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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
Eagles grind out an 81-70 victory
 University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball returned to the hardwood Saturday to close out the season-opening homestand with an 81-70 victory over McKendree University at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles go to 2-1 in 2020-21, while The Bearcats fall to 2-1.
USI was able to build a slim two-point advantage by the intermission, 38-36. The Eagles, who lead by as many as four points twice in the last three minutes of the opening stanza, was led by sophomore guard Tyler Henry, who posted a team-high nine points in the first 20 minutes, and senior forward Emmanuel Little, who dropped in eight points to start the game.
The Eagles took control of the contest early in the second half with a 15-5 run to extend the two-point halftime lead to 12 points, 53-41. USI was a blistering six-of-seven from the field during the offensive surge with six players contributing points in the run.
The USI margin ran to a game-high 13 points, 64-51, with 8:43 remaining when senior guard Mateo Rivera hit a three-point field to high-light his first action of the season after missing the first two games of the season with an injury. McKendree, however, began to chip away at the USI advantage in the final eight minutes and closed to within six points twice in the final four minutes before the Eagles shut the door on an 81-70 victory.
The Eagles had four players reach double-digits, led by the 18-point performance of junior guard Jelani Simmons. Simmons was seven-of-13 from the field, two-of-six from long range, and two-of-two from the stripe.
Little followed with 15 points on six-of-nine from the field and three-of-three from the stripe, while senior forward Josh Price added 14 points and completed a third-straight double-double to start the year with a team-high 10 rebounds.
Henry closed out USI double-digit scorers with 12 points, hitting a blistering five-of-seven from the field, including a three-pointer, and a free throw.
USI hits the road for the first time next Sunday when it visits the University of Indianapolis for a 2 p.m. (CST) tip off. The Greyhounds, who are 0-2 to start the year are idle today and are slated to play Lewis University Tuesday in a re-scheduled match-up
The Eagles hold a 58-24 series lead over the Greyhounds, 54-23 in league play. UIndy took both meetings last year, winning in Indianapolis, 86-74, and at Screaming Eagles Arena, 88-76.
DeHart’s career-high lifts Eagles over Bearcats
Senior guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) scored a career-high 28 points as University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball rallied from an early 10-point deficit to defeat McKendree University, 73-48, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest Saturday afternoon at Screaming Eagles Arena.
The Screaming Eagles (5-0, 5-0 GLVC), who trailed 17-7 early in the opening period, scored the final nine points of the first quarter and first four of the second period to take a brief 20-17 advantage. DeHart scored nine points during the 13-0 run and had 14 points at the intermission as the Eagles outscored the Bearcats 14-5 throughout the final five minutes of the half to take a 34-25 lead heading into the intermission.
McKendree (1-3, 1-3 GLVC) got a pair of quick three-pointers from junior guard Sydney Diekhoff to open the second half as the Bearcats climbed to within six points three times early in the third quarter.
USI, however, outscored the Bearcats 16-7 throughout the final seven minutes of the period to build a commanding 55-40 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play. DeHart, who had eight points in the 16-7 run, scored four points in a 10-2 fourth-quarter spurt that put USI up 65-44 with just under five minutes to play in the game.
In addition to DeHart, who also had a team-high four assists, the Eagles got career-high 13 points from sophomore guard Soffia Rieckers(Evansville, Indiana). Rieckers, who started in place of injured sophomore guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana), scored five of USI’s first seven points to keep the Eagles afloat early on.
Senior guard Ashley Hunter (Flossmoor, Illinois) added 11 points and four steals, while freshman forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) came off the bench to scored 10 points and grab three rebounds.
The Bearcats, who connected on eight of their first 11 shots, were led by senior guard Madison Jones, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and a game-high five assists. Diekhoff and freshman guard Christy Fortune each finished with 13 points for McKendree, which was held to just 12-of-39 (.308) shooting throughout the final 32 minutes of the contest.
USI, which went 27-of-50 (.540) from the field throughout the final 32 minutes, outrebounded the Bearcats, 35-27, and got an 18-3 advantage in bench scoring. Junior forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) aided the Eagles’ bench players with six points and a game-high tying eight rebounds.
