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Attorney General Todd Rokita commends Medical Licensing Board’s May decision regarding abortion doctor’s violations of privacy laws

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Attorney General Todd Rokita released the following statement today:

“We are not appealing because we won the case, and it’s not surprising Dr. Bernard is not appealing. The Medical Licensing Board found Dr. Bernard liable for violating state and federal patient privacy laws on three separate counts, penalized her with the maximum fine possible under the law, and issued a formal letter of reprimand. My team fought for the 10-year-old girl’s privacy rights and continues to do the same for other Hoosier patients.”

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

 

FOOTNOTE:  EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.

 VANDERBURGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AWARD  BUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA WITH ARPA FUNDS

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 VANDERBURGH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AWARD  BUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA WITH ARPA FUNDS 

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023

With the support of Vanderburgh County Council, the Vanderburgh County Commissioners were proud to award Buffalo Trace Council, Boy Scouts of America with $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds. 

To respond to the public health emergency impact with respect to COVID-19 and its negative economic impacts, Vanderburgh County appropriated funds to non-profit organizations whose missions focus on arts, culture, and educational initiatives benefiting the County’s residents. 

Buffalo Trace Council, Boy Scouts of America’s mission is “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.” Creating the next generation of leaders, the Buffalo Trace Council provides Scouting initiatives to over 2,500 boys and girls across 15 counties in southwest Indiana and southern Illinois. In Vanderburgh County, the Council prepares over 1,000 youth for service to their communities. 

John G. Harding, Scout Executive, commented, “We are very grateful to the Vanderburgh County Council and Commissioners for this grant. Scouting is continuing to rebound from COVID-19 with a bright future ahead. We look forward to providing new learning opportunities for our youth as they adventure into leadership.” 

USI challenges Purple Aces in 3-1 loss

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Despite winning the first set, University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (0-2, 0-0 OVC) slowly watched Murray State University (2-0, 0-0 MVC) take away three-straight sets to defeat the Screaming Eagles, 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 17-25, 12-25). The Eagles are still searching for its first win in the NCAA Division I era

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (1-3) had an impressive showing against the University of Evansville (2-1) but was defeated by the Purple Aces on Tuesday night at Meeks Family Fieldhouse, 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23).
 
The Screaming Eagles made a push but were tamed in the end, 25-22. The scoring started with a couple of miscues from UE and a kill from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) that gave the Eagles their first lead of the match, 4-3. The Purple Aces went on a quick 4-0 stint after a pair of kills and aces that put USI down by three. Trailing 8-6, the Eagles witnessed another 4-0 stint that doubled UE’s lead. USI got back in the scoring column with a kill from sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) and a shared block by junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) and junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) to make it 12-8. The Purple Aces retaliated by scoring seven of the next 10 points to extend their advantage, 19-11. Trailing 22-14, the Eagles made a big run to make it interesting. Starting with a kill from junior Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) followed by a block and two kills from Leah Anderson, USI was within four. Despite a pair of offensive mistakes from the Eagles, they returned with another 4-0 run that was capped off with another duo of kills from Leah Anderson. UE would nab the final point to claim the victory and take a 1-0 set lead. Both sides were evenly matched on the attack with USI earning 11 kills in comparison to UE’s 13 kills.
 
The Purple Aces put up some big runs to take care of the Eagles in the second set, 25-19. USI quickly went down 9-3 in the frame after UE put up 4-0 and 3-0 surges. The Purple Aces did not stop there as they went on a 5-1 run to make it a 14-5 game. USI recovered with a 4-0 stint with the help of some UE errors and a Downing kill to make it 14-9. The Purple Aces returned the favor with five straight points that put the Eagles down by a set-high 10 points. Leah Anderson and Bianca Anderson knocked down a kill each to stop the stint while Downing added a pair of kills to cut the deficit to 21-15. Weber would nab a kill and a service ace while senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) tacked on a kill to make a five-point set before UE sealed the match with a kill. The Purple Aces nabbed 15 kills with just four errors and a 0.244 attacking percentage in the frame while USI had a match-low 10 kills.
 
