http://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx
The Peaceful Transition of Power?
The Peaceful Transition of Power?
Derek Hunter for Townhall
Let’s hop in the way-back machine for a minute, shall we? We don’t need to go far … just a few months back to be exact.
It was a different time. Hairstyles were different. Fashion was different. Kids were listening to a different type of music their parents couldn’t understand. It was a crazy time. It also was a time marked by the Democratic Party insisting that what made this country great was the “peaceful transition of power.”
Like I said, it was a different time.
It was Oct. 19 when Donald Trump would not give in to Chris Wallace, the moderator of the final presidential debate, on the question of whether he would accept the results of the election. In the few remaining weeks of the campaign, that became one of the most talked about moments of the entire years-long ordeal. Little did we know that moment would come into play more than a month after all the votes were counted.
Hillary Clinton wasn’t asked the question herself, but she never stopped feigning outrage from that moment forward at the concept. Not to the concept of her team committing the very offense which so horrified her, but to the idea there was any circumstance under which the oafish Trump would not bow down and admit her superiority to the world.
Of course, it was Hillary who, on election night, refused to concede to the clear victor. Few could blame her for needing a couple of hours to soak in the fact that she’d duffed a tap-in putt on the 18th hole in The Masters and would not be sliding into the Green Jacket. When your dream slips away for a second and final time, it’s understandable composure would elude you.
Pulling herself together, she did admit defeat the next morning, but she and her team don’t seem to have accepted it.
In the ensuing weeks there has been nary a Clinton campaign veteran who hasn’t made a grousing public statement or bitter, unfounded accusation about how a “rigged election†denied the queen her throne.
FBI Director James Comey’s two letters cost her votes; sexism denied Clinton the White House; the Russians interfered with the election. You name, they’ve blamed it.
In all those accusations was an undercurrent of not only denying Donald Trump won but denying his coming presidency its legitimacy. Rooted in all of it, especially the Russian “hacking†story, is a hint of the idea that were it not for nefarious forces, Hillary would be president.
The FBI and sexism charges held no water, one having been of her own doing and the other overplayed by her campaign. So those unwilling to accept the constitutional order of things hung their hats on Russia.
The bitter grumblings were just that, grumblings of losers. But when those grumblings came from the mouth of the CIA director, another level was achieved.
Director John Brennan, who ironically voted for the Communist Party candidate for president in 1980, was now pointing an official finger at the Kremlin for interfering with the election.
AG-elect Says Drug Offenders Need To Be Held Accountable
AG-elect Says Drug Offenders Need To Be Held Accountable
by Marilyn Odendahl for Indiana Lawyer Daily
Since the Legislature revised the state’s criminal code to provide drug treatment and recovery services to low-level drug offenders, Indiana has been brutalized by an opioid epidemic that has led to a resurgence of HIV along with needle exchange programs in eight counties and counting.
Indiana Attorney General-elect Curtis Hill agrees that jails and prisons are good places for offering addiction programs but maintains that offenders still need to be held accountable for their crimes.
“I want to make sure that while we’re addressing the addictive nature of someone’s being that we don’t lose sight of the fact that have an accountability standard that addresses the person who has committed multiple acts of criminal behavior,†Hill said.
The incoming attorney general discussed his views during and after a panel discussion Wednesday at the Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP Legislative Conference in Indianapolis. He was joined by Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, University of Illinois at Chicago economist Frank Chaloupka, along with physicians Timothy Kelly, medical director of addiction treatment services at Community Hospital Behavioral Care Services and Jennifer Walthall, deputy state health commission and director for health outcomes with the Indiana State Department of Health.
The session on health infrastructure, the opioid crisis, and the tobacco tax took a broad look at what the state can do to curb drug dependency.
Merritt described addiction as an illness that “we can’t arrest our way out of.†He said he wants Indiana to kick its heroin habit in five years and he is planning to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session that offers a comprehensive approach to the drug problem.
The panel discussion took place a day after Washington passed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which includes $1 billion over the next two years to fight the opioid and heroin epidemics. Merritt said he is unsure how much of that money will come to Indiana so he is basing his approach on not getting any federal assistance.
