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(09/23/13 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Indiana’s state food bank association, released data Wednesday showing nearly one in four Indiana households with children said they could not consistently afford food.The data was collected through a survey by the Food Research Action Coalition, which stated 26.5 percent of households with children in Indiana reported that at times in the prior year, they did not have enough money to buy the food necessary for themselves or their families.Nationally, Indiana ranks as the 16th worst state in the child hunger category.Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, said the first step in curbing the number of hungry children is to stop Congress from cutting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.The House passed The Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013, H.R. 3102, on Sept. 19. The resolution restricts eligibility for SNAP recipients. Weikert Bryant said this is one of a group of bills that would be passed together as part of the Farm Bill that Congress will debate in November.A report by the Congressional Budget Office projects H.R. 3102 would reduce overall enrollment in the SNAP program from 48 million people in fiscal year 2014 to 34 million people in 2023. About 877,560 Hoosiers participated in the SNAP program in Fiscal Year 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Projections also found H.R. 3102 would reduce funding over that same period by about $39 billion. Weikert Bryant said she hopes that even if SNAP cuts do make their way into the Farm Bill, they will not be as drastic as in the House’s proposal.“To put the proposed cuts in perspective, a $39 billion cut in SNAP benefits over the next 10 years would mean that the Feeding America’s 202 member food banks would have to provide more than 7.5 million meals per year,” Weikert Bryant said.Weikert Bryant said federal funding accounts for the vast majority of nutrition programs because state funding is very limited.Since 2005, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry has been working to connect private and public sector hunger service providers, food producers and processors from around the state in order to better serve Hoosiers in need, according to its website.Hoosier Hills Food Bank provides food to residents of Brown, Lawrence, Orange, Owen, Martin and Monroe counties.HHFB makes donations to more than 100 nonprofit organizations, including emergency food pantries, day care centers serving low-income children, youth programs, shelters, residential homes and soup kitchens, according to its website.Collectively, these agencies serve 25,800 people each year in the local community.Follow reporter Brianna Meyer on Twitter @brimmeyer.
(09/13/13 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Health system announced Thursday it would eliminate 800 jobs by the end of the year. This amounts to a total reduction of 2 percent of its overall workforce. “Nobody’s job will be the same” after these cuts have been finalized, President of IU Health Methodist and University Hospitals Jim Terwilliger said. Employees affected by the layoff should be notified of the decisions Oct. 1, with the cuts going into effect Dec. 1. The staff cuts are expected to affect IU Health hospitals across the state, Terwilliger said.“We are trying to operate and be successful in what is a rapidly changing industry,” he said. The cuts were first announced to IU Health employees in an email sent by IU Health Chief Executive Officer Dan Evans. In the email, Evans identifies the IU Health Academic Health Center, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, the North Central Region (IU Health North, Saxony and Tipton hospitals) and System Services as the areas that will be affected by the cuts. For the first time, IU Health will offer an early retirement option to employees who are at least 62 years old and will not reach 65 before Dec. 31, 2013. “We are aware of the impact these cuts will have on our employees and their families,” Evans said.In his email, Evans stressed loyalty to employees and staff. “Consistent with our values of mutual trust and respect, we will make every effort to support all IU Health team members through this difficult transition,” Evans said. “Team members whose jobs are impacted by this workforce reduction will be notified in early October and will be provided with severance and outplacement assistance.”IU Health Bloomington released a similar statement regarding the budgetary and staff cuts this morning. IU Health Bloomington has embraced efforts to find cost savings and become more efficient, President and CEO Mark Moore said. “Such efforts alone simply aren’t enough,” Moore said.“We anticipate that some positions may be eliminated in order to meet our financial targets that are necessary due to shrinking reimbursement. The specific number of positions is not known and will be lessened by attrition. Any actions we must take will not adversely impact patient care. Consistent with our values, we will make every effort to support all IU Health team members through this transition.” Follow reporter Grayson Harbour on Twitter @GraysonHarbour.
