Seventh-inning spree sends Aces past Skyhawks
An offensive spree in the seventh inning helped the Aces build an advantage that the Skyhawks could not overcome on Wednesday.
Tied at one, senior Troy Beilsmith opened the stanza by earning a walk and eventually advancing to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Brent Widder then took advantage of a defensive mistake by UT Martin and reached on an error.
Patient as he has been much of the season, senior Ben Komonosky then drew a walk to load the bases for Evansville with no outs. Junior Mason Brinkley got an opportunity in the seventh, coming in as a pinch hitter for senior Craig Shepherd. Brinkley took a first-pitch strike before fouling-off a pitch and taking a ball to run the count to 1-2. On the next pitch, Brinkley ripped a double down the left-field line, scoring Beilsmith and Widder and providing the Aces with their first lead.
Evansville was not done offensively as junior Tanner Craig delivered an RBI single with one out and sophomore Danny Borgstrom recorded a sacrifice fly to help the Aces earn a 5-1 lead.
The Skyhawks would not go away without a fight as UT Martin answered with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh to close within two runs.
In the final two innings, Evansville had to fend off the Skyhawks, who opened each of the eighth and ninth innings with a runner on with no outs, but the Aces pitching came up strong in important moments. The ninth inning saw UT Martin earn a walk to lead-off the inning, but freshman pitcher Jace Kressin locked-down to close-out the game, inducing a fly-out and striking-out a pair, including a game-ending K to secure his second collegiate save.
Evansville is quickly back on the road this weekend for a three-game set against the College of Charleston on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Charleston, S.C.
What I Am Doing For The Upcoming COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
What I Am doing For The Upcoming COVID-19 (coronavirus) Pandemic
by  James Robb, MD UC San Diego
Dear Colleagues, As some of you, may recall, when I was a professor of pathology at the University of California San Diego, I was one of the first molecular virologists in the world to work on coronaviruses (the 1970s). I was the first to demonstrate the number of genes the virus contained. Since then, I have kept up with the coronavirus field and its multiple clinical transfers into the human population (e.g., SARS, MERS), from different animal sources.
The current projections for its expansion in the US are only probable, due to continued insufficient worldwide data, but it is most likely to be widespread in the US by mid to late March and April.
Here is what I have done and the precautions that I take and will take. These are the same precautions I currently use during our influenza seasons, except for the mask and gloves.:
1) NO HANDSHAKING! Use a fist bump, slight bow, elbow bump, etc.
2) Use ONLY your knuckle to touch light switches. elevator buttons, etc.. Lift the gasoline dispenser with a paper towel or use a disposable glove.
3) Open doors with your closed fist or hip – do not grasp the handle with your hand, unless there is no other way to open the door. Especially important on bathroom and post office/commercial doors.
4) Use disinfectant wipes at the stores when they are available, including wiping the handle and child seat in grocery carts.
5) Wash your hands with soap for 10-20 seconds and/or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer whenever you return home from ANY activity that involves locations where other people have been.
6) Keep a bottle of sanitizer available at each of your home’s entrances. AND in your car for use after getting gas or touching other contaminated objects when you can’t immediately wash your hands.
7) If possible, cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue and discard. Use your elbow only if you have to. The clothing on your elbow will contain an infectious virus that can be passed on for up to a week or more!
What I have stocked in preparation for the pandemic spread to the US:
1) Latex or nitrile latex disposable gloves for use when going shopping, using the gasoline pump, and all other outside activity when you come in contact with contaminated areas.
Note: This virus is spread in large droplets by coughing and sneezing. This means that the air will not infect you! BUT all the surfaces where these droplets land is infectious for about a week on average – everything that is associated with infected people will be contaminated and potentially infectious. The virus is on surfaces and you will not be infected unless your unprotected face is directly coughed or sneezed upon. This virus only has cell receptors for lung cells (it only infects your lungs) The only way for the virus to infect you is through your nose or mouth via your hands or an infected cough or sneeze onto or into your nose or mouth.
2) Stock up now with disposable surgical masks and use them to prevent you from touching your nose and/or mouth (We touch our nose/mouth 90X/day without knowing it!). This is the only way this virus can infect you – it is lung-specific. The mask will not prevent the virus in a direct sneeze from getting into your nose or mouth – it is only to keep you from touching your nose or mouth.
3) Stock up now with hand sanitizers and latex/nitrile gloves (get the appropriate sizes for your family). The hand sanitizers must be alcohol-based and greater than 60% alcohol to be effective.
