Former Vice President Mike Pence says the U.S. needs to have Israel’s back as conflicts with Iran continue.

The Columbus native appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union”, and urged the U.S. to be ready to take decisive action.

His comments come as Israel and Iran exchanged deadly airstrikes for a third day. At least ten people were killed after an unknown number of Iranian missiles broke through the Israeli air defense system. Iran says more than 200 people have been killed so far by Israeli attacks since Friday.

Story courtesy of TTWN Media Networks

Photo of Pence visit to Israel in 2024 courtesy of The Republican Jewish Coalition

Landmark Columbus Foundation is holding a design camp this week for third to sixth graders.

Campers are working alongside Exhibit Columbus J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller Prize recipients Charlie Vinz of Adaptive Operations and Nina Cooke John of Studio Cooke John. Campers are working on activities that will add to Exhibit Columbus installations to be installed at downtown locations later this summer. They will also be taking part in hands-on, creative projects to learn new skills, collaborate with peers, and discover how design shapes the world around them, organizers say.

The camp is a partnership with Foundation for Youth and Columbus Youth Camp.

You can find more information on Columbus Youth Camp’s specialty camps this summer at https://www.foundationforyouth.com/cyc

Photo from 2023 design camp courtesy of Landmark Columbus Foundation and Hadley Fruits.

National Weather Service special weather statement

The National Weather Service is warning of the possibility of “cold air funnels” today, which differ from and are caused by different weather conditions than tornadoes.

According to the forecasters, funnel clouds generally develop and occur in conjunction with conditions that produce severe thunderstorms.

Entirely different conditions are expected across Central Indiana today. There is little potential for severe thunderstorms.

Research studies of funnel cloud occurrences indicate that a different type of funnel cloud forms when weather conditions are similar to those of today. these are called cold air funnels and
are not as violent as those associated with severe storms.

Cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers that form in deep, cold core, large-scale low pressure systems. These funnel clouds are smooth and narrow. The parent storm or
shower is not particularly tall or intense. These funnel clouds normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent clouds, rotate or spin like a top, and last only a few minutes
before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground, cold air funnels cause only minor damage. More reports of small funnel clouds are possible over Central Indiana today. Warnings will be
issued if any of them touch the ground.

The United Way of Bartholomew County and the Bartholomew County Food Insecurity Coalition are looking for your help to feed the hungry in the community.

According to the United Way, food pantries across Bartholomew County are reporting a sharp rise in requests for help from residents. Relief organizations report a growing number of families in need and one in five children in the county lives in poverty.

Throughout June, the United Way is holding a Community Food Drive is a way for local residents support their neighbors facing hunger. They are asking for you to make food or monetary donations this month to support Love Chapel, the Salvation Army, and Community Center of Hope.

Food donations can be dropped off at United Way offices at 1304 Hutchins Avenue in Columbus, throughout June. Monetary donations can be made online here: https://giving.classy.org/campaign/693095/donate. You can find more information online at www.uwbarthco.org and clicking on Community Food Drive.

YES Cinema will be hosting a rock-and-roll luncheon on Wednesday to raise funds for the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center’s Angels of Love program.

Angels of Love is Lincoln Central’s Christmas assistance program.

The luncheon will be from 11 to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Sarla Kalsi Conference Center in Yes Cinema at Fourth and Jackson Streets in downtown Columbus.

The $12 lunch will include a burger or Coney dog, fries or onion rings and a drink.

The cinema will be hosting future fund-fundraising lunches in July, August and September:

• July 16 —T he Kalsi Sizzling Summer BBQ
• August 20 — New York’s Famous Deli: Kalsi on the Green
• September 17 — The Four Jacks Soup and Salad Extravaganza.

For more information, contact LCNFC at 812-379-1630 or email [email protected].

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is issuing an advisory legal opinion affirming the ability of law enforcement to arrest and detain those driving without a license.

Rokita points out that the opinion means that those here illegally are at risk of being arrested on the roadway, because they are not allowed to have a legal driver’s license. And when they are taken to county jails, federal authorities will be notified and the person can be picked up, if the federal authorities choose to.

The clarification was requested by the Jackson County Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant, Rokita said.

Rokita said that unlike most other driving offenses, those accused can’t simply be cited, agree to appear in court and then be released at the scene. Rokita said that Indiana state statute ensure that those who have never been licensed can be detained and brought before a court promptly. That includes both legal residents and those without a legal status.

He said that illegal immigrants may possess out-of-state licenses but those are not valid in Indiana.

Rokita said this is a critical public safety issue with concerns about illegal immigration and safety on Indiana’s roads.

The attorney general’s office issues advisory opinions to provide public officials with correct interpretations of laws, to help officials in decision making and to protect public officials from legal liability and lawsuits.

U.S. 31 will soon be closing in southern Jackson County for most of the rest of the year.

According to INDOT, contractors will be closing the highway near Uniontown starting on Monday, June 23rd as crews replace a bridge over Lewis Branch. That will be just north of Uniontown between East Jackson County Road 50 South and East County Road 150 South.

The project is expected to take until mid November. The work schedule is dependent on the weather. The official detour will take State Road 250 to Interstate -65 to U.S. 50 and then back to U.S. 31.

This work is part of a $2.4 million contract awarded to E&B Paving.

INDOT reminds you to slow down, to drive without distractions and to be alert to worker safety in all work zones.

Bartholomew County Works is now accepting applications for its upcoming job readiness workshop series.

Bartholomew County Works is committed to helping members improve their lives, gain full-time employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency. It provides resources in areas including transportation, finances and budget setting. The workshops are a program of Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center

The weeklong full-day workshop series will start on Monday July 7th and run through July 11th at Yes Cinema.

An orientation session will be held July 3rd from 10 to 11 in the morning.

To get more information on signing up, you can call Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center at 812-378-2638 or email [email protected]

INDOT is planning a public information session later this month to discuss plans for improvements on State Road 7 in Bartholomew and Jennings counties.

The project is meant to improve safety along the stretch of highway by widening the roadway to install shoulders and a middle turn lane along parts of the roadway. The goal is to reduce crashes on the highway.

The project will require single lane closures as the work is being done. INDOT plans to coordinate with area schools, emergency agencies and others to ensure that disruptions are minimized.

The project is expected to be let to bidders in 2028.

The public session will be held on Wednesday, June 25th at Jennings County High School on West Walnut Street in North Vernon. Doors will open at 5:30 and there will be time to view displays on the project and talk with project personnel. The session will start at 6 p.m.

Questions can be submitted to Alyssa Kern with American Structurepoint, Inc. at (317) 547-5580, or via email at [email protected].

Project information, will be available  at bit.ly/SR7Bartholomew-JenningsCounty.

The Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund will be offering a new fundraising opportunity next month, the charity’s first golf outing.

The Cheer Fund is the oldest charity in Bartholomew County, operating since 1930. The effort provides Christmas gifts for the needy children of the community. It is funded entirely by donations and relies on community volunteers for its efforts.

The golf outing is going to be at Otter Creek Golf Course on July 17th and registration is now for teams of four is now open. Both morning and afternoon flights are being considered, with final tee times determined by the number of teams that register. Space is limited for the event.

Lunch will be provided for all participants.

You are encouraged to sign up early to secure a spot. The deadline for registrations is June 30th.

Organizers are also seeking sponsors for the event. You can find more information or register at https://www.columbusfiremenscheerfund.org/