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Auburn, Indiana
Also working on library legislation BY KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com
High tech jobs come to Indy, not rest of state INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s efforts to add high-tech jobs have paid off in Indianapolis and surrounding counties — at the expense of the rest of the state, a newspaper analysis has found. The Indianapolis Business Journal analyzed U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and found Indianapolis had 39 percent more jobs in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math — in 2012 than in 2001. That’s more than double the national growth rate of 17 percent. But the rest of the state saw an increase of just 10 percent, and at least four areas — Muncie, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne and South Bend-Mishawaka — had fewer STEM jobs in 2012 than in 2001. “Indianapolis is somewhat of a sponge city for the whole region,” said Mark Schill, vice president of research at Praxis Strategy Group, an economic development consultant in North Dakota. Schill said it’s common for high-tech workers to flock to urban areas from smaller communities or move to college towns, such as Bloomington and Lafayette. In Indiana, Columbus is also a hub because of enginemaker Cummins Inc. But other areas aren’t faring as well. Indiana is still recovering from hits that major manufacturers suffered that put thousands of engineers out of work. The state as a whole also has seen the number of computer-related jobs stagnate in recent years, while it has grown rapidly in Indianapolis. Even with the shortage outside the Indianapolis area, STEM jobs helped offset losses during the recession. STEM employment increased 4 percent from mid-2009 through 2012, while all other careers were still down 0.1 percent, the IBJ reported.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, will sponsor a number of bills dealing with issues from library service to music in schools during the 2014 legislative session. One of Kruse’s proposed bills would require at least one music class to be held every semester in Indiana public schools. Kruse said the bill would apply to all
schools, from elementary to high school. Kruse said he is proposing the bill because exposure to good music has been shown to help students learn better, particularly in lower grade levels. “It helps people learn better and retain knowledge better,” Kruse added. Kruse said he also will sponsor bill that will allow Indiana townships not served by libraries
to decide what library services they would like. Another of his proposed bills would provide that board members of regional solid waste management districts are elected rather than Kruse appointed. Users in the districts — those paying the monthly bills — would be the ones electing board members, Kruse said.
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Kruse said Indiana’s marriage amendment resolution, renamed this year as House Joint Resolution 3, also will be before the Indiana General Assembly this session. The proposed amendment would call for a statewide referendum to consider whether to put Indiana’s definition of marriage — as between one man and one woman — into the Indiana Constitution. Kruse said he will be the Senate sponsor of the resolution, which will begin in the Indiana House of Representatives.
Iran nuke deal OK’d
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has agreed to limit uranium enrichment and to open its nuclear program to daily inspection by international experts starting Jan. 20, setting the clock running on MIKE MARTURELLO a six-month deadline for a final nuclear agreement, officials said Stephanie Kersten of RISE Inc. talks with an facility. While Kersten works mainly in job Sunday. off-camera client in the workshop at the Angola placement, she wears many hats at RISE. In exchange, the Islamic Republic will get a relaxation of the financial sanctions that have been crippling its economy. The announcement that Iran and six world powers had agreed on the plan for implementing an interim agreement came first from Iranian officials and was later BY MIKE MARTURELLO confirmed elsewhere. Some U.S. Video at kpcnews.com mmarturello@kpcmedia.com lawmakers have been leery of the Stepanie ANGOLA — If Stephanie agreement, calling for tougher Kersten talks Kersten has learned one thing in sanctions against Iran, rather than more about her STEUBEN COUNTY more than 30 years working in any loosening of controls. work in video job placement with people with Iran’s official IRNA news at kpcnews. disabilities and others in need, it’s agency quoted Iranian Deputy com. Scan the that deep down, we’re all pretty “You find working here that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi QR code with similar. people are much more alike than as saying the deal, which sets the your tablet or As director of employment different,” Kersten said. terms of a landmark agreement smartphone to see the interview services, Kersten works in mainly Kersten’s main work is through reached in November, would take and clips from RISE. in vocational rehabilitation job a part of the agency called The effect from Jan. 20. The agency placement at RISE Inc., Angola, RISE Connection. She places said Iran will grant the United where she has been 30 years. people in jobs in the four-county Nations’ watchdog International Though RISE serves clients in area, particularly those who are Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Atomic Energy Agency access to Steuben and DeKalb counties, it injured, have special needs or “The blind and the visually its nuclear facilities and its centrialso works with a state agency on need to update their skills. Most impaired are some of the most fuge production lines to confirm job placement for people from the of her work is placement with exciting (people) to work with it is complying with terms of the four-county area who are in need private industry in the four-county because of the technology out deal. of vocational rehabilitation. area in connection with Indiana Araghchi later told state televiSEE KERSTEN, PAGE A6 sion some $4.2 billion in seized oil revenue would be released under the deal. Senior officials in U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration put the total relief figure at $7 billion. In a statement, President Barack DRY BRANCH, W.Va. (AP) industries. into the Elk River. Since then, Obama welcomed Obama — For Bonnie Wireman, the white “I hope this doesn’t hurt coal,” residents have been ordered not the deal, saying plastic bag covering her kitchen said Wireman, who lives in an to use tap water for anything but it “will advance our goal of faucet is a reminder that she can’t area known as Chemical Valley flushing toilets. drink the water. because of all the plants nearby. Gov. Earl Tomblin said Sunday preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” The 81-year-old woman placed “Too many West Virginians water tests were encouraging, but “I have no illusions about how it there after forgetting several depend on coal and chemicals. We he didn’t give a timetable for when hard it will be to achieve this times the tap water was tainted need those jobs.” people might be able to use water objective, but for the sake of our after a coal processing chemical And that’s the dilemma for again. leaked into the area’s water many West Virginians: The “The numbers look good. They national security and the peace and security of the world, now is the supply. Every time she turned on industries provide thousands are very encouraging,” Tomblin time to give diplomacy a chance to the water, she quickly stopped and of good paying jobs but also said. succeed,” Obama said. cleaned her hands with peroxide pose risks for the communiSchools, restaurants and other Under the November agreement, — just to make sure she was safe. ties surrounding them, such as businesses were to close today, but Iran agreed to limit its uranium The widow of a coal miner, the chemical spill or coal mine the governor said all state offices enrichment to 5 percent — the Wireman was angered about the disasters. The current emergency would be open. grade commonly used to power chemical spill that’s deprived began Thursday after a foaming Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, reactors. The deal also commits 300,000 West Virginians of agent used in coal processing of the West Virginia National Iran to stop producing 20 percent clean tap water for four days, but escaped from a Freedom Industries Guard, said testing near the water SEE IRAN, PAGE A6 doesn’t blame the coal or chemical plant in Charleston and seeped SEE SPILL, PAGE A6
Kersten on the job(s)
RISE director says deep down, we’re all the same NEIGHBORS
Water tests encouraging after West Virginia chemical spill
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Kruse bill backs music education
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