WBIW News

February 27

The state's oldest covered bridge is slated for much-needed renovation this year to reverse more than a century's worth of wear and tear. The two-lane bridge was built in 1838 over a stream in Putnam County and later moved to Brown County in 1932. Since then, it has served as one of the entrances to Brown County State Park. The bridge has been leaning for several years and is held up by cables anchored in the bank of Salt Creek. The project to strengthen the bridge is expected to be completed by July 30 at a cost of $296,325. The project will be paid for with mostly federal money.
Environmentalists opposed to the I-69 extension are accusing state highway officials of deliberately ignoring the presence of sensitive cave systems beneath the selected corridor. The final environmental impact statement for I-69 does not include data on karst systems in Monroe and Greene counties that appeared in a 1994 study, even though the same consulting firm worked on both reports. The excluded date could increase the cost of the project. Karst geology includes caves, sinkholes, springs, and other features that formed over millions of years as water dissolved rock that was sonce the floor of an ancient ocean. If the highway is built through karst areas, road salt, oil, antifreeze and anything else that leaks or is spilled on the roadway would be washed into the subterranean network and could end up in groundwater. Sounds like using already existing roads really would be more cost effective!
Across this country of ours, lawless magistrates are writing a new book of judges and mayors. Each does what is right in his own eyes, particularly if big media eyes see those who violated their oaths of office as heros. The major media considers it courageous when the mayor of San Francisco violates what the people of California voted into law, but it was considered criminal when Judge Roy Moor in Alabama refused to comply with an order to take down the ten commandments in a public place for reasons of conscience and morality. We need to use the courts to introduce the Constitution Restoration Act, which would restrict the jurisdiction of federal courts.
With all the political bantering that is occurring at this time, one can often feel the need to start looking seriously at other candidates. One such place to look is at the Republican race for the party's nominee for governor. If you read the papers, the candidate that gets the most publicity is Mitch Daniels. The Republican party is pushing to have Daniels pronounced the party's nominee months before the May 4 primary. The party has even been giving Daniels preferential treatment, most recently at the Lincoln Day dinners. Daniels was often found seated at a back table, listening to Daniels speaking without being able to say anything himself. With the party insiders trying to push their chosen candidate on the rest of us, it's time we look to take more control back from the politicians. A vote for Miller would go a long way towards that goal.
Work was once again halted in the Indiana House when Republicans once again walked out. All of this is because Democratic House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer ignores Republican attempts to open debate on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Yesterday's walkout doomed nineteen bills - including a bill that would require schools to put healthier foods in vending machines. The standoff still is not resolved. Both sides are scheduled to return to work Monday, but Republicans say they will not come back to the floor until Bauer treats them with more respect. Before the House broke down into a yelling match, they did actually manage to pass legislation that would open up child abuse records in cases where a child has died and a bill that would allow the state to borrow money for highway construction projects.
The warmer weather is turning the thoughts of wildlife officials to combat. No they are not fighting other people, but the tree-killing gypsy moths in thirteen northern Indiana counties. This year will see an aerial spraying campaign aimed at halting the advance. Without treatments, an infestation of gypsy moths can advance thirteen miles a year, and a large infestation can strip the leaves from three million acres of forest. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has been fighting the moths and their voracious caterpillar-like larvae for twenty-siz years, but is barely able to keep ahead of the insects. After the moth larvae hatch in late May or early June, airplanes will apray a bacterium - the kurkstaki strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bth - onto tree leaves where it can be ingested by the caterpillars. Only infected areas will be sprayed and the spray is not harmful to people, pets or livestock. The gypsy moth is native to Europe, Asia and North Afric and was brought to the United States in 1869 by a scientist. The insects have spread across much of the eastern United States. While oak tree leaves are their favorite food, they will feed on more than six hundred species of trees, shrubs, and vines. Indiana counties affected by gypsy moths are: Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Kosciuso, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Noble, Porter, Scott, St. Joseph, and Whitely counties. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has more information on the gypsy moth.

