Indiana’s 2024 GOP State Convention turns into a Bloodbath

- The Indiana GOP State Convention is embroiled in a fierce battle for the lieutenant governor candidacy, marking a tumultuous turn in the state's political scene. Last year, Noblesville Pastor Micah Beckwith threw his hat into the ring, setting the stage for a contentious showdown.

In Indiana, lieutenant governors are nominated through Political Party State Conventions, where State Delegates wield significant influence. These delegates, elected by their respective political parties, represent districts and cast crucial votes every two years. This year, the spotlight is on the lieutenant governor and attorney general positions.

The tension escalated after Mike Braun clinched the Indiana GOP Primary Election and announced Julie McGuire as his choice for lieutenant governor. However, reports from State Delegates suggest that the Braun campaign is employing strong-arm tactics to sway votes in their favor.

A pivotal moment unfolded during a special meeting convened by the Grassroots Movement in Indianapolis, where GOP State Delegates and Precinct Committee members nearly came to blows over discussions about lieutenant governor candidates. Notable figures, including Micah Beckwith, former Republican governor candidate Jamie Reitenour, and former Republican congressional candidate Charles Bookwalter, were present at this heated gathering.

In response, a Marion County GOP email blast condemned the meeting, urging Precinct Committee members to prioritize their party obligations and distance themselves from the Grassroots Movement, perceived as a bastion of the conservative wing.

The rift within the Indiana GOP underscores deeper ideological divisions and strategic maneuvering ahead of the upcoming State Convention. As factions jockey for power and influence, the outcome of the lieutenant governor nomination remains uncertain, casting a shadow over the state's political landscape. With stakes high and tensions mounting, all eyes are on the Indiana GOP.

The Mississippi State Legislature just passed the SAFER Act designed to protect females and provides protections for private spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and other living spaces.

It also defines people as either only male or female.

A slap in the face to Biden’s rewriting of noscript IX. Well done Mississippi!
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INDIANA, EVANSVILLE

It's been two days since Ascension announced that its systems were hit by a cyberattack, leaving hospitals across the United States to rely on downtime procedures while it worked to assess the impact. 
Ascension, the largest non-profit Catholic health system in the U.S., provided a short update Thursday evening that provided more details on the current status of its systems and what patients should be aware of while it continues its investigation. 

Evansville Ascension patients have confirmed being referred to Deaconnes Hospital for procedures due to cyber security breeches. This has been an ongoing issue that the tech guys at St. Vincent have been unable to solve. Perhaps termination is in order to solve the problem.

Data Breach May 2024:

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2024/05/10/ascension-cyberattack-pauses-elective-procedures/73644231007/

Data Breach January 2024:

https://www.svha.org.au/news/latest/update-on-cyber-incident-and-our-response

Data Breech December 2023

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/st-vincent-s-health-falls-victim-to-cyberattack-20231222-p5et9i.html

Imagine all the personal data and health records being stolen.

https://www.hospitalmanagement.net/news/st-vincents-health-data-theft/

Locally, no one was aware of the Cyber breech. Your records are not secure. Beware.

INDIANA

State Rep. Fleming announces retirement one week after primary election

State Rep. Dr. Rita Fleming on Monday announced that she would step down “effective immediately” — just one week after running unopposed in her district’s primary election.
“I’ve worked to be bipartisan and benefit my district and generally improve life for the people of Indiana,” Fleming, a Democrat, said in a news release. “… It’s been an honor being a state representative.”
Fleming said she wanted more time with loved ones. She hails from Jeffersonville, which borders Kentucky.

The state party is already working to replace Fleming with a successor she’s named.

She was first elected to the Indiana House in 2018 and was sworn in to her role in 2019.
Fleming has worked as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner and OB-GYN.
Many of the proposals Fleming authored over her six years as a lawmaker focused on health care, particularly for mothers and children.
Most failed to pass, since both chambers of the General Assembly maintain a Republican supermajority.

COLBERT COMMENT: State Republican Party, we see you! This has been a consistent technique to have elected officials retire and replaced by “hand picked” politicians. Most recently the State Auditor, Tera Klutz , vacated to allow for that elusive “appointment”. Dr. Fleming is retiring after supporting the consolidation of the Indiana Health Department under the auspices of Dr. Judith Monroe, the CEO of the CDC Foundation. Warning ⚠️ Hoosiers!

https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/state-rep-fleming-announces-retirement-one-week-after-primary-election/

INDIANA

Clark County Election Board admits error on two precinct ballots

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Election Board admitted a proofing mistake that left off one of the races during last Tuesday's primary election.
On the ballots for precincts Oregon 01 and Owen 01, the Republican candidates for District 3 state convention delegates were omitted.
"It was an unfortunate error," Clark County Clerk Ryan Lynch said.

Lynch said that around 300 pages of ballots across the county's precincts were proofed and sent to the public and chairmen of the county Republicans and Democrats. 
Between those precincts, 373 Republican ballots were polled. He said these precincts were among the last whose ballots were proofed, which he said resulted in the issue being overlooked.

