ST. MARY’S HEALTH OFFERS TWO WINTER INSURANCE ENROLLMENT EVENTS
St. Mary’s Health is offering application assistance appointments for health insurance plans. An additional date is now available for Warrick County residents.
Representatives from St. Mary’s Health Access Advocates, Anthem, MedAssist, and Cross Pointe Insurance will be available to assist the uninsured. They will offer education and help navigating the application process on ACA plans, Hoosier Healthwise, HIP 2.0, Medicaid and Medicare. There is no charge for these services.
Low-income, non-disabled adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes of up to $16,297 annually or $33,307 for a family of four are generally eligible to participate in the Healthy Indiana Plan.
Those interested are encouraged to schedule an appointment for a guaranteed spot by calling 812.485.5864. Walk-ins are welcome.
St. Mary’s Center for Advanced Medicine
Fourth Floor, Room 4
901 St. Mary’s Drive, Evansville, IN
Tuesday, January 26, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Adopt A Pet
Vidia is a 9-month-old female Shepherd/Lab mix! She and her five siblings (who are already adopted) lived outside for their entire previous life, and didn’t even have names. Vidia is surprisingly social and loves people! She’s seeking a forever indoor home. Visit www.vhslifesaver.org or call (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!
AG Zoeller: Chase settlement funds will support foreclosure prevention assistance, debt counseling to struggling HoosiersÂ
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INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced that Indiana Legal Services, Inc. (ILS) will receive a grant to support its foreclosure prevention services and debt counseling programs that the nonprofit offers free to struggling Indiana residents in all 92 counties. The $300,000 grant is paid for with funds received by the Attorney General’s Office and reserved for consumer protection efforts as part of a multi-state settlement with Chase Bank over alleged unlawful debt collection practices. Part of this grant will go toward supporting internships that ILS offers to law students at the IU Maurer School of Law in Bloomington and Indiana Tech Law School in Fort Wayne, giving prospective lawyers experience in this important consumer protection work while also providing critical assistance to low-income Indiana residents. Additionally, the grant will enable ILS to expand its Consumer Advocacy Project currently run out of the John Boner Center in Indianapolis, which aims to identify and reduce financial exploitation and abuse in Indianapolis’ poorest neighborhoods. “Indiana Legal Services provides desperately needed assistance to thousands of Hoosiers each year who are struggling to stay afloat, buried in debt or being targeted by scam artists looking to prey off of their vulnerable situation,†Zoeller said. “Indiana Legal Services is a critical community partner, and I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to involve law students in this meaningful work.†Zoeller said when people can’t afford legal help, they often turn to unscrupulous businesses that claim to offer foreclosure prevention services but are really just out to make a buck. He said homeowners should be on guard against scam artists who ask for a fee in exchange for a counseling service or modification of a delinquent loan. Since Jan.1, 2014, the Homeowner Protection Unit of the Office of the Indiana Attorney General has received 50 complaints concerning foreclosure consulting fraud, and engaged in the litigation of about 30 cases. The grant money being offered to ILS will specifically support foreclosure prevention staff at the ILS offices in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Bloomington and Evansville. ILS helps struggling homeowners primarily by representing them at settlement conferences with their mortgage lender in attempt to negotiate lower monthly payments or other strategies that can help the individual keep their home. ILS prevented 110 foreclosures in 2014 and 118 in 2015. “ILS works to provide a full-range of legal services to those across Indiana who struggle financially and need this help the most,†said Jon Laramore, executive director of ILS. “Expanding our reach and focusing this grant on some of our most crucial services will make a real difference in the lives of these individuals and support stronger communities.†Several students from Indiana Tech Law School will be assisting this semester with these foreclosure prevention services at the ILS office in Fort Wayne. “At Indiana Tech, one of our goals is to give students real-world, applicable experience that will advance and help define their career track,†Indiana Tech Law School Dean Charles Cercone said. “Working with Indiana Legal Services will accomplish this goal while also bettering our Fort Wayne community.†ILS will also use the grant money to bolster their debt counseling programs at the ILS offices in Evansville, Indianapolis and New Albany. Debt counseling services often include ensuring that individuals are not being abused by debt collectors in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act as well assisting individuals who are juggling multiple debts. The AG’s Office received more than 540 complaints about debt collectors in 2015. Homeowners who are facing foreclosure can contact Indiana Legal Services for assistance. They can also contact the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network (IFPN) at 1-877-GET-HOPE to see if they qualify to receive mortgage payment assistance from Indiana’s Hardest Hit Fund. If you believe you are a victim of foreclosure-relief fraud, file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 800-382-5516. |
COA agrees man’s Ohio convictions don’t support SVF charges
Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
Because the elements of the Ohio residential burglary statute used as the basis to charge a defendant as a serious violent felon in Indiana are not substantially similar to the Indiana statute, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of the defendant’s SVF charges.
Frank Hancock faced multiple counts in Jefferson Superior Court, including two Level 4 felony possession of firearm by a serious violent felon charges. Those charges allege because he was convicted in Ohio of second-degree burglary in 2004, Hancock is a SVF in Indiana.
At his trial, the judge raised sua sponte the issue of whether the elements of the Ohio residential burglary statute were substantially similar to Indiana’s statute. The judge determined they were not, then granted Hancock’s motion to dismiss those charges. Hancock’s remaining charges were dismissed after a mistrial.
The state on interlocutory appeal challenged the dismissal of the possession of a firearm by a SVF charges.
Both statutes have an act element and an intent element. The Ohio statute requires trespass by force, stealth, or deception with the purpose to commit any criminal offense. The Indiana statute requires a person to break and enter into a building or structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft.
