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HOT JOBS
 Evansville Region Secures Funding to Develop Regional Economic Development Strategy
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (October 28, 2023) – The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) was recently awarded a $60,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), a federal agency of the Department of Commerce, to develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, and Gibson counties. Assistance for the project comes from the EDA’s $30.7 million budget for Partnership Planning awards, designed to build capacity and guide economic prosperity and resiliency in an area or region.
“We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the EDA,†said Tara Barney, CEO of E-REP. “This CEDS will be a key enabler for our region; serving as a guide toward becoming more resilient, equitable and regionally competitive, and allowing us to continue to build on our recent success in regional collaboration. The CEDS and our strengthened relationship with the EDA allows us greater access to tools and funding through the EDA as well as other federal agencies.†In addition to the federal planning support, E-REP is contributing an additional $60,000 through in-kind services via staff time.
Next steps include releasing a request for proposals and selecting an experienced consultant while forming a regional strategy committee to guide the plan and implement recommendations. The regional strategy committee will be comprised of individuals throughout the four-county region representing a variety of economic development interests, employer sectors, and units of government.
“The roughly year-long effort to draft the CEDS will be followed by an opportunity for public comment,†said Josh Armstrong, Senior Vice President for Economic Development for E-REP. “Expect our submission of the CEDS plan in late 2024.†Submission of an application to be designated an Economic Development District (EDD) will follow the EDA’s approval of the CEDS. Upon this designation, a governing board will guide the efforts of the EDD, and support efforts by specific communities to seek federal funds from the EDA.
About the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership
The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) leads economic development efforts for the Evansville, Indiana region and elevates the overall quality of life through transformational projects, planning, advocacy, and business engagement. Additionally, E-REP supports the attraction, startup, and growth of regional businesses. For more information, visit evansvilleregion.com
Murder Investigation 2600 block of Mount Vernon Ave. ********UPDATE
 On October 26th, two other suspects in this murder investigation were located and arrested. Both suspects have been booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center.Â
Caden W. Harms contacted the Evansville Police to turn himself in. He was arrested and charged with two counts of Murder, Robbery, Assisting a Criminal, and Obstruction of Justice.Â
John C. Parker was located and arrested in Indianapolis. He was transported back to Evansville and charged with two counts of Murder, Robbery, and Obstruction of Justice.Â
Through their investigation, detectives learned that John Parker contacted Richard Garrett for a ride on October 21st. Parker and Caden Harms had conspired to commit a robbery and murder at a residence in the 2600 block of Mount Vernon Ave. Garrett drove Parker and Harms to the location. Detectives learned that Parker shot both victims. Harms acted as the lookout for Parker and acted to conceal and dispose of evidence that pertained to the murder investigation.Â
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Summary:Â
On October 26th, around 12:30 a.m., suspect Richard D. Garrett was arrested by the Evansville Police Department for charges including two counts of Murder, Robbery, Assisting a Criminal, and Obstruction of Justice. He has been booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement Center.Â
The two victims, who have been identified by the Vanderburgh County Coroner’s Office as Michael Blankenship and Mitchell Greathouse, had been shot and killed at a residence on Mount Vernon Ave. on October 21st.Â
Throughout their investigation, detectives learned that Richard Garrett drove the involved vehicle to the residence on Mount Vernon Ave. Garrett was transporting two other suspects to that residence. Garrett acknowledged that he believed the two suspects were going to commit a robbery. While Garrett was waiting in the vehicle, he heard gunshots. Garrett waited for the suspects to return to the vehicle after they fled the home. Garrett noticed blood on one of the suspects but drove them to another location to drop them off. Garrett did not call the police to report the incident. Garrett then heard about the double murders on Mount Vernon Ave. from the press release, but still did not contact law enforcement. Instead, Garrett acted to conceal and dispose of blood evidence from the involved vehicle.Â
This investigation is still active. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the EPD Adult Investigations Unit at (812) 436-7979.Â
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Summary:Â
On October 22nd, around 3:30 p.m., Evansville Police Officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Mount Vernon Ave. in reference to a death investigation. The reporter found two individuals inside the residence who were deceased. Officers arrived and located the two victims who were beyond help. They were both adultÂ
males and their deaths appeared to be suspicious. This is being treated as a Murder Investigation. Detectives with the EPD Adult Investigations Unit and EPD Crime Scene Unit were called to the scene.Â
This investigation is still active and at this time, no arrests have been made. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. The victims’ names and the cause of death will be released at a later date/time. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, please contact the Adult Investigation Unit at (812) 436-7979.Â
Attorney General Todd Rokita continues fight against harmful social media platforms to protect youth from addictive ‘rabbit holes’
Today, Attorney General Todd Rokita and 41 other attorneys general sued Meta in federal and state courts alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. At the same time, Meta falsely assured the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users.
