Gov. Holcomb concludes economic development trip to Belgium, France and Netherlands strengthening relationships with key industry partners
| INDIANAPOLIS –Governor Eric J. Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb returned late last week from an economic development trip to Belgium, France and the Netherlands. The Governor and First Lady were joined by Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg and a delegation from the Applied Research Institute (ARI) in Belgium. While abroad, Gov. Holcomb and the delegation met with government officials, representatives from the semiconductor industry and leaders in energy. Gov. Holcomb paid respects to members of the armed forces during a visit to Normandy and traveled to Utah Beach with a Hoosier D-Day veteran. | ||
After departing Belgium, Gov. Holcomb and the delegation traveled to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The Governor participated in a ceremony at Normandy and visited Utah Beach with a fellow Hoosier and veteran. This was Governor’s third international economic development trip of 2024, his fifth visit to France , third to Belgium and first visit to the Netherlands.
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Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana delegation kicked off the trip in the Netherlands, meeting with U.S. and Dutch government officials to discuss opportunities for growth and partnership between the two regions. The delegation met with U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Shefali Razdan Duggal as well as Dutch officials Tjerk Opmeer, acting director general for business and innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Michiel Sweers, director general for external economic relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Once in Belgium, Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana delegation toured Redwire Space’s Belgium facility. Last week, Redwire 
Gov. Holcomb and the delegation also met with imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. In 2023, imec signed an MOU with the state of Indiana and Purdue University, advancing research and development in Indiana’s semiconductor sector. In December 2023, imec 
The Indiana delegation also visited the Port of Antwerp-Bruges to meet with leadership and discuss opportunities to grow partnerships focused on logistics, trade and energy to enhance the state’s global trade capabilities.
The Governor met with leadership of Voka – Kamer van Koophandel Antwerpen-Waasland, an Antwerp-based chamber of commerce, including CEO Luc Luwel, to discuss Indiana’s and Belgium’s shared focus on furthering innovations in life sciences, energy and semiconductors.
Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana delegation met with leadership of the country’s Flanders region, including Jan Jambon, Vlaams Minister-President, as well as representatives of the region’s industry to discuss how Indiana and Flanders can work together to create greater cooperation for a more prosperous economic future. The meeting was a continuation of a memorandum of understanding signed between Indiana and Flanders in December 2023.
Gov. Holcomb and the delegation also met with representatives of the European Union, which is headquartered in Brussels, including Belén Martinez Carbonell, deputy secretary general for economic and global issues at the European Union External Action Services.
CenterPoint Energy awards nearly $230,000 in grants to communities to fund safety-related projects
CenterPoint has awarded more than $3.25 million in grants since the Community Safety Grants Program launched
June 15, 2024
Evansville, Ind. – June 13, 2024 – This year, CenterPoint Energy’s Community Safety Grant program awarded more than 90 grants totaling nearly $230,000 in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas to fund safety-related equipment and projects in local communities.
“At CenterPoint Energy, safety is our first core value and drives our efforts to provide safe and reliable energy to the customers and communities we are privileged to serve,” said June Deadrick, Vice President, Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “Through our Community Safety Grant Program, we support the work our emergency responders, local officials and many others do to help support the health and safety of our customers across our local communities.”
CenterPoint awards grants of up to $2,500 through this program to support local communities in filling funding gaps that may exist in acquiring safety materials. Each community that CenterPoint serves can submit a grant application with information on a safety-related problem, issue or need in the community and how a Community Safety Grant could address those needs.
Since launching the program in 2003, CenterPoint Energy has funded more than 1,600 safety-related projects and awarded over $3.25 million in grants to communities throughout the company’s six-state footprint for their safety initiatives. These grants have enabled communities to install public AEDs (automated external defibrillators), update emergency communication equipment, purchase personal protective equipment for first responders, install traffic control signs, purchase gas monitoring devices and many other projects.
Attorney General Todd Rokita sues Anderson apartment owners for allegedly abandoning tenants, forcing families to fend for themselves
Attorney General Todd Rokita sues Anderson apartment owners for allegedly abandoning tenants, forcing families to fend for themselves
Attorney General Todd Rokita is suing the owners of two Anderson apartment complexes for allegedly abandoning tenants — allowing Bingham Square Apartments and Madison Square Apartments to fall into such extreme disrepair as to render them entirely unlivable.
The defendants allegedly responsible for the abandonment are PR Bingham LLC; PR Madison LLC; Property Resource Associates LLC; and Gary Plichta.