February 26

Good morning! The remaining days of February will be serving up perfectly beautiful weather! Temperatures will in in the fifties, and partly cloudy conditions. There is not a chance of rain until Monday, so take advantage of this great weather while you can!
Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He's keeping a close eye on the project in Iraq that is establishing broadcasting facilities, two radio and two tv stations, that will alert the Iraqi people to news not covered by the clerics that have monopolized control of radio and television in the past. Lugar wants to keep the stations free of undo influence from any new Iraqi government. It's a costly project, but on the Iraqi people are eager to access.
Most of us are familiar with the "Bob & Tom Show" which is syndicated from Indianapolis to more than 130 radio stations coast to coast. The show from now on will be "one that a soccer mom can listen to with her kids in the car.", according to co-host Tom Griswold. The owner of the radio station which is the home station of the show announced plans to make certain material aired on its 1,200 stations doesn't get them in trouble with the Federal Communications Commission. The company has a "zero tolerance" policy on this. This means that the company's stations will no longer air shock jock Howard Stern's show unless it conforms to the new policy.
Did they or did they not? Will they or will they not? These questions can be applied to scores of topics, but today it definitely applies to our Indiana House of Representatives. The stalemate in that branch of the legislature over the gay marriage man continues. Republicans continue their boycott, causing sixty bills to not advance before the second reading deadline, jeopardizing their chances of passage. After boycotting Monday's session, Republicans returned to the House floor Wednesday afternoon and evening, but only for a few minutes each time. The General Assembly is schedule to work through March 4, but they may end earlier if Republicans refuse to come back. Indiana's Senate has already passed the gay marriage ban, but House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, assigned it to a committee he knew would not give it a hearing. House Republicans are meeting privately this morning to discuss the impass, but there are no assurances the stalemate would be broken.
With all the discussion about what our state legislator are doing, it can make one wonder why they don't just hand over most of the decisions to the people. Did you know that Indiana is one of the states that does NOT allow ballot initiatives? That is terrible. We elect these government officials to be out voice, then they play politics in the statehouse and pass things that the majority of the people may or may not support. The topics we feel are important, such as passing public smoking bans, are just pushed to the side and put into a committee where they will not receive a hearing. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia allow ballot innitiatives. Did you know that Florida is the only state to have an initiative on smokefree workplace legislation? It took place two years ago, and over 70% of Florida voters were in favor. Washing DC will have a smokefree ballot initiative in November. Ballot initiatives are not complex. We citizens should be telling out legislators that we want more of a say in our state government than just electing the officials!

February 25

Looking for a job and want to move? Purdue University is looking to fill numerous positions at its extension offices throughout the state. The openings were created by several retirements. There are openings for extension educators in eight of its offices. More than thirty other support and staff positions also need to be filled throughout the system.
Leaders in our House are meeting privately today to discuss the impass over the proposed state constitutional ban on gay marriage. It is not clear at this time whether Republicans will continue to boycott the chamber over the issue.
The Indiana Senate approved a modified version of Bouse Bill 1349, the gun owner immunity bill. The bill now states that gun owners whose weapons have been stolen could not be sued for injuries or death resulting from misuse of those weapons. The House must now approve the bill in its current state, which would then send the bill to Governor Joe Kernan. Of course, the House Republicans must be present in the chamber in order to vote!
Indiana's Senate also approved House Bill 1365, but only after removing $17 million that had been included for horse breeders and Indiana's race tracks. The bill would extend the state sales tax to satellite television service, exempt installation and delivery charges from sales tax, make research and development tax credit permanent, repeal the sales tax on free hotel rooms, and change how business operating losses are figured for tax purposes. The altered bill must be re-approved by the House before it can go to the governor.

February 24

Purdue fans won't like this! Purdue center Ivan Kartelo is facing charges of public intoxication and battery after being involved in a fight in a West Lafayette bar. The 24-year-old Kartelo is the basketball team's starting center and leading rebounder. Police arrested him about two o'clock Sunday morning after he allegedly hit an employee of the Wabash Yacht Club. He was released from the Tippecanoe County Ajil after posting a $250 cash bond. No other members of the team were involved in the fight. Coach Keady is considering disciplinary action against Kartelo.
There is more bickering in Indiana's General Assembly. Republican lawmakers are pushing for debate on their proposal to ban gay marriages and boycotted the Indiana House on Monday, bringing the legislature to a halt. House Democrats refused to go aloong with Republicans' demands to cote on a "blast motion" to force the debate. It is unclear how long the stalemate will continue. Legislators have scheduled March 4 as their last day, though by law they can work until March 14.
Cummins Inc. has announced that Frank McDonald, Vice President and General Manager - Heavy Duty Engine Business, will retire from the company in April. McDonald has been instrumental during his seventeen years with the company in raising the bar on quality and helping to grow key parts of the company's power generation and engine business. After his retirement, McDonald, 57, and his wife Terie plan to spend more time in Ireland where he was born and where he graduated with a mechanical engineering degree.

February 23

Good morning! Yesterday, while most here were basking in glorious sunshine, our troops in Iraq, depending on where they were stationed, got a taste of Mideast dust devils - tornado-like winds that wreak havoc and obscure visibility.
The Third House session last Saturday morning drew close to twenty-five people. The usual faces that show up... the majority of whom are on the government payroll. When the subject of same-sex marriage became the focus of discussion, Representative Eric Koch explained he supports a resolution to amend the Indiana Constitution by defining marriage as between one man and one woman. Koch does not want to see Indiana end up in the same boat as Massachusettes, where unelected federal judges could have the last say. Two residents, both Democrats - Ray Robison and Al Walker, spoke up preferring that nothing in the state constitution be changed. Today could be eventful in Indianapolis, to say the least! A so-called "blast motion" could call this marriage issue directly to the floor. That could the the big news story tonight!
On another issue, Koch informed the audience that sixty-two state agencies have access to social security numbers. He serves on the technology committee and will support a bill to protect state computers. It is a Class D felony to disclose those numbers, however, hackers could gain access.
Teacher Roasemary Stanley of 13th Street requested that Koch introduce legislation to monitor home schooling to insure students are actually being taught. This reporter, being the grandmother of four homeschooled children arose and suggested the schools solve the many problems already facing them and stay out of home schooling. Superintendent Dennis Turner gave support to Rosemary Stanley's request.
Indiana University scientists have extended an invitation to the public to take a high-tech tour of Mars' desert-like surface in three-dimensional pictures sent to earth by NASA's twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The photos will be shown today with the latest in high-resolution image display. The show, called "i-Mars", will run from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at I.U.'s Informatics Building.
The Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Peyton Manning have been unable to reach a long-term contract agreement at this point. This means the team will use the "franchise tag" on him today. The franchise tag, and the one-year contract that goes along with it, keeps a team's top free-agent player from talking to other teams. Both sides expected use of the tag, but they will continue to work on a multi-year deal.
Eggs. Once thought to be the food that gives you high cholesterol and heart disease, now is in high demand. In a move to tap into the growing demand for fresh, chemical-free foods, an organic egg company is recruiting northern Indiana farmers to keep their chicken well-fed with organic grain. According the Egg Innovations LLC, the increasing demand for organic eggs means the company needed more grain to feed its growing number of chickens. The company hopes to find farmers who can help it grow about five thousand acres of corn and soybeans to feed its 16,000 all-natural egg-layers. The company also needs ten to twenty more flocks of chickens. None of the company's chickens gets drugs, hormones, animal byproducts or antibiotics. Chickens usually spend just more than a year in a chicken house, which does not have cages, but nests down the middle. When they are slaughtered, the meat is often used in organic chicken pot pie. Farmers who want to join this endeavor, will have to make an initial investment of $300,000 to $350,000.

