The Southwest Association of Nursing Students (SWANS) at Ivy Tech Community College has raised $3,365.33 for the social service agency Aurora, through a barbecued meat sale.

The students decided they wanted to do something to assist the organization that serves homeless individuals in the area, following USI’s multi-institutional Symposium on Homelessness where they first heard of what Aurora does and its mission from Brian Kerney, executive director. Aurora’s mission states, “We believe that our community and its families will be stronger when everyone has a safe, decent and sustainable place to call home.” Kerney said that Aurora’s mission is similar to what nurses do. “We give tender loving care to people who have fallen into a pit and don’t know how to get out – and then we show them the way.”

In May 2016, Aurora and several other community agencies, learned their programs were not going to be funded in the federal Housing and Urban Development’s latest grant cycle, nor in the future.

Ivy Tech nursing students were moved to action. “We were impressed and amazed at all the great things they do. When we heard of them losing funding, we knew we had to do something,” said Ivy Tech student Lana Seibert. “We, as individuals and as nursing students, have a very similar background. We are all very compassionate and caring people. We want to be a light in the dark. We saw a local organization that was in need of help. Aurora does SO much for the community and the individuals in it. They deserved to have the same done for them.”

The Human Services student organization at Ivy Tech also raised over $200 for the agency.

Indianapolis – Today, Vice President-elect Governor Mike Pence and First Lady Karen Pence welcomed more than 250 K-5 students to the Statehouse for their annual tree lighting event.

“The Governor and I enjoyed welcoming Hoosier children to the Statehouse today,” First Lady Karen Pence said. “The experiences and memories we create year after year during this annual holiday tradition are ones which the Governor and I have come to cherish.  We were thrilled to once again this year spend  time with the students in attendance by helping them decorate an ornament to take home with them – a memento the children and their families will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

Each grade level was designated a different ornament—specially designed by the First Lady—to make during the program. After the decorating was complete, a student representative from each school in attendance helped light the trees in the Statehouse Rotunda.

Trees were donated by the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association and the wreath hanging above them was handcrafted and donated by the Friends of the Indiana State Archives.

Students included in today’s program were from Maplewood Elementary School, Burge-Terrace Home Educators, Caritas Christi, Center For Inquiry #84, Damar, and Zion Lutheran.

Also during today’s festivities, Governor Pence read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to students.

Former CIB Chiefs Try To Avoid Entanglement In Legal Light Involving Pacers

Anthony Schoettle for www.theindianalawyer.com

Three former presidents of the city’s Capital Improvement Board—Pat Early, Bob Grand and Ann Lathrop—are fighting an effort by attorneys for the IRS to depose them about what they learned about the Indiana Pacers’ finances during discussions with the team.

The CIB owns Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Pacers. And over the trio’s terms, the CIB has negotiated lease deals, subsidy plans and expenditures for capital projects for the venue, which opened in 1999.

The legal skirmish is an outgrowth of a lawsuit Mel Simon’s widow, Bren Simon, filed in March 2015 seeking to overturn the IRS’ determination that Mel’s sale of his half of the team to his brother Herb in early 2009—just months before Mel died at age 82—was such a sweetheart deal that Mel effecitvely provided an $83 million gift. That conclusion left Bren with a $21 million gift-tax bill, which she paid under protest but hopes to get refunded by winning the suit.

Attorneys with Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP representing the CIB filed a motion in federal court in Indianapolis on Nov. 30 seeking to quash the deposition subpoenas. It calls them “overly burdensome” and says “allowing these depositions to go forward would harm the public interest by discouraging civic board membership and by unfairly imposing the costs of litigation between Bren Simon and the federal government on the citizens of Marion County, Indiana.”

Further, the three executives say in declarations filed with the court that they do not recall specific infomation about the value of the team during the period relevant to the Bren Simon lawsuit. They also assert that information they do have merely duplicates what the IRS has or is in the process of getting from the Pacers and Simons.

“The key issue in the underlying … litigation is whether Melvin Simon had donative intent—i.e. the intent to make a gift to Herb Simon—nearly seven years ago when the Simons reorganized the ownership structure of the Pacers,” the motion to quash says. “None of the CIB Former Board Members possess any information about Mr. Simon’s intent with respect to the reorganization.”

Bren’s attorneys contend that Mel received “full consideration” for his half of the team. They said in a court filing that “Herb and Mel were savvy and experienced businessmen, both skilled in making business deals and interested in striking the best deal for themselves.”

The IRS also has sparred with the Pacers over what information the team should provide and under what terms—a logjam that was recently broken. Under a protective order worked out last month, the Pacers agreed to provide a batch of information by Nov. 28 and another batch by Dec. 16.

