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 Governor Echoes Need For Workforce Development

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By Adrianna Pitrelli
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS — More than a million people in Indiana alone have unfinished high school and college diplomas, an issue Gov. Eric Holcomb is tackling head on.

“We have 350,000 Hoosiers who are 18-to-64 years old who don’t have a high school diploma,” Holcomb said. “Prime working age Hoosiers who don’t have the skills for not just tomorrow, but today.”

Another 712,000 Hoosiers started college but didn’t finish.

The issue of Hoosiers with an unfinished education led Holcomb to focus on workforce development as he sat down with Tom Bevan, co-founder and publisher of Real Clear Politics. The conversation took place Wednesday at a luncheon at the Columbia Club titled “How Indiana Wins with Software.”

Holcomb again touted the Next Level Jobs Initiative. The state in August launched the Next Level Jobs website to help Hoosiers become qualified for high-demand jobs by receiving more education.

“The state of Indiana will pay for it,” Holcomb said of the program. “We will get you to Ivy Tech or Vincennes and we will help you get a job.”

Since the program rolled out, 213,000 Hoosiers have visited the website. However, there are still 92,000 unfilled jobs.

“I’ve been surprised, positively so, by the number of folks that are going to the website,” Holcomb said. “This is an all hands on deck effort.”

Holcomb said he and the administration continue to work with employers and educators each day to find ways to raise awareness of the unfilled jobs and find ways to fill them.

Developing a skilled and ready workforce is one of Holcomb’s five goals for 2018 that were announced earlier in the month. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce and leaders from both parties also share workforce development as one of their main objectives.

Another one of his goals, which was also brought up at Wednesday’s conversation, is attacking the drug epidemic — an issue which Holcomb said also affects the workforce.

“The drug epidemic has morphed into a business crisis, truly,” Holcomb said. “It is a personal individual and family crisis which means it will become a community crisis.”

The issue has arisen because opioids were overprescribed. Holcomb said he would like to see doctors not prescribe more than a week’s worth of opiates at a time. States like Kentucky and New Jersey have already implemented programs limiting the number of opioids that can be prescribed.

“We have to do more for prevention,” Holcomb said. “There are enough pills for every adult in America to have them for a month. There are too many pills out there available.”

To attack the drug epidemic, Holcomb plans to strengthen enforcement, expand recovery options and make it easier for Hoosiers to locate and access treatment.

“All the money in the world will not solve this problem,” Holcomb said. “This has to do with partnerships and collaborations.”

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

Cruise Into 2018 With A BRAND NEW FORD TRUCK From Ellis Park

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Four lucky players will be selected every hour from 7pm-11pm every Friday and Saturday in December to race to the finish line and earn a share of $500 in free play prizes…PLUS the winner of each hour’s race wins a spot in the Grand Ford Finale on Saturday, December 30th!
Earn 1 entry for every 25 points earned Sunday-Saturday of each week.
Players who win a spot into the Grand Ford Finale will randomly pick from 74 different combination codes attempting to select the one that opens the Ellis Park Vehicle Vault! Inside the Vault will be the keys to a Ford truck. The winner will choose the key to their new ride, then head outside to reveal which truck they won!

VHS COLLECTING GENTLY-USED & NEW SHOES FOR HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER

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The Vanderburgh Humane Society is encouraging the community to clean out their closets and donate new or gently-used pairs of shoes to help local animals!

Shoes are being collected through January 2nd at the VHS Tuesday-Saturday from 9 am – 6 pm. Any size, type, and season of shoes are welcome as long as they are not broken or missing laces when applicable. Shoes must be donated in pairs.

The VHS is partnering with the organization Funds2Orgs to put on this fundraiser. The shoes are shipped to microenterprises in 25 developing countries where they are cleaned, repaired, and resold.

1 bag = 25 pairs of shoes. This is the perfect opportunity for students or families to make a difference this holiday season by committing to donate at least 1 bag of shoes! The overall goal is 100 bags, or 2500 pairs. 10 bags (100 pairs of shoes) have already been collected! The VHS is paid per pound when the shoe drive ends, so the more shoes the better. (And the heavier the shoes, the better – bring on the boots!)

To start collecting shoes on behalf of the VHS, anyone interested should contact Amanda Coburn, Development Coordinator at a.coburn@vhslifesaver.org or (812) 426-2563 extension 218.

