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JUST ANNOUNCED – THE AVETT BROTHERS
BREAKING NEWS: Rally In Evansville One Of Over 200 Nationwide Calling For The Defunding Of Abortion Planned Parenthood
Rally in Evansville calling for the Defunding Of Abortion Planned Parenthood
On February 11, a rally will be held on the public sidewalk at the Planned Parenthood facility at 125 Weinbach Avenue in Evansville, starting at 9 a.m. This event is one of over 200 being coordinated nationwide by the #ProtestPP Coalition, calling for Planned Parenthood to be stripped of all federal funding, and for all such funding to be redirected to Federally Qualified Health Centers that do not perform abortions. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion chain, receives over $420 million from the federal government every year.
Congressional leaders are working to cut funding for the controversial organization as part of the budget reconciliation process, while preserving the assistance this funding is meant to provide for poor women. Rallies will be held nationwide on February 11 in over 200 cities from coast to coast, supporting the defunding effort and educating the public about Planned Parenthood’s central role in the abortion industry and their long record of unethical activity.
“Planned Parenthood claims that American women rely on them for healthcare, but in fact four out of five women will never set foot in a Planned Parenthood facility,†said Mary Ellen Van Dyke, Executive Director of Right to Life of Southwest Indiana. “Planned Parenthood provides less than 1% of annual pap tests and zero mammograms, but performs 34% of annual abortions in the U.S. They’ve been caught shielding child predators, defrauding Medicaid, and harvesting fetal tissue for profit. This controversial organization does not deserve our tax dollars.â€
Van Dyke emphasizes that no funding would be taken away from programs that help poor women and families. Every dollar taken from Planned Parenthood would be redirected to Federally Qualified Health Centers that provide a wider range of services and higher standard of care than Planned Parenthood, without doing abortions. “The effort to defund Planned Parenthood has nothing to with taking healthcare away from women. It’s about taking tax dollars away from the nation’s largest abortion chain,†she explained.
#ProtestPP is a coalition of state and national pro-life groups, headed by three national pro-life activist organizations: Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Created Equal, and the Pro-Life Action League. For the February 11 rally, 40 Days for Life is also serving as a major partner.
See also Why Defund Planned Parenthood? at ProtestPP.com.
WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays “READERS POLL” question is” Do you agree with City Councilman Weaver comment that the terms of his protective order is a personal matter?
We urge you to take time and click the section we have reserved for the daily recaps of the activities of our local Law Enforcement professionals. This section is located on the upper right side of our publication.
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City County Observer has been serving our community for 17 years.
CHANNEL 44 NEWS: ATV Helmet Law Passes House and Moves to Senate
ATV Helmet Law Passes House and Moves to Senate
A bill that would require all off-road vehicle drivers and riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet passes final reading in the Indiana House. House Bill 1200, the Play 4 Kate Bill, passes the House 63-to-29. The only local representative who…
Governor Holcomb Marks His First Month in Office with Several Executive Actions
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb today issued a pardon to Keith Cooper, declared a disaster emergency in East Chicago and announced the termination of contract discussions with Agile Networks, among other actions.
Keith Cooper Pardon
The governor signed an executive order this morning to pardon Keith Cooper for his 1997 felony robbery conviction in Elkhart County. Mr. Cooper served nearly 10 years in prison for the crime but was released early for time served in 2006. All eye witnesses in the case have recanted their testimony, and DNA evidence does not implicate Mr. Cooper in the crime. Further, the Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended that a pardon be issued.
“My decision is based on a review of the facts,†Governor Holcomb said. “Keith Cooper has waited long enough and is deserving of a pardon.â€
While in prison, Mr. Cooper was also sentenced for a charge of battery and pleaded guilty. Mr. Cooper requested a pardon for that felony conviction, as well. However, the Governor’s executive order does not pardon this battery conviction, because Mr. Cooper has never claimed innocence or a defect with the prosecution of that case.
East Chicago Emergency Declaration
The governor also announced that today he will sign an executive order declaring a disaster emergency for the East Chicago Superfund Site—322 acres of land in northwest Indiana that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified as having lead contamination.
The State of Indiana has already taken steps to help address and respond to the situation, with coordinated efforts by Indiana’s State Department of Health, Housing and Community Development Authority, Family and Social Services Administration, Department of Insurance, and the State Board of Education.
This 30-day emergency declaration is focused on helping to relocate nearly 100 residents who remain at a housing complex within the affected area and engaging with agency leaders in the new federal administration.
“After months of local and state action to meet the safety, health and housing needs of these East Chicago residents, I’m declaring this disaster emergency in hopes that we can accelerate, coordinate and focus local, state and federal efforts and resources where they will have the greatest benefit,†Governor Holcomb said.
