Early voting in Lake County began on Oct. 9th and closes on Nov. 5 at noon. Registered voters can cast ballots in person during this time at the Lake County Election Board Office in Crown Point or at five satellite locations in the county. Special weekend voting times are available on Saturday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 3.
Crown Point
Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office 2293 North Main Street Weekday voting 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East Chicago
County Clerk’s Office 3711 Main Street Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gary
County Clerk’s Office 15 West 4th Avenue Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hammond
County Clerk’s Office 232 Russell Street Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. John
St. John Township Assessor’s Office 9155 Wicker Avenue (U.S. 41) Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Winfield
Winfield Township Trustee’s Office 10645 Randolph Street Weekday voting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Oct 27 and Sat. Nov. 3 voting 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
By Indiana State Senator Jean D. Breaux (D-Indianapolis), State Senator Lonnie M. Randolph (D-East Chicago), and State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage)
Word Count: 390
A few of our Republican colleagues in the Indiana State Senate recently described an energy bill now before the General Assembly as a “balance among competing interests.” The truth is that the bill garnered near universal opposition from stakeholder groups who testified in the Senate Committee on Utilities and Technology– industrial energy users who collectively employ tens of thousands of Hoosiers, an array of clean energy entrepreneurs, and the AARP, to name a few.
Senate Bill 251 does not represent a balanced approach nor does it serve the interests of Hoosier consumers, and that’s why we are opposed to the bill in its current form. The bill places no ceiling on consumer electricity rate increases to pay for the construction of new, multi-billion dollar power plants. Instead, it puts consumers on the hook for more risky power plant investments, like Duke Energy’s controversial new plant in Southwest Indiana, with too little oversight by state regulators. Construction costs for that plant have ballooned from initial estimates of $1.3 billion to $2.88 billion.
In the backdrop of the Duke Energy Edwardsport scandal, this bill also astonishingly reduces oversight of investor-owned electrical utilities by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. This change nearly mutes the commission in their designated role as overseers of utility rates in the state and aggravates concerns about the lack of public transparency in utility dealings and rate increases.
Further, this bill creates an unwelcoming investment climate for clean energy entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs have testified about the need for a “Renewable Electricity Standard,” which would create market certainty for renewable energy technologies like wind power. Indiana is one of only 14 states without such a standard. Entrepreneurs have testified that, without this standard, they’ll stop investing in the state – and stop creating needed jobs. In the last four years, wind companies alone invested $2.5 billion in rural Indiana.
Senate Bill 251 is not a consensus bill. Constructive solutions are being offered that we hope will gain support in the weeks ahead. However, we believe that the most responsible action is for the Indiana legislature to hit the reset button on this far-reaching measure and develop an energy bill that genuinely takes into account the interests of Hoosier families and businesses, fosters entrepreneurship and job growth in renewable energy industries and moves Indiana’s energy independence forward with more renewable energy production.
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State Senator Jean Breaux, Indianapolis, is a member of the Senate Utility and Technology Committee and Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. State Senator Lonnie Randolph, East Chicago, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Utility and Technology Committee and is a member of the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. State Senator Karen Tallian, Portage, is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee. For more information on these state legislators or other State Senate business visit www.SenateDemocrats.IN.gov.
On Tuesday, Indiana State Senator Lonnie Randolph (D-East Chicago), with the support of Senators Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) and Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis), presented House Resolution 20, authored by Representative Vernon Smith (D-Gary), in honor of Black History Month:
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, father of African American history
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, the Senate concurring, that the Indiana General Assembly acknowledges the many contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans throughout the history of the United States and Indiana.
Founded in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month was established in honor and celebration of the many contributions Black Americans have made to American history.
The son of former slaves, Dr. Woodson spent his young life working in the Kentucky coal mines and, at the age of 20, enrolled in high school. By 22, he graduated and went on to earn his Ph.D. from the esteemed Harvard University. As a student, Dr. Woodson found himself greatly troubled by the lack of attention given to Black Americans and the inferior portrayal of the Black American population in U.S. history books. In response, he began the task of writing Black Americans into the nation’s history, determined to more accurately acknowledge, portray and record the contributions they have made to the advancement of our country.
Senator Randolph presenting Black History Month resolution
Successful in this endeavor, Dr. Woodson’s efforts inspired the establishment of a number of organizations as a way to bring national attention to the achievements of black people throughout American history. Those organizations include the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, founded in 1915 (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History) and the Journal of Negro History (now known as the Journal of African American History).
In 1926, Dr. Woodson established what we now know as Black History Month. Originally founded as Negro History Week, February’s celebration of Black American history took place during the second week of the month to mark the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, two men who greatly influenced the Black American population. Today, Black History Month spans the entire month of February, acknowledging the achievements of blacks in the military, arts, civil rights, education, entertainment, history, law, literature, medicine, music, politics, science, sports and other areas.
The resolution proposed by Rep. V. Smith and Senators Randolph, Taylor and Breaux is intended to reflect upon, celebrate and pay homage to the Black American legacy and dedication that has helped to guide our nation’s success and prosperity.
LISTEN to Senator Randolphs comments here:
African Americans in history, Ruby Bridges and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