4) Stock up now with zinc lozenges. These lozenges have been proven to be effective in blocking coronavirus (and most other viruses) from multiplying in your throat and nasopharynx. Use as directed several times each day when you begin to feel ANY “cold-like” symptoms beginning. It is best to lie down and let the lozenge dissolve in the back of your throat and nasopharynx. Cold-Eeze lozenges are one brand available, but there are other brands available.
I, as many others do, hope that this pandemic will be reasonably contained, BUT I personally do not think it will be. Humans have never seen this snake-associated virus before and have no internal defense against it. Tremendous worldwide efforts are being made to understand the molecular and clinical virology of this virus. Unbelievable molecular knowledge about the genomics, structure, and virulence of this virus has already been achieved. BUT, there will be NO drugs or vaccines available this year to protect us or limit the infection within us. Only symptomatic support is available.
I hope these personal thoughts will be helpful during this potentially catastrophic pandemic. You are welcome to share this email. Good luck to all of us!
Jim
James Robb, MD FCAP
FOOTNOTE: Â Today’s “Readers Poll” question is: Do you feel that our local Hospitals are to prepared to take the Coronavirus head-on?
This article was sent to us by our good friend Ronald Riecken of Evansville.
Indiana Hospital Bill Proposal Rolled Back Amid Protest
Indiana Hospital Bill Proposal Rolled Back Amid Protest
Indiana lawmakers on Monday rolled back a proposal that could cut how much insurance companies pay for medical services performed at offices located away from a hospital’s main campus.
That action came after hundreds of doctors and nurses descended on the Statehouse as Indiana hospital officials protested the payment limitations that had been added to a bill Republican legislative leaders see as steps toward reining in ever-growing health care costs.
The proposal would have forced hospitals to charge for procedures based on where they are performed, meaning the hospital would be paid less for medical services performed at a cancer center or other clinics, not on its main campus.
Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor said that would squeeze the revenue stream for many hospitals by upending the contracts they now have with insurance companies.
“It would be devastating — hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more, in cuts,†Tabor said. “That would mean closing services, reduction in staff and even the closure of entire hospitals.â€
The state Senate voted unanimously in a voice vote Monday afternoon to remove those provisions as lawmakers faced a deadline next week to adjourn the legislative session. An amendment adopted would require hospitals to report to insurance companies details about the locations where procedures were performed.
Sen. Ed Charbonneau, a Valparaiso Republican, said lawmakers were taking the first steps in a long process in addressing health care costs.
“We are not going to solve all of the problems in one session and we have to take the long-term look at this,†Charbonneau said.
A Senate committee advanced the hospital billing proposal last week, even as legislators said they were struggling to specify what should be considered a hospital service and some senators said the possible impact on hospitals hadn’t been sufficiently reviewed.
Hospital-provided procedures will cost more because of the cost of providing services such as 24-hour emergency rooms, but procedures performed off-campus shouldn’t cost as much, said Rep. Ben Smaltz, the legislation’s sponsor.
“That bill is less because it just makes sense, the overhead is less,†said Smaltz, a Republican from Auburn.
Many rural hospitals operate on “razor-thin†operating margins, and revenue cuts could force closures, putting hospital services an hour’s drive for some patients, said Rob McClain, the president and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes.
Hospital officials point to some high-level services, such as cancer centers, that are deliberately placed away from hospitals to reduce the exposure of patients to potential illnesses.
Denise Dillard, the chief of advocacy for Methodist Hospitals in Gary and Merrillville, said an off-campus clinic that provides services to pregnant women could be shuttered if the legislation passed — even though it was deliberately positioned away from the hospital to make it more convenient for patients.
“It is about the patients we serve and access — making sure that they have a safe, high-quality place to go that is close to their home, not convenient to our structure,†Dillard said.
COMMENTARY: FREEDOM TO BUILD YOUR HOME YOUR WAY
COMMENTARY
Freedom to Build Your Home Your Way
A home of one’s own has always been part of the American Dream. Millions of Americans have considered building or moving into a smaller house. Some people want a true “tiny home†smaller than 400 square feet, a cultural phenomenon captured on shows like Tiny House Hunters. Others may just want a small house that’s right-sized and right-priced—for them. Recent action by the Vanderburgh County Commission, spearheaded by Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave, has given people considering a smaller house the right to build a house that’s right for them.
To some, smaller houses mean the ability to live in a more ecologically sustainable way, using fewer resources. For others, smaller houses mean a continued ability to live within their financial means, rather than being forced to build a house that’s too large for their budget. And some people just prefer smaller houses to larger ones.
