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HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
Lt. Gov. Crouch Awards $10 Million In Arts, Cultural And Destination Marketing Organization
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch today announced 479 organizations will receive almost $10 million through the Arts, Cultural and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) grant program. This initiative is made possible through a partnership between the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) and the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), providing operational support to local organizations whose operations were disrupted by COVID-19.
“These organizations help enhance the quality of life here in our great state,” Crouch said. “I am pleased to see the arts and cultural sector, which adds to Indiana’s tourism economy, get this funding.”
A list of the awardees can be found here.
“Ensuring the arts and cultural community can survive is what this grant will do for so many organizations across the state,” said Lewis Ricci, IAC’s Executive Director.  “This funding can help bridge the gap.”
“The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the leading economic sectors in Indiana, contributing over $37 billion to the state’s gross domestic product,” said Elaine Bedel, IDDC’s Secretary and CEO. “These funds will help the Destination Marketing Organizations lead the recovery of our leisure and travel related economy.”
Award amounts were determined by a formula which included factors for budget size, previous amounts of CARES Act funding received and amount of eligible expenses, resulting in an equitable distribution to organizations in all areas of the state.
Each grantee will be responsible for documenting the use of all distributed funds.
HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE HOOSIERS TO GET FLU VACCINES
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HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE HOOSIERS TO GET FLU VACCINES
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Update on Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremonies
USI Class of 2020,
The COVID-19 pandemic has required this University to make numerous difficult decisions. Things that we once thought would never happen are becoming commonplace. We are working diligently to keep the USI community healthy–wearing our masks, maintaining physical distance, and conducting many meetings and classes virtually.
First, let me say thank you. Thank you for doing your part. You, the members of the USI Class of 2020, have shown what it truly means to be a Screagle. You’ve adapted when asked and stepped up to the challenge of continuing and completing your education during a worldwide pandemic.
We must continue our diligence to keep safety at the forefront of our thinking, especially with flu season right around the corner. It is with that in mind, that I announce today that our Fall 2020 Commencement ceremonies will now take place as a virtual ceremony on Saturday, December 12. While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, as we wished to celebrate your achievements in-person, we have come to realize that the alternative would not be the safe and responsible thing to do.
All 2020 graduates are invited to participate in this virtual ceremony. Although far from a perfect solution, it will be a Commencement ceremony that recognizes you and your achievements and can be safely shared with your entire family and all of your friends, whether they reside locally, or states away. Just because this Commencement celebration will not look the same, it does nothing to diminish how proud we all are of you, each and every one of you. We cannot wait to see what you accomplish next. You are our future!
Ronald S. Rochon, PhD Â
President
AG Curtis Hill: Federal Courts Should Not Micromanage States’ Election Processes
Attorney General Curtis Hill today asked a federal court to stay its preliminary injunction against a 2019 state law permitting a county election board, but no one else, to request an order from a state court extending voting hours.
Such extensions may be necessary in the event of technical problems at polling places but cannot be undertaken without a court order.
A lawsuit by Common Cause Indiana argues that anyone should be able to request such a court order, but Attorney General Hill noted that permitting all voters to file such lawsuits could inundate courts with demands for extended polling hours. Indiana law otherwise affords voters ample opportunity to cast their ballots even before Election Day, and the statute at issue does not preclude voters from filing claims under federal law in either state or federal court.
“This is but one of many lawsuits designed to throw our election system into chaos on Election Day,†Attorney General Hill said. “The U.S. Supreme Court has said that courts should not issue election-related injunctions at the eleventh hour, but here we go again, with various left-leaning groups urging federal district courts to re-write the election laws and micromanage election procedures.â€
As long as the federal court’s injunction stands, Indiana cannot enforce the law under challenge.
LOCKING HORNS
LOCKING HORNS
Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
One day I met up with my friend Tim “Turtle†Smith in the parking lot of a golf course. “Hey, come look at what I found yesterday when I was out deer hunting.†I looked in the bed of Turtle’s pickup and saw two sets of deer antlers intertwined. Tim said, “I cut these off the heads of two dead stags. They must have starved to death after their battle for which one would gain the prize doe. I guess it is a metaphor for the old saying, ‘Don’t lose your head over.…’ †Tim is kind of a colloquial philosopher. We do not know what other stag defaulted to winning the mythical doe, but surely a wiser one was lying in wait.
