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IS IT TRUE APRIL 26,2017

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IS IT TRUE at Monday night City Council meeting the  General Manager of the Ford Center, Scott Schoenike stated “that his purpose was not to lose or make money, but to break even, and to bring economic development to downtown Evansville”?  …Schoenike also stated, “If we can break even as a hockey team, the Ford Center is still doing well. But to break even is not what you are in business for, and that is not what most people understand. We are set up to break even in order to bring economic development.”  …the Mayor was so impressed with VenuWorks mission statement  on how to make the Ford Center profitable he just renew their contract to manage the Ford Center for an additional 5 years?

IS IT TRUE that Mr. Schoenike’s less-than-convincing presentation caused Council Vice President,  Justin Elpers to interrupt him”  … Mr. Elpers stated “he just want to have a meaningful discussion about the future of hockey at the Ford Center”?  …at the end of the day Mr. Elpers didn’t get a meaningful discussion from Mr. Schoenjke?

IS IT TRUE that a person watching Mr. Schoenike’s presentation  to Council commented, “How are we supposed to believe that one man who owns 10%  of a business is responsible for 100% of the financial losses”?   …the legal agreement between the City and VenuWorks for Professional Management Services states “that all operating expenses of the Franchise shall be deemed an expense of the Facility”? … What does this mean? …it mean that the “Facility” is the City of Evansville?  …according to the agreement It looks like the Evansville taxpayers are responsible for all the operating expenses and losses incurred during the 2016/2017 hockey season?

IS IT TRUE the attorney for former Evansville IceMen owner Ron Geary will be submitting a written request to Council President Missy Mosby asking her to allow Mr. Geary to make a formal presentation to City Council concerning Ice Hockey at the Ford Center?  …we bet Councilmen Jonathan Weaver wont make any snidely remarks towards Mr. Geary during the presentation?  … Scott Danks is the attorney for both Mr. Geary and Mr. Weaver alike?

IS IT TRUE that Covance Clinical Development Services has announced plans to close its Evansville laboratory?…the closing is slated to begin with layoffs on approximately July 24th?…There will be more than 100 local people who will be losing their jobs as a result of this shut down?…that is just the beginning because there were many more than 100 people who supplemented their income by participating in the paid studies conducted by Covance?…several people derived their entire income by volunteering for the paid human trials at Covance with some individuals claiming to earn over $40,000 per year?…it is unknown to the CCO whether or not the stipends paid for volunteering were taxable or not?…at any rate it was possible to be a human test specimen and earn more by doing so than the average Evansville employee earns from working a job?…Covance did not state a reason for the closure and made it clear that the affected employees do not have any bumping rights and there is no collective bargaining agreement in place?…the Covance website says the Evansville lab is a clinical research facility and conducts medical research studies on healthy people and those with chronic conditions, including cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity?…one would think that such a place would prosper in Evansville as there are a multitude of people in town who would qualify under these requirements?

IS IT TRUE the multi-use area known as The Promenade has recently brought a couple of businesses into its park?…after many news releases about medical facilities, upscale residential properties, and even a Nordstrom’s, the couple of businesses to actually locate there is a Burger King and Zaxby’s?  … the Promenade is located on prime real estate  development property located on the progressive Eastside of Evansville?

IS IT TRUE one upscale store that will not be coming to The Promenade or anywhere else in Evansville will be the latest casualty of the retail meltdown?…that is the upscale “Bebe’ which just announced that all of their stores will be closed?…the dead retail list just keeps expanding and the last place that anyone should be putting their 401k today is into a mall development?

IS IT TRUE another local leader of things which seek success at the Ford Center has tendered his resignation and is heading out of town.?…Evansville Sports Corporation Executive Director Jason Sands has left his job in Evansville and headed deep in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas for a similar position?…Bob Warren and the staff at the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau will manage the position until a new director is hired?…according to Warren they are about to get busy to hire a replacement?…in all fairness Mr. Sands must have been pretty darn good to get the NCAA Division 2 Basketball Elite Eight to sign a four year deal with a location that can’t get 1,000 people to a conference tournament with a home town team in the tourney?

FOOTNOTE: Todays “Readers Poll” question is:  Are you pleased that City Councilman Justin Elpers requested that the Manager of the Ford Center update Council on the current status of the Thunderbolt hockey team?

CHANNEL 44 NEWS: The Moratorium on The University Parkway Under Advisement

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The Moratorium on The University Parkway Under Advisement

The Vanderburgh County Commissioner vote to take the moratorium on The University Parkway under advisement for 30 days, despite passing the moratorium in February. Due to the installation of a sewer along the parkway during the next year,.