Surprisingly, for decades, needless government regulations meant that such dwellings could not have been built in Vanderburgh County without a variance. County ordinances required new houses to be at least 720 square feet. At that size, tiny homes, and even many houses built in the early twentieth century, could not be built legally in Vanderburgh County.
It took a year to repeal this excessive regulation. Commissioner Musgrave led the way as unelected bureaucrats in the Area Plan Commission dragged their feet. With the repeal of the 720 minimum square foot rule, Vanderburgh County residents now have greater freedom to live sustainably and affordably. Commissioners Ben Shoulders and Jeff Hatfield also supported this important rule change.
“This rule change restores a little bit of freedom that had eroded away,†said Commissioner Musgrave. “Allowing smaller homes will make everyone better off by letting people choose the housing size that is right for them without the government restricting their choice arbitrarily.â€
New housing must still comply with state building codes and other ordinances. Anyone wishing to build a smaller house should still check with the Building Commissioner and other offices to ensure their plans comply with safety and other regulations.
We commend Vanderburgh County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave for thinking outside the box and taking a common-sense approach against overreaching bureaucratic regulations. Â Oh, we are also glad that County Commissioner Jeff Hatfield and Ben Shoulders supported Mrs. Musgrave in this endeavor.
HAPPENINGS AT THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY GOP
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Rep. Jim Baird Introduces Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act
Representative Jim Baird (R-IN) along with his colleagues Reps. TJ Cox (D-CA), Brian Mast (R-FL), Chip Roy (R-TX) Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Max Rose (D-NY) introduced Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act which extends wartime veterans benefits, including the Veterans Pension and health care, to the nearly 3,000 officers and enlisted men who served in the US Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG). These brave men served during the Vietnam War but are currently ineligible for many of these benefits because the Department of Veterans Affairs only recognizes the Vietnam War Era from February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975.
This legislation looks to change the time period and have the VA recognize the men of the US Military Assistance Advisory Group as Vietnam War Veterans. This will allow these veterans to receive the benefits they’ve earned.
“We are indebted to those who defended our Country during the Vietnam War. They placed duty to Country over themselves and sacrificed so others wouldn’t have to. Our Country can never repay that debt, but we can ensure these brave veterans receive the benefits they deserve,†said Rep. Baird.
“Anyone who has served our country in times of war deserves our respect and the benefits they earned,†said Rep. Cox. “The brave servicemen in the US Military Assistance Advisory Group have not been given the benefits they are entitled to. This legislation will right that wrong.â€
“The men and women who put on the uniform to defend our nation during the Vietnam War made the decision to put country before self. We will never be able to repay them for their sacrifice but ensuring those who served in Vietnam have access to the benefits they earned is the least we can do,†Rep. Mast said. “That’s what this bill is all about.â€
 “The brave soldiers who selflessly fought in Vietnam deserve our full and unwavering support. This legislation ensures that all those who fought in Vietnam get the benefits they deserve,†said Rep. Roy.
“As a Gold Star Son who lost my father in the Vietnam War, veteran and military issues are deeply important to me,†said Rep. Phillips. “Our nation has always found the resources to go to war, and we must also find the resources necessary to provide the support our veterans deserve when they come home. This bill ensures that those who served get the benefits they have earned.â€
“Whenever our soldiers sign up to go to war, it’s a commitment that should be a two-way street: they promise to put their lives on the line for their country, and we promise that we’ll always have their backs when they come home,†said Rep. Rose. “This bill is our chance to make good on that promise, and I’m proud to support making sure these heroes get the benefits they deserve.â€
The Forgotten Vietnam Veterans Act is also supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.
“More than 3,000 veterans served in Vietnam from November 1, 1955 to February 27, 1961, ten of whom were killed in action,†said Matthew Doyle, Associate Director National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars. “However, veterans who served in Vietnam prior to February 28, 1961 are not considered wartime veterans and likewise are ineligible for certain VA benefits. The VFW is proud to support this legislation, which would change the statutory definition of Vietnam veteran to include those who served in the Republic of Vietnam beginning on November 1, 1955.â€
AG Curtis Hill: Supreme Court Should Preserve States’ Authority To Fight Rising Drug Costs
Attorney General Curtis Hill said today that states must be permitted to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in order to fight soaring prescription drug costs. In a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court, he and 45 other attorneys general are supporting efforts by the state of Arkansas to defend this prerogative.
While few people are even familiar with the term “PBMs,†roughly four out of five Americans get their prescription drugs through them. PBMs reimburse pharmacies on behalf of health care plans and, in turn, bill those plans for their beneficiaries’ prescriptions.
Although they initially played a modest role in the U.S. health care system, certain business practices of modern PBMs have had profound consequences for pharmacies, patients and states alike.