The Eagles return to action December 20 at noon when they travel north to visit the University of Indianapolis. USI’s game at UIndy begins a four-game road trip for the Eagles, who have played their first five games of the year at Screaming Eagles Arena.
UPDATES: STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS IS A WHOOPING 419,536
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Unprecedented Study Details State Of Cybersecurity Preparedness In Indiana
According to a new survey of more than 300 public and private organizations across Indiana, nearly one-fifth said they had experienced a cyberattack in the past three years.
More than 80% of respondents – representing private companies, governmental and public organizations, and utilities in Indiana – reported that their organizations have taken steps to prevent a cybersecurity incident.
The findings come from the report “State of Hoosier Cybersecurity 2020,” which was prepared for the Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, its Indiana Business Research Center and the University of Arizona.
“This is the first time we have a state-level snapshot of both cyber hygiene practices as well as how businesses and local governments are using cyber risk insurance as a tool to mitigate the risks they face,” said Scott Shackelford, associate professor of business law and ethics, chair of the IU Cybersecurity Program.
“In a field that is too often starved for hard data, this is a unique opportunity to highlight what Indiana organizations are doing well, and poorly, when it comes to safeguarding their systems, employees and customers,” added Shackelford, who also is executive director of the Ostrom Workshop.
As in other states, public and private organizations in Indiana have faced cyber threats. Prominent cases have included an email hack of the sheriff’s department in Lake County, an attack on government computers in Lawrence and LaPorte counties, and a breach at Hancock Memorial Hospital, but universities, small businesses, utility companies and school corporations also have been victims.
While about 19% of respondents indicated they had experienced a successful cyber incident since 2017, another 67% said they hadn’t and 13% weren’t sure or declined to provide an answer. Of those who said their organization had experienced a cyber incident, 50% said it did not result in data loss. Thirty-one percent said fewer than five of these incidents resulted in data loss.
“It’s clear from this first-of-its-kind report that while most Hoosier organizations are aware that cyber threats exist, most do not have a clear understanding of how to prevent or respond to cyberattacks,” Attorney General Curtis Hill said. “We hope that through this report, and our ongoing efforts to implement a safe harbor rule, we can keep organizations and citizens safe from cyberattacks, the fastest-growing type of crime in the United States.”
Of those who indicated that they had taken steps to prevent cyber incidents, 95% had installed antivirus software, while more than 75% had updated or patched their software. More than 70% had provided their employees with training to reduce cyber-related risks.
Researchers received 336 responses: 197 complete responses and 139 incomplete responses. Seventeen of the 197 Indiana organizations that completed the survey said they had used other mechanisms to prevent cyber incidents other than those suggested by the survey. They described a broad range of approaches, including installing firewalls and spam filters, adopting multi-factor authentication and hiring a cybersecurity firm to advise on defenses.
Only 27% of organizations reported having an updated incident response plan ready to respond to a cyberattack. Researchers found organizations had fragmented approaches to managing cyber risks, with 15% of respondents indicating that their point person was their chief information officer, while another 14% indicated that this role was filled by their CEO. Otherwise, cybersecurity incidents were dealt with by those in a variety of other roles.
Sixteen percent of those surveyed said they either did not have a plan in place or were unsure about what to do to prevent cyberattacks.
“Indiana organizations are by and large aware of the multifaceted cyber threats facing them, but the vast majority have not created incident response plans for how to manage data breaches that could result from these threats,” Shackelford said. “It’s a concern that there is no consensus on how to organize to effectively manage cyber risks, including what type of point person should be in charge, and how they should work with other leaders across the organization, and with their peers and partners, to maximize cybersecurity preparedness.”
One key component of a cyber risk mitigation strategy is insurance. More than half of Indiana organizations already have cyber risk insurance, with another quarter considering it. But the survey found that many organizations were unsure about what types of coverage they have and what exclusions might apply.
Anne Boustead, an assistant professor in the School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the report, said there is still much we can learn about how companies decide whether to adopt cyber risk insurance, and the role of cyber risk insurance in mitigation practices.