“St. Vincent Evansville Foundation” New Name, Same Mission

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April 2017

St. Mary’s Health Foundation transitioned our name to St. Vincent Evansville Foundation on April 20, 2017. St. Mary’s Health and St.Vincent began the work in 2012 to create one statewide, clinically integrated system of care. Our naming transition follows five years of focused work to provide a better healthcare system for those we are so privileged to serve. Please know our name may have changed, but your investment in our Mission will continue to stay local and support our local Healing Ministry right here in the Tri-State.

To learn more about our branding change please visit stvincent.org/newname.
Give Now
Ziemer Society to unveil signature philanthropic project on May 18th
The Ted & Clare Ziemer Society has exciting news to share! Join us on Thursday, May 18th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the home of Dr. Mark and Donna Logan to learn about the Society’s most significant philanthropy effort to date, which will once again benefit pediatric patients at St. Vincent Evansville.
Spots are limited, so please RSVP today.
37th Annual Heritage Open will support the most vulnerable in our community
Grab your golf clubs and join us on Monday, June 12th for our 37th Annual Heritage Open Golf Tournament at the Evansville Country Club. The net proceeds will benefit
St. Vincent Evansville Foundation’s Care of the Poor Fund, which provides healthcare for our most vulnerable patients.
Associate gifts change lives
and give hope 
Generous associates from St. Vincent Evansville and St. Vincent Warrick have contributed over $145,000 to our recent associate giving campaign, called the Foundation’s Annual Campaign for Excellence.
  Franklin and Jackson Meece
St. Vincent Northside Crossing
is now open

The newest addition to the St. Vincent family of services, St. Vincent Northside Crossing is a 35,000 square foot healthcare destination. This new location provides the Evansville’s Northside and surrounding communities with easy and convenient access to services.
 

Suit Takes Aim At Indiana Religious Charter Schools

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Suit Takes Aim At Indiana Religious Charter Schools

Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

A Monroe County nonprofit organization has sued the state and a charter school, seeking to block its funding because the group argues that taking tax dollars from public schools for the benefit of private religious institutions violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The Indiana Coalition for Public Education of Monroe County and South Central Indiana Inc. on Tuesday sued state education officials and the Seven Oaks Classical School. The K-8 school in Ellettsville opened in 2016 under a charter issued to Grace College in Winona Lake. But while the suit targets Seven Oaks, it also argues more broadly that religious institutions should be restricted from chartering schools that receive public money.

ICPE includes Monroe County public schoolteachers and employees who will be harmed by the diversion of tax dollars to public schools, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.  The complaint “challenges the constitutionality of portions of the Indiana Charter Schools Act on their face and as applied to the authorization of a charter for Seven Oaks Classical School by Grace College and Seminary.”

The suit asserts funding for the charter school, part of which is received by Grace College, violates not just the Establishment Clause but also the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition in Article 1, Section 6 against drawing money from the treasury for the benefit of a religious institution. The suit seeks declaratory judgments that sections of the Charter School Act are unconstitutional; that the charter issued to Seven Oaks is invalid; and an injunction blocking state money from being distributed to the school.

Terry English, an attorney member of the board of directors of Seven Oaks, said Tuesday the school had not yet been served with a copy of the suit and would not immediately comment. But English said the school believes it’s on sound legal footing.

“Seven Oaks has followed Indiana law,” he said. “Grace College is an authorizer under Indiana law, and we believe we followed the law in its entirety.”

“Our chief concern is that Indiana law permits religious institutions like Grace College to decide whether to authorize charter schools,” Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, chair of ICPE–Monroe County, said in a statement announcing the suit. “Charter schools are taxpayer-supported and take money away from our school corporations, so only state and local officials answerable to the public should be able to authorize them.”

ICPE said Grace College and Seminary describes itself as an evangelical Christian institution that applies biblical values to its educational mission, emphasizes a biblical worldview, and teaches students to recognize scripture as the inerrant and inspired word of God.

The complaint also challenges a provision in state law that gives up to 3 percent of a charter school’s public funds to the authorizer — in this case, Grace College and Seminary. “That would seem to violate the Indiana Constitution, which says flatly that no money may be drawn from the treasury for the benefit of any religious institution,” lead attorney Alex Tanford, professor emeritus at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, said in the statement.

The suit alleges three counts: that delegating the decision to authorize a charter school to a religious institution violates the Establishment Clause; that providing tax dollars to religious institutions for authorizing charter schools violates the Establishment Clause; and that giving public money to religious institutions violates the Indiana Constitution.

Along with Seven Oaks, the suit names Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, who chairs the State Board of Education, as well as James Bentley, executive director of the Indiana Charter School Board. The case is before Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.

City of Evansville, Vectren Partner For First Universal Solar Project Bringing Renewable Energy To Residents

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City of Evansville, Vectren Partner For First Universal Solar Project Bringing Renewable Energy To Residents

City of Evansville, Vectren partner for first universal solar project bringing renewable energy to residents

Evansville, Ind. – Today the City of Evansville (City) announced a joint partnership with Vectren Energy Delivery (Vectren), to construct a two megawatt (MW) solar array on property owned by the City. The $5.5 million dollar project will be located near Oak Hill Cemetery on East Morgan Ave., just east of U.S. 41.

