Chaplin is a handsome male orange tabby. He was originally adopted from VHS and then returned. He recently had to have eye surgery to correct his entropion, where his eyelid is turned inward and makes him uncomfortable, but he’s doing just fine now and it won’t affect his health long-term! Chaplin’s 3 years old and can go home today, already neutered, for $40. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 or www.vhslifesaver.org for adoption details!
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Indiana Wins Five Titles on Friday Night at the Big Ten Championships
 IOWA CITY, Iowa – The No. 2-ranked Indiana University men’s swimming and diving team had an unbelievable Friday night at the 2019 Big Ten Men’s Championships at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Hoosiers won five Big Ten titles on Friday night, pushing their lead in the team standings to 118 points. IU sits atop the leaderboard with 1,144 points, with Michigan in second place with a total of 1,026. Ohio State remains in third place with a score of 823.
 For the fourth-straight season, Ian Finnerty won the Big Ten title in the 100 breaststrokes, touching the wall with an NCAA A cut time of 50.77. In the morning prelims, Finnerty broke the Big Ten meet record with a mark of 50.60. Finnerty is the second Hoosier to win the 100 breast title four-straight years, joining Cody Miller (2011-14).
Freshman Zane Backes had a great outing in the A Final, winning the bronze with a personal-best time of 51.73. Gary Kostbade was eight in the Championship Final with a time of 52.83. In the B Final, Matt Jerden was second with a PR of 52.68.
Redshirt senior James Connor capped his Big Ten career in stellar fashion, winning his second Big Ten title in as many days, placing first in the 3-meter dive with a score of 494.10.
The 2019 conference champion in the 1-meter dive, Connor earned his fourth Big Ten championship on Friday thanks to an incredibly consistent list. Connor didn’t score less than 73.50 on any dive and capped his list with an incredible 99.75 score on his last attempt.
Sophomore Andrew Capobianco won his second silver of the week, finishing runner-up to Connor with a score of 477.60. Capobianco didn’t have a score less than 67.50 on his list and was the only diver to record two scores over 90 points on the day – 91.20 in the second round and 93.50 on his final attempt.
Earlier, Cole VanDevender placed sixth in the B Final of the 3-meter dive with a score of 361.75. Also scoring for the Hoosiers in the event was Mory Gould, who finished 19thoverall with a total of 333.65.
For the first time since 2016, Indiana won the Big Ten title in the 200 freestyle relay. The IU team of Zach Apple, Bruno Blaskovic, Vini Lanza and Brandon Hamblin touched the wall first with an NCAA A cut, Big Ten record, school record and Big Ten Meet record of 1:16.01.
After Apple gave the Hoosiers the lead with a 19.29 leadoff leg, IU never looked back. Indiana posted splits of 18.88, 18.91 and 18.93 to finish the relay and capture gold.
Sophomore Gabriel Fantoni dominated the Championship Final of the 100 backstrokes, successfully defending his title with an NCAA A cut time of 44.91. Fantoni was the only man to break 46 seconds, beating the field 1.15 seconds.
Classmate Jacob Steele won the bronze medal with a personal-best time of 46.13, while Mohamed Samy was sixth with a time of 46.64. In the B Final, Wilson Beckman touched fourth with a mark of 47.29.
 Senior Zach Apple won the Big Ten title in the 200 freestyle, touching the wall with a career-best time of 1:32.69. Apple continues IU’s dominance in the event, making it four-straight for the Hoosiers after Blake Pieroni won the previous three crowns. Also in the A Final, Mohamed Samy took sixth with a mark of 1:33.96.
Freshman Jakub Karl placed fourth in the B Final with a time of 1:35.53, while Griffin Eiber was eighth in 1:36.22 In the C Final, freshman Jack Franzman, the final qualifier for the event, won out of lane 8 with a personal-best time of 1:34.87, while Thomas Vanderbrook took second with a mark of 1:35.08.
 Leading the way for the Hoosiers in the 100 butterflies was Vini Lanza, who won silver in the Championship Final with an NCAA A cut time of 44.90. Also for IU in the A Final, Bruno Blaskovic took fourth with a time of 45.46, while Van Mathias was seventh with a personal-best time of 45.90. Rounding out the quartet of Hoosiers in the Championship Final was Gabriel Fantoni, who placed eighth in 46.12.
In the C Final of the 100 butterflies, Corey Gambardella took second to finish 18th overall with a career-best time of 47.15.
Freshman Mikey Calvillo led three Hoosiers in the finals of the 400 IM, placing fifth in the Championship Final with a career-best time of 3:46.12. In the B Final, Spencer Lehman won for IU with a PR of 3:45.59, while Matt Jerden took seventh with a personal-best time of 3:48.23.
The 2019 Men’s Big Ten Championships continue on Saturday morning with the prelims of the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststrokes, 200 butterflies and platform dive. Action gets underway at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s swimming and diving team on social media – Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
100 Butterfly
2. Vini Lanza – 44.90 (NCAA A Cut)
4. Bruno Blaskovic – 45.46 (NCAA B Cut)
7. Van Mathias – 45.90 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
8. Gabriel Fantoni – 46.12 (NCAA B Cut)
18. Corey Gambardella – 47.15 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
400 IM
5. Mikey Calvillo – 3:46.12 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
9. Spencer Lehman – 3:45.59 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
15. Matt Jerden – 3:48.23 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
200 Freestyle
1. Zach Apple – 1:32.69 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
6. Mohamed Samy – 1:33.96 (NCAA B Cut)
12. Jakub Karl – 1:35.53 (NCAA B Cut)
16. Griffin Eiber – 1:36.22 (NCAA B Cut)
17. Jack Franzman – 1:35.08 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
18. Thomas Vanderbrook – 1:35.08 (NCAA B Cut)
100 Breaststroke
1. Ian Finnerty – 50.77 (NCAA A Cut)
3. Zane Backes – 51.73 (NCAA A Cut, Personal Best)
8. Gary Kostbade – 52.83 (NCAA B Cut)
10. Matt Jerden – 52.68 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
100 Backstroke
1. Gabriel Fantoni – 44.91 (NCAA A Cut, Personal Best)
3. Jacob Steele – 46.13 (NCAA B Cut, Personal Best)
6. Mohamed Samy – 46.64 (NCAA B Cut)
12. Wilson Beckman – 47.29 (NCAA B Cut)
3-Meter Dive
1. James Connor – 494.10 (NCAA Zones Qualifying Score)
2. Andrew Capobianco – 477.60 (NCAA Zones Qualifying Score)
14. Cole VanDevender – 361.75 (NCAA Zones Qualifying Score)
19. Mory Gould – 333.65 (NCAA Zones Qualifying Score)
200 Freestyle Relay
1. Zach Apple, Bruno Blaskovic, Vini Lanza, Brandon Hamblin – 1:16.01 (NCAA A Cut, Big Ten Record, School Record, Big Ten Meet Record)
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March 1st, 2019 
MEGAN DIVENTI KENTUCKY
The State House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow the motto ‘In God We Trust’ to be displayed in public schools next year.
First stamped on a two-cent coin during the Civil War and on all U.S. coins starting in 1938, ‘In God, We Trust’ owes its debut on our bills to the Cold War. It’s a phrase we see on the back of money, but that motto could very well become prominently displayed in public schools across the Bluegrass.
Passing in the house Wednesday by a vote of 72-25, House Bill 46 calls for the motto to be shown in public elementary and secondary Kentucky schools beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.
Some parents say they support the bill.
“I’m all for God being in schools and all that. I feel like it would help things really in the whole country,†says Vikki Buckboro, supports the bill.
“It should be. Well I’m somewhat religious and I believe the man died for us you know no matter if people believe in God or not,†says Jeremy Macken, supports a bill.
The bill defines a ‘prominent location’ as a school entryway, cafeteria, or common area where students are likely to see the national motto. The display could also be in the form of a mounted plaque or student artwork.
Others feel there should be a separation.
“It’s not the state’s business and it’s not the schools business to be taking sides in this very personal decision,†says August Berkshire, opposes the bill.
Legal experts say there aren’t any penalties in place if schools don’t comply, but this could open up a lawsuit against public schools.
House Bill 46 will now move to the Kentucky Senate to be debated.
As former Members of Congress and elected officers are using their former positions to lobby Congress, today U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) are introducing the Banning Lobbying and Safeguarding Trust (BLAST) Act.
“One of the reasons I left the private sector for Washington was to help President Trump drain the swamp and we can accomplish this by permanently banning Congressmen and Senators from lobbying Capitol Hill,â€Â said U.S. Senator Mike Braun.  “Together we can end the revolving door of career politicians coming to Washington, spending time in Congress, then enriching themselves from their service to the American people.â€
Senator Rick Scott said, “I’m proud to introduce this bill that imposes a permanent ban on members of Congress becoming lobbyists. Rather than serving the public, too many in Washington spend their political careers preparing for a lucrative job at a DC lobbying firm where they can cash in on their connections and their access. Congress should never serve as a training ground for future lobbyists, and putting an end to the revolving door is a common sense way to make Washington work for families.â€
This legislation is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-9), H.R.1145.