In 2015, Arkansas adopted a statute that requires PBMs to raise their reimbursement rate for a drug if that rate is below a pharmacy’s primary wholesaler’s price. The law also created an appeal process for pharmacies to challenge PBMs’ reimbursement rates.
Shortly after the law was passed, a trade association of PBMs challenged the statute, arguing it was preempted by a federal law — the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the trade association. Arkansas, though, petitioned for a review of the case by the U.S. Supreme Court, which was granted Jan. 10.
“Although this case centers on the state of Arkansas, an unfavorable ruling could jeopardize other states’ efforts to regulate PBMs,†Attorney General Hill said. “The Supreme Court should preserve states’ authority to fight rising prescription drug costs.â€
In 2018, the Indiana General Assembly passed a statute that imposes transparency requirements on PBMs. Because Indiana’s law could also face an ERISA preemption challenge, Attorney General Hill said, Indiana has a strong interest in supporting Arkansas in this case.
The brief in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association argues that there are compelling policy reasons why so many states have undertaken efforts to regulate PBMs. It also argues that ERISA does not preempt the regulation of relationships between PBMs and pharmacies because PBMs are not ERISA plans. Rather, the brief argues, PBMs are third-party businesses that contract with many different parties, including ERISA plans.
Lawmakers Race To Wrap Up Legislation Before Final Week Of 2020 Session
Lawmakers Race To Wrap Up Legislation Before Final Week Of 2020 Session
Staff Report
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Legislation regulating panhandling, IndyGo, syringe exchanges and charter schools advanced out of the Senate Tuesday, the last day bills could be heard in either chamber. Among the bills that were passed:
Senate Bill 335: Criminal law issues, including panhandling.
What it does: SB 335 covers many changes in criminal law, including to crack down on panhandling. The bill makes it a Class C misdemeanor to panhandle within 50 feet of the entrance or exit to a bank, business, restaurant, anywhere where a financial transaction occurs or a public monument, in addition to all the other limitation on panhandling currently in Indiana law. Among other provisions, the bill adds strangulation and domestic battery to the definition of crimes of violence and makes it a Level 6 felony to possess a firearm with a tampered serial code.
What happened:Â The bill passed the House 85-10. Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, raised concerns about the panhandling changes and its impact on the homeless population within Indianapolis. Rep. Wendy McNamara, the Evansville Republican who sponsored the bill in the house, said this was not targeted at the homeless but instead at aggressive panhandlers who block a person on a sidewalk or follow them.
What’s next: The bill will return to the Senate for a vote on whether to concur with any changes in the House, sending the bill then to the governor, or to dissent and send the bill to a conference committee to reach agreement on a final version.
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House Bill 1279:Â Allows nonprofits in Northwest Indiana to carry out transit development and enacts penalties for IndyGo, the Indianapolis transit system.
What it does: HB 1279, authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, would allow the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to establish a nonprofit to carry out plans in transit development districts. When the bill made it to the Senate, Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, offered an amendment that would impose penalties for IndyGo, if it doesn’t pay 10% of its operating costs of the Red Line, the express transit service, from private funds by the end of 2020. The penalties were set in place when legislation was passed in 2014 allowing Indianapolis to offer a referendum on mass transit in Marion County.
What happened: HB 1279 passed the Senate with a 43-7 vote. Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, said she voted yes on the bill because of the economic development in Northwest Indiana. She said, however, that she hopes the language regarding IndyGo is removed from the bill in conference committees. Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, said the bill would greatly impact his northwestern district, and that it was too big of a bill to vote against.
What’s next: The difference between the House and Senate versions of the bill are expected to be hashed out in a conference committee.
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Senate Bill 178: Covers a range of election matters
What it does: SB 178 covers a number of election regulations, but the most controversial would prevent anyone from holding the attorney general’s office if his or her law license has been suspended for more than 30 days in the previous five years. What’s more, it would prevent that individual from running for office.
What happened: SB 178 passed the House by 82-14 vote and targets Attorney General Curtis Hill, who faces punishment from the state’s Disciplinary Commission on charges he grabbed and groped four women at a legislative gathering two years ago. Rep. John Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, argued against the bill, saying he didn’t believe that lawmakers should be enacting legislation that affects one person—Hill. Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Osceola, who offered the amendment targeting Hill, raised the question: “What is the standard we find acceptable?†A hearing officer in Hill’s disciplinary case has recommended that his license be suspended for 60 days without an automatic renewal. Hill is seeking re-election.
