The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Thursday, August 6, 2015. On the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act we asked Afternoons with Amos listeners on their ideas to improve voter turnout, especially from among African-Americans.
John Zody – Ind Democratic Party Chair
(Interview with State Democratic Chair John Zody Starts At 3:54 Mark On PODCAST Media Player) Meanwhile guests brought up some key issues that should motivate voters. John Zody, Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party talked about problems with Gov. Mike Pence’s administration of the state. Starting with a $2 billion dollar state surplus while roads go in fixed and other major problems loom. Zody blasted the Governor for having such a large surplus while major Indiana highways in are in disrepair. Citing emergency repairs on a major bridge on I-65 in Lafayette.
Source: Indiana Econ Development
Source: Indiana Econ Development
Zody also slammed the Pence Administration for traveling to New York and attending a Yankees/Red Sox game while refusing to make public who was with the Governor and how much the trip was costing and who who were the “private donors” paying for it. Gov. Pence’s decision to cancel a BMV contract and investigate whether state ethics rules were violated after the Indianapolis Star reported problems caused by a former BMV Chief of Staff also raised Zody’s ire. Zody also talked about Democrats chances in the city and town elections this November and how important winning back the Indianapolis Mayor’s Office is to Democrats statewide. Zody also talked about the growing shortage of teachers in Indiana, caused in part by Indiana teachers leaving the profession and students not enrolling in teacher education courses in college. Zody also commented on news that the results of this year’s ISTEP scores will be delay until perhaps just before Christmas. (SBOE’s Marc Lotter On ISTEP Mess Starts At 36:52 Mark On Media Player). On the news from the creators and implementers of the ISTEP test of new delays, Marc Lotter, Spokesperson for the State Board of Education (SBOE) updated listeners on the seriousness of the situation. Lotter said that SBOE members”were angry and upset” over the news. According to Lotter, the problem was that in the part of the new ISTEP tests that require students to answer essay-type questions or demonstrate how they solve a problem, Indiana students were coming up with the correct answers. But they were reaching those answers in ways that the test makers at CTB/McGraw-Hill didn’t foresee. That’s forcing CTB to have to slow down their grading process to make sure that correct answers are graded as true correct answers, regardless of how the student reached the conclusion. CTB blames the rush to make this year’s ISTEP test conform to new Indiana State Standards which were adopted in Spring 2014. Lotter also explained news reports that indicted that the SBOE had lowered standards for teachers passing their certification tests. Lotter said that wasn’t necessarily the case.
Jonathan Bender / Getty
(Interview With Jonathan Bender Starts At 52:17 Mark On Media Player). Jonathan Bender was a star for the Indiana Pacers right out of high school. After injuries derailed his Pacers career, Bender came back and played for the NY Knicks and the Toronto Raptors. Now Bender’s is a successful entrepreneur. He talked with Amos and Listeners about his career after basketball as a businessman and entrepreneur. He also talked about an August 21st event called The Live Pitch, where minority-owned or women-owned businesses will be able to make live ten minute pitchers to investors willing to invest and help those businesses raise capital. This event will take place at the Indiana MBDA Business Center, located in WTLC Radio’s old location at 2126 N. Meridian. The Live Pitch will be live streamed to potential investors as well as those watching in person. Minority-and women-owned businesses must register to participate for the chance to be one of 20 businesses picked for The Live Event. CLICK TO REGISTER FOR THE LIVE PITCH FOR MINORITY/WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES Click the Link To Sign Up or e-mail Damienrharvey@gmail.com. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST for Thursday, August 6, 2015 Runs 98 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