For some reason my encounter with Turtle came to mind after observing the Presidential Debacle last Tuesday evening. If the goal of a leader is to have his or her constituents adopt and follow a particular vision, when it comes to debating, the leader may want to concentrate on setting out elements of the vision and not fall into the quagmire of ad hominem. President Trump and Former Vice President Biden surely both have a vision for America but they both kept their visions well disguised Tuesday.
Usually in a debate someone is declared the winner. However, in the Presidential Debacle of 29 September 2020 there was no winner but there were three losers: President Trump, Former Vice President Biden and the electorate. We learned what we already knew; the candidates hate one another and the national news media loves only itself. Where was what Socrates called for over two thousand years ago when he cautioned, “The unexamined life is not worth livingâ€? And Joseph Campbell’s only unforgiveable sin, that is “to be unawareâ€, was committed by both candidates and the moderator repeatedly.
If Americans are the prize and leadership is the goal, I suggest our presidential candidates each eschew both mudslinging and mud wrestling and spend their time and ours setting forth their plans for our future and explaining cogently how their plan is superior to their opponent’s. We can decide for ourselves if we like a candidate. What we need is knowledge about which aspiring leader is truly inspiring and not merely exasperating. Of course, if Donnie and Joey continue to act like scuffling school boys, perhaps we will see both of their denouements via the ballot box and a contested election. Then someone else may end up with the prize as declared by a handful of unelected judges.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like/Follow†us on Facebook & Twitter at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting
EPA Encourages Innovation, Levels the Playing Field for Sources that Are Reducing Hazardous Air Emissions
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule to implement the clear language of the Clean Air Act that allows a “major source†of hazardous air pollutants (HAP) to reclassify as an “area source†at any time after acting to limit emissions. This rule will encourage facilities to pursue innovations in pollution-reduction technologies and relieve regulatory requirements intended for much larger emitters.
“Today’s action is an important step to further President Trump’s regulatory reform agenda by providing meaningful incentives for investment that prevents hazardous air pollution,â€Â said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This rule, which follows on a 2018 guidance memorandum, will end regulatory interpretations that discourage facilities from investing in better emissions technology.â€
“EPA’s previous OIAI policy was a strong example of a counterproductive regulation, imposing costly requirements that hurt economic growth while also providing no incentive for businesses to reduce hazardous emissions,â€Â said U.S. Senator John Hoeven (ND). “This new rule is exactly the kind of regulatory relief that we’ve worked with the administration to provide, as it supports businesses in upgrading their operations with the latest technology, empowering a stronger economy and better environmental stewardship.â€
“The ‘Once In, Always In’ policy was a clear example of counterproductive regulation. It discouraged industry from making improvements to decrease hazardous air pollutants. I applaud Administrator Wheeler on finalizing the MM2A rule. It will provide clarity in regulation, lead to cost savings, and encourage facility upgrades that will benefit air quality,â€Â said U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09).Â
The Clinton-era “once in, always in†policy discouraged facilities from modernizing and implementing voluntary pollution abatement and prevention efforts. This rule allows those “major sources†that have taken enforceable limits to reduce their emissions to reclassify as an “area source.†States and stakeholders voiced concern that the “once in, always in†policy discouraged voluntary pollution abatement and prevention efforts. By removing unnecessary monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting associated with being a major source, this rule will relieve unnecessary compliance and financial burdens from regulated entities and encourage other sources to reduce emissions. Emissions requirements will not change for existing major sources that choose not to reclassify. Sources that choose to reclassify will be subject to any applicable “area source†requirements.
EPA estimates that this rule will result in cost savings when compared to the agency’s previous “once-in, always-in†policy. EPA estimates a potential cumulative savings of $16.1 million in the first year and $90.6 million (in 2017 dollars) in following years.
With this final rule, EPA has saved Americans a total of approximately $95 billion in unnecessary regulatory costs under President Trump.
