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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
Response To Governor Holcomb’s COVID-19 Update
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke met with our Medical Advisory Group this morning to review Governor Eric Holcomb’s latest direction on the fight against COVID-19.
He will continue to confer with local medical professionals and government leaders to assess the new state directives and their impact on our community.
Mayor Winnecke will provide a public/media update on Tuesday, March 30.
Gov. Holcomb to Provide Updates in the Fight Against COVID-19
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box will host a virtual media briefing to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.
WHO:Â Gov. Holcomb
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, MD, FACOG
Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Jennifer Sullivan, MD, MPH
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 24
Facebook: https://facebook.com/govholcomb/live
YouTube: https://youtube.com/govholcomb
Women’s Soccer Returns to the Pitch Against Valparaiso
After two weeks off the University of Evansville women’s soccer team returns to action against Valparaiso on Wednesday at Arad McCutchan Stadium, at 6 p.m. on ESPN3.
| Evansville vs Valparaiso | |
| Date | Time | Wed., March 24 | 6 p.m. |
| Location | Evansville, Ind. |
| Site | Arad McCutchan Stadium |
| March 24 | Evansville vs Valparaiso |
| Follow Along | Watch Live | Live Stats | Game Notes |
| Evansville | Women’s Soccer Site | Twitter | Schedule Poster | Record Book |
Aces face Cougars in midweek clash
Game time is 5 p.m. at Cooper Stadium
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A non-conference midweek game pits the University of Evansville softball team against SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Cooper Stadium.
Last Time Out
Evansville took two out of three games against Loyola in the first Missouri Valley Conference series of the season. After dropping a 1-0 contest, UE rebounded to take victories by finals of 7-3 and 7-4. Eryn Gould batted .600 in the series while finishing with a .833 on-base percentage. Jenna Lis hit .500 in the series, accumulating five hits, three doubles and a home run. Appearing in all three games, Izzy Vetter finished with a 2.00 ERA while striking out 19 batters.
Player of the Week
Senior Eryn Gould was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday following a spectacular weekend against the Ramblers. She had an unbelievable .833 on-base percentage while slugging 1.800. She reached base with six walks, three of which were intentional, while also being hit by a pitch. Gould batted .600 with three hits in five at-bats but made the most out of those changes, belting two home runs while tallying six RBI.
In the Circle
In Evansville’s opening conference series of the 2021 campaign, Izzy Vetter appeared in all three while striking out a total of 19 batters and finishing with a 2.00 ERA. She threw another gem on Sunday, striking out the first seven Loyola batters of the game before picking up her 7th win of the year. She gave up two hits and struck out 10 batters in six innings.
Starting Strong
Evansville has had a nice start to the 2021 campaign, going 13-7 through its first 20 games while picking up two wins over Loyola to clinch the opening MVC series. It is the best start for the program since 2008 when the Aces had an identical 13-7 mark. The Aces are home for six more games as they wrap up a 16-game homestand next week.
Patience at the Plate
Over the course of the Loyola series, Evansville accumulated a total of 18 walks while the Ramblers reached on a walk just four times in the three contests. Eryn Gould tied the season conference mark with three walks in the series opener. Evansville has recorded 19 walks through its first 20 games, that total ranks 12th in the nation. The Aces also have two of the nation’s top 51 individuals in that category with Eryn Gould ranking 40th in the NCAA with 0.80 walks per game and Marah Wood sitting 51st with 0.75 per contest.
Scouting the Opponent
SIUE enters Wednesday’s game with an overall record of 2-12 while standing at 2-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Their wins came in their last road series when they took two out of three games against Tennessee State. Amber Storer is batting a team-best .348.
Bill To Benefit ALS Patients Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON – Today, a bill introduced by Senator Mike Braun, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Senator Chris Coons to help ALS patients was signed into law by President Biden. The bill is a technical clarification that will ensure ALS patients are given access to their Social Security Disability Insurance benefits without a five month waiting period whether they applied prior to the passage of the ALS Social Security Disability Insurance Act or not.
The ALS Social Security Disability Insurance Access Act was introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Senator Tom Cotton and signed into law in December. This law eliminated the five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits for those with medically-diagnosed ALS, because due to the quick and devastating effects of the disease many of those diagnosed do not have five months to wait.
Due to how the Social Security Administration interpreted this law, ALS patients who had already applied for their disability benefits were still being forced to wait the five months. Senators Braun, Cotton, Whitehouse, and Coons introduced a bill to clarify how that part of the law is to be applied: all Americans with medically-diagnosed ALS should be able to access their Social Security Disability benefits without the five month waiting period – not just those who haven’t applied yet. That bill was signed into law today.
“The financial burden of ALS is staggering, and those who are diagnosed have no time to waste,” said Senator Braun. “With this technical fix which is now signed into law we will ensure timely access to Social Security disability benefits is available to ALS patients and the ALS Social Security Disability Insurance Access Act fulfills its promise to help those fighting this terrible disease.”
