 IS IT TRUE at the Vanderburgh County Republican party breakfast yesterday morning at the Hampton Inn-Evansville.  …that newly appointed District 78 State Representative Holli Sullivan announced at this gathering that she shall be voting to put the same sex issue on the state ballot.  …this announcement doesn’t surprise us because she was the founder and past president of a conservative group called “The Right Of Center”?
IS IT TRUE the CCO believes the following assessment of the toxic spill headed our way by John Blair of Valley Watch is worthy of publishing for this Saturday’s version of IIT?
I had a discussion with someone this morning about the chemical spill headed our way. The worry expressed gave me reason to write this.
I told the person that I thought the stress that was being experienced was likely a greater threat to human health and the relatively low concentrations of the chemical that will be seen in Evansville by the time it gets here and assuming that Wendy’s discussion with Alan Mounts at the Water utility was valid and that the leak has been stopped and is not on going. Frankly, I was concerned with the seeming dismissive attitude of Wendy’s questions by Mr. Mounts
It is also true that activated carbon is a great way to remove hydrocarbons from water, although I am left to wonder what happens to the waste activated carbon that is now tainted with the chemicals it has removed. But if Mounts is right and the concentration of the chemical is below 35 PPB, I see little reason for stressful worry and the best thing to do is to simply not drink local water or take long showers or baths until the slug has passed.
I have more to say but do not have time right now to write a broader thesis on this subject. However, we would all realize that we are routinely exposed to a wide array of toxic substances every day. Each year, the polluters around us emit upwards of 58 million pound of toxic air pollution, some of which reaches us EVERY DAY regardless of the direction of the wind. Once while on the river I discovered about a dozen empty herbicide containers afloat.
When I first started dealing with these issues, there had been a study done that revealed that 450 different chemicals had been identified in Ohio River water. Around that time, too, we had a huge carbon tetrachloride spill from the FMC Corp way up river and a couple of nasty hydrocarbon chemicals call hexa and octa that were not only a threat to our water but closed down Louisville’s Morris Foreman Treatment plant for nearly a year forcing Louisville to dump more than 100 million gallons each and every day for more than a year.
As a result of those problems ORSANCO developed a great “early warning system” to track this sort of problem and I am confident it will be used effectively in the days to come as this slug of nastiness moves down river.
Last, our drinking water source is the Ohio River. When Valley Watch first formed there was little but non sport fish in it. Today, there are many more species that seem to be thriving. We are making progress due to regulations and technology. We are fortunate here to have a system of activated carbon treatment that can remove most of these nasty hydrocarbons and I reiterate: stress about this is likely to cause you and your loved ones more health issues than a rather limited concentration of a toxic chemical passing us by, especially with good treatment.
John Blair
EPD Activity Report January 17, 2014
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By John Sittler
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – House Speaker Brian Bosma said he’s “exploring all kinds of†options for moving a constitutional marriage amendment out of committee and onto the House floor.
The amendment – which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman – is currently stalled in the House Judiciary Committee where several of its 13 members haven’t said publicly how they’ll vote on the measure.
The committee took testimony on the amendment Monday but no vote is scheduled.
Bosma acknowledged he’s thought about replacing committee members or he could move the amendment to a different committee.
“I’m exploring all kinds of things,†he said. “I’m going to listen to our caucus.â€
Indiana legislative rules give the speaker power to adjust committee members as he sees fit.
Bosma has previously replaced committee members between legislative sessions but never in the middle of one.
“You couldn’t change the numbers (of Republicans and Democrats) but the members serve at the pleasure of the speaker,†he said.
Bosma’s comments came shortly after Republican leaders saw the results of an internal poll on the issue. Bosma said the poll – conducted by Chesapeake Beach Consulting – found 80 percent of voters want the opportunity to cast a ballot on the question.
The group surveyed 800 people and the poll results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Bosma said the poll reinforced his support of both House Joint Resolution 3 and accompanying House Bill 1153, which describes legislative intent.
“The biggest take away for me was that 80 percent of Hoosiers want a vote on the issue. That means people on both sides of the issue would like to have the opportunity to speak on it,†he said.
The poll also found that 54 percent of Hoosiers want to take out the controversial second sentence of HJR 3 which bans any legal arrangement that is “identical or substantially similar†to marriage.
But 54 percent of people also said in the poll they would vote in favor of the amendment with the second sentence still in it.
Bosma said removing the sentence is not currently “Plan A.â€
John Sittler is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
By Paige Clark
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana could soon become the first state to require high school football coaches to take part in a player safety and concussion-training course.
Senate Bill 222 – authored Sen. Travis Holdman, R–Markle – would require the course every two years.
“We’d be very proud to do this since USA Football, an arm of the NFL and players union is basically housed now and based†in Indianapolis, Holdman said.
The bill would also parallel a Washington’s state law by requiring football players to wait 24 hours before returning to the field of play after a concussion.
Holdman said Indiana is the eighth state to copy Washington’s law, but the first state to add the coaches’ training course.
Currently, the bill only requires high school football coaches take part in the training course, but Holdman said he hopes to work with soccer programs in the future.
“We went with football because of the complexity of the sport and the fact that we have a certified program in place for safety purposes,†Holdman said. “We just don’t have that in place for other sports.â€
He said he has support from all over the state.
“I haven’t heard one objection to the bill so far,†Holdman said.
Bobby Cox, commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association said he doesn’t oppose the legislation, but doesn’t think it’s necessary.
“You don’t want the coach to be making that decision,†Cox said.
Current IHSAA protocol requires that if an athlete might have a concussion, the athlete must see a physician.
“We’ve had that protocol for over two years – before concussion language was written,†Cox said, “I think the protocols, as long as they’re executed, they’re appropriate.â€
If athletes are cleared by a physician or an athletic trainer during the game and show no sign of concussion, they are allowed to re-enter. But if athletes are diagnosed with a concussion, they must wait 24 hours before returning to any athletic activity.
“In absence of a health professional, the official removes the athlete from the contest, and they cannot return until there is a written release forms a doctor,†Cox said.
Cox said parents or guardians receive the concussion protocol paper work before each sports season and must sign it for their children to participate.
“I think the (law) we have on the books right now is great,†said Dr. John Baldea, a sports medicine physician for IU Health. “I’d like to see the state law trimmed down a bit so that it exactly states that physicians only are allowed to do that.â€
Baldea said other medical professionals – including chiropractors and podiatrists – can clear athletes with concussions to return to play under the current law
“We’re seeing some people who don’t know what they’re doing trying to clear athletes to return and play football,†said Baldea. “The IHSAA is very strict on that, but the state law is not very strict.â€
Holdman said he does expect opposition, but expects it to pass.
“I think we have a great opportunity to put it into law,†he said.
Paige Clark is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
STATEHOUSE—House Bill (HB) 1004, authored by House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) and co-authored by House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis), passed out of the House today with a 87-9 vote. HB 1004 provides the opportunity for a high quality preschool option to more low-income families.
“I am very pleased that HB 1004 passed out of the House,†said Rep. Behning. “This legislation will help pave a bright future for Hoosier children of poverty and allow parents the opportunity to provide their children with a quality education. Right now children of poverty start almost a year and a half behind their middle-income peers, and HB 1004 aims to change that.â€
HB 1004 creates a preschool pilot program. Eligible students must be 4 years old with a family income of no more than 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Indiana is currently one of 10 states that does not offer state-funded preschool programs.
“It is encouraging to see HB 1004 moving through the General Assembly with bipartisan support,†said Speaker Bosma. “A preschool program of this nature will provide high quality education opportunities to Hoosier children and their families which will help prepare them for future success.â€
HB 1004 will now be heard in the Senate. To track this bill’s progress, visit http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/bills/house/1004/.
The Evansville Police Merit Commission scheduled meeting for
Monday, January 27, 2014 will begin after the conclusion of the Evansville Police Department Appointment, Promotion, and Merit Awards Ceremony at The Centre. The ceremony will begin at 1:00pm.
The Merit Commission Executive Session will begin at approximately 2:30pm, with the Public Open Session to follow. The meeting will still be held in the Police Personnel and Training Conference Room, Room 129 of the Civic Center.
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 State Sen. Vaneta Becker’s (R-Evansville) legislation to help protect children with severe allergies unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services today.
Senate Bill 245Â would allow doctors and health-care providers to prescribe auto-injectable epinephrine, like EpiPens, to schools. Epinephrine is a form of adrenaline that reverses the effect of allergic reactions in as little as five seconds. The bill would also provide legal protections to school nurses and volunteer personnel who administer it in good faith to a suffering student.
“There is no higher priority than protecting young Hoosiers from danger, especially when they are away from their families and in the care of school officials,†Becker said. “Severe allergic reactions can be life-threatening, and schools must be equipped to immediately respond to these emergencies.â€
Nearly one in 13 children throughout the United States suffers from food allergies, and an estimated three percent suffer from stinging-insect allergies. One study found that 25 percent of children have their first reaction to peanut or tree nuts in the school setting. Becker said her initiative would safeguard these children.
SB 245 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.
Tickets to the University of Southern Indiana’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon with keynote speaker Jasmine Guy go on sale to the general public on Monday, December 16. The cost is $15 per ticket.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. January 20 in Carter Hall in the University Center.
Jasmine Guy played Southern belle Whitley Gilbert on “The Cosby Show†spinoff “A Different World,†for which she won six consecutive NAACP Awards.
She has many television credits (“Melrose Place,†“NYPD Blue,†and “The Vampire Diaries,†to name a few) and has also appeared in film and on Broadway. Her first film role was in Spike Lee’s “School Daze.â€
In 2004, she wrote the critically-acclaimedEvolution of a Revolutionary (Atria Books), the story of Alfeni Shakur, Black Panther and mother of rap artist Tupac Shakur.
In addition to the keynote, the event, which fills USI’s Carter Hall each year, includes performances by community groups and the USI gospel choir, a hearty meal and dessert.
The event is sponsored by the USI Foundation, Communications Department and Scripps Howard Center for Media Studies, Service Learning Department, and Multicultural Center.
To purchase tickets, and for more information, call the Multicultural Center at 812/465-7188.
(Washington, DC) – On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2014 with a bipartisan vote of 359 to 67. Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, released the following statement regarding his vote to support the legislation:
“My goal as a public servant is to give everyone a fair shot to make it, provide for their family, and build a better life,†said Bucshon. “Our vote today guarantees that the government will remain open giving the American people certainty for the future and making divided government work. This bill gets government out of the way so businesses can expand and create jobs, prevents new funding for ObamaCare, and protects the privacy and security of U.S. citizens.
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“We cut spending for the fourth consecutive year, a first dating back to the Korean War. These reforms get rid of government waste and fund our priorities like national defense, transportation, and education. We protect our medically retired veterans and survivor benefit plans from pension reductions, while increasing pay to those currently serving our country.Â
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“By no means is this bill perfect, but it is certainly another step in the right direction to stop the reckless Washington spending habits that are unfair to American families. Moving forward, I remain committed to tackling the drivers of our debt and balancing our nation’s finances so that our children can have a more prosperous future.â€
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Highlights of the Bill:
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Fiscally responsible with an overall spending reduction:
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Protects our military and veterans:
No new funding for ObamaCare:
Protects and strengthens your security:
Holds government accountable:
Strengthens our national transportation infrastructure:
Strengthens our borders and current immigration laws:
Holds the EPA accountable and promotes investments in energy:
Secures our embassies abroad and continues the Benghazi investigation:
Promotes health and disease prevention:
Prioritizes critical research investments:
Maintains protections of 2nd Amendment rights:
