Home Blog Page 6633

Former Sen. Lugar gets nation’s highest civilian honor

2

By Jacie Shoaf
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – President Barack Obama on Wednesday presented former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana with the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian award – during a ceremony at the White House.

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar on Wednesday received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Photo by Darron Cummings, AP photo pool

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar on Wednesday received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Photo by Darron Cummings, AP photo pool

Lugar, who represented Indiana in the Senate for more than three decades, “put country above party and self to forge bipartisan consensus,” according to the White House.

“Our nation and our world are safer because of this statesman,” Obama said in his speech. “And in a time of unrelenting partisanship, Dick Lugar’s decency, his commitment to bipartisan problem-solving, stand as a model of what public service ought to be.”

This awards program marks the 50th anniversary of former president John F. Kennedy’s establishment of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award. Obama handed out awards to 16 Americans on Wednesday.

Lugar – who lost in last year’s GOP primary to Richard Mourdock, who then lost to Democrat Joe Donnelly – served in the Senate for 36 years. He also served two terms as Indianapolis mayor and won the chamber’s inaugural government leader award in 1990.

Since his election defeat, Lugar, 81, has become president of the Lugar Center in Washington D.C. and remains active in energy and national security issues.

Jacie Shoaf is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

 

Organization Day, upcoming session

0
 
The 2014 session is right around the corner, and Organization Day kicked off the legislative proceedings on Tuesday, November 19. It was a great day to put the final touches on all of the work we have accomplished this summer during interim study committees to prepare for this upcoming session.

This year will be a “short session” because we passed the state’s biennial budget last year. We have a total of 30 session days to meet and address the people’s business. There are many benefits to having a part-time legislature; including saving on operational costs, time restrictions to handle pertinent matters, meaning things get done, and greater accountability.

Each year the House of Representatives chooses a charity to help and promote. Legislators and staff will bring in items during the weeks prior and on Organization Day benefiting the Special Olympics of Indiana (SOI) this year.

They are a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 11,000 athletes across Indiana. SOI is part of the international network of accredited Special Olympics Programs that reaches nearly 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities worldwide.

I look forward to serving our community and will continue to carry your voice to Indianapolis in an effort to build a pro-business environment that attracts high quality jobs in Indiana.

Over the next few months, the Statehouse will become a whirlwind of committee hearings, meetings with constituents and authoring legislation. I look forward to keeping you updated on this short, but busy session.   If you have suggestions, questions, or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 317-232-9841 or via email at h76@in.gov.


Rep. McNamara with some of the Special Olympic Athletes

VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES

0

nick herman

 

Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, Thursday 21, 2013

 

Benjamin Barker              Domestic Battery-Class D Felony

Curtis Owens II                 Operating a Vehicle with an ACE of .15 or More-Class A Misdemeanor

(Enhanced to D Felony Due to Prior Convictions)

Jeremy Clark                      Theft-Class D Felony

(Habitual Offender Enhancement)

Angel Heck                         Theft-Class D Felony

Timothy Shadrick             Strangulation-Class D Felony

Domestic Battery-Class A Misdemeanor

Interference with the Reporting of a Crime-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 considered to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

 

Questions For Three Public Officials From City County Observer

7

 

Russ Lloyd Jr.
Russ Lloyd Jr.

These questions are directed at Mayor Winnecke, City Controller and Past Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr. and Evansville HR Director Mr. Fithian. The answers would be appreciated.  Please blog your answers on this page.

1. When did you learn that the US Department of Labor laws limit comp time accruals to 480 hours for fire and police and 240 hours for other public employees?

2. When did you learn that there were 110,000 hours on the books of the City of Evansville for comp time?

3. Do you think it is appropriate to withhold such information from the City Council during a budget hearing?

4. Who on the city payroll is responsible for knowing federal labor laws?

Thanks,

CCO Editor-Joe Wallace

Obama Delays 2015 ObamaCare Enrollment Period until AFTER 2014 ELECTION

6

The CCO has just learned that the enrollment period for ObamaCare including the employer mandate has been delayed by one month. The enrollment period will now begin on November 15, 2014 that falls conveniently just after the 2014 congressional elections.