A representative from Sen. Joe Donnelly’s office told the panel that while the amount is unclear, Indiana should expect to receive funds from the new federal initiative. The money will be funneled through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.
Hill said he wants to change the perception that the county jails and state prisons are filled with violent and nonviolent offenders. Instead the incarceration system is comprised of violent criminals and chronic offenders. He defined the latter group as individuals who break the law multiple times and even though the infractions might be minor, the only accountability mechanism available is incarceration.
“Our jails are filled with users,†Hill said. “That’s not why we’re putting them there. We’re putting them there to hold them accountable for bad behavior and if we don’t address that accountability, they’re going to continue to re-offend and re-offend and re-offend regardless of whether they’re substance abusers or not.â€
In 2013, the Indiana General Assembly overhauled the state’s criminal code to revamp penalties and mandate low-risk offenders serve their sentences in county jails rather than being sent to the Indiana Department of Correction. The Legislature then appropriated $55 million to help communities across the state bolster services and programs aimed at helping low-risk offenders quit the cycle of recidivism.
Hill said he wants to provide assistance to make sure everyone is talking the same language and all understand the problem of substance abuse.
“We all want to have less people locked up, less people addicted and more people being productive,†he said. “So if we start from that standpoint, we should be able to work together to find solutions.â€
EPA Announces Smart City Air Challenge Awardees
Awards Will Enable Two Communities To Deploy Hundreds Of Air Quality Sensors And Make The Data Public.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the City of Baltimore and the Lafayette, Louisiana, Consolidated Government as awardees of the Smart City Air Challenge. The challenge encourages communities to install hundreds of air quality sensors and share the data with the public. The agency also has recognized four projects for honorable mention: New York, New York; Mesa County, Colorado; Raleigh, North Carolina and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.
“I firmly believe that data can make a positive difference in human health and environmental protection,†said Ann Dunkin, EPA’s Chief Information Officer. “We are looking forward to working with these Smart City Air Challenge awardees and honorable mention communities to share knowledge about collecting, storing and managing large amounts of data.â€
The projects were evaluated on four criteria: data management, data use, sensor procurement and deployment and project sustainability. The two awardees will receive $40,000 each to deploy air sensors, share data with the public and develop data management best practices. After a year of implementing the projects, both communities will be eligible to receive up to an additional $10,000 based on their accomplishments and collaboration.
The following two projects were selected as awardee recipients:
•          An Air Quality Sensor Network for Greater Baltimore: This Baltimore, Maryland, project incorporates plans to engage several partners and neighborhoods to deploy a network of sensors in a phased approach, leveraging a scalable cloud platform for data management. They plan to assemble commercially-available components to build their sensor system and distribute the data on a City of Baltimore website.
•          Lafayette Engagement and Research Network (LEaRN): This Lafayette, Louisiana, project proposes a partnership between collegiate, local government and non-governmental organizations to deploy a network of sensors. The project has a strong data management plan that will use a scalable cloud platform. They plan to use commercially-available sensors for the project and share the data with the public in a variety of ways.
EPA is recognizing these four projects for honorable mention because of their innovation and potential:
•          Healthy Mesa County & Mesa County Health Department: Smart City Air Challenge Solution: Mesa, Colorado
•          Air Quality Crowdsourcing Data in Minneapolis/St. Paul: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
•          New York City Air Casting Project: EPA Smart City Air Challenge Solution: New York, New York
•          Citizen science with Ground-Level Ozone Wearables Sensors (GLOWS) for real-time pollution maps across the Research Triangle: Research Triangle, North Carolina
Air Quality Forecast For Evansville Vanderburgh County
Air Quality Forecast For Evansville Vanderburgh County
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.
Thursday December 15 |
Friday December 16 |
Saturday December 17 |
Sunday December 18 |
Monday December19 |
|
Fine Particulate (0-23Â CST avg) Air Quality Index |
good | moderate | moderate | moderate | 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.