February 20

Next Friday, February 27, and again on the 28th, Senator Dick Lugar will host the second annual Statewide Job Fair. Dozens of government employers from federal state and local agencies, as well as some private sector employers are expected to attend. The job fair will take place at the Indiana Army National Guard, 3912 West Minnesota Street, in Indianapolis. Because the event will be at a military installation, attendees are required to have a photo id to be admited to the job fair. A driver's license should work.
The Indiana National Guard's 1413th Engineer Detachment at Camp Atterbury is being mobilized for active duty. Most of the unit's fifty-seven soldiers are from the Columbus, Indianapolis, Franklin, and Seymour areas. The detachment's destination has not been disclosed, but it will report for duty the first week of March. Our prayers go with them.
U.S. Senator Evan Bayh has launched his re-election bid. Bayh is unopposed in the May 4 primary election and has built an impressive campaign fund for the November 2 general election. Campaign finance reports show he has about $6.5 million, while his likely Republican opponent, Butler University professor Marvin Scott, has about $49,000. As is the rule in politics, he who has the most money wins.
Dutch imigrant, Tony Goltstein, who want to build a 1650-head dairy farm in Winchester, IN, drank a glass of water with a drop of manure in it to prove that the waste material is safe. An opponent to the dairy-farm, squeezed some manure out of a dropper into a jar of water, shook it up, and delivered the jar to an Indiana Department of Environmental Management at a table during the hearing. Goltstein came out of the audience, removed the lid from the jar and took a big drink. Maybe we will be reading about Goltstein becoming sick in tomorrows news!
There is more bickering in the Indiana Senate. Democrats are angry that the same day Senate Republicans found $17 million to help the horse-racing industry, they approved a full-day kindergarten bill that provides no additional money for the education initiative. The kindergarten bill would establish a commission to study full-day kindergarten and how to pay for it. The Senate Finance Committee approved House Bill 1365 to boost the annual subsidy to the horse racing insustry to $44 million from $27 million. That money will come out of the state's general checking account at a time when the state's budget deficit is $1.03 billion. The old adage, he who has the most money wins, also applies to lobbiests. Looks like our elected officials have their priorities straight!
Death Row inmates are getting a major upgrade to their facilities, however, the $4.5 million project will cost taxpayers more money than originally projected. Plumbing problems in the remodeling project at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City have pushed the completion back at least to June, with the cost being undetermined. The inmates who were transferred to another facility during the project have complained that conditions in their temporary housing are inhumane with feces in the showers, and infestation of mice, roaches, spiders, and silverfish. Death Row inmates are claiming they are being punished because the temporary facility is more restrictive than Death Row.
Big Tobacco was hoping for a new law. That will not happen now. The law was to make some of its smaller cometitors pay more to do business in Indiana. After sailing through the Indiana House, the bill was defeated by the Senate Finance Committee.

February 19

Here's an item that came across the wire that's rather thought-provoking: Near Winchester, Indiana, (that's Randolph County) there a residents opposing a foreign-owned dairy farm that's under construction. The venture helps Dutch and German dairy farmers move to Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Plans are to build a 1600-head dairy farm for Dutch farmer Tony Goldstein near Winchester, about twenty miles east of Muncie. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will review Goldstein's application. Plans indicate the farm would include a 20-million gallon manure lagoon. Manure from the lagoon would be used as fertilizer.
Bob Knight has decided to end a legal fight with Indiana University over his firing as the men's basketball coach three-and-a-half years ago. Knight was appealing an October ruling that IU did not violate his contract when it fired him. An IU graduate, who is among fourty-six fans still suing the university over the firing, is not pleased with the decision. The withdrawl of Knight's appeal leaves three lawsuits facing IU relating to Knight. One alleges trustees and then-president Myles Brand met in violation of the Indiana Open Door Law to discuss Knight's firing. A second lawsuit filed by the Indianapolis Star was originally to gain access to Knight's personnel records. That has been reduced to whether notes taken by two trustees who are attorneys should be released to the public. The third lawsuit involves former IU assistant basketball coach Ronald Felling, who alleges he was wrongfully fired by Knight.
First one withdrew from consideration, now a second has. No, we are not talking Democratic presidential hopefulls. We are talking companies vying for operation of the Orange County casino. In December, Jacobs Entertainment, based in Black Hawk, Colorado, withdrew its application. Now, Park Place Entertainment, which operates the Caesars Indiana casino in Harrison County, has decided to withdraw. The company says the casino is unlikely to yield a significant return enough to make its investment worthwhile. Park Place officials cite the community's "Growing expectations for the project and capital investments" as its reason for withdrawl. In December, French Lick officials asked the five casino applicants to pay $50,000 each for legal bills associated with planning, zoning, and other efforts to prepare for the casino. Before the December request, each applicant had already paid $70,000. The Indiana Gaming Commission is expected to choose a company to operate Orange County's riverboat casino by August. There may not be many to choose from if they keep withdrawing, though!
As we reported earlier, Bob Knight's former home in Bloomington was listed for sale on e-Bay last month. The current owner says he is close to selling it for nearly $400,000. The potential buyer is an IU graduate from Chicago, but at this time the sale has not been completed. This just goes to show you that a house is worth the highest amount that anyone is willing to pay for it!
Yesterday at the statehouse, a Senate committee approved a bill that would require high school students to receive a hepatitis B vaccine. Indiana students currently have to get the hepatitis B vaccine before entering elementary school, but the first class of students to fall under that requirement are now in sixth grade. That means older students may not have been vaccinated for the disease, which is spread through blood and body fluids and can cause liver cancer and death.
The Senate also approved the medical translator bill. The aim of the bill is toprovide guidelines for certifying translators by November 1. The bill does not require hospitals to provide translators, although some already do.

