We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” 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 during the recent midterm election that 58,973 votes were cast?  …the voter turnout of more than 51 percent was a new record for the county in midterm elections?  …we would like to thank Vanderburgh County Clerk, Carla Hayden, her staff and the poll workers for doing an outstanding job in conducting a fair and honest midterm election?  …we also would like to thank all the fine individuals who decided to run for public office?

IS IT TRUE that the political coattails of Mike Braun and Congressman Dr. Larry Bucshon helped County Prosecutor Nick Hermann, State Representatives Wendy McNamara and Ron Beacon and County Commission candidate Mike Duckworth, campaigns?

IS IT TRUE  the most interesting statement made during the midterm campaign was made by Stan Levco?  …that Mr. Levco publically stated; “if Mr. Hermanns Chief Deputy Gary Schutte would have run for Vanderburgh County Prosecutor he wouldn’t be a candidate for this position”?

IS IT TRUE the trouncing of 8th District Congressional candidate Willaim Tanoos (D) at the hands of incumbent Congressman Larry Bucshon (R) was very much expected?  …we won’t be surprised to see past supporters of the former Mayor of Evansville Jonathon Weinzapfel to start a low key campaign to replace Congressmen Dr. Larry Bucshon if he decides to retire at the end of his new term?  …we predict if Mr. Weinzapfel decides to run for United States Congress he will he will make one heck of a candidate for the Democrats?

IS IT TRUE after the United States Senator Joe Donnelly’s crushing defeat by challenger Mike Braun of Jasper, there are only two Indiana Democrats left on the Federal level, Representatives Pete Visclosky and André Carson?

IS IT TRUE after the midterm election the Democrats failed to take control of the Indiana Senate and House of Representative? …that the Republicans now have a solid Super Majority in the Indiana Senate and House of Representative and now Indiana has officially become a one-party State?

IS IT TRUE the Republicans continue to control the Vanderburgh County Council?  …because of the major upset victory by Democrat Jeff Hatfield over Republican Mike Duckworth, the County Commission is now controlled by the Democrats?  …the Evansville City Council is currently controlled by the Democrats by a 6-3 margin?  …that could change because the Mayor of Evansville is expected to personally sponsor a slate of well qualified Republicans to challenge the majority of Democrats running for City Council in the 2019 City election?  …we expect that the local Democratic party will rely heavily on Party Chairman, Scott Danks; County Commissioners Ben Shoulders and Jeff Hatfield to assist them on raising the needed funds to help the Democrats running in the 2019 City election?

IS IT TRUE because there are no credible Democratic candidates in the horizon considering a run for Mayor of Evansville it’s expected that Mayor Winnecke will run for re-election and will be elected to an unprecedented third term?  …it obvious that the only way the Democrats can retake control of City Hall is to have a candidate with a strong name recognition such as former US Congressman and County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth, former Evansville Mayor Jonathon Weinzapfel, State Reperseentive Ryan Hatfield or County Commissioner Ben Shoulders?

IS IT TRUE we are hearing that several local attorneys are vying to replace the current City Council attorney Josh Claybourn who lives in Newburgh?

IS IT TRUE that In the Republican-controlled Warrick County, Democrat Allyson Claybourn won a seat on the Newburgh town council by an impressive vote? …the Republicans swept all other Warrick County and Newburgh seats with more than 60 percent of the vote in every race?

IS IT TRUE  that we are pleased that the Honorable Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge for Vanderburgh County David D. Kiely received an impressive complimentary vote?  …that Judge Kiely ran unopposed for re-election and we are glad that the Vanderburgh County voters acknowledged he has done an outstanding job as the Circuit Court Judge for Vanderburgh County?

IS IT TRUE that the following Vanderburgh County Superior Court Judges also run for re-election as an unopposed candidate?  …they are the Honorable-Margaret Lloyd (Chief Judge), Honorable-Brett Neimeier, Honorable Robert J. Tornatta, and the Honorable Wayne S. Trockman? …we are extremely pleased that the voter of Vanderburgh County also gave them impressive complimentary vote?  …it’s obvious that voters of Vanderburgh County understood that the above judges are doing a great job for the citizens of this community?

The telephone survey of 604 adults Indiana residents found the majority believes that communities should direct additional resources to treatment-related approaches and cracking down on drug dealers.

Additionally, 39% of respondents said marijuana should be legal for personal use, while 42% said it should be legal only for medicinal use. Only 16% said it should not be legal at all. If marijuana remains illegal, then only 16% said that people should serve jail time for possessing small amounts.

“In considering drug problems in their community, Hoosiers seem to consider marijuana as fundamentally different than ‘hard’ street drugs, such a methamphetamine and heroin, or commonly abused prescription drugs, such as OxyContin,” said Charles Taylor, managing director of the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State, which conducts the annual public opinion survey.

The Hoosier Survey found that improving school safety, improving public safety and reducing crime, improving local public schools, and attracting jobs were Hoosiers’ top four priorities.

Other findings from the survey can be seen below:

• About 24 percent of Hoosiers rate the state as an excellent place to live, a decline from 2012, when 30 percent gave the state an excellent rating.
• Overall, 40 percent said that road maintenance had improved, compared to 18 percent that indicated it had worsened.
• For the first time in several years, more Hoosiers reported that the quality of their local schools had improved than reported it had worsened, by a margin of 23 to 19 percent.
• Satisfaction with the state’s job attraction efforts continues with 69 percent of Hoosiers approving. Satisfaction is lower, however, among Hoosiers in households with less than $30,000 annual income, at 64 percent, and higher among households with income greater than $75,000, at 74 percent.
• A solid majority of Hoosiers continues to approve of the 10-cent gas tax increase and an associated increase in vehicle registration fees. Overall, 55 percent approve, compared to 38 percent who disapprove. The state’s proposal to toll interstate highways, however, is much less popular. About 1 in 5 Hoosiers approve of tolling interstates.
• About 72 percent of Hoosiers support increasing cigarette taxes; about 61 percent support increasing the smoking age to 21 years of age.
• Only 37 percent of Hoosiers favor legalized sports betting as a revenue source for the state, compared to 50 percent opposed.

Journalism students at the University of Evansville discussed the incident and what this type of exchange could mean for students like them.

“He asked him about his opinion which is completely okay because he is our president, so everything that he does affects not only him but the entire county because everyone has connections no matter how big or small,” says Taylor Jones, University of Evansville student.

Most of them thought to take away Acosta’s press credentials was harsh, but they had different opinions on whether or not Acosta should have just passed the microphone.

“He asked him to move on, and he still asked another question about a different topic, and I don’t know how many questions you get during interviews, and other people wanted questions so I think he should have just handed it over,” says Logan Sitzman, University of Evansville student.

Others thought it was good Acosta confronted the President.

“He kept asking questions because Trump wasn’t giving a continuous answer he was dodging it. He was trying to avoid saying what he actually thought,” says Tiger Pluckebaum, University of Evansville student.

Although, some students do not think this exchange will affect their future careers.

“I don’t think; I think we’ll have like political people being President, you know what I’m saying? I don’t think it will be as crazy.”

Marriage Licenses Issued