Jackson Kelly PLLC has received national first-tier rankings in mining law and natural resources law.  This is according to the recently-released U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers^® 2014 “Best Law Firms” rankings.

In addition, the following practice groups were ranked tier one in Charleston, W.Va.: Administrative/Regulatory Law, Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Management, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Government Relations Practice, Health Care Law, Labor Law – Management, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Banking & Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Mediation, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil & Gas Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Public Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Tax Law, Water Law and Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers.

In Colorado, the firm was honored with tier one rankings in Energy Law.

In Lexington, Ky., the firm received tier one rankings in: Construction Law, Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

In Morgantown, W.Va., the firm received tier one rankings in the following categories: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor & Employment, Public Finance Law, Tax Law, Trusts & Estates Law and Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers.

The firm’s Pittsburgh, Pa. office had first tier rankings in Mining Law and Natural Resources Law.

These rankings, which are presented in tiers, showcase more than 10,000 different law firms ranked nationally in one or more of 80 major legal practice areas and in metropolitan or state rankings in one or more of 118 major legal practice areas.  National and metropolitan first-tier rankings will be featured in the “Best Law Firms” standalone publication.

Jackson Kelly PLLC is a national law firm representing leading global corporations, national companies, entrepreneurs and individuals in areas of law such as environmental, business, labor and employment, federal and state workers’ compensation, civil litigation and occupational safety and health. The firm has offices in Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The Vanderburgh County Redevelopment Commission will hold a meeting on Wednesday December 18, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 307 of the Civic Center Complex located at 1 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to consider matters relating to Vanderburgh County’s economic development participation in the Shell Building to be constructed within the Vanderburgh Industrial Park as well as other Commission business matters.

By Megan Banta

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana is set to have a new energy plan developed by June of next year.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development announced today it has started working to make a new energy plan for the state. It will complete the plan and submit its energy policy to Gov. Mike Pence in June.

Pence said the new energy plan is a necessity for the state.

“Here in Indiana, we make things, and we grow things,” he said. “These activities require enormous amounts of energy. In order to maintain our historic advantage for low cost of energy, we need a new, updated energy plan.”

Indiana’s current energy plan was written seven years ago. Since that plan was implemented, the cost of electricity for industrial consumers has increased. The new plan will seek to maintain reliable and low-cost energy by meeting the standards that Pence called for in his Roadmap for Indiana. It will utilize all of Indiana’s energy resources, improve options available to energy consumer and commercialize new energy technologies.

Tristan Vance, director of the Office of Energy Development who also serves as the state’s chief energy officer, said his office has started engaging a “broad, diverse group of stakeholders who will help us shape the character of Indiana’s energy policy.”

Pence said he looks forward to receiving the office’s policy recommendations.

“I am confident that the strategies proposed will help ensure that Indiana continues to be the best place in America to start a company, grow a business and raise a family,” Pence said.

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

By Jesse Wilson
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, announced Monday that he would not pursue re-election after completing his current term.

Sen. Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg, shown here on the Senate floor earlier this year, said Monday he won’t seek reelection. Photo by Lesley Weidenbener, TheStatehouseFile.com

“Volunteering to retire from the Senate has been one of my more difficult decisions,” Nugent said in a statement. “However, after a great amount of thoughtful prayer and quiet personal reflection, I have concluded that it’s time to pass the torch.”

Nugent said “genuine respect and consideration of my wife and family, business and health all weighed heavily on my decision to decline running for re-election.”

Nugent was first elected to the state Senate in 1978 and has since then served as the Senate majority caucus majority leader, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Small Business Committee for more that 20 years, and chair of the Roads and Transportation Committee.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, applauded Nugent as “a great leader and voice for the people of southeastern Indiana for more than 35 years.”

“He will be greatly missed by his constituents, as well as every Hoosier who values an experienced and patriotic voice for our state,” he said. “I will personally miss his institutional knowledge, his savvy, and also his friendship. I believe I can speak for all of his colleagues within the Indiana Senate in saying that we each wish Johnny great happiness and fulfillment in his retirement from public service.”

Nugent has authored a number of pro-Second Amendment bills including Indiana’s “Castle Doctrine,” which gives individuals broad authority to fight – even shoot – anyone who comes into their homes without permission. He also authored the law creating the nation’s first lifetime concealed carry permit. In addition, he’s been a strong supporter of hunters’ rights throughout his tenure and member of the National Rifle Association’s board of directors.

During his tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Nugent has served the following counties: Bartholomew, Dearborn, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Union, Franklin, Switzerland and Fayette.

November 21, 2013

The Honorable Ron Bacon

Indiana House of Representatives 200 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Representative Bacon,

As the 2014 legislative session draws near, I have had several inquiries as to my position on House Joint Resolution 6.

I would like to share my thoughts and perspective to you directly, as the General Assembly is the initial decision-maker on this issue.

I have a deep appreciation for those on both sides of this issue. It inspires a lot of passion and reasonable people can disagree while respecting the views of others.

While I understand and value putting constitutional amendments before Indiana voters, I oppose the passage of HJR 6 in its current form. It is an unnecessarily divisive proposal at a time when the most critical issues of fostering economic development and creating a high quality of life in Evansville, Indiana and America require our shared focus and effort.

Governing is fundamentally about advancing your principles and finding common ground to meet the numerous challenges we all encounter in public service. That is certainly my mission each day as mayor of Evansville, and I encourage members of the General Assembly to look for an alternative way to solve this issue for the benefit of all involved.

Thank you for your public service and please let me know if my Administration can be of assistance during the legislative session.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Steve Schaefer, Chief of Staff, at 812-436-4967 or via email at sschaefer@evansville.in.gov.

Thank you again for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor

City of Evansville

LW/mc

cc: The Honorable Vaneta Becker

The Honorable Suzanne Crouch

The Honorable Wendy McNamara

The Honorable Gail Riecken

The Honorable Jim Tomes