Home Blog Page 3858

After long medical marijuana hearing, lawmakers make no recommendation

0

Katie Stancombe for www.theindianalawyer.com

Legislators halted any progress of legalizing medical marijuana in Indiana on Thursday after a study committee failed to agree on how to move the issue forward.

The Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health and Human Services heard several hours of testimony from medical professionals, legislators and citizens on both sides. But by the end of the meeting, no further recommendations had been made.

House Resolution 2 author Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, said the issue has been up for debate long enough.

“We need to go where the facts take us as a state,” Lehman said. “We can’t continue down the path of doing nothing.”

Those in favor of the legalization argued cannabis could benefit Hoosiers suffering from chronic illness, mental health disorders, PTSD and other conditions. Proponents also contended the drug could serve as an alternative to more addictive medications contributing to the state’s opioid epidemic.

After serving as a Marshall County prosecuting attorney for nearly 40 years, Nelson Chipman said his life changed forever when he discovered a cancerous lump in his neck in 2017.

He was prescribed narcotics oxycodone and morphine alongside his radiation and chemotherapy, but quickly started looking for safer alternatives.

“As a prosecutor, I learned long ago of the incredibly addictive power of opioids,” he said. When he came across medicinal cannabis, Chipman thought he found an answer.

“I discussed it with my doctors and their responses were unanimous, so much so that they would recommend the treatment if they could. But they’re all licensed in Indiana and have no access to cannabis,” Chipman said. “It was as if this phase of my treatment was determined more by my ZIP code than my white blood cell counts.”

Currently, 31 states have legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes, including Indiana’s neighbors Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. But opponents argued that marijuana is still illegal under federal law and continues to be a gateway drug for teens.

Arizona addiction psychiatrist Ed Gogek stressed the damaging effects of marijuana on the adolescent brain, saying that he sustained harm from smoking pot as a teen.

Ally Dir of Indiana University School of Medicine and Drug Free Indiana agreed. She said states that pass favorable cannabis laws increases teens access to recreational marijuana.

Other opponents included representatives from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Attorney General’s Office, Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Drug Free Marion County.

Dave Powell of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council said in a statement that legalization is the wrong move for Indiana.

story continues below

“Despite claims to the contrary, the legalization of marijuana could further exacerbate Indiana’s opioid epidemic,” the statement reads. “Additional studies have concluded that people simply do not substitute marijuana for other drugs.”

Both sides did agree on the need for continued research and rigorous study on the use of medical marijuana before any permanent decisions are made for the Hoosier state.

Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, suggested Indiana rely on best practices from other states that have legalized the drug. The legislator said he had a positive experience after trying cannabis during a visit to Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal. He is now a strong proponent of making the drug legal in Indiana.

“We need to move forward,” Lucas said. “I give you my word, I am committed to making this happen.”

 

Eagles get win #10 with 2-0 shutout USI finishes regular season Wednesday

0

The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2012 with a 2-0 shutout of William Jewell College on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at Strassweg Field. USI goes to 10-5-2 overall and 8-3-1 GLVC, while William Jewell watched its record go to 7-9-1, 4-8-0 GLVC.

The win keeps the Screaming Eagles’ hopes to host a conference post-season game alive with one matches to play. USI, at press time, is a half-game out of first and in a three-way tie for second, pending the outcome of three GLVC matches that started at 2:30 p.m. Visit GLVCsports.com for updated standings.

USI sophomore defender Madelyne Juenger (Columbia, Illinois) put the Eagles up 1-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game. Juenger recorded her first goal of the season off a corner kick by freshman midfielder Madison Cady (West Chicago, Illinois). The Eagles would hold the 1-0 lead through the intermission.

In the second half, USI sealed William Jewell’s fate when senior forward Kennedy Moore (Evansville, Indiana) recorded her second goal of the season to make the score, 2-0 at 58:06. USI sophomore forward Maggie Winter (St. Louis, Missouri) fed ball through the middle of the Cardinal defense to Moore in front of the goal for the assist.

The Eagle defense took over after the Moore to get its seventh team shutout of the season and help senior goalkeeper Emily Hopkins (Greenfield, Indiana) to her third-straight shutout between the posts. Hopkins, who earned her ninth win of the season, made seven saves and faced 15 total shots in the match.

Prior to the match, the Eagles honored its eight seniors – Moore, Hopkins, defender/midfielder Olivia Wilde(Racine, Wisconsin), defender Hannah Huebner (Newburgh, Indiana), forward Carissa Dyer (Crescent Spring, Kentucky), midfielder Ryley Hancock (Evansville, Indiana), forward Kennedy Moore (Evansville, Indiana), midfielder Kirsten Rettig (Oregon, Ohio), and defender Emma Luczkowski (Westfield, Indiana).

