Help Madison Make An Impact; Weight Loss Inspiration
April 17, 2020 at 11:22 p.m.
By -
Madison Elementary School Principal Ben Barkey, along with a group of educators, the school nurse and students want to make an impact in the community so they have set up a Go Fund Me page under “Feed Three.” The plan is for the gofundme to benefit students, local restaurants and nurses.
Money donated to Feed Three will be used to purchase family-style food from local restaurants, and then given by students to nurses who are working in the healthcare facilities.
The plan is that, under the direction of their teacher, students who go above and beyond in their learning during the shutdown will be recognized for their efforts. Their actions will award them a $40 gift card to one of the local restaurants. The student will then write a letter to a nurse letting them know how much they appreciate the job they are doing. The Madison team will then arrange with that nurse the day and time for them to pick up the meal.
Initially, they raised $400 thanks to the Madison PTO. Every $40 is a meal for a nurse’s family. After $1,000 was reached, the goal was increased to $2,500; that goal was reached by Thursday evening so the goal was raised to $5,000. Over $3,000 was raised by Friday afternoon.
As of Friday, partnering restaurants included Cerulean, Noa Noa and Rua, but the team is reaching out to other local restaurants.
LOSING IT – The news/content director at NewsNowWarsaw, Nick Deranek, used to weigh 327 pounds. Then about six months ago, he started back at the YMCA and has dropped down to under 300 pounds! In his Twitter earlier this week, he said that’s the first time he’s been under 300 pounds in three or four years.
As anyone who has battled the bulge knows, losing weight is not easy. But Deranek is persisting, with his next goal to get to 275 pounds.
Asked if it was OK to share his success with losing weight in this week’s Potpourri, he gave the OK, adding that he’s never hidden it and hopes that any success he has losing weight will be an inspiration to others.
Definitely, Nick! Now if only the gyms were open!
UNEMPLOYMENT – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development released its March Indiana Employment Report on Friday. Most of the information was from a survey conducted on March 12.
Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2% for March and remains lower than the national rate of 4.4%. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.
Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 119,073 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 391 unemployed residents and a decrease of 118,682 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.27 million, and the state’s 62.2% labor force participation rate is below the national rate of 62.7%.
Private sector employment has decreased by 17,800 over the year and by 18,700 over the previous month. The monthly decrease is primarily due to losses in the Leisure and Hospitality (-7,400), the Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,200) and the Manufacturing (-2,600) sectors. Total private employment stands at 2,727,300, which is 22,000 below the January 2019 peak.
GETTING TAPPED – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Thursday announced he has been selected by President Donald Trump to serve on his bipartisan Congressional Economic Task Force. The task force will provide counsel to the president on the reopening of America in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“American families, workers and job creators have suffered immensely as a result of the coronavirus. In Congress, we acted in an unprecedented fashion with broad bipartisan support to send aid to those who are hurting through no fault of their own. Now we must carefully examine how to safely and effectively reopen our economy and get our people back to work while heeding the guidance of public health experts. I’m grateful that President Trump has asked me to join this task force, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to safely get our country back to work,” said Young.
Indiana Senator Mike Braun has been tapped to serve on the White House Reopening The Economy Committee.
According to a news release Friday from Braun’s office, Braun told CBS News that senators of both parties stressed the importance of ramping up the economy and continuing to increase testing capacity in their call with the president and vice president.
"Most of it was that general affirmation that we've got to start reopening the economy. And then there was that other side that wants to do it, but is willing to take more time and wants to see how testing would help that happen in a way that makes more sense," Braun said. "Those were the two general statements throughout everything that was coming from the people that were able to speak up."
Braun, who described the president's tone as "diplomatic," said lawmakers didn't have much time to dive into the weeds on policy issues and left more specific matters for future task force discussions.
Braun said lawmakers were adamant that funding for loans for small businesses must be increased. The Small Business Administration said the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) exhausted its initial $349 billion in funding on Thursday, and congressional leaders remain at a stalemate over authorizing additional funding.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION – Getting back to Sen. Young and PPP, on Thursday Young issued the following statement regarding funding for the PPP, which lapsed Thursday:
“The Paycheck Protection Program has helped tens of thousands of Hoosier businesses make it through this challenging time and keep their employees on payroll, but there are countless more still in need of assistance. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to provide additional funding for this bipartisan program is indefensible. I will continue fighting on behalf of Indiana to ensure this program has the funding it needs to protect Hoosier paychecks.”
