Two Unrelated Overnight Burglaries Result in Arrests
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office made two arrests last night after responding to a pair of unrelated burglaries that occurred just over ninety minutes apart.
On Tuesday, June 06, 2017 at 10:44 PM the Sheriff’s Office responded to the 7900 block of Kenton Station Road (near Mohr Road) in reference to a burglary in progress. The victim arrived home and found a suspect carrying items from his house. The victim spoke to the suspect, who was later identified as Mr. Alexander Southard. The victim called 911 and stood by with Mr. Southard, who reportedly did not attempt to flee. The responding deputy took Mr. Southard into custody without incident.
On Wednesday, June 07, 2017 at 12:18 AM the Sheriff’s Office responded to the 4900 block of Tanglewood Drive upon report of domestic violence in progress. The suspect, Mr. Dustin Sinclair, allegedly grabbed the victim outside the home before arming himself with a shotgun and forcing his way into her residence. Mr. Sinclair then threatened to kill everyone inside the home.
A responding deputy spotted Mr. Sinclair on the roof of the home, but was unable to keep him in sight. While searching for Mr. Sinclair, the deputy observed a shotgun lying on the roof. As more deputies arrived, Mr. Sinclair was located hiding in an attached garage. Mr. Sinclair refused to be taken into custody and had to be forcibly restrained.
ARRESTED:
Alexander Nico Southard (pictured above), 19, of Evansville. Burglary of a Dwelling as a Level 4 Felony, Theft as a Level 6 Felony
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Dustin Dwight Sinclair (pictured above), 30, of Evansville. Burglary while Armed with a Deadly Weapon as a Level 2 Felony, Domestic Battery as a Class A Misdemeanor, Intimidation with a Weapon as a Level 5 Felony, Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class A Misdemeanor
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
JUNE 8 2017 “READERS FORUM”
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CHANNEL 44 NEWS: Lincoln Estates Working with Residents to Find Housing
Lincoln Estates Working with Residents to Find Housing
Midnight, June 7th was the original deadline for some residents to move out of Lincoln Estates. Forty of 76 occupied units received residency termination notices. However, Lincoln Estates is now working with residents to help them find a place to…
HOW STATES ARE OVERHAULING TAX CODES TO ADAPT TO A NEW ECONOMY
HOW STATES ARE OVERHAULING TAX CODES TO ADAPT TO A NEW ECONOMY
written by Elaine S, Povich for Stateline News
For the past few years, New Jersey casinos have been losing money like most of their customers — consistently. But in the last six months, the popularity of casino-sponsored online betting has reversed the fortunes of Atlantic City’s gambling palaces, cheering both casino owners and state revenue officials.
New Jersey is one of only three states — Nevada and Delaware are the others — where in-state bettors can log on to websites run by casinos and gamble from the comfort of their couches, rather than going into a glitzy and noisy casino.
Gambling experts say casinos that sponsor their own online wagering are making a smart play for millennials, many of whom prefer online gambling. At least eight states (California, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) are considering legalizing casino-run online wagering this year.
State-sanctioned, casino-sponsored online gambling is different from online gambling that originates offshore, which states cannot tax. It is also distinct from state-regulated “daily fantasy sports†sites like DraftKings and FanDuel, which generate taxes and fees for some states.
Chris Grove, a gambling industry consultant who runs the website PlayNJ.com, said online gambling is a key to the growth of casino revenue. “We’ve seen nearly every other form of commerce migrate to the internet — how we shop, how we bank, how we listen to music,†he said. “It doesn’t make sense that gambling would be an exception to that rule and the early results in New Jersey really drive that point home.â€
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, total casino gambling revenue was $763.5 million through April of this year, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The casinos’ winnings from online gambling, however, were $80.1 million, up 29.5 percent from same period last year.
New Jersey legalized casino-sponsored online gambling in late 2013, but it took casinos some time to create the software to take advantage of the new law, as well as for gamblers to adapt. At first, some casinos only offered a game or two online. According to New Jersey officials, online gambling increased in late 2016 and early 2017, as evidenced by a spike in revenue. The state collected $3.1 million in taxes on online gambling in April, up 23 percent from $2.5 million in April 2016.
From 2007 to 2015, New Jersey casino revenue declined by an average of 7.6 percentannually. This year, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of online gambling, casino revenue is on track for a year-to-year increase for the first time since 2006.
Kerry Langan, spokeswoman for the New Jersey department, said internet gambling raises as much revenue by itself as a small free-standing casino would. “Most of the projections I’ve seen from gaming analysts are that it’s doing well and will continue to do well,†she said.
