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Dr. Bucshon Votes to Expand College Savings AccountsÂ
(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 529, a bipartisan bill that expands access to and modernizes college savings accounts known as 529 plans.
Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after voting to approve H.R. 529:
“Growing up in a small coal-mining town, the opportunity to go to college allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. Unfortunately, the same opportunity is out of reach for far too many students, but it doesn’t have to be,â€Â said Bucshon. “In the United States, our students have amassed $1.16 trillion in debt attempting to keep pace with the rising cost of tuition – a 17 percent increase in a 4 year degree under President Obama. My goal is to ensure that every student who wants to pursue an education has the opportunity to do so regardless of his or her position in life. That’s why I opposed the President’s proposal that would increase the financial burden on students by taxing 529 college savings. Instead, I voted to expand and remove barriers to this program that has helped American families save over $225 billion for college. By making it easier for families to save for college, we are giving millions of students who are just starting out in life, like I was, a shot a pursuing their dreams.â€Â
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H.R. 529 passed the House on a vote of 401 to 20 and moves to the Senate for consideration.
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Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the 114thCongress, Bucshon will serve on the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
SPONSORED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IVAN ARNAEZ.
DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Derly Galindo           Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
Nathan Hawkins      Neglect of Dependent-Level 6 Felony
Cruelty to an Animal-Class A Misdemeanor
Alyssa Hines           Aggravated Battery-Level 3 Felony
Cade Kirk                   Intimidation-Level 5 Felony
Legend Drug Deception-Level 6 Felony
Battery with Moderate Bodily Injury-Level 6 Felony
Possession of Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Class A Misdemeanor
Anthony Mclemore Jr  Strangulation-Level 6 Felony
Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
Montez Clements     Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
Marvin Duarte-Ochoa Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
Noel Oliver                   Neglect of Dependent-Level 6 Felony
Cruelty to an Animal-Class A Misdemeanor
Randall Parish        Possession of Paraphernalia-Level 6 Felony
Emily Phillips           Domestic Battery-Level 6 Felony
John Samuels            Intimidation-Level 5 Felony
Possession of Cocaine-Level 6 Felony
Strangulation-Level 6 Felony
Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor
For further information on the cases listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law
CPAC THEATER AND FILM FESTIVAL
(Photo by Gage Skidmore)
By David Bossie
This year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is being held this week and once again my organization, Citizens United, the nation’s premier conservative filmmaker, will be hosting the CPAC Theater and Film Festival throughout the weekend.
We will be kicking things off on Thursday with an event featuring Dr. Ben Carson, giving activists both a chance to hear from Dr. Carson about his vision for the country and a chance to meet him as well. Later that day we will be showing our film Rocky Mountain Heist, with a live introduction from film host Michelle Malkin.
On Friday we will host a meet and greet with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Attendees will be able to hear from the Governor and have a chance to meet with him too. Following that event, we will be hosting Mr. Donald Trump who will discuss his views on the Obama Administration and meet with attendees.
Our premier event will be in the main CPAC ballroom, and I couldn’t be more excited as we join with Breitbart News to present the Andrew Breitbart Defender of the First Amendment Award to Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty. This particular event will be one of the most-talked about of the conference and we hope you will attend if you are at the conference, or tune in to a livestream or on television if you are at home!
Many of our films will also be featuring live introductions to some of our groundbreaking films by Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista, as well as Senator Rick Santorum.
Our mission is simple: the leaders of this country must listen to conservatives and enact conservative legislation. For the past six years, liberals have run this country into the ground with their failed policies.
Enough is enough.
We, as a nation, need to return to the policies of the free market, economic trade, family values, peace through strength and national security. We know it works, and that Americans thrive when they are implemented. The Conservative Political Action Conference is a time where the leaders of the conservative movement and all of Washington takes note of what conservatives envision for America, and I am honored to take part in this event every year.