USI concludes the 2018 regular season Wednesday when it travels to Lewis University for a 2:30 p.m. match-up. The Flyers entered today’s action with a 9-4-2 overall and 8-3-0 GLVC at home this afternoon versus Maryville University.

USI leads the all-time series, 14-5-3, since the Eagles’ program began in 1996. USI has a small advantage in the last five meetings, 2-1-2, after the Eagles and the Flyers battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie last fall in Romeoville, Illinois.

EVSC Special Education Unified Game Days

0
EVSC elementary and middle school students to participate in Special Education Unified Game Days
Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24
8:30 a.m. to noon
Central High School Track, 5400 First Avenue 
Students in the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation will participate Tuesday and Wednesday in the Special Education Unified Game Days. Elementary students will compete Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and will move through various stations. Middle school students will compete Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and their event will function like a track and field meet.

Express Enrollment Days Planned at Ivy Tech Evansville

0

 Ivy Tech Community College is hosting two Express Enrollment Day events on Tuesday, October 23 and Wednesday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at its Evansville campus located at 3501 N. First Avenue, Evansville. 

During Express Enrollment, prospective students will have the opportunity to register early for spring classes and receive assistance with the enrollment process. It also is an opportunity to meet the December 1 financial aid priority date (the date students must complete financial aid requirements to be awarded aid on the first day of classes). 

These events are free and participants are encouraged to RSVP. All details can be found at IvyTech.edu/EEDay. 

EPD ACTIVITY REPORT

0

EPD REPORT

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

0

http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/jail-recent-booking-records.aspx

“READERS FORUM” OCTOBER 21, 2018

1

We hope that today’s “READERS FORUM” 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? 

WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?

Todays“Readers Poll” question is: If the election was held today in the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor race who would you vote for?

If you would like to advertise on the CCO please contact us City-CountyObserver@live.com

Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy.  Be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language, insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.

Astronaut Eileen Collins To Speak At UE’s Snyder Lecture

0

Astronaut Eileen Collins to Speak at UE’s Snyder Lecture

OCTOBER 21TH, 2018 TYRONE MORRIS EVANSVILLE, INDIANA

Astronaut Eileen Collins is an ambassador for space exploration and space travel. Wednesday night, Collins gave a presentation about her career and her hopes for the future of space travel.

 

In the early 1970’s, women weren’t allowed to take part in pilot training in the U.S. Air Force which posed a problem for a young Collins; however, everything changed in 1976.

Colonel Collins was among the first four women ever chosen for the pilot training program in the U.S. Air Force. Years later in 1990, she became a NASA astronaut and she never looked back.

In 1995, Collins made history again becoming the first woman to pilot a shuttle taking the discovery to the now-defunct MIR Space Station.

Four years later, Collins became the first female commander on the Columbia Shuttle Flight in 1999 which carried the Chandra X-ray Observatory Telescope into orbit.

She retired in 2006 after logging 872 total hours in space. Now, in present time, she’s touring the country talking about her career and her hopes for the future of space travel.

Just days ago, the Chandra telescope ran into some issues. It stopped gathering data after going into safe mode because of technical issues.

TwitterFacebook

Hours-Long Medical Marijuana Review Results In No Recommendation

0

Hours-Long Medical Marijuana Review Results In No Recommendation

October 18, 2018 

By Erica Irish
TheStatehouseFile.com 

INDIANAPOLIS—An interim study committee on public health, behavioral health and human services failed to agree on a proposal Thursday to expand medical marijuana use to Hoosiers who qualify for certain treatments. 

Fourteen voices in support, eight opposed and two independent researchers joined in the hour-long conversation with the committee, which opened with a statement from Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne, as to why the topic should be studied.  

“We can’t continue down the path of doing nothing,” Lehman said. 

Lehman’s measure, House Resolution 2, was introduced last spring. A separate measure by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, proposed the legalization of all “cultivation, dispensing and use of medical marijuana by persons with serious medical conditions.” 

Lucas’ bill never received a hearing, while the House unanimously voted in favor of the study committee. 

With 31 states signed on to prescribing cannabis for medicinal purposes — including Washington D.C., and three of Indiana’s four border states, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan — legislators, advocates and challenges continue to wonder if, or when, Indiana will join the growing national trend. 

Those in support of the bill and expanded medical marijuana use in the state spoke for an hour. Many cited the potential benefits of the drug to those suffering from a variety of physical and mental disorders, from post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia to cancer and fibromyalgia, and to those in vulnerable demographics, including veterans and the opioid-addicted. 

Illinois Republican State Rep. Tim Butler advised the Indiana committee to consider the economic incentives of the drug and invited them to visit Illinois to see its benefits in action. 

