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This is the WFHB Local News for Thursday, August 3rd, 2023.
This week, WFHB Correspondent Abe Shapiro speaks with Jeremiah Frei Pearson, Harriet Lowell and Representatives from Westchester Disabled On The Move in their lawsuit against the rideshare company Lyft on a lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles or WAV’s. That’s coming up in today’s edition of Disabulletin.
Also coming up in the next half hour, on Tuesday, a federal grand jury charged former U.S. President Donald Trump with four felony counts for Trump’s alleged interference with the 2020 election.
The Statehouse Roundup
By Brookelyn Lambright
Don’t Say Gay Bill Not Blocked
A federal judge has denied the ACLU’s request to delay HEA 1608, which prohibits the instruction of human sexuality in kindergarten through third grade. The bill would also require teachers to notify parents if their child prefers to use a different name or pronoun in the classroom.
The ACLU first filed the lawsuit on behalf of Kayla Smiley, a teacher at Indianapolis Public Schools. Smiley worried books in her classroom containing LGBTQ topics might be prohibited under the new bill. According to the lawsuit, Smiley places stickers and pins on her water bottle in support of the LGBTQ community, and she is unsure whether these objects will violate the bill.
If teachers are found in violation of the bill they could have their teaching licenses suspended or revoked.
Federal Judge James Patrick Halon said in his opinion that the lawsuit had a “heavy burden” to prove the bill violates Smiley’s First Amendment rights.
Mike Pence speech at Indiana State fair
Yesterday, August 2nd , Former Vice President Mike Pence gave a speech at the Indiana State Fair. Pence is in the running for the 2024 Republican Presidential nominee. Pence launched his presidential campaign this June. So far, Pence has focused on issues related to the economy and inflation.
Throughout his speech, Pence criticized Bidenomics, President Joe Biden’s plan to improve the U.S. economically. Pence said the Biden Administration spent an unnecessary amount on COVID.
Pence said, “We all know that inflation is a man-made problem, and that man’s name is Joe Biden. We don’t have to live like this anymore, and I believe that the next president of the United States needs to make tackling inflation and reducing the burden of inflation on working families their number one economic priority.”
Pence also introduced his four step plan to improve the U.S. economy and reduce inflation. Step one includes fiscal responsibility by ending excessive spending in D.C. , ending Biden’s student debt relief program, limiting non-defense spending, and reforming Social Security and Medicare. Step two includes reforming the Federal Reserve by reducing the amount of money printed by the Federal Reserve, and appointing new members to the Fed. The third step focuses on bringing jobs back to the U.S. to lower the cost of goods. The fourth and final step would unleash America’s energy by reopening pipelines thereby lowering the cost of energy.
After delivering his half-hour speech, Pence ended it saying he has faith that God will heal America. Pence’s Christian beliefs have been a large factor in his campaign thus far as he tries to appeal to Christian, working-class voters across the country.
Trump Indictment
On Tuesday, August 1st, a federal grand jury charged former U.S. President Donald Trump with four felony counts for Trump’s alleged interference with the 2020 election. The felony counts include: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.
The indictment says Trump along with six co-conspirators crafted a campaign to overturn President Biden’s win in the election.
Former Vice President Mike Pence tweeted, “Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States. Our country is more important than one man. Our constitution is more important than one man’s career.”
In regards to January 6th, the indictment says, “When advisors urged the Defendant to issue a calming message aimed at the rioters, the Defendant refused, instead repeatedly remarking that the people at the Capitol were angry because the election had been stolen.”
Trump is set to appear in court today to begin his trial. In total he is facing 78 charges in three separate criminal cases.
Monroe County Community School Corporation
The Monroe County Community School Corporation School Board met on July 25th. The school board voted to approve Resolution 2023-15, a resolution to initiate amendments to the M-C-C-S-C governing plans.
Also, during the meeting, Lucas Calhoun, the new principal of the Bloomington Graduation School introduced himself.
The M-C-C-S-C School Board will meet again on August 22, 2023.
Feature Report:
This week, Abe Shapiro speaks with Jeremiah Frei Pearson, Harriet Lowell and Representatives from Westchester Disabled On The Move in their lawsuit against the rideshare company Lyft on a lack of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles or WAV’s. We turn to Shapiro for the latest edition of Disabulletin on the WFHB Local News.
Credits:
You’ve been listening to the WFHB Local News,
Today’s headlines were written by Brookelyn Lambright, Yane Sanchez Lopez and Noelle Herhusky-Schneider in partnership with Cats – Community Access Television Services.
Our feature was produced by Abe Shapiro.
Our theme music is provided by Mark Bingham and the Social Climbers.
Engineer and Executive producer is Kade Young.
