Due to the closure of the Civic Center Complex, the Evansville Police Merit Commission scheduled meeting forÂ
Monday, April 27, 2020 has been cancelled.
The next scheduled meeting of the Police Merit Commission will be onÂ
Monday, May 11, 2020, in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex at 4:00pm.
Notice submitted by Sgt. Doug Schneider,
 Liaison to the Evansville Police Merit Commission
Â
Every day when Andrew Capobianco steps into Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center on the Indiana University campus he’s reminded of the legends that came before him. Banners of 11-time Olympic medalist swimmer Mark Spitz, 1964 Olympic diving champion Lesley Bush, 1976 Olympic diving bronze medalist Cynthia Potter, and International Swimming Hall of Fame coaches Hobie Billingsley and Doc Counsilman drape the walls of the building.
“Being able to train and see all of those faces on the wall of people who have been so successful at IU just gives me so much more motivation to be like them,†Capobianco, 20, said.
Capobianco, a USA Diving national team member and Indiana junior, chose the university partially because of the storied history of the program—and for the opportunity to parlay his experiences into international success.
A more recent banner to be hung from the wall was Capobianco’s synchronized diving partner and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Michael Hixon.
“It was pretty hard to describe for me how much it means to me that the coaches would even want to do that,†Hixon, 25, said. “I don’t know if I’m really quite worthy of it, but I’m pretty honored that they would do that.â€
The pair teamed up a year and a half ago when Hixon’s former synchro partner—Olympic silver medalist Sam Dorman—retired, and the former Hoosier teammates have used that bond to become one of the most dynamic synchro duos in the sport.
“I think him and I both have some lofty goals, but when we’re both on our game, I think we can compete with anyone in the world and we really believe that,†Hixon said.
They have quickly proven that as well, winning both the 2018 winter national championships and 2019 national championships, and going on to medal at a 2019 World Series stop, the Pan American Games Lima 2019 and a 2020 grand prix.
Capobianco redshirted his junior season to train for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but his first two collegiate seasons have led to an impressive resume as a four-time All-American at the NCAA Championships, NCAA 3-meter champion and Big 10 Diver of the Year.
“That kid, he just got so much better so quickly,†Hixon said of Capobianco. “Not just learning dives but mastering his dives. A dive that he was wasn’t doing yet (in 2018) was a front four-and-a-half and now he probably has one of the best front four-and-a-halfs in the world.â€
Capobianco is grateful to dive alongside and learn from an Olympic medalist, but Hixon, who graduated Indiana in 2018 and still trains there, said he doesn’t need to need guide his partner much.
“I mostly try to stay out of his way,†Hixon said. “I think diving, like anything else really, the best teacher is experience. He’s getting out there. He’s getting in those big meets.â€
Capobianco said his NCAA experience has been invaluable to his readiness to compete at the international level.
“I think it’s really great because the NCAA has the best of the best—and the best not only even in the country but all over the world,†he said. “At NCAAs you’re able to dive against all of these great people and you’re able to see what the competition will be like.â€
With the Tokyo Games postponed a full year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair must wait longer for a shot at their Tokyo dreams, and both divers know that dream means just as much for their university as it does themselves.
“It means a lot to be part of a program that has had great divers before,†Hixon said. “It’s sort of up to us to make sure they have great divers from here on out.â€
 Evansville, IN – Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.
Shaylin Devon Harris: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony)
Paris Shaveion Harrison: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Attempt Obstruction of justice (Level 6 Felony)
Megan Mosley: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony)
James Payne Francisco: Battery against a public safety official (Level 6 Felony), Battery resulting in bodily injury (Class A misdemeanor), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Attempt Battery on a person less than 14 years old (Level 6 Felony)
Sean Michael Simon: Attempt Fraud on a financial institution (Level 5 Felony), Forgery (Level 6 Felony), Attempt Theft (Level 6 Felony)
Jessica R. Thorpe: Aiding Fraud on a financial institution (Level 5 Felony), Attempt Theft (Level 6 Felony), Aiding Forgery (Level 6 Felony)
Robert Alonzo Sallee: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
Shane Shaffer: Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony)
Dwight J. Burkes: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)
Matthew Scott Dunn: Auto theft (Level 5 Felony), Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person (Level 5 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Leaving the scene of an accident (Class B misdemeanor), Leaving the scene of an accident (Class B misdemeanor), Disregarding automatic signal (C infraction), Driving while suspended (A infraction)
Dale E. Johnson: Domestic battery (Level 5 Felony)
Korey Michael Melton: Intimidation (Level 5 Felony), Invasion of privacy (Class A misdemeanor)
Dwayne A. Wallace: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
Aaron Robert Cook: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)
Michael W. Harmes Jr.: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony)
The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 963 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 15,961 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total.