The governor’s executive order also calls for the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to create and maintain a web page that provides status updates, progress reports and other information on local, state and federal efforts. Finally, the order requests that City of East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland provide a written assessment by March 5 of additional resources and services the city believes are needed—and any other federal resources that may be available—to assist with the area.
Agile Deal Status
In addition to these two executive orders, the governor announced his decision to terminate contract discussions between the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) and Agile Networks to manage, operate and market the state’s communications infrastructure—including cell towers. IFA and Agile Networks have been unable to come to an agreement on the terms of the contract.
“I have asked the Office of Management and Budget to assess how best to move forward and to develop alternatives we might pursue,†Governor Holcomb said. “Enhancing broadband availability in rural parts of our state will be an important part of my consideration.â€
Jim Atterholt Selected to be IURC Chairman
Governor Holcomb announced his selection of Jim Atterholt to serve as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Atterholt was chief of staff to former-Governor Mike Pence and previously served as IURC chairman from 2009 to 2014, state representative from 1998 to 2002, and Indiana’s Commissioner of Insurance from 2005 to 2009. He was also director of government affairs for AT&T Indiana from 2003 to 2004.
A nominating committee of four Republicans and three Democrats was selected and convened to interview and make recommendations to the governor for selection. The committee presented its recommendations to the governor on February 3.
“Jim Atterholt’s history of service and depth of knowledge on utility issues make him the best choice to lead the IURC, particularly over the next four years,†Governor Holcomb said. “IURC’s work will be central to my focus as governor to provide great customer service for Hoosiers in every corner of the state.â€
Delaware County Man Admitted To Sexually Assaulting His Roommate’s Dog,
Delaware County Man Admitted To Sexually Assaulting His Roommate’s Dog,
Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com
Although a Delaware County man admitted to sexually assaulting his roommate’s dog, the Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the man’s bestiality conviction Thursday because the prosecution failed to establish a corpus delicti.
In Andy Shinnock v. State of Indiana, 18A05-1606-CR-1258, Andy Shinnock was charged with bestiality after he admitted to having sex with his roommate’s dog. During roommate Paul Moore’s testimony at trial, Shinnock’s counsel objected to the admission of Shinnock’s confession to Moore that he had attempted to have sex with the dog because corpus delicti had not been established.
Defense counsel also objected to the admission of a recording of Shinnock’s confession to Moore, Moore’s 911 call and Shinnock’s confession to investigators on the basis of a lack of corpus delicti. The Delaware Circuit Court overruled the objections, but did grant the defense’s request for the record to show a continuing objection.
Shinnock was found guilty as charged but mentally ill, but the Indiana Court of Appeal reversed his convictions Thursday based on the defense’s corpus delicti claims.
Senior Judge John Sharpnack wrote for the unanimous panel that the corpus delicti in the case would at least be a dog whose sex organ had been penetrated by the sex organ of a human male. But the only evidence against Shinnock, other than his confession, was Moore’s testimony that his dogs did not respond to him as usual when he returned home on the day of the alleged assault and that he found Shinnock wearing only a T-shirt and boxers that day, Sharpnack wrote.
Further, there was no evidence of that the dog’s sex organ had been injured, the judge said. Thus, because there was no proof of the crime of bestiality other than Shinnock’s confessions, the admission of that confession was error and Shinnock’s case was remanded to the Delaware Circuit Court.
D-Patrick Ford Lincoln Check Presentation to Benefit Gilda’s Club Evansville
 Representatives from D-Patrick Ford Lincoln will present a check to Gilda’s Club Evansville for funds raised during a month-long promotion at their Ford Lincoln dealership located at 1100 E. Walnut St. in Evansville. For every person who test drove a Ford vehicle during the month of January, D-Patrick donated $10 to Gilda’s Club Evansville.
“Our red door is open to anyone impacted by cancer thanks to the generosity of companies like D-Patrick,†Melanie Atwood, Executive Director, exclaimed. “We are so grateful!â€
                Gilda’s Club Evansville
5740 Vogel Rd.
               Evansville, In. 47715               Â
 Monday, February 13, 2017 at 10:00am
Support of Gilda’s Club to provide life-enriching programs for anyone touched by cancer, including their families and friends, so that no one faces cancer alone.
  Gilda’s Club Evansville is a free cancer support community for anyone living with cancer and their families and friends. Gilda’s Club recognizes that social and emotional support is as essential as medical care when cancer is in the family and offers a variety of workshops, classes, groups and activities in a non-residential, home-like setting.