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(04/17/13 2:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If passed, Senate Bill 487 would provide that animals regulated under shooting preserve regulations be exempt from importation permit requirements. It would also provide for the licensing and operation of deer hunting preserves, on which legally farmed and released deer are hunted. The bill recently passed the House Committee on Natural Resources with a 6-2 vote.Rep. Matt Ubelhor, R-Bloomfield, introduced an amendment before the committee passed the bill. “My amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 487 does several things: it grandfathers in five hunting preserves which have existed since 2000 and are operating under court injunction; it adopts rules and regulations for hunting preserve operations; it establishes licensing fees and renewal procedures; and it works closely with the Board of Animal Health and the Department of Natural Resources to address disease prevention and adopt rules to govern into the future. It does not allow for an expansion of the industry,” Rep. Ubelhor said in an email.If this legislation is successfully enforced, it could strengthen the ability of Indiana’s five high-fence shooting preserves to stay open. Opponents refer to high-fence hunting preserves as “canned hunting.”The Humane Society of the United States says on their website: “Captive hunts, also known as ‘canned hunts,’ are the very opposite of fair chase. Shooters at captive hunts pay to kill animals — even endangered species — trapped behind fences.” Myron Miller, treasurer-secretary for the North American Deer Farmers Association, said opponents of the bill fear that the existence of high-fence hunting preserves will assuredly bring chronic wasting disease into the state.Miller said that Indiana has one of the best-run animal health organizations in the country and chronic wasting disease should not be cause for alarm. “Farmed cervidaes do not move in and out of the state without following a rigorous set of guidelines, including permits and required historic documentation,” Miller said. “No animals are permitted entry into Indiana from a state that has had a single case of CWD within the past five years.” Miller said a well-run high-fence hunting preserve carries no more danger than any other hunting activity. The proposed legislation reads, “The hunting preserve must contain at least 100 continuous acres and must be enclosed by a fence that is at least eight feet in height and not more than six inches above the ground.”“There are people who have invested 30-plus years in the industry,” Miller said. “We want to be good stewards and ethical about how these preserves are run.” The bill also reads, “A licensed owner of the hunting preserve must keep records of the daily number of cervidae imported to the preserve and where they came from, the daily number of each species of cervidae released in the hunting preserve, the daily number of cervidae harvested or found dead in the hunting preserve, as well as the daily number of cervidae exported from the preserve and where they were exported to.” Cervidae may be hunted on a hunting preserve only from August 15 through February 15, according to the bill.Miller said there are many benefits to high-fence hunting, such as allowing small family farming, access to hunting, individuals with limited time to still be able to hunt and as a source of revenue. “The real danger here is that hundreds and hundreds of Indiana small family farming units are being financially ruined by a few purists who, while well-meaning, see this as ‘my way or no,’” Miller said. “No one is asking anyone to participate in an activity that they disagree with.” Miller said the situation put forth by opponents to high-fence hunting allows little or no room for debate or compromise, but there are definitely ways to mitigate concerns of many of the opponents on this issue.“We can sit down and discuss how to define canned hunting, what is fair chase and what is the right side for a preserve,” Miller said. “There just needs to be a level of tolerance.”
(04/16/13 4:16pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If passed, Senate Bill 487 would provide that animals regulated under shooting preserve regulations be exempt from importation permit requirements. It would also provide for the licensing and operation of deer hunting preserves, on which legally farmed and released deer are hunted. The bill recently passed the House Committee on Natural Resources with a 6-2 vote.Rep. Matt Ubelhor, R-Bloomfield, introduced an amendment before the committee passed the bill. If this legislation is successfully enforced, it could strengthen the ability of Indiana’s five high-fence shooting preserves to stay open. Myron Miller, treasurer-secretary for the North American Deer Farmers Association, said opponents of the bill fear that the existence of high-fence hunting preserves will assuredly bring chronic wasting disease into the state.Miller said that Indiana has one of the best-run animal health organizations in the country and chronic wasting disease should not be cause for alarm. “Farmed cervidaes do not move in and out of the state without following a rigorous set of guidelines, including permits and required historic documentation,” Miller said. “No animals are permitted entry into Indiana from a state that has had a single case of CWD within the past five years.” Miller said a well-run high-fence hunting preserve carries no more danger than any other hunting activity. The proposed legislation states, “The hunting preserve must contain at least 100 continuous acres and must be enclosed by a fence that is at least eight feet in height and not more than six inches above the ground.”Opponents refer to high-fence hunting preserves as “canned hunting.”The Humane Society of the United States states on their website, “Captive hunts, also known as ‘canned hunts,’ are the very opposite of fair chase. Shooters at captive hunts pay to kill animals — even endangered species — trapped behind fences.” The bill states, “A licensed owner of the hunting preserve must keep records of the daily number of cervidae imported to the preserve and where they came from, the daily number of each species of cervidae released in the hunting preserve, the daily number of cervidae harvested or found dead in the hunting preserve, as well as the daily number of cervidae exported from the preserve and where they were exported to.” “There are people who have invested 30-plus years in the industry,” Miller said. “We want to be good stewards and ethical about how these preserves are run.” Additionally, the bill states cervidae may be hunted on a hunting preserve only from August 15 through February 15. Miller said there are many benefits to high-fence hunting, such as allowing small family farming, access to hunting, individuals with limited time to still be able to hunt and as a source of revenue. “The real danger here is that hundreds and hundreds of Indiana small family farming units being financially ruined by a few purists who, while well-meaning, see this as ‘my way or no,’” Miller said. “No one is asking anyone to participate in an activity that they disagree with.” Miller said the situation put forth by opponents to high-fence hunting allows little or no room for debate or compromise, but there are definitely ways to mitigate concerns of many of the opponents on this issue.“We can sit down and discuss how to define canned hunting, what is fair chase and what is the right side for a preserve,” Miller said. “There just needs to be a level of tolerance.”
