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(04/30/09 4:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan focused on economic diversity, sustainability and the preservation of the uniqueness of the city during the annual State of the City address Wednesday evening at City Hall. Kruzan emphasized the need to keep investing in the city despite the sluggish economy. “When times are tough, there is a tendency to become overly cautious,” Kruzan said. “But history has shown that it is more important to do more than survive. It’s important to thrive.” Kruzan outlined his “Four C’s” plan: community commerce, collaboration, condition and character. The plan will promote economic diversity by creating jobs, modernizing tax abatement guidelines and promoting local business through the “Local First” initiative. Each city department produced a study on city consumption and sustainability that will prepare the city for the new green building ordinance. Kruzan also unveiled a new Web site called “Everybody’s Bloomington,” which will have a list of the city’s assets to promote Bloomington to travelers and potential residents. A second Web site to chart the city’s sustainability initiative will also be launched this year. The city has “aggressively pursued” federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment act, Kruzan said. The city will now receive more than $8.5 million toward community projects. The B-Line Trail, a walking pathway through the city, received additional funding that will allow for its completion in 2011. The city has received more than $4.5 million in outside revenue in state and federal grants to complete the project, Kruzan said. Kruzan said supporting local businesses is essential to the city’s economy. “Local enterprises will get us through the recession,” Kruzan said. Kruzan introduced the “Local First” initiative to preserve the “uniqueness” of the city. “Our message is not that chain businesses are not welcome,” Kruzan said. “But we want to encourage a climate that fosters ‘local first.’” Kruzan has suggested an ordinance to possibly limit national chain businesses in the downtown area and to encourage a variety of local businesses. The city will also work to keep the Bloomington Hospital at its current location on Second and Rogers streets in an effort to keep more services in a central location, Kruzan said. Kruzan also highlighted his plan for poverty prevention by doubling the Jack Hopkins Social Service Fund, creating entry-level jobs, providing preventative health care and expanding affordable housing. Kruzan also called for an expansion of the city’s water treatment plant and introducing tiered pricing based on usage to encourage “fairness and conservation.”“Failing to invest in our water now delays the inevitable and increases costs to ratepayers,” Kruzan said. If the proposal is passed, Bloomington will be the first city in the state to use tiered pricing.Kruzan awarded the Mayor’s Award for Civic Engagement to the Ivy Tech Community College Center for Civic Engagement for its work in the community and to Natalie Cabanaw, a server at Nick’s English Hut who began the “Third Thursday” program where she donates her tips to local nonprofit organizations the third Thursday of each month. City Council member Steve Volan said he was impressed with the city’s progress. “There are facets of many programs that need tweaking, but in general the ship is headed in the right direction,” Volan said.
(04/29/09 1:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>College journalists had the opportunity Tuesday to speak with the White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes about President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office and other topics.Barnes began the conference call with an update on Obama’s current work on economic recovery, environmental concerns, health care reform and an overhaul of the college loan process.Barnes said Obama wants to take steps to make college more accessible and to make American workers more competitive in the global market.Obama is focusing on financial aid like a “laser beam” and looking to cut wasteful loan programs by ending taxpayer subsidies to banks, Barnes said.Obama’s plan will also increase Pell grants by more than $200 billion throughout the next 10 years. Barnes also emphasized Obama’s work to reform health care, saying it “cannot wait,” and that Obama is looking to provide universal health care coverage.Health care reform, along with a comprehensive energy plan, decreasing dependence on foreign oil and job creation, are part of the president’s plan for economic recovery.Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on April 22, which calls for Americans to improve their communities though volunteering. This act will expand the AmeriCorps program and encourage Americans to become active in their communities, Barnes said.After the conference call, participants were invited to ask Barnes questions.One student asked how families using the Federal Family Education Loan program would receive loans if the program is ending as Obama has suggested. The program provides federally backed private loans to students.Barnes said the government would move toward the Direct Loan program, which is more stable and would redirect money saved from eliminating the Federal Family Education Loan program toward Pell grants.Another question asked was how the administration will change the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program because of the fluctuating incomes of many parents. The current application uses 2007 income tax returns, though many families have experienced job loss and lower incomes since then.Barnes said Obama is working to improve the application process to account for job loss and drastically changing family incomes.