“This is a very exciting time for the City of Evansville and its residents who will benefit from universal solar energy for the first time in the city’s history,” said Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke. “Partnering with Vectren is allowing both entities to respond positively to the public’s interest in local solar energy production, and we are thrilled to host the solar array within our city limits.”

Vectren will own and operate the solar project to be constructed on approximately 15 acres of land the energy company will lease from the City. Assuming the project receives necessary approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the project should be operational in 2018.

“Embarking on this partnership is among Vectren’s first steps toward diversifying our electric generation portfolio,” said Carl Chapman, Vectren’s chairman, president and CEO. “We are grateful for the opportunity to join the City of Evansville in bringing universal solar energy to our customers.”

This solar farm will consist of approximately 8,000 ground-mounted fixed-tilt solar panels. The facility will be interconnected to Vectren’s electric distribution system, which powers about 144,000 residential electric customers in Southwest Indiana. This is one of two universal solar projects the utility currently has before the IURC for approval. Vectren South estimates that each 2 MW solar project will generate enough power to supply approximately 300 homes each year.

About Vectren
Vectren Corporation (NYSE: VVC) is an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville, Ind.  Vectren’s energy delivery subsidiaries provide gas and/or electricity to more than 1 million customers in adjoining service territories that cover nearly two-thirds of Indiana and about 20 percent of Ohio, primarily in the west-central area. Vectren’s nonutility subsidiaries and affiliates currently offer energy-related products and services to customers throughout the U.S. These include infrastructure services and energy services. To learn more about Vectren, visit www.vectren.com<http://www.vectren.com>.

Air Quality Forecast Vanderburgh County

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Air quality forecasts for Evansville and Vanderburgh County are provided as a public service.  They are best estimates of predicted pollution levels that can be used as a guide so people can modify their activities and reduce their exposure to air quality conditions that may affect their health.  The forecasts are routinely made available at least a day in advance, and are posted by 10:30 AM Evansville time on Monday (for Tuesday through Thursday) and Thursday (for Friday through Monday).  When atmospheric conditions are uncertain or favor pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, forecasts are made on a daily basis.

Ozone forecasts are available from mid-April through September 30th.  Fine particulate (PM2.5) forecasts are available year round.

Monday
April 24		 Tuesday
April 25		 Wednesday
April 26		 Thursday
April 27		 Friday
April 28
Fine Particulate
(0-23 CST avg)
Air Quality Index		 good good good good good
Ozone
Air Quality Index		 moderate moderate good good good
Ozone
(peak 8-hr avg)
(expected)		 NA* NA* NA* NA* NA*

* Not Available and/or Conditions Uncertain.

Air Quality Action Days

Ozone Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when maximum ozone readings averaged over a period of eight hours are forecasted to reach 71 parts per billion (ppb), or unhealthy for sensitive groups on the USEPA Air Quality Index scale.

Particulate Alerts are issued by the Evansville EPA when PM2.5 readings averaged over the period of midnight to midnight are forecasted to reach 35 micrograms per meter cubed (µg/m3).

Current conditions of OZONE and FINE PARTICULATE MATTER are available in near real-time on the Indiana Department of Environment Management’s website.

National and regional maps of current conditions are available through USEPA AIRNow.

Vanderburgh County Republican Party

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News and Upcoming Events, April 25, 2017
 
CENTRAL COMMITTEE:
Wayne Parke, Chairman
Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director
Dottie Thomas, Vice Chairman
Hobart Scales, Secretary
Farley Smith,

Treasurer
Kevin Harrison,

Information Coordinator
Marsha Abell, Fund Raising Chairman
E. Lon Walters, Social Media
         If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at

 

or (812) 425-8207.
                                                       Visit www.vanderburghgop.com
for more info. Thank you.

                       2017 Lincoln Day Dinner
    The Vanderburgh County Republican Party invites you to join
       The Honorable Suzanne Crouch, Lt. Governor of Indiana
                                               And
  The Honorable Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of the City of Evansville
 
                           As We Present a Tribute To
                                Bettye Lou Jerrel 
 
  Date:              Thursday, May 4, 2017
                          Doors Open                        5:30
                          Reception – Boardroom      6:00
                          Dinner – Ballroom               7:00
   Location:       

                           2nd Floor (elevator available)
                           3810 Stringtown Rd.
                           Evansville, Indiana 47711
                                                        Program/Dinner       $100
Cocktail Party/Reception & Program/Dinner    $150
                          Table Sponsorship Levels =>     Click HERE
                        RSVP by April 25, 2017 :     Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director VCRP
                                              815 John St , Suite 110
                                              Evansville IN 47713
                                              beamerjo59@gmail.com
                                             Of Ph: (812) 425-8207      Cell: (812) 483-4675