(08/22/13 1:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTS Monroe County is receiving $12,183,660 for road maintenance and expansion after the Indiana General Assembly’s reassigning of 1 percent of Indiana’s sales tax revenue.Distribution of the new funds began in August and will continue through 2014 and 2015, according to a press release from Sen. Brent Steele, R-Bedford. The sum of the money was divided between two years. In the 2014 fiscal year, Monroe County’s funding distribution will be $6,079,037, and in the 2015 fiscal year, it will receive $6,104,623.Bloomington’s estimated local transportation funding distribution is $5,286,472.Bartholomew County, Brown County, Jackson County and Lawrence County also received funding for roads. Monroe received the most money out of the five counties by $3,192,621.“During the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly increased total transportation funding by reallocating 1 percent of Indiana’s sales tax revenue to the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, and by replacing the Highway Fund appropriation for the State Police and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles with state General Fund dollars,” according to the release.According to the Monroe County Highway Maintenance Department website, Monroe County is responsible for more than 700 miles of roads, 137 bridges, more than 2,800 pipes and more than 7,000 traffic signs and signals. Bloomington alone has 237 miles of streets, according the to City of Bloomington website. What is done with the money allocated to each county is up to the local unit of government receiving the funds. “Our area is home to many great employers, universities and beautiful travel destinations, all of which rely on first-class roads and bridges,” Steele said. “This new funding will help local counties make needed improvements to our transportation network so that our communities can keep growing and improving.”— Mary Hauber
(04/23/13 7:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Association of Realtors released the Indiana Real Estate Markets Report on Monday, which indicated that the first quarter of 2013 saw an increase of closed home sales from the first quarter of 2012. This increase in home sales came with a 4.4 percent increase in the average sale price of $132,199. In addition, the local increase in home sales is consistent with the rise the National Association of Realtors has seen. For 13 consecutive months, prices for homes sold have increased nationally.“Low inventory has pushed home prices higher and put more homeowners in a better equity position,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, 2013 president of the Indiana Association of Realtors and co-owner of Prudential Indiana Realty Group. The low inventory Kirkpatrick refers to is a 5.4 percent decrease in new Indiana listings to 27,749.“Now is a great time for those would-be sellers to enter the marketplace. Consumer confidence is up, interest rates are low and our members expect a busy summer season,” he said.— Bridget Ameche
(04/19/13 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>President Barack Obama’s recently announced his proposed budget for the 2014 fiscal year would invest $71 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of Education. This money will especially be directed toward helping young children enrich their education. Obama’s Preschool for All proposal would allocate $75 billion during the next 10 years to ensure all students begin their kindergarten careers prepared. “Preschool is one of the smartest and most critical investments we can make,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a news release. “By getting our children off to a strong start, we not only increase their individual chances for lifelong success, but also ensure our entire nation is on the path to a strong future.”Tim Dunnuck, director of Early Childhood Education Services at IU, said there is much research showing the positive effects of educating children from an early age.“The earlier you can get kids into programs that can stimulate their learning, the better,” he said. He referenced studies that show a substantial amount of money can be saved by investing in education. For every dollar spent on early childhood education, he said, $7 is saved later due to prevention of crimes, teenage pregnancy, high school dropouts, etc. Dunnuck said the main problem is the class system involved in early education. Many people cannot afford to send their children to quality programs. IU’s preschool program costs families $247 per week for infant full-time care and $178 per week for children up to age 5. He said this is equivalent to what an IU undergraduate might pay for a school year. Dunnuck said this is particularly unfortunate because these programs are especially beneficial to underprivileged children.He said he is supportive of the president’s initiatives, but hopes any new programs are modeled after high-quality preschools.— Sydney Murray
(04/19/13 3:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Money from Indiana’s racinos could be allocated to provide loans to motorsports businesses as the result of two Senate bills.Senate Bill 91 establishes a “motorsports investment district” and authorizes horse racing associations and racino, a combination of a casino and racetrack, licensees to negotiate the amount of slot machine receipts that support the horse racing industry, according to the bill. The bill provides $200 million in loans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other motorsport industries in the state. Senate Bill 528 allows the horse-racing commission to reduce the percentage a permit holder needs to retain from wagered amounts, if the amount is retained in the best interests of racing in the State, according to the bill. SB 528 dedicates $10 million a year in slot machine revenue for the speedway bond and other racing projects. The bill also allows Indiana casinos to omit wagering taxes as much as $3 million in promotional free play in 2014 and $5 million in 2015. SB 91 initially failed 48-47 during the first vote in the House. Because there was not a majority against the bill, it was eligible for recall. After the recall, the bill passed 56-36. SB 91 also creates a $1 tax on tickets for major events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Indiana’s gaming industry is not only a key generator of tax revenue for this state, but it is responsible for the creation of thousands of Hoosier jobs,” Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, author of SB 528, said in a news release. “Because of competition from surrounding states, the success of our gaming industry is being threatened.”SB 528 passed the House with a 73-17 vote and will be heard in a conference committee. “Though Senate Bill 528 has seen several changes as it moved through the legislative process, I remain confident the General Assembly will pass a bill this session to help Indiana’s gaming industry stay competitive under changing market conditions,” Boots said. “Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are currently working to find consensus on this vital issue for our state.”— Matt Stefanski