(04/23/09 3:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a state where manufacturing jobs are dying out, Tipton County was quick to offer bonds to help build the Chrysler plant that would have created 1,200 new jobs. Now, almost two years later, Tipton County has an unfinished factory, might lose millions of dollars invested in the bonds and wants Chrysler to pay the county back.In May 2007, the county, about one hour north of Indianapolis, agreed to the construction of a new transmission plant on US-31, a joint venture between Chrysler and German-owned automotive company Getrag.The plant’s total cost was $530 million, which Chrysler and Getrag agreed to pay. But the companies wanted Tipton County to help. They sold the county $11 million in bonds that they planned to pay back with revenue from the plant. The county offered $3.1 million in bonds and $1.4 million out-of-pocket funds to help pay for the plant, which totaled $4.5 million in costs for the county.Tipton County Commissioner Jane Harper said that Chrysler agreed to pay the extra costs in June 2007 but has since said it is not responsible.Construction of the plant was put on hold after Chrysler decided it wouldn’t need as many transmissions as previously thought, and the deal fell through. The company failed to supply Getrag with the adequate funding needed to complete the project.An investigation by Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita led him to file a claim against Chrysler demanding restitution for the residents of Tipton County.Harper said Chrysler gave no indication that the project was in trouble, and the county issued the bonds on Sept. 16, 2008. But the next day, Chrysler filed papers against Getrag and pulled out of the deal.“I don’t believe you can tell the county it is going fine and then pull out the next day,” Harper said. “I think they knew the project was in severe jeopardy.”Harper said Chrysler employees dealing with the county might not have been aware of the situation, but she said she believes that those above them might have known.As late as Aug. 15, 2008, Chrysler urged the county to speed up the project and even told them to rent a $500,000 temporary water filtering system for the plant, which was never used and later returned. The county did not receive any money back for the system.The administrative complaint was filed April 17 after evidence collected by the Indiana Securities Division suggested a violation of the Securities Act, said Secretary of State Communications Director Jim Gavin.Maurer School of Law professor J. William Hicks said private companies are required to notify counties if an agreement cannot be reached. According to securities law, it is illegal to withhold facts and information about a company, Hicks said.“This is not a peculiar situation given the current circumstances Chrysler is facing,” Hicks said.Remedies under the Securities Act include restitution, recession, fines or disgorgement, Gavin said.“In the case of this complaint filed against Chrysler, LLC,” Gavin said, “Chrysler has 15 days to respond and is ordered to appear at a hearing on June 24.”David Elshoff, a spokesman for Chrysler, issued a statement from the company stating that in the past, Chrysler has paid for about $14.5 million in infrastructure improvements around the Getrag Transmission Manufacturing project in Tipton.Harper said $9 million of the $14.5 million investment went to the construction of an electrical substation for the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, which will not benefit the county. Chrysler’s statement also said that Chrysler received bonds of $5.5 million from Tipton County as a way of financing infrastructure improvements.According to Chrysler’s statement, an offer was made to Tipton County to transfer $5.5 million in bonds to the county at no cost as part of the company’s “good faith efforts to minimize the impact on Tipton County,” but the county is seeking reimbursement for the extra out-of-pocket expenses that it has paid.Since the matter is currently in litigation, Chrysler spokesmen declined further comment.The county’s 8,500 taxpayers will have to pay off the debt if Chrysler does not return the more than $4.5 million in bonds that were issued to the company, Harper said. The Tipton County economy has taken a severe blow because of the plant’s failure, Tipton Mayor Dan Delph said.“The economy is in the pits,” Delph said. “Even if we had those jobs, Chrysler would have to be able to sell the product, and we would still be in the same situation.”The county is currently facing a 15 percent unemployment rate, higher than the statewide average of 9.9 percent, according to the Indiana Department of Labor.Tipton County Commissioner Mike Cline said nothing can be done with the building until all claims against Getrag are settled. The unfinished building has also left more than 140 contractors with unpaid debts, many of them local companies that now cannot get bonded for other projects because of their debts from the plant, Cline said.Cline said he hopes Chrysler will repay the money.“Our hope is that Chrysler will make it right with the Tipton County,” Cline said.Harper said that she hopes any potential bailout money given to Chrysler will go toward the taxpayers of the county.“Why should we bail them out if they don’t repay us?” Harper said.
(04/09/09 4:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Senate leaders released a budget proposal Wednesday, calling for sustained IU funding even as the state is faced with diminishing tax revenue.IU’s funding, according to recommendations made public Wednesday afternoon, will flat line during the next two years. The Senate proposed using the federal stimulus package to help prop up institutions in danger of budget cuts. “They have invested in trying to keep education whole,” said Tom Morrison, associate vice president for public affairs and state relations, referring to senators. He called the budget an encouraging “prioritization of education in general.” However, he added that the recommendations were “fluid” and could likely still change in the coming weeks, depending on the state’s economic health. “In any other year, we’d be enormously concerned about a flat-line budget,” he said. Those recommendations set the stage for deliberations in the coming weeks as the House, Senate and governor’s office work toward a compromise among competing proposals.“It sounds like the Senate Appropriations Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining higher education in times of economic hardship,” said IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre.Politicians have struggled this year to balance Indiana’s budget as revenue collected from taxes continues to decline. On Monday, state tax collectors reported a 16 percent drop in tax revenue in March. The revenue missed expectations by $157 million, putting the State $755 million behind projections on the year so far. With the revenue shortcomings, Senate leaders looked to a federal stimulus package for funding. That funding will help sustain IU for the next several years. However, Morrison said he recently fears an increased reliance on federal funding will create a false sense of security. That funding will not remain forever, he said, adding that setting this precedent could shift the responsibility of the University away from the state legislature. While in recent years administrators and trustees complained about higher education appropriations failing to keep pace with inflation, they have said a 1 percent increase would help IU avoid major cutbacks. Morrison and other University leaders have warned tuition could jump if funding isn’t sustained. IU president Michael McRobbie has pledged to try to keep tuition increases “modest and reasonable,” MacIntyre said. After McRobbie’s recent address to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, funding for higher education was not drastically changed in the budget proposal.Higher education cuts recommended by Gov. Mitch Daniels earlier this year, before the stimulus package was approved, were not included in the proposal. IU relies on the state for 23 percent of its funding, MacIntyre said. The eight IU campuses receive more than $500 million each year in funding, with the Bloomington campus receiving more than $200 million.The Senate budget also includes increased funding for prisons and for public broadcasting.Following reports of state revenue shortfalls earlier this year, Daniels ordered a $767 million slashing for the current fiscal year. IU responded in turn to the cuts as McRobbie reduced spending by 1 percent across the board.MacIntyre said students should not be affected by budget restraints during the next year. This year, however, salary freezes for more than 400 administrators will save the University $2 million, and the hiring of administrators will also be slowed down in an effort to cut spending. McRobbie has also created a committee to curb the growing health care costs of the University, which have grown by 8 percent in recent years, MacIntyre said.While tuition might not increase dramatically, the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana may not be able to keep pace with the requests for tuition assistance, said A.D. King, IU Student Trustee. The state appropriates $1.8 billion for higher education annually, said Bernard Hannon, assistant commissioner for facilities and financial affairs for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.Any cut in funding should be replaced with money through the federal stimulus package, Hannon said, but only for the next three years. Despite funding available through the stimulus package, MacIntyre said state funding for higher education does not keep pace with inflation and has declined in the last 30 to 40 years.