Earlier this week, Young announced 23,583 PPP loans have been approved in Indiana totaling just under $6 billion.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) also Thursday called for Congress to immediately approve $250 billion in additional funding for the PPP, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses and non-profits to keep workers employed.
“I’ve heard from Hoosier small businesses that are able to pay their employees and keep the lights on because of this critical lifeline, but I know there are many others still waiting to get the funds they need to survive,” Walorski said. “We can’t leave them and their hardworking employees behind during this unprecedented crisis. It’s time for Speaker Pelosi to stop playing political games and put workers, families and small businesses first. We can all agree the Paycheck Protection Program needs more funding – so let’s get it done now.”
The Indiana Bankers Association issued a news release Thursday stating it was joining with the banking community nationwide in urging Congress to provide immediate new funding for the PPP. Due to high demand for PPP loan applications, funding of the loans ran out Thursday. If this lapse in appropriations is not addressed, funding will not be able to be renewed, the release states.
The PPP was put into effect on April 3 as part of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act with $350 billion in funding for small business loans backed by the Small Business Administration. These loans allow small businesses to meet payroll during the pandemic shutdown to prevent layoffs and preserve jobs. Additional funding of $250 billion has been requested but failed to pass Congress.
The banking community has been instrumental in making PPP loans available to the small business sector, the release states. Per an SBA PPP Report issued on Tuesday, as of April 13 Indiana banks have assisted in completing 23,583 PPP loans totaling $5,986,077,384 in approved dollars. Nationwide, as of April 13, 4,664 lenders worked with small businesses to complete applications for 1,035,086 loans approved, totaling $247,543,393,521 gross dollars.
COME TOGETHER – In this day and age where it’s difficult to find people on opposite sides of the political spectrum working together, we’re happy to share a news release announcing that two people are, in fact, doing that.
On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Jim Banks’ 3rd District office announced he and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced a bill establishing a STEM Corps to enhance the STEM and computer science workforce of the Department of Defense (DoD) and defense industry.
The STEM Corps will be a new program under the Secretary of Defense to provide financial support to students in the STEM fields with computer science backgrounds. In exchange for tuition coverage for two years, participants will serve four years with the DOD, including an internship with an industry sponsor and an option to serve the fourth year of the program with an industry partner. Participants will be required to maintain a GPA standard and hold a security clearance, the release states.
The idea for a national STEM Corps was recommended by the Reagan Institute’s Task Force on 21st Century National Security Technology and Workforce report. Both Rep. Banks and Rep. Kim served as Commissioners on that task force.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD – According to a news release we received Friday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03), sent a letter to Gov. Eric Holcomb expressing concern with Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky’s continued performance of elective surgeries in violation of Executive Order 20-08 and Executive Order 20-1.
“Planned Parenthood is selfishly using scarce Personal Protective Equipment for elective procedures that even they describe as a ‘choice.’ Their claim to value human life, or anything aside from unfettered access to abortion, has never rung so hollow,” said Banks.
ARIA DIAGNOSTICS COVID-19 TEST KITS – The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on Friday issued the following statement regarding Aria Diagnostics and its offer to donate testing supplies to ISDH.
"(State Health Commissioner) Dr. Kristina Box has not declined any offers of swabs from Aria Diagnostics and is grateful to Mr. Kahn for donating 2,000 anterior swabs and his offer of more.
"Not all swabs provide the same level of sensitivity for testing. The CDC recommends using nasopharyngeal swabs (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html) but says anterior swabs may be appropriate in symptomatic patients. The ISDH is working to distribute the swabs from Aria to provide additional testing capacity across the state."
ISDH has been working to acquire testing supplies and expand testing through partnerships with Eli Lilly and the addition of other labs. The number of tests reported to ISDH has increased tenfold in recent weeks, but supplies are still needed in Indiana to expand testing here.
