19
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-braun-welcomes-chicago-police-officers-fired-vaccine-mandate-indiana-you-deserve-respect

Illinois police officers who may soon be out of a job due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates — specifically those in Chicago — can look to their eastern neighbor state of Indiana for less stringent job opportunities in law enforcement, according to Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., who says the officers “deserve respect.”

In a statement to Fox News, Braun said, “Our police do the hardest job in the world, and they deserve respect — not losing their pay or being fired for refusing to comply with a ridiculous vaccine mandate.”

Braun is welcoming officers to the state with arms wide open, urging the “3,000 Chicago cops defying this government overreach” to come to Indiana.

“Indiana’s police departments are hiring now and will welcome you with the respect you deserve,” Braun told Fox News.

“My office stands ready to help connect Chicago police officers to an Indiana police department that is hiring now and doesn’t have a vaccine mandate,” Braun said. “Welcome to Indiana!”

During an interview with Fox News, Steve Scheckel, chief of police in Munster, Indiana, echoed Braun’s sentiment and insisted there is a “brighter future right over the border” for officers who are under scrutiny for their views on vaccine mandates, noting that his department has already hired one individual from Chicago.

“We’ve been seeing more and more Chicago police officers when we do an emergency hire, which is basically a lateral transfer. They already have the academy” Scheckel said, adding that he is “absolutely” open to the idea of working alongside those “looking for a better quality of life for their family” who may have been ousted from their jobs.

Asked about the types of opportunities officers could have if they were to relocate to Munster, Scheckel pointed to education, the cost of living, tax rates and low-crime rates.

“Here in northwest Indiana, in Munster, we have one of the top rated school systems in the state,” Scheckel said. “[Officers] can send their kids to public school. It’s a low-crime community. Even though we’re 30 minutes from Chicago, we’re rated one of the 10 safest cities in the state of Indiana. So, it’s really just a step across the state line to a better life for the officer.”

“From the governor on down, in Indiana, we support our law enforcement,” said Scheckel, who has been with the department for more than 30 years, serving as police chief for the last 13. “I think there’s a clear contrast between what’s going on in the city of Chicago right now and what’s happening in the state of Indiana.”

Highlighting the “trying and stressful” times for first responders over the last couple of years, Scheckel said the “mandates that really aren’t rooted in science” appear to be “politically motivated” and suggested they are the “straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Other police departments in Indiana that do not have a vaccine mandate in place, according to Braun’s team, include Schererville Police Department and Merrillville Police Department, as well as the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Chicago police officials made it clear last week that officers who refused to comply with the city’s mandate risk being disciplined or fired. As of Monday, just under 65% of Chicago Police Department personnel reported their vaccination status through the city’s online portal, according to FOX 32 Chicago.

FOOTNOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS SENT TO THE CITY-COUNTY OBSERVER BY MEMBERS OF THE BRAUN PRESS TEAM.  WE POSTED THIS ARTICLE WITHOUT BIAS OR EDITING.

Affordable Options For College, Career Training

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Affordable Options For College, Career Training

by CINDY LEDBETTER

State Representative, Newburgh

Whether graduating high school or changing careers later in life, the cost of college or training programs can weigh on the minds of Hoosiers when they take that first step toward their future. Fortunately, there are grants, scholarships and savings programs available to help with both immediate and long-term plans.

I’m currently pursuing my doctorate in nursing, and understand the financial stress facing many families. I used Indiana’s CollegeChoice 529 plan to help pay for college for myself and my daughter and saw an immediate return at tax time. The 529 Savings Plan helps families save for future education expenses like textbooks, computers, tuition and housing. Withdrawals are tax free. Indiana residents get a 20% tax credit on the first $5,000 they contribute every year, which means $1,000 come tax time. To sign up, visit collegechoicedirect.com.

Hoosier women returning to college after a hiatus, changing careers or seeking advancement at work can apply for a scholarship offered by the Political Organization for Women’s Education and Representation. A committee will award two scholarships from each congressional district of $750 each. Interested applicants can apply before the Nov. 15 deadline atinpowercaucus.org/powerscholarship.

For those planning ahead, thousands of low-income Hoosiers can receive up to four years of graduate tuition through Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program. Participants must enroll before June 30 of a student’s eighth-grade school year. To find out the requirements, visit scholars.in.gov.

Applications are also being accepted for the 2022-2023 Next Generation Hoosier Educator Scholarship, which pays $7,500 per year for up to four years to students earning a teaching degree and who commit to teaching in Indiana for five years. Future educators can apply at LearnMoreIndiana.org/nextteacher before the Jan. 31 deadline.

Hoosiers can now file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2022-2023 school year, making them eligible for federal and state grants and financial aid. Visit studentaid.gov to apply before the April. 15 deadline.

College isn’t the only option. With Indiana’s Next Level Jobs initiative, Hoosiers can receive free training for high-paying, in-demand positions throughout the state. Workforce Ready Grants cover tuition costs as Hoosiers earn a high-value certificate from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University. To learn about free training to gain sought-after skills, visitnextleveljobs.org.

As a single mother enrolled in nursing school, I’m thankful for the financial assistance I received, and hope others can benefit from these opportunities. To learn more about these and other resources, visit in.gov/che. Financial support helped me, and it can help you too.

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