CONSENT AGENDA:Â FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A.
ORDINANCE F-2020-06 An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Approving a Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan and Appropriating Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG-CV) Funds Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 5/11/2020
ORDINANCE R-2020-07 An Ordinance to Rezone Certain Real Estate in the City of Evansville, State of Indiana, More Commonly Known as 330-332 Madison Lot 1159 S. Governor Petitioner: Robert F. Schermack Owner: Robert F. Schermack Requested Change: C-1 to R-2 Ward: 4 Burton Representative: Robert F. Schermack
REGULAR AGENDA:Â SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A.
ORDINANCE G-2020-06 An Ordinance to Vacate Certain Public Ways or Public Places Within the City of Evansville, Indiana, Commonly Known as Part of that Right-Of-Way of North Fifth Avenue Lying South of Vacated West Michigan Street in Lamasco Sponsor(s): Brinkmeyer Discussion Led By: ASD Chair Trockman Discussion Date: 4/27/2020 Notify: Scott Buedel, Cash Waggner & Associates, PC
ORDINANCE F-2020-05 Amended An Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of Evansville Authorizing Transfers of Appropriations, Additional Appropriations and Repeal and Re-Appropriation of Funds for Various City Funds Sponsor(s): Beane Discussion Led By: Finance Chair Beane Discussion Date: 4/27/2020 Notify: Russ Lloyd, Jr., Controller
INDIANAPOLIS—The pot of federal money helping individuals, businesses, hospitals, and governments weather the COVID-19 pandemic may be running dry.
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun delivered that message Friday from his wife’s store in Jasper as he joined Gov. Eric Holcomb’s virtual press briefing to discuss the latest rescue package signed and passed by Congress.
“When we get back, I think there will be very little done in terms of additional federal dollars, other than truly aimed at errors and omissions and some particularly hard-hit sectors,†he said from where he has been in lockdown through the outbreak of COVID-19. Congress is expected to return to Washington on May 4.
This week, Congress passed the CARES 3.5 Act which will allocate $321 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep their workers on the payroll. This money will supplement the $349 billion previously approved in the CARES Act.
The act will also provide $60 billion in economic disaster assistance, with $50 billion going to the Disaster Loans Program.
Braun shared the economic data after Dr. Kristina Box, the state health commissioner, provided her daily updated on COVID-19—656 new cases for a statewide total of 13,680 and 35 deaths, with 741 across Indiana.
Updated hospitalization and discharge data showed that 27% of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 ended up in the hospital. Of the individuals who were hospitalized, 25% were admitted to the intensive care unit.
As the daily numbers show slight decreases and the state begins to prepare to reopen the economy, the number of Hoosiers seeking unemployment is still on the rise.
Thursday, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development, Fred Payne, reported that while the weekly number of unemployment requests have declined, they are still triple the previous record. Overall, 515,000 Hoosiers have filed for unemployment over the past several weeks as the pandemic took hold.
Congress has acted swiftly to hold those hurt by the pandemic, which has resulted in schools, businesses, and other activities being shut down to slow the spread of the virus. So far about $3 trillion has been allocated to help reduce the damage to the economy, including funds for an additional $600 weekly payment for individuals who collect unemployment.
The federal budget is beginning to see the impact of the expenditures.
Braun said that just in the past few weeks, the national debt has ballooned by $3 trillion, from the already $23 trillion debt. He said the next steps taken by Holcomb will be critical since the relief from the federal government will be minimal.
“That’s why the next step from the feds is going to be meted out pretty carefully,†he said. “We have to be careful to that we don’t go over the tipping point when it comes to the economic damage.â€
Holcomb has said the state’s economy will be restarted slowly as businesses put procedures in place to be sure employees and customers will be safe and there won’t be a resurgence of COVID-19. The first step in that process comes Monday—Holcomb signed an executive order Friday to allow health care providers and facilities to resume elective medical procedures.
