Indiana Legislature overrides Governor’s veto
Local lawmakers joined the majority of Indiana’s lawmakers in successfully overriding the governor’s veto of legislation protecting the integrity of girls’ sports. House and Senate Legislators voted on Tuesday at the Statehouse to override the governor’s veto of House Enrolled Act 1041, which prohibits biological males from competing in K-12 girls’ sports in Indiana. State Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) said the vote came as part of technical corrections day, where lawmakers can take up any vetoes and fix technical errors in laws passed during the prior session.
“Hoosier girls learn so many valuable life lessons from athletics,” Engleman said. “Biological males should not be allowed to compete in girls’ sports and take away these opportunities from young women.”
Indiana will join at least 16 other states that have similar laws on the books protecting female sports. State Rep. J. Michael Davisson (R-Salem) said concerned parents reached out after an increasing number of biological males have dominated the national spotlight in girls’ athletic events across the nation.
“This law will ensure girls can compete on an even playing field,” Davisson said. “Biological males are simply different from female athletes. It’s science and it’s common sense. We can’t ignore the unfair advantage.”
There are certain biological differences that give males an unfair advantage over females in sports, like greater muscle mass, bone density and cardio capacity. State Rep. Zach Payne (R-Charlestown) said the vote Tuesday was especially important as June marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which ensures women have an equal opportunity to play and compete in sports.
“I was disappointed in the governor’s decision to veto this legislation protecting girls’ sports across the state,” Payne said. “This is the right move to defend fair athletic competition and integrity for our Hoosier girls.”
In Indiana, a Gubernatorial Veto can be overridden with a constitutional majority vote in both chambers, and the bill becomes a law without the Governor’s signature. For more information about House Enrolled Act 1041, effective on July 1, 2022, visit iga.in.gov.
Bloomington City Clerk invites applications for vacant position on Traffic Commission
The City of Bloomington Office of the City Clerk is accepting applications to a fill vacant position on the Traffic Commission. The Traffic Commission is an advisory board established to coordinate traffic activities, to carry on educational activities in traffic matters, to supervise the preparation and publication of traffic reports, to receive complaints having to do with traffic matters, and to recommend to the common council and to appropriate City Officials’ ways and means for improving traffic conditions and the administration and
enforcement of traffic regulations. Statutory Authority: BMC 2.12.070 See also: Title 15 – VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.
The Traffic Commission meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:30pm in the Council Chambers. Some meetings may be cancelled due to lack of business items at least one week prior to a scheduled meeting. There is no compensation for serving on the Traffic Commission. There is one vacancy.
To learn more about each of the City’s boards and commissions, including mission statements, membership requirements, current membership listings and term lengths, meeting schedules and location, visit the city website, here: bloomington.in.gov/onboard. If you are interested in applying to a vacant seat on a board or commission, you may apply, here.
Indiana to receive $1,112,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
The Indiana Arts Commission has been approved for a $912,000 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Fiscal Year 2022 Partnership Agreement to address priorities identified at the state level. These funds will support the arts in areas such as cultural tourism, community revitalization, economic development, education, and health and human services. Partnership Agreement funding awarded to the Indiana Arts Commission from the NEA will be utilized to positively impact the cultural, economic, and educational climate of Indiana through regranting and other programming in service of arts and creativity in the state.
In addition to the Partnership Agreement funding to the Indiana Arts Commission, the NEA announced the following grants to Indiana communities and organizations:
- Indiana University, Bloomington (Bloomington, IN) $20,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Music
- Indiana University, South Bend (South Bend, IN) $10,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Media Arts
- City of Columbus, Indiana (Columbus, IN) $75,000 – Our Town – Design
- Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) $10,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Theater
- DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) $15,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Music
- Artmix Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) $20,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Visual Arts
- Indiana Performing Arts Centre, Inc (Indianapolis, IN) $20,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Musical Theater
- Indiana Repertory Theatre, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) $20,000 – Grants for Arts Projects – Theater
- Honeywell Foundation, Inc. (Wabash, IN) $10,000 Wabash, IN – Grants for Arts Projects – Music
This Week in Hoosier History
1922 – The Indiana Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812 inducted eight new members. They were enrolled as “real daughters,” since their fathers had served in the War of 1812. The organization stated as its purpose the “fostering of increasing knowledge of the history of our country in its preservation of documents and relics, marking historical spots, recording family histories and traditions, and celebrating patriotic anniversaries.” (Pictured: One of the new members was Alma Winston Wilson, daughter of Lazarus Brown Wilson, who fought at the Battle of Fort McHenry, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”)
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