Campaign Fraud Case Implicates Indy Gaming Firm—But Who Is It? |
| News that a Republican strategist in Maryland pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy in what investigators say was a scheme to funnel money from an Indianapolis-based gaming company to an Indiana congressional candidate raises more questions than prosecutors seem ready to answer.
And you have to think there are some folks in Indy getting pretty nervous. The campaign in question was former state Sen. Brent Waltz‘s bid for the GOP nomination in the 9th District in 2016. Waltz told IBJ late Thursday he was not aware of any illegal donations to the unsuccessful campaign and said he’s been fully cooperating with investigators. And it seems the Republican strategist in Maryland—Chip O’Neil—is cooperating, too. In court, he admitted that at least eight people, including his girlfriend, were used as conduits for illegal corporate donations from the Indianapolis gaming company to the House campaign. And the plea agreement calls for O’Neil to spill his guts about what he knows. Lots of people are named in the charging documents and O’Neil’s plea agreement—but not the Indianapolis gaming company. Neither is the company’s vice president and general counsel, who is accused in the filings of helping to set up the scheme to “evade the restrictions of corporate contributions to campaigns, to evade the limits placed on money that individuals could contribute to a campaign, and to disguise the fact that the gaming corporation was the true source of the funds.” But those names could be revealed soon as the case moves forward and O’Neil provides information in exchange for a lighter sentence. No doubt there are plenty of folks waiting to see where the dominos fall. Meanwhile, IBJ has the details on what prosecutors have revealed so far about the Indiana case and how it fits into a larger crackdown on fraudulent political action committees. |
Campaign Fraud Case Implicates Indy Gaming Firm—But Who Is It?
AG Curtis Hill: Trump Administration’s New Waters Rule A Commonsense Win For Indiana
Attorney General Curtis Hill today welcomed the Trump administration’s new environmental rule on navigable waters, which replaces previous language that threatened the states’ rightful authority to regulate land and water resources within their own borders.
“The final Navigable Waters Protection Rule appropriately replaces the Obama-era rule that expanded the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to include land areas that only get wet when it rains,†Attorney General Hill said. “This broad designation allowed federal authorities to claim jurisdiction over private property in Indiana.â€
Since taking office in 2017, Attorney General Hill has worked to roll back federal overreach.
“Hours after I had the privilege of meeting President Trump at the White House in February of 2017,†Attorney General Hill said, “he announced an executive order directing federal authorities to review the Waters of the United States rule. This action demonstrated his resolve to properly balance environmental protection, economic growth and the constitutional roles of the U.S. Congress and the individual states.â€
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army announced the new rule on Jan. 23. More information, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, is available at:Â https://www.epa.gov/nwpr.
EPA And Army Deliver On President Trump’s Promise To Issue The Navigable Waters Protection Rule
At the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James will announce a new, clear definition for “waters of the United States.†With the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are delivering on President Trump’s promise to finalize a revised definition for “waters of the United States†that protects the nation’s navigable waters from pollution and will result in economic growth across the country.
“EPA and the Army are providing much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers, landowners, and businesses to support the economy and accelerate critical infrastructure projects,†said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “After decades of landowners relying on expensive attorneys to determine what water on their land may or may not fall under federal regulations, our new Navigable Waters Protection Rule strikes the proper balance between Washington and the states in managing land and water resources while protecting our nation’s navigable waters, and it does so within the authority Congress provided.â€
“Having farmed American land myself for decades, I have personally experienced the confusion regarding implementation of the scope of the Clean Water Act,†said R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “Our rule takes a common-sense approach to implementation to eliminate that confusion. This rule also eliminates federal overreach and strikes the proper balance between federal protection of our Nation’s waters and state autonomy over their aquatic resources. This will ensure that land-use decisions are not improperly constrained, which will enable our farmers to continue feeding our Nation and the world, and our businesses to continue thriving.â€
The Navigable Waters Protection Rule ends decades of uncertainty over where federal jurisdiction begins and ends. For the first time, EPA and the Army are recognizing the difference between federally protected wetlands and state-protected wetlands. It adheres to the statutory limits of the agencies’ authority. It also ensures that America’s water protections – among the best in the world – remain strong, while giving our states and tribes the certainty to manage their waters in ways that best protect their natural resources and local economies.