The Health and Human Services Department confirmed to various agencies that it plans to reschedule the 2015 open enrollment period for Nov. 15, 2014 – Jan. 15, 2015. Previously, the enrollment period was slated to run from Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2014. Insurers also now have until May 2014, rather than April 2014, to submit applications to offer health plans in the marketplace. The changes don’t impact the Obamacare marketplace for next year.

This is a developing story.

IS IT TRUE November 22, 2013

30
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics
Mole #3 Nostradamus of Local Politics

IS IT TRUE November 22, 2013

IS IT TRUE the City County Observer asked the local person of authority and has learned that Indiana Landmarks took possession of the Greyhound Bus Station at the end of April 2013?…they are currently in the planning stages for exterior restoration?…nothing about doing anything to the inside or what the eventual use will be was offered up?…this is a far cry from the politically motivated claims of 5 years ago about a grand deal to completely refurbish the building inside and out and to then open it to the public for both public and private business to be conducted?…the McCurdy is privately owned, therefore Indiana Landmarks can’t shed any light as to its status?…both of these classic buildings that have been in deterioration limbo for over 2,000 days are victims of political ambition and campaign puffery of the highest degree?

IS IT TRUE it has now been 5 days since the scab was ripped off regarding the City of Evansville’s practice of letting employees and particularly the EPD and the EFD accumulate comp time in numbers that greatly exceed the limits set by the United States Department of Labor?…there has been no solution to this problem announced by either the Office of the Mayor or either of the unions that support these groups?… Larry Nelson, Evansville FOP President posted a comment on the CCO stating that,

“The Fraternal Order of Police, the labor organization for the Evansville Police Department, has not met with anyone from the City on this issue. Is it true that the Federal mandate for police officers in regards to compensatory time is 480 hours? Is it true that the FOP and the City of Evansville agreed to a cap of 200 hours years ago, somewhere around 1993? The police department has 285 employees. Could it be that those who have excessive time were employed before 1993?”

IS IT TRUE this shines even more light on the disregard shown by the City of Evansville for rules and laws?…it seems as though there was a contract signed by the City and the FOP that capped the comp time accumulation at 200 hours which is much lower than the DOL limit of 480 hours?…with all due respect to the possibility raised by Mr. Nelson that these hours could have been on the books from before 1993 (20 years ago), the CCO KNOWS of several situations where people with well over 480 hours of comp time on their books have been credited with more comp time recently?…we even know of cases where people that were not even on the payroll in 1993 are among the 51 cases that exceed 480 hours?…we would like to invite Mr. Nelson to supply an op-ed column to the CCO explaining just how it came to be that some employees have over 10 times the contractual amount of comp time allowed and 5 times the legal limit?…we would also welcome such a column from the Firefighter’s union leadership?

IS IT TRUE in spite of what can be characterized as a taxpayer funded PR campaign to save President Obama’s credibility his numbers continue to plummet?…the Real Clear Politics average of polls now shows 55% disapproval and 40% approval for the President’s performance?…the drill down polls on foreign policy and the economy are even worse both having approval ratings in the 37% range and disapproval ratings in the 57% range?…the most recent CBS poll released this week is dramatically worse for the President?…this proves that at least for now the American people have demonstrated an understanding that they were lied to and have not bought into the President’s PR campaign?…it does appear that the PR campaign is extensive enough that many of the “talking heads” from the evening cable shows were invited to the White House yesterday to have the “talking points” for the week embedded into their minds?…we wonder if we are not going to be keeping that annoying part of the bill of rights that guarantees “freedom of the press” because someone obviously thinks it is junk?…the former Soviet Union had a state sponsored propaganda machine and it seems as though this Administration is trying to capture the opinion speakers from the news networks as his propaganda machine?…this is not unprecedented but it is unacceptable?

