May 28, 2021

Indiana veterans struggle to find jobs as state reopens to full capacity

INDIANAPOLIS—As Indiana has announced the termination of federally funded unemployment benefits and society returns to a level of normalcy, veterans continue to face challenges as they seek jobs and resources.

John Zeigler says veterans sometimes have issues with fully explaining their abilities on their resumes so it’s hard for them to find jobs. He is an employment transition manager at Operation: Job Ready Veterans, an organization working with veterans to transition into civilian lives, connecting them with potential employers, helping them with their resumes and more.

Zeigler worked for 21 years in active duty as an artillery officer and retired in 2014; now he helps others to have an easier transition after their service.

“If someone comes to me and they haven’t addressed all their transitional issues, you know, about their living situation, about transportation, about kids or whatever, if they don’t address all of those things, then it doesn’t matter what kind of work you put them in, then they’re not going to be successful,” Zeigler said.

Read more: http://thestatehousefile.com/indiana-veterans-struggle-to-find-jobs-as-state-reopens-to-full-capacity/

May 28, 2021

All State Workers to return by July 6

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s office sent out an e-mail Wednesday afternoon letting all state employees know they are to fully return to work on July 6.

Last March the Governor issued an executive order closing down in-person public activity in state offices.

The state will also offer a vaccination clinic on the Indianapolis campus on June 21 and 22, for those employees who have not been vaccinated.

Prior to July 6, agency heads, senior staff, and supervisors are to report to work on June 7. In addition, by Monday, June 21, state employees should report to work at least 50 percent of their workweek.

Read more: https://indypolitics.org/all-state-workers-to-return-by-july-6/

May 28, 2021

Violence Interrupter Charged with Threatening Violence

A former Indianapolis “Violence Interrupter” has been charged with making death threats.

Shane Shepherd, who was one of the city’s top anti-violence community advocates has been charged with communicating a threat to commit murder/battery against fellow advocate Tiffianie King.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 7, Shepherd did a Facebook Live video where he accused King, along with several others of trying to kill him and he was going to kill them first.

King also told detectives she received threatening text and video messages over the following few days.

Read more: https://indypolitics.org/violence-interrupter-charged-with-threatening-violence/

May 28, 2021

IDEA Public Schools Part Ways With CEO, COO After Review Of Charter's Finances

IDEA Public Schools , the largest charter school network in Texas, parted ways with its CEO and COO after an investigation into alleged misuse of funds, according to a letter sent to the school community Tuesday.

The letter, from Board President Al Lopez, announced the departure of CEO JoAnn Gama and COO Irma Muñoz after an anonymous tip led the IDEA Board of Directors to conduct an in-depth legal and forensic review. That review, performed by a special counsel, found years of financial transactions with misused funds, according to the letter.

It is unclear whether the two were fired, or if the two were implicated in the misuse of funds.

The anonymous tip was received last year shortly after the resignation of former CEO Tom Torkelson last April, and of former CFO Wyatt Truscheit in July. Questions were raised in late 2019 on how IDEA was spending money, after an attempt to use network funds for luxury suites and private jets.

Read more: https://www.tpr.org/education/2021-05-26/idea-public-schools-parts-ways-with-ceo-coo-after-review-of-charters-finances

May 28, 2021

Biden chides Rep. Beth Van Duyne for touting COVID relief she voted against: 'Some people have no

Biden chides Rep. Beth Van Duyne for touting COVID relief she voted against: ‘Some people have no shame’


WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden accused Dallas-area freshman Rep. Beth Van Duyne on Thursday of taking credit for part of a COVID relief package that, like every other Republican, she opposed.

“Some people have no shame,” he said.

Biden didn’t mention her by name. But during a visit to Cleveland to tout economic recovery since he took office, he held up a list of 13 GOP lawmakers – in type large enough for sharp-eyed photojournalists to focus on.

Van Duyne, R-Irving, was fourth on the president’s list, two spots below Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and just above Indiana Rep. Greg Pence, brother of the former vice president.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/05/27/biden-chides-beth-van-duyne-for-touting-covid-relief-she-voted-against-some-people-have-no-shame/

May 28, 2021

Gov. Greg Abbott signs Javier Ambler Law banning reality TV partnering with police

Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Wednesday a bill banning TV reality shows from partnering with law enforcement agencies. The Javier Ambler Law is named for a man who died in an encounter with Williamson County deputies in March 2019, as the high-rated program “Live PD” filmed.