A total of 844 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died of COVID-19. Another 88 probable deaths have been reported. Probable deaths are those for which a physician listed COVID-19 as a contributing cause based on X-rays, scans and other clinical symptoms but for which no positive test is on record. Deaths are reported based on when data are received by ISDH and occurred over multiple days.
To date, 84,476 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 81,708 on Sunday.
Cass County had the most new cases, at 439. Other counties with more than 10 new cases were Allen (49), Bartholomew (26), Clark (50), Fulton (10), Hamilton (16), Howard (35), Lake (53), Marion (133), Miami (28), St. Joseph (11) and Tippecanoe (15). The Lake County totals include results from East Chicago and Gary, which have their own health departments.
The complete listof counties with cases is included in the ISDH COVID-19 dashboard at coronavirus.in.gov. Cases are listed by county of residence. Private lab reporting may be delayed and will be reflected in the map and count when results are received at ISDH. The dashboard will be updated at noon each day.
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, the Indiana State Department of Health and other state leaders will host a virtual media briefing in the Governor’s Office to provide updates on COVID-19 and its impact on Indiana.
WHO:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gov. Holcomb
State Health Commissioner Kristina Box, M.D., FACOG
WHEN:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2:30 p.m. ET, Monday, April 27
Media RSVP
Please register HERE by 1 p.m. ET Monday, April 27. Late requests will not be accepted. One confirmation will be sent per media outlet. If you are confirmed to attend the event, you will receive additional logistics in a separate email.
Logistical questions can be directed to agray@gov.in.gov.
Media outlets that wish to broadcast the press conference live are encouraged to use the high quality livestream. The livestream is also available to the public. Direct Link:Â https://livestream.com/accounts/18256195/events/9054752/player?width=960&height=540&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=feed&autoPlay=true&mute=false
We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUEâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?
IS IT TRUE that the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) today announced that 963 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 15,961 the total number of Indiana residents known to have the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous day’s total? …that a total of 844 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died of COVID-19 and another 88 probable deaths have been reported.  …to date, 84,476 tests have been reported to ISDH, up from 81,708 on Sunday?
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 26, 2020) – On Sunday, Gov. Andy Beshear asked Kentuckians to remain vigilant in the fight against the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as the state takes an initial step toward reopening certain health care operations Monday.
“Tomorrow is the first day since this virus hit that instead of adding restrictions, we are reopening some areas,†the Governor said. “We are starting with health care for some very simple reasons. First, people have not been able to go into some types of visits and important appointments to keep themselves healthy. And people can grow unhealthy or have other issues that are unrelated to COVID-19.
“Second, we need to get our health care industry moving again because as we want to test more people we will need our health care industry to be operating at a greater level to make that happen. And third, in thinking about how to do this gradually in a way that protects people, in a way that we can always take temperature as we move forward, health care is the place to start.â€
Gov. Beshear says the phased reopening of health care services is the first step under the Healthy at Work initiative he introduced to help businesses restart operations safely when the time is right.
The initiative set out public health benchmarks for reopening Kentucky’s economy. These benchmarks closely follow the White House’s Guidelines for Reopening America.
On April 27, health care practitioners can resume non-urgent/emergent health care services, diagnostic radiology, and lab services in:
“From a public health standpoint, from a medical standpoint, we would probably prefer to wait even longer before lifting any restrictions,†Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner for the Department for Public Health, said. “But we’re trying to balance competing societal needs: people’s need to get back to work, people’s need to perform other important functions in society, people’s need to pursue their lives, with the need to keep people safe.â€
This guidance does not apply to long-term care settings, prisons and other industries or other settings for which separate guidance has already or will be provided in the future. This guidance does not apply to elective surgeries or procedures, which will be addressed in a subsequent phase.
Dr. Stack emphasized that this is a phased, gradual reopening of services and that a COVID-19 surge may require adjustment.
For full guidance on criteria for reopening and new best practices, click here.