“I’m glad President Biden signed our bill to further increase the number of ALS patients who can immediately receive the disability benefits they are entitled to.  ALS is a terrible disease that takes so much from a person and places a lot of stress on caretakers. This change to the law will make the diagnosis a little bit easier for patients and their families. Senators Braun and Coons have done a lot for ALS patients through the Senate ALS Caucus, and I was proud to work with them on this effort.â€Â – Senator Whitehouse
“Americans suffering from ALS shouldn’t have to wait for assistance, especially given their tragically short life expectancy,â€Â said Cotton. “Congress was able to quickly fix the ALS Social Security Disability Insurance Access Act to ensure support is available for all ALS patients—including those who applied for disability benefits before our bill was signed into law last year. I hope the Social Security Administration will implement these changes immediately.â€
“With this technical fix to the law, we’ll finally ensure that ALS patients get the timely financial support they need,â€Â said Senator Coons. “Speedy access to support programs like SSDI after a diagnosis is essential for patients and their families – and one of the priorities we set when we first launched the bipartisan ALS Caucus last year. We must continue to improve the law to make life easier for ALS patients and their loved ones.â€
ABOUTÂ ALS:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease affecting the ability of the brain to control muscle movements. Individuals with ALS progressively lose the ability to speak, walk, and breathe. There is no effective treatment for the disease, no known cause, and—currently—no cure.
ABOUT THE SENATEÂ ALSÂ CAUCUS:
The Senate ALS Caucus founded in January 2020 by Senators Chris Coons, D-Delaware, and Mike Braun, R-Indiana. The Caucus brings together senators from both sides of the aisle who share a commitment to working collaboratively to advocate on behalf of ALS patients and their families to: raise awareness about the difficulties faced by ALS patients and their families; advance policies that improve the quality of life for ALS patients; expand the network of support for those suffering from ALS; and advocate for investments in research that will enhance our understanding of the causes of ALS, identify effective treatments, and eventually discover a cure.
DOR Announces Individual Filing and Payment Deadline Extensions
Governor Eric Holcomb announced the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) is extending individual income tax filing and payment deadlines to align with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deadline of May 17, 2021.
“Last week, the IRS announced tax deadline and payment extensions for individual tax returns. By aligning with the IRS filing deadline, we are ensuring we are making filing and paying taxes as easy as possible for Hoosiers,†stated DOR Commissioner Bob Grennes. “Even with the extended filing deadline, we encourage individuals to utilize electronic filing. Electronically filling is a superior process that allows customers to securely submit a more accurate return and experience a faster turnaround for their refund.â€
Individual tax returns and payments, originally due by April 15, 2021, are now due on or before May 17, 2021.
All other tax return filings and payment due dates remain unchanged.
Individuals who are not able to file by the May 17, 2021, deadline can file an extension directly with DOR or with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the IRS extension is granted, the Indiana extension is automatically granted. A timely filed extension moves the federal tax filing deadline to Oct. 15, 2021, and the Indiana filing deadline to Nov. 15, 2021.
It is important to note that the extension only shifts the filing deadline and not the payment deadline. Ninety percent of the taxes owed are still required to be paid by May 17, 2021, to avoid penalties and interest.
Other helpful information including the latest forms, FAQs and tax tips for those who collected unemployment in 2020 is available at dor.in.gov.
COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund Announces 14th Round of Allocations
The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region has awarded a fourteenth round of allocations, granting nearly $400,000 to all 15 nonprofit applicants.
 The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region has awarded a fourteenth round of allocations, granting nearly $400,000 to all 15 nonprofit applicants. In total, the Response Fund has distributed more than $3.3 million to nonprofits in our five-county region who are responding to critical needs related to the pandemic and our region’s recovery.Â
This round of allocations will help provide COVID-19 antibody testing for donated blood, zoo memberships for ALICE households, food for at-risk children, staffing needs, programs to support social-emotional learning for kids, clinic supplies, and security/safety equipment.Â
As part of round fourteen, the Public Education Foundation was awarded $30,000 for the “House Project.†Instead of purchasing lumber for a house, the lumber will be used to construct 85 tables and chairs for flexible outdoor seating at 15 schools within the EVSC. A portion of the award will go toward the purchase of a home lot for the 2021-2022 school year.Â
Stir-n-Up Hope in Ferdinand, IN was awarded $30,000 to support youth in the care of the Spencer County Juvenile Probation Office. Funds will underwrite 16 weeks of Equine-Assisted Learning for 48 juvenile offenders. According to The National Institutes of Health, providing community-based, youth mentoring programs and resources reduces juvenile recidivism.Â
Fourteenth Round Funding Recipients:Â
Organization: American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana – Evansville, Indiana  Awarded $18,750Â
Organization: Evansville Zoological Society – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $25,000Â
Organization: G E M Ministries – Boonville, Indiana  Awarded $20,000Â
Organization: Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry – Garrett, Indiana  Awarded $10,000Â
Organization: House of Bread and Peace – Evansville, Indiana  Awarded $15,000Â
Organization: Louis J. Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville – Evansville, Indiana  Awarded $60,000Â
Organization: Mt. Vernon Ministerial Association – Mt. Vernon, Indiana  Awarded $10,287Â
Organization: Muslim Association of So. Indiana for Health Advancement – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $20,000Â
Organization: Ozanam Family Shelter – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $35,000Â
Organization: Public Education Foundation – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $30,000Â
Organization: Spencer County CASA – Rockport, Indiana Awarded $60,000Â
Organization: Stir-n-Up Hope – Ferdinand, Indiana Awarded $30,000Â
Organization: Sycamore Rehabilitation Services – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $10,000Â
Organization: United Way of Southwestern Indiana – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $25,000Â
Organization: Urban Seeds – Evansville, Indiana Awarded $25,000Â
FOOTNOTES: Donations to the fund may be made by debit/credit card or PayPal at covidresponsefund.com. Checks will also be accepted at all Old National Bank and Heritage Federal Credit Union branches.