February 18

Do you have an interest in weather? Our area is prone to tornadoes and there's a need for volunteers who are willing to attend free workshops to be trained to spot potentially dangerous storms. The training will take place on the Ball State University campus. Thursday, February 26th, March 4th, and March 11th are set to train beginner, intermediate and advanced spotter training. For more information, call Ball State University.
People who move to Bedford and attend Little Theatre for the first time are absolutely amazed at the quality of the acting and the comfort of the new theatre. "Move over Mrs. Markham" opens this weekend. Steve Kimbley directs the show that has a cast with Joe and Amy Voris, Nicole Killion, Erin O'Brien, Alan Craig, and Ray Darnell. Neil Simon's adult situation-comedy with that excellent cast will surely entertain you!
Two new bridges connecting Louisville with southern Indiana will not be paid for just by Indiana. Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher says his state will contribute $118 million of the $2 billion projects. The funding is enough to keep the projects on schedule for completion in 2017.
The Army wants to change an environmental permit to allow some of the waste from neutralizing the Newport Chemical Depot's stockpile of VX nerve agent to be handled at a warehouse there. The Army wants the change so contractors can store materials used in the neutralization process in a warehouse currently approved for the depot to use in storing hazardous waste. The change sould basically be a change of operators, transferring the building from the depot to the Disposal Facility.
The Democratic presidential contest has seen yet another casualty now that the Wisconsin voting is over. Howard Dean, once thought to be the front-runner in the contest, has pull his hat back from the ring. John Kerry won the Wisconsin contest, but not by much more than Edwards. At this point, experts say the contest is between Kerry and Edwards. If Edwards can make it through the March 2 contests, he looks to win in four southern states after that.

February 17

The latest tragedy ivolving kids and ice should serve as a lesson to all parents. Not even rescue workers could reach one of the nine-year-old boys Monday in time to save him. He and his fourteen-year-old friend evidently went out on the half-frozen pond. No one knows why. The nine-year-old was under the ice for at least thirty minutes before he was found. His fourteen-year-old friend was rescued and was treated and released from Methodist Hospital. Officials keep reminding people that you cannot tell how strong the ice on a pond is just by looking at it. Parents, if you are going to let your children wander around unsupervised, please educate them about water safety.
The House Public Policy, Ethics, and Veterans Affairs Committee is expected to vote today on Senate Bill 40, which would remove the pickup exemption from Indiana's 1991 seat belt law. Under current state law, seat belts must be worn in the front seat of cars, but not in pickups and SUV's with truck plates. The new bill, in addition to requiring those who ride in trucks and SUV's to wear seat belts, would require those who ride in the back seat of a car to buckle up. Changing the law to require that seat belts be worn in pickups has bet resistance from farmers who say they should not have to buckle up each time they get in and out of their trucks while doing farm work. There has also been scattered opposition from Hoosiers who say they object to more government interference in their lives. Indiana could lose $16.5 million in federal money this year if the state law does not comply with federal guidelines.
Patrons of the Indianapolis Museum of Art will soon be able to choose from more than fine art. Fine dining will soon be offered at a new restaurant and cafe at the museum. Officials have selected Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events to operate the new restaurant and cafe, and will also be the exclusive caterer for all events held on museum grounds. The selection of Puck's company marks his return to the first American city where he worked as a chef. Puck came to Indianapolis from Austria in 1973 to be the chef at the former La Tour restaurant downtown. He left in 1975 to run Ma Maison in Los Angeles. Puck's operations now include twelve fine dining establishments and fifty-six casual-dining and quick-sevice restaurants. Puck and his staff will develop the museum's restaurant, cafe, and catering menus, and will hire and train the local staff. The 8-seat restaurant and 140-seat cafe will be on the ground level of the three-story Gallery Pavilion.
Cell phones can be a wonderful item to have, but they can also cause problems. An intimate Valentine's Day text message nearly caused a Malaysian couple to split when it landed on the wrong mobile phone number. A 27-year-old man and his wife of two months were taking a romantic drive when his phone beeped just after midnight. He asked his wife to retrieve the message, which read: "Darling, I really miss you, always thinking of you even when you are not here tonight beside me in the bed, I am waiting, lots of kisses and hugs - Jane." The wife demanded her husband stop the car, accused him of infidelity and left for her parents' home in a taxi. She refused to take his calls and his father-in-law informed him she would be filing for a divorce. It took twelve frantic hours before the sender of the message was traced. She called the wife with an explanation, and the couple made up with a hug in front of their families. Beter make sure you have the cell phone number right before you send your next text message!