(04/11/13 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It was seven years before French native Pierre-Etienne Plessier decided he wanted to become a U.S. citizen.Plessier enrolled in local citizenship and naturalization classes in Bloomington in 2012 to learn about U.S. history and government in preparation for the citizenship exam. For the third year, the city of Bloomington will be offering citizenship and naturalization classes for English language learners, permanent residents and newcomers.The class will run from May 21 through June 20 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at City Hall. To register, students need to pay a $30 fee and turn in a registration form by May 10. “This is the third year we are offering it, so it’s still a fairly new program,” Latino Outreach Coordinator Melissa Britton said. Plessier said the class was very helpful, allowing him to not only recall numerous parts of U.S. history he had learned through his years of schooling, but also to become better acquainted with how federal, state and local governments work in the United States. “The class made it easy and entertaining to go through each and every single question we could be asked during the test, all 100 of them,” Plessier said.Britton said students study U.S. history, learn how the government functions and familiarize themselves with the Bloomington community while preparing for the naturalization exam and the process of becoming a citizen.“It’s a little bit of lecture, a lot of interaction, a lot of question and answer and quizzing,” Britton said. Plessier said the class brought in guest speakers like Mayor Mark Kruzan to help make the class livelier. Britton said while the class welcomes English language learners. It is taught entirely in English, primarily because that is the language in which the test is offered. “So, we try to get them prepared as possible, and teaching in English is a big part of that,” Britton said.Plessier said because he had studied English at a younger age while living in France, language was less of a barrier for him. Britton said each student who has taken the course and went on to become a citizen has written to her and mentioned how helpful the class has been. Plessier said the class was well organized, involving a lot of shared learning. “I could have studied alone with books or online, but meeting other people from various regions of the world and learning along was very enriching and motivating,” Plessier said. The naturalization test includes both a written component and a speaking component. After students pass the naturalization exam, they are given a date to be sworn along with others as an official American citizen.The most recent set of new citizens and graduates of the class in Bloomington were recognized March 6 during a city council meeting. After completing the course and registration steps for naturalization, Plessier received his letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. His test was June 9, 2012 — right between America’s Independence Day and France’s Bastille Day. “The immigration officer seemed impressed that I was able to answer the very first question so promptly and even said, ‘Oh, you studied,’” Plessier said. After passing the test, Plessier said the wait for final approval was frustrating but well worth the wait in the end. Plessier was officially naturalized Aug. 16, 2012, in Indianapolis. He is now a dual citizen, holding both French and American citizenship. “I have been very proud of being a citizen of this great nation,” Plessier said. “Being able to vote was a great feeling.”
(04/03/13 3:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Monroe County officials recently formed a study committee in an effort to better understand and respond more effectively to domestic violence in the area. The committee is being referred to simply as the domestic violence study committee.“The question always is, can we do better?” said Charlotte Zietlow, chair of the newly formed committee.Zietlow has been heavily involved as a social servant for years in the area. The Monroe County Zietlow Justice Building was named after her in honor of her work. The committee was set up to study the current state of the community’s response to domestic violence, Zietlow said.The domestic violence case load has been consistent with about 200 cases per year in Monroe Country for the last several years, Monroe County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Gaal said. Gaal initiated the committee, sending out invitations to key stakeholders to participate. “The committee was formed to explore additional ways to improve services and implement the best practices regarding domestic violence in the community,” Gaal said in an email. “Our hope is that the committee will gather information and then evaluate the current community response to domestic violence, identify any potential areas for improvement and make the recommendations for any additional resources or public education and prevention efforts.” Monroe County already has a Domestic Violence Task Force which meets regularly, Zietlow said. But the new committee is designed for more in-depth research and bring a variety of perspectives together to address domestic violence, Zietlow said. Gaal said about 20 community stakeholders have been invited to participate. Zietlow and Gaal worked to come up with a broad list of key stakeholders, representing various sectors of the community involved in the local response to domestic violence.Stakeholders include representatives from law enforcement, the justice system, the healthcare sector, victim advocates, relevant government agencies and commissions and other service providers, Gaal said. Meetings first convened in December and have included presentations by representatives from Middle Way House, local Department of Child Services representatives, a sexual assault nurse examiner, a retired social worker from IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Southern Indiana Pediatrics and Court Appointed Special Advocates, according to a news release. “There are a large spectrum of people (who) because of the nature of domestic violence, don’t seek help,” Zietlow said. “We want to be part of the effort as a community to help reach out to people, not necessarily just through the law, so they don’t have to suffer.”The prosecutor’s office has sought continuous improvements in the handling of domestic violence cases in Monroe County since 2007, Gaal said. The office publicly releases detailed monthly data on all domestic violence cases handled by the office. Additionally, since 2008, the prosecutor’s office has assigned a full-time victim assistant to work exclusively with victims of domestic violence. The creation of the domestic violence study committee is an added action of these overall initiatives from the prosecutor’s office. “We have never asked what happens to the survivors and what happens to the victims,” Zietlow said. “We have to keep talking about this, and we have never taken this sort of in-depth look at domestic violence in our community.”
