ST. MARY’S TRAUMA SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN STATEWIDE TRAUMA LISTENING TOUR – PUBLIC INVITED
From June through August, the Indiana State Department of Health will hold a statewide Trauma Tour. Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention staff, along with local stakeholders, will hold open house style meetings in all 10 Indiana public health preparedness districts for Hoosiers to learn more about trauma, how state and local agencies currently respond to trauma and how a trauma system could help the state. Most importantly, the goal is to gather person al stories of how trauma has affected those in Indiana.
The ISDH has identified District 10 (Knox, Daviess, Martin, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Crawford, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer and Perry counties) as a leader in the development of an organized regional trauma system plan. Evansville is the first stop in this statewide tour. The St. Mary’s Trauma education team will participate with other health providers at the vendor fair. Congressman Larry Bucshon will be attending as well.
This event is Tuesday, June 30, from 2-5 p.m. at the Southern Indiana Career & Technical Center, 1901 Lynch Road, Evansville, IN. It is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but anyone can sign up at: http://www.in.gov/isdh/26642.htm.
Traumatic injury is the No. 1 killer of Hoosiers under the age of 45; the same is true across the country and worldwide. Injury is the fifth most common killer of Hoosiers of all ages. Traumatic injuries kill young people in the prime of their lives, impacting society as a whole in health costs, lost productivity and emotional distress.
Judges deny sentence modifications, but for different reasons
Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
A panel on the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded Thursday that neither of two men who petitioned in late 2013 to have their 1997 sentences modified are entitled to a modification, but the judges’ reasoning for the denials differed.
Dennis and Raymond Johnson were convicted in 1997 of felony murder and carrying a handgun without a license, and each was sentenced to 55 years. In 2013, the men requested re-entry court evaluations, which the trial court treated as sentence modifications. At a hearing in August 2014, the trial court denied their motions because the prosecutor did not consent to the modifications, which is required based on the statute in effect at the time they were sentenced. Beginning July 1, 2014, the prosecutorial consent requirement was removed, and a savings clause was added saying the new statute did not apply to crimes or sentences prior to July 1.
In a 35-page opinion that included a lengthy concurrence from Judge L. Mark Bailey, the court affirmed the denial of the Johnsons’ request for sentence modification. Both the majority and Bailey looked at the legislative history of the statute and past cases dealing with sentence modification, including several recently decided by the COA.
“Because the 2014 amendment to Indiana Code section 35-38-1-17 was neither remedial nor procedural, and because the savings clause evinces the intent of the legislature to apply the new criminal code only prospectively, the 2014 version of the sentence modification statute does not apply to the Johnsons. Therefore, the trial court properly determined that, in the absence of prosecutorial consent, it had no authority to modify the Johnsons’ sentences,†Judge Margret Robb wrote in the majority opinion.
She wrote in a footnote that although the statute has again been amended to include people sentenced before July 1, 2014, it is not applicable in the Johnsons’ case since the amended statute did not become effective until May 5, 2015.
“I would hold that the revised statute applies to all petitions filed on or after July 1, 2014, regardless of the petitioner’s conviction or sentencing date. Here, the Johnsons filed their petitions before the effective date of the statute, and thus the trial court did not err in applying the prior version of the statute and denying their petitions for lack of prosecutorial consent,†Bailey wrote.
He also dismissed the argument that allowing anyone to now be able to modify their sentence would flood the courts because the statute limits the number of times a person may file a sentence-modification petition.
The combined cases are Dennis Johnson, Raymond Johnson v. State of Indiana, 48A05-1408-CR-390.
Operation Dry Water taking place nationwide June 26-28
 Indiana Conservation Officers will be joining thousands of law enforcement officers across the United States who will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, June 26-28. Operation Dry Water is a nationally coordinated heightened awareness and enforcement campaign, focused on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths, and a leading factor in recreational boating accidents. Law enforcement agencies from every U.S. state and territory are expected to participate in Operation Dry Water weekend, focusing their efforts on detecting impaired boaters and educating the public about the dangers of boating under the influence. In 2014, alcohol use was the primary factor in nearly one-fourth (21%) of boater deaths.
“The decision about whether to drink and boat under the influence is a choice every boater makes, †says Lt. Kenton Turner, Indiana Boating Law Administrator. “Boating under the influence is a 100% preventable crime. Operation Dry Water, participating law enforcement agencies and our boating safety partners encourage boaters to stay safe by staying sober while boating.â€
Since the inception of the Operation Dry Water Campaign in 2009, law enforcement officers have removed 1,875 BUI operators from the nation’s waterways and made contact with over 604,250 boaters during the annual three-day weekend. In 2014, 585 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and USCG units from 56 state and territories participated in Operation Dry Water.