February 16

Here's an idea from Congress that might be good for the state of Indiana. Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georgia has introduced legislation that would cut congressional pay in years when Congress fails to balance the federal budget. Members would take a pay cut of five percent in the first year of deficit spending, and up to ten percent in subsequent years. Republican Representative Nathan Deal of Georgia is sponsoring the House version of the bill. States, such as Indiana, are deeply in debt and should consider that move!
Six foreign nationals were arrested last Thursday in a sting operation ordered in response to the widespread fraud involving driver's licenses issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. They are accused of relying on fake Social Security cards or affidavits with false social security numbers in attemps to get licenses or car titles. They are charged with felon forgery, which carries a penalty of two to eight years in prison. Where are the arrests of branch employees who took bribes to help foreign nationals obtain fraudulent licenses? The BMV's commissioner, Gerald Coleman, resigned last week amid the growing pulicity about fraud and other agency problems.
A twelve year-old girl reported missing on February 9, has been found in Mexico with her suspected abductor. The girl, who has mental disabilities is now safe at home after disappearing from her family's yard. Investigators suspect she was taken by a twenty-four year-old Mexican native who had spoken to the girl while she and her mother walked the family dog.
Islamis radicalism will continue to spread. Dismissing it as "extremism" does nothing to stop it. Radical Muslims worldwide are proceeding according to the traditional understanding of Jihad. In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or by force. Islam is under oligation to gain power over other nations. It's just as important in the long run to try to stop the spread of Jihad ideology as it is to mount a strong military response to terrorism.

February 13

Looking ahead to Sunday, the weather should give returning troops from Iraq clear runways for landing in Indianapolis. 225 Indiana National Guard members arrived back home late Wednesday night, and 250 more are scheduled to be back home again in Indiana sometime Sunday. Everyone wants to hear their evaluations of Iraq. We are all eager to learn from their first-hand accounts, and personally want to thank them for their service.
Our system of lawsuits needs to be brought under control. It's the British system that seems to make sense. If you file a suit and loose, you pay the defendant's legal bills. Such a system in the USA would certainly cut down on frivolous suits. People would think twice before suing. Barristers in England receive a flat fee, rather than a percentage of the settlement. The mentality in this country is that if you are wronged by the mistake of another, that you are entitled to become an instant millionaire. Most states can't get tort reform passed because the majority of the members of their legislature are attorneys.
Southern Indiana's Network for the Advancement of Manufacturing is growing. They welcome representatives of manufacturing firms who are in need of resource ideas and the advantages that come from networking with businesses that face similar challenges. Call Stone City Products in Bedford if you thing your business could benefit from this network. Their next meeting is this coming Tuesday in Jasper.
The Indiana Senate will not hear House Bill 1188. The bill would have allowed 1,000 electronic pull-tab machines at each of the state's horse tracks. It would also have allowed 1,500 of the machines at off-track betting parlors. Senate leaders decided they did not want to expand gambling in Indiana. Racing industry experts say the bill is the only chance for the horse racing industry to survive without state subsidies. The proposal could resurface again at the end of the session as an amendment to another bill, but that is unlikely.
An Indiana Senate committee delayed voting on the gun immunity bill that would grant almost complete immunity to Hoosier handgun owners. The committee will work on the bill in the next week to limit the scope of the bill, saying that it went too far to protect Hoosiers who are reckless with their firearms. The committee intends to vote on the issue Tuesday.
The Senate Criminal, Civil, and Public Policy Committee voted unanimously to pass House Bill 1449, known as the curfew law. The bill would require plice officers to make reasonable efforts to determine whether juveniles out after dark have valid excuses before arresting them. Valid exemptions include attending work or church-related activities and exercising free-speech rights. The bill would continue to prohibit those younger than 15 from being out from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. For teens ages 15 to 17, the curfew would be delayed until 1:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The battle to move Indiana to daylight-saving time is heating up. State Representative Chet Dobis, D-Merriville, says he will introduce a resolution asking the federal government to put the state in the Central time zone. He expects a House vote on the resolution soon. If it passes both the House and the Senate, the U.S. Department of Transportation would be asked to hold field hearings on whether Indiana should be in the Central time zone, to follow Chicago.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Eric Miller says the planned I-69 route connecting Indianapolis to Evansville does not pass a "simple cost-benefit analysis" and should be reconsidered. Miller says that the state should expand and improve I-70 and U.E. 41, instead of building a new I-69 route. Miller has talked to numerous people who are concerned about the ramifications of the approved but unfunded plan at the statehouse. Concerns range from damage to the environment to the possibility of hurting business along the current route. Miller's position on this issue puts him at odds with Mitch Daniels, the front-runner for the GOP nomination.