“Our children are our most precious God-given gift, as they are our future generation,†Attorney General Rokita said. “This is just the next step in our endless fight to protect our youth from harmful, toxic platforms.â€
The attorneys general assert that Meta’s business practices violate state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis†which has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.
The federal complaint alleges that Meta knew of the harmful impact of its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, on young people. Instead of taking steps to mitigate these harms, it misled the public about the harms associated with use of its platform, concealing the extent of the psychological and health harms suffered by young users addicted to use of its platforms.
The complaint further alleges that Meta knew that young users, including those under 13, were active on the platforms, and knowingly collected data from these users without parental consent. It targeted these young users noting, as reported in a 2021 Wall Street Journal article, that such a user base was “valuable, but untapped.â€
While much of the complaint relies on confidential material that is not yet available to the public, publicly available sources including those previously released by former Meta employees detail that Meta profited by purposely making its platforms addictive to children and teens. Its platform algorithms push users into descending “rabbit holesâ€Â in an effort to maximize engagement.
Meta knew these addictive features harmed young people’s physical and mental health, including undermining their ability to get adequate sleep, but did not disclose the harm nor did they make meaningful changes to minimize the harm. Instead, they claimed their platforms were safe for young users.
These choices, the complaint alleges, violate state consumer protection laws and COPPA. The federal complaint seeks injunctive and monetary relief to rectify the harms caused by these platforms.
Multiple states also sued TikTok for similar conduct, following Indiana’s lead.
Coat -A-Kid Kickoff
 Don’s Claytons DCI Fine Dry CleaningÂ
Bryan Schmitt, PresidentÂ
Evansville Christian Life CenterÂ
Gina Gibson, CEOÂ
Sharon Taylor, Director of OperationsÂ
Evansville Salvation ArmyÂ
Major Alex RahmanÂ
WHAT: 2023 Coat-A-KidÂ
WHEN: Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 Media 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m. Kids 8:30 a.m.Â
WHERE: Hebron Elementary School 4400 Bellemeade Ave, Evansville, INÂ
WHY: To kick off this year’s 2023 Coat-A-KidÂ
USI annual Madrigal Feaste returns November 30 through December 3
The University of Southern Indiana Chamber Choir will host the annual Madrigal Thursday, November 30 through Sunday, December 3 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West on the USI campus. Thursday through Saturday, November 30 through December 30, performances will begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., and the December 3 matinee performance will begin at 1 p.m. with doors opening at 12:30 p.m.
First performed in 1969 and USI’s most enduring musical tradition, the Madrigal Feaste takes guests back to Fifteenth Century Ireland as the Choir entertains with selections of old English madrigals, Irish traditional folk songs and carols, as well as stirring choral selections for the holiday season. Performances combine vocal and instrumental music, dancing, drama, elegant Renaissance garb and fine dining.
This year’s menu will include salad, soup of beef and barley, herb baked chicken and vegetables and bread pudding with rum sauce.
Tickets are $36 for USI students, seniors (60+) and children (K-12) and $42 for adults. To purchase tickets, visit www.USI.edu/madrigals or call 812-461-5237.
For more information, contact Dan Craig, Associate Professor of Music, at 812-464-1736.
HEALTH OFFICIALS URGE SCREENING DURING NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) highlights the need for all Hoosier children younger than age 7 to be screened for lead exposure during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, recognized Oct. 22-28.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, House Enrolled Act 1313 requires that all Indiana healthcare providers determine whether children age 6 and younger have been tested for lead poisoning and to offer screening. Through August 2023, there has been a 21% increase in unique children tested compared to the same period in 2022 and a 393% overall increase in confirmed cases of elevated blood lead levels. This has led to 81.9% more children receiving resources and support from lead case managers than in all of 2022.
“Lead poisoning can look like a lot of other things like attention deficit disorder, ADHD or even autism because it doesn’t present in a specific way,†said Paul Krievins, director of the Indiana Department of Health Lead and Healthy Homes Division. “Testing is critical to identifying and removing sources of lead and ensuring children exposed to lead receive needed care and treatment.â€
Data show that no amount of lead in the blood is safe, and children age 6 and younger are most vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure because their bodies use the toxic lead in brain and bone development. Young children are also more likely to be exposed to lead through placing their hands which may be contaminated by lead dust into their mouths. Lead dust often originates from deteriorated lead-based paint in older homes, but lead can occur naturally in soil and can be found in drinking water fed through lead pipes. Signs of lead exposure can include damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavior problems, developmental delays and hearing and speech problems.
Gov. Holcomb directs flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims of violence in Lewiston, Maine
INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags to be flown at half-staff in honor and remembrance of the victims of the horrific tragedy in Lewiston, Maine per President Biden.
Flags statewide should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset on Monday, Oct. 30. Gov. Holcomb is requesting residents and businesses to lower their flags.