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Recent editorials published in Indiana newspapers

South Bend Tribune. August 12, 2016

Voting laws a solution to problem that doesn't exist

When the Supreme Court upheld Indiana's voter identification law in 2008, the decision opened the door for state legislatures across the country to pass even stricter voting laws.

Today, many of those laws are being overturned by federal courts. But the Hoosier law is unlikely to be affected by the spate of successful challenges to other voter ID laws. That's because Indiana's voter ID law is different in that it provides ways to get around the requirement to show photo identification.

Proponents of voter ID laws, which have been pushed in large part by Republican-led legislatures, argue that they're necessary to prevent voter fraud. Those who oppose such laws point out that the restrictions disproportionately affect certain groups - young people, minorities, lower-income people - who just happen to be reliable Democratic voters.

Claims of widespread voter fraud - GOP nominee Donald Trump recently claimed that people could vote "like 10 times" in states without strict voter ID laws - are viewed with much skepticism by election law experts. A Washington Post investigation found 31 credible instances of voter fraud from 2000 to 2014 - out of an estimated 1 billion ballots cast in the United States during that period. In fact, experts say voting fraud is most often associated with absentee balloting, rather than the kind of impersonation voting that ID laws are designed to combat.

A phrase used in a federal appeals court's unanimous ruling striking down North Carolina's voting law cuts to the heart of the matter.

The 2013 law, which introduced new voter ID requirements, eliminated same-day registration and cut down on early voting, targeted minorities "with almost surgical precision," the court said.

The three-judge panel noted that before passing the law, North Carolina legislators asked for data on the use, by race, of a number of voting practices. It was only after receiving that information that the General Assembly "enacted legislation that restricted voting and registration in five different ways, all of which disproportionately affected African Americans."

Other states, including Wisconsin and North Dakota, have seen their voter ID laws overturned by the courts in recent months. Just last week, the state of Texas agreed to substantially soften its voter ID law after the photo ID requirements were struck down as a violation of the Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court hasn't taken up the issue yet, so lower court rulings will stand for now.

Again, this wave of change probably won't hit Indiana. So why should Hoosiers care about what's happening in other states if it doesn't directly affect them?

Because voting is a sacred right that shouldn't be manipulated for partisan reasons. And that's just what legislatures have attempted to do with bad voter ID laws that are a "solution" to a problem that's virtually nonexistent. For the sake of every single American, including those who fought and died to claim the right to vote - the laws must continue to be challenged.

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(Terre Haute) Tribune-Star. August 10, 2016

Protecting the turtles

Environmental angels perform life-saving service in wetlands

Much of the beauty and interest in the Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area stems from the creatures living there. The 2,600 acres of wetlands features dozens of animal species, from deer to water fowl, turkeys, beavers, catfish and bass, herons and egrets.

And turtles. Lots of turtles. Those slow-moving critters are not forgotten, thanks to a coalition of dedicated guardians.

When former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and numerous outdoors groups celebrated Wabashiki's opening to the public in 2010, they expected bird-watchers, boaters, fishermen, hikers and average folks to enjoy visiting the site between Terre Haute and West Terre Haute, along the Wabash River. The organizers' expectations have been met. Wabashiki's popularity among Wabash Valley residents is growing.

Amid that growth, the community must serve as protector of the wetlands animals. Wabashiki is their home, after all.

A kind-hearted group of volunteers continues to rescue turtles trying to cross busy U.S. 40. The reptiles leave Wabashiki on the south side of the highway during dry weather, hoping to reach wetter territory on north of the road near Lazy L Lake. Turtles risk their lives to cross 40, and human help is necessary. The hard-shelled crawlers move at an average speed of 0.2 miles per hour, and must dodge trucks and cars zipping along at 40-plus mph.

The Wabashiki Turtle Rescue and Research team answer the call for help. The turtles congregate behind a protective fence, erected by the Indiana Department of Transportation earlier this summer. The local rescue team had lobbied the state for a year to install the barrier, along with "Turtle Crossing" signs, in hopes of diverting the reptiles from almost certain death. Indeed, the number of road-killed turtles on U.S. 40 has decreased significantly, according to the rescuers' count. Still, the turtles also need a ride to reach wetter territory.

So, on warm days when the turtles' instincts lead them to move north, Turtle Rescue and Research members collect the animals in buckets and carry them safely to the lake. It is a labor of love. "Once you start saving those little turtles, it's kind of addicting," said Leah Dresdow, a rescue team member.

The signs warning motorists and the 8,000 feet of fencing save the turtles, and other wildlife. Last Saturday, rescuers found 46 live turtles congregated along the fence, and only five road kills. "The majority of those, if we hadn't had the fence, probably would have been smashed on the road," Dresdow said.

The next step, volunteers say, should be the construction of a tunnel under the highway, known as an "ecopassage," to allow turtles and other wildlife constant safe crossings.