AG Hill Urges Federal Agency To Delay Implementation Of New Rules

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INDIANAPOLIS – In a letter mailed this week to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Attorney General Curtis Hill urged a delay in implementing new rules requiring the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) by commercial drivers. To immediately impose the new rules – set to take effect December 18 — would place undue burdens on drivers and operators, he wrote.

General Hill particularly took issue with the new requirements’ reliance on manufacturers to “self-certify” devices as complying with government standards – with no effective procedures seemingly yet developed to provide oversight over this process.

Drivers and operators are left without any way of ascertaining which brands and models of devices ultimately will pass muster, General Hill observed – setting up the risk they could invest in purchasing of devices later found to be inadequate.

Even while urging delay, the Office of Attorney General also is taking steps to ensure truckers and trucking companies are aware of the new regulations — collaborating with other state agencies to distribute information to relevant audiences.

Attached are 1) the Attorney General’s letter to the FMCSA and 2) a handout being distributed to raise awareness of the new rules.

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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 Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.

Elijah A. Johnson: Battery by means of a deadly weapon (Level 5 Felony), Battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 Felony)

Michelle Dawn Drennan: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Anthony Matthew Greene: Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)

Heath A. Morrison: Failure to register as a sex or violent offender (Level 5 Felony), Failure to register as a sex or violent offender (Level 6 Felony)

Cody H. Steele: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Driving while suspended (Class A misdemeanor)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

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Below are the felony cases to be filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office today.

Kaitlin Lee Salyer: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a narcotic drug (Level 6 Felony)

Christopher B. McCaslin: Carrying a handgun without a license (Level 5 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a controlled substance (Class A misdemeanor)

Jerry W. Brown: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Ronald Lynn Scott: Intimidation (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Public intoxication (Class B misdemeanor), Public intoxication (Class B misdemeanor)

Edward M. Hale: Theft (Level 6 Felony), Theft (Level 6 Felony), Aiding Theft (Level 6 Felony), Aiding Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Chastity Dawn Fisher: Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)

Erica Dawn Morrison: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license (Class C misdemeanor), Operating a vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in the body (Class C misdemeanor)

Jared Lee Gooch: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Naomi Elizabeth Cantrell: Conspiracy Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 3 Felony), Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 3 Felony), Conspiracy Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony)

Jo Lynn Edwards: Domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony)

John Nicholas Devault: Operating a vehicle with an ACE or 0.15 or more (Level 6 Felony), Operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more (Class A misdemeanor)

Phillip Patrick Askins: Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Unlawful possession of syringe (Level 6 Felony), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)

Taylor Kay Frick: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Possession of paraphernalia (Class C misdemeanor)

Khiry Zharomir Waddell: Conspiracy Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 5 Felony), Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 5 Felony), Dealing in marijuana (Level 6 Felony)

Iren Malique Outlaw: Operating a vehicle as an habitual traffic violator (Level 6 Felony)

Cameron Kyle Davis: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Martin Andrew Adams: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Aubrey Douglas Kimbell: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Kyshaun Antonio Pegue: Conspiracy Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 5 Felony), Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 5 Felony), Dealing in marijuana (Level 6 Felony)

Meko Deshay Levels Jr.: Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 3 Felony), Conspiracy Dealing in a narcotic drug (Level 3 Felony), Conspiracy Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (Level 4 Felony), Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (Level 4 Felony), ConspiracyDealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Conspiracy Dealing in a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Dealing in a synthetic drug lookalike substance (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony), Neglect of a dependent (Level 6 Felony)

Kenneth Lee Green: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony)

Jeremy Blake Harris: Theft (Level 6 Felony)

Amber Marie Zeller: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Cory Mitchell Bragdon: Robbery (Level 5 Felony)

Tylorian Lamar Matthews: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of a synthetic drug or synthetic drug lookalike substance (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor)

Evan Ray Merritt: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury (Level 6 Felony)

Gary Wayne Green: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Class A misdemeanor)

Thomas Isaac Mosby: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony), Strangulation (Level 6 Felony), Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Muhathab Erfan Alami: Conspiracy Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony), Operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more (Class A misdemeanor)

Lisa Kay Nau: Domestic battery (Level 6 Felony)