(04/08/09 4:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two Bloomington departments will receive more than $2.4 million from the federal stimulus package, and Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, wants to know what they are doing with their cut.Hill led a roundtable discussion Tuesday at City Hall with Mayor Mark Kruzan and other city officials to discuss how the housing authority and Bloomington Public Transport Corporation will invest the federal money. The housing authority will receive $709,887 as part of the capital fund program to renovate and improve energy efficiency of existing housing units. The housing authority previously made a five-year plan for improvements, but Kruzan said the projects will be completed sooner and be made a priority as a result of the additional funding. The funding will create jobs in the construction industry in Bloomington, said Jennifer Osterholt, director of the Bloomington Housing Authority. Kruzan stressed that the aid is a one-time opportunity and is not meant to create dependence on government money. “It may not just be new job creation from every project, but it will also sustain existing jobs,” Kruzan said. Kruzan said he hopes citizens view the stimulus package as an investment rather than government spending. Lew May, general manager of Bloomington Public Transport Corporation, said the money has come at a crucial time. The corporation received $1.7 million in funding for a new, more energy-efficient downtown passenger facility. The project would not have been possible without the extra funding, May said. Annual ridership is projected to reach more than 3 million this year, which has tripled since 1999, May said. He said he hopes the corporation will continue to increase ridership. Stimulus funding cannot be used to expand routes but must be used for one-time capital investments, such as infrastructure projects.“We have to improve our facilities, improve services and infrastructure,” May said. Hill said funding for energy efficiency and sustainability should be a priority use for the stimulus money. It would directly “stimulate the economy, save on energy costs and prevent global warming and encourage energy independence,” Hill said. Hill, who is a member of the fiscally conservative Democratic “Blue Dog” Coalition, said he had not foreseen having to vote for such a large stimulus package, but was glad to see quick results. He said he would, however, be skeptical to vote for additional stimulus packages. “These are unusual times,” Hill said. “I don’t think you can just lock yourself into some rigid philosophy. You have to be practical about this.”
(04/06/09 1:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bloomington City Council approved an ordinance Wednesday to issue $6.5 million in revenue bonds to purchase the Bloomington SportsPlex, despite citizen concerns about the economy and closing of a community center.The move will expand the programs offered by the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department but will also mark the closure of the Bloomington Adult Community Center.The council voted 8-1 in favor of the purchase. Only 5th District council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith voted against the ordinance.The city will purchase the SportsPlex, 1700 W. Bloomfield Rd., for $5.5 million, almost half its appraised value. The bonds will be repaid with interest from the revenue generated by the facility. Also included in the ordinance is $950,000 for repairs, surveying and a financial analysis. An extra $477,000 will be used as capitalized interest – extra funds in case the city has trouble paying back the bonds in the first two and a half years.The facility has indoor basketball courts, an indoor soccer field and classroom. Classes and programs offered by the Bloomington Adult Community Center will be relocated to the SportsPlex and other area locations.At the city council meeting, Director of Parks and Recreation Mick Renneisen gave a presentation of the business plan for the SportsPlex. The council’s major concerns were profitability and accessibility.Renneisen told the council that the SportsPlex was “profitable,” adding that new membership rates would be lower than current fees, and additional free programs and special rates for low-income families would be offered.Though the facility is located on a bus route, all council members questioned its accessibility. There is currently no bicycle lane by the facility, and bus riders must cross the street to reach the bus stop.Renneisen said the Parks and Recreation Department would look into possible solutions such as installing a traffic light and improving the bus route.City Council President Andy Ruff also raised the question of the ongoing legal case of co-owner Bruce Furr, who was indicted for fraud in 2007. Renneisen said the U.S. Attorney General sent a letter assuring that the federal government will not seize the building.Council members said the response from their constituents has been mainly positive. Most negative responses concerned the current economy, the cost of the facility and the closing of the Bloomington Adult Community Center.Piedmont-Smith said she received responses from her constituents thanking her for voting against the ordinance.“I didn’t feel like we had sufficient financial data,” Piedmont-Smith said.The most recent financial data presented by Renneisen was from 2007.Piedmont-Smith also said she was concerned that the facility was almost inaccessible without a private car. Many of her constituents were also upset with the closing of the Bloomington Adult Community Center, she said.“It is not an adequate replacement,” Piedmont-Smith said. “It is not focused on older adults or in a central location.”Renneisen said the current Bloomington Adult Community Center building at 349 S. Walnut St. would be leased out, but the city would potentially be able to use the facility on evenings and weekends.Piedmont-Smith said her other reservation about the purchase was the current economic slump.“Just what I have read about economy has really weighed on me,” she said. “It makes me hesitant to engage the city in an investment while there is a big cutback in spending.”Bloomington resident Bob Rogers spoke in favor of the purchase at the meeting. He cited other facilities in the area were too expensive and that a city-owned facility would help low-income families.Rogers is the founder of Fathers Against Non-Support, a support group, and said the facility would be good to house his program and others. Rogers said despite the financial concerns, the center would be a place for the community to interact and be used by people of all ages.“I think it is a wise investment,” Rogers said.
(04/02/09 12:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Bloomington will receive $745,000 from the federal stimulus to improve the energy efficiency of city-owned buildings and to stimulate the local economy. The money is part of more than $42 million in funding the state will receive through the bill. To receive the money, the city must provide a plan and submit an application to the Department of Energy by June 25, said Jen Stutsman, a spokesperson for the Department of Energy. Danny Lopez, communications director for the city of Bloomington, said the city has not yet decided how it will spend the money. The funding was announced just as the City Council passed a “green building” ordinance that will help make city buildings more efficient.“It is still up in the air,” Lopez said. “We have to look at the criteria, but the timing is good.” The city will submit the application in June. Because the city had already budgeted for the green building ordinance, the extra funding will free up money for other city projects, Lopez said. The project will be handled by people from the Economic Development Commission, Housing and Neighborhood Development, Public Works and the mayor’s office, Lopez said. Stutsman said each city will decide how the money can be spent, but officials at the Department of Energy hope the money will go to projects such as reducing greenhouse gases and retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient. Stutsman said the funding will also help create jobs and promote transformation within the energy market that will hopefully last beyond the funding period. The number of jobs created will depend on the programs the city funds with the grants, said Jeremy Sowders, vice president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation. Investing the money in the city will create direct and indirect jobs, Sowders said. “Contractors can hire more people that will put money back into the economy,” he said. “It will create a ripple effect.”