Environmental “stressors†such as wind, noise, and the movement of the boat while on the water intensify the effects of alcohol or drug use on an individual while boating. Boaters can become impaired more quickly on the water than on land.
Operation Dry Water is a year-round boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign with the mission of reducing the number of alcohol and drug related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.
PET OF THE WEEK
Cookie – This sweet calico has a little “more to love,†which has earned her the affectionate nickname of Cookie Monster around the shelter. She’s waited on a home since March 24th, likely because of her age (she’s 8.) Kittens are really cute & all, but just think… adopting an older cat means you know exactly what size, color, and personality your cat will have for the rest of its life! Cookie’s $30 adoption fee includes her spay, microchip, vaccines, & more. She’s ready to go home TODAY! www.vhslifesaver.org
Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records
EPD Activity Report
Governor Pence to Offer Remarks, Ceremonially Sign Bills at NAWC Water Summit
Indianapolis –Governor Mike Pence will offer remarks at the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) Indiana Chapter Water Summit. There, he will ceremonially sign the following water industry-related bills:
- HEA 1185, synthetic plastic microbeads
- SEA 177, water and wastewater infrastructure costs
- SEA 312, tank reporting and water threat minimization
- SEA 474, analysis of water utility planning and needs
- SEA 516, utility infrastructure improvements
- HEA 1319, acquisition of distressed utilities
Thursday, June 25:
9:30 a.m. EDT – Governor Pence to offer remarks, ceremonially sign water industry-related bills
*Media are welcome to attend.
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, 1 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis
Mike Pence says Indiana will buck Obama’s EPA climate planÂ
National Journal
Indiana Governor Mike Pence says his state won’t comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s effort to curb carbon dioxide from power plants—unless the administration dramatically overhauls its regulation. Mike Pence sent a letter to the president Obama on Wednesday with that warning, saying that unless proposed EPA regulations for power plants are significantly “improved” before the agency finalizes them, Indiana will buck the rule.Â
Mike Pence, Indiana governor, says he’ll defy Obama’s carbon regulations
Washington Times
In a letter to President Obama, Mr. Pence demanded that major changes be made to the plan. If those changes are not made, the governor said his state will defy the Environmental Protection Agency regulations, formally known as the Clean Power Plan… The agency also admits that the amount of American energy generated by coal would fall by 25 percent after the plan is implemented.
Indiana says it won’t follow EPA climate rule without changes
The Hill
Indiana is prepared to ignore the Obama administration’s climate rule for power plants unless the regulation is changed considerably from last year’s proposal, according to the state’s governor. In a letter sent Wednesday to President Obama, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) used some of the strongest words yet from a governor on the regulation, though he stopped short of ruling out compliance.
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Pence: EPA emissions rules need changes or Indiana won’t comply
IndyStar
Indiana will refuse to comply with pending rules restricting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants without major changes, Gov. Mike Pence wrote in a letter Wednesday to President Barack Obama. “If your administration proceeds to finalize the Clean Power Plan, and the final rule has not demonstrably and significantly improved from the proposed rule, Indiana will not comply,” Pence wrote. “Our state will also reserve the right to use any legal means available to block the rule from being implemented.”
Pence to Obama: Indiana will not comply with EPA rules Â
Indiana Public Media
Pence says the proposed regulations would hurt Indiana’s economy and its coal industry. More than 26,000 Hoosiers are employed in that industry, according to figures from the governor’s office. The governor’s office says Indiana will renew its legal challenge to the regulations once the final rule is released. “A historically low cost of energy has played a major part in making Indiana the most manufacturing intensive state in the country,†the letter continues. “The higher electricity prices brought by the EPA’s plan will inhibit our ability to advance our manufacturing base and the jobs it creates.â€
Air Show events will cause temporary road closures beginning Thursday
The Shriner’s Fest Air Show will cause temporary road closures while the pilots are performing on the riverfront. Here is the list of closures and the projected times.
Waterworks Rd from US 41 to Riverside Dr (NO ACCESS TO MARINA POINTE)
Veterans Pkwy from US 41 to Waterworks Rd
Ohio St from Fulton Ave to 9th Ave
Thursday 3:00pm-4:00pm
Friday 12:00pm- 4:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Riverside Dr is closed between Cherry St and Court St for the duration of the Shriner’s Fest.
For safety reasons, law enforcement units will be positioned at the road closure points and will not be able to allow access to those areas.
Monitor local media and law enforcement sites for updated road closure information throughout the festival.