HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY TO EVERYONE
On March 17th, every year, Americans gather together to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Most large cities hold an annual parade to honor the patron saint of Ireland. People dress up in green clothing, eat traditional foods, and enjoy a few drinks to honor the day. There are quite a few traditions that go along with celebrating this special day in March. But what is the history behind St. Patrick’s Day? Discover how this saint came to represent everything Irish on March 17th, not only in the US but around the world.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita calls out lawmakers in fight against antisemitism
The Office of Attorney General Todd Rokita released the following statement today:
“As I have stated throughout the debate on this antisemitism bill, the law was originally written to protect Jewish students in Indiana K-12 schools and university campuses from ruthless, anti-Semitic attacks that have increased since the horrific slaughter of Israelis on October 7th.
Indiana Senators turned it into a toothless mess that allows anti-Semites to continue to cloak their discriminatory hatred of Jews as simple political disagreements directed at Israel, not Jews.
Then, Indiana Representatives would not correct the Senate’s actions, which equates hateful, anti-Semitic rhetoric, like “From the River to the Sea” to mere political speech. The Governor should veto this compromised bill to show he understands that regular Hoosiers won’t compromise with Jew-hating bigots.”
Randy Niemeyer’s Statement on Biden’s Proposed $7.3 Trillion Budget
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Randy Niemeyer’s Statement on Biden’s Proposed $7.3 Trillion Budget & $5.5 Trillion in Tax Hikes March 17, 2024 Contact: Kyle Walsh Cedar Lake– Following President Biden’s unveiling of his massive $7.3 Trillion Budget, including $5.5 Trillion in tax hikes, Randy Niemeyer, Lake County Councilman and Republican Congressional candidate for Indiana’s First District issued the following statement: “As a small business owner, I’m deeply troubled by President Biden’s proposed budget and tax hikes. With a $7.3 trillion budget and $5.5 trillion in tax increases, the government is reaching deeper into our pockets without considering the consequences for hardworking Americans and entrepreneurs like myself. Biden has learned nothing from the past three years, continuing to burden everyday Americans with runaway spending, causing us to pay higher prices for goods, while taxing you more. “These policies will directly lead to higher inflation, eroding the buying power of your hard-earned dollars, and further straining the budgets of American families and businesses. “These policies have been tried over and over again in this country and have never worked. Working and middle-class taxpayers have always paid the freight on tax and spend policies. “Tax hikes threaten to burden businesses already struggling to recover from the challenges of the past few years. Instead of fueling economic growth, they’ll crush the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our nation forward. “Rather than penalizing success, we should foster an environment that encourages innovation and job creation. I will advocate for responsible fiscal policies in Congress that prioritize the needs of small businesses, and everyday Americans to ensure our economy can thrive for generations to come,” stated Niemeyer. |
| Randy Niemeyer, is a member of the Lake County Council, elected in 2022, after having served as President of the Cedar Lake Town Council. Under Randy’s watch, Cedar Lake was able to turn itself around financially, while expanding its police force, conducting major upgrades to roads, utilities, sewers, and parks, while establishing a municipal fire department. He is a lifelong resident of Northwest Indiana, and has lived in Cedar Lake most of his life, having raised two children there with his wife of twenty-one years. He is the fourth generation of his family in trucking, as the owner of Niemeyer Milk Transfer, where he started working at 18 years old, right after graduating from Hanover Central High School. Randy has received endorsements from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Congressman Jim Banks, Congresswoman Erin Houchin, and Congressman Rudy Yakym. |
The new law will help find at-risk, missing veterans
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Governor proclaims March 18-22, 2024 Nutrition Awareness week
National Nutrition Month® is celebrated every year in the month of March, and as part of this celebration Governor Holcomb has proclaimed March 18-22, 2024, as Nutrition Awareness Week across the state of Indiana. To see proclamation, click here.
For over 50 years, the Older Americans Act Title III Nutrition Program has funded home-delivered and congregate meals to help ensure older adults have opportunities to stay healthy, independent and connected. The program also plays an integral part of Indiana’s provision of sustenance and so much more to our older community members, especially those most vulnerable to food insecurity, chronic health conditions, malnutrition, and social isolation.
The senior nutrition programs operated through Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging, help older adults access healthy foods, provide nutrition screening, nutrition education, social opportunities, and other supports that encourage well-being. Indiana’s nutrition program for older adults provided approximately 2,072,059 meals in 2023 serving over 19,020 clients nutritious meals that meet the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Meals are provided free of charge and depending on the circumstances are funded by Title III-C of the Older Americans Act, SSBG, CHOICE, and/or local resources. Individuals are however encouraged to make a small donation to further support the program.
The INconnect Alliance is comprised of fifteen Aging and Disability Resource Centers, located within the Area Agencies on Aging, serving sixteen areas, throughout Indiana. To find your local INconnect Alliance member click here or call 1-800-713-9023.
The Division of Aging is a program of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration. If you have questions about Aging programs and services, visit us online at www.IN.gov/fssa/aging.
HOT JOBS
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Easily apply“AMERICANS ARE DYING” – BRAUN CALLS ON SCHUMER TO PASS LAKEN RILEY ACT, THIN BLUE LINE ACT, SECURE THE BORDER ACT
WASHINGTON – Today, after Laken Riley was murdered by an illegal alien in Georgia, cops were beaten by illegal aliens on the streets of New York City, and cartel fentanyl is the number one killer of young Americans, Senator Mike Braun is calling on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to put three bills on the Senate floor for votes to save Americans’ lives: the Laken Riley Act, the Thin Blue Line Act, and the Secure the Border Act (HR 2).