In Nevada and Delaware the impact has been smaller. In Delaware, only three casinos sponsor online gambling, and it has generated revenue of about $200,000 a month. Total casino revenue in Delaware is about $50 million per month.
In Nevada only two casinos offer internet poker, the only online casino game the state allows. Mike Lawton, senior research analyst at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said online poker revenue is wrapped into the control board’s report on poker overall, so it’s difficult to determine whether online poker has been a huge hit. But online sports betting, also offered by casinos, “has really taken off,†increasing 5 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year.
“A lot of the reason for the sports book business taking off is people being able to do it on their phone. It’s a huge convenience,†he said, noting, “We do everything else on our phones.â€
Flat Overall
Every state that has legal gambling collects taxes or fees from it. There can be a tax on casinos’ revenue, hefty fees to procure a casino operating license, a tax on gamblers’ winnings, an “entertainment tax†on casinos or players, a tax on lottery locations, a tax on poker machines at bars or some combination of the levies. In general, casinos must pay gambling taxes in addition to corporate taxes.
Despite the online gambling spike in New Jersey and elsewhere, overall gambling tax revenue in the states is flat on average, according to Lucy Dadayan, senior research scientist at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
In 17 states she studied, tax revenue from gambling declined by 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, compared to the same quarter of 2015. However, there was some growth in tax revenue in the first quarter of 2017, at 0.6 percent. A big part of the increase was the opening of a new casino in Maryland, she said.
“The overall total tax revenues for casinos should be interpreted with caution and should not be viewed as a positive sign,†she said. She noted that online casino gambling is not easy to implement and “comes with a lot of regulation.â€
Because New Jersey requires people who play online casino games to be in the state, it has developed tracking software to determine a bettor’s location. That means a gambler who lives in Pennsylvania must travel to New Jersey to play an online casino game.
“New Jersey online [gambling] has definitely come on very strong,†said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV. “People enjoy playing online rather than in casinos.â€
But Jackson Brainerd, who studies state gambling for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said while income from casino-sponsored online gambling has been robust, it has not lived up to predictions. In New Jersey, for example, it was expected to generate $1.2 billion in the first year, resulting in $180 million for the state.
Pennsylvania Push
In Pennsylvania, the state’s continuing budget woes have given a push to casino-sponsored online gambling. The state Senate in May passed a measure that would legalize it in January 2018. Sponsors believe the outlook in the House is better this year than last, when a similar bill failed to pass.
Under the measure, Pennsylvania casinos that want to sponsor online gambling would have to pay a one-time $10 million fee to the state. Vendors supplying the gambling platform would pay the state $5 million, and revenue would be taxed at 25 percent, 15 percent of which would go to reduce property taxes, a longtime sore point among Pennsylvania taxpayers.
“We hope we can generate $100-$125 million more,†said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, the Democrat who sponsored the legislation. He said some casinos are worried that they will lose in-house gamblers to the online version, rather than expanding their customer base. But the prospect of a new state revenue source has persuaded some legislators that it’s time to implement online casino games.
In New York, Senate panels have passed a bill that would legalize and regulate online poker games, though the proposal is still awaiting a vote by the full Senate. A similar bill passed the Senate last year, but died in the House without being considered. A 10-year license fee would cost $10 million, and the state would levy a 15 percent tax on revenue.
State Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican sponsor of the bill, sweetened the pot this year with a provision that mandates that the revenue from casino-sponsored online poker be used for education.
“This bill is necessary to provide consumer protections and combat illegal websites that are currently offering online poker to New Yorkers — further it would bring in additional revenue for education,†he said in an email.
Matchups announced for 2017 MVC/Mountain West Challenge
Purple Aces to play at New Mexico
 The Missouri Valley Conference/Mountain West Challenge is back in 2016-17 as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team will travel to New Mexico for a contest on Wednesday, November 29, 2017. It will mark the first-ever meeting on the hardwood between the two programs.
All 10 games in the series will take place within a six-day span in late November/early December. The agreement between the Mountain West and Missouri Valley conferences is in the third year of a four-year term.
This past year, the Mountain West Conference and Missouri Valley Conference split the 10-game series, 5-5. The MW has an all-time series edge of 3-1-2 in six previous Challenge seasons, which includes an overall advantage of 33-22 in games played in association with the series.
Evansville has a 2-3 record in the Challenge Series, but has won the last two games. In 2015, the Aces pulled off an impressive 85-77 victory at Fresno State before defeating Boise State by a final of 72-67 last season.