Madison Elementary School Principal Ben Barkey, along with a group of educators, the school nurse and students want to make an impact in the community so they have set up a Go Fund Me page under “Feed Three.” The plan is for the gofundme to benefit students, local restaurants and nurses.
Money donated to Feed Three will be used to purchase family-style food from local restaurants, and then given by students to nurses who are working in the healthcare facilities.
The plan is that, under the direction of their teacher, students who go above and beyond in their learning during the shutdown will be recognized for their efforts. Their actions will award them a $40 gift card to one of the local restaurants. The student will then write a letter to a nurse letting them know how much they appreciate the job they are doing. The Madison team will then arrange with that nurse the day and time for them to pick up the meal.
Initially, they raised $400 thanks to the Madison PTO. Every $40 is a meal for a nurse’s family. After $1,000 was reached, the goal was increased to $2,500; that goal was reached by Thursday evening so the goal was raised to $5,000. Over $3,000 was raised by Friday afternoon.
As of Friday, partnering restaurants included Cerulean, Noa Noa and Rua, but the team is reaching out to other local restaurants.
LOSING IT – The news/content director at NewsNowWarsaw, Nick Deranek, used to weigh 327 pounds. Then about six months ago, he started back at the YMCA and has dropped down to under 300 pounds! In his Twitter earlier this week, he said that’s the first time he’s been under 300 pounds in three or four years.
As anyone who has battled the bulge knows, losing weight is not easy. But Deranek is persisting, with his next goal to get to 275 pounds.
Asked if it was OK to share his success with losing weight in this week’s Potpourri, he gave the OK, adding that he’s never hidden it and hopes that any success he has losing weight will be an inspiration to others.
Definitely, Nick! Now if only the gyms were open!
UNEMPLOYMENT – The Indiana Department of Workforce Development released its March Indiana Employment Report on Friday. Most of the information was from a survey conducted on March 12.
Indiana’s unemployment rate stands at 3.2% for March and remains lower than the national rate of 4.4%. The monthly unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicator that reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.
Indiana’s labor force had a net decrease of 119,073 over the previous month. This was a result of a decrease of 391 unemployed residents and a decrease of 118,682 employed residents. Indiana's total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking employment, stands at 3.27 million, and the state’s 62.2% labor force participation rate is below the national rate of 62.7%.
Private sector employment has decreased by 17,800 over the year and by 18,700 over the previous month. The monthly decrease is primarily due to losses in the Leisure and Hospitality (-7,400), the Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,200) and the Manufacturing (-2,600) sectors. Total private employment stands at 2,727,300, which is 22,000 below the January 2019 peak.
GETTING TAPPED – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Thursday announced he has been selected by President Donald Trump to serve on his bipartisan Congressional Economic Task Force. The task force will provide counsel to the president on the reopening of America in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“American families, workers and job creators have suffered immensely as a result of the coronavirus. In Congress, we acted in an unprecedented fashion with broad bipartisan support to send aid to those who are hurting through no fault of their own. Now we must carefully examine how to safely and effectively reopen our economy and get our people back to work while heeding the guidance of public health experts. I’m grateful that President Trump has asked me to join this task force, and I look forward to working with him and my colleagues in Congress to safely get our country back to work,” said Young.
Indiana Senator Mike Braun has been tapped to serve on the White House Reopening The Economy Committee.
According to a news release Friday from Braun’s office, Braun told CBS News that senators of both parties stressed the importance of ramping up the economy and continuing to increase testing capacity in their call with the president and vice president.
"Most of it was that general affirmation that we've got to start reopening the economy. And then there was that other side that wants to do it, but is willing to take more time and wants to see how testing would help that happen in a way that makes more sense," Braun said. "Those were the two general statements throughout everything that was coming from the people that were able to speak up."
Braun, who described the president's tone as "diplomatic," said lawmakers didn't have much time to dive into the weeds on policy issues and left more specific matters for future task force discussions.