(03/29/13 5:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After the installation of a new set of parking meters, Bloomington residents will no longer be able to avoid paying for parking by using the two-hour shuffle in the downtown area. “We only have a finite number of spaces and we need to figure out an efficient way to manage those,” said Susie Johnson, director of the public works department.Johnson said the new meters will be installed this summer and functioning by August. The city council voted “yes” to the new initiative March 21 after listening to a presentation from the city’s department of public works, as well as public concerns.The parking meters would be enforced from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Residents will have to pay 25 cents for every 15 minutes of parking.The council also approved a parking permit, geared toward those who commute to work downtown regularly. Johnson said the permit will allow residents to park in one of the parking garages for up to 30 hours a week. The permit will cost $25. There will also be designated lots where residents can park for three consecutive hours for free once a day. Johnson said residents can only park in these spots once every calendar day, but they can feed the meter if they need to stay parked for more than the three initial hours. According to the Jan. 16 city council legislation packet, the council office reported receiving a petition with more than 1,400 signatures opposing the ordinance. Installing parking meters was a recommendation the city received from Walker Parking Consultants in 2007.Johnson said the firm had given the city a variety of recommendations and they had already followed through on a bulk of them. During the Feb. 16 city council meeting, Marge Hudgins, president of the Old Northeast Downtown Neighborhood Association, said parking meters in single family residential blocks would ruin the family area. Johnson said parking meters will be placed in areas that are residential but not where there are a lot of families or children.John McGuigan, an employee at Caveat Emptor Used Books and member of the Bloomington Coalition Against Parking Meters, said the Walker study had been created to produce a specific result. Johnson said the parking meters are meant to make things more efficient and help people save money by parking in parking garages rather than having to move their cars frequently on the streets. Katelin Vesely, Bloomington resident and Athena employee, said she was concerned about parking spaces for the disabled and if the initiative would be an inconvenience for them, according to the city council minutes from Feb. 16. Johnson said with this project the city will add parking spaces for disabled or handicapped residents and all handicap spaces will be single space meters. David Carter from the council for community accessibility said public works department did not consult with them regarding parking meters even though they have been in communication regarding other disability issues throughout the years.“My attitude about the meters, as a person who always uses a wheelchair, is not very different from most of the other opinions I have heard: it is a pain in the butt, and more likely to discourage me from patronizing downtown accessible businesses,” Carter said in an email.“When we do this project, we want to insure that convenience for handicapped visitors is addressed,” Johnson said. Johnson said with the level of new development in the downtown area, revamping the parking system is a matter of efficiency. “Additionally, Indiana University is considering monetizing a large portion of their parking that currently the community is able to take advantage of on the nights and the weekends,” Johnson said.
(03/21/13 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A proposal for JB Salvage’s expansion for its west side facility is currently under scrutiny after the city of Bloomington further studied the proposal, withdrawing its initial support. The facility can still be built with the approval of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The proposal includes the creation of two additional facilities: Indiana Recycling Resource and the Vernal Pike Transfer and Recycling, said Bethany Stevens, applicant and co-owner for the proposed facility. The City of Bloomington Legal Department officially contacted IDEM on Feb. 22 to state the city’s opposition to the permit application. “The Department of Public Works had been supportive of the application, because it felt the new business could help with recycling efforts, but as we studied the issue, it became clear there are greater reasons to be against the plan,” Mayor Mark Kruzan said in an email. Stevens said the new facilities would allow JB Salvage to expand its recycling efforts, which is currently limited to scrap metal recycling. With the expansion, residents would be able to recycle things such as tires, old furniture and oldelectronics. Kruzan said in an email the proposal creates social injustice, heavy traffic, pollution, noise, odor and public safety problems. Steve Volan, city council member and president of the Solid Waste Management District Board, said the opening of a second waste transfer station would also cause the current contract the city has with Republic Services for solid waste management to no longer be binding. “The contract is the only way the Solid Waste Management District and, by extension, the county as a whole is able to regulate tipping fees,” Volan said. “That contract also says if a second waste transfer station was to be opened up in the county, the contract would no longer be binding. That’s why it’s not for the community’s advantage to have a second waste transfer station.”JB Salvage is currently in the reapplication process after hearing IDEM’srecommendations. “There were a few technical things IDEM recommended we fix. They have been great to work with,” Stevens said. “We are waiting on additional information that demonstrates that this facility will be constructed and operate under solid waste regulations,” said Amy Harstock, public information officer for IDEM. The most recent letter from IDEM to the applicant, issued on Feb. 27, requires a more accurate number reflecting the amount of daily waste the facility expects and additional zoning documentation, among other details. The letter states, “This review indicates that additional information and/or changes are still needed before further review may commence.” IDEM has told the city government they have no official role to play in the issue, but they are interested in the local government’s and the public’s opinion about the situation and invited us to make an official comment, Kruzan said in an email. “IDEM has been very responsive to our inquiries,” Kruzan said. “I can’t imagine any circumstances where the city would support this kind of business plan in a neighborhood setting. We’re working with the IDEM to stop the permit from being issued.” Stevens said a few local residents have called with concerns, but after receiving an explanation, they have become more comfortable with the expansion. “Of course, when trash is involved, people have a reason to be nervous,” Stevens said. Stevens said the new facilities would follow strict regulations, and no piece of trash would be in the enclosed center for more than 24 hours, but in reality it would be much less time than that. “The trash would be transferred directly from the enclosed building directly to a truck to be taken to a landfill, and we would keep everything clean with the concrete floors,” Stevens said. Stevens said the expansion is meant to be of service to the Bloomingtoncommunity. “It will open up job opportunities and allow residents to get rid of more of their trash and recyclables,” Stevens said. Volan said Solid Waste Management has been providing recycling services to the community through initiatives such as Bulky Item Day, which allows residents to get rid of bigger household items with more convenience. Harstock said as long as the facility meets all the technical and legal requirements, by law, IDEM is obligated to issue the permit. After receiving the issued letter Feb. 27, the applicant has 60 days to send a response. This deadline is meant to help move the process along, Harstock said. “We will open the proposal up to the public after we have the complete application,” Harstock said. “Technical or legal comments are the most useful to us. We will address any issues that we have the authority to resolve.”Volan said no one has any problem with the salvage yard or a recycling center, but the waste transfer station is a challenge for the community to accept.“Simply put, don’t open up a waste transfer station, period,” Volan said.
(03/20/13 4:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As Tuesday marked the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, local peace groups, along with city officials and residents, discussed a different form of intervention: drones. Bloomington peace groups sponsored a talk with Medea Benjamin, internationally known peace leader and anti-drone activist. Benjamin is also the co-founder of the women’s peace group, Code Pink, and the international human rights organization, Global Exchange.The Bloomington branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the Bloomington Peace Action Coalition and the Just Peace Task Force with Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington sponsored the event.Mayor Mark Kruzan and City Councilmember Dave Rollo were present on behalf of the City of Bloomington to welcome Benjamin. “Drones have become the new face of intervention, the faceless face,” said David Keppel, a member of the Bloomington Peace Action Coalition and the Just Peace Task Force. Keppel’s letter to the editor regarding the ethics and politics of targeted killings was recently published in the Feb. 7 edition of the New York Times.Long-time Bloomington peace activist, Marge Steiner said drone warfare is as repugnant as it gets.“People should not have to live in fear. It’s horrific,” Steiner said. Before beginning her presentation, Benjamin recognized two Iraqi members of the audience, Salih Altoma and Kadhim Shaaban. “Iraq was subjected to the most barbarous war, no other country in the 21st century has been targeted in this manner,” Salih Altoma, professor emeritus of near eastern languages and cultures at IU, said. Altoma, an 84-year-old who lived through the reign of Saddam Hussein, said the U.S. intervention was worse than anything anyone could have ever imagined.“It was not a war of democracy, but a war of destruction which destroyed the social structure of the country,” Altoma said. 65 deaths were reported in Iraq Tuesday due to a wave of bombings, a decade after the U.S. invasion. Additionally, Benjamin shared multiple stories of innocent individuals she met during her travel to Pakistan who suffered from drones attacks by the United States.“Drones make it impossible to distinguish between a militant and a civilian,” Benjamin said. Benjamin said the United States is already conducting drone strikes in multiple nations such as Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, etc. Practices such as “terror Tuesdays,” where the President meets with a select set of advisors to decide on a hit list, allows the administration to play the role of prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner, Benjamin said. Kruzan said it was important for Bloomington residents to voice their opinion on this issue and should not fear being un-American for doing so. “Being afraid of being labeled as unpatriotic takes a nation down a wrong path,” Kruzan said. “Aren’t the true patriots those who question authority?”Following Benjamin’s address, members of the audience filled out postcards and signed petitions advocating for action from the federal government.“People like Medea have put their lives on the line,” Steiner said. “But we can all speak out, we can write letters to the editors of the paper and to write to congress.”
(03/07/13 3:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>National health care took a local turn Wednesday night.Attempting to localize and tackle the issue of access to health care, the Bienestar Project presented an assessment of Latino health in Bloomington to the city’s Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs. The study revealed that while in general, Latinos are satisfied with health care in Bloomington, many were unaware of where to go for information or particular services. The study was conducted in person through interviews surveying people at local restaurants, businesses and neighborhoods.27 percent had said they were very satisfied with health care in Bloomington, while 3 percent said they were very unsatisfied. “We are skeptical of the results though, just because of the nature of the study,” School of Public and Environmental Affairs MPA student Kylie Nichols said.This is a starting point to have a conversation about health care access for Latinos in Monroe County, SPEA MPA student Lynn Nguyen said. The study covered the types of health care available, the barriers to receiving health care, perceptions about health care needs and risks among the Latino and Hispanic population. Commission member Gracia Valliant said she was concerned the study didn’t represent the population entirely because the average respondent tended to be of the working class. Presenter Heydi Correa, health educator with the Bienestar Project, said while there was trouble reaching a younger population, the study still did survey a fairly wide variety of people. Respondents are under-insured or uninsured at far higher rates than the rest of the country, according to the study. Many respondents simply did not know what steps they needed to take for certain services such as urgent care, Nichols said. The presence of a language barrier also proved to be a problem when it came to accessing health care. The study revealed that many respondents were unaware they could get a medical interpreter at their appointments. “It’s really frustrating to see people not be able to communicate because they don’t know about interpreters,” Valliant said. The study revealed that respondents have regular Internet access and use Facebook, in addition to getting information from the newspaper and radio.Commission members expressed interest in using social media and other Internet sources to better distribute information to people. Both the presenters and commission members expressed interest in holding more meetings for all Latino-based organizations to gather to have these conversations. “I feel your pain. I’m glad we’re not alone in trying to help out this population,” Interim Commission President Luis Hernandez said. “It’s great to just go out there and talk to people, because surveys can sometimes lack response.” Commission members said they wanted to be smarter about getting the word out and collaborating with organizations that are trying to do the same thing.“This is encouraging,” Hernandez said. “We’re all trying to do the same thing — we just need to help each other out.