“The way that hardworking Hoosiers are alleged to have been treated by these defendants is disgraceful,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Not every investment in real property can be successful, but it’s unconscionable to simply abandon these properties and force stranded families to figure out how to fend for themselves after they paid their rent.”
Defendants acquired Bingham Square Apartments in 2019 with a $2.7 million dollar loan from Landmark Bank and $900,000 in TIF Bonds from the Anderson Redevelopment Commission.
The lawsuit — filed by the Consumer Protection Division through its Homeowner Protection Unit — alleges that defendants thereafter walked away from the 129-unit complex and allowed its physical condition to totally deteriorate. As early as February 2021, utilities were shut off due to alleged nonpayment of utility charges to the City of Anderson.
The lawsuit likewise alleges that after being notified of at least 21 units not meeting Section 8 Housing Quality Standards by the Anderson Housing Authority, defendants cancelled their Section 8 contract and began evicting HUD-subsidized tenants from the property. Bingham Square Apartments has since been plagued by fires, flooding, utility outages, break-ins, and criminal trespassers.
The lawsuit likewise alleges that Madison Square Apartments experienced a similar fate.
After receiving $3.4 million dollars for the purchase and rehabilitation of this property, defendants allegedly abandoned tenants by the fall of 2022 — leaving behind an unsecured leasing office full of sensitive tenant information, including dozens of uncashed checks from years prior.
Trespassers are alleged to have taken hold of the property, cutting out electric meters in several buildings, stripping copper wire, and causing unsafe conditions wherein standing water was in contact with live electrical wires.
By May 2024 the defendants allegedly owed as much as $925,380 in unpaid utilities to the City of Anderson — a cost that will be borne by other ratepayers. Both properties were alleged to have been in the control of Gary Plichta and Property Resource Associates LLC, a company based out of Florida.
The lawsuit demands a jury trial, costs of prosecution, and other damages against the defendants for multiple violations of the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, Home Loan Practices Act, and the Uniform Business Organizations Act.
“Our office intends to hold these defendants to account for the devastation they have caused to the City of Anderson and its constituents,” Attorney General Rokita said
The mission of the Homeowner Protection Unit is to protect the rights of all individuals involved in the housing market, including tenants, homeowners, and aspiring homeowners, by investigating and redressing deceptive acts in connection with mortgage lending and violations of relevant state and federal laws.
IOWA Molly Davis Named UE Women’s Basketball Graduate Assistant
Davis spent the last two seasons as a player at Iowa
JUNE 13, 2024
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After back-to-back appearances in the NCAA National Championship game as a student-athlete at the University of Iowa, Molly Davis has joined Robyn Scherr-Wells’ University of Evansville women’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant.
“I have had the pleasure of watching Molly play basketball since she was a freshman in high school. The thing that has always stood out to me about Molly is the joy that she plays with. Molly loves the game,” Scherr-Wells exclaimed. “When her coaches at Iowa reached out to me about Molly’s interest in our graduate assistant position, I knew right away she would be a great fit. She has a high basketball IQ and is a hard worker.”
“Molly is a winner and has been a part of many successful teams. She will be a tremendous asset to our players in helping them understand all of the things that go into building a championship program. She has a bright future in coaching and I am excited for the opportunity to mentor her in her first coaching role!”
Davis brings a winning pedigree to the Purple Aces from her time at Iowa and Central Michigan. Both of her seasons with the Hawkeyes saw the program advance to the National Championship game. The guard started 27 games over the course of her final season at Iowa and posted solid numbers, averaging 5.9 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 53.9% from the field, 40.7% from outside and 85.7% from the line.
She scored in double figures on eight occasions with her top effort being an 18-point performance in a home win over 14th-ranked Indiana. She added 17 in wins over Illinois and at Maryland. In non-conference action, Davis recorded 13 points against #16 Kansas State in the Gulf Coast Showcase on her way to being named to the All-Tournament Team. In her first season with the Hawkeyes, Davis played in all 38 games while making two starts. Highlighting her inaugural year at Iowa was a 17-point game in a home win over Rutgers.
Prior to her time in the Big Ten, Davis spent her first three seasons at Central Michigan where she put up some of the top numbers in program history. In her time with the Chippewas, Davis posted 17.7 points per game, setting the program scoring average record. She made her mark across the CMU record book, ranking in the top 11 in four other statistics. Davis was sixth in career free throw percentage (.794), seventh in assists (346), eighth in career 3-point makes (187) and 11th in career points (1,434).