“Our findings indicate that cost and coverage limits can deter organizations from adopting cyber risk insurance,” she said. “However, as this research continues, it will be particularly important to explore other potential barriers to adoption of cyber risk insurance.”
The authors plan to conduct a follow-up study in several years to determine how these trends are changing over time, and to mirror the efforts in other states, including Arizona, to better situate the findings. The report is attached.
THE CHRISTMAS PLANETS
THE CHRISTMAS PLANETS
GAVEL GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
Peg bought me a telescope for my birthday. With the assigned birthday of Jesus rapidly approaching Peg and I are eagerly anticipating a view of the Christmas Star on 2020’s Winter Solstice, December the twenty-first at 4:02 a.m. Although we plan to take what the military might call a “gentleman’s†approach and start our search about 6:00 p.m. that day. We see no need to get up at the crack of dawn to “discover†the conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn in the southwest sky. After all, the Milky Way galaxy has been around almost from the beginning of the universe, which is 13.7 billion years, so billions of other humans have already seen the “Star in the eastâ€.
According to the Gospel of Matthew wise men from the east, probably Babylonia or Persia, while looking to the west toward Bethlehem observed the astonishingly bright “starâ€. Some scholars posit they may have related it to the messianic prophecies contained in the Old Testament book of Malachi, “Unto you shall the sun of righteousness arise and healing is in his wingsâ€. A clue as to the birth of this promised messenger was the term “sunâ€. Like the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year marked the return of all the good things brought by sunlight, many philosophers and theologians have attached the birth of Jesus to the time of that event on the celestial calendar. And, since nine months before December’s Winter Solstice is the Vernal or Spring Equinox, many have postulated that the Immaculate Conception was in March of that same year. Of course, these concepts are part of the Christian tradition. In the United States, Article I of our Constitution guarantees each of us the right to worship or not worship as we see fit. I am neither qualified nor inclined to give ecclesiastical advice. I am referring to the astronomical phenomenon of what may have been taken as a sign by heavenly observers during eight months of 7 B.C. when Jupiter and Saturn appeared in conjunction to give the appearance of an extremely bright star.
And my only qualifications to give opinions on star gazing are that I have seen the Broadway musical Hair, have surfed the Internet for historical information, and have been given a telescope. On the other hand, I offer the observation that that is not unlike the so-called authority of cable news anchors on many other subjects.
Anyway, when it comes to Jesus’ birthdate no one really knows. But we do know that Pope Julius I in 336 A.D. wanted to counteract the pagan celebrations of the Winter Solstice when he decreed December 25th to be the date of Jesus’ birth. The pope was using the Roman calendar not the Gregorian calendar ergo the actual date of the Winter Solstice varied from the 25th. Regardless, by first setting Jesus’ birthdate in December scholars could then subtract nine months and set His conception in March at the Vernal Equinox.
Behind our cabin at JPeg Osage Ranch is a high hill we call Peg’s Peak or Mogul Margaret’s Mountain. When the galaxy gets all aligned on December 21st Peg and I plan to go to the top of our promontory and gaze upon the Christmas Star that has not been seen in this configuration for 800 years. We are trying to convince ourselves that we will again be atop our observatory the next time the Christmas Star appears which will be March 2080. On the other hand, it might be prudent for us to celebrate now. Merry Christmas!
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting
Dr. Lana Dbeibo Named Director Of Vaccine Initiatives At IU
A lab technician sorts blood samples inside a lab for a COVID-19 vaccine study at the Research Centers of America on Aug. 13 in Hollywood, Florida.
Dr. Lana Dbeibo was named director of vaccine initiatives Monday, according to an update from IU President Michael McRobbie.
Dbeibo, an assistant professor of Clinical Medicine, joined the Medical Response Team on Monday, according to the update. Drs. Cole Beeler, Aaron Carroll and Adrian Gardner also lead the team.
Dbeibo completed her fellowship in Infectious Diseases and residency in Internal Medicine at the IU School of Medicine, according to the IU School of Medicine website. Currently, Dbeibo is the director of Infection Prevention at Methodist Hospital.
