INDIANAPOLIS – Beleaguered and outgoing Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and some pals have taken on a new project.
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
Hill and the attorneys general from Texas, Louisiana and Missouri all want to police what social media platforms publish so conservatives don’t get their feelings hurt by fact-checking the right’s more dubious claims. They sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission saying it was unfair and downright mean for conservatives such as them to be subjected to such unjust standards as truth, accuracy and fairness.
Hill’s standing to make such a claim is impeccable.
He is, after all, not quite three months removed from having his license to practice law suspended. His suspension came about because the disciplinary commission and the Indiana Supreme Court determined he had engaged in criminal conduct by groping four women at a party without their consent, trying to cover his boorishness and attempting to discredit and intimidate the women he assaulted.
He also precipitated a small-scale constitutional crisis by refusing to resign his office when his license to practice was suspended, even though Indiana’s attorney general must be a lawyer in good standing.
Lectures about fairness and standards of decency from such a pillar of rectitude are just what America and Indiana need right now.
His cohorts in this effort to muzzle truth and accuracy are almost as impressive as he is.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, has been under indictment for federal securities fraud for more than five years. He and his defense lawyers have tossed up one delaying tactic after another to keep the case from moving forward. His latest stunt – er, maneuver – has been to demand that the judge in the case recuse himself because Paxton’s office is defending that judge and 20 others in an unrelated lawsuit over bail practices.
In other words, the attorney general who has been accused of criminal conduct shouldn’t be required to step down, but the judge he’s defending should be.
No wonder Curtis Hill likes this guy so much.
They think alike about questions of personal responsibility and ethical behavior.
They’re scrupulous in applying rigid standards to other people while excusing their own lapses with a generous sense of forgiveness.
Then there’s Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, whose fidelity to both free expression and family are a wonder to behold.
Landry’s zealous efforts to prevent LGBTQ citizens from receiving civil rights protections and to keep Louisiana universities even from teaching courses dealing with LGBTQ issues have been so extreme that his own brother, who is gay, came out in opposition to him.
It’s a peach of a guy who hates gays more than he loves his own blood.
Let’s not forget Eric Schmitt, Missouri’s attorney general.
His novel contribution to First Amendment law was to first offer then withdraw a brief arguing that the constitutional amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech and freedom of the press granted government the right to withhold any document it chose. The brief was unusual in that it cited no – as in, zip, zero – case law to support Schmitt’s position.
When four such brilliant legal minds come together, something special is bound to occur.
That’s what happened in this case.
The heart of their argument is that Twitter committed an injustice by labeling a Tweet by President Donald Trump about the evils of mail-in voting as inaccurate.
To demonstrate how unjust that was, the four scholars cited as evidence their own statements in opposition to mail-in voting and a report from that paragon of journalistic integrity and fairness, Fox News.
The circularity of their argument is every bit as impressive and effective as a dog’s efforts to chase its own tail.
Curtis Hill has only a few more months to serve as Indiana’s attorney general.
It’s good to see that he’s found some buddies to while away the time while thinking deep thoughts.
And arguing legal positions that deserve a special place in the FCC’s trash bin.
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.
The Reopen Evansville Task Force announced another extension of COVID-19 testing at C.K. Newsome Center.
Testing at the site — which is administered by OptumServe — will be extended through October, and is available for those that live and work in the Evansville region.
Operations will continue Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration is required. Those needing a test can register at lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1116.
Testing is free to all and no medical insurance is necessary. However, residents with existing insurance are asked to provide that information during the scheduling process.
The site was made possible through a collaboration between Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, the Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD) and the Indiana State Department of Health.
NAACP Hand Up not a Handout Initiative
Indiana residents experiencing energy insecurities may receive help from the Indiana State National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
This statewide initiative will provide financial assistance to qualifying residents up to $300 while funds last.
Applicants must receive a referral from the local NAACP branch.
FSSA And Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Sound Call For Hoosiers To Volunteer
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is joining forces with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry to encourage Hoosiers to resume or start a new volunteer service at one of Indiana’s food banks and other charitable food distribution sites.
Volunteers will be urgently needed as members of the Indiana National Guard will end their temporary, six-month deployment to aid Indiana’s food banks on Sept. 30, 2020. Since being deployed in early April, guardsmen served more than 36 million meals to more than four million Hoosiers.