Braun said lawmakers were adamant that funding for loans for small businesses must be increased. The Small Business Administration said the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) exhausted its initial $349 billion in funding on Thursday, and congressional leaders remain at a stalemate over authorizing additional funding.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION – Getting back to Sen. Young and PPP, on Thursday Young issued the following statement regarding funding for the PPP, which lapsed Thursday:
“The Paycheck Protection Program has helped tens of thousands of Hoosier businesses make it through this challenging time and keep their employees on payroll, but there are countless more still in need of assistance. Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to provide additional funding for this bipartisan program is indefensible. I will continue fighting on behalf of Indiana to ensure this program has the funding it needs to protect Hoosier paychecks.”
Earlier this week, Young announced 23,583 PPP loans have been approved in Indiana totaling just under $6 billion.
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) also Thursday called for Congress to immediately approve $250 billion in additional funding for the PPP, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses and non-profits to keep workers employed.
“I’ve heard from Hoosier small businesses that are able to pay their employees and keep the lights on because of this critical lifeline, but I know there are many others still waiting to get the funds they need to survive,” Walorski said. “We can’t leave them and their hardworking employees behind during this unprecedented crisis. It’s time for Speaker Pelosi to stop playing political games and put workers, families and small businesses first. We can all agree the Paycheck Protection Program needs more funding – so let’s get it done now.”
The Indiana Bankers Association issued a news release Thursday stating it was joining with the banking community nationwide in urging Congress to provide immediate new funding for the PPP. Due to high demand for PPP loan applications, funding of the loans ran out Thursday. If this lapse in appropriations is not addressed, funding will not be able to be renewed, the release states.
The PPP was put into effect on April 3 as part of the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act with $350 billion in funding for small business loans backed by the Small Business Administration. These loans allow small businesses to meet payroll during the pandemic shutdown to prevent layoffs and preserve jobs. Additional funding of $250 billion has been requested but failed to pass Congress.
The banking community has been instrumental in making PPP loans available to the small business sector, the release states. Per an SBA PPP Report issued on Tuesday, as of April 13 Indiana banks have assisted in completing 23,583 PPP loans totaling $5,986,077,384 in approved dollars. Nationwide, as of April 13, 4,664 lenders worked with small businesses to complete applications for 1,035,086 loans approved, totaling $247,543,393,521 gross dollars.
COME TOGETHER – In this day and age where it’s difficult to find people on opposite sides of the political spectrum working together, we’re happy to share a news release announcing that two people are, in fact, doing that.
On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Jim Banks’ 3rd District office announced he and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced a bill establishing a STEM Corps to enhance the STEM and computer science workforce of the Department of Defense (DoD) and defense industry.
The STEM Corps will be a new program under the Secretary of Defense to provide financial support to students in the STEM fields with computer science backgrounds. In exchange for tuition coverage for two years, participants will serve four years with the DOD, including an internship with an industry sponsor and an option to serve the fourth year of the program with an industry partner. Participants will be required to maintain a GPA standard and hold a security clearance, the release states.
The idea for a national STEM Corps was recommended by the Reagan Institute’s Task Force on 21st Century National Security Technology and Workforce report. Both Rep. Banks and Rep. Kim served as Commissioners on that task force.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD – According to a news release we received Friday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03), sent a letter to Gov. Eric Holcomb expressing concern with Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky’s continued performance of elective surgeries in violation of Executive Order 20-08 and Executive Order 20-1.
“Planned Parenthood is selfishly using scarce Personal Protective Equipment for elective procedures that even they describe as a ‘choice.’ Their claim to value human life, or anything aside from unfettered access to abortion, has never rung so hollow,” said Banks.
ARIA DIAGNOSTICS COVID-19 TEST KITS – The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) on Friday issued the following statement regarding Aria Diagnostics and its offer to donate testing supplies to ISDH.
"(State Health Commissioner) Dr. Kristina Box has not declined any offers of swabs from Aria Diagnostics and is grateful to Mr. Kahn for donating 2,000 anterior swabs and his offer of more.
"Not all swabs provide the same level of sensitivity for testing. The CDC recommends using nasopharyngeal swabs (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html) but says anterior swabs may be appropriate in symptomatic patients. The ISDH is working to distribute the swabs from Aria to provide additional testing capacity across the state."
ISDH has been working to acquire testing supplies and expand testing through partnerships with Eli Lilly and the addition of other labs. The number of tests reported to ISDH has increased tenfold in recent weeks, but supplies are still needed in Indiana to expand testing here.
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