(03/05/13 3:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women will have workshops to help foster female leaders from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today.The event will be in the council chambers at City Hall. There is no fee or registration required to participate.The event is specifically geared toward women, but is open to all, said Sue Owens, program specialist for the Department of Community and Family Resources. “It’s an annual event, and our primary goal is to get more women in the community involved with leadership,” Chairwoman Cathi Crabtree said. The theme this year is “Civil Engagement: Keep Calm and Make a Difference.”“We’re always trying to give people information, tools and the encouragement to make a difference in their community,” commission member Toby Strout said.The evening will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. This will give participants a chance to network and learn more about getting involved with local agencies, boards and commissions, Owens said. The commission will also host a workshop on grassroots organizations focusing on equality.“It’s for your average citizen and what they can do to have an impact even if they don’t want to run for office,” Crabtree said. There will also be a panel discussion about civic engagement.Crabtree said the panel is composed of elected officials from the city council as well as the Monroe County youth council. In addition to the workshop and panel discussion, attendees will hear keynote speaker Shawna Girgis share her experience as a female mayor. Girgis is the first woman and first independent to serve as mayor in Bedford, Ind.Strout said Girgis has a great deal of experience and insight to share. During the evening, Shelli Yoder, Monroe County Council member, will be honored with the Emerging Leader Award for 2013. “We saw it as very fitting that she would get this award, as she is new to political life,” Crabtree said.In addition to the City’s Commission on the Status of Women, the event is co-sponsored by the Department of Community and Family Resources, Office of the Clerk, Girls Inc. of Monroe County and Middle Way House. “I am hoping people will be energized and inspired to get even more involved with the community,” Crabtree said.
(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.
(02/27/13 4:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Gender equality, treatment of prisoners and exploitation of workers are all issues a local commission is attempting to address in the pursuit of human rights. Recently, the Bloomington Commission for Human Rights awarded local attorney and activist, Guy Loftman, the 12th annual Human Rights Award. “We look for someone who has shown above and beyond the call of duty for human rights,” chairman of the commission Byron Bangert said. Loftman is an active member of the Monroe County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He worked with the organization to study racial biases in arrests and sentencing in Monroe County.Bangert said Loftman’s efforts were recognized by the American Bar Association, which called his study with the NAACP “a national model for community relations.” “Guy’s commitment to racial and gender equality, to peace efforts and to voting rights, among others, makes him more than deserving of this award,” commission member Carolyn Calloway-Thomas said in a news release. Loftman said as a citizen, he has always valued advocating for human rights and reflects that in his day-to-day activities. Loftman is also an IU alumnus and served as IU Student Association president during his time as an undergraduate. “I found women’s rights to be a big concern at that time,” Loftman said. Now, Loftman has accomplished work concerning race relations as part of the NAACP executive committee, as well as gay and women’s rights. “I was very honored,” Loftman said about winning the annual Human Rights Award for 2012. In addition to granting the annual award, the commission meets on a monthly basis to address local human rights issues. It also address specific issues such as the treatment of residents of the jail or human trafficking, he said.The Hate Incident Report, which details data and reports regarding hate incidents in Bloomington annually, is also the work of the BHRC. The commission also sponsors an annual art essay contest that allows students to write an essay or produce a piece of art that is related to a preselected human rights theme. Bangert said through these various activities, including the annual Human Rights Award, the commission aims to foster more of a community interest in human rights. “We hope that it encourages people who know about the award or know the persons who receive the award to be more interested in or committed to the pursuit of human rights,” Bangert said.
(02/22/13 2:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From a signature kick-off event in city hall to the gala at the end of the month, Bloomington has a strong tradition of celebrating Black History month.This year marks the ninth year of Bloomington hosting city-wide events. “Every year, we talk about celebrating Black History month Bloomington style because we understand Bloomington as a unique community, and we do things a little bit different than everyone else,” said Beverly Anderson, safe and civil city director. Under the Safe and Civil City Program, the Bloomington Black History Steering Community spearheads event-planning for the month. “It’s a moment to highlight what we celebrate all year long,” Beverly Smith, co-chair of the committee, said. The committee starts planning the preceding fall season, which includes brainstorming ideas for events, organizing subcommittees and coordinating with other organizations, said William Hosea, co-chair of the committee. The month traditionally includes a kick-off event with a keynote speaker, and the series of events ends with a gala. The other events that occur in between the two signature events vary from year to year. Anderson said this year’s theme, “Lessons in Leadership,” celebrates the multitude of diverse backgrounds from which leaders can come from. “It’s all based on community interest, what the community would like to see and the ideas that are brought to the steering committee,” Smith said. “We also take a look at surveys from individuals in the community.”The committee also programmed a lecture with Logan Westbrooks, who spoke about black leadership in the music industry. “Our goal is to be educational, inspirational and entertaining,” Anderson said. The committee also works to stay relevant; this year they hosted a political forum to discuss President Barack Obama’s second term. “We talked about how to stay politically engaged during the off season,” Anderson said. The programs strive to include a variety of demographics through its events such as the Black History Month Essay Contest. The contest recognizes a winner in the elementary school, middle school and high school categories, Smith said. The gala, which will take place Saturday, will end the month of celebration and honor the 2013 Bloomington Living Legend and the Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow award winners. The award recognizes both our past and future, Anderson said.“It’s valuable to the entire community. As we say every year, it’s not just black history — it’s American history,” Anderson said.