“The MVC/Mountain West Challenge is a great opportunity for schools from both leagues,†UE head coach Marty Simmons said. “It gives our fans the chance to watch us face teams that we would not usually have the chance to play while giving our student-athletes and program a non-conference game against great competition.â€
New Mexico is coming off of a 17-14 campaign in 2016-17 while going 10-8 in conference play. The Lobos boast one of the top home atmospheres in the nation at WisePies Arena aka The Pit. The venue has been rated as one of the top in college basketball by NCAA.com, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and FoxSports.com.
The Challenge Series features head-to-head competition between 10 Mountain West and 10 Missouri Valley teams annually, with each conference hosting five games apiece each season.
Annual matchups for teams in the Challenge Series will be based upon factors including the previous year’s achievements, records and RPI rankings, as well as projected rankings/strength of teams in the upcoming season, based on composite sources. Each season will be considered separately in terms of matchups, therefore, games from the previous year’s Challenge Series may not be returned.
Television rights for each Challenge Series contest will be controlled by the home team’s conference television agreement, which will dictate the distribution of the game and all related matters, including tip times.
Rep. Messer Reaffirms Commitment to Israel, Sends Prayer Letter to Western Wall
Today is the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem
On the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to reaffirm his commitment to Israel and send prayers to the Jewish State on behalf of Hoosiers in the 6th Congressional District.
This anniversary marks the date that Israel reclaimed Jerusalem, after nearly two decades of divided rule which restricted access to the Holy City.
Messer also submitted a prayer letter that will be placed between the sacred stones of the Western Wall to mark the anniversary. He was invited to do so by Speaker Yuli Yoel Edelstein – the leader of Israel’s legislature, the Knesset. Messer’s letter is available to view here.
On the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem and on behalf of Hoosiers from Indiana’s 6th District, I send my prayers and best wishes to the Jewish state.
It is our hope that the special relationship between America and Israel continues to be strengthened and grow. Israel is our most important friend in the region and among our strongest allies in the world.
On this anniversary, let it be reaffirmed that Indiana, and America, stand with Israel.
The Holy City is a place of prayer for all people and this day provides us with the opportunity to pray for the Jewish state. May it remain a beacon of light, representing democracy and freedom. And may peace and prosperity reign for its people.Â
The eternal capital of the State of Israel, Jerusalem, is also the seat of parliament. From one representative body to another, we say Shalom and God Bless.
Our prayers are with Israel today, tomorrow and always.
Ellis Park 2-year-olds showcased at Belmont Park
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Gov. Holcomb Makes Appointments to Boards of Ball State, IU, Purdue, USI and IEERB
Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced several new appointments and reappointments to four state universities’ boards of trustees as well as the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
Ball State University
Marlene K. Jacocks, a sophomore from Fishers, will join the Ball State University Board of Trustees as a student trustee. Her term expires June 30, 2019.
Indiana University
Two new appointments have been made to the Indiana University Board of Trustees:
- Harry L. Gonso of Indianapolis, a partner at Ice Miller LLC, will join the board. His term expires July 1, 2020.
- Zachary D. Arnold, a second year medical student from Carmel, will join the board as the student trustee. His term expires July 1, 2019.
The governor made one reappointment:
- Dr. Michael J. Mirro of Fort Wayne, a physician, professor and researcher at Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Education, continues his service on the board. His term expires July 1, 2020.
Purdue University
Three reappointments were made to the Purdue University board of trustees:
- Thomas E. Spurgeon of Peoria, IL, longtime business executive, continues his service on the board as an alumni member. Â His term expires July 1, 2020.
- Michael F. Klipsch of Carmel, President & CEO of Klipsch-Card Athletic Facilities, continues his service on the board. His term expires July 1, 2020.
- Gary J. Lehman of Lafayette, retired Chairman of the Board of Oerlikon Fairfield and President of Oerlikon AG-Americas, continues his service on the board. His term expires July 1, 2020.
The governor made one new appointment:
- Daniel Romary of New Haven, a senior biomedical engineering student, will join the board as a student trustee. His term expires July 1, 2019.
University of Southern Indiana
One new appointment was made to the University of Southern Indiana board of trustees:
- Anjali Patel of Evansville, a junior Biology major, will join the board as student trustee. Her term expires June 30, 2019.
Indiana Education Employment Relations Board (IEERB)
The IEERB facilitates employment matters with public school corporations and teachers. The governor made one new appointment:
- Linda Troop of North Manchester, retired educator with Wabash City Schools, will join the board. Her term expires July 31, 2019.