COA interprets Uniform Premarital Act for first time
Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
A premarital agreement entered into by a pregnant teenage girl and her future husband who was twice her age was unconscionable when the agreement was executed in 1995, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Thursday in an issue of first impression.
Julie Fetters filed for divorce from Jay Fetters in 2011 after 15 years of marriage. The two met when Julie Fetters was 14 and Jay Fetters was 29. She became pregnant at age 15 and in an attempt to circumvent criminal charges, Jay Fetters asked Julie Fetters to marry him. He also asked her to sign a premarital agreement prepared by his attorney that stated each party would retain their own separate property in the event of the divorce.
Julie Fetters and her mother went to the attorney’s office to sign the agreement. She signed it despite a lack of education and not understanding the agreement. She dropped out of school and eventually worked as a nurses’ aide. Jay Fetters continued to work as a school janitor and has a PERF pension. She has two vehicles in her name and he has the marital home, two vehicles and one motorcycle in his name.
The trial court divided property in accordance to the prenuptial agreement, denying Julie Fetters’ request to invalidate it. She was only awarded her two vehicles in the divorce.
The case, Julie M. Fetters v. Jay M. Fetters, 68A01-1404-DR-167, required the Indiana Court of Appeals to look at the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act that went into effect July 1, 1995. No reported Indiana decision has interpreted the act since its adoption and there apparently are no other cases remotely similar to this one in Indiana or elsewhere. The Act says the agreement is not enforceable if the party did not execute the agreement voluntarily or the agreement was unconscionable when the agreement was executed.
The appeals court found the second reason applicable in this case. Julie Fetters was a minor when she executed the agreement, was not highly educated and did not understand the agreement. She was not represented by legal counsel and her mother also seemed to not understand the agreement, Judge Michael Barnes wrote. Jay Fetters benefited greatly from the agreement, as he got to keep his assets and avoid criminal prosecution whereas Julie Fetters ended up dropping out of school and working at low-wage jobs. She also brought no assets into the marriage.
The COA also held the trial judge erred when he concluded that she was time-barred from challenging the agreement because she did not attempt to invalidate it for 15 years.
“We believe it is clear from the statutory language, along with the caselaw definitions of laches and estoppel, that the mere fact that Julie stayed married to Jay from approximately fifteen years and did not attempt to disavow the premarital agreement before she filed for divorce is not a bar to her disavowal. Rather, there must at least be some evidence or proof of Jay’s detrimental reliance on Julie’s failure to disavow the agreement, and there is none in this case,†Barnes wrote. The case is remanded for further proceedings.
EVSC Recognizes Curriculum and Technology Specialist
The EVSC had the opportunity to honor an individual today at the EVSC Administration Building, who has gone above and beyond his day to day responsibilities to design websites for a variety of purposes throughout the EVSC.
Jerrad Gleim, a specialist in integrating curriculum and technology for the EVSC, was recognized as the March Cause for Applause Award winner in the EVSC.
Nominator Sara DeWitt, senior communication and creative design coordinator for the EVSC, said that Gleim spent considerable time and effort to develop the infrastructure of the new EVSC Employee Website and portals, as a new employee communication tool through the Office of Communication. “Although creating websites is not really his responsibility, he has always been ready and willing to help,†she said. “I have emailed Jerrad at all hours of the day (and night) and he is always quick to respond with the exact answer I need, all while doing his real job – helping our teachers integrate technology into their classrooms.â€
Gleim has also developed a curriculum mapping website for teachers, so that they can plan their lessons making sure that State Academic Standards are being taught at approximately the same time throughout the district; and a World History website, which is allowing teachers to teach the class without the use of a textbook. He also maintains the ICATS website – a resource used by teachers in the EVSC for their curriculum-technology needs.
Gleim has been an employee in the EVSC since the 2000-01 school year.