Early, Grand and Lathrop are described in the motion to quash as holding “high-profile and demanding leadership positions” and also being active in civic affairs. Each says in declarations filed with the court that “attending a deposition in this matter would pose a substantial burden and hardship on me. My schedule is very rigorous.”

Early, president of the Somerset CPAs and Advisors accounting firm, was president of the CIB from 1994 to 1999 and was vice president from 2000 to 2009.

Grand, managing partner of the Barnes & Thornburg law firm, was CIB president from 2008 to 2010.

Lathrop, chief marketing officer and office managing partner for the Indianapolis office of the Crowe Horwarth LLP accounting firm, was CIB treasurer in 2008-2009 and president from 2010-2015.

The CIB—which also owns Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center—is funded by a stew of local and regional taxes, many of

Three former presidents of the city’s Capital Improvement Board—Pat Early, Bob Grand and Ann Lathrop—are fighting an effort by attorneys for the IRS to depose them about what they learned about the Indiana Pacers’ finances during discussions with the team.

The CIB owns Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Pacers. And over the trio’s terms, the CIB has negotiated lease deals, subsidy plans and expenditures for capital projects for the venue, which opened in 1999.

The legal skirmish is an outgrowth of a lawsuit Mel Simon’s widow, Bren Simon, filed in March 2015 seeking to overturn the IRS’ determination that Mel’s sale of his half of the team to his brother Herb in early 2009—just months before Mel died at age 82—was such a sweetheart deal that Mel effecitvely provided an $83 million gift. That conclusion left Bren with a $21 million gift-tax bill, which she paid under protest but hopes to get refunded by winning the suit.

Attorneys with Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP representing the CIB filed a motion in federal court in Indianapolis on Nov. 30 seeking to quash the deposition subpoenas. It calls them “overly burdensome” and says “allowing these depositions to go forward would harm the public interest by discouraging civic board membership and by unfairly imposing the costs of litigation between Bren Simon and the federal government on the citizens of Marion County, Indiana.”

Further, the three executives say in declarations filed with the court that they do not recall specific infomation about the value of the team during the period relevant to the Bren Simon lawsuit. They also assert that information they do have merely duplicates what the IRS has or is in the process of getting from the Pacers and Simons.

“The key issue in the underlying … litigation is whether Melvin Simon had donative intent—i.e. the intent to make a gift to Herb Simon—nearly seven years ago when the Simons reorganized the ownership structure of the Pacers,” the motion to quash says. “None of the CIB Former Board Members possess any information about Mr. Simon’s intent with respect to the reorganization.”

Bren’s attorneys contend that Mel received “full consideration” for his half of the team. They said in a court filing that “Herb and Mel were savvy and experienced businessmen, both skilled in making business deals and interested in striking the best deal for themselves.”

The IRS also has sparred with the Pacers over what information the team should provide and under what terms—a logjam that was recently broken. Under a protective order worked out last month, the Pacers agreed to provide a batch of information by Nov. 28 and another batch by Dec. 16.

Early, Grand and Lathrop are described in the motion to quash as holding “high-profile and demanding leadership positions” and also being active in civic affairs. Each says in declarations filed with the court that “attending a deposition in this matter would pose a substantial burden and hardship on me. My schedule is very rigorous.”

Early, president of the Somerset CPAs and Advisors accounting firm, was president of the CIB from 1994 to 1999 and was vice president from 2000 to 2009.

Grand, managing partner of the Barnes & Thornburg law firm, was CIB president from 2008 to 2010.

Lathrop, chief marketing officer and office managing partner for the Indianapolis office of the Crowe Horwarth LLP accounting firm, was CIB treasurer in 2008-2009 and president from 2010-2015.

The CIB—which also owns Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center—is funded by a stew of local and regional taxes, many of for www.theindianalawyer.com

Three former presidents of the city’s Capital Improvement Board—Pat Early, Bob Grand and Ann Lathrop—are fighting an effort by attorneys for the IRS to depose them about what they learned about the Indiana Pacers’ finances during discussions with the team.

The CIB owns Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the NBA’s Pacers. And over the trio’s terms, the CIB has negotiated lease deals, subsidy plans and expenditures for capital projects for the venue, which opened in 1999.

The legal skirmish is an outgrowth of a lawsuit Mel Simon’s widow, Bren Simon, filed in March 2015 seeking to overturn the IRS’ determination that Mel’s sale of his half of the team to his brother Herb in early 2009—just months before Mel died at age 82—was such a sweetheart deal that Mel effecitvely provided an $83 million gift. That conclusion left Bren with a $21 million gift-tax bill, which she paid under protest but hopes to get refunded by winning the suit.