(03/31/09 1:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>House Democrats amended a Senate bill last Tuesday in an attempt to block a new policy that would lengthen the school year.Indiana law currently mandates that the school year is a minimum of 180 days. School districts have been allowed to set their own calendars to count half-days and snow days as part of the 180-day requirement. A House amendment to SB 126 would continue to allow schools to count half days as full days.Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett initially raised the question. Bennett announced the policy change two weeks ago, and the legislation responded by adding the amendment to the bill.Half-days have traditionally been used for parent-teacher conferences and professional development days, as well as to allow time for grading assignments, said Sally Sloan, the executive director of the Indiana Federation of Teachers.“We have done this for many years without complaints,” Sloan said.While the state requires students to be in school for 180 days, it also requires teachers to allow for professional development days. Most school districts have about three extra days in their calendars, but Sloan said the current allotment is not enough.If school districts are not allowed to count half-days, teachers could be forced to work after hours for conferences and professional development – without extra compensation.Sloan said teachers did not object to more instruction time, but contracts must be changed to allow for extra compensation. The state has not offered any solution to pay teachers for the extra days, Sloan said.Cam Savage, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education, said schools have enough extra days in their calendars to allow for conferences and professional development.“We agree that parent-teacher conferences are important,” Savage said. “But teacher development could take place after or before school.”Savage said every extra day students spend in school is essential to making Indiana competitive.“The rest of the world is getting ahead,” Savage said. “The minimum is 180 days, and frankly, we need it. Parents expect it, taxpayers pay for it.”Barry Bull, a professor in the School of Education, said time spent in school has an impact on the quality of education but is not the only avenue to pursue to make Indiana students more competitive. Parent-teacher conferences and professional development are also important to a student’s education, he said.Bull said the school year was lengthened to 180 days from 175 in 1987. While Bull said one half-day might not make a huge impact on a student’s education, the amount of time spent in school is important.“The research is pretty clear,” Bull said. “The more time spent in school is better for the children.” While more instruction time was essential to improving education, other factors such as attracting more qualified teachers was also important, Bull said. “This does not have to be a trade off between qualified teachers and a sufficient number of school days,” Bull said.The main supporters of the amendment are teacher’s unions, said Savage. While the Department of Education maintains that the issue is purely in the interest of the students, Sloan said this is a political issue that has been brought up periodically. The amendment vote was 51-44, mostly supported by Democrats.“Education is such a political issue,” Sloan said. “We ought to talk about what is best for the kids and leave out the partisanship.”
(03/13/09 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While a proposed federal cap-and-trade bill aims to cut carbon emissions and support development of new sources of energy, some Indiana businesses and politicians say the bill could burden Hoosiers with higher utility costs.The bill would require power companies and manufacturers to buy “credits” for a permit to emit carbons. The proposal was made by President Barack Obama as part of his plan to stimulate the economy. The “Cap and Trade” bill would limit, or cap, the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses a manufacturing plant or power company could emit. Credits would be auctioned by the government to companies, which could then trade credits. Though the purpose of the bill is ultimately to lower carbon emissions, the price of fuel and utilities will rise, said Greg Efthimiou, a spokesperson for Duke Energy, which provides electricity for five states including Indiana. The company supports finding a “fair” way to tax carbon emissions, but the cap-and-trade system could create higher utility costs, Efthimiou said. “This could unfairly punish customers in the Midwest and South,” Efthimiou said. “Under the cap-and-trade proposals, higher costs could be passed along to customers.” The company has to find a balance for providing “reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy,” Efthimiou said. Rising energy costs caused some Hoosier lawmakers to speak out against the bill. Rep. Dan Burton, R-5, opposes the bill, saying it is essentially another way to tax families. John Donnelly, a spokesperson for Burton, said while the congressman supports finding a way to lower emissions, he does not want to put an extra burden on families during a recession. “We are in the middle of a crisis, and the last thing we should do is increase the cost of operating for businesses,” Donnelly said. “There are a lot of avenues we can pursue while transitioning the energy sector, such as wind and solar power.” Donnelly said higher taxes could lead to job loss, particularly in the coal mining and auto industry, which are major sources of jobs in Indiana and the Midwest. “We support taking care of the environment, but at the end of the day, people won’t have jobs,” Donnelly said. “We aren’t anti-environment, just pro-jobs.” The cap-and-trade system was implemented in the 1990s across the country to curb sulfur dioxide and was effective, said John Graham, dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The new bill encourages companies to switch to more sustainable sources of energy such as wind and solar power, he said. The cap-and-trade system would raise energy costs, but so would switching to renewable energy. “It costs more to get solar and wind power,” Graham said. “Even if there was a shift to renewable energy, rates would raise either way.” Cap-and-trade laws have also been used in the European Union, but credits were given to companies instead of auctioned. This system proved ineffective because too many permits were given out and companies were not given enough incentive to lower emissions, Graham said. Auctioning credits would be more of an incentive for companies to take action. Other alternatives include imposing a tax on all carbon emissions. This would create an immediate incentive for companies to lower emissions without setting a fixed rate, Graham said. He said he is in favor of a carbon tax over a cap-and-trade system. “A carbon tax would probably be a better idea, but cap-and-trade is better than doing nothing,” Graham said. Citizens opposed to the bill have organized a “Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party” on April 15. Spencer Leiter, who is organizing a protest in Bloomington, said he decided to do so after reading about similar protests across the country. “Basically, we want the economy to thrive through productivity, not spending,” Leiter said. Leiter said the cap-and-trade bill is an extra tax on families and, like higher gas prices, could hurt the economy. “The government cannot create a healthy economy,” Leiter said. “‘Green’ initiatives will drive up the cost of power in Indiana.” Those supporting the bill say higher prices are necessary to bolster environmental conservation. The Hoosier Environmental Council, an organization that promotes environmental legislation in the state, supports a cap-and-trade bill. Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the council, said the impact of the bill would depend on how well Indiana prepared itself. “Indiana is one of the only states in the Midwest without a significant investment in carbon-free energy,” Kharbanda said. Energy companies have had time to find alternative sources of energy, he said. “Once global warming became a credible issue, at that point utility companies should have started diversifying their portfolios,” he said. Duke Energy has begun to invest in wind energy and plans to develop more, Efthimiou said. Kharbanda said a carbon tax would also be effective, along with improving building efficiency and lowering the carbon standard for refineries. Jobs could also be created in Indiana in the manufacturing sector, Kharbanda said. “Putting a price on carbon is a game-changer,” Kharbanda said. “It will revitalize the Midwest and make it competitive with other markets.” The bill is still in committee, and it could be years before it is implemented, Graham said. The government would most likely wait until the economy has recovered before making any major changes and would also expand the use of alternative fuels such as ethanol made from plants, Graham said. He added that whichever choice the government makes, it must act. “The government does need to take steps to reduce emissions,” Graham said.
