Local News Headlines: February 26, 2024

Indiana Legislative Update
Terms of US Senators and members of Congress
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HJ 3 on terms of US Senators and members of Congress authored by Rep. Hall and sponsored by Sen. Holdman and Sen. Alexander. The joint resolution applies to Congress for a Convention for proposing Amendments under Article V of the Constitution of the United States to provide limits to the […]

Age verification for material harmful to minors
The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 17 concerning age verification for material harmful to minors authored by Sen. Bohacek and sponsored by Rep. King. The author explained that the bill: The Committee amended the bill to add definitions of “person” and “verification information,” increase damages from $1,000 to $5,000, require adult oriented website operators to […]

Citizenship and immigration status
The House Judiciary heard SB 181 concerning citizenship and immigration status sponsored by Rep. Jeter and authored by Sen. Koch.The author explained that the bill provides: An amendment was proposed to change the “shall” language to “may.” That amendment failed.  A representative from the Office of the Indiana Attorney General testified in support. The bill […]

Criminal justice data
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 290 sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald on criminal justice data. Author, Sen. Freeman, introduced the bill explaining it streamlines and eliminates duplication in Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Indiana Department of Correction statutory criminal justice data reporting requirements. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the Indiana […]

Ivy Tech offering Project Management Professional course
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington is offering a short-term Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification preparation class. The course starts March 1 through April 19 and will be held virtually on Fridays from 9am-2pm

The course is intended for individuals who wish to obtain a PMP credential from Project Management Institute (PMI®). Prior to taking the PMP exam, PMI requires proof at least three years of project management experience and 35 contact hours of project management education. However, the course is open to anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals of project management.

PMP® certification is a way to build skills and knowledge that are transferable between industries, market segments, and geographic locations. This is an opportunity to boost career and earning potential.

Short term training classes like PMP® are hosted by Ivy+ Career Link workforce training. This program takes the employee-employer relationship to a new level with opportunities to skill-up existing employees. Whether you are a small business, a start-up, or an enterprise level company, Ivy Tech will work with you to provide targeted professional development to help employees in your organization do their best work.

For cost information and registration, visit www.ivytech.edu/bloomington/careerlink.

Indianapolis man sentenced to 9 years in Federal Prison for two armed carjackings
Deandre Govan, 21, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on October 10, 2021, Victim 1 arrived to work at a restaurant on the West side of Indianapolis. As he walked to the door of the restaurant, he was approached by Deandre Govan. Govan brandished a black semiautomatic handgun and took the victim’s wallet and cell phone and ordered him to unlock it. Govan forced the victim to give him the keys to his car and fled the scene in the stolen car. The following day, IMPD officers found the victim’s car on University of Indianapolis (UIndy) campus.

On October 12, 2021, Victim 2 was parked on UIndy’s campus in her 2010 white Ford Focus with the window down, when Govan approached her vehicle and brandished a black semiautomatic firearm. Govan instructed her to hang-up her phone and unlock the device. Govan took her phone, money, and forced her out of the vehicle. Govan fled the scene in the stolen car.

Around the same time, IMPD received multiple reports of robberies at an apartment complex located at the intersection of South Keystone and East Hannah Avenues. On October 13, 2021, maintenance men at the apartment complex were standing outside of one of the residential buildings when Govan rode by on a bicycle. The men did not recognize him to be a resident within the complex, so they asked him what he was doing there. Govan became hostile and brandished a black semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at the face of one of the workers.

Shortly after, IMPD investigators located Govan at the intersection of South Keystone and East Hanna Avenues. Govan initially resisted arrest but was quickly detained. Investigators located a Glock 45 9mm semiautomatic pistol on Govan’s person and was able to identify him as the carjacker by his tattoos and clothes.

WTIU to premiere Major Taylor documentary, sharing inspiring life story of the ‘world’s fastest man’
Indiana native and cycling great Major Taylor, left, prepares to race against Edmond Jacquelin in Paris. The new documentary Major Taylor. Residents of Indianapolis may recognize the name Major Taylor from driving past the historic Major Taylor Velodrome along I-65 on the northwest side. What Hoosiers may not know is that Marshall “Major” Taylor, the namesake of the velodrome, was once the most famous athlete in the world.

Born in 1878 in Indiana, Taylor persevered through racial discrimination to become a world champion track cyclist, setting more than 20 world records and garnering global attention and acclaim.

It is only fitting that the university that hosts the Little 500, the largest collegiate cycling race in America, would tell the story of one of the greatest cyclists of all time. “Major Taylor: Champion of the Race,” a new documentary about the Hoosier athlete’s extraordinary life, premieres on Feb. 26 at 8pm on WTIU.

The documentary also features interviews with several notable athletes, activists and historians, including ESPN’s Kevin Blackistone, track and field Olympic medal-winner Edwin Moses and Taylor’s great-granddaughter, Karen Brown Donovan. The interviews offer insights into Taylor’s impact on sports and on the world during the turn of the 20th century.

An official trailer and additional information about “Major Taylor: Champion of the Race” can be found on the WTIU website. The program will also be available to stream online for free and through the PBS App starting Feb. 26 at 8pm.

This Week in Hoosier History

Bowen

1918 – Otis Bowen, 44th Governor of Indiana, US Sec of Health & Human Services (1985-89), born near Rochester.

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