“Left Jab†And “Middle Jab†And “Right Jab†October 21, 2020
“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jabâ€Â was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE†or “Readers Forumâ€Â columns concerning National or International issues.
The majority of our “IS IT TRUE†columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB† column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB†AND “MIDDLE JAB†AND “RIGHT JABâ€Â several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB†is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB†is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.
Indiana State Police Partners with DEA for 19th Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, October 24, 2020 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring the 19th nationwide “Prescription Drug Take Back†initiative.  The “Take Back†initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.
Collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment.  This program is for liquid and pill medications. Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken. Needles, new or used, WILL NOT be accepted for disposal. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose both potential safety and health hazards.
Once again, the Indiana State Police is pleased to partner with the DEA, and as in the past, unwanted medications may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except the Toll Road Post. The event will be on Saturday, October 24, 2020 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
To locate the State Police post closest to your home or business, click this link for Indiana State Police on the Map. To find other locations in Indiana or across the U.S. that are participating in the Drug Take Back initiative, click this link to the DEA.
The Drug Take Back events are the safe, popular and responsible way for the public to legally and dispose of prescription drugs with no questions asked.
Take Back Day: Saturday, October 24, 2020 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
| COLLECTION SITE | ~DISTANCE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If you do not find a collection site near you, please check back frequently, sites are added every day. | ||||||
| DEA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY |
5miles. | Map | ||||
| WARRICKCOUNTYSHERIFFOFFICE WALMART |
8miles. | Map | ||||
| WARRICKCOUNTYSHERIFFOFFICE CVS |
8miles. | Map | ||||
| INDIANA STATE POLICE INDIANA STATE POLICE DISTRICT 35 |
10miles. | Map | ||||
Adopt A Pet
Koda is a 2-year-old male mixed-breed. He was transferred to VHS from Evansville Animal Care & Control when VHS had available kennel space. Ella’s adoption fee is $110 and includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, and more. Get details at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!
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US 41 and Baseline Rd. Collision, Second Victim Died.
The second victim from the collision at US 41 near Baseline Rd. has died. Both drivers have been identified.
Karl Bechtel, Age 79, of Newburgh died at the scene of the collision.
Judy Pharris, age 56, of Vincennes died today at Deaconess Midtown at 07:20 Hrs. Â of injuries related to the accident having suffered multiple blunt force trauma.
An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday at 13:00 hrs. for Karl Bechtel.
Motorist Killed in Crash on US 41
A motorist was killed this evening in northern Vanderburgh County after a collision involving a wrong-way driver.
At 5:57 PM today the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police, along with emergency medical personnel from the Scott Township Fire Department, responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries in the area of US Hwy 41 near E. Baseline Road.
First responders arrived to the scene and found a 2006 Ford F-150 in the ditch east of US Hwy 41 and a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox in the median. The vehicles had heavy front end damage and were emitting smoke. Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles and had to be extricated by firefighters.
Despite life-saving measures being attempted by first responders, the driver of the F-150 did not survive. The driver of the Equinox was transported to Deaconess Midtown Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
A preliminary investigation indicated that the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox had been traveling south on US Hwy 41 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle crossed the grass median and began traveling the wrong direction. Shortly after crossing the median, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox entered the north-bound lane of travel and collided with the 2006 Ford F-150.
The crash will remain under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office pending a toxicology analysis and crash reconstruction. Drugs or alcohol are not currently suspected of having been a factor in the crash.
The crash resulted in the closure of US Hwy 41 between Inglefield Rd and Baseline Rd for over three hours. The identity of the deceased will be released by the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office.
Weinzapfel, In Virtual Town Hall, Discusses ‘Weaponized’Attorneys General Around The Nation
Weinzapfel, In Virtual Town Hall, Discusses ‘Weaponized’Attorneys General Around The Nation
By Erica Irish
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS — Democratic Attorney General candidate Jonathan Weinzapfel answered questions Thursday about healthcare, equal rights and Indiana’s criminal justice system, all leading issues in the weeks before the general election.
Weinzapfel appeared as part of a virtual town hall hosted by Hoosier Action, a non-partisan coalition that advocates for citizen rights, especially in rural areas of the state. His Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. and Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita, was invited but could not attend.
The race is intensifying as the attorney general’s office, in Indiana and beyond, gains new prominence in major lawsuits challenging public healthcare and laws implemented by the Obama administration. Hoosier Action’s goal Thursday was to reframe the attorney general as “the people’s lawyer,†beginning the event with a brief presentation about the responsibilities of the office and expectations from participants.
Speakers throughout the event shared what were often tragic stories. Some discussed difficulty in maintaining healthcare or qualifying for health insurance because of preexisting conditions like sickle cell anemia and lupus. Others shared stories of loved ones lost to addiction, cancer likely caused by environmental contamination and gun violence.
Weinzapfel said his first priority if elected is to remove Indiana from an ongoing lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, which is scheduled for arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court after the Nov. 3 election. Several states are involved in the lawsuit, led by Republican attorneys general nationwide, and many are concerned that if the law is overturned then people with pre-existing medical conditions could lose access to health insurance.
“What we have seen is attorneys general throughout the country, really, being weaponized and attacking some of the federal rules, regarding clean air, water and especially the fight against climate change,†Weinzapfel said. “It’s instigated by the Trump administration, but we’re seeing Republican attorneys general take part in the fight.â€
Rokita and Weinzapfel are competing against each other, but also against the legacy of the embattled incumbent, Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill. Hill narrowly lost his re-election bid to Rokita after facing two years of scandal. An Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary officer found Hill groped four women, including a state legislator and staff, at a bar in March 2018 while celebrating the end of that year’s legislative session. The finding led the disciplinary commission to temporarily suspend Hill’s law license.
Hill remains active in the months leading up to the election, sharing regular commentary and opinions on the state’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, political speech on social media, abortion laws and more.
Other outside groups are also following the race for Indiana attorney general. The Republican Attorneys General Association, or RAGA, has contributed around $796,000 to Rokita while sharing statements in support of his campaign. That’s more than half of Rokita’s $1.5 million total contributions, according to public campaign finance documents.
Weinzapfel has raised nearly $1.8 million in the campaign to date, around $800,000 of which came from third-quarter fundraising. Weinzapfel reported 2,894 individual contributions, a fact his campaign says demonstrates his popularity among ordinary Hoosiers.
Erica Irish is the 2020 Russell Pulliam student editor for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.Â