(02/20/13 5:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A proposed amendment to protect popular Hoosier pastimes such as hunting, fishing and farming passed in the Indiana State Senate last week, and select bipartisan groups expressed seemingly little concern. Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, said the legislation was proposed and passed based on the fear that people have of groups like the Humane Society pushing to take these rights away. “It’s amazing for me to think that there are senators who believe that there is even the possibility of that happening,” Stoops said. Stoops said that in reality, this is just a feel-good resolution for some people who are concerned they won’t be able to hunt or fish. “This is more of a statement more than anything else. It has no specific effect on our department or how people acquire their hunting and fishing licenses,” said Chris Smith, legislative director for the Executive Office of the Department of Natural Resources. The proposed constitutional amendment passed the Senate with a 38-10 vote. It now will move to the Indiana House. If the amendment is passed there, it will then go on the November 2014 ballot for the state of Indiana.If the amendment passes, it will still be subject to all local regulations, Stoops said. Erin Huang, Indiana State Director for the Humane Society of the United States, said in an email that the HSUS does not have a position on the proposed amendment and that they are more concerned about the worst wildlife abuses. “Practices like poaching, captive hunting and fox penning — that animal advocates and hunters alike can agree are unacceptable,” Huang said in an email. “The legislature should focus on the other far more important bills pending this session.”The proposed amendment “provides that the people have a right to hunt, fish, harvest game, or engage in the agricultural or commercial production of meat, fish, poultry, or dairy products, which is a valued part of our heritage and shall be forever preserved for the public good, subject to laws prescribed by the general assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the general assembly.”There were no discussions of gun control when this constitutional amendment was passed in the Indiana State Senate, Stoops said. The proposed amendment also “provides that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”It also does not limit the application of any laws relating to trespass or property rights. Stoops said while there is the fear that activist groups could take away these rights, and he wishes the activist groups had more influence, they currently are not as authoritative as perceived. “It’s just interesting to hear that people feel that these groups have more influence than massive industrial farms, or the National Rifle Association, who have billions of dollars and plenty of lobbyists to affect legislation,” Stoops said.
(02/13/13 5:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday night.The address is given annually to a joint session of the United States Congress. The address outlines national priorities as well as the president’s legislative agenda.1. “Reducing the deficit is not an economic plan.”The deficit has been reduced by more than $2.5 trillion, but Obama emphasized that more initiatives were necessary to finish the job. He also said it was key to prevent cuts to education, energy and Medicare. Tax reform and entitlement reform were highlighted as solutions to bring down the deficit. 2. “Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing.”Obama urged Congress to pass the rest of the agenda from his proposed American Jobs Act of a year and half ago. He also announced the launch of three more manufacturing hubs to promote American innovation. 3. “We must do more to combat climate change.” Obama said the nation can no longer ignore natural disasters but instead should look to the “overwhelming judgment of science.” He insisted that if Congress doesn’t act soon, he would direct the Cabinet to come up with executive orders to prepare for the consequences of climate change and work toward more sustainable sources of energy. 4. “America’s energy sector is just one part of an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair.”Obama proposed a “Fix-it-First” program in order to put people to work on the most urgent national repairs such as deficient bridges. He is also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America in order attract private capital to upgrade businesses. The housing sector needs to be rebuilt in order to help the economy grow, he said. 5. “To grow our middle class, our citizens must have access to the education and training that today’s jobs require.”Obama raised the statistic that fewer than 3 in 10 four-year-olds are enrolled in a high quality preschool program, emphasizing the importance of early development. He also announced a new challenge to redesign high schools so graduates are better equipped for a high tech economy. He asked Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value were included in which colleges receive federal aid. His administration will release a new “college scorecard” that will allow parents and students to better compare schools. 6. “We know our economy is stronger when our wives, mothers and daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence.” Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act Tuesday. Obama urged the House to do the same and asked Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year so women can earn an equal living to their efforts. 7. “Tonight, let’s declare that in a the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.”For those who are straddling the line between poverty and proper living, Obama proposes the increase to gain an edge and a fair chance at being a part of the middle class.8. “Beyond 2014, America’s commitment to a unified and sovereign Afghanistan will endure, but the nature of our commitment will change.”33,000 servicemen and women have already come home. This spring, American forces will take a backseat as more of a support as American security forces take the lead. Obama announced that over the next year another 34,00 troops will come home. 9. “In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights and support stable transitions to democracy.” Obama said he will continue to keep the pressure on nations like Syria in order to respect the fundamental rights of all people. The United States will also continue to stand with Israel in pursuit of security and peace, Obama said he plans to deliver these messages when he travels to the Middle East next month. 10. “I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different.” Obama expanded on his executive orders he had announced earlier during term. He called for more background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get a gun. He is also working with senators of both parties to create new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale for criminals. He said he will no longer tolerate the deaths from gun violence.