PLEASE NOTE:
 The invitation that you recently received in the mail for the 2017  Lincoln Day Dinner was  printed with the  incorrect date.
          The correct date is Thursday, May 4, 2017. 
  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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Save the date and make plans to attend the next Traveling City Hall program. Learn about the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign to reduce fire-related deaths and sign-up to have a FREE smoke detector installed by a trained Red Cross volunteer in your home at no cost.
  Follow Mayor Winnecke on Facebook

  

County Commission Meeting:

 

Date: 4/25/2017
                                                       Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
                                                 Location:Room 301 Civic Center Complex
                                                                1 NW ML King Jr Blvd – Evansville 

  

County Council Meeting:

 

Date: 5/3/2017
                                                       Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
                                                 Location:Room 301 Civic Center Complex
                                                                1 NW ML King Jr Blvd – Evansville 

  

City Council Meeting:

 

Date: 5/8/2017
                                                       Time: 5:30 PM
                                                 Location:Room 301 Civic Center Complex
                                                                1 NW ML King Jr Blvd – Evansville 

 

VCRP 2017 Membership
 Remember to renew your VCRP membership for 2017. Republicans now have more local office holders than at any time in history. The Vanderburgh County Republican Party does not receive any financial assistance other than your donations. Please help us keep the momentum by joining, or  renewing, your VCRP Membership for 2017.
GOP memberships start at $100. To review or get a copy of membership levels click => VCRP 2017 Membership
              Contact Mary Jo Kaiser, Political Director,  for your 2017 VCRP Membership.    
                                        beamerjo59@gmail.com or 812-425-8207
 
                                                    Thank you for your support!

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Event: Annual Spring Dinner
Date: May 8, 2017
Time: (TBA)
Where: JW Marriott
10 S West St , Indianapolis

Meet & Greet photo w/ Donald Trump Jr.
VIP Reception w/ Donald Trump Jr.
General Reception
Dinner

Tickets and VIP Sponsorships at Indiana.gop

or
RSVP to Zach Willis at zwillis@indiana.gop

 
Senate Republicans Conclude 2017 Session with Passage of Key Priorities
STATEHOUSE (April 22, 2017)  The Indiana Senate concluded the 2017 legislative session today, completing work on a variety of key legislative priorities.
“I applaud the Senate’s efforts to deliver on the priorities we laid out at the beginning of this session,” Long said. “Working together, we have crafted a long-term, sustainable road funding plan that will support economic growth for years to come, and enacted yet another balanced budget that prioritizes education, public safety, and fighting illegal drug abuse.”
Long noted the following priorities outlined by Senate Republicans in January are now on their way to the governor for his consideration:
  • Passing another balanced two-year state budget (House Enrolled Act 1001, sponsored by Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville):
Funds important state priorities, including education, public safety, and fighting illegal drug abuse while maintaining our record of fiscal responsibility
  • Creating a long-term road funding plan (House Enrolled Act 1002, sponsored by Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield):
Supports continued economic growth by providing sustainable, long-term funding to improve Indiana’s roads for the next 20 years. When fully phased in, HEA 1002 will provide $1.2 billion per year in new funding for Indiana’s roads – about $850 million for state highways and $350 million for local roads.
Gives Hoosiers the chance to approve an amendment to the Indiana Constitution that would prohibit state spending from exceeding state revenue unless two-thirds of the General Assembly deems it necessary to use emergency spending measures
  • Fighting opioid abuse through prevention, enforcement and treatment:
Prevention: Senate Enrolled Act 226, authored by Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis), limits opioid prescription amounts for patients who are being prescribed opioids for the first time.
Enforcement: House Enrolled Act 1406, sponsored by Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford), enhances the criminal penalties for dealing heroin.
Treatment: The state budget (House Enrolled Act 1001) includes $10 million for addiction treatment and other programs overseen by the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention.
Replaces the ISTEP test with a new testing system that will take less time away from classroom instruction, provide faster results, and give high school students multiple pathways to earn a high school diploma.
Increases per-student funding for high-school Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in high-wage, high-demand job fields and establishes a new Workforce Ready Grant program to provide financial aid to students working toward a job certificate in a high-value industry.
Fixes the unintended consequences of Indiana’s laws on e-liquid manufacturing by eliminating the rules that created unfair competition and bringing us into compliance with federal rules.
The Senate is now adjourned “sine die”- which signifies the end of the 2017 Indiana General Assembly.

  

The new state two year budget is balanced, has $1.9 billion in reserves, and provides significant funding increases for education, public safety and fighting drug abuse.

Highlights of the budget include increasing K-12 funding by $345 million and university operating funds by $91.3 million; providing Indiana State Police and other state law enforcement officers with a pay increase to make their salary levels competitive with other states; and investing in programs to help Hoosier veterans.