“We are so grateful to the Indiana National Guard members who filled a critical gap and provided the workforce needed to keep Indiana’s charitable food distribution network operating during the darkest days of the pandemic,†said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “As food banks continue touchless, drive-thru distributions with pre-boxed food in response to COVID-19 safety concerns, the work needed to make this happen has been and will continue to be, much more than ever before. As the Indiana National Guard service ends, we look forward to seeing more of our friends who have volunteered in the past return – and we’re excited to welcome new volunteers, as well.â€
The charitable food distribution network operates 13 regional locations across the state, which provide food for distribution to community-based pantries. Locations continue to face an increased demand for food by Hoosiers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hoosiers can volunteer by filling out a brief form at OperationFood.IN.gov. They will be contacted by their regional food bank to match them with volunteer assignments. Since the early days of the pandemic, food banks have seen dramatic drops in volunteers as Hoosiers stayed home, which was especially true among Hoosiers over age 60, who make up the bulk of food bank volunteers. Some dedicated volunteers have returned to help on a limited basis, but food banks and pantries are now prepared to again use volunteers regularly to safely distribute food.
“Food banks have adapted their operations to prioritize the safety of volunteers and are experienced in providing food to those in need while following public health guidelines, so we are asking Hoosiers to answer the call to continue this mission to meet this critical need,†said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA secretary. “Our team at FSSA worked alongside Feeding Indiana’s Hungry to make Operation Food a one-stop resource to find food at one of Indiana’s nearly 1,750 pantries, donate to help keep our neighbors fed, and now to connect Hoosiers to places where they can serve their communities in-person.â€
Information from those who sign up to volunteer at OperationFood.IN.gov will be gathered by Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and shared with the charitable food network around the state. Potential volunteers may also reach out directly to a food bank in their area here.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETINGAt KEVIN WINTERNHEIMER CHAMBERS In ROOM 301, CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 At 12:00 NOON
 AGENDA
1.   CALL TO ORDER
2.   MEETING MEMORANDUM   SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
3.   CONSENT AGENDA                       Â
     a. Request Re: Approve and Execute Rental Agreement for Lloyd Pool with the Catholic Diocese of Evansville (Mater Dei.) – Holtz
          Â
4.   OLD BUSINESSÂ
     a. Request Re: N/A
5. Â Â Â NEW BUSINESSÂ
     a  Request Re: Approve and Execute Amendment to Agreement with A thru Z Consulting Â
       & Distributing Inc. for Tiger Transfer Bridge at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden.- Beck*
     b. Request Re: Any Other Business the Board Wishes to Consider and Public Comments
*Previously approved by the Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden Advisory Board.
    6.    REPORTS
      Brian Holtz- Executive Director, Department of Parks and Recreation    Â
       7.    ACCEPTANCE OF PAYROLL AND VENDOR CLAIMS
the Trump Administration reaffirmed its commitment to support America’s farmers by moving forward to review and adjudicate petitions for small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is denying petitions for small refinery exemptions for past compliance years, the so-called “gap-filling†petitions for the 2011-18 compliance years.
“This decision follows President Trump’s promise to promote domestic biofuel production, support our nation’s farmers, and in turn strengthen our energy independence,†said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “At the EPA, we are delivering on that promise by following the rule-of-law and ensuring 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation’s fuel supply.â€
Time and time again, EPA has demonstrated through action its commitment to our nation’s farmers. As promised, EPA is ensuring a net of 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel are blended into the nation’s fuel supply. EPA renewable fuel volume mandates have continued to rise in EPA’s annual rulemakings, and, with it, renewable transportation fuel use in the U.S. From 2016 to 2019 domestic ethanol production in increased by 2 percent. Additionally, as promised, EPA eliminated a significant barrier to E15 market access, and E15 is now used in 30 states at over 2,000 stations. As a next step, EPA is moving to update E15 labels to ensure consumers have informed choices at the pump and clarify the ability of existing fuel infrastructure to support expanded E15 use. However, much of the responsibility regarding labels falls to state agencies, EPA encourages they update them as well and stands ready to support them. EPA continues to actively engage with stakeholders to expand the number of approved fuel pathways, adding diversity to the biofuel mix in the United States.
“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 so1
“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.†Proverbs 3:1-2 NLTÂ
TUESDAYÂ
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.†Proverbs 3:3 NLTÂ
WEDNESDAYÂ
“Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.†Proverbs 3:4 NLTÂ
THURSDAYÂ
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.†Proverbs 3:5 NLTÂ
FRIDAYÂ
“Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.†Proverbs 3:6 NLTÂ
SATURDAYÂ
“Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.†Proverbs 3:7-8 NLTÂ
SUNDAYÂ
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.†Proverbs 3:9-10 NLTÂ
FOOTNOTE: Submitted to the City-County Observer by Karen Seltzer-Evansville
