John Mellencamp donates archives to Indiana University
Acclaimed musician, artist and activist John Mellencamp will donate an archived collection of his life and work to Indiana University, IU President Pamela Whitten announced at the Mellencamp Symposium held March 3 on the IU Bloomington campus. The collection will include items related to his iconic artistry, social activism and philanthropy, and it holds original creative works, photographs, instruments and other significant memorabilia.
The donation of his archives was one of several announcements made at the one-of-a-kind symposium that brought academic scholars, music industry leaders, journalists and more to campus for a deep dive into the cultural and social impact of Mellencamp’s vast oeuvre. The day included interactive talks, panel discussions and a live interview with the Hoosier singer. During the symposium luncheon, Whitten also announced that a sculpture honoring Mellencamp’s artistic legacy will be commissioned for the Bloomington campus. The sculpture — funded by a group of donors, including John and Michelle Vickery, Randy Hoffman, Allen Grubman, and others who wish to remain anonymous — will rest near the Fine Arts Plaza on the IU Bloomington campus and will symbolize the strong connection Mellencamp has to his southern Indiana roots.
Whitten also announced that the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University will partner with Mellencamp to launch an exhibition in the 2023-24 academic year. The exhibition will showcase Mellencamp’s visual artistic expression and pay tribute to his accomplishments as a contemporary artist.
Massive robocall operation shut down through Indiana led suit
Attorney General Todd Rokita this week obtained judgments shutting down a massive robocall operation that has blasted billions of illegal robocalls to people across the country, including in Indiana. In 2019 and 2020 alone, the defendants bombarded Hoosiers with more than 25 million robocalls. Defendants in this case include John Caldwell Spiller II and his business partner Jakob Mears, the owners of Texas-based Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC and JSquared Telecom LLC, as well as Rising Eagle Capital Group–Cayman.
The Office of the Attorney General sued the defendants in June 2020 alleging violations of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as various state consumer protection laws. The complaint alleged that defendants used their companies to perpetrate scams involving extended car warranties and health care services, among other things.
The defendants also spoofed calls to mislead consumers and called people on Do Not Call lists. The 25 million Hoosiers called in 2019 and 2020 included more than 13.5 million calls to people whose numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry and 5 million calls to Hoosiers on the Indiana Do Not Call List.
Mears and Spiller are now permanently banned from 1) initiating or facilitating any robocalls, 2) working in or with companies that make robocalls, or 3) engaging in any telemarketing The court also ordered monetary judgements totaling more than $244 million for Spiller and Mears combined — though these payments will be largely suspended in favor of the permanent operational bans and because of their inability to pay.
UPDATED ACCOUNT INFORMATION for Fallen Indiana Master Trooper James R Bailey
An account to benefit the family of Master Trooper James R. Bailey has been established at ProFed Credit Union under the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation. ProFed Credit Union has (6) Ft. Wayne locations as well as branches in Auburn, New Haven, Columbia City, Decatur, Bluffton, Kendallville and Angola. Tellers at these locations will be made aware of the account for Trooper Bailey under the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation. Direct cash or check contributions can be made at the credit union, by Venmo ( @Indiana-Fallen-Heroes ) or credit card on the Indiana Fallen Heroes website, https://indianafallen.org/fallen-heroes
*If donating by check, please make the check payable to the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation, and in the notes section- please reference Trooper James Bailey. Checks can also be mailed to 1710 S. 10th Street, Noblesville, IN 46060.
Recalled Products for February
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the following consumer products were recalled in February:
- Children’s Pajamas from Paper Cape
- Children’s Robes from Amazon
- Lancaster Table & Seating Brand High Chairs from Clark Associates
- Ovation Protege Equestrian Helmets from English Riding Supply
- ODGER Swivel Chairs from IKEA
- Silver Lining Cloud Activity Gyms from Skip Hop
- LiftMaster myQ Garage Door Control Panels from Chamberlain
- Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners from Colgate-Palmolive
- Side-By-Side Vehicles from BRP
- “My First” Disney-Character Figurines from Kids Preferred
- Outdoor Kitchens from Paradise Grills
- Electric Bicycles from Linus Bike
- Mainstays Three-Wick Candles from Star Soap Star Candle Prayer Candle
If you believe you recently purchased a recalled product, stop using it, and check its recall notice. Then follow the notice’s instructions, including where to return the product or what steps must be taken to receive a replacement product. To view recalls issued prior to February, visit the Consumer Protection Safety Commission website.
This Week in Hoosier History
1905 – Indiana began the first statewide registration of motor vehicles. For a fee of $1.00, the owner was given a two-inch diameter disc with registration number to be mounted on the vehicle. (pictured, is an Indiana Plate from 1915)
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