For the past decade, Indiana has been a national leader in responsible budgeting.

Road Funding Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk

The Indiana General Assembly recently passed House Enrolled Act 1002, which  is the largest infrastructure investment in Indiana’s history, and provides a long-term, sustainable funding plan for building and maintaining Indiana’s transportation infrastructure.

The plan focuses on a user-pays approach, dedicating all of the taxes paid at the pump to road funding. This is the fairest system since those who pay the most will also get the most benefit.

When fully phased in, HEA 1002 will provide $1.2 billion per year in new road funding – about $850 million for state highways and about $350 million for local roads.

The plan increases user fees by 10 cents per gallon on gasoline, special fuel and motor carrier surcharge taxes to restore buying power lost to inflation. These fees would be indexed annually for the next seven years, but wouldn’t increase more than 1 cent per year. The gasoline tax has not been increased since 2003 and the other fees haven’t been increased since 1988.

Under the plan, the remaining 4.5 cents of the sales tax on gasoline would be shifted over five years starting in 2020 from the state’s general fund to the State Highway Fund, which is dedicated solely to roads and bridges.

The measure calls for a new $15 annual fee on all vehicles, a $150 annual fee on electric vehicles and $50 for hybrids registered in Indiana. The money would provide a sustainable source of funding for Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Fund, which provides road funding to local governments.

Under this plan, the average Hoosier driver will pay an additional $5 to $6 per month

Sullivan’s bill  expanding pre-K options for Hoosier Children heads to governor’s desk
 House Enrolled Act 1004,  which will expand On My Way Pre-K, the state’s pre-K pilot program, is headed to the Governor’s desk for approval.  HEA1004 co-author State Rep. (Dist 78) Holli Sullivan said, “Data shows low-income children often start kindergarten academically behind their peers. This plan places a priority on rural communities where studies have revealed a need for high quality pre-K options. The bill also incorporates online, in-home learning programs.“
Eligibility requirements, including income thresholds, would apply to those wanting to participate. If programs are at capacity in the five original counties, the Family and Social Services Administration could raise the income eligibility to 185 percent of the federal poverty level to reach more low-income families.
 Sullivan said priority would be given to children who are most in need and to more rural counties.
“Providing more high-quality early education opportunities to these very young, at-risk students truly benefits all Hoosiers,” Sullivan said. “This plan will give students a strong foundation and helps them achieve their full potential.“

                          Bosma statement on passage of bill to appoint state superintendent

STATEHOUSE (April 18, 2017) - “For over 30 years, legislators on both sides of the aisle have supported the move to an appointed superintendent and for the first time, the measure successfully passed both chambers. The bill’s passage underscores the importance of taking politics out of education and putting Hoosier children first. Our students, parents and educators deserve consistency and better coordination in the administration of education policy and this action marks a giant step forward. While it was a long road to get here, we reached a compromise with the Senate and I look forward to the bill becoming law.”
 – House Speaker Brian C. Bosma 
House Enrolled Act 1005 would make the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction an appointed position by the governor in 2025. If signed into law, the measure would also require the appointee to have lived in Indiana for at least two years, earned an advanced degree and served as a teacher, principal or superintendent or as an executive in the field of education for at least five years. The bill would also change the position’s title to Indiana Secretary of Education. The HEA1005  now moves to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk.

Bill to Allow Cannabidiol for Severe Epilepsy Passes Senate

STATEHOUSE (April 21, 2017) – State Rep. Bill Friend’s (R-Macy) legislation to allow the use of cannabidiol oil for treatment-resistant epilepsy could soon become law.
House Enrolled Act 1148 would allow a person to possess CBD oil if they or their child have been diagnosed with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy, and they meet certain commonsense safety requirements. Friend said CBD oil is a compound refined from industrial hemp that has a wide scope of medical applications, including the control of epileptic seizures.
“Allowing the use of CBD oil as an option for treatment-resistant epilepsy is something I have supported for the last four years,” Friend said. “There are individuals and families across the state who have utilized a variety of traditional treatment options without success. CBD oil has shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of epilepsy when other options have failed, and I think this is an option that Hoosiers, especially children experiencing seizures, deserve to have.”
This legislation would also require the Indiana State Department of Health to establish and maintain a registry for patients that use CBD oil as treatment. Additionally, Friend said the physicians who authorize and the caregiver or patient who is in possession of CBD oil would have immunity from prosecution.
Friend said CBD oil, while derived from industrial hemp, has extremely low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, so it cannot be used as a recreational drug. This legislation would not legalize marijuana or medical marijuana in any form.
State Senator (Dist 49) Jim Tomes has been advocating for the medical use of CBD oil for many years.
“My ultimate goal was to establish a way for families to get treatment options for children struggling with epilepsy,” Tomes said. “This measure will give these families what they have waited entirely too long for.”
For more information on HB 1148, click HERE.