Gov. Eric Holcomb at his virtual COVID-19 press briefing Friday. Photo by Janet Williams, TheStatehouseFile.com
Facilities, including hospitals, veterinarians, and dentists, will only be allowed to resume provided they have appropriate amounts of personal protective equipment and consult recommendations developed by their medical associations or industries.
Later Friday, Holcomb announced that the Indiana Economic Development Corporation has secured commitments for more than 6.3 million pieces of personal protective equipment – up from 2.6 million last reported on April 13 – for hospitals, first responders, long-term care facilities and health care providers treating COVID-19 patients. To date, more than 1.17 million items have been delivered to the health department for distribution.
Meanwhile, state health officials will continue to provide guidance to hospitals, business and individuals as they navigate the changes brought about by the pandemic.
Some of that guidance included telling Hoosiers not to follow President Donald Trump’s suggestions that ingesting disinfectants could kill the virus in people.
Box said she has responded to questions about that “remedy†saying, “We have assured them that that’s not something we recommend.â€
Holcomb referred to the president’s comment when asked whether he was serious about the disinfectant and he replied that he was just being sarcastic.
Braun, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters, said, “Sometimes when you’re not clear with how you say things and especially when you’re at a high level where people watch, it’s probably best not to venture into areas that you may not know a lot about.â€
FOOTNOTE: Victoria Ratliff is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Those in the beauty industry – barbershops, hair and nail salon, and spas – have all taken a massive hit during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. They have been deemed “non-essential” from the beginning. In some states, it will be another four to six weeks before these businesses are able to reopen. In other states, like California, they are closed with no reopening date in sight.
Critics, especially rich critics on the left, want beauty professionals to stay home. Taurean Overall, the owner of three successful Blessed Up Barber Shops in Atlanta, said what’s being asked of them is unrealistic and unfeasible. He is, however, thankful that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has decided to reopen the economy and allowed these so-called “non-essential businesses” to reopen.
“What do you say to all the folks out there who think this is so dangerous, you are putting people’s lives, you know, in jeopardy?” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham asked. “Al Sharpton today said that what you’re actually doing is bad.”
She then played a clip of Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC.
“I don’t know any barber in Georgia that has 6-foot long arms. How are you going to have social distancing in a barbershop or in a beauty parlor?” Sharpton said. “I mean, let’s be serious. You are really telling people, put yourself in danger. For what reason, I cannot imagine.”
Overall smirked when he heard the comments.
“Rev. Al, you might have a couple of million dollars in the bank. Us non-essential owners do not,” the barbershop owner said. “The only thing we can speak from is our perspective. For the last two months – I speak for myself – I had no income for the last two months. I own three barbershops, I also cut hair myself, and us being out of work is no money coming in at all. In the last few months, I have spent over $20,000 in rent, in mortgages, you know, stuff like that. I applied for the SBAs, applied for unemployment. I haven’t even received the stimulus.”
“So my question to people out there: what should we do? Should we just sit back and wait for the government to bail us out, or take advantage of the opportunity we have them be as safe as possible and still, you know, make as much money as we can and play it safe?” Overall asked.
His three barbershops are taking extra safety precautions, like requiring customers to sanitize their hands, spray down in Lysol and wear disposable gloves and ponchos. Employees are wearing masks.
Ingraham played a clip from a New York Times reporter who suggested that allowing economies to freely reopen would put us back to square one in the pandemic.
Overall, again, asked how businesses that are deemed “non-essential” should maneuver this crisis when they’re being asked to stay home.
“If you don’t want us to work, find a way to make an extra stimulus package or some kind of funds for us non-essential workers to save our homes, to save our cars from being repoed, to save from being evicted, to save our businesses,” the barbershop owner said. “I’ve busted my butt for the last six years building a franchise from the ground up and what people are telling me [to do is] to sit at home and wait, for something no one has an answer to, save me.”
Overall said he would rather reopen, take the opportunity to be as safe as possible while having faith in God to provide.
“The key is to be as safe as possible. It’s no different than coming into the barbershop as a person going to the grocery store. And touching that bag of chips. Who knows who touched that bag of chips before you did,” he explained. “When you come into a barbershop, I know who sat in my chair so I’m going to wipe it down. I know who’s touching my door handle so I’m going to wipe it down.”
INDIANAPOLIS—As environmental organizations marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with stay-at-home activities because of the COVID-19 lockdown, Dr. Woody Myers, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, released his plan to combat climate change.
“Hoosiers are suffering from a climate pandemic they can’t yet fully see, but whose effects we already feel,†said Myers. “We must take the lessons learned by our failed response to coronavirus and immediately apply them to tackle climate change in order to save our environment and improve Hoosier health before it’s too late.
Myers released his plan on Wednesday, the day when 50 years ago people across the country rallied for policies and changed behavior to protect the environment. His proposal includes increasing the number of forest acres from five million to 7.5 million, restore the Division of Forestry budget to past levels, strengthen a state conservation program, speed up the retirement of coal plants, update Indiana’s renewable energy standards and establish more renewable energy rebates, among others.
He criticized his Republican rival, Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is seeking a second term and said his commitment to planting one million trees isn’t enough.
Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said there are many things legislation can do to improve our environment and better our economy.
“[We need to] permanently protect forests, wetlands, and prairie’s from needless new ‘greenfield’ development such as new funding mechanism for land conservation, make rooftop solar more accessible and affordable, protect Hoosiers from the pollution that could contaminate their drinking water wells and air, and take better care of our rivers and lakes from stormwater runoff,†he said.
Kharbanda said that although the pandemic has been challenging for families across Indiana, it has considerably expanded opportunities to learn, engage, and act. When in-person Earth Month events and workshops got canceled, the HEC put together seven-days-a-week of programming, including calls-to-action on pressing environmental issues.
“The serious content of our online Earth Month programming has empowered our viewers to take action to advance public policy change on issues ranging from wildlife habitat protection to factory farming,†he said. “Our more light-hearted content, such as recipe-sharing of planet-friendly foods, has provided opportunities for people to bond with one another over food that leaves a much lighter footprint on the earth.â€
The Indiana Forest Alliance also encouraged Hoosiers to take part in several stay-at-home outdoor activities.
On Wednesday, the alliance offered an online premiere of a film that explores the northern long-eared bat. The group also encouraged social distancing but suggested visits to wilderness trails in Indiana’s state forests, take part in their clean up the challenge on Saturday by collecting trash outdoors, document the biodiversity around them, and submit comments in response to a logging plan in southern Indiana.
FOOTNOTE: Haley Carney is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.Â
Vanderburgh County Lawmakers Announce Local Recipients Of $7,500 Teaching Scholarship
Several area students pursuing a career in education recently received the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship, according to local legislators.
The statewide program awards scholarships to top-performing students who commit to teaching in Indiana for at least five years. Recipients receive $7,500 per year for up to four years of college to obtain a teaching license. The program began in 2017 thanks to legislation State Rep. Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) supported.
“Teachers see children at their best and worst, and have to adapt to each of their unique needs,” McNamara said. “It’s a profession that’s not always easy, but can be incredibly rewarding. These students are pursuing a noble career that is challenging and fulfilling.”
According to State Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Fort Branch), the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship is available to 200 high-achieving high school and college students each year who either graduate in the top 20% of their high school class or earn a score in the top-20th percentile on the SAT or ACT.
“Indiana has top-performing students who will be giving back to our communities and teaching in our schools,” Hostettler said. “When the best and brightest lead the classroom, they can have a significant impact on helping younger generations succeed.”
More than 350 students applied, with several scholarships recently awarded to students in Vanderburgh County:
Kiernan Bittner, Gibson Southern High School, University of Southern Indiana;
Alyssa Hooten, Central High School, Indiana State University;
Kira Johnson, Evansville Christian School Newburgh, University of Evansville;
Katelyn Skinner, North High School, University of Indianapolis; and
Evan Smith, North High School, Ball State University.
State Rep. Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) said recipients must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per year in order to continue receiving the four-year renewable scholarship totaling $30,000.