The monthly EVSC Cause for Applause began in 2012. Anyone can nominate an employee of the EVSC for the award. Deadline for nominations is the third Friday of each month. Go to www.evscschools.com and click on “Community†for a link to the nomination form. Paper forms are available at the schools for those without access to the Internet.
Author/illustrator Hillenbrand special guest at Young Authors Event
February 26, 2015 – Evansville, IN – Celebrated children’s book author/illustrator Will Hillenbrand will be the featured guest at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s annual Young Authors Event this Saturday, February 28. The event will take place at Central Library beginning with Hillenbrand’s presentation at 10:00 am.
Hillenbrand has illustrated more than fifty books and won numerous awards for his work. At the event he will discuss his work and demonstrate his process of creating picture books, followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase.
Following Hillenbrand’s talk, local schools will display the work of their young authors in the lobby until 1:00 pm. The EVPL will also showcase projects created by students at Library programs. Event goers will enjoy hands-on activities provided by the EVPL and cMoe until 2:00 pm, and Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden will present an interactive story with zoo animals and biofacts at noon.
For more information about the event, call (812) 428-8225 or visit evpl.org.
The Young Authors Event is made possible by the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Foundation.
ISTEP Pep Rally
Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 a.m.-8:10 a.m.
Plaza Park International Prep Academy
7301 Lincoln Avenue
Background: Plaza Park is having a pep rally for its students who will be starting ISTEP testing on Tuesday, March 3. Trix Stix, a local organization  headed by Zachary Watson,  will be performing a unique brand of motivational speaking and entertaining and engaging theatrics with his specially created trix stix. He is a licensed math and social studies teacher. He has told the principal that much of his motivational talk about doing well on ISTEP will be nearer the end of the presentation.
USI MPA speaker will reflect on working on the White House Advance Team
The University of Southern Indiana’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program Speaker Series will host Horace (Harry) M. Lukens III at 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, in Kleymeyer Hall in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. The talk will be titled “Reflections of working on the White House Advance Team.â€
Lukens is a former military and airline pilot who served at the White House in the Office of Presidential Advance under President Ford.
He is the third generation in his family to serve the Evansville community in the insurance business. His grandfather started in insurance in 1906, his father in 1936 and Lukens entered the business in 1956. Now in semi-retirement, he continues his insurance career as a consultant with the Torian, Hofmann and Dillow Agency. This is his 58th year in the insurance business in Evansville.
Lukens taught Entrepreneurial Finance and Principles of Risk Management and Insurance as an adjunct instructor in USI’s Romain College of Business. He currently serves as a consultant to the dean.
He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Evansville for 56 years and his grandfather was a charter member of the club in 1914.
Lukens is a graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in insurance and economics, and a master’s degree in business administration.
For more information, contact Dr. Matt Hanka, MPA program director, at 812-461-52
IS IT TRUE February 27, 2015
IS IT TRUE we are not Joe Wallace….but we too are truthaholics…we do not represent the opinion of one person and instead are the product of a group consciousness.…we are people who love this community.…we believe fundamentally that to fix a problem, we must admit it exists….we strive for a level of discourse that is both honest and productive.…we do not shy away from topics that are uncomfortable ….we will ask the hard questions and ask the reader to help find the answers?
IS IT TRUE we cannot emulate Joe Wallace.…this column will change….we recognize the immeasurable asset to the City County Observer that Joe Wallace has been for the last five years….it is with no small amount of nostalgia that we bid him farewell and wish him the best in all future endeavors.…Mr. Wallace has been since 2012 the CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership and Managing Director of the Coachella Valley Innovation Hub in Palm Springs, California….his intelligence and ingenuity has received an enormous number of accolades…. the City County Observer is both proud of his personal accomplishments and his work for this publication?