What’s next: The bill will now return to Senate for a vote on whether to agree with the changes from  the House. If the Senate concurs the bill would go to the governor or if there is a dissent, SB 178 would go to a conference committee to reach agreement on a final version.
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Senate Bill 4: Health programs
What it does: A provision of SB 4 deals extends by one year syringe exchange programs, which were set to expire on July 1, 2021. In addition, the bill requires those operating syringe exchange programs to test for communicable diseases. A separate section of the bill bars the Family and Social Services Administration from implementing a managed care program for those eligible for nursing facility services as well as being eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid until June 20, 2021.
What happened:Â The bill passed the House by an 82-2 vote. An earlier effort to extend the syringe exchange program indefinitely failed. Now, it will expire July 1, 2022, a year later than originally planned. Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer, R-Beech Grove, House sponsor of the bill, noted that the latest version also includes requirements for testing and treating communicable diseases. Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, said that the syringe exchange program was something that had a profound impact on her community, and that testing for diseases such as HIV is extremely important.
What’s next: SB 4 will now move go to the governor’s office for review and signature.
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House Bill 1066:Â Charter school accountability
What it does:Â The bill would revoke charter schools ability to operate and require them to reimburse the state should any funding irregularities be found. It also requires all schools to submit a report due by Dec. 1 of this year looking at the enrollment count and completion data, gives preference to students for admission.
What happened: The bill passed the Senate 42-8. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, opposed the bill because he said the legislation is not directly addressing the situation at two virtual schools. A state audit found that officials from two Indiana virtual charter schools misspent more than $85 million in state funding by inflating enrollment and funneling millions to a related companies. “Folks, this is not political,†Taylor said. “As a fiscal conservative myself I am tired of people stealing from the citizens of the state of Indiana. They stole from our citizens.â€
What’s next: The bill now returns to the House. If that chamber dissents from Senate changes it will go to a conference committee to hammer out a final version. If the House concurs with any changes, the bill goes to the governor for his consideration.
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Senate Bill 229: Maintenance of regulated drains
What it does: SB 229 would not require a permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to reconstruct or repair a regulated drain that might be in a wetland area.
What happened: The bill passed the House by a 58-37 vote. Rep. David Wolkins, R-Warsaw, said the intention of SB 229 is to allow drains to be quickly fixed without the landowner having to apply for a permit. Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, said the bill could have an impact on wetlands where some of the drains might be located and she is concerned about creating exceptions to the state’s wetlands regulations.
What’s next: The bill will return to the Senate and if that chamber dissents from House changes it will go to a conference committee to hammer out a final version. If the Senate concurs with the changes, the bill goes to the governor for his consideration.
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House Bill 1157:Â Driving privileges
What it does:Â The bill requires that if a motorist refuses to take a breathalyzer test, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles must remove any record of a suspension from a defendant charged with operating while intoxicated who wins the case. If the defendant loses, after 180 days he or she can apply for specialized driving privileges if this is a first offense.
What happened: HB 1157 passed the Senate by a 37-13 vote. Sen. Erin Houchin, R-Salem, opposed the bill because she said it could have a negative impact on Indiana’s implied consent law. “Across the country, if you are driving in the state of Indiana you imply consent for the test for intoxication if a police officer has probable cause to believe you are intoxicated,†she said. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, spoke in favor of the bill because if breathalyzers have not been calibrated in the last 90 days it is considered off and they can be unreliable.
What’s next: The bill now returns to the House. If that chamber dissents from Senate changes, it will go to a conference committee to hammer out a final version. If the House concurs with the changes, the bill goes to the governor for his consideration.
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House Bill 1414:Â Electric generation
What it does: The bill puts a pause on any additional coal plant closures during 2020 while the 21st Century Energy Task Force is completing its work. These provisions expire Dec. 31 of this year.
ord
What happened: The bill passed 37-11. Among those opposing it was Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, who said the bill should be referred back to the task force to let it work through whatever Indiana’s energy policy is going to be. “Our utilities are asking us to help them retire coal facilities and we should not stand in the way of letting him do this,†he said. Ford also Indiana potentially could see billions of dollars in savings in the coming decades by transitioning to other energy sources. Sen. Mark Messmer, the Jasper Republican who sponsored the bill in the Senate, R-Jasper, said nothing in this bill derails the retirement of coal facilities or raises utility rates, but he argued that the use of coal for power generation will be here for a long time.
What’s next: The bill now returns to the House. If that chamber dissents from Senate changes it will go to a conference committee to hammer out a final version. If the House concurs with any changes, the bill goes to the governor for his consideration.
Haley Carney, Lacey Watt and Victoria Ratliff contributed to this report. They are reporters for TheStatehousefile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism.