Higher ed chief says Hoosiers must be better educated
By Paige Clark
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers said in a speech Wednesday night that it is imperative that Hoosiers are better educated and prepared for the workforce.
Teresa Lubbers, Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education, gave the State of Higher Education Address on Wednesday night. One of the things the address focused on was college education and making changes to have students graduate in four years.
“Indiana is in the midst of economic transformation that demands more highly educated and skilled citizens,†Lubbers said. “The old model simply won’t produce enough highly educated graduates with the higher level skills and education that are needed.â€
During her State of the Higher Education address Lubbers applauded universities and colleges for helping students graduate on time.
Two years ago, about 90 percent of degree programs at Indiana’s public colleges exceeded the traditional standard of 120 credit hours for a four year degree and 60 credits for a two-year degree. That meant Hoosiers took longer to graduate and accumulated more college debt.
“Today, the obstacle is well on its way to being eliminated with nearly 90 percent of degree programs meeting the accepted standard,†after legislation to end so-called credit creep passed two years ago, Lubbers said.
The changes are projected to save students and taxpayers more than $35 million a year.
As an “ongoing effort†to address financial challenges, Lubbers said “we are redesigning the state’s work
study program.
The new program, “EARN Indianaâ€, helps students with financial needs and offers career-related
experiences.
“We are laser-focused on increasing on-time graduation,†Lubbers said, “But it’s not enough for students to complete college if they lack relevant workplace experience that prepares them for success in their chosen career path.â€
Motivation to “protect the state’s investment†called for a change in the 21st Century Scholars requirements, he said.
Century 21st scholars must graduate high school with a 2.5 GPA and complete a Scholar Success Programs. The latter is a new program that helps students prepare for college.
In an effort to guarantee 21st Century Scholar students avoid loan debt, they must complete new credit requirements.
Lubbers said the fastest growing occupations and industries are related to the highest levels of post-secondary education.
“It is indisputable that college graduates have lower unemployment, higher lifetime earnings, higher marriage rates, better health, and greater civic involvement,†Lubbers said.
“Today, hard work and credentials are required for the 21st Century jobs that propel individual families up the economic ladder,†Lubbers said.
Paige Clark is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Leadership Training Receives International Recognition
Sam Rogers, Manager of Leadership Development at Deaconess, discussed how Deaconess is training managers in “soft leadership skills” to help minimize employee turnover. “If staff are going to turnover they’re typically turning over because of supervisors,” he said.
Sam Rogers, Manager of Leadership Development at Deaconess, discussed how Deaconess is training managers in “soft leadership skills” to help minimize employee turnover. “If staff are going to turnover they’re typically turning over because of supervisors,” he said.
The article appeared on January 21, 2014, in Human Capital Online, a subsidiary of Human Resources Director Magazine – Australia’s only magazine written for and targeted purely at the most senior HR professionals and top corporate decision makers.
Investigators find gun related to car chase
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 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
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The gun investigators believe was discarded by Lusta Johnson during a car chase last night has been found.
Police expanded the search area after the gun was not located in the area they first thought it would be.
An Officer checking the area of Taylor and Spring St found the gun in a back yard not far from where Johnson was arrested.
Johnson is in jail on felony resisting law enforcement charges. Investigators plan on adding additional charges related go weapons violations as soon as Thursday morning.
Bucshon to Hold Bipartisan Discussion on Affordable Care Act
 Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. will hold a bipartisan roundtable discussion on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Friday, January 24, 2014 at Ivy Tech in Evansville. Bucshon invited a wide spectrum of participants who provide a variety of perspectives and experiences on how the ACA will affect Southwestern Indiana.
Who:                    Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D.       Â
What:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Bipartisan Roundtable Discussion on ACA
When:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Friday, January 24, 2014 from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM CST
Where:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ivy Tech (Board Room #201) – 3501 N. First Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47710
The invitees include local officials, both Democrat and Republican, businesses owners, healthcare professionals, school officials, and taxpayers who have had experiences with enrolling in new health plans.
The event will be open to the media and the full invite list is available upon request.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
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 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 Tuesday, January 14, 15, 21, 2014
Tyler Hylton                      Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Antonio Bushrod Jr        Burglary-Class B Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Adam Sebree                   Forgery-Class C Felony
Attempted Forgery-Class C Felony
Khiry Burton                     Neglect of a Dependent-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Shauntel Jordon              Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Dezmond Lewis               Dealing in Cocaine-Class B Felony
Possession of Cocaine-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Carrying a Handgun Without a License-Class A Misdemeanor
Jenny Lovell                      Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
David McGillicuddy       Neglect of Dependent-Class D Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Intimidation-Class D Felony
Sharyl Allen                      Possession of Cocaine- Class C Felony
Jeffrey Bailey Sr              Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
Scott Barenfanger          Theft-Class D Felony
Brian Bull                           Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Brice Cannon                    Voyeurism-Class D Felonies (Four Counts)
Leshaun Cook                   Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Steven Durham               Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
Robert Evans                    Possession of Methamphetamine-Class D Felony
Public Intoxication-Class B Misdemeanor
Disorderly Conduct-Class B Misdemeanor
William Hansen Jr          Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
(Habitual Substance Offender Enhancement)
Terry Holbrook                Criminal Deviate Conduct-Class A Felony
Criminal Confinement-Class BÂ Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
Bradley Horne                 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Kassi Marshall                  Neglect of a Dependent-Class D Felonies (Two Counts)
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
Duwan McKinney           Possession of Cocaine-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Resisting Law Enforcement-Class A Misdemeanor
Eric Nobles                        Rape-Class B Felony
Milton Thomas Jr            Possession of Cocaine-Class D Felony
01/16
Calven Johnson               Battery By Means of a Deadly Weapon-Class C Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
David McGillicuddy       Neglect of a Dependent-Class D Felony
Theft-Class D Felony
Intimidation-Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
Terry Holbrook                Criminal Deviate Conduct-Class A Felony
Criminal Confinement-Class B Felony
Battery Resulting in Bodily Injury-Class A Misdemeanor
01/17
Donnie Bray                     Forgery-Class C Felonies (Three Counts)
Theft-Class D Felony
James Brown                    Possession of Marijuana-Class D Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Jake Carr                             Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance-Class D Felony
Dealing in a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Class D Felony
Maintaining a Common Nuisance-Class D Felony
Jeffrey Lohman               Theft-Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
April Amos                        Resisting Law Enforcement-Class D Felony
Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Ever Receiving a License- Class C Misdemeanor
Stacey Baker                     Possession of Methamphetamine-Class C Felony
Reginald McNary            Theft-Class D Felony
Timothy Rice                    Possession of Marijuana-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Possession of a Synthetic Drug or Synthetic Drug Lookalike Substance-
Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Everett Serrett Jr            Assisting a Criminal –Class D Felony
(Habitual Offender Enhancement)
01/21
Heather Goodwin          Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor Enhanced to D Felony
Robert Torres                   Failure to Register as a Sex or Violent Offender-Class D Felony
SUPERIOR
William Greene JRÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Unlawful Possession or Use of a Legend Drug-Class D Felony
Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .08 or More-Class C Misdemeanor
Shauntel Jordon              Operating a Vehicle as an Habitual Traffic Violator-Class D Felony
David Kiefer                      Criminal Trespass-Class A Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
Disorderly Conduct-Class B Misdemeanor
Daniel Motteler              Operating a Motor Vehicle After Forfeiture of License for Life-
Class C Felony
Gary Young                       Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated-Class C Misdemeanor
(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)
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 considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
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Brinkerhoff-Riley To Presents LST Resolution
RESOLUTION C-2014-1 INTRODUCED BY: BRINKERHOFF-RILEY
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, IN
WHEREAS, The Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana recognizes the historical significance of the USS LST-325, a decommissioned tank landing ship of the United Sates Navy, docked in Evansville, and the importance of its role in our local economy, as well as expresses gratitude to the USS LST Ship Memorial for its restoration and preservation efforts; and
WHEREAS, the USS LST-325 was first launched during World War II when it left the U.S. on October 27, 1942, and sailed north of Africa to assist in the invasions at Gela, Sicily and Salerno, Italy; and
WHEREAS, on June 6, 1944, the USS LST-325 was part of the largest armada in history by participating in the Normandy landings at Omaha Beach and carrying 59 vehicles, 31 officers and 408 enlisted men on its first trip. In returning to England, the ship and her crew carried 38 casualties. Over the next 9 months, the USS LST-325 made more than 40 trips across the English Channel, carrying the thousands of men and pieces of equipment needed to liberate Europe. The ship continued to run supply trips before returning to the United States in March of 1945. She was decommissioned in July of 1946, and put in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; and
WHEREAS, the USS LST-325 was reactivated in 1951 and added to the Military Sea Transportation Service, where she was involved in constructing radar outposts along the coast of eastern Canada and Greenland, which was known as “Operation SUNAC†(Support of North Atlantic Construction in the Labrador Sea, David Strait and Baffin Bay). In 1961, the USS LST-325 was again taken out of service and became part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet; and
WHEREAS, the USS LST-325 was put into service a third time and given to the Greek Navy in 1964. The ship served under the name Syros until she was decommissioned again in December of 1999; and
WHEREAS, a nonprofit organization made up primarily of retired military personnel, the USS LST Ship Memorial, acquired the USS LST-325 in 2000. The group went to Greece, made numerous repairs to the ship and sailed her the 6,500 miles back to the United States in January of 2001. In 2003, the USS LST-325 toured the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and spent 10 days in the City of Evansville, where over 35,000 people toured the ship; and
WHEREAS, the City of Evansville has a deep connection to the USS LST-325, as the City’s riverfront during World War II was a 45-acre shipyard producing LSTs. At its peak, the Evansville Shipyard employed over 19,000 and was the largest inland producer of LSTs in the nation. 167 LSTs and 35 other vessels were built at the Evansville Shipyard; and
WHEREAS, the USS LST-325 is one of the last navigable LSTs in operation in the United States and was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 2009. The ship has been ported in the City of Evansville since 2006 as a memorial museum to LSTs and the City’s war effort; and
WHEREAS, the USS LST-325 welcomes approximately 10,000 visitors every year to the City of Evansville and is an integral part of the community’s history and local economy; and
WHEREAS, the contract between the City of Evansville and USS LST Ship Memorial expires in 2015, and it is in the City’s best interest to secure a renewal of the agreement; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
The Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana hereby urges Mayor Lloyd Winnecke to make renewing the contract with USS LST Ship Memorial a top priority for the City of Evansville and resoundingly congratulates the USS LST Ship Memorial on being an outstanding member of our community and an integral part of generating tourism dollars in our local economy.
PASSED BY the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, on the 27th day of January, 2014, and signed by the President of the Common Council and attested by the City Clerk.
John E. Friend, President of the Common
Council, City of Evansville, Indiana
EPD looking for gun after overnight car chase
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 DON’T GO TO COURT ALONE. CALL IVAN ARNAEZ @ 812-424-6671.
After learning of a possible safety concern, Evansville Police returned to the neighborhood where a car chase ended in the arrest of Lusta Johnson.
Johnson fled the area of Sunburst and Riverside after a shots fired complaint. A Vanderburgh County Deputy tried to pull Johnson over, but he refused to stop. Johnson was arrested after he wrecked and ran from his car.
Investigators received information today that Johnson threw a loaded handgun out of the car while fleeing. Johnson allegedly threw the gun near the area of Ravenswood and Frederick. Despite an extensive search of the area, officers were unable to find the gun.
The EPD is asking anyone who may come across this gun, as well as any other guns, to treat is as loaded. Do not attempt to move or examine a gun. Please call 911 and have an officer respond.
For full details, view this message on the web.
Rep. Sullivan’s first bill passes out of committee
STATEHOUSE – House Bill (HB) 1286 authored by State Representative Holli Sullivan (R-Evansville) passed out of the Roads and Transportation Committee today with a unanimous vote and will now go to the full House for further discussion.
HB 1286 requires the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), the Indiana Finance Authority and Purdue University to provide annual reports to the joint study committee on transportation and infrastructure assessment and solutions.
“This is a simple bill, centered on government transparency,†said Rep. Sullivan. “The information gathered from these reports will give legislators on the study committee better insight into the needs of our transportation systems in Indiana. To great effect, this was practiced in last year’s summer study committee with the BMV and INDOT. I’m pleased to see this legislation garner bipartisan support in the committee, and I look forward to moving this bill through the House. â€
According to the Build Indiana Council, this bill also gives the agencies mentioned a better idea of what information could be most useful to the study committee.
Lockhart Found Guilty
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A Vanderburgh County Jury deliberated for under two hours before finding Malaysia D. Lockhart (06/12/1986) guilty of two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Serious Violent Felon – B Felonies.
Lockhart faces between 6-20 years and will be sentenced on February 07, 2012 at 11:00 by Judge Kelli Fink. Lockhart was arrested following an investigation in May of 2013.
For further information on the case listed above, or any pending case, please contact Kyle Phernetton, Director of Public Relations at 812.435.5688 or via e-mail at kphernetton@vanderburghgov.org.
Under Indiana law, all criminal defendants are considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
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