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HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 417 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at ISDH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and private laboratories. That brings to 37,397 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.
Intensive care unit and ventilator capacity remain steady. As of today, more than 37 percent of ICU beds and nearly 83 percent of ventilators are available.
A total of 2,121 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 11 over the previous day. Another 182 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
To date, 304,263 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 297,530 on Saturday.
Hoosiers who have symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been exposed and need a test to return to work are encouraged to visit a state-sponsored testing site for free testing. Individuals without symptoms who are at high risk because they are over age 65, have diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or another underlying condition, as well as those who are pregnant, live with a high-risk individual or are a member of a minority population that is at greater risk for severe illness, also are encouraged to get tested.
Chief Justice Rush On Race, Equity: ‘We Can And Must Do Better’
Chief Justice Rush On Race, Equity: ‘We Can And Must Do Better’
Citing failures of courts and justice systems to address racial inequities, Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush on Friday issued a statement promising change as protests over the death of George Floyd continued in streets in the Hoosier state and across the nation.
Rush issued a Statement on Race and Equity that begins, “The gravity of the events across the country and here in Indiana demanding equity — both peaceful protests and violent outbursts — require a response from the judicial branch. The courts play a vital role in our society’s aim toward justice for all. Courts are the hallowed halls within which justice is sought. It is guaranteed by due process and equal protection rights. But, if their power is abused, courts can be complicit in perpetuating the bias and inequity that are carved in our nation’s history. As Chief Justice of Indiana, I want to make known that we can and must do better.
“Despite all we have worked to pursue, justice remains elusive to many persons of color in matters across the legal spectrum. There is a disconnect between what we aspire for in our justice system and what we have achieved. That may be hard to hear for all of us who work every day for fairness, but we must hear the voices that cry out in our streets and towns. We must acknowledge and confront the reality that our fellow community members say is their experience. And it is imperative we take action to change that experience — not ignore, justify, or disparage it,†the statement said.
Among other things, Rush’s statement called for:
- Elevating the role of implicit bias training and education about disproportionality and racial disparities in the justice system;
- Courts to treat victims of biased hatred and racism with dignity and hold accountable those who stoke the fires of hatred and racism;
- Fairness and compassion for families affected by poverty, no matter their color. “The disadvantaged and vulnerable must be protected by our legal system, not left to fend for themselves and crushed under its weight and its complexity.â€;
- Improving the pathway for more people of color to become lawyers and judges; and
- Equitable treatment for children in the court system. “Children, individuals, and families of color have at times been treated more harshly and punished more severely than their white counterparts. It is a fact, and it must stop,†Rush’s statement said.
“To be sure, the complexities of race in America will not be solved by simply saying we will try to do better. Rather, we must take action for all of us to live in a better world. I charge our courts, our justice system partners, our lawyers, and our law schools to do so. I demand the same of myself.â€
Rush urged those with ideas to improve state courts to share them at on.in.gov/innovate.
State Offering Workforce Grants To Help Hoosiers Get Back To Their Jobs
State Offering Workforce Grants To Help Hoosiers Get Back To Their Jobs
By Hope Shrum
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—As the COVID-19 pandemic continues taking a toll throughout the state in lives and declining revenues, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced an initiative to provide Hoosiers with help as they begin returning to the workforce.
Friday, at Holcomb’s virtual press briefing, the discussion focused on state revenues, which are more than $1 billion short of projections for the year; a workforce development program, funded with federal dollars; and plans to restart in-person learning in K-12 schools.
Dr. Kristina Box, Commissioner of the State Health Department, reported 533 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 36,578, and another 27 deaths, for a total of 2,078 Hoosiers who have died from the disease. The number does not include the 180 Hoosiers believed to have died from the virus.
Box also said that the second phase of the COVID-19 study being conducted by the Richard M. Fairbanks Schools of Public Health is underway this week and ends Sunday.
“If you’ve received a postcard, a text message or an email saying you’ve been selected to participate, please get tested, even if you’ve already been tested,†Box said.
For the second straight month, COVID-19 hit the state hard economically as revenues declined sharply year-over-year. Cris Johnston, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said revenues are down 20% from the estimated forecast in December and sales taxes, in particular, are down nearly 15% from what was expected, a reflection of a drop in consumer spending.