Air Quality Forecast
Indiana’s Bower Places Third in 3-Meter Dive at Winter Nationals
Indiana University diver Michal Bower finished the 2016 USA Diving Winter National Championships with a third-place finish in the 3-meter dive in Columbus, Ohio.
Entering the final in fourth place with a score of 496.40, Bower totaled a 261.90 in her final five dives to earn a podium spot with a score of 758.30. Bower was incredibly consistent on Wednesday night, scoring over 54.00 on four of her five attempts.
“What a great week for Michal,†Indiana University head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “She got better every day and finishing her last day on the podium was perfect.â€
With her third-place finish, Bower earned a spot in the World University Games in August in Taipei, Taiwan. Earlier this week at the USA Swimming Winter National Championships, Bower placed seventh in the 1-meter dive final.
The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be back in action on Jan. 13, 2017 when the teams host Big Ten rival Michigan in Bloomington, Ind. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.
Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Women’s 3-Meter Final
- Michal Bower – 758.30
Letter To The Editor by Holli Sullivan
Residents of Southwestern Indiana will be heartened to learn considerable progress is being made to modernize Evansville Regional Airport Terminal. This week the Indiana Economic Development Corporation approved Regional Cities Initiative funding to support the renovation project. The state will be funding $5 million of the $12.36 million project.
The 30-year-old terminal will undergo much-needed infrastructure updates. These updates are needed in order for our airport to remain the region’s air gateway. The functional improvements include reconfiguring the TSA security gates, increasing the utilization of jet ways and updating terminal restrooms, restaurants and parking. For many visitors to our region, the airport is the first impression they have of Southwest Indiana. These upgrades will provide the modern amenities professional air travelers and businesses expect and be a better reflection of the progress and economic development that is happening in Southwest Indiana.
The new terminal will also help Evansville area businesses market their products and services, as well as attract and retain new talent for our workforce.
I am also working on legislation to assist regional and smaller general aviation airports. These facilities are an integral part of our nation’s air transportation system. The legislative proposal would create a source of ongoing funds for airport projects throughout the state by dedicating revenue from the current Indiana sales tax on aircraft and the state excise tax on retail aviation fuel to a specific fund.
Our airport serves as a vital asset to all of Southwest Indiana, not just Vanderburgh County. It is in the entire state’s interest to find a user-based funding mechanism to support its smaller, but vital airports. I plan to introduce this bill during the upcoming legislative session, which starts Jan. 4 and would appreciate citizen input and feedback on the issue.
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USI’s Wascher Nets GLVC Weekly Honor
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week for her efforts in leading the Screaming Eagles to a 2-0 record at the Puerto Rico Classic this past weekend.
Wascher averaged 23.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest as the Eagles improved their current winning streak to five games.
In USI’s 92-46 win over the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Friday night, Wascher scored a game-high tying 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in just 15 minutes of work. She was 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from the charity stripe as USI cruised to the 46-point win.
Wascher saved her best for last as she racked up a career-high 29 points to go along with 11 rebounds and a pair of steals in USI’s 88-71 win over the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Saturday afternoon. She went 11-of-16 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line as she recorded her second straight double-double and third of the year.
A second-team All-GLVC honoree a year ago, Wascher earns her first GLVC Player of the Week award. She is the first USI women’s basketball player to earn the award since Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) garnered GLVC Player of the Week honors nearly a year ago (December 21, 2015).
USI returns to action December 30 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Midwest Region foe Ohio Dominican University at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles resume GLVC play January 5 when they host William Jewell College.
FootNote: Also earning GLVC Player of the Week honors was USI Men’s Basketball senior guard Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky)…it marks the first time since November 24, 2014—when Anna Hackert and Gavin Schumann earned GLVC Player of the Week accolades—that USI has swept the conference’s weekly basketball honors.
Cities, counties mull immigrant legal fund after Trump’s win
IL for www.theindianalawyer.com
Major U.S. cities and counties are beefing up legal services for immigrants to help them fight deportation and avoid fraudulent lawyers in the wake of Donald Trump’s election and his hard-line immigration enforcement promises.