“Although the statutes might seem substantially similar at first glance, when the same factual situation is applied to both statutes, two different legal outcomes are possible based on whether the incident occurred in Ohio or Indiana,†Judge Paul Mathias wrote in State of Indiana v. Frank Hancock, 39A05-1506-CR-633.
“The State argues that the elements of the Ohio and Indiana statutes are functionally equivalent. However, the Ohio residential burglary statute is much broader, and we are presented with different outcomes based on whether the situation occurred in Ohio or Indiana. Therefore, it is clear that the Ohio and Indiana residential burglary statutes are not substantially similar as a matter of law.â€
UE Alumnus Peter May Speaks at Briefing on Capitol Hil
University of Evansville graduate Peter May was one of a panel of students and recent alumni from New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) schools who gave a briefing on integrative learning on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, January 19.
“Peter represented the University of Evansville and our commitment to learning outside the traditional classroom — beautifully demonstrated by our GAP program, in which he participated — in a compelling way,” said UE president Thomas A. Kazee. “Folks on Capitol Hill were deeply impressed.”
The students shared their experiences of how their integrative education, including undergraduate research, business consulting, and multidisciplinary team projects improved the quality of their college experiences and prepared them with real-world skills.
During his remarks at the briefing, May described how beneficial his education at the University of Evansville has been for him.
“The value of a liberal arts education is that you are taught how to become passionate through your own curiosity,†May said.
As an example of integrative education, May detailed his experience in UE’s GAP Program. GAP is an innovative, experiential program that bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world. In this program, multidisciplinary teams of students work side-by-side with leading organizations on real-world issues. Guided by faculty coaches and outside experts, participants produce practical outcomes for their clients.
In the GAP Program, May worked with a team of students from archaeology, sports communication, visual communication design, accounting, political science and business on a project for Fortune 500 manufacturer Berry Plastics, Inc., one of the world’s largest producers of plastics packaging. Their assignment was to analyze the Indonesian consumer packaged goods market and provide the company with recommendations on the attractiveness of this market in comparison with other emerging markets.
In the briefing, May explained that it wasn’t until the completion of this project that he “realized how different my college experience had been from all of my buddies that attended larger state schools. This project was a culmination of every aspect of the liberal arts experience put into one.â€
May majored in political science and business administration at UE, while also competing as a Division I soccer player. He was a recipient of the University of Evansville Dean’s Scholarship, and was nominated to participate in the University of Evansville GAP Program. He assisted in the implementation of marketing projects for Gilda’s Club of Evansville.
NAC&U is hosting several events in Washington, D.C., from January 19-21 that spotlight its members’ collective mission and approach to teaching and learning.
With the Higher Education Act reauthorization before Congress, this discussion gives insight to how the programs in that bill might better support programs that are in demand from industry.
Two New Laws
Dear Friend,
A pair of bills responding to the 2015 ISTEP problems were signed into law this week.
House Enrolled Act 1003 ensures last year’s ISTEP scores do not unfairly penalize Hoosier teachers and schools, since the state transitioned to a new, more rigorous test. The law prevents 2014-2015 ISTEP scores from being used in annual teacher performance evaluations unless those scores improve the teacher’s performance rating.
Senate Enrolled Act 200 provides that a school’s A-F performance rating for the 2014-2015 school year cannot be lower than the assigned performance grade for the 2013-2014 school year.
These efforts reflect a shared commitment to support our educators and schools. This session, we will also work on creating a framework for more streamlined testing and move to an accurate, timely and effective test. We are also focused on attracting top-performing high school students to teaching, encouraging college students to enter the profession and providing educators with more flexibility. Our children are our most precious resource, and I’m dedicated to making sure they have the best possible education.
My colleagues and I paired our sneakers with our suits this week at the Statehouse to help raise cancer awareness. With more than 35,000 Hoosiers expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year alone, it’s important we unite and support efforts to find a cure.
If you have questions or input as we continue moving Indiana forward, please contact me at (317)232Â-9816 or h76@iga.in.gov.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Wendy McNamara
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Gasper shines in 77-70 loss to Missouri State
Aces will be back in action on Sunday at Wichita State
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Kerri Gasper couldn’t have done much more for the University of Evansville women’s basketball team on Friday night, but her efforts proved not quite enough as the Purple Aces dropped a 77-70 decision to Missouri State at JQH Arena.
Gasper, a freshman out of Olmsted Township, Ohio, was nearly perfect from the field in the contest, ending 9-for-10, which included a 4-for-5 showing from beyond the arc. Prior to the 22-point outburst, Gasper was averaging just over five points per game.
“When I made those first shots, it started to build my confidence,†Gasper said. “I think tonight will help us going into the rest of conference play. We didn’t get the win, but we can all build off of this, myself included. Hopefully it will get better and better.â€
While Gasper’s night was certainly remarkable, she would be outscored by teammate Sara Dickey, who racked up another 25 points. The junior guard shot 8-for-17 from the field, knocking down three treys and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Also starring for the Aces (2-15, 1-5 MVC), were Sasha Robinson, who pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds, and Kenyia Johnson, who finished with six points and seven boards.
Despite the star showing of both Gasper and Dickey, MSU (12-7, 5-2 MVC) was able to lean on the trio of Tyonna Snow, Kenzie Williams and Hillary Chvatal to secure the win. Both Snow and Williams racked up 17 while combining for nine boards, six assists and five steals, and Chvatal added 13 points and seven rebounds.
In a game where the Aces proved unable to close the gap closer than seven points, it was the first quarter that ultimately made the difference. After taking an early lead, UE was out-scored 20-10 in the frame before going on to out-score the hosts 60-57 over the final 30 minutes.
The Aces will be back in action on Sunday as they pay a visit to Wichita State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.