(02/13/13 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A silver chain with a cross pendant hangs from the wall. On the neighboring bookshelf, there is a pride flag. It’s just a small sticker stuck on the edge of a shelf, but the proud hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple are far from muted.Faith and tolerance have equal representation inside Rev. Caela Wood’s office. She is a minister at the First United Church — a church in Bloomington that supports the LGBT community.“There are a lot of Christians who see no issue with it, who believe that God loves everybody and that God just happened to make some people love people of the same gender, and it’s not a big deal,” Wood said. “But it’s unfortunate, because that’s not as glamorous as me holding up a sign that says ‘God hates fags.’” Unity of Bloomington is another Christian church in Bloomington that supports the LGBT community.“Other denominations start more in a place of humans being flawed. You hear the term ‘sinner.’ You hear the term ‘broken,’ but we don’t start there,” Rev. Lauri Boyd said. “We start from the assumption that everyone begins at their core as an expression of God, which means we are whole, perfect and complete.”*** Rabbi Brian Besser of the Congregation Beth Shalom has been with his partner for 15 years. “My affirmation of same-sex marriage is a religious position,” he said. “My belief in same-sex marriage is grounded in my religious beliefs. It’s not a secular position. I think just me leading the congregation makes a very strong statement.” Wood, Boyd and Besser all agreed that clergy members recognize the conflict many people face between their faith and acceptance of LGBT people. “There are a lot more Christians who feel really conflicted, because they know gay people in their life, who they love, but they go to a church where their pastor never talks about it or has a pastor that says, ‘you know, love the sinner, hate the sin,’” Wood said. “So, I think there are a lot of people that really struggle and are really conflicted with what they feel and what their faith is telling them.” Acceptance can be even more challenging for those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, Boyd said. “I was planning to become a rabbi when I was a teenager, and then I was conflicted with my sexual orientation and fell away from Judaism for a period of 10 or 20 years,” Besser said. “I rejected religion and felt like it didn’t have a place for me.” Wood echoed similar concerns. pointing out the fear of rejection from religion for homosexuals. “What a lot of people don’t realize is that if you are a gay person, it’s probably pretty terrifying to go to church,” Wood said. “Especially if you are trying to go to church with your partner, you don’t know if you are going to sit down and hear a sermon that says you are going to hell, or if people are going to look at you funny or tell you to leave.”Wood said a lot of people don’t realize that Christianity is hugely diverse, which is why some gay people are in disbelief when they come to First United.“There are some expressions of faith that are much more literal-minded, that are much more black and white, and that is where they find their strength,” Boyd said. “There are other expressions of faith that see much more shades of gray — not even shades of gray, but diversity — and that’s where they find their strength.”Neither First United Church nor Unity of Bloomington considers the Bible as the literal word of God, which some Christian denominations believe. “We believe it was created by people who were deeply involved in their spiritual path and in trying understand the great, ultimate questions,” Boyd said. “They also lived in a particular place, in a particular culture, and they were influenced by that.“ Wood, too, said she felt that while the Bible is core to her faith, it is not the literal word of God.“To me, the Bible is the story of how people experience God,” Wood said. “Just because I don’t take it literally or don’t believe God wrote it doesn’t mean it isn’t core to my faith and who I am.” Besser accepts other interpretations of the Bible, but said he questions people imposing their point of view. “While I accept that different people can interpret the Bible in different ways, but if you deny same-sex equality because of your interpretation of scripture, then you’re imposing your religious values on everyone else,” Besser said. “And that’s a violation of the First Amendment. We’re supposed to have a separation of church and state.”Wood, Boyd and Besser were all part of the clergy who were present and in support of the LGBT wedding ceremonies that occurred during Pride weekend. Wood said she asked Danielle McClelland, coordinator of the Pride LGBTQ Film Festival, if clergy could participate, since religion can be a reason LGBT people are discriminated against. “When a gay person is driving down the street and see my church, they more than likely see this as a place of oppression, as an instrument of taking away their rights,” Wood said. While their voices may not be as recognizable as those of the Westboro Baptist Church, Wood said it was important they voice their acceptance. “I believe it’s our duty as Christians who don’t believe in discriminating against queer people. It’s our duty to be out there saying, ‘Look, there are Christians who are on your side, who believe God loves you as much as anyone else,’” Wood said. Wood, Boyd and Besser all said preaching acceptance and tolerance is the most important message for their community to hear. “Now as a rabbi, I have a lot of sensitivity and empathy for people who are struggling,” Besser said. “Now, it’s my job to show that religion, and even scripture, has a place for everyone, to open up religion and to open up scripture to help people find a home there, the way I have.”
(02/12/13 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After eight years of service as the Pope of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation early Monday, leaving much of the Catholic world in surprise.“I was very surprised. I never expected him to resign,” said Father John Joseph Meany of the St. Paul Catholic Center. “John Paul was very sick at the end. You know it would have been a good idea to have him resign considering the demands of the office. So, I thought Benedict would do the same thing, die off, because that’s more of the tradition.”In his official statement, Pope Benedict XVI said, “after having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.”While it is rare for the Pope to resign, this resignation is not unprecedented. “As you know, this is not without precedent,” Archbishop Tobin said in a press release. “The law of the church has provided the possibility of a Pope to resign, but in fact it hasn’t happened for nearly six centuries. And so it’s going to cause some wonderment and anxiety among the people.”Rev. Meany said the job of the Pope is very demanding with endless meetings, speeches and discussions about important matters. In his official statement, Pope Benedict XVI said, “In today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”During his press conference, Archbishop Tobin said that while the Pope’s physical health was deteriorating, there was no impairment to his mental health. “We express gratitude for his eight years of papal service, but also for his years of service to the Catholic Church,” Archbishop Tobin said during his press conference.Pope Benedict XVI will officially leave office Feb. 28. Following his resignation, the Papal election process, based on centuries of tradition, will begin. What’s next?Many Catholics and non-Catholics are wondering what’s next for the Church at large. Logistically, how will the next Pope be chosen? The time between a Pope’s death or resignation is called the “Interregnum.” Until a new Pope is elected, no changes to Church governance are allowed, as the Interregnum is a period largely focused on the election of the new Catholic leader.Fifteen to 20 days following a Pope’s death or resignation, a conclave of the College of Cardinals is called to elect the new Pope. Voting for Pope Benedict XVI’s successor will begin March 1. Cardinals younger than 80 are eligible to vote. Currently, there are 118 cardinals who qualify. There are 67 who were appointed by Pope Benedict XVI. Those eligible are sequestered in Vatican City and meet four times a day, with two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon, to vote on the potential successor. A two-thirds-plus majority is required to elect a new Pope to the seat. Technically, any baptized Roman Catholic male is eligible for election. However, only Cardinals have been elected since 1378. After each round of voting, the ballots are burned. Smoke wafts out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney — if it’s white, a new Pope has been elected, and he has accepted. If the smoke is black, no decision has been made. In 2005, when Pope Benedict XVI was elected, there were four votes.
(02/06/13 4:37am)
Health fairs and outreach projects are
just a few examples of how a Bloomington minority commission is
striving to make a difference in the community.