Tapping local government funds to represent immigrants in federal proceedings provides an early example of the type of pushback the Republican incoming president will receive in Democratic strongholds. Advocates call it a matter of justice and smart economics, but some question whether it’s a fair use of taxpayer money.
Chicago has approved a $1.3 million legal fund. Los Angeles city and county officials and private organizations are working on a $10 million plan, according to a mayor’s spokeswoman, while some California state lawmakers have proposed spending tens of millions of dollars to provide lawyers to immigrants facing deportation. New York is mulling a public-private legal fund, building on New York City’s public defender program that’s considered a national model.
“We need able to be able to stand by people who are fearful,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a former White House chief of staff, said after the measure passed the City Council last week.
Trump’s pledges to build a border wall and deport the estimated 11 million people living in the country without legal permission have triggered uncertainty in immigrant circles. He’s since scaled back the deportee number, but not detailed his platform.
Since his win, a lack of legal representation for immigrants has become a growing concern. It was the top issue raised by a Chicago task force of leaders, including Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, convened after the election. A proponent of a Los Angeles County measure slated for consideration Tuesday, Supervisor Hilda Solis, said she’s especially worried about the fate of unaccompanied minors and young immigrants who filed personal information with the federal government to obtain work permits under the Obama administration.
“Right now, the most important thing is that this fund be established and that our most vulnerable communities know that we are working towards keeping them safe and protected,” Solis said.
Immigrants aren’t guaranteed a lawyer in immigration court and only about 37 percent of those in deportation proceedings have legal representation, according to a September American Immigration Council report.
Democratic state lawmakers in California have proposed legislation that could cost up to $80 million for immigration attorneys and other legal training. Santa Clara County is looking into the idea and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee added $1.5 million to a fund for immigrant legal services.
In Chicago — where an estimated 150,000 people do not have permanent legal status — the money will be divided among two nonprofits. One will focus on poor immigrants facing deportation. The other will employ 200 “community navigators” who will network through churches, schools and community events to find immigrants who are in the country illegally and help them figure out if they have avenues to stay.
“People are nervous,” said Esperanza Villalobos, who already does the job in Mexican-heavy Chicago neighborhoods. She reports a surge in immigrants seeking her out since the election.
In Chicago, which has some of the most immigrant-friendly laws in the nation, the debate over the fund had tense moments, highlighting how contentious the issue is outside Democratic strongholds. Chicago set aside money only for one year and is banking on private donations to keep it going.
Three aldermen representing neighborhoods with strong Trump support voted against it, including Nicholas Sposato. He dismissed it as “the legal defense fund for the illegals” and said Chicago should consider the money for other issues. The cash-strapped city diverted the funds from a little-used homeowner rebate program.
“I’m not a hater,” Sposato said during the vote at full the council meeting. “Any given day, 1,000 homeless veterans out there. What are we doing for them?”
Another reason cited by local governments for creating the funds is the economy, because immigrants, regardless of legal status, work and pay taxes. In addition, children of immigrants who are deported may end up needing publicly-funded services such as foster care and health care, said Avideh Moussavian, a policy attorney with the National Immigration Law Center in Washington.
“There’s the due process issue, but there’s actually quantifiable economic impact,” she said.
In 2013, New York City tested a program to infuse public defender offices with money for attorneys dedicated to representing detained immigrants. The program has grown from $500,000 in its initial year to roughly $6 million. Attorneys have represented more than 1,500 immigrants from 2013 through late last year, the most recent statistics available. About 70 percent of attorneys won their cases, according to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice.
In Chicago, another goal is to help immigrants avoid fraudulent services, something 24-year-old Jose Lopez knows firsthand.
The college student, brought to the country illegally as a child, qualified for a work permit under the Obama administration. Twice he sought out attorneys who advertised on Spanish-language radio stations.
However, the paperwork they filed was unnecessary, his case stalled and he lost nearly $2,000. He’s since obtained the permit and has a graphic design job, but hopes others can avoid his mistakes.
“I had to stall a career. I had to stall school,” he said. “I had to stall life.”