Abortion ban survives Indiana’s Supreme Court
Indiana’s controversial Abortion Bill, signed into law last Spring, has survived a major legal battle, as the Indiana Supreme Court refused to stop the law from being enacted. Although the Court ruled the same a few months ago, the matter was back in front of the state’s highest court after the ACLU request some clarification and reconsideration.
2023 Indiana Senate Bill 1 reads like this in it official General Assembly Digest:
“Terminates the licensure of abortion clinics. Specifies that the abortion statutes do not apply to in vitro fertilization. Makes changes to when an abortion may be performed, including when: (1) the abortion is necessary to prevent any serious health risk of the pregnant woman or to save the pregnant woman’s life; (2) the fetus is diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly; or (3) the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. Specifies time frames and conditions that must be met in order for the abortion to be performed. Provides that the statute requiring consent of a parent or legal guardian for a minor’s abortion does not apply to a minor who is pregnant as a result of rape or incest by a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the unemancipated minor. Requires the revocation of a physician’s license for specified violations. Provides a defense for a pregnant mother charged with a criminal offense for terminating or seeking the termination of her pregnancy. Specifies that a person who terminates the pregnancy of a pregnant woman upon her request may only be charged with certain crimes. Exempts from the crime of feticide: (1) the pregnant mother; (2) a person who provides medical treatment in good faith to a pregnant woman that results in the accidental or unintentional termination of the pregnancy; and (3) a physician who performs a medical procedure to terminate the pregnancy upon request of the pregnant woman. Requires the maternal mortality review committee to study how changes in the state’s abortion laws affect maternal mortality in Indiana and extends the committee until June 30, 2027. Voids certain administrative rules concerning abortion clinics. Establishes the prosecutorial oversight task force and specifies duties of the task force. Makes conforming amendments.”
Duke Energy partners with local nonprofits to help seniors & low-income customers beat summer heat
Duke Energy is working with local nonprofit agencies to distribute critical relief for residents in need. The Duke Energy Foundation is contributing more than $90,000 to 15 organizations across the state to help purchase and distribute fans to older adults and low-income households.
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Area IV Agency on Aging and Community Action Programs – $8,000
- Good Samaritan Network – $5,000
- Heart of Indiana United Way – $2,500
- Henry County Community Foundation – $2,500
- Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation – $5,000
- Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County – $1,000
- Johnson County Senior Services – $5,000
- Ohio Valley Opportunities – $20,000
- Salvation Army, Princeton – $5,000
- Salvation Army, Shelbyville – $5,000
- South Central Community Action Program – $5,000
- United Way of Knox County – $5,000
- United Way Serving Howard and Tipton Counties – $10,000
- United Way of the Wabash Valley – $10,000
- Western Indiana Community Action Agency – $2,000
Financial Assistance
The effort is just one way Duke Energy supports its customers in need. Over the last five years, the company’s Share the Light Fund® has provided more than $2.4 million of financial assistance to Indiana customers struggling to pay their energy bills. Duke Energy works with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute funds to qualifying customers to help pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges. Customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually on their account. Individuals should contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible. Click here to find a listing of service providers by county.
City of Bloomington awards 2023 Digital Equity Grants to thirteen area non-profits
The City of Bloomington announces the 2023 Digital Equity Grants awards to support Bloomington-based nonprofit organization efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents. Now in its fourth year, this grant program began as part of Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse, and advance racial, economic, and climate justice. These grants are funded from the Information & Technology Services (ITS) Department’s regular annual budget.
In 2023 the Digital Equity Grants program awarded thirteen area nonprofits a total of $50,000, an increase from eleven nonprofits in 2022. This year’s recipients, programs supported, and grant amounts follow:
- Area 10 Agency on Aging – Creating Digital Literacy Opportunities and Tackling Social Isolation in the World of COVID, $6,100.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington – Bee Safe Online, $6,900.
- Community Justice and Mediation Center – Eviction Prevention Project, $2,900.
- Courage to Change Sober Living – Printers/Scanners/Supplies/Wi-fi Service for Courage to Change Sober Living Houses, $2,300.
- Middle Way House – The RISE! Computer Lab, $1,900.
- Monroe County Community School Corporation Adult Education – The Fabrication of Skills, Prosperity, and Connections, $,5900.
- Monroe County United Ministries – Your Path to Self-Sufficiency: Supporting Utilization & Institutionalization of Digital Resources, $3,000.
- Indiana Recovery Alliance – Digital Equity for Unhoused People and People Who Use Drugs to Access Health Care and Benefits, $4,100.
- New Leaf, New Life – Office Internet & Printer Access, $1,500.
- Pantry 279 – Technology for new Pantry 279 Building, $3,700.
- Sojourn House – Sojourn House Education Pathway, $3,100.
- Summit Hill Community Development Corporation – Affordable Housing Community Computer & Network Access, $5,900.
- Wheeler Mission – PC and Printing Availability Program, $2,700.
The Digital Equity Grants program sought proposals from nonprofits for projects that build capacity in the community to address digital equity challenges, in the following ways:
- Facilitate access to broadband services,
- Increase access to computing devices to effectively use the internet,
- Cultivate the knowledge, familiarity, and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and digital technology,
- Mitigate community digital equity gaps identified in the City’s digital equity strategic plan.
This Week in Hoosier History
1956 – David Wolf, American astronaut was born in Indianapolis. Wolf has been to space four times. Three of his spaceflights were short-duration Space Shuttle missions, the first of which was STS-58 in 1993, and his most recent spaceflight was STS-127 in 2009.
For more local news . . . Check out our archived episodes of What’s Happenin’ and Talkin’ Sports with Nick Jenkinson