(02/01/13 5:25am)
More than a dozen LGBTQ couples marched down the aisles of the Buskirk Chumley Theater Thursday night to the traditional tune of Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March."The event coincided with the PRIDE LGBTQ Film Festival.A slideshow displaying photos, names and the number of years the couples had been committed to one another played on stage as the couples made their way down the aisles.Friends cheered from the audience as they saw their favorite couples grace the screen and stage.As the couples gathered on stage, hand in hand with their partners, Bruno Mars’ "Marry You" blasted through the theater.Mayor Mark Kruzan, along with various members of the City Council, Monroe County Council and members of the clergy gathered on stage in support of the couples.Kruzan outlined three major points regarding his support for same sex couples. “First, it’s about equality of opportunity,” Kruzan said. “We want to stand with you in celebrating the commitment of all couples, and third, history simply will not smile kindly on those who stand against equality.” "I am honored to bear witness to this wedding ceremony and lend my voice to a rising chorus in Indiana and around the country in support of essential civil rights and in opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw gay marriage," Monroe County Councilor Rick Dietz said in a news release."Mark has been an ally probably all his life from his days in the Statehouse, and I’m just delighted that he is willing to do this," Doug Bauder, office coordinator for GLBT Student Support Services, said.Bauder said the number of county officials, city council members and clergy also backing the event shows great support and makes a "wonderful statement.""Marriage in this culture is a civil contract but often a religious ceremony, and to have parties from both institutions involved in this is really significant to portraying Bloomington as the welcoming community it is," Bauder said.The immediate problem presenting itself is the proposed constitutional amendment HJR-6 in the Indiana State legislature, which would ban same-sex marriage, said Danielle McClelland, coordinator of the PRIDE LGBTQ Film Festival."It would seriously bring into question all these organizations or companies in Indiana that offer domestic partner benefits," McClelland said. "The state legislature has already passed it once, if they pass it again in this session, then it will come to a full vote of the state," McClelland said.McClelland has been with her partner, Sue Ferentinos, for 20 years."This idea of taking away constitutional ethics, creating a second class of citizens, needs to stop now," McClelland said. "What’s amazing is what’s happening right now. That all these people from all walks of life are here in support and are congratulating us."County and city officials, clergy members and the public stood in solidarity as the couples made their vows.Audience members cheered as confetti and bubbles filled the auditorium right after Mayor Kruzan proclaimed, "With the power not yet vested in me from the great state of Indiana, I pronounce you as partners in life.”
(01/31/13 7:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A specific switchblade that was banned in Indiana is now legal again.The Indiana State Senate unanimously passed Senate bill 0181 last week, lifting the ban on switchblades. Bill sponsor Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, said the bill had been proposed in years past but never seemed to make it past the House. “But, I feel pretty good about it this time,” Tomes said. “I think everyone understands that it is a silly law.” Tomes said people wonder why this pocketknife had restrictions when nearly identical ones were available. The band-restricted switchblades were ones partially spring-assisted, while the switchblade that was banned is fully spring-assisted, Tomes said. Partially spring-assisted switchblades are opened by the person using them, while fully spring-assisted switchblades can open on their own. The ban imposed six months of jail time and a $1,000 fine to anyone carrying the knife. “During the committee when I presented this issue, I had three examples of pocketknives, and I opened them up one after another,” Tomes said. “And no one could distinguish which one was the prohibited one and which of the two weren’t.”Tomes said the drive behind this bill was to help EMTs and police officers cut seatbelts more easily in car crashes. Tomes said he, along with others, speculate the ban was put in place in the past because of movies like “Rebel Without a Cause,” where switchblades were the weapons associated with street gangs.“The fact that the bill passed 47-0 is indicative that society today and legislators today are not willing to keep antiquated laws that put people in jail for things that don’t make sense,” Tomes said.Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, said bills currently being considered are about fixing these types of problems. “Bills that are going through right now are just about cleaning up language,” Stoops said. “They are housekeeping bills.”Captain Joe Qualters of the Bloomington Police Department said switchblades are not an issue in the Bloomington community. “We don’t have any real crime or injuries, assaults or anything like that involving switchblades,” Qualters said. Tomes said, according to his studies, most knifing incidents in the United States are from standard kitchen knives. “Something to think about: if a person could get away with strapping their chainsaw to their belt loop and walking down the street without breaking any laws, but this little two-inch knife could get you six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, you have to think why, why would that be?” Tomes said.
(01/28/13 1:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Vic Kelson’s resignation from the Monroe County Council earlier this month left District 1 seat on the council open.The Monroe County Democratic Party then convened for caucus at the Monroe County Courthouse Saturday and elected Shelli Yoder.The Monroe County Council appropriates funds and adopts the county budget for use.Monroe County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Dietz said Kelson resigned in light of increased responsibilities to his employer, Wittman Hydro, making it difficult to maintain his responsibilities as a councilor. Kelson was also arrested last March for driving under the influence. Yoder ran against Todd Young for Congressional District 9 representative in 2012 and lost. Yoder received nearly 45 percent of the vote, while Young received 55 percent, according to the Indiana Secretary of State.Dietz said in a press release that the purpose of the Cacus was to fill that Democratic County Council District 1 seat through Dec. 31, 2014. Dietz chaired the caucus with the assistance of Hans Huffman, Efrat Feferman, Lee Jones and Lorraine Farrell. “In my estimation, we had a great selection of candidates,” Dietz said. Dietz said candidates had to make an opening statement, undergo a question and answer session and issue a closing statement before the electors cast their votes. There were a total of four candidates who had filed for the position. She will join the ranks of Geoff McKim, Dietz, Lee Jones and Cheryl Munson as Democratic councilors. Yoder was sworn in to her new position at the caucus Saturday. “We were pretty lucky to have all the candidates that stepped forward being strong choices for the caucus,” Dietz said. “Ultimately, the majority of electors thought Shelli would be the better candidate,” Dietz said. —Anu Kumar