To help Hoosiers and businesses get back to work, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet launched a new initiative, “Rapid Recovery for a Better Future.â€
The $50 million initiative is being funded through the $2.4 billion funds Indiana received from the CARES Act, and it will provide free access to short-term, online courses and training for more than 100,000 Hoosiers. It will also expand the Employer Training Grant to train 25,000 Indiana residents.
The CARES Act is the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was passed by Congress to help deal with the impact of the pandemic.
Workforce Ready grants will be available to Hoosiers with a high school diploma to use for training programs in an array of fields and cover the cost of tuition at a number of schools.
As the state continues to reopen for business and other activities, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick released a 38-page document of guidelines on how Indiana schools can safely resume in-person instruction this fall.
The document, Indiana’s Considerations for Learning and Safe Schools or IN-CLASS, offers recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control that schools and districts can take to protect students and faculty.
None of these recommendations are requirements of the state. It will be up to local districts to decide how their schools will operate in the fall.
“We believe where we are right now, schools can and should open for instruction, and we wouldn’t have made that decision or endorsed the proposal to go forward if we thought otherwise,†Holcomb. “They are recommendations. They are guardrails that we put into place, and if a school chooses a hybrid approach, an e-learning and an in-school, both options, so be it. There is no one size or circumstance that fits all.â€
Some of the suggestions from the document include modifications to transportation, a combination of in-person and distance learning, and limiting students’ contact with each other.
IN-CLASS proposes closing school cafeterias and have students eat bagged or boxed meals at their desks.
It is also suggested to provide in-person instruction to elementary school students and increase distance learning for higher grade levels.
FOOTNOTE: Hope Shrum is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Gov. Beshear Provides Update on Fight Against COVID-19
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Ivy Tech Community College Offering 10,000 Participants Free Classes
Ivy Tech Community College has announced it is offering free classes and trainings for 10,000 participants. The College is elevating its commitment to Hoosiers impacted by COVID-19 experiencing unemployment, reduced hours, and/or furloughs across the state. Participants may take more than one class or training in a range of relevant high-demand areas.
Hoosiers can get detailed information about the classes and trainings, and register for free, by visiting www.ivytech.edu/10kclasses.
Many of the classes and trainings will be offered so that the participant can start and finish on their own timeline, with no regular course meeting times. A few offerings are time limited. The College plans to increase the types of offerings and trainings throughout the summer.
“Nearly 650,000 Hoosiers are faced with unemployment, reduced hours or furloughs. While we hope many will return to their jobs, this is an outstanding opportunity for Hoosiers to skill up and become more marketable to their current and future employers,†Ivy Tech President Sue Ellspermann shared. “Ivy Tech and our partners have come together to provide free relevant training for what we hope will be many more than 10,000 Hoosiers.â€
Classes and trainings that are currently being offered as part of the initiative include, but are not limited to:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Industry 4.0 Silver Level Multi-Skill Maintenance and Operations Technician Certifications (Associate, Electrical Systems, Electric Motor Control Systems, Motor Control Troubleshooting, Pneumatic Systems)
- Tools of the Industry with Autodesk: Introduction to CAD, CAM, and Practical CNC Machining, Fusion 360 Introduction to CAD and CAM, Simulation Analysis for Mechanical Engineers, 3-Axis Machining with Fusion 360, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing, Modeling and Design for Mechanical Engineers. Autodesk Inc. is the software provider for people who make things
- Information Technology: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Essentials, AWS Educate Cloud Practitioner
- Business and Cross-Sector: LinkedIn Learning
Later this summer more class and training offerings for skills credit, and for-credit classes and trainings, will be phased in.
IDEM Issues Air Quality Action Day
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for Sunday, June 7, 2020 in the following areas:Â
- Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott and Washington
- Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and WarrickÂ
IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making simple changes to their daily habits. You can:
- Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
- Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
- Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
- Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
- Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or aboveÂ
Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.Â
IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov.
Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.Â
Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab†JUNE 7, 2020
Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab†June 7, 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€columns concerning National or International issues.