(03/05/09 5:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Bloomington will receive more than $900,000 from the federal stimulus package in two separate grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.The money will mainly provide funding for low-income and sustainable housing development, infrastructure and social service programs. The first grant of $224,578 aims to enhance community development, said Lisa Abbott, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development for Bloomington.These grants differ from others given by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, she said. The grants can fund social programs and physical improvements in the city.“This is a community investment,” Abbott said. “It allows for social service programming.”Bloomington in recent years has received about $800,000 annually in grants, but Abbott said the funding has progressively decreased. Last year the city received $744,000.Abbott does not yet know how the federal stimulus money, which comes in addition to the usual grant, can be spent. While the department has guidelines for the grant program, city officials must wait to see if there are any additional guidelines.Abbott said she hopes the additional grant will follow normal rules. Doing that, she said, “will serve the greatest need.” While the majority of the money is allocated for housing and neighborhood development, the maximum 15 percent of the grant allowed for social programs will be given to social service agencies to pay for operating costs. The city will have 120 days upon receiving the grant to commit the money to projects.Ron Walker, president of the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, said government grants benefit the area.“Grants tend to have a positive effect on the community,” Walker said. “It infuses tax dollars back in the local economy.”Walker said the money will create jobs and help lower living expenses, especially for low-income families.Julio Alonso, executive director of Hoosier Hills Food Bank, said the organization is partially funded by the Community Development Block Grant program.Alonso said the grant would be a welcome relief for the organization. The Food Bank has seen a 30 percent decrease in donations in the past year while requests for food have grown. While the Food Bank is not in danger of closing, Alonso said it might not be able to continue providing food at the same level.“The demand for food has increased astronomically,” Alonso said.The grant will also fund physical improvements such as alternative transportation, roads and improving public facilities.An additional $709,887 will be available from the 2009 Recovery Act Capital Fund Formula Program for the Bloomington Housing Authority. The grant will be used to modernize and maintain affordable housing.Katie Moreau, a spokesperson for Rep. Baron Hill, said most cities in Indiana will receive Housing and Urban Development grants depending on population and need.“This is important in an economic downturn,” Moreau said. “This is a great program that does a lot of good for communities.”Moreau said the money will go to making homes more efficient and also to building infrastructure and roads.The funding also provides an important safety net for low-income families in Bloomington, Abbott said.“We need more money than is really available,” Abbott said. “There is an increasing need, and it would be difficult without it.”
(03/05/09 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new partnership between IU and Purdue University could combine the schools’ research facilities with hopes of increasing government grants and creating jobs. The Indiana Innovation Alliance is a proposed partnership between the state’s two research universities along with biomedical and biotechnology firms, state government and local businesses. The alliance will provide access to the resources at both schools for private companies and expand the IU School of Medicine. Funding for the alliance was included in this year’s House budget plan. The Indiana Innovation Alliance is asking for $35 million each year for two years. Larry MacIntyre, vice president for the Office of Government Relations, said that although the state will have to pay for the initial investment, the alliance will create more jobs. “The alliance will enable us to make research laboratories more marketable and competitive with others in the country,” MacIntyre said. “It will result in more government grants and contracts in the private sector.” The IU School of Medicine enrollment could increase by 30 percent from this partnership. In addition to increasing the number of physicians in Indiana, the school will also have funding to hire more faculty. Though funding for the alliance was not included in Gov. Mitch Daniels’ budget recommendation, MacIntyre said there is substantial support from state lawmakers. Indiana Sen. Gary Dillon, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he was in favor of programs like the Indiana Innovation Alliance. “Life sciences is something we already have a good base in,” Dillon said. “We should expand on our strengths.” He said education was a priority for the Senate, but they do not yet know how much money will be available. “Until the new revenue forecast is made, it is hard to say what we can and cannot support,” Dillon said. Debbie Sibbitt, director of Hoosiers for Higher Education, said the alliance has received support from both Republicans and Democrats. “There has been bipartisan approval,” Sibbitt said. “This is an investment in Indiana’s future. We hope this will be a long-term investment.” Sibbitt said the alliance wants to market Indiana as a place for research. Some states cannot afford to build the facilities needed and could outsource research to Indiana. Programs like the Indiana Innovation Alliance exist in other states, but Indiana has the advantage of two large research universities, Sibbitt said.“There is a unique situation between IU and Purdue,” Sibbitt said. David Guard, the executive director of IU’s Office of the Vice President for Engagement, said the alliance also includes a matching funds program for grants received by both schools. Through this program, the state matches funds received through grants and would allow Indiana to compete with similar programs across the country. “By combining, we can compete on par with Harvard and MIT and other leading schools,” Guard said. “Purdue and IU working together is a way to increase our synergy.” Guard said while funding for the program has not been fully secured, he is optimistic. “We will continue to push ahead,” Guard said. “This will bring unparalleled growth to the state.”