The revised definition identifies four clear categories of waters that are federally regulated under the Clean Water Act: the territorial seas and traditional navigable waters, like the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River; perennial and intermittent tributaries, such as College Creek, which flows to the James River near Williamsburg, Virginia; certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments, such as Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania; and wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters.
These four categories protect the nation’s navigable waters and the core tributary systems that flow into those waters.
This final action also details what waters are not subject to federal control, including features that only contain water in direct response to rainfall; groundwater; many ditches, including most farm and roadside ditches; prior converted cropland; farm and stock watering ponds; and waste treatment systems.
The final definition achieves the proper relationship between the federal government and states in managing land and water resources. The agencies’ Navigable Waters Protection Rule respects the primary role of states and tribes in managing their own land and water resources. All states have their own protections for waters within their borders and many already regulate more broadly than the federal government. This action gives states and tribes more flexibility in determining how best to manage their land and water resources while protecting the nation’s navigable waters as intended by Congress when it enacted the Clean Water Act.
Despite prior reports, there are no data or tools that can accurately map or quantify the scope of “waters of the United States.†This is the case today, and it was the case in 2014 when the Obama Administration issued its blog titled “Mapping the Truth.â€Â Therefore, any assertions attempting to quantify changes in the scope of waters based on these data sets are far too inaccurate and speculative to be meaningful. While this Administration agrees that the current data and tools are insufficient, we are committed to supporting the development and improvement of the technology needed to map the nation’s aquatic resources.
This final action is informed by robust public outreach and engagement on the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, including pre-proposal engagement that generated more than 6,000 recommendations and approximately 620,000 comments received on the proposal. The final definition balances the input the agencies received from a wide range of stakeholders.
IS ANYONE LISTENING?
IS ANYONE LISTENING?
Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
One judge bragged he could look an attorney right in the eye the whole time the attorney was making an argument but never hear a word the lawyer said. In fact, that judge was just like the rest of us. Much of what we appear to hear may as well be a foreign language. We smile and nod but are totally unaffected by much of what others try to convince us. And, of course, we all know very little that we say to others has any hope of convincing them to truly agree with us, even as they nod their heads up and down. If you are married, you might feel the truth, and frustration, of this phenomenon.
It is not just the state of my ability to hear that prevents me, and probably you too, from comprehending what someone in a movie, on television or even someone right next to us in a noisy room is saying. Just as a traffic cop continues politely filling out your citation while he does not consider your reasonable explanation, most of us already have our minds made up about practically everything. Therefore, please do not attempt to confuse us with information on the subject at hand.
In many situations, it is not our fault that new facts are irrelevant to our decisions. Take our hypothetical traffic cop for instance. He/she often has but a moment to observe some fleeting situation. He/she may have an ill child or a demanding spouse or be behind on his/her rent. What he/she does not have is the time or inclination to debate with you.
The same thing happens with judges. By the time a case gets to court the judge may have already read the file including briefs and depositions. The judge may have predetermined his/her decision and arguments in court are simply something that must be endured, not listened to. Trial judges often believe that is exactly how appellate court decisions are made.
Regardless of your circumstances, you may feel no one is hearing what you want to say. Actually, others may hear us but they just have their minds made up and the competing demands of our busy lives drive out our ability or desire to reevaluate our positions.
That may be why the same sermons get delivered at almost every religious service and why parents have to constantly admonish their children to do their homework. We hear but we do not listen. We see but we do not comprehend. The constant drumbeat of others attempting to confuse us with their thoughts eventually becomes just so much “sounding brass or tinkling cymbalsâ€. 1 Corinthians 13:1.
So the next time you grab someone’s arm and ask intently, “Are you listening to me?â€, you can almost certainly assume they are not. On the other hand, you can hope they will at least smile and politely nod in response.
For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com
Or “Like†us on Facebook at JPegRanchBooks&Knitting
Focusing On Students, Educators
Focusing On Students, Educators
By Wendy McNamara
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Teachers are vital to the success of our students, and local schools are often the cornerstone of our communities.