Zachary Alan Miller: Resisting law enforcement (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor), Reckless driving (Class C misdemeanor)

Alika Barnett: Unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle (Level 6 Felony), Resisting law enforcement (Class A misdemeanor)

Elizabeth M. McReynolds: Conspiracy Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony),  ConspiracyPossession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony)

Joshua A. Vincent: Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Conspiracy Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 4 Felony), Dealing in methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Possession of methamphetamine (Level 5 Felony), Conspiracy Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Maintaining a common nuisance – controlled substances (Level 6 Felony)

Lee Anthony Lowe: Possession of methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony), Carrying a handgun without a license (Class A misdemeanor), Possession of marijuana (Class B misdemeanor)

Gov. Holcomb Statement on Passing of Andre Lacy

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb offered the following statement on the passing of Andre Lacy, chairman and retired CEO of LDI Ltd. LLC and long-time business, philanthropic and community leader in Indianapolis, who died while on a motorcycle trip in Africa this morning:

Andre Lacy was a business and philanthropic heavyweight with a giant heart for public service. Throughout his life, he gave away his time, talents and wealth to improve Indiana—with a deep focus on building civic engagement. His longtime service as chairman of the Indiana State Fair Commission has been essential to the ongoing success of this state resource. In fact, it is only through his generosity and leadership that Indiana was able to renovate and unveil the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in 2014. Andre’s legacy will live on through this landmark and the many lives he has positively impacted. His passing is a great loss, and Janet and I extend our sincere condolences to the Lacy family. 

Suit Claiming Police ‘Unleashed’ K-9 On Sleeping Man Proceeds

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Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

The City of Indianapolis lost its bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a man who claims an officer “unleashed” a police dog on him as he slept, leading to serious injuries.

Charles W. Cooper sued the City of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Metro Police Officer Gregory Davis in July, alleging excessive force, unreasonable search and seizure, negligence, assault, battery and other causes of action against the city. Cooper claims — and IMPD admits in court filings — that in July 2015, Davis and other officers investigating a reported robbery unleashed a K-9 that “attacked and bit” Cooper.

Cooper claims he was sleeping on his grandmother’s porch when the dog was unleashed, and that he had done nothing necessitating the use of force. IMPD denies this in response to the complaint and asserts theories of immunity as affirmative defenses.

Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson in the District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Wednesday denied the city’s motion to dismiss Cooper’s suit, even though he did not reply to the city’s motion.

“The Court finds that Mr. Cooper has adequately alleged a Monell claim against the City. Mr. Cooper sets forth the individual treatment he received, alleges that Officer Davis and other employees ‘acted pursuant to official policy,’ and alleges that the City ‘had an official policy, procedure, or protocol authorizing its officers to use excessive force in situations such as described in this Complaint,’” Magnus-Stinson wrote. “At the motion to dismiss stage, this is enough to sufficiently state a §1983 claim against the City. … Accordingly, the Court denies the City’s Motion to Dismiss.”

The case is Charles W. Cooper v. City of Indianapolis and Officer Gregory Davis, 1:17-cv-2467.

Thunderbolts To Recognize Memorial State Champs

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Hockey team giving tickets to Memorial boys and girls soccer, football teams

Evansville, Ind: The Evansville Thunderbolts are proud to announce that they will be recognizing the accomplishments of Memorial High School’s boys and girls soccer teams, as well as the football team, during the Thunderbolts’ hockey game on Friday, Dec. 1 at Ford Center.

As a way to reward the hard work of Memorial’s state champions, the Thunderbolts will be meeting with members of both soccer and football teams accompanied by the Memorial Varsity Cheerleaders from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30 at Ford Center. The Thunderbolts will personally invite the boys and girls soccer teams, cheerleaders and football team to Friday’s game to congratulate them for their state titles.

Both of Memorial’s soccer teams were successful at reaching the sports highest rung in the state this past October. The boys soccer team celebrated their second state championship in two years, beating Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran 2-0, while the girls celebrated their state win, topping South Bend St. Joseph, 3-1.

On the football field, the Tigers recently defeated Brebeuf Jesuit, 29-17, at Lucas Oil Stadium to be named the state champions in Class 3A. Memorial went 14-1 on the season.

The Thunderbolts now begin a four-game home stand starting Friday against the visiting Knoxville Ice Bears. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the game starting at 7:15 p.m.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com