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Former Vice President Mike Pence has returned to Indiana!
After participating in the Inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, he was flown back with his family to Columbus, Indiana, where he reportedly intends to move to this coming summer. Pence briefly addressed the public from behind a podium which held a sign saying, “Back Home Again.” He thanked President Trump and the Former first Lady for all of their efforts to make America great again.
Indiana Department of Education is under Federal investigation
The United States Department of Education (Department), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), has informed the Indiana Department of Education that they are now under a directed investigation stemming from disturbing reports involving IDOE’s provision of educational services to children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. OCR is particularly troubled by reports that the parents of disabled students in Indiana schools have filed multiple complaints with the IDOE alleging that disabled students have been forced by local school districts into virtual learning programs that were not individualized to meet those students’ unique needs. OCR’s directed investigation will examine whether IDOE has excluded qualified persons with disabilities from participation in, deny them the benefits of, or otherwise subject them to discrimination under any program or activity.
Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market seeks vendors
The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department is seeking proposals from local businesses, organizations and individuals to manage all aspects of food and beverage artisan stands, or food truck/push cart vending stands, at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings during the 2021 Market season. To select the food and beverage artisans and food truck/push cart vendors that will best serve the Market, the City uses a request for proposal (RFP) process. Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee that includes Farmers’ Market staff and Farmers’ Market Advisory Council members using the criteria established in the RFP including menu, price, product balance, customer satisfaction, use of local products, and location of business, with preference given to businesses located in Bloomington. Detailed RFP forms and a link to the online RFP are available online at https://bloomington.in.gov/farmers-market/prepared-food. RFPs, both hard copies or online submissions, are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 22. Priority consideration will be given to RFPs received by the deadline.