The rescuers' vision and concern for Wabashiki and its animals stands as an admirable example of community members taking ownership of the Fish and Wildlife Area and treating it as the precious natural resource that it is.

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Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. August 14, 2016

Make priority of state funds for preschool

Preschoolers should be front and center in the upcoming Statehouse election contests. The next session of the General Assembly and the next governor will determine the future of Indiana's fledgling preschool program. Will elected officials make room in the budget bill for a program serving many more children?

If they are so inclined - and they should be - a coalition of early-learning advocates has prepared a road map for preschool expansion. All IN 4 Pre-K presents a solid case for moving from a small pilot program to a statewide system of high-quality programs.

In 2015, the state's On My Way Pre-K program received more than 3,700 applications in Allen and four other counties where the pilot program was offered. "Success Starts Early," the advocates' report, notes that just 4 percent - fewer than 2,800 - of Indiana 4-year-olds are enrolled in state-funded programs. Compare that to Oklahoma, where 76 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled in the state's universal pre-K program in 2014.

Indiana has no good excuses for not supporting early learning. Much research supports the critical brain development taking place before age 5. Countless economic studies document the returns on investment: immediately on decreased rates of special education and grade retention; long-term on graduation rates and life-time earnings.

"We need to expand pre-K in Indiana to provide greater learning opportunities so children are better prepared to succeed in school," notes Madeleine Baker, chief executive officer of Early Childhood Alliance and a member of the coalition.

Quality is the key, however. All IN 4 Pre-K rightly stresses the need for teacher education requirements and higher pay but falls short in acknowledging the valuable role Indiana schools could play. Districts serving children from low-income families, including Fort Wayne Community Schools, couldn't wait for the state to come around. They long ago began using federal Title I funds to offer preschool. The FWCS program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the benchmark in early learning, but is ineligible as an On My Way Pre-K provider because it is not part of the Paths to Quality child-care rating system.

The rating system is an effective way to raise the bar in promoting child development, but it has its limits. Child care and preschool are not the same thing. Lawmakers who balk at investing in early learning don't get the difference.

Fortunately, United Way of Allen County is having conversations with FWCS and East Allen County Schools to partner in the effort, according to David Nicole, United Way's president and CEO. He also is working with the business community to make the case for raising On My Way Pre-K income limits from 127 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, noting that one Fort Wayne mother - working overtime to pay for child care - missed the preschool eligibility limit by earning $37 too much last year. Allen County preschool providers have the capacity to serve more children.

"We need to get this done," Nicole said. "We have a step in the right direction. We have the opportunity to invest in our state's future."

What remains is for the General Assembly to make such programs a priority in the budget - beyond the paltry $10 million allocated in 2014. Lawmakers haven't hesitated in prioritizing school vouchers, spending $53.2 million this year alone on private school tuition. They found $42 million to fund the Regional Cities Initiative, $2.8 million of which will help build a ice hockey arena at a private college.

Why can't children from struggling families be a priority?

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Kokomo Tribune. August 12, 2016

Be prepared for flooding

Back in January 2013, we reported with heavy hearts the death of 2012 Northwestern High School graduate and Ball State University student Blake Taylor.

Taylor was returning to campus on a Sunday evening when his car hydroplaned on a flooded portion of Indiana 26 near Fairmount. His car flipped over in a ditch filled with 4 to 5 feet of water.

Two sheriff deputies and a Fairmount police officer broke out one of Taylor's car windows in an attempt to free him but couldn't. The officers then used tow straps to pull the car onto the roadway.

Taylor died at Marion General Hospital.

Flash flooding can occur after a few minutes of heavy rainfall or after hours of significant precipitation. And Kokomo area residents can expect such a possibility through early next week, according to the National Weather Service.

Thursday it reported "forecast confidence is high" heavy rain will fall over parts of central Indiana this weekend. Three to 4 inches of rain is possible, as several rounds of storms move across the area.

Hoosiers who live in flood-prone areas should always be conscious of the threat of flash floods when significant rain strikes. Motorists must continue to watch for standing water in the low agricultural areas.

Indiana State Police offer these tips when flooding occurs.

Don't travel unless absolutely necessary. If you have to travel, carry a cellphone with a car charger.

Purchase a weather scanner and heed all flood and flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

Do not drive around barricades at water crossings.

Be especially vigilant at night. Many drowning deaths occur at night when it is difficult to see water crossings.

Do not cross or enter flowing water. Driving fast through high water on the road is not a solution. Faster speeds create less tire contact with the road surface and increase your chance of crashing.

Driving through standing water may affect your brakes. Test your brakes at low speeds as soon as you exit the water.

Remember that 6 inches of water will reach the bottoms of most car doors. One foot of water will float many vehicles, and 2 feet of moving water can carry away most vehicles. If you find yourself stranded in flood waters remain calm and call 911. If you can do so safely, move to higher ground.

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