(02/27/09 2:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hoosiers collecting unemployment benefits will soon have a little extra help in making ends meet. Gov. Mitch Daniels announced last week in a press release that there will be a $25 increase in benefits for those collecting unemployment. The increase raises the maximum amount to $390 per week. The money is part of the economic stimulus package passed Feb. 13. The U.S. Department of Labor will reimburse participating states with money from the stimulus package. Indiana could receive up to $185 million. Marc Lotter, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Work Development, said the money is needed. “Many Hoosiers are still unemployed and need assistance,” Lotter said. Lotter added that unemployment claims have doubled in Indiana this year. He said while the unemployment fund was at a $1.6 billion surplus, it shrunk after 2001 when taxes on employers were lowered. “They lowered taxes and increased benefits,” said Lotter. “This action drained the fund, and it is now at a deficit.” Lotter said those qualifying for benefits will continue to receive them despite the deficit. Danny Lopez, communications director for Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan, said Bloomington does not have specific programs to deal with unemployment, but it works to keep the economy diverse. “We are always looking to employ talent here in Bloomington,” Lopez said. Lopez said the city is not suffering financially and is working on projects to help expand businesses.“Downtown is as vibrant as ever, despite what is going on in the state and in the nation,” Lopez said. Professor Barry Rubin from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs researches the Bloomington economy and said the $25 increase will help but might not have a huge economic impact. According to the Department of Labor, Bloomington’s unemployment rate is 4.5 percent, almost half the state average of 8.2 percent. Rubin said Bloomington fares better than other regions in the state because it has a university. Most people who work for IU spend their salaries in Bloomington and keep the unemployment rate down. He said IU’s endowment could be hit hard in the recession, but it is still well-funded. “It is not as serious because we are insulated by the University,” Rubin said. Professor Mark Crouch from the Department of Labor Studies at IU-Purdue University Fort Wayne said unemployment is only a partial replacement for a person’s normal salary. Federal law mandates that benefits must be paid within three weeks of approval, but Crouch said the system is slow and does not always meet the deadline. “There are thousands of people in limbo,” Crouch said. “Indiana is one of the worst places for getting unemployment.” Crouch said because of the high volume of demand for unemployment, it is difficult to correct mistakes on rejected applications, forcing unemployed workers to wait long periods of time before receiving any money. “Very few people can go weeks or months without money coming in,” Crouch said. “It is a complete disaster.”
(02/23/09 5:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Military Order of the Purple Heart honored Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., this month for his work to provide full-honor funerals to all service members buried in Arlington National Cemetery, regardless of rank.Lugar was awarded the Region II Commanders Award by the Military Order. The award was created to recognize someone who has made an extraordinary effort to help veterans and service members. Dave Bowman, the Region II Commander, said the award is given in unique situations. “The award goes to a member that by far exceeds the standards of what is expected,” Bowman said. Previously, only officers received full burial honors. Kaitlin Horst, a spokeswoman for Arlington National Cemetery, said under the new rules all eligible soldiers will be honored with a bugler, firing party, chaplain, colors team, caisson, band and escort platoon. Horst said even with the new rules, the cemetery’s main concern was for the families. “We will continue to work in the best interest of the families and their wishes,” she said. The idea was brought to Lugar in 2007 by Sgt. First Class Robert Durbin, who served as a Full Honor Casket Team squad leader at the cemetery, said Mark Hayes, a spokesman for Lugar. “Senator Lugar worked with Sergeant Durbin and forwarded his request to the Department of Defense,” Hayes said. Hayes said Lugar oversaw the project and made sure the policy was changed. Bowman said the issue had not been questioned before. “This is something new that came up. No one had an axe to grind about it,” Bowman said. “We found it interesting that he picked it up.”Though it had never been an issue, Bowman is glad to see that all soldiers are receiving the same honors regardless of rank. “Senator Lugar was correcting an injustice,” he said.
(02/13/09 5:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU could benefit from the agreement on the $789 billion stimulus package reached Wednesday by the Senate and House of Representatives.The bill is a trimmed-down version of the original $819 billion plan the House approved in January. The majority of the bill will provide tax relief and create jobs, but some funds will go toward higher education costs.The vote was almost along party lines, with only three Republicans voting in favor of the bill. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., voted in favor of the bill, and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., did not. The House will vote Friday on the final version of the bill, which could be signed by President Barack Obama as early as Monday.Indiana Sen. Vi Simpson’s spokesperson Pat McLeish said while there will be funding for higher education, the main purpose of the bill is to help the unemployed.“The main goal is to create jobs due (to) the high unemployment rate,” McLeish said.The unemployment rate in Indiana reached 8.2 percent in December and is now as high as 15.3 percent in Elkhart, Ind.McLeish said the exact amount of money Indiana will receive is still uncertain, but the majority of the money will go to public works projects.“We hope that there will be money for the construction of education buildings and modernization of buildings,” McLeish said.Higher education funding received support from both Republicans and Democrats, said Tom Morrison, associate vice president for government relations at IU.“This is the one area that has some agreement across the board,” Morrison said.IU could receive money indirectly through research grants as well, because funding for the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation is included in the bill.Morrison said the money received through grants could create jobs in the life sciences in the public and private sectors.Doug Wasitis, director of federal relations for IU, said increased funding for research will create more jobs at IU. To receive money, the University must apply for grants to conduct research.“Grants are awarded competitively.” Wasitis said. “But IU excels in receiving grants.”Students might also see financial relief.The maximum amount of money awarded in Pell grants could be increased to $500 dollars more than the current amount of $4,731.Morrison said while the University is surviving the recession, it still needs funding, especially for research.“IU is doing the best it can,” Morrison said. “But relief would be welcome in these tough times.”