“Teachers are vital to the success of our community and state,” Sullivan said. “These scholarship recipients are hardworking and talented, and we will benefit from having them in Hoosier classrooms, passing on their passion for knowledge.”
Inmates at two Indiana correctional facilities on opposite ends of the state are working to flatten the curve of COVID-19 by making masks for fellow inmates and staff.
In Northern Indiana, residents at Albion’s Chain O’ Lakes Correctional Facility worked together under the direction of caseworker Danette Smith to make masks to slow the spread of novel coronavirus.
Residents were designated into separate groups, each performing a function for preparing the masks to be sewn. The residents worked for three days cutting, ironing, and sewing more than 250 masks with materials donated by the facility’s staff and volunteers.
Inmates were able to make enough masks for every resident and staff to have one, leaving a few extra for emergency surplus.
Residents at a re-entry program at the Branchville Correctional Facility in Southern Indiana similarly worked to flatten the curve and limit exposure risk by transitioning from sewing quilts to making facemasks.
The facility’s Purposeful Living Units Serve Program has been using donated material, elastic, hair ties, and sewing machines to craft masks for each offender housed at Branchville, as well as all of its employees. In the past two weeks, more than 2,000 masks have been produced.
“Staff have shown amazing bravery and dedication throughout this process. We are doing everything within our power to keep this virus to the lowest numbers possible,†Branchville Warden Kathy Alvey said in a statement. “We have done an outstanding job in doing so. Safety for our staff, offenders and the community is our top priority. We are in this together and we will get through this. I am proud of how well our staff is handling this pandemic, as well as the offenders.â€
Winners Making Significant Progress in Reducing Food Waste in America
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nationally recognizes the exceptional accomplishments of 15 businesses and organizations participating in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge. This year’s national award winners applied innovative approaches and engaged in a variety of practical cost-effective actions and best practices to prevent and reduce food waste.
“Food Recovery Challenge participants are leaders in showing how preventing food waste and diverting excess wholesome food to people is an environmental win and a cost-saving business decision,â€Â said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Their accomplishments serve as excellent examples to other companies, governments, organizations, and communities.â€
Food is a valuable resource. Efforts to reduce food waste and ensure excess food doesn’t go to waste are needed now more than ever. The innovation these businesses are showcasing can also serve as an example as the nation works together to address the COVID-19 public health emergency. Over 1,000 businesses, governments, and organizations participated in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge in 2019. Participants prevented or diverted over 815,000 tons of food from entering landfills or incinerators, saving participants up to $42.3 million in avoided landfill tipping fees.
This year’s winners used innovative best practices to prevent and reduce food waste, such as:
Expanding composting infrastructure to more than double yearly food waste composted,
Creatively working with food banks and organizations to donate food that would otherwise be wasted,
Repurposing wholesome food into new dishes instead of letting it go to waste, and
Initiating programs that encourage composting and reducing food waste in the workplace.
EPA is recognizing Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers with awards in two categories: Data-driven and Narrative. The data-driven award recipients achieved the highest percent increases in their sector comparing year to year data. Narrative award winners made notable achievements in the areas of source reduction, leadership, innovation, education and outreach, and endorsement.
Data-Driven Award Winners by Sector
Grocers:Â Â Sprouts Farmers Markets Store #407 (Alhambra, California)
Colleges and Universities:Â Keene State College (Keene, New Hampshire)
K-12 Schools:Â Katharine Lee Bates Elementary School (Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts)
Sports and Entertainment Venues: Savor…Chicago at McCormick Place – South Building (Chicago, Illinois)
Hotels, Resorts, and Lodging:Â MGM Resorts International – Bellagio Hotel and Casino Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada)
State/Tribal/Local Government: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works – Environmental Programs Division (Los Angeles, California)
Non–Profit:Â ProduceGood (Encinitas, California)
Food Manufacturing:Â Signature Bread, Inc. (Chelsea, Massachusetts)
Restaurants and Food Service Providers: Captain’s Galley Restaurant at Pickwick Landing State Park (Counce, Tennessee)
“Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab†APRIL 26, 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 Forum†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.