The Legislature had overwhelmingly passed the measure before the bipartisan proposal was sent to Abbott’s desk last week. Amid a national conversation about policing in America, Texas is the first state to ban programs, such as the now-defunct “COPS” and “Live PD,” which came under scrutiny in the aftermath of Javier Ambler II’s death and the murder of George Floyd.

“Javier Ambler was killed because Williamson County deputies were encouraged to produce exciting reality television instead of simply protecting and serving the public,” the Ambler family said in a statement. “As a consequence of this unconscionable decision by the county and its sheriff, a beloved father and son was senselessly killed.”

The law, which was introduced by state Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, is the latest result of an ongoing investigation by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV, which first revealed details of Ambler’s death in June.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/27/texas-governor-signs-javier-ambler-law-banning-reality-cop-shows/7467764002/

May 28, 2021

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal case to be heard in Collin County, appeals court rules

by Reese Oxner, Texas Tribune


A panel of three justices ruled Thursday that the trial for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s felony fraud charges should be in Collin County — where he lives — instead of Harris County, after a yearslong back-and-forth over where his criminal case should be heard.

The lawsuit, now nearly six years old, has been shackled by procedural delays and has not yet gone to trial because of a number of appeals related to where the case should be heard and how much the prosecutors should be paid. The suit has loomed over Paxton for nearly his entire time as attorney general, including during his narrow reelection in 2018. If convicted, Paxton could face up to 99 years in prison.

Prosecutors in the suit claim Paxton persuaded investors to buy stock in a technology firm without disclosing he would be compensated for it. He was a member of the Texas House at the time. Paxton denies any wrongdoing and says the accusations are politically motivated.

A panel of three Democratic justices in the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston on Thursday allowed the case to return to Paxton’s home county on a 2-1 vote because of a technicality, affirming a lower court's decision after nearly seven months of deliberation.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/27/texas-court-ken-paxton/

May 28, 2021

TWU is the newest university system in Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday afternoon making Texas Woman’s University the state’s seventh university system.

TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten was clear Thursday that little would functionally change at first, but it jumpstarts a new transformation to make the satellite campuses in Dallas and Houston more independent.

Existing systems in Texas belonged to the University of North Texas, the University of Texas, the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, Texas State University and Texas Tech.

The twin bills signed into law Wednesday were filed by State Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, and Rep. Lynn Stucky, R-Denton, early in the legislative session.

Read more: https://dentonrc.com/education/twu-is-the-newest-university-system-in-texas/article_89fe7ab8-c0d7-5b63-adfe-5bf667a31006.html
(Denton Record-Chronicle)

May 28, 2021

Arkansas man who joined '14 Brownsville militia arrested at Capitol insurrection with guns, ammo

Thirteen minutes before the United States Congress convened at 1 p.m. on Jan. 6 to certify President Joe Biden’s election victory, U.S. Capitol Police responded to an area in the vicinity of the National Republican Club and the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Authorities had discovered explosive devices.

As part of this response, police established a secure perimeter to conduct an investigation, while hundreds of people stormed the Capitol in a bid to overthrow the election for former President Donald J. Trump, falsely believing the election was stolen.

The brazen riot that unfolded in front of millions of Americans on video broadcast on television and social media left five people dead, including a Capitol police officer and a woman who supported Trump who was shot and killed by Capitol police.

One of those people who stormed the Capitol is Lonnie Leroy Coffman, a 70-year-old man from Arkansas.

Read more: https://myrgv.com/featured/2021/05/27/arkansas-man-who-joined-14-brownsville-militia-arrested-at-capitol-insurrection-with-guns-ammo/

May 28, 2021

Metro Detroit man charged with breaking into Capitol

Detroit — A Brownstown Township man was charged Thursday with breaking into the U.S. Capitol and accused of threatening to kill "commie bastards" during a looming war, becoming the ninth person from Michigan to face charges in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Anthony Michael Puma, 49, was arrested Thursday and is facing multiple charges, including obstruction of Congress and violent entry/disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, according to a federal court filing.

Federal agents accused Puma of scaling a wall outside the Capitol, breaking in through a window and encouraging others involved in the insurrection, according to an FBI statement obtained by The Detroit News.

Investigators searched his Facebook account and obtained posts in which Puma threatened violence and expressed support for then-President Donald Trump, according to the statement.

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/05/27/anthony-puma-charged-breaking-into-capitol-during-jan-6-riot/7467940002/