                                   Indiana Unemployment Remains Lower than National Rate

INDIANAPOLIS (April 21, 2017) - Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.9 percent for March and remains lower than the national rate of 4.5 percent. The unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labor force. Indiana’s Labor Force increased by 6,093 over the previous month with a 12,322 increase in employment and a 6,229 decrease in unemployment. Indiana’s total labor force stands at more than 3.32 million, and the state’s 64.5 percent labor force participation rate remains above the national rate of 63.0 percent.
“Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to drop, and the 3.9 percent rate for March is the lowest it’s been since 2001,” said Steven J. Braun, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). “While this is a positive economic indicator, there are thousands of good-paying jobs currently available in Indiana that require in-demand skills. Fortunately, our local WorkOne Career Centers can help unemployed and underemployed Hoosiers with training programs, interview coaching, veteran services and more.”
Commissioner Braun also noted private sector employment has grown by more than 39,300 over the year. He added that weekly unemployment insurance claims remain at the lowest point in three decades.

Click HERE for more information from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development

Report Ranks Indiana No. 2 for Economic Outlook

 The latest edition of the Rich States, Poor States publication has ranked Indiana No. 2 in the nation for its economic outlook. House Speaker Brian Bosma said that’s the best ranking for Indiana in the history of the report and an improvement of 22 spots since 2012, “This latest ranking adds to the decades of progress under strong Republican leadership and is reflective of the dedication to supporting pro-growth policies. Our economic climate and competitiveness continue to attract the national spotlight, and that’s why job creators are choosing Indiana to locate and expand their businesses. This session, we will continue this momentum by passing an honestly balanced budget and supporting fiscally conservative measures that keep Indiana moving forward.”
According to the publication, the economic outlook ranking is a forward-looking forecast based on the state’s standing (equal-weighted average) in 15 important state policy variables. Data reflect state and local rates and revenues and any effect of federal deductibility.

Click HERE for the full report.

Indiana General Assembly 2017 Session
Be Informed. Learn about Senate and House Bills for the current legislative session.
Find and follow Bills for the 2017 Session HERE
                                       >>> See which Bills make it to the Governor’s desk HERE <<<

Stay in touch with GOP Statehouse legislators representing our area by clicking the links below.

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President Trump  Signs The Veterans Choice Program Extension and Improvement Act

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, the President Trump signed into law S. 544, which eliminates the termination date of the Veterans Choice Program; to modify reimbursement and cost-recovery procedures for care provided under the Program; and to authorize the sharing of certain veterans’ medical records with medical service providers outside the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Said the President during the signing,” The veterans have poured out their sweat and blood and tears for this country for so long, and it’s time that they’re recognized, and it’s time that we now take care of them, and take care of them properly.   

That’s why I’m pleased today to sign into law the Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act.  So this is called the Choice Program Improvement Act.  It speaks for itself.  This bill will extend and improve the Veterans Choice Program so that more veterans can see the doctor of their choice — you got it?  The doctor of their choice — and don’t have to wait and travel long distances for VA care.  Some people have to travel five hours, eight hours, and they’ll have to do it on a weekly basis, and even worse than that.  It’s not going to happen anymore.
This new law is a good start, but there is still much work to do.  We will fight each and every day to deliver the long-awaited reforms our veterans deserve, and to protect those who have so courageously protected each and every one of us. “

Read More HERE

Watch Bill Signing HERE

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“Happy to see President Trump today sign into law the extension of the Veterans Choice Act we recently passed out of Congress. ”                  – Congressman Larry Bucshon (Facebook, 4/19/17)

 

 President’s Weekly Address for 4/21/17: Topic – American Worker is Top Priority
                                                                 Click  HERE  to listen.

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County Commission Meeting………………………………………………..   April 25
Traveling City Hall…………………………………………………………………  April 26
County Council Meeting………………………………………………………..  May 3
Lincoln Day Dinner……………………………………………………………….  May 4
City Council Meeting…………………………………………………………….  May 8
GOP Monthly Breakfast…………………………………………………………  May 20

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Attorney General Curtis Hill Warns Hoosiers of ‘Grandparent Scams’

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Attorney General Curtis Hill today is urging Indiana senior citizens to be vigilant as complaints of “grandparent scams” are becoming more common at the Office of the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD).

Seniors, specifically those who have grandchildren, have become primary targets for scammers – and “grandparent scams” are just the latest evidence of this trend. “Grandparent scams” occur when a senior receives a call, email or Facebook message from a scammer claiming to be their high-school- or college-age grandchild, stating that they are in danger or have an emergency. The common thread is a plea for money – often upwards of thousands of dollars. In 2016, the CPD received 90 “grandparent scam” complaints through the first four months of the year. In 2017, however, the CPD has already received 130 complaints regarding “grandparent scams.”

