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IS IT TRUE JANUARY 24, 2017

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IS IT TRUE the Evansville City Council wisely postured against the State of Indiana’s consideration to increase the local income tax from the current 1% to 1.25%?…such a move would cost the average Vanderburgh County family over $100 but could tap some families for up to $1,000 per year?…after the recent attempts to partially take away the Homestead Tax Credit after sneakily trying to remove the entire Homestead Tax Credit in 2009, this City Council must be feeling the fire on the backsides for being a bunch of tax and spend types?…the fact that all of the border counties have much lower tax,rates than Vanderburgh County already has will drive even more people out of the City and County?…we wonder what the heck we get for these high taxes as our sewers are still in need of $1Billion of improvements, out roads look like a wrecking ball was bounced through town, and the sidewalks are terrible?…when a good plan is in place, then and only then will it be appropriate to start discussing a tax increase?

IS IT TRUE Evansville will pass a milestone on Wednesday when Über starts to recruit drivers to provide transportation services to the city residents?…this is sort of a right of passage that is coming along 5 years behind leading edge communities just like it was when the first Starbucks and Krispy Kreme Donuts came to town after blanketing the rest, of the country with their stores?…this is a small step as there are plenty of private cabs in town, but to get Uber does imply that Evansville is on the nations service industry radar?…it will also let some local people who qualify earn some extra income?

IS IT TRUE if the powers that be would had listened to former County Commissioner Dave Mosby and Vanderburgh County Sheriff Brad Ellsworth concerning building a larger jail this issue would not being be discussed today? …they were correct that the new jail should had been built on the future needs and not the present needs?

IS IT TRUE we are extremely disappointed that Vanderburgh County Commissioners Bruce Ungethiem and Cheryl Musgrave are using an Indianapolis based public relations/consultant firm to speak on their behalf concerning the funding and renovation of the Vanderburgh County jail? …we find this move not to be in the best interest of open government?  …we wonder who is paying for the services of Indianapolis based public relations/consultant firm? …we also wonder how much this service is costing?

IS IT TRUE we are also puzzled why the newly elected County Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave has decided to stay mum about the jail issue?  …during the election Ms. Musgrave never shy away from the media in order to take advantage of a photo opt or the opportunity to give her opinions about any governmental issue that came before her?

IS IT TRUE Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer acknowledged that Mayor Winnecke is aware of the bill to help fund the new addition on the Vanderburgh County jail? …Its common knowledge that that any State Representative would never submit a bill on behalf of the city without the knowledge or permission of the Mayor? …don’t tell us that the Mayor is involved in another back room political deal?

IS IT TRUE President Donald Trump started his term off with a flurry of activity by withdrawing the United States from the TPP trade agreement, declaring that NAFTA will be renegotiated, and by signing an executive order to encourage the regulatory agencies to roll back as much of the Affordable Care Act as possible to save people money?…it is about to get really interesting as President Trump goes about trying to do the things he said he would with respect to the economy?

FOOTNOTE: Todays “Readers Poll’ question is:  Do you feel that Mayor Winnecke quietly gave his permission to increase the local income tax from the current 1% to 1.25% to help fund the jail renovation?

CHANNEL 44 NEWS: Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to Attend Toyota’s Announcement

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Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to Attend Toyota’s Announcement

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will be on hand for Toyota’s announcement event Tuesday at the Gibson County plant’s visitors Center. The announcement is scheduled to start shortly after 11:00 a.m. central time. Officials promise a new…

Human Trafficking Awareness Month:  

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Film screening “Trade” With Panel And Discussion To Follow.  

January 31, 2017 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the University of Southern Indiana

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, a time to bring awareness to the prevalence of human trafficking to our school and community. Human trafficking is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights, more defined as the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation.

On January 31st, USI’s Gender Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Group will host a screening of the film, “Trade” featuring actor Kevin Kline, released in 2007.  This movie is about Adriana who is a 13-year-old girl from Mexico City, who’s kidnapping by sex traffickers sets in motion a desperate mission to save her by her 17-year-old brother, Jorge. Trapped and terrified by an underground network of international thugs who earn millions exploiting their human cargo, Adriana’s only friend and protector throughout her ordeal is Veronica, a young Polish woman tricked into the trade by the same criminal gang. As Jorge dodges immigration officers and incredible obstacles to track the girls’ abductors, he meets Ray, a Texas cop whose own family’s loss to sex trafficking leads him to become an ally in the boy’s quest.

The film will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Mitchell Auditorium.  Popcorn will be served.  After the film a panel of experts will be available to discuss this topic and answer questions.

The film is sponsored by the University of Southern Indiana Sexual Assault/Gender Violence prevention group:  Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office, Public Safety, Recreation, Fitness, & Wellness Center, Student Support Services, Criminal Justice Studies, Gender Studies, Housing and Residence Life and University Health Center, along with Community Partners Albion Fellows Bacon Center and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office.