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer is expanding….we have new contributors who will continue to bring a daily column of topics for our readers’ discussion and comment….the weekends will continue to be an open forum, but with a new feature for readers to submit topics for future daily discussions….Tri-State Voices, a project of the City County Observer, began airing on Sundays at 11:30 am, with the first episode on February l5th….these programs, hosted by Mark Owen and Cheryl Musgrave, will start appearing on our website in the near future….viewers will be able to comment on and discuss the content, as well as suggest topics and guests for future shows….the first episode took on the controversial Residency Ordinance, and the second episode hosted all four Democratic At-Large candidates for City Council?
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer exists for more than reporting the news…. intelligent debate has always been one of the main reasons readers come to read and stay to talk….time has demonstrated that strictly enforced guidelines are necessary for commenters….we will no longer edit comments to remove objectionable content, and inappropriate comments will simply be removed with the author receiving a warning via email….it is important that a consistent standard be applied and personal attacks against other commenters or the publisher removed….repeated violations to our policy of reasonableness will result in the poster being banned from commenting….pointing out that someone of an opposing view is drunk or in need of medication is irrelevant to the discussion….some of this country’s best thinkers have been both?
IS IT TRUE the City County Observer is launching a monthly, printed publication called The Evansville Post in April of this year….The Evansville Post will differ from the City County Observer website by providing in-depth articles about our government and our community….our new publication will include a monthly spot light on local businesses, interviews with local activists, a “From the Street†section where the public is interviewed about hot topics, a community calendar, an editorial section and more….the first edition of The Evansville Post will include 300 word essays from this year’s local candidates on themselves and the meaning of civic virtue….The Evansville Post will circulate to more than 150 locations in the area….this printed newspaper will be complimentary, and interested parties may request the addition of their location to the circulation route….the City County Observer will carry an E-edition of The Evansville Post on its website?
IS IT TRUE the Winnecke administration postponed an administrative hearing set for yesterday regarding a 2013 repair order for the McCurdy….the hearing officer could have imposed a $5,000 fine that reoccurred monthly until the ordered repair was made.…the hearing was postponed until March 12th allowing The Kunkel Group time to demonstrate it has the necessary $12 million to repair and renovate the building.…the postponement does not indicate a faith in The Kunkel Group so much as a fear that the City of Evansville become responsible for the structure….the City already has a lien on the McCurdy in the amount of $1.4 million that it has promised to waive should The Kunkel Group demonstrate its financing for the project is in place….the imposing of a $5,000 per month fine on The Kunkel Group if unpaid would have ultimately resulted in a larger lien on the property….a lien the City intends to waive….the postponed hearing is an example of this administration being the first to blink in a staring contest….every month that the McCurdy is left to the elements is another month that the City gains ground on a raze order at the expense of taxpayers….there was no valid reason to delay an administrative hearing that largely consisted of a paper tiger in action….this administration will likely push this issue beyond November before it becomes clear that the structure is unsalvageable?
IS IT TRUE WLWT Channel 5 out of Cincinnati, an NBC affiliate, aired a story on February 24th with a headline Ohio River Most Polluted Body of Water in U.S. for 7th Year in a Row….the story, which found its way to Facebook in the Evansville area demonstrates ignorance and sensationalism at its highest….the story accurately states that the 23 million pounds of chemicals dumped in the Ohio River in 2013 is down from the high point of 33 million pounds in 2006….the reporting also cites that the annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis does not account for the volume of water in the river that dilutes the chemicals….the media outlet loses its credibility when it fails to explain that the River’s ranking also does not account for dilution by volume, and that the Ohio River is found by the US Environmental Protection Agency to be safe for drinking, aquatic life and recreation….the Ohio River is the third largest river by volume in the United States….of the 10 rivers on the most polluted list, 7 are not found on the list for the 20 largest rivers by volume….Evansville residents are better off living on the Ohio River than most of the other nine rivers listed as the most polluted….while we should strive for a cleaner Ohio River, we need to avoid hysteria?
IS IT TRUE we thank you for your support and look forward to bringing you the news in a way that not only brings you into the discussion but makes you feel compelled to participate?