Scammers will contact a senior posing as the senior’s grandchild, claiming to be on vacation and needing money because they have been arrested, are in the hospital or have been robbed. When the scammer attempts to take advantage of the senior by phone, the scam is especially hard to spot because of the details used by the scammer — often leaving elders confused, scared and worried. The scammer will have done necessary research to present themselves as the senior’s real grandchild. The scammer will know the names of other family members in order to sound more convincing. These details are often pulled from Facebook or online obituaries. The call often occurs in the middle of the night to take advantage of the elder being tired and confused. The caller will sound distressed and panicked.

The scammer then asks the senior to send money – usually many thousands of dollars – to help them get out of jail or pay a hospital bill.  The scammer often will ask the senior, or grandparent of the child they are posing as, to wire the money via Western Union or MoneyGram to a friend or attorney. Believing that they are helping their grandchild, the senior will send money — which is often routed to an overseas location.  Another method is to ask the elder to purchase gift cards and send the scammer the codes.  If the senior falls for the scam and sends something, the scammer, or fake grandchild, will call a second time claiming a new emergency that requires more money.

Because scammers often find their victims using data from online sources such as Facebook, consumers – especially seniors — are urged to review their Facebook privacy settings to ensure information is only shared with their friends and family. If someone calls you claiming to be a family member and asks for money, always verify the request is legitimate before you send money. Hang up the phone and call the family member believed to be requesting this assistance. If you receive a message or email, follow the same steps and call the family member believed to have reached out to you.

Another method is to ask the scammer questions that would be easy for the real grandchild to answer but difficult for a scammer to guess. Even if the scammer claims the situation is an emergency, there is always time to verify the situation before sending any money. Ask specific questions such as “Where did you go to elementary school?” or “Where were we the last time we saw each other?”

Indiana senior citizens who believe they were targeted by a grandparent scam can call the Attorney General Consumer Protection Division at (800)-382-5516 or (317)-232-6330 or file a complaint at IndianaConsumer.com.

Come enjoy great food while supporting SWIRCA & More on Thursday, April 27

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Come enjoy great food while
supporting SWIRCA & More on Thursday, April 27
Join us for a meal at Hacienda First Avenue between 11 am-10 pm on Thursday, April 27th.
20% of all food: including carry out, gift cards, and alcoholic beverages will be donated to SWIRCA & More’s Activity Center. It will be a terrific time with great food and friends to help out a very worthy cause.
The SWIRCA & More Activity Center is open weekdays with wellness classes, daily lunches, social activities and more for individuals 50+. You can learn more about our Activity Center here.
Print this coupon or show it on your phone at checkout
Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
711 First Ave, Evansville, IN 47710
812-423-6355

Hodges, Taylor named top USI athletes

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In an evening that celebrates the accomplishments of the University of Southern Indiana student athletes during the 2016-17 year, senior Haley Hodges (softball), senior Jeril Taylor(Louisville, Kentucky), senior Bobo Drummond (men’s basketball), and senior Kendyl Dearing (women’s basketball) were recognized as the top student athletes at the 15th annual USI All-Sports Banquet sponsored by Old National Bank Monday evening.

For the third time in the history of the ONB/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year award, Hodges joins a select club in being selected twice for USI’s top female athletic honor. The All-American catcher received co-honors last year with women’s cross country junior Emily Roberts (Fredericktown, Ohio).

Hodges has made her mark on the softball the field in the last two seasons, setting the career-records for home runs (40) and RBIs (162) this season. The computer science major also has earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week twice.

This season, Hodges is hitting a team-high .408 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs. She also has a team-high .633 slugging percentage and is tied for first with 12 doubles

Hodges finished last year as a first-team All-American by the NFCA, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA), and by HeroSports.com; in addition to being named second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America. She set single-season school records for home runs and RBIs last year.

USI’s softball team, currently, is ranked fifth in the nation in the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll; first in the NCAA Division II Midwest Region; and first in the GLVC standings with a 39-9 overall record and a 18-6 mark in league play.

Previous winners of the award were Shannon Wells (2003, volleyball), Jenny Farmer (2004; cross country/track), Heather Cooksey (2005; cross country/track), Laura Ellerbusch (2006; volleyball), Allison Shafer (2007; cross country/track), Kristin Eickholt (2008; softball), Mary Ballinger (2009, 2010; cross country/track), Danielle LaGrange (2011, 2012; volleyball), Susan Ellsperman (2013; soccer), Anna Hackert (2014; basketball), MacKenzie Dorsam (2015; softball), and Emily Roberts (2016; cross country/track).