As a junior in the 2021-22 campaign, Davis recorded 18.6 PPPG on her way to All-Mid-American Conference Second Team accolades. She matched her career scoring mark with 32 points at Northeastern and versus Northern Illinois. Davis completed the season fifth in the MAC in scoring, free throw percentage and minutes per game.
Davis enjoyed her best season with the Chippewas in 2020-21, finishing 23rd in the nation with a scoring average of 20.8 PPG. The First Team All-MAC honoree led the MAC and was 13th nationally with 76 3-point makes. Davis earned a spot on the MAC All-Tournament Team in a season that included her posting a career-best 32 points at Akron. In her first season at CMU, Davis registered 14.3 PPG on her way to earning All-MAC Freshman accolades.
In the classroom, Davis put forth an equally impressive effort. Majoring in Health Studies at Iowa, she recorded a 3.95 GPA and was named to the Dean’s List in each of her semesters at the university. At Central Michigan, she majored in Exercise Science and finished with a 3.92 GPA along with Dean’s List recognition in each semester.
31 Republicans Challenge Biden’s Overtime Rule that Will Crush Small Businesses
WASHINGTON—Today, Senator Mike Braun, Senator Bill Cassidy, Senator Tommy Tuberville, and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell are leading 31 total Republican Senators in challenging President Biden’s new Overtime Rule published by the Department of Labor.
This Overtime Rule increases the minimum salary threshold for overtime pay from the current $35,568 to 58,656 in January 2025, and then increase every three years.
Small businesses have been crushed by President Biden’s economy. Inflation has increased 20% since Biden took office as a direct result of his federal tax-and-spending binge, forcing small businesses to make hard choices like raising prices just to stay above water. President Biden’s approval rating is under 30% among small business owners, and has dropped consistently since he took office.
Biden’s Department of Labor now wants to apply the same heavy-handed government approach to wages, which have been outpaced by inflation for the past 26 months, with their new Overtime Rule.
This rule replaces a Trump rule from 2019 that set the salary threshold at $35,568. It is notable that Biden’s new proposed salary threshold ($55,068) is significantly higher than the one proposed by the Obama administration ($47,476) which was declared to be an invalid extension of executive authority in federal court. This follows President Biden’s precedent of ignoring judicial rulings, as he did when transferring of billions in student loan debt from borrowers to taxpayers.
The Senators are challenging the rule under the Congressional Review Act, and will introduce their disapproval resolution today.
The Senators challenging Biden’s Overtime Rule are Senators Mike Braun, Bill Cassidy, Tommy Tuberville, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Whip John Thune, Senator John Barrasso, Senator Steve Daines, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Senator John Boozman, Senator Katie Britt, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Senator John Cornyn, Senator Tom Cotton, Senator Kevin Cramer, Senator Mike Crapo, Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Bill Hagerty, Senator John Hoeven, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Senator John Kennedy, Senator James Lankford, Senator Cynthia Lummis, Senator Roger Marshall, Senator Jerry Moran, Senator Markwayne Mullin, Senator Pete Ricketts, Senator Jim Risch, Senator Tim Scott, Senator Roger Wicker, and Senator Todd Young.
“When the free market sets the price of labor, opportunity and prosperity are the result. When the federal government sets the price of labor by one-size-fits-all mandates, small businesses are forced to fire employees and close shop to make ends meet. We’re leading a challenge to this new Biden rule because this White House’s out-of-touch economic policies have been an unparalleled disaster for American wages.”—Sen. Mike Braun
“Americans are already struggling to make ends meet under Bidenomics. With inflation at 40-year highs and millions dropping out of the workforce, Biden’s overtime rule pours gasoline on the fire. Businesses shouldn’t be forced to choose between laying off their workers and raising prices on families.”—Dr. Bill Cassidy
“Joe Biden’s economy is bad enough for working families and small businesses without additional meddling from D.C. bureaucrats and the Biden administration. When Joe Biden takes away these options from small businesses, the employees looking to get better jobs and better pay will suffer the most.”—Sen. Tom Cotton
“Arbitrarily raising the overtime threshold by $20,000 is reckless and yet another example of Joe Biden’s regulatory war on the Mainstreet businesses that drive our economy. I’m proud to stand with and fight for our small businesses and schools that would be crushed if Biden had his way with this rule.”—Sen. Roger Marshall
“Here we go again with another one-size-fits-all approach that simply doesn’t make sense for small businesses, especially those in rural states like Mississippi where the cost of living is far lower. We’ve seen blue cities and states issue unrealistic wage mandates with predictably bad outcomes for small business growth and jobs. Now the Biden administration wants to go nationwide with these schemes. This is another rule that needs to be stopped.” – Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
“For more than three years, the Biden administration has punished small business owners across Wyoming with its record-breaking inflation rates and anti-growth policies. My Republican colleagues and I are proud to act as the last line of defense for small businesses across the country by blocking this administration’s misguided effort to force unrealistic salary thresholds on an industry it is already crushing.”—Sen. Cynthia Lummis
“After years of rising prices, small businesses need real relief, not more bureaucratic regulation and mandates. I strongly oppose this rule from the Biden Administration and will continue to support our Hoosier small businesses.”—Sen. Todd Young
“We continue to see the effects of the Biden Administration’s failed economic policies. Burdensome, heavy-handed federal mandates harm small businesses; instead, we should be encouraging growth through free market policies.”—Sen. Mike Crapo
“The National Restaurant Association has serious concerns with the impact the overtime rule will have on restaurant operators, especially the significant cost increases that come with it so soon after an increase just four years ago. Input costs for operators have increased significantly since then, with a 30 percent increase in labor costs alone in the last four years. On top of that, the Department of Labor did not heed our concerns, especially as it relates to regional discrepancies and the burden of automatic increases every three years. We appreciate Sen. Braun showing his support of the industry by introducing this legislation to draw attention to problems with the DOL’s approach on this issue.” – Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President, National Restaurant Association
Read the resolution HERE.
This challenge is endorsed by:
Heritage Action
- International Franchise Association
- National Restaurant Association
Indiana’s Best vie for 2024-2025 FFA leadership positions
Indiana’s Best vie for 2024-2025 FFA leadership positions
INDIANAPOLIS (June 14, 2024) —Twelve Indiana FFA members from across the state are preparing for the opportunity to serve as an Indiana FFA state officer for the upcoming year. After a week of engagement during the 95th Indiana FFA State Convention June 17-20 in West Lafayette, seven individuals will be selected to fulfill the roles of president, secretary, northern region vice president, southern region vice president, treasurer, reporter and sentinel.
The candidates will participate in a rigorous interview and selection process, with the chosen candidates being announced on the final day of the convention, Thursday, June 20.
“Indiana FFA students represent our state so well, it is a pleasure to see so many students that strive for excellence,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “I look forward to working with the seven individuals selected to lead Indiana FFA this next year.”
Once selected, the newly-elected officers will embark on a year of service, providing direction and overseeing the development of the student-led organization, which has more than 14,000 members statewide.
Along with promoting FFA, agriculture and agricultural education, a majority of their responsibilities include conducting FFA chapter visits, facilitating leadership conferences, and hosting career and leadership development events, to name a few.
“There are so many well-qualified individuals vying to represent Indiana FFA on the state level,” said Don Lamb, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “It will be a difficult task trying to choose just seven students to lead this state. I wish them all the best of luck on representing Indiana FFA.”
The 12 Indiana FFA State Officer candidates are:
- Stephanie Berenda, South Newton FFA
- Rylan Cooper, Warsaw FFA
- Noah Butler, Prairie Heights FFA
- Ethan Wolheter, Prairie Heights FFA
- Kira King, Lebanon FFA
- Makayla Hitt, Sullivan FFA
- Cale Williams, Terre Haute South FFA
- Sienna Alexander, Monrovia
- Garrett Bolin, Indian Creek FFA
- Camille Thopy, Southwestern Shelby FFA
- Christina Caldwell, Connersville FFA
- Kyatalin Baker, Switzerland County FFA
The 2024-2025 Indiana FFA state officer team will be announced on June 20 on inffa.org and on Indiana FFA’s social media channels.
Vincennes University Board of Trustees pays tribute to Director of Athletics and Coach Harry Meeks
VINCENNES, Ind. June 13, 2024 – Director of Athletics and Hall-of-Fame Women’s Basketball Coach Harry Meeks was honored on Wednesday, June 12, by the Vincennes University Board of Trustees.
During a meeting of the trustees, VU President Dr. Chuck Johnson presented a resolution of appreciation to Meeks, honoring his 33 years of service to the University.
Meeks, who announced his retirement in April, was praised by Board Chairman Mike Sievers and Johnson for his extraordinary leadership. Johnson congratulated Meeks on his outstanding career and tremendous contributions to Athletics and the University.
Johnson said, “He has always had a great amount of respect from within the institution and outside the institution. He has done nothing but enhance the University’s reputation, and it has been my pleasure to work directly with Harry over the last several years. The one thing I can say about Harry is he is a man of great integrity who has high values for both competitive teams and the academic success of players.”