House Republicans continue to value the hard work and dedication of Hoosier educators. This session, several bills are a result of listening to our teachers and schools about how we can better support them:
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Hold Teachers And Schools Harmless From ILEARN Results
In order to give students, educators and schools time to adapt to the new ILEARN exam, the proposed legislation would ensure schools and teacher evaluations would not be negatively impacted by scores for two years. Decouple teacher performance evaluations from student test scores
I co-authored legislation that would remove the state requirement that student test scores inform teacher evaluations and pay. Provide Flexibility In Teacher Training And Licensure Requirements To reduce the number of state education mandates, the proposed legislation would give local schools the ability to request waivers from certainly required training, and make workforce-related Professional Growth Points optional. Indiana teachers currently have four options to renew their licenses. Under one option, teachers can develop a Professional Growth Plan and earn 90 points or hours over five years. This legislation would revise a 2019 law requiring 15 of those points be obtained through professional development related to the state’s or an educator’s community’s workforce needs. |
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Road Trip Begins On Sunday For Men’s Basketball
Aces To Tangle With Valparaiso
A busy week featuring two games in four days starts on Sunday when the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Valparaiso for a 4 p.m. game. The Missouri Valley Conference and the Purple Aces Radio Network have the coverage. Fans in Evansville can watch on Fox Sports Midwest while those in other areas will be able to access the game on ESPN3.
 Lickliter Takes The Helm
– On January 21, it was announced that Todd Lickliter inked a multi-year deal to become the Aces head coach
– An assistant with UE last season, Lickliter has been a head coach at Butler, Iowa, and Marian and was honored as the 2007 NABC National Coach of the Year while at Butler
– He led his alma mater to a pair of Sweet 16 appearances
 Setting The Scene
– Sunday’s contest takes place in a venue that has been kind to the Purple Aces – the Athletics-Recreation Center
– UE has won four of the last five road contests against the Crusaders and both games since Valpo joined the MVC
– Last year, the Aces picked up a 65-63 win over VU in the regular-season finale at the ARC with Marty Hill scoring 21
– The Aces look to right the ship following an 0-7 start to its MVC slate; UE is trying to avoid the 0-13 start to the 2009-10 league schedule
Last Time OutÂ
– Drake scored the first nine points of the game and finished with a 73-50 win on Wednesday evening at the Ford Center
– Evansville got within five points in the first half and after trailing by 20 at the break, UE trimmed its deficit to 14, but the Bulldogs countered both times
– Shamar Givance used a 3-for-3 performance from long range to lead the team with nine points; it marked the first time since 12/8/10 against North Carolina that the team did not have a double-digit scorer
– Jawaun Newton tallied eight points while John Hall scored seven while grabbing a team-best seven boards
– After allowing Drake to shoot 56.3% in the first half, the Aces buckled down in the final 20 minutes, holding them to 33.3%
Adapting To The Next Level
– Freshman Marcus Henderson has done a nice job of filling his role, which continues to grow as the season evolves
– Henderson played a season-high 22 minutes on Wednesday against Drake and responded with six points and three assists
– Over the last two games, Henderson has drained four of his seven 3-point attempts
Coach vs. Valpo
– UE head coach Todd Lickliter is 2-0 in a pair of meetings against the Crusaders, both coming while at Butler
– The Bulldogs defeated Valpo, 72-69, in the 2005 Bracket Buster games at Hinkle Fieldhouse before taking a 60-47 victory at the ARC in 2006
Scouting The Opponent
– Valparaiso heads into Sunday’s game with an overall mark of 10-10 while going 3-4 in Valley action
– The Crusaders dropped a 67-60 contest at Missouri State on Thursday but have won their last two home games against Drake and Indiana State
– Javon Freeman-Liberty continues to be the top player for Valpo
– Freeman-Liberty leads the squad in points (20.7/game), rebounds (5.6/game) and steals (47)
– In the first match-up against the Aces, Freeman-Liberty had 25 points
– Donovan Clay and Ben Krikke added 10 points apiece in the January 4 game at the Ford Center
Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Meeting
The Board of School Trustees of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will meet in executive session at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 27, 2020, in the John H. Schroeder Conference Centre at the EVSC Administration Building, 951 Walnut, IN 47713, Evansville, IN. The session will be conducted according to Senate Enrolled Act 313, Section 1, I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1, as amended. The purpose of the meeting is for discussion of one or more of the following: collective bargaining, (2)(A); initiation of litigation or litigation that is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing, (2)(B); purchase or lease of property, (2)(D); for discussion of the assessment, design, and implementation of school safety and security measures, plans, and systems (3); and job performance evaluation of individual employees, (9); to train school board members with an outside consultant about the performance of the role of the members as public officials (11).