Attorneys with Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP representing the CIB filed a motion in federal court in Indianapolis on Nov. 30 seeking to quash the deposition subpoenas. It calls them “overly burdensome” and says “allowing these depositions to go forward would harm the public interest by discouraging civic board membership and by unfairly imposing the costs of litigation between Bren Simon and the federal government on the citizens of Marion County, Indiana.”

Further, the three executives say in declarations filed with the court that they do not recall specific infomation about the value of the team during the period relevant to the Bren Simon lawsuit. They also assert that information they do have merely duplicates what the IRS has or is in the process of getting from the Pacers and Simons.

“The key issue in the underlying … litigation is whether Melvin Simon had donative intent—i.e. the intent to make a gift to Herb Simon—nearly seven years ago when the Simons reorganized the ownership structure of the Pacers,” the motion to quash says. “None of the CIB Former Board Members possess any information about Mr. Simon’s intent with respect to the reorganization.”

Bren’s attorneys contend that Mel received “full consideration” for his half of the team. They said in a court filing that “Herb and Mel were savvy and experienced businessmen, both skilled in making business deals and interested in striking the best deal for themselves.”

The IRS also has sparred with the Pacers over what information the team should provide and under what terms—a logjam that was recently broken. Under a protective order worked out last month, the Pacers agreed to provide a batch of information by Nov. 28 and another batch by Dec. 16.

Early, Grand and Lathrop are described in the motion to quash as holding “high-profile and demanding leadership positions” and also being active in civic affairs. Each says in declarations filed with the court that “attending a deposition in this matter would pose a substantial burden and hardship on me. My schedule is very rigorous.”

Early, president of the Somerset CPAs and Advisors accounting firm, was president of the CIB from 1994 to 1999 and was vice president from 2000 to 2009.

Grand, managing partner of the Barnes & Thornburg law firm, was CIB president from 2008 to 2010.

Lathrop, chief marketing officer and office managing partner for the Indianapolis office of the Crowe Horwarth LLP accounting firm, was CIB treasurer in 2008-2009 and president from 2010-2015.

The CIB—which also owns Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center—is funded by a stew of local and regional taxes, many of

Automakers on track to meet standards at lower than expected cost

WASHINGTON — Based on extensive technical analysis that shows automakers are well positioned to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2022-2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today proposed leaving the standards in place, so the program that was established in 2012 will stay on track to nearly double fuel economy, dramatically cut carbon pollution, maintain regulatory certainty for a global industry, and save American drivers billions of dollars at the pump.

“Given the auto industry’s importance to American jobs and communities and the industry’s need for certainty well into the future, EPA has reanalyzed these clean car standards and sought further input,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “It’s clear from the extensive technical record that this program will remain affordable and effective. This proposed decision reconfirms our confidence in the auto industry’s capacity to drive innovation and strengthen the American economy while saving drivers money at the pump and safeguarding our health, climate and environment.”

Today’s proposed determination is based on years of technical work, including an exhaustive technical report released earlier this year, and the agency’s thorough review and consideration of comments received on that report. This extensive body of analysis shows that manufacturers can meet the standards at similar or even a lower cost than what was anticipated in the 2012 rulemaking, and that the standards will deliver significant fuel savings for American consumers, as well as benefits to public health and welfare from reducing the pollution that contributes to climate change. Full implementation of the standards will cut about 6 billion metric tons of GHG emissions over the lifetimes of the vehicles sold in model years 2012-2025. Cars and light trucks are the largest source of GHG emissions in the U.S. transportation sector.

Although EPA’s technical analysis indicates that the standards could be strengthened for model years 2022-2025, proposing to leave the current standards in place provides greater certainty to the auto industry for product planning and engineering. This will enable long-term planning in the auto industry, while also benefiting consumers and the environment.

Today’s announcement builds on years of success under EPA’s vehicle emission standards. Auto manufacturers are innovating and adopting fuel economy technologies at unprecedented rates. Car makers have developed more technologies to reduce GHG emissions, and these technologies are entering the fleet faster than expected. These technologies include gasoline direct injection, more sophisticated transmissions, and stop-start systems that reduce idling fuel consumption. At the end of 2015, all large automakers were in compliance with the standards. In fact, automakers on average out-performed the model year 2015 standards by seven grams per mile. These gains are happening at a time when the car industry is thriving, and domestic vehicle sales have increased for six consecutive years, while maintaining consumer choice across a full range of vehicle sizes and types.

As part of the rulemaking establishing the model year 2017-2025 light-duty vehicle GHG standards, EPA committed to conduct a Midterm Evaluation of standards for model years 2022-2025. The public comment period for this action begins today and will end on December 30, 2016. After the comment period has ended and consideration of the input, the Administrator will decide whether she has enough information to make a final determination on the model year 2022-2025 standards.

For more information on today’s announcement, go to: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/midterm-evaluation-light-duty-vehicle-greenhouse-gas-ghg.