(02/10/09 5:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When President Barack Obama visited Elkhart as a candidate six months ago, the city’s unemployment rate was 9.3 percent. When he returned on Monday, the rate had soared to 15.3 percent – among the nation’s highest.Elkhart, which was once home to the booming RV industry, now represents the decline of U.S. manufacturing. Obama was met with overwhelming applause and cheers as he entered the Concord High School gymnasium. In his first trip outside Washington, D.C. since his inauguration, Obama appealed for public support of the proposed $827 billion economic stimulus bill that is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. Failure to pass the bill could lead to an even bigger downturn, Obama said. “The situation we face could not be more serious,” Obama said. “We have inherited an economic crisis as deep and as dire as any since the Great Depression.” Obama said without government intervention unemployment could reach double digits nationwide. The economy could hit a low point that may not be reversible, he said. Obama is calling the bill a “recovery and reinvestment” plan. He said he plans to create more jobs and invest in education and infrastructure. “At its core is a very simple idea,” Obama said. “To put Americans back to work, doing the work America needs to be done.” Obama said his plan will create 3 to 4 million jobs over the next two years in public works projects like roads and bridges, school building improvements and alternative energy. The plan will also provide for extended unemployment insurance and health care for workers that have lost their jobs in the recession. Tax cuts for lower- and middle-class families are also in the bill, which he said are essential to helping the economy recover. Families could receive up to $1,000, which Obama said he wants families to use to buy necessities. “If you don’t have money, you can’t spend it, and if you don’t spend it, our economy will continue to decline,” he said. Obama wants to prioritize cutting energy costs by making American homes more energy-efficient and by giving tax breaks to companies that develop alternative energy sources such as solar panels and windmills. He said that the country should invest in “green” energy. “I want to help make Indiana an energy-producing state, not just an energy-consuming state,” Obama said. While Obama said the bill was not perfect, he added “doing nothing was not an option.” As the president spoke, the faces in the packed gymnasium varied. Former factory workers, students, military veterans and immigrants all looked on as the president promoted his plan.Malinda Schutz, 17, and Shawndray Gates, 16, were allowed to take the day off from Elkhart Memorial High School to see the president speak. The recession has been difficult on both of their families. Schutz lost her after-school job, and both Schutz’s and Gate’s fathers were laid off from their factory jobs this past year. Both of their families are now living on a tight budget, but are faring better than some other area residents. Gates said she noticed many of her peers can no longer even afford to buy lunch. “I’ve noticed that a lot of kids don’t eat lunch or they are always asking for money,” Gates said. “Even if they do have it, they’re trying to save it.” Jesus Fernandez left Mexico ten years ago to work in a factory that makes windows for RVs, but has recently had his work schedule reduced to two days a week. He has had a difficult time supporting his wife and two daughters. “I go door to door asking for work,” Fernandez said. He has done lawn work and cleared driveways for extra cash. “I’ll do anything,” he said.
(02/02/09 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>President Barack Obama’s $819 billion stimulus package has passed the House vote and is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Wednesday, but many Indiana lawmakers have expressed mixed feelings about the bill.State politicians reacted both for and against the bill, contrasting potential job creation, government programs and the bill’s ability to address the correct economic problems.Dan Burton, R-Ind., did not vote for the bill Wednesday. “My vote against the Democrat stimulus bill today was a vote of conscience,” Burton said in a statement. “I cannot support throwing 825 billion more taxpayer dollars into government programs that are not only slow and narrow in scope, but contrary to the widespread and immediate economic stimulus that Americans so badly need.” Burton said he believed the bill included too much wasteful spending and would not create jobs. Though the bill will include tax credits of up to $500 for individuals and up to $1,000 for families, Burton said he did not feel the bill included enough tax relief for citizens. Baron Hill, D-Ind., voted for the economic package. He said the plan was “flawed,” but Hill said he believed it would at least address the current and future economic issues facing the country. In a statement, Hill said that the unemployment rate, which is up to 8.2 percent in Indiana, was another reason why he supported the bill. Indiana Senate Democrat leader Vi Simpson also announced Thursday that she was hopeful the bill would bring up to $5 billion to Indiana to stimulate job creation. Other economic experts said the bill isn’t addressing the correct problems.IU economics professor Bill Witte said he believed the bill was geared to solving more short-term problems and did not address the underlying problems that have lead to the current crisis. “Our society faces basic problems,” Witte said. “Households don’t save enough.”
(01/23/09 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new ban aiming to decrease the number of distracted motorists could soon land drivers in Monroe County who text while behind the wheel with a fine. The Monroe County commissioners approved a ban on the sending, composing or reading of e-mails and text messages and surfing the Internet while driving. The ordinance was passed in December and went into effect Jan. 1. Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Michael Pershing said text messaging is distracting to the driver and is a common problem. “This is not a problem just specific to this county,” Pershing said.Texting while driving is dangerous because the driver must look down instead of paying attention to the road, Pershing said. The large number of young people in Monroe County has also contributed to the problem, he added.“There is a high student population here,” Pershing said. “Young people are more likely to send text messages.”County Attorney Jeff Cockerill handled the case and said the problem was brought to the county commissioner’s attention after other drivers complained.“We had a citizen file a complaint about awful driving practices,” Cockerill said. “But this is a nationwide problem.”Cockerill said the ordinance will only be in enforced in the county, not within Bloomington city limits. The city has not yet enacted its own ordinance, he said.The ordinance also gained support due to the recent death of Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Jones on Oct. 16, 2008. She was killed after a car struck her while she was directing traffic. The driver was distracted while sending a text message, Pershing said. Enforcing the ban could be difficult because some drivers hold the cell phone in their laps, and it is not always obvious what they are doing, Pershing said.“People do a lot of things they shouldn’t do while driving, like reading books, newspapers and putting on makeup,” Pershing said.Sophomore Dominic Hosack has been texting since he first received his driver’s license. He said he usually holds his cell phone on his lap and drives with the other hand. While he has never been in an accident caused by texting, he said he has been distracted.“I have missed my turn before and gotten totally lost because I was texting,” Hosack said.Hosack does not plan to stop texting and does not know how the police will be able to enforce the ban.Other drivers have recently stopped texting while driving after realizing its danger. Sophomore Andrew Evertts stopped after seeing an episode of “Dr. Phil.”“I saw an episode about people who were in wrecks because of texting while driving,” Evertts said. “It made me nervous.”Fines have not yet been set for drivers caught texting while driving. Pershing said drivers need to remember that it is their responsibility to drive without distractions.