EPD ACTIVITY REPORT 11.21.2013

0

EPD PATCH 2012

EPD ACTIVITY REPORT 11.21.2013

PET OF THE WEEK

0

 

CozyCozy is a beautiful Lab mix! She is 8 years old, and so much more than an “older” dog! Most dogs can live into their late teens, so she has plenty of years ahead of her. Plus, she’s already a mature and sweet-tempered girl, so her forever family won’t have to deal with puppy problems! Cozy was found as a stray, so we don’t know much about her background. But we do know that she has a very gentle nature and likes just about all people! During November, which is Adopt A Senior Pet Month, Cozy’s adoption fee is only $50. This still includes her spay, vaccinations, microchip, and more. She can go home with you TODAY

Rep. Tom Dermody named new House Public Policy chairman

0

By Jesse Wilson
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Tom Dermody will be the new chairman of the House Public Policy Committee.

Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, is the new chairman of the House Public Policy Committee.

Dermody, a Republican from LaPorte, will replace Jim Davis, who left the legislature to become the director of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

“Tom is a man of integrity and I am confident that he is right person for this job,” said House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, who appointed him to the post.

“Tom has exhibited strength in leadership, both in his role as the assistant majority floor leader and as the chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee.”

Bosma said that as the chairman of the Public Policy Committee, Dermody “will deal with tough issues. I have total confidence that Tom will carry out the duties of his new responsibility with honor and fairness.”

The committee tackles issues related to gambling, alcohol, abortion and guns.

Dermody said he was honored by the appointment.

“Like my colleague, Rep. Bill Davis, before me, I will work to find common ground on important public policy issues affecting our state,” Dermody said. “I am eager to serve in this new capacity in order to affect policies that will impact and significantly benefit the lives of all Hoosiers.”

Dermondy was elected to the legislature in 2006.

Jesse Wilson is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

‘New Royalty’ Look to Finish Pre-Season Undefeated

0

 

EVV KINGS LOGOEvansville Kings Semi-Pro Indoor Soccer Team Looks to Go 3-0 in Pre-Season

 

By Scottie Thomas

 

On Saturday, November 23rd, 2013, ‘New Royalty’ the Evansville Kings Semi-Pro Indoor Soccer Team host the newly renamed River City Saints for the Pre-Season Finale at home. The game will kick-in at 8:00 p.m. at Metro Sports Center. Tickets are $5 for all wearing their favorite college gear or present their college ID.  Otherwise the price of admission is $4 for kids and $8 for adults (cash only).

The game will be a rematch vs. River City as the Evansville Kings look to remain undefeated this Pre-Season in their debut season in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL).  The previous meeting saw the Evansville Kings win on the road by a final of 7-5 after the game was tied 2-2 at halftime.  The Kings opened up the third period with three goals, adding to the trend that the team is explosive in the second half of games early on this year.

Jessica Arvin will be present to perform the singing of our National Anthem.  General Manager & Head Coach Josh Tucker also welcomes his new Assistant Coach & Fitness Coordinator Heidi Lutterbach.  Our legendary Hoolah-Hoop Halftime Happening will go on as well.  Honorary Squires for Saturday’s game are Ethan and Luke Heim.

Thank you to our sponsors: Metro Sports Center, Husk Signs, Tyler Saxe – Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, Complete Nutrition, Shoe Carnival, City-County Observer, John Friend Financial Group, D-Patrick: German Cars, Beans & Baristas, The Shades 4 U Foundation & Buffalo Wild Wings on Evansville’s east side.

For more information about the Evansville Kings, visit them on Facebook or on Twitter @EVVKings, or visit their website, http://evansvillekings.wix.com/PASL.

 

1...6,6326,6336,634...7,323Page 6,633 of 7,323