Testing Sites And Eligibility
Gov. Beshear is urging Kentuckians to fill up all available testing slots at multiple sites throughout the commonwealth. Anyone can now sign up for the free COVID-19 testing. For more information on drive-through testing, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.
“This week we have more testing statewide than we have ever had before,†the Governor said.
Update On Voting In The Primary Election
Gov. Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams have announced new voting guidelines for the June primary. Click here for more information.
Census Update
Gov. Beshear reminds Kentuckians can fill out their Census at my2020census.gov or by phone at 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish).
Case information As of 5 p.m. April 26, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 4,074 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 202 of which were newly confirmed.
Unfortunately, Gov. Beshear also reported three new deaths Sunday, raising the state’s toll to 208 deaths related to the virus.
The deaths include two women, both age 88, from Adair County, and an 88-year-old woman from Jackson County.
“They are people that are truly missed by their friends and by their family,†the Governor said. “Let’s make sure we give them just as much effort tonight, lighting our homes up green and our places of business. Let’s make sure that we ring bells tomorrow at 10 a.m. These are three Kentuckians we’ve lost, and we need to show that color of compassion.â€
At least 1,511 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
For additional information, including up-to-date lists of positive cases and deaths, as well as breakdowns of coronavirus infections by county, race, and ethnicity, click here.
More information Read about other key updates, actions, and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov , and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Some economists have started relying more heavily on Google trends, for example, to gauge claim filings by seeing how many people searched for terms such as “how to apply for unemployment” or “unemployment benefits” in each state.
Early on, when the coronavirus crisis first hit, economists looked to reports from individual states showing huge spikes in applications from unemployment benefits, before the Trump administration asked states to not release such numbers before the official weekly reports.
US gross domestic product estimates have also been used to project what may happen with job losses, Heidi Shierholz, a senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, told Business Insider.
In early April, Goldman Sachs estimated that US GDP would contract 34% in the second quarter. That would roughly translate to 19.8 million jobs lost by July, and an unemployment rate of about 14%, according to the EPI.
But other major firms have pushed US GDP estimates even further — JPMorgan expects a 40% contraction in the second quarter, which could put the jobless number closer to 30 million.
“As their forecasts have deteriorated, our jobs numbers have deteriorated,” said Shierholz. “I wonder if it makes us look weird,” she said. “But that’s what we’re doing, and that’s where it is now.”
Economists are also dealing with the same shift facing the majority of Americans — working from home, away from the usual office spaces and closer to family.
That means there are may be small children around during the day. And for some, like Gapen, it means not being in close proximity to a trading floor, where he could hear and see what was happening in markets very easily.
“Being in proximity to markets made me a better economist,” Gapen said, adding that “it’s impossible to be as dialed-in as we were when we were sitting on the trading floor.”
Still, he’s thinking about the big picture. “I’m not unemployed and I’m not complaining,” he said.
They’re also grappling with the medical side of the coronavirus crisis, and the constant stream of information coming out about it.
“I have spent a lot more time hearing about and thinking about the medical side of this,” Jason Thomas, chief economist at AssetMark, told Business Insider. “I’ve been more frustrated with the medical side, the guidance,” he said.
Still, he added that there is “justified optimism” about the situation. “I have no doubt we’re going to get this figured out, and that we’re going to get a vaccine that’s probably going to come earlier than anybody expects,” he said.
The coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic fallout have been a sharp surprise for Americans, economists included. While the possibility of a pandemic is not new — the US went through SARS, swine flu, and Ebola — the reality of the coronavirus outbreak has been unique because of the economic shutdown it’s caused.
That makes it difficult to forecast what might happen — there’s nothing to compare it with that’s a helpful guideline.
“I come at this with a huge amount of humility as anyone should,” said Shierholz. “These numbers have been a moving target.”
It’s now more than a month since the first big jump in unemployment claims showed just how bad the economic situation due to the coronavirus was, and it’s continued to deteriorate since. Now, everyone wants to know just how long the economic pain might last, and what kind of eventual recovery could happen in the US.
But even that is hard to predict, as seen in the litany of letters and other shapes being used to describe what a recovery might look like.
“Everyone wants the answer,” said Gimbel. “Everyone wants to know exactly how bad it is and exactly how bad it’s going to get. And that’s just almost impossible to tell right now.”