The Laken Riley Act overwhelmingly passed the House last week with 37 Democrats voting with Republicans.
“Americans are dying because of President Joe Biden’s policies that welcome illegal aliens into our communities and make it nearly impossible to deport them.
“I’m calling on Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to take action to protect American lives by calling up these bills for a vote today: the LAKEN RILEY ACT which deports illegal aliens immediately when they are arrested for a crime, the THIN BLUE LINE ACT which I authored to punish criminals who target police to the harshest extent of the law, and the SECURE THE BORDER ACT to end the Biden border crisis claiming lives across the country.
“Failing to take up these bills is putting illegal aliens before the safety of American citizens and our police. Let’s vote immediately to save lives.”
SENATOR MIKE BRAUN
Read Senator Braun’s letter here.
LAKEN RILEY ACT:
The Laken Riley Act amends federal law to require Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to issue detainers and take custody of illegal aliens who commit theft-related crimes, such as shoplifting, as defined by state and local law.
This bill passed the House overwhelmingly, 251-170, with 37 Democrats joining all Republicans in support on March 7.
THIN BLUE LINE ACT:
Senator Braun authored the Thin Blue Line Act in 2022. Here’s how the bill protects cops:
- When a jury in a federal case considers whether to impose the death penalty, the jury must consider certain “aggravating” factors.
- Current law states that if the murder victim is a federal law enforcement officer or federal prosecutor, this fact shall weigh as an aggravating factor in favor of the maximum penalty.
- The Thin Blue Line Act provides the same level of justice to local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and first responders.
- It also enhances the penalty when a defendant targets a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, or first responder solely because that individual has chosen to protect and serve.
SECURE THE BORDER ACT:
The Secure the Border Act enacts effective border security solutions, including:
- Requiring the Department of Homeland Security to resume border wall construction.
- Increasing the number of Border Patrol Agents.
- Tightening asylum standards by restricting asylum to only aliens who present at ports of entry and by requiring aliens to prove they are “more likely than not” to qualify for their asylum claim.
- Narrowing DHS’s power to unilaterally grant parole to illegal aliens.
- Criminalizing visa overstays by making the first offense a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and the second offense a felony punishable by up to a $2,000 fine and up to two years imprisonment.
- Stopping NGOs from using tax dollars to transport or lodge illegal aliens and provide illegal aliens with lawyers.
- Restricting DHS from using its CBP One app to welcome illegal aliens into the country.
- Requiring employers to use E-Verify.
- Ensuring CBP has access to the criminal history databases of all countries of origin and transit so that CBP is aware of the criminal history of illegal aliens encountered at the southern border.
Hoosier History Highlights
March 17 – March 23This Week in Indiana History
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Indiana Quick Quiz1. In what county is Rome, Indiana? 2. Name the Hoosier who wrote the book Friendly Persuasion. 3. What fruit is called the “Indiana banana? 4. Born in Portland Indiana, who invented the metal alloy stellite and co-discovered stainless steel? Answers Below
For more activitiesin IN
Answers1. Perry County 2. Jessamyn West 3. Paw Paw 4. Elwood Haynes
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FEMA Invites Fire Department and Volunteer Firefighter Interest Organizations to Apply for $360 Million in FEMA Grants to Boost Number of Trained Firefighters in Communities Nationwide
WASHINGTON — Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced the opening of the application period for the Fiscal Year 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which offers $360 million in grants directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters protecting communities across the nation.
Building more resilient communities includes having sufficiently staffed fire departments. FEMA SAFER grant funding will be used to increase the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards, attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. The SAFER application period will close on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.
“All disasters are local and it’s the local firefighters that are first on the scene taking action to prevent loss of life and property,” Administrator Criswell said. “These awards are an annual opportunity for FEMA to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained firefighters available in their communities.”
Since 2005, the SAFER Program has awarded approximately $5.2 billion in grant funding. This support helps ready households and communities, trains a skilled firefighting workforce (both paid and volunteer) and builds local capacity across the nation.
“Across the nation, many career and volunteer fire departments struggle with recruitment of new firefighters and retention of those on the job,” acknowledged Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator. “SAFER grant funds are essential to ensuring that local communities have enough firefighters to respond when they are needed.”
Over the years, SAFER funds have had a big impact in communities, including stories of lives saved because of SAFER-funded staffing.
- In Lake County, Florida, two firefighters rescued a 3-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl from a housefire. They were able to make immediate entry into the burning home because of additional staffing from a SAFER grant.
- A firefighter from Pennsylvania’s Southwest Greensburg Fire Department, hired through a SAFER grant, climbed nine flights of stairs to rescue a man from an apartment fire.
- In Arizona, the City of Maricopa Fire/Medical department was able to continue 24/7 coverage in each fire protection zone during the COVID pandemic in 2020 because of SAFER funding.
The FY 2023 SAFER Notice of Funding opportunity and technical assistance documents for this program are available at www.grants.gov and on the FEMA website. Additional information about upcoming webinars to assist applicants is also available on the FEMA website.