(01/21/09 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Obama supporters packed Bloomington restaurants Tuesday evening to relive the experience of the inauguration that occurred more than seven hours earlier.Several Bloomington locations, some with prior connections to President Barack Obama, were host to inaugural events to celebrate the historic occasion. Rachael’s Cafe was host to an inauguration bash to celebrate the event. The cafe replayed a recording of the president’s inaugural address on a projection screen. Throughout the speech, the entire room stopped to watch and cheered during its favorite parts.Graduate student Moises Montenegro had already watched the inauguration live in the Indiana Memorial Union earlier Tuesday. Montenegro said he was impressed by his speech but also glad to see Obama’s more human side.“There was a moment when he stuttered, and it showed he was human,” Montenegro said. “He isn’t perfect, but he is the next best thing.”Cafe owner Rachael Jones was happy when Obama won, but she was even more excited when she got a personal phone call from Obama on election night. Though their conversation was short, Jones was happy to have spoken with him.“At first I could barely hear him,” she said. “He just wanted to say thank you for the support.”Jones wanted to throw the Obama bash to celebrate his victory after the success of her election night party. She quickly became an avid supporter, though she was initially skeptical.“At first I thought he was just the lesser of the two evils,” Jones said. “But I soon became a supporter.”Several other businesses were host to events for the inauguration. Nick’s English Hut created an “Obama-boli” sandwich for the occasion. Earlier during the day, customers came to watch the inauguration live, and the bar was host to a party Tuesday evening. Obama came to the bar on his visit to Bloomington last April.Waitress Jennifer Long was working at Nick’s when Obama came to visit. She said the bar was so crowded people had to stand on their booths to see Obama, who signed the wall during his visit. The signature was recently removed and placed in a separate frame.Long said people come frequently to see Obama’s signature, and Obama promised to return to the bar and have a beer if he won the election.“He was so down-to-earth,” Long said. “It was not what I expected.”
(01/20/09 5:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Professor Henry Wakhungu has proudly displayed an Obama sign in his yard since he announced his candidacy. He has followed Obama’s career for the past four years, even when his friends and family were uncertain. If Obama had lost, Wakhungu and his fellow Kenyans would have been just as proud. They could still claim him as their own. “People say that if the Americans won’t take him as a president, they want him back,” Wakhungu said.He said there has been a surge in national pride in the east African state since Obama won the election. The government declared a holiday when Obama won, and celebrations lasted for an entire month. More than anything, the election brought together a divided nation that only a year ago was torn apart by violence and bloodshed following its own presidential election. More than 1,000 people were killed in the post-election violence, bringing the relatively stable African state to near-collapse. Kenya’s economy is still reeling from the violence, and the country’s President Mwai Kibaki declared on Friday the ongoing food crisis there a national disaster. Wakhungu said the mentality of Kenyans has shifted since the primaries last spring. People began to identify themselves as Kenyan instead of by their individual tribe. “When elections picked up, people who had been fighting in the post-election violence suddenly stopped and watched the (U.S.) elections,” Wakhungu said. In his office Wakhungu proudly displays a kanga – a traditional African wrap dress – on his table with an image of Obama and U.S. and Kenyan flags that he bought on a recent visit to his homeland. He said members of different tribes have found common ground in supporting Obama. “People who initially fought can celebrate his victory as Kenyans, not thinking about the different ethnic groups,” he said. “In a way, it has helped people to heal the wounds very quickly.” Obama memorabilia has soared in popularity, and his image is prominently displayed on public buses. Wakhungu said Obama has become a popular name for newborn children.Graduate student Robert Kariuki was in Kenya during Obama’s most recent visit in 2006. “When he came to visit before running for president, people lined up to see him at the airport,” Kariuki said. “They saw him as their son.” Kariuki said that Obama has inspired Kenyans to set higher goals. “He is a symbol to the youth,” he said. “People feel that they can achieve more now.” Matthew Orina, a sophomore at Ivy Tech originally from western Kenya, said he feels a connection to Obama in more than just ethnicity. “He was raised by a single mom, and I was raised by a single mom, so I really feel like I can relate to him,” Orina said. “He was even broke at times. It is good to have a president that has been broke at least once in his life.” Orina said he plans to attend the inauguration today with his mother. Though he cannot claim Obama as the leader of his country, Orina can claim Obama as a member of his tribe. Orina is part of the Luo tribe, which is the third largest ethnic group in Kenya, and the one from which Obama descends. “Now I feel more honored to say I am Kenyan; I am even from the same tribe,” Orina said. “It gives me a reason to tell whoever I meet that I am Kenyan.”
(01/20/09 5:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tonight, many people in Bloomington and across the country will celebrate the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.Several Bloomington bars and restaurants will be host to events for those who won’t be attending private parties or want to go out to local festivities.Nick’s English Hut will host a party Tuesday evening. Manager Bob Herbenstrait said the decision behind the party was in part because of Obama’s visit last year during Little 500.“When Obama came in to sign the wall, he basically made our decision to have the party,” Herbenstrait said.The event begins at 6 p.m., and Herbenstrait said he expects a large crowd. He said the signature will be on display upstairs in the “Hoosier Room.”Nick’s will also be serving “Obama-boli” sandwiches and “Obama bomb” drinks for his inauguration. At 7 p.m. Rachel’s Cafe will host their “Obama Inaugural Bash.” Owner Rachael Jones decided to have the event after the success of her election night party.“Election night was really big,” Jones said. “We had a full house.”Attendees are encouraged to wear “party attire.” After the inauguration, there will be free salsa and ballroom dancing lessons. Both events are free to attend.