In other business, the Board approved the promotions of three Generations Area 13 Agency on Aging and Disability staffers in the Workforce Development and Community Services Division. Catherine Jones (Director of Planning & Community Development), Crystal Winkler (Case Manager/Project Manager), and Valerie Wood (Case Manager) were all promoted to Professional Staff Level III.
Assistant Provost for Student Affairs Whitney Daugherty delivered a descriptive report, including an update on the VU Care Team, which focuses on the well-being of VU students. Daugherty shared that the Care Team has served a greater number of students than ever before. The team plays a crucial role in assisting students who need additional help managing their academic and social experiences like homesickness, personal difficulties, mental health concerns, and more.
Daugherty also highlighted the significant rise in student engagement at Student Affairs-sponsored events and activities. This marked increase reflects the success of recent Student Affairs initiatives aimed at fostering a vibrant campus community and enhancing student involvement. She shared photos of the $400,000 upgrade of the VU Bowling Centermachines. Daugherty noted that the Center has experienced a notable increase in usage, reflecting its popularity with students, faculty, staff, and the public.
Additionally, the Board heard a highly informative report from Vice President of Government Relations and Legal Affairs Tony Hahn regarding the 2024 Legislative Session
During his President’s Remarks, Johnson echoed the remarks of Chairman Sievers regarding the University’s compensation study, applauding the great work of the Financial Services Team, Human Resources Team, Executive Team, Board of Trustees, and VU partners.
Johnson shared that VU alumna and longtime assistant Ingrida Hartsfield has been named Interim Women’s Basketball Coach with Meeks retiring. In additional personnel news, he shared that Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Stemle will serve as Interim Dean of VU Jasper as Christian Blome is leaving VUJ for a position as Assistant Vice President of Talent and Training Solutions at Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI).
Johnson pointed out that it is camp season at VU. He said the University expects to host around 2,600 school-age children on the Vincennes and Jasper campuses this summer. The youth are getting introduced to the opportunities available at VU by giving them a taste of college life.
He also provided an update on his recent trip to California, where he met Lothian Skelton, the widow of world-famous comedian and Vincennes native Red Skelton, in addition to a group of nearly 20 Chu Scholars who graduated from VU in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the VU Jasper Campus.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Otters win first road series with huge fifth inning
TROY, N.Y. – The Evansville Otters came through in the rubber match with a 15-4 win against the Tri-City ValleyCats at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium on Thursday night.
It was the first road series win of the year for the Otters (11-19), and their second series victory in a row.
The bats combined for 21 hits against the ValleyCats (15-15) pitching staff, highlighted by an 11-run fifth inning with 15 men coming to the plate. Seven batters had multi-hit games and everyone in the starting nine came away with at least one hit. Justin Felix reached base in all six of his plate appearances, garnering a four-hit day alongside Mason White.
In the first inning, White reached on a single and then moved 180 feet to third on a failed pick-off attempt. He scored on a wild pitch to put the Otters up 1-0.
Tri-City answered in the bottom of the inning with a fielder’s choice RBI, before Evansville took the eventual deciding lead in the fourth.
Leading the frame off, Felix notched his first home run of the year with a blast to left-center field, making it a 2-1 score. The second run of the inning came on an RBI-base hit from Pavin Parks.
Adding another run to the scoreboard, the ValleyCats hit a home run in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to one, but the floodgates opened the next inning.
In the fifth, the Otters had the first seven men reach base via hits, scoring as many runs when David Mendham launched a two-run blast to right for his third home run of the year.
The Otters would go on to score three more in the inning, setting a new season high to best their previous marker of eight in a single frame. Mike Peabody notched two-RBI doubles in the fifth and White tallied a pair of RBI singles.
Later, the final run for the Otters came in the sixth inning off an RBI fielder’s choice from Jomar Reyes, scoring Mendham who led off with a double. The score was 15-2.
Throughout the rest of the game, the ValleyCats tacked on two more runs, but the contest was already put to bed.
Right-hander Zach Smith (2-4) earned his second win in a row after stringing together back-to-back quality starts.
He went seven full innings, allowing a trio of runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk. His command allowed him to be efficient as it was the first time since opening night that Smith surrendered less than three walks in a game.
Out of the bullpen in the final inning, Ryan Wiltse tossed a one-two-three frame during his professional debut.
Evansville will continue their east-coast road trip to New Jersey, with a battle against the Sussex County Miners tomorrow. The series-opening first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT. Coverage is available on the Otters Digital Network and FloBaseball.