The ONB/USI Male Student Athlete of the Year, Taylor was dominating on the basketball court this year. The individualized studies major and the 2017 GLVC Player of the Year was named All-America by Basketball Times, Division II Bulletin, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

In addition to the All-America awards, Taylor was named NABC All-District; CCA first-team All-Midwest Region, and first-team All-GLVC. The 2017 four-time GLVC Player of the Week honoree also was selected to play in the NABC/NCAA Division II All-Star Game.

The Louisville, Kentucky, native led the team for the second-straight season in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. The senior also set a USI single-game record for scoring with 50 points in the road win at Truman State University and became the 19th USI player to reach 1,000 career points.

The USI Men’s Basketball finished the 2016-17 campaign with a 25-5 overall record and ranked 16th nationally after bowing out of the NCAA Division II Tournament in the Midwest Regional. The Eagles also finished second in the GLVC East Division with a 15-3 conference mark.

Previous winners of the award were Duncan Bray (2003, 2004; soccer), Matt Keener (2005; baseball), Chris Thompson (2006; basketball), Melvin Hall (2007; basketball), Paul Jellema (2008; cross country/track), Shaun Larsen (2009; baseball), Jamar Smith (2010; basketball), Trevor Leach (2011; baseball), Dustin Emerick (2012;  cross country & track), Michael Jordan (2013; cross country & track), Johnnie Guy (2014, 2016; cross country & track), and Tyler Pence (2015, cross country & track).

Dearing and Drummond were named the female and male recipients the ONB/USI Screaming Eagles Pride Award. The award winners, who have been role models on the men’s and women’s soccer teams and in the department, were selected in a vote by the Athletics staff.

Dearing, a four-year member of the women’s basketball team and a major in exercise science, helped lead the USI student athletes as a member of the USI SAAC. The two-time Academic All-GLVC performer finished her career this year after playing in 76 games over four seasons.

A constant presence around USI Athletics and events, Drummond had been a leader on and off the court during his three years on the men’s basketball team. The sport management major helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA II Tournament this year by changing his role from a starter to coming off the bench after battling through a back injury. He finished his time at USI with career averages of 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in 84 appearances as a Screaming Eagle.

Previous winners of the Pride Award were Ginnie Roberts (softball) 2003; Mike Arnold (men’s basketball) 2004; Brian Kendall (men’s cross country/track) 2005; Angie Davis (softball) 2006; Geoff Van Winkle (men’s basketball) 2007; Kathy Wood (softball) 2008;  Austin Inge (men’s track) and Brittany Neuman (women’s basketball) 2009; Jeron Lewis (men’s basketball) and Sara Loete (softball) 2010; Lauren Meneghetti (women’s basketball) and Mohamed Ntumba (men’s basketball) 2011; Susan Ellsperman (women’s soccer) and Brendan Devine (men’s cross country/track) 2012; Ellena Stumpf (women’s tennis) and Scott Ernstberger (baseball) 2013; Stephanie Carpenter (women’s basketball) and Jeff Neidlinger (men’s soccer) 2014; Austin Davis (men’s basketball), and Mary O’Keefe (women’s basketball) 2015; and McKinsey Durham (women’s soccer) and Lucas Woodford (men’s soccer) 2016.

Jamie Seitz, an associate professor of accounting, was presented the Dr. Jane Davis Brezette Faculty Excellence Award. The award is presented to a USI faculty member who has contributed to the success of USI Athletics by mentoring student athletes and helping them to achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond.  Previous winners of award were Dr. Jane Davis-Brezette, the former chair of Kinesiology and Sport and instructor in the Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education (2008); Tim Mahoney, an instructor in the Romain College of Business (2009); Patti Marcum, an instructor in the Pott College of Science Engineering, and Education (2011); Dr. Lacie Rogers, an instructor in the Romain College of Business (2012); Dr. Darrin Sorrells, an instructor and learning specialist in Academic Skills (2013); Chris Croft, an instructor in Pott College of Science Engineering, and Education (2014); Timothy Bryan, an instructor in accounting (2015); and  Dr. Brandon Field,  an associate professor of engineering (2016).

The USI Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) recognized women’s cross country with the Team GPA Award (3.54), while women’s basketball was presented with the Team Spirit Award.

Women’s cross country has earned the Team GPA Award for a third time (2017, 2016  2013), ranking second behind  volleyball, which has won the award five times (2015, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007) since the creation of the award in 2006. Softball has won award twice, (2014 and 2012) , while women’s soccer (2006) and women’s basketball (2011) have each earned the honor once.

The Team Spirit Award, which is selected in a vote by the SAAC and created in 2005, is the first for women’s basketball. Men’s cross country/track & field (2005, 2009, 2011) and men’s soccer (2012, 2013, 2014) has been honored three times, while softball (2014, 2015) and men’s tennis (2007, 2008) have been chosen twice. Men’s basketball (2010), women’s soccer (2012), women’s cross country/track & field (2006), and baseball (2016) have been selected for the award once.

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