An early lead and a late stop by USI gave the Eagles a 25-23 win in the third game. Trailing 4-3, USI went on a solid 8-0 run while scoring 10 of the 11 points to make it 11-4. During that span, Downing threw down a pair of kills while Bednar nabbed three kills to highlight the surge. The Purple Aces retaliated with six straight points that made it 13-11. USI kept holding on to the lead throughout UE’s attacks and would sit behind a 19-14 advantage with the help of a kill and block assist from junior middle blocker Lauren O’Neill (Covington, Indiana). Not going down without a fight, the Purple Aces made it a tie game after a 5-0 spurt, putting the Eagles on their heels at 19-19. Three Bednar kills lifted USI past UE and squeezed by a third-set win. USI tallied a match-high 11 kills and a 0.128 hitting percentage while holding the UE attack to just eight kills.
 
USI put up a strong effort at the end of the frame but came up shy of the win, dropping 25-23. Sobieralski started off the game with a quick kill before UE tacked on six of the next seven points to take a 6-2 lead. Back-to-back kills from Bednar and a kill from Bianca Anderson reduced the deficit to just one. The Purple Aces added three straight points then another four straight to make it 14-8. The Eagles took advantage of three offensive errors from UE and put up a 5-1 run. Down 17-13, USI went on a surge by scoring six of the next seven points to regain the lead. However, UE quickly took control and scored three more to recapture a 21-19 advantage. Despite knotting it up at 23, the Eagles could not stop back-to-back kills from the Purple Aces and dropped their third match of the season.
 
Three Eagles posted double-doubles in the loss. Bednar recorded 15 kills with 12 digs while Leah Anderson paired 12 kills with 12 digs. Sobieralski took the reins in the passing game with 39 assists to go along with 16 digs. Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) tacked on a team and career-high 17 digs while Downing recorded a career-high seven blocks.
 
As a team, the Eagles had 47 kills, a season-high of 76 digs and 13 blocks to go along with four aces and 42 assists. The Purple Aces put up 52 kills, 83 digs, and 47 assists with nine aces and 15 blocks.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles go back to tournament play this weekend at the Bellarmine Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky. USI will face a trio of opponents including Murray State University (9:00 a.m.) and Bellarmine University (6:30 p.m.) on Friday before challenging the University of New Orleans (11:00 a.m.) on Saturday.

Breaking News: Vanderburgh County Commission Proposes Overhaul of Site Review Process

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Vanderburgh County Commission Proposes Overhaul of Site Review Process

AUGUST 30, 2023

Evansville, IN – The Vanderburgh County Commission announces an important step towards modernizing and enhancing our local business environment. The Commission held a First Reading of proposed changes to the Site Review process, a vital component of the country’s regulatory framework for new business.

The proposed updates aim to bring Site Review processes up to date, ensuring greater efficiency, rapid permitting, and promoting a conducive atmosphere for economic growth. Initially introduced approximately 30 years ago to organize the permitting procedure for new businesses, the Site Review process has lost focus and introduced delays. The need for improved efficiency has been brought to the Commissioner’s attention by major stakeholders in the building industry.  

The primary objectives of the proposed overhaul are two-fold: first, to streamline the process by reducing the number of business circumstances subject to Site Review, and second, to establish clear building permit review timeframes.

The first objective seeks to limit Site Review to business with a new or expanded building footprint or seeking a rezoning from one classification to another.  Currently, virtually any business change of ownership or “use” triggers the Site Review process.

The second key objective is the introduction of a permit review timeframe. Under this framework, permit applications submitted to permitting authorities allow regulators 12 business days to respond. If no response is received within this timeframe, the application is deemed approved. It is important to note that this timeframe has already been established in state law, and the ordinance change ensures alignment with existing state regulations.

The Vanderburgh County Commission believes that these updates to the Site Review ordinance will contribute significantly to the county’s continued economic growth and sustainability. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and providing clear timelines, the county aims to attract new businesses, encourage local entrepreneurship, and ultimately foster a thriving business ecosystem.

The Commission extends its gratitude to the community for its ongoing support and input in shaping these revisions. The proposed changes reflect a collaborative effort to ensure that Vanderburgh County remains a leader in progress and innovation.

The first reading of the proposed overhaul of the Site Review process was voted on unanimously at the August 29, 2023, meeting of the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners.  

The Area Plan Commission is statutorily required to hold a hearing within 60 days, providing an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to engage in discussions and contribute valuable insights. The Vanderburgh County Commission looks forward to a constructive dialogue and is committed to a smooth transition that benefits both the business community and our residents.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expands statewide

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STATEHOUSE (Aug. 29, 2023) — Following action from the General Assembly and governor, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is expanding statewide, said State Sen. Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville). 

The expansion comes thanks in part to Senate Bill 340, which Becker authored during the 2023 legislative session to establish the Indiana Imagination Library. 

The program gives children from birth to the age of five monthly access to free age-appropriate books, regardless of their income level. The Imagination Library mails over 2.4 million books each month to enrolled children.  

“It is of the utmost importance for children to have access to books at home, even before they begin elementary school,” Becker said. “Research shows most of a child’s brain development occurs between the time of birth and age five.” 

The Indiana State Library will coordinate the program and provide the state’s match to organizations or individuals interested in becoming local program partners. 

“I am thrilled to see the program continue to make great strides in Indiana since I helped advocate for the establishment of the program in our state at the beginning of this year,” Becker said. “I look forward to watching the positive impact it will have on more of our youngest Hoosiers.”  

Currently, the Imagination Library is available in 54 counties. 

Attorney General Todd Rokita lights up Chinese e-cigarette companies 

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Attorney General Todd Rokita backs parents concerned with the use of disposable e-cigarettes intentionally marketed to minors in a letter sent to the U.S Food and Drug Administration.   

“Our great Hoosier parents have a hard enough time raising their children these days with the increase of negative outside influences,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We need to push back against companies that don’t care about our children’s health or their future success.”

Over 2.5 million middle and high school students nationwide have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, and 25% use e-cigarettes daily. In Indiana, 1 in 10 high school students and 1 in 30 middle school students reported current tobacco product use with e-cigarettes being the most used by minors.

In the United States, Puff, Elf Bar, and Breeze Smoke remain the most popular brands of illegal disposable e-cigarettes.

These products come in “child-friendly” flavors such as Blue Razz Ice, Strawberry Cream, and Bubble Gang Sour Apple Berry—and they are highly obtainable to America’s youth at local convenience stores, via TikTok, and on various easily accessible websites.

In fact, Chinese disposable e-cigarette manufacturers, such as Elf Bar, directly market their products to our youth on TikTok. The hashtag “#ElfBar” recently passed 2.1 billion views on the platform.

Last October, the Chinese government banned flavored vaping products for its own citizens. Much like the use of Tik-Tok, what China considers too detrimental for its own youth, they do not bat an eye at the absolute exploitation of American consumers, especially our youth.

“My office is constantly working to protect common sense Hoosiers and their children, as they are the most vulnerable among our community,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Whether it’s TikTok or e-cigarettes, our future generation should not be inundated with toxic products sent to us from China.”

The number of different types of e-cigarette devices sold in the U.S. has nearly tripled to over 9,000 since 2020. This rise is almost entirely driven by unauthorized disposable vapes from China.

The Office of the Attorney General has received multiple reports regarding the dangers of fentanyl, some of which are tied to e-cigarettes and similar products. The threat of fentanyl is not confined to illicit pills. Several reports suggest that illegal, disposable, and flavored e-cigarettes made in China and unlawfully sold to consumers in America may be laced with fentanyl.

“The impact on our future generation is currently risky, and it will turn out to be absolutely dire if we don’t take action now,” Attorney General Rokita said.  Â