Dbeibo was appointed before the Food and Drug Administration met to review requests for emergency use authorizations of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
The FDA will review the Pfizer vaccine Thursday and the Moderna vaccine Dec. 17, according to the update.
IU spokesperson Chuck Carney said in an email that the university is “working with the state on several areas of any vaccine distribution.”
“Whatever we do regarding vaccine distribution would be coordinated with the state,†Carney said.
IU students will receive either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, which are similar in effectiveness. Both vaccines require two doses. The Pfizer vaccine doses must be 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccine doses must be 28 days apart, according to an FAQ on the IU COVID-19 website
There is not yet a date for when members of the IU community will be able to receive the vaccine. The first people community to receive the vaccine will be health care workers, according to the FAQ.
With recent progress in vaccine development, McRobbie is optimistic about the coming year, according to the update.
“Our ultimate goal, of course, is to return to the world as it was pre-COVID-19,†McRobbie said in the update. “Some recent steadily brightening rays of hope suggest that this may well begin to happen by the fall 2021 semester.â€
The update noted the current state of the pandemic, praising the efforts of the Medical Response Team in mitigation testing, symptomatic testing and contact tracing. Specifically, McRobbie plans to increase COVID-19 testing in the coming semester through the university’s own labs in Indianapolis and Bloomington.
“Through our new IU Pandemic Response Laboratories, our medical professionals can presently process 25,000 tests a week,†according to the update. “And this number will be scaled up to 50,000 tests per week by the beginning of the spring semester to address university-wide demands.â€
McRobbie’s update also praised the 24-hour-or-less turnaround time for test results and the fact current tests cost 1/10th of the price of previous commercial tests.
The update was optimistic about the vaccine developments, but it also acknowledged uncertainty about deployment schedules.
HOOSIER HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: Electric lights on the 1913 Christmas Tree
December 13 – December 19The Week in Indiana History |
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A Sampling of Sayings by Abe Martin: Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men It’s what we learn after we think we know it all that counts It hain’t a bad plan to keep still occasionally, even when you know what you’re talkin’ about To err is human, but to admit it ain’t – – – Kin Hubbard (1868 – 1930)
Did You Know?   Hoosier Bobby Helms (1933- 1997) was a recording artist.  Born in Helmsburg, he developed a singing talent which took him to Nashville, Tennessee, where he became a star. In 1957, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan television show to perform his hit “My Special Angel.” Also in 1957, he recorded “Jingle Bell Rock,” which is listed in Billboard Magazine’s top ten Christmas songs of all time.  Other top-selling records included “Fraulein,” “Jacqueline,” and “Borrowed Dreams.”  In later years, Bobby lived near Martinsville, where he is buried in Hilldale Cemetery.  “Mr. Jingle Bell Rock” is engraved on his tombstone. Take an “Armchair Tour” of the Indiana Statehouse
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1904   Abe Martin first appeared in The Indianapolis News. Created by newspaper artist Kin Hubbard, Abe was a rural character famous for his “sayings.” His daily comments were syndicated and published in newspapers across the country for many years. Indiana’s Brown County State Park pays tribute to Kin Hubbard and the many rustic characters he created.
1913   In University Park in Indianapolis, a Christmas tree was decorated with colorful electric lights, a new innovation for the time. Mayor Henry Wallace organized the event in conjunction with the Cornelia Cole Fairbanks chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The 50-foot cedar tree, provided by the Bridgeport Nursery, was the centerpiece for music each evening by local choir groups.
1928   The L. S. Ayres Department Store offered its customers a “telephone shopping service.” Newspaper advertisements invited the public to call the “intelligent, well-trained personal shoppers” and the gifts “would come trotting out to your home just as if your best friends had been shopping for you.” Other stores offered similar programs, made possible by the fact that nearly 40% of American homes now had telephones.
1950   The Marion County Civil Defense Committee announced that fire sirens and factory whistles would be used to warn the community of any impending air raids by enemy planes. The move was in response to the heightened “cold war” tension across the nation. Air raid drills had already been conducted in all city schools.