His state first opened the door to medical marijuana use in 2014. Additionally, as of August, Illinois now allows cannabis prescriptions to be filled alongside opioid treatments in its Opioid Alternative Pilot Program. The goal of this is to limit dependency on opioid prescriptions by supplementing pain therapy with medical cannabis. 

The conversation intensified following commentary from addiction psychiatrist Ed Gogeck, who practices in Prescott, Arizona. Gogeck suggested the legalization of medical marijuana could heighten substance addiction among teenagers. He also disputed the idea that marijuana can help treat opioid addiction. 

“What the marijuana industry has done is exactly what Big Pharma did to cause the opioid epidemic in the first place,” Gogeck said.  

By the end of the testimony, committee members voiced several questions and, in general, a reluctance to move forward because of a lack of concrete evidence for or against the drug. 

Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, was the first to offer a proposal following the testimony. He said legislators should start assembling a state agency to oversee the legalization of medical marijuana and to study its effects. 

Countering his enthusiasm, Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, among others, said there should be more research at the federal level before making a decision for Indiana. 

“I don’t think we should put the cart ahead of the horse,” Brown said. “We are not ready to have a regulatory agency or commission to study the impact of this at all.” 

After motions to either advance or continue studying the issue failed, the committee passed a final report 12-1 with no new recommendations.

The committee’s initial proposal failed 8-5. A separate motion to continue to study the topic also failed, 9-4. A final report with no new recommendations passed 12-1. 

FOOTNOTE: Erica Irish is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

October Youth Of The Month Steps Up Big at Home McGary 8th Grader Helps Family In Many Ways

0

A juicy steak with yellow rice, corn and a crisp side salad. That’s what Giovanna McAlpine would whip up if a special visitor came to her house for dinner. It’s an ambitious menu for manyadults, and even more impressive considering that Giovanna is only 13.

The McGary Middle School 8th grader has a lot of experience, though. With guidance from her dad, Mike, she’s been cooking and baking since elementary school and is now the family’s primary chef.

“Any kind of meat is her specialty,” Giovanna’s mom, Keesha McAlpine, explains.

Steak, roast, pork loin — Giovanna can handle them all. She says her family’s reaction to her meals is the best part of cooking (no bad reviews yet), but her contributions continue well past the kitchen. Giovanna cleans and does laundry, too. She even gets everyone up and going in the morning. It’s a dream come true for Keesha, who calls herself “the luckiest mom in the world”.

“It’s amazing to have a kid that’s 13 that’s willing to do anything and everything. Her main focus is to make sure I’m ok and everything’s done.” Keesha said.

Keesha’s gratitude is multiplied by the reality that many of the things Giovanna does – she cannot. Keesha lives with constant pain from rheumatoid arthritis that makes it difficult to move at times.

“She usually doesn’t really say anything about it, but I can just tell,” Giovanna said.
Keesha had a light bulb moment when she found out about Youth Resources’ Youth of the Month award and knew

she had to nominate Giovanna, even though her daughter didn’t think she’d win. Then came the good news.

“I wanted to cry. The look on her face was priceless,” recalled Keesha. “I want the whole world to know there are good kids… If I could scream from a mountain top I would do it. You hear so many bad and negative things, and I’mlike, not all kids are like that.”

Dale Naylor would probably join Keesha on that mountain top. The McGary Middle School principal agrees thatGiovanna, or “Gigi” as her friends call her, deserves this recognition. “Giovanna is a wonderful young lady. She is kind and compassionate. (She) will go out of her way to help others. She is humble, and she doesn’t know a stranger,” Naylor said.

In addition to her responsibilities at home, Giovanna maintains good grades and plays on McGary’s volleyball team.She is also part of the school’s news team and helps with younger kids at church. And, she’s always ready to listenwhen a friend needs her.

“They’ll come to me because they know that I won’t judge them, or I won’t make fun of them,” Giovanna said.

Whether it’s at school, church or, perhaps, most noticeably, at home, Keesha hopes this honor reminds herdaughter of how much she is appreciated for the many ways she makes others’ lives better.

“No matter what, her smile can light up a whole room. No matter what kind of day you’re having, she’s the light at the end of the tunnel,” Keesha said.

As October’s Youth of the Month, Giovanna becomes a candidate for Youth Resources’ Youth of the Year award which will be presented at YR’s Hall of Fame Celebration in April.

About Youth Resources

Since 1987, Youth Resources has involved more than 150,000 young people in local community service projectswhile training them to be stronger leaders and inspiring them to be lifelong volunteers. YR’s Teen AdvisoryCouncil, TEENPOWER, Vanderburgh County Teen Court and Make a Difference Grants are unique, evidence- based programs that impact regional youth ages 5-18. Learn more about Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana at youth-resources.org.

1...3,8573,8583,859...7,230Page 3,858 of 7,230