Checks should be made payable to United Way of Southwestern Indiana and all donations should reference “COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund of the Greater Evansville Region (or GERF)†in the memo. Contributions may also be mailed to: United Way of Southwestern Indiana, 318 Main Street, Suite 504, Evansville, IN 47708. For stock or ACH transactions, please call 812-421-7476Â
Adapting To The Financial Changes Of Retirement
Retirement is a time to live life to the fullest. It’s a chance to reward yourself for a successful career. It’s an opportunity to live the good life. That said, retirement is not without unique set of obstacles. If ignored, these obstacles can have serious consequences. In order to maximize retirement and truly live life to the fullest, retirees must adapt to changes in healthcare coverage and utilize new sources of income.
Changes in Healthcare Coverage
The moment you leave your job, your healthcare coverage will change. How this impacts you depends on a variety of factors, including your age. Those who retire at age 65 or later are eligible for Medicare. Those who retire prior to age 65 are not and should consider purchasing private health insurance. The cost differential between private health insurance and Medicare can be significant.
Let’s take a look at twin sisters who we will call Allison and Brittany. Despite trying to develop better financial habits throughout her working years, Allison’s proclivity for immediate gratification has remained largely unchanged. Thus, it was no surprise to anyone when she decided to retire at age 60. Because she was not yet Medicare eligible, Allison purchased private health insurance for $14,175 per year.*  Brittany exhibited more patience, delaying retirement until she became Medicare eligible. The cost of Medicare can be less expensive than private health insurance, so Brittany only had to pay $3,704 per year* for healthcare coverage. By waiting to retire until age 65, Brittany minimized her fixed healthcare costs while maximizing her ability to pursue retirement spending goals.
New Sources of Income Â
Prior to retirement, most individuals rely primarily on wage income to cover expenses. In retirement, these individuals must rely on new sources of income, such as retirement plan distributions and Social Security retirement benefits. Effectively managing these new sources of income requires a basic understanding of the rules.
Retirement Plan Distributions Â
An individual can generally begin taking penalty-free distributions from a qualified retirement account upon reaching age 59 ½. Distributions from a traditional account are fully taxable. Distributions from a Roth account are generally tax-free.
There are recent changes to rules regarding Required Minimum Distributions.
On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancements (SECURE) Act into law. The SECURE Act became effective on January 1, 2020. One of the many changes instituted by the SECURE Act concerns the rules governing required minimum distributions (RMDs). Prior to the passage of the SECURE Act, individuals with traditional qualified retirement accounts had to begin taking RMDs by April 1 of the year after reaching age 70 ½. Under the new law, individuals do not have to begin taking RMDs until April 1 of the year after reaching age 72 beginning in 2020.
Social Security Retirement Benefits Â
Although you can elect to receive your Social Security retirement benefits beginning at age 62, this may not be your best option. If you elect to begin receiving benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA), your monthly benefit will be less than if you had waited until FRA. If you delay benefits until after FRA, you will earn delayed retirement credits until age 70. These credits will increase the monthly benefit you ultimately receive.
The age at which one decides to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits can have a lasting impact. For an example, we turn again to Allison and Brittany. In need of an income stream, Allison elected to receive her Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Brittany was able to wait until age 70. Although Brittany began receiving Social Security retirement benefits eight years later than Allison, her higher monthly benefit amount could translate to a higher cumulative lifetime benefit depending on how long each person lives.
*Health care costs are based on estimates provided by MoneyGuidePro (Stifel’s financial planning software).
Disclosure: The names and stories are for education and illustrative purposes only and do not reflect any actual client scenarios or information. Stifel does not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult with your estate planning attorney and tax advisor regarding your particular situation