(03/19/13 2:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Gov. Mike Pence and Geico Chairman Tony Nicely announced Monday that Geico will create a customer service center in Carmel, Ind.The center will bring 1,200 jobs to the area, according to a press release. The new office is expected to open by late April.It will house insurance agents, training and supervisory teams, as well as other management and support staff. The company plans on hiring immediately, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.Based out of Washington, D.C., the auto insurer currently employs about 27,000 associates. “We chose central Indiana because we know there is a talented and well-educated workforce in this area, and we want to offer people long-term career opportunities as we continue to expand,” Nicely said in prepared comments at the press conference.This news was announced on the same day the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported that the state’s unemployment rate rose to 8.6 percent in January, according to the press release. — Bridget Ameche
(03/01/13 5:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The uncertainty of the national budget looms as no solidified alternate proposal from Congress or President Barack Obama has yet to be presented. If no alternate budget plan is proposed, the sequester will take effect today.Former Rep. and Director of IU’s Center on Congress Lee Hamilton said the sequester came in light of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and was intended to serve as an incentive to cut up to $1.5 trillion in a 10-year span. The sequester was initially included in legislation to motivate members of Congress to reach a national budget decision.“In the end they couldn’t agree on those decisions, so the sequester is going to take effect,” Hamilton said. Deep cuts will be made to state military installations, public safety, education and public health if the sequester goes into effect. “Almost all members of Congress are now saying it is a bad idea, that it’s a stupid way to budget,” Hamilton said. “They all are criticizing it, but they voted for it.” Obama has continually emphasized the importance of increasing effective tax rates to address debt, according to the office of Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District.“Because of its across-the-board nature, sequestration remains a sub-optimal solution. Spending cuts are needed, but we should target them in a very specific way. Unfortunately, the President refuses to put forward a serious and specific plan, and so it appears as if he will get his across-the-board cuts,” Young said in a prepared statement.Hamilton said the President does want additional tax revenues and is prepared to talk about entitlement cuts, but hasn’t been very specific about it. Republicans have called for more spending cuts and haven’t been sufficiently specific about what to cut, either, he said. “It is past time for Democrats and Republicans to set politics aside,” Sen. Joe Donnelly said in a press release. “It’s critical for both parties to work together to find common sense ways to significantly reduce spending, close unnecessary tax loopholes and better balance the budget.”Without a definite plan for the future, state budgets across the nation will be affected. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development announced Wednesday it would temporarily suspend federal unemployment benefits starting Saturday as part of the sequester. The department later retracted the order.“In response to the State of Indiana’s request for additional guidance, late this afternoon the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that unemployment benefits will not be impacted by sequestration through the week ending March 9, and additional guidance will be forthcoming,” said Scott Sanders, commissioner for the department. Indiana could see a $32.2 million reduction in education funding, a $650,561 loss in funding for first responders and funding cuts for childhood immunization grants. “The sequester does not deal with the major problem of federal spending, which is the increase in entitlement programs,” Hamilton said. “It does not deal with the principal problem.” Hamilton said while the impact of the sequester will take effect during a period of weeks, the longer it goes unaddressed, the more difficult it will be to solve problems.No alternate budget plan to the sequester has been released. President Obama will meet with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders today to further discuss the sequester implications.
(02/22/13 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Prospective players will rush the field, and coaches will look for their new recruits during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this weekend. The Combine, which will run from Saturday to Tuesday, is a yearly showcase that allows college football players to perform tests in front of scouts, coaches, spectators and media members. Visit Indy, the official tourism website for Indianapolis, estimates the economic impact of the NFL Scouting Combine to be $5.5 million, Morgan Greenlee, senior communications manager for Visit Indy said in an email.Greenlee said the NFL Scouting Combine started in 1982 and moved to Indianapolis in 1987. Greenlee said 4,000 people are expected in Indianapolis for the Combine, which includes 333 NFL prospects and 800 media members. “At the end of the day, they are going out to Indy restaurants and seeing and experiencing the city and hopefully loving it,” Greenlee said.Greenlee said the visitor experience begins the second visitors stop off the plane in Indianapolis. “We are known for our Hoosier hospitality,” Greenlee said. “I think that’s very evident from the time you step off a plane from the time you get to your hotel.”Greenlee said more than 70,000 hospitality employees in Indianapolis have gone through service training called Super Service, which ensures workers have knowledge regarding Indianapolis. “The Super Service program has played a very high role to ensure a high level of hospitality,” Greenlee said. Phil Ray, general manager of Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, said the NFL staff, as well as some players, is staying at the Marriott for the Combine.Ray said since the Combine is not a game, the coaches are more relaxed and are having a good time with their counterparts.“From an economic standpoint, it’s just great,” Ray said. “We are in a sold-out situation for most points during the week.”Ray said the Marriott has had a long history with the NFL, such as by accommodating the New York Giants during the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. “We are always going to try and make sure it’s a quality stay for all of our guests,” Ray said. “We have a lot more VIPs and potentially even some media-type folks.”Greg Basey, owner of Basey’s Downtown Grill and Spirits a half-mile away from Lucas Oil Stadium, said the Combine increases revenue for his business.“It’s about like anything else,” Basey said. “The conventions and other events that go on downtown bring in revenue to most bar and restaurant owners.”Basey said during the Combine, he tunes most of the televisions in his grill to the NFL Network.“We have welcome signs that we put outside the building, because of the fact it is televised,” Basey said. John Dedman, vice president of communications for Indiana Sports Corporation, which brings other sporting events to Indianapolis, said the Combine has had an indirect impact on his company. “It allows us to have a number of key NFL decision makers in Indianapolis in bringing the Super Bowl here in 2012 and possibly 2018,” Dedman said. “Of course, it’s also a great branding opportunity and sports initiative here.”Dedman said the event gives people the opportunity to brand Indianapolis. “I think it is a huge advantage to have the Combine here in Indianapolis as we were bidding on the Super Bowl,” Dedman said. “To have all the players be familiar with Indianapolis and have them previously at the RCA Dome and now at the Lucas Oil Stadium and see that all the opportunities it has to offer is invaluable.”