Human trafficking occurred in all 50 states in 2015.  In 2012, the International Labor Organization estimated that there are 20.9 million human trafficking victims worldwide.  There has been an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 persons trafficked annually into the U.S. The International Labor Organization estimates that forced labor and human trafficking is a $150 billion industry worldwide.

For more information or if you are being trafficked please contact: Albion Fellows Bacon Center (812) 424-7274 or National Human Trafficking Resource Center line at 1-888-373-7888.  Creating awareness is the first step of taking action to stop human trafficking.

Air Quality Forecast

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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

January 23

Tuesday
January 24
Wednesday
January 25
Thursday
January 26
Friday
January 27
Fine Particulate
(0-23 CST avg)
Air Quality Index
good good good good good
Ozone
Air Quality Index
NA* NA* NA* NA* NA*
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.

 

AMERICAN AIRLINES UPGRADING DALLAS SERVICE AT EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT WITH LARGER JETS New First Class Service to Dallas from Evansville

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Evansville Regional Airport announced today that American Airlines has scheduled a major upgrade to their Dallas service provided at EVV with added capacity and first class seats.

Starting April 4, 2017, all of EVV’s Dallas weekday flights and one Saturday flight will be served with a CRJ-900 aircraft, which has nine first class seats and 76 total seats. The Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) route is currently served with a 50 seat ERJ-145 aircraft. The larger jets represent

an increase of more than 14,000 departing seats annually and approximately 30,000 extra seats to the Evansville market.

Leslie Fella, Evansville Regional Airport Director of Marketing and Air Service, said the aircraft upgrades were based on performance and potential.

“We increased our frequency to Dallas from one daily round trip to two in November, and our market is handling the increase in seats very well,” said Fella. “The larger jets are a result of this customer demand, and as our performance continues on this positive trend, American Airlines will be more likely to keep the larger aircraft in our market and potentially add more.”

Fella said that the addition of the bigger planes to Dallas from American Airlines is a testament

to the airlines confidence in the market, the community’s support for Evansville Regional Airport and the airport’s continued commitment to bring great air service options to the region.

“We are continually pleased with American Airlines’ support in our market – they have taken note of the fact that people in Evansville love the nonstop flights to DFW and have answered the region’s desire for more seats and a first class product,” said Fella. “With the additional seats and more amenities, we suspect that we’ll see even stronger performance in our market.”

Doug Joest, Evansville Regional Airport Executive Director, said the new CRJ-900s to Dallas will bring significant value to area leisure and business travelers.

“The larger jets to Dallas will immediately benefit area businesses and leisure travelers with more opportunity to access the Dallas area, the west coast and international markets, while also providing the travel conveniences that our customers demand,” said Joest.

Joest said with so many travel options available with just one stop, many Evansville Regional

Airport passengers have found the nonstop service between Evansville and Dallas Fort Worth an ideal travel opportunity.

As American Airlines’ largest domestic hub, DFW offers more than 800 daily flights to nearly 200 destinations in 29 countries.

American Airlines began service between Evansville and Dallas in June 2005. The airline also provides nonstop service to Charlotte and Chicago from Evansville.

American Airlines’ flights from Evansville are available for ticketing at www.aa.com.

COA: Trial Court Lacked Jurisdiction To Order BMV To Act

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Olivia Covington for www.theindianalawyer.com

The Indiana Court of Appeals found in favor of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Monday after finding that a litigant’s failure to comply with the Administrative Order and Procedures Act left a trial court without jurisdiction to order the BMV to act on the litigant’s petition.

As a construction worker for almost 25 years, Craig Watson operates certain types of trucks that require him to maintain a chauffeur’s license. However, when Watson attempted to renew his license in 2015, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles denied him, holding that he must first resolve a suspended license dispute with the state of Illinois dating to 2000.

Watson administratively appealed the denial of his license renewal, but in December 2015 the BMV held that the renewal was “properly denied … due to the Illinois suspension.” A week later, Watson filed for special driving privileges, which the Lake Circuit Court granted but that the BMV refused to issue because of the suspended Illinois license.

Watson then moved to compel the BMV or to issue a valid driver’s license. The trial court granted both of Watson’s motions, holding that the section of Indiana Code the BMV had been using as its basis for its denial related to the issuance of a new license, not renewal of an existing license.

The Indiana Attorney General then filed a motion to intervene and to correct error, alleging that the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction to order the BMV to issue the chauffeur’s license.  The motion to correct held that Watson’s motion to issue a valid driver’s license credential was a petition for judicial review requiring service upon the Attorney General of Indiana.

The Lake Circuit Court denied the motion to correct error, prompting the BMV’s appeal.  The state agency argued that the trial court had impermissibly engaged in judicial review of an agency decision and, further, that because the trial court reviewed an administrative action of a state agency, Watson was required to follow the Indiana Administrative Orders and Procedures Act. That act requires, among other things, serving the Indiana Attorney General, and because Watson failed to do so, the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction.

A panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals sided with the BMV Monday, with Judge Margret Robb writing that Watson’s motion to compel issuance of specialized driving privileges or to issue a valid driver’s license credential was a petition for judicial review of the BMV’s decision, thus invoking the procedures of the AOPA.

However, in 2016, the Indiana General Assembly amended Indiana Code sections 4-21.5-2-5 and 9-33-1-1 to exclude BMV actions from judicial review under AOPA, an amendment Watson argued should be applied retroactively. But Robb wrote Monday that the Legislature did not specify that the amendment should be applied retroactively, and even if it had, doing so would not be to Watson’s benefit because his actions did not comply with Indiana Code article 9-33.

Finally, Robb wrote that because Watson failed to serve the Indiana Attorney General in his petition for judicial review, the BMV was unrepresented, so his service of process was ineffective and the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction to order the BMV to issue the chauffeur’s license.

The case is Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and Kent Abernathy, Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles v. Craig Watson, 45A03-1607-MI-1538.

Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Calendar of Events 1/23/2017

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Wednesday
January 25th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Tuesday,
February 7th
Forum 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Chair Chat Forum with State Chairman John Zody

  • Location: Central Labor Council – 310 SE 8th. Street – Evansville, IN
  • Come to talk about the future of the Indiana Democratic Party! Thankful to our friends in organized labor for opening up their place for this forum. Indiana Democrats and their ideas are welcome!
Wednesday, February 22nd Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Tuesday,
February 28th
Fundraiser 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Jonathan Weaver’s Annual Mardi-Gras Event

  • Location: KC’s Timeout Lounge – 1121 Washington Square – Evansville, IN
  • Cost: $35 per person.  $250 – Bead Sponsor.  $500 – Hurricane Sponsor
Wednesday,
March 1st
Fundraiser 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM 4th Annual Kathryn Martin for Knight Township Trustee Chili Dinner Fundraiser

  • Location: Marigold Bar – 2112 S Weinbach Ave – Evansville, IN
  • Cost: $10 per person
  • Sponsorships Available
Saturday,
March 4th
Caucus TBD Vanderburgh County Democratic Party Central Committee Caucus

  • Location: TBD
Thursday,
March 9th
Fundraiser TBD Laura Brown Windhorst for City Clerk Fundraiser

  • Location: TBD
Wednesday, March 29th Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
April 26th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday, May 31st Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
June 28th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
July 26th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
August 30th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
September 27th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
October 25th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
November 29th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN
Wednesday,
December 27th
Meeting 6:00 PM Vanderburgh County Democrat Club Meeting

  • Location: FOP – 801 Court Street – Evansville, IN

Haynie’s Corner to Host Artist and Volunteer Information Meeting 

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The Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association will host an artist and volunteer informational session on Monday, January 30th at 6:30 pm in the Ballroom by Sauced (located at 1113 Parrett St, Evansville, IN 47713).

Artists, musicians, and community groups interested in participating in the 2017 Haynie’s Corner summer First Fridays series are encouraged to attend, as are those interested in volunteering during First Fridays, or any of the other Haynie’s Corner Arts District calendar of events.

“We’re thrilled with the momentum of the neighborhood, and with the success of First Fridays and other events,” says Mary Allen, owner of 6th Street Soapery and President of the Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association.  “So many people have expressed interest in getting involved, and this meeting will help us connect with more artists and volunteers, positioning us for another year of arts and vibrancy in the neighborhood.”

For more information, please contact the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana at (812) 422-2111, or by emailing anne.mckim@artswin.org

USI’s Marcum nets GLVC weekly honor

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University of Southern Indiana senior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Monday in an announcement by the league office.

Marcum averaged 24.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 2-1 record in GLVC play last week.

She began the week with a career-high 30 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists in USI’s 88-83 setback to No. 4 Bellarmine University last Monday. Marcum had 24 points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals in the Eagles’ 78-71 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Thursday; then racked up 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals in USI’s 85-65 win over No. 24 Lewis University Saturday.

For the week, Marcum shot 55.0 percent (22-40) from the field, 54.5 percent (6-11) from behind the arc and 88.9 percent (24-27) from the free throw line.

On the year, Marcum is second on the team with 13.2 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 3.6 assists per contest. She leads the team with 3.0 steals per game and leads the GLVC with a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Marcum, who earns her first career GLVC Player of the Week award, is just 26 points shy of becoming the 16th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. She is the second USI women’s basketball player this year to earn the honor, joining senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois), who earned the award December 19 for her efforts at the Puerto Rico Classic.

USI returns to action Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when it travels to Rensselaer, Indiana, to take on Saint Joseph’s College in a GLVC contest. The Eagles complete the two-game road trip by visiting the University of Indianapolis Saturday at noon (CST).