Lynch said as soon as the problem was identified, he reached out to the Clark County GOP chairman and the secretary of state about what had happened.
In that particular race, voters had to select eight people among the nine candidates on the ballot.
Lynch said this particular race will be worked out within the party. He said the office is currently evaluating their previous processes to determine the issues.
"We will be making changes," Lynch said.

https://web.archive.org/web/20240513202438/https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/clark-county-election-board-admits-error-on-two-precinct-ballots/article_99aaa86e-112f-11ef-aa60-4fb441e2b0d5.html

COLBERT COMMENT: There is a consistency of County Clerks being inept in navigating the Election process. There are known anomalies, which have been shown to the elected officials. Yet the arrogance of perceived “free and fair” elections are being overlooked by these same elected officials. In VANDERBURGH County, the County Clerk Carla Hayden, is retiring after being served FOIA requests rather than acknowledge the many errors under her leadership. Public records are being denied. FACT.

INDIANA

Musgrave resigns from president of Vanderburgh Co. Commissioners

Vanderburgh County Commission President Cheryl Musgrave has stepped down from her position.

Commissioners say she sent an email saying so longer desires to serve as an officer and requested that she be classified as “member.”

Musgrave lost the republican primary for her commission seat, but her current term ends at the end of the year.

She’s been on the commission since 2016.

Musgrave also lost the republican primary for Evansville Mayor in 2023.

But at the commission's 3 p.m. meeting, that changed. Elpers will now serve as president, and Goebel as vice president.

In a statement to the Courier & Press, Musgrave said she thanks everyone for their support during her "incredibly productive" 17 months as president.

"I've enjoyed a wonderful presidency where world-class Internet was installed for every property in the unincorporated county, major road projects are under construction a major trail is nearing completion new playgrounds construction, a new effort to create a watershed for Pigeon Creek, and the start to repairs to the Coliseum," she said.

Musgrave was not present at Tuesday's meeting − a planned absence for a vacation. But she requested the decision be made while she was not there.

"I no longer desire to serve as an officer and request that I be classified as 'member,'" she stated.

The decision comes a week after she lost the May 7 Republican primary to political newcomer Amy Canterbury, and a year after Musgrave lost in the Republican primary for mayor of Evansville.

Canterbury beat incumbent Musgrave with nearly 53% of the vote, cementing Musgrave's tenure on the commission would end this year.

"I’m still commissioner," Musgrave said, "so I’m still stuck in the political world until the end of the year."

There is a lot of activity occurring in VANDERBURGH County politics.

2024 INDIANA REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Madison County Prosecutor Runs for Indiana Attorney General against Todd Rokita. The two Republicans are vying for the nomination of Indiana Attorney General.

Rodney J. Cummings, finds himself in the spotlight once again as his past comes under scrutiny. The moniker "Roadhouse Rodney" stems from a peculiar incident in 2016 when Cummings accidentally discharged his firearm at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant in Madison County.

According to Wish News, the Madison County prosecutor recounted the mishap, explaining that his gun discharged from his pocket, creating a hole in his pants as he exited the Scatterfield Road establishment. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident, but eyewitness Aaron Taffner described it as a "pretty scary situation."

Taffner, who was dining at the restaurant at the time, recalled hearing the gunshot and immediately taking action. "It was a pretty scary situation," Taffner emphasized, noting that he swiftly retrieved his own firearm from his vehicle parked outside. Upon reentering the restaurant, Taffner encountered Cummings, who sported a noticeable tear in his shorts from the discharged weapon.

The aftermath of the incident involved Taffner alerting authorities, leading to police intervention. Upon their arrival, Cummings, Taffner, and other witnesses were briefly questioned before authorities departed without issuing any citations to Cummings.

This episode, though seemingly isolated, resurfaces as Cummings pursues a prominent political position. With the race for Indiana Attorney General heating up, opponents may leverage this incident to question Cummings' judgment and suitability for office.

As the campaign unfolds, voters will undoubtedly weigh Cummings' professional record against his past missteps, including the "Roadhouse Rodney" incident. With both candidates vying for public trust and support, every detail of their pasts comes under scrutiny as Hoosiers decide the future direction of the state's legal leadership.

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2023/bills/senate/4/details

INDIANA SENATE BILL 4

Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws. Adds members to the executive board of the Indiana department of health (state department). Removes a provision allowing the state department to establish branch offices.

Provides that the state department may provide services to local health departments. Requires each local board of health to establish a local public health services fund to receive state funding. Provides a method of allocation of state funding to local boards of health, subject to state appropriations. Specifies the percentage of how additional funding may be expended on core public health services.

Allows the local health department to enter into contracts or approve grants for core public health services. Allows the state department to issue guidance to local health departments. Requires the state department to make annual local health department reports available to the public.

Changes the qualification requirements for a local health officer and requires certain training. Requires the state department to identify state level metrics and county level metrics and requires certain local health departments to report to the state department activities and metrics on the delivery of core public health services. Requires the state department to annually report on the metrics to the budget committee and publish information concerning the metrics on the Internet. Requires that a local health department post a position or contract for the provision or administration of core public health services for at least 30 days.

Requires a local health department to provide certain education before administering a vaccine. Requires a multiple county health department to maintain at least one physical office in each represented county. Provides that a new city health department cannot be created after December 31, 2022, but allows current city health departments to continue to operate.