A CAT IS NOT A DOG
GAVEL GAMUTÂ By Jim Redwine
I read the reports of the death of 85-year-old Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) who was one of the Western World’s most famous fashion designers. Lagerfeld had his own design company and designed for Chanel and Fendi. Although I had never heard of him until he died as my clothes designer is Levi Strauss, apparently a lot of people had heard of him as he left a fortune worth between 200 and 300 million dollars.
Lagerfeld never married and had no children. He did have a cat named Choupette (sweetheart). Lagerfeld was German but lived and worked in Paris most of his adult life. Although cats are fairly well challenged when it comes to understanding the benefits of being a beneficiary, Lagerfeld was able to execute a will and create a trust that directed Choupette’s ashes (when she dies) shall be buried with Lagerfeld’s. Such a beau geste probably will mean little to Choupette but the life-long pampered care set up by the trust surely will mean quite a bit.
As Lagerfeld had no family survive him who could care for Choupette it appears to me to have been the responsible thing to provide for the cat after the designer shuffled off this mortal coil. Whether a lifestyle of the rich and famous is morally defensible for a cat when there are so many surly French waiters demanding exorbitant gratuities is another matter. I thought the French were still somewhat miffed about Germans and that World War II thing. I wonder what the Parisians will think about German lavishing money on a Burmese cat. Perhaps some of Choupette’s inheritance will be needed for around-the-clock security detail.
When Peg and I consider providing for our cat, Phantom, we usually discuss how concerned Phantom would be if he was asked to provide long-term care for us. I do not know about your relationships with your pets, Gentle Reader, but if any of us seriously believe our cats would lose even one cat nap over our welfare then a Brooklyn Bridge sale is a real possibility.
Phantom views us as about as worthwhile as North Korea’s Kim Jong-un does his half-brother and uncle. As some wag has already said, to cats we humans are merely staff. Phantom will occasionally not bite or scratch us if we keep his food dish filled and do not disturb him when he is snoring.
Oh, the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs curry our favor; cats desire our absence. Dogs only bite strangers; cats seek every opportunity to sharpen their claws on our hands. Dogs come when called; cats pretend to be deaf. Dogs run into burning buildings or icy ponds to save us; cats observe our distress much as our high school English teachers did when asking us to explain Shakespeare.
Perhaps you think I am being overly critical of cats or perhaps you sense some envy of Choupette’s life of millionaire ease. Perhaps you can address these issues with your cat. Well, perhaps you can if your cat can be convinced to acknowledge your existence. Phantom will not ours.
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Written by Gail Riecken, Statehouse Editor For The City-County Observer
The Statehouse File in its article about mid-session bills didn’t mention some bills that we, locally, have shown interest. Here are three of those.
Grandma has had a hard time convincing DCS she should have her grandchild.
But SB 1, now in the House of Representatives, addresses, among other issues of the Department of Child Services, a long-held opinion among child advocates that relatives should be fully considered when the courts are placing a child outside the home.
SB1 states:  “A dispositional decree must require the department to continue exercising due diligence to identify all adult relatives of the child and adult siblings who may be considered as out-of-home placements for the childâ€.
There’s another important youth bill with a timely idea.
SB423 authorizes a court-appointed youth advocate pilot program. The bill “provides that office of judicial administration may establish a youth advocate pilot program (pilot program) until July 1, 2021, for purposes of providing early intervention and mentoring services for children who are adjudicated delinquent.†SB 423 is in the House and has strong leadership on its side.
Last, a session isn’t a session without a gaming issue. This one may affect us.
SB 552 might impact gaming revenues for Evansville. The bill authorizes “sports wagering at riverboats, racinos, a Vigo County casino, and satellite facilities. It provides for the administration and conduct of sports wagering and the relocation of a Gary riverboat to Vigo County. The bill allows live table games at racetracks in 2019. This bill passed the Senate ( 38-11). The discussion in the House will be interesting.
I’ll be watching these and other bills over the next few weeks especially bills about how to keep water and sewer and utility costs reasonable. Keeping rates reasonable and affordable is a challenge; Evansville could certainly use some help.