The regular meeting of the School Board will follow at 5:30 p.m. in the EVSC Board Room, same address.
ADOPT A PET
Shadow is 8 years old. He was abandoned by his previous family along with several other dogs. (Which means he gets along fine with other pups!) He weighs 43 lbs. and is at least partially housetrained from what we can tell. His adoption fee is $110 and includes his neuter, microchip, & vaccines. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
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Swim and Dive Hosts Purdue on Senior Day
The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will square off with archrival Purdue on Jan. 25. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center.
IN THE RANKINGS
Men’s teams: No. 5 Indiana, RV Purdue
Women’s teams: No. 15 Indiana, Purdue
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
The one-day dual meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with 14 swimming events and two diving events.
The order of events for swimming will be 200 medley relay, 1,000 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle 100 butterfly, 200 IM, and 400 freestyle relay.
Diving will run during the meet and during the swimming breaks with both the 1M and 3M events.
SENIORS HONORED
Before the meet beings, the Indiana University swim and dive program will honor the following seniors: Wyeth Brock, Hope Hayward, Maria Paula Heitmann, Cassy Jernberg, Shelby Koontz, Mohamed Samy, Hannah Leybo (trainer), Josiah Parr (swim manager), and Jim Schuman (swim manager).
GOULD, PEPLOWSKI HONORED BY BIG TEN
Indiana junior diver Mory Gould was named Big Ten Diver of the Week, while sophomore Noelle Peplowski was named Co-Swimmer of the Week on Jan. 15 for their efforts in the Michigan dual. The honors marked the first for each athlete and the first received by a Hoosier since the calendar turned to 2020.
HOOSIERS FALL IN DUAL AGAINST MICHIGAN
For the first time since the 2016 season, the Indiana men’s swimming and diving team was unable to topple the Michigan Wolverines in a dual meet, as Michigan took down both the men’s team (160-140) and the women’s team (186-114) on Jan. 11.
A total of five Hoosiers claimed multiple victories in the meet, highlighted by Mory Gould capturing titles in both diving events and Noelle Peplowski sweeping the breaststroke events. On top of individual event wins, Bruno Blaskovic, Brendan Burns, and Mohamed Samy also helped Indiana coast to a 400 freestyle relay event championship.
BURNS, SAMY NAMED BIG TEN SWIMMERS OF THE WEEK
Indiana University senior Mohamed Samy and freshman Brendan Burns were named Big Ten Swimmer of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week, respectively, the league office announced on Nov. 27, 2019. The honors of the first of the season for each swimmer and the first collected by a Hoosier this season.
IU SPLITS TWO MEETS WITH TEXAS, LOUISVILLE
The Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both toppled No. 9/11 Louisville in both the long-course (197-84, 166-115) and short-course (189.5-91.5, 142-139) meets but fell to No. 2/8 Texas (157.5-121.5, 146-134) and (160-118, 168-113) at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center on Nov. 8-9. All six teams competing in the meet were ranked inside the top-20 of the TYR Dual Meet Rankings.
MEN’S TEAM DOMINATES BIG TEN OPPONENTS
The Indiana men’s swimming and diving teams defeated both Iowa (245-55) and Michigan (165-135) at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center the first Saturday in November.
For the second-straight meet, senior Mohamed Samy was electric. He posted three event times inside the top-10 nationally to this point in the season, to include the nation-leading time in both the 100 free (43.20) and the 200 IM (1:44.95) and the fourth-fastest time in the 200 free (1:35.30).
INDIANA PICKS UP THREE WINS AGAINST KNETUCKY, NOTRE DAME
Five Hoosiers combined to win nine individual events and one relay in the season-opening tri-meet against Kentucky and Notre Dame. Sophomore Zane Backes won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, freshman Brendan Burns touched first in the 200 butterfly, junior Gabriel Fantoni took gold in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 100 fly, and senior Mohamed Samy won the 100 and 200 freestyle plus the 200 IM.
IU defeated UK by a score of 204-96 and ND by a final tally of 219-81.
HOT JOBS IN EVANSVILLE
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