February 12

If you'd like to help a young Bedford wife and mother who is facing a kidney transplant in the very near future, and if you enjoy southern gospel music, Friday evening the Talley Trio will be in concert at the BNL PAC at 7:00 p.m. Concessions will begin at 6:00 p.m.
An Indianapolis doctor accused of insurance fraud at drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics he directed was arrested yesterday. Doctor Thomas Hoshour faked suicide and spent two months as a fugitive to avoid trial on charges of fraud, theft, and corrupt business influence.
A group of gay students wants the University of Notre Dame to recognize them as an official student organization. Similar campaigns have failed over the past twenty years at the Roman Catholic school. Notre Dame student organizers say they want to create a welcoming atmosphere for gay, lesbian or bisexual students and employees.
Indiana legislator have gun safety groups up in arms. House Bill 1349, which is expected to be considered today in a Senate committee, would give Indiana the most sweeping gun immunity law in the country. The reason for the bill is that gun owners, who have taken out more than 300,000 permits in Indiana, are responsible people and deserve the legislative protection because they already take care of their weapons. The proposal, which passed the House overwhelmingly, would not affect state laws involving criminal prosecution. It would effectively eliminate most civil lawsuits involving guns.
The Senate Education and Career Development Committee heard four hours of testimony Wednesday about Governor Kernan's full-day kindergarten. Then they decided the finances behind the proposal needed more study. House Bill 1234 originally would have expanded full-day kindergarten to mostly low-income children. The bill has been gutted, and is now a bill that creates a twelve-member commission to study early learning and report back to the legislature by December 1.
First we got a 911 system. Now, if the Indiana 211 Partnership gets its way, we will have a new 211 system in a few years. What is the 211 system, you ask? It is similar to the 911 system. The 911 system is used in emergencies. The 211 system is a shortcut that will link callers to operators who can transfer them to the appropriate local agencies. There is currently a bill, which passed the House, that seeks to restrict other state agencies from opening a similar service without first consulting 211 providers. The 211 service network operates on grants now, but Representative Robert Bischoff, D-Lawrenceburg, fears that someday providers will seek state tax dollars or a surcharge on telephone bills. So far, the service is active in twenty-one counties scattered all over the state.
Researchers in South Korea have become the first to successfully clone a human embryo, and then harvest master stem cells from it. Many researchers believe the cells hold the key to creating customized cures for diabetes, Parkinson's and other diseases. Embryonic stem cells are the body's building blocks, the cells from which all other tissue types spring. They're present in an embryo only days after conception and are a sensitive issue, because harvesting stem cells destroys the embryo.

February 11

Governor Joe Kernan has thrown his hat into the ring of supporters for daylight-saving time. Kernan said in a speech Tuesday that getting Indiana's time in sync with most of the nation will help boost job creation without spending a dime. He said most of the state should be in the Central zone, which includes Chicago. Other areas, such as the southeast corner could stay in the Eastern time zone, as long as the whole state is on daylight-saving time. Currently, Indiana is on Eastern Standard year-round, being with New York during the winter and Chicago during the summer. Kernan says he will certainly push for its passage in next year's legislative session if he is elected governor. Mitch Daniels also supports the switch to daylight-saving time. Eric Miller, another GOP candidate, feels the issue should be settled in a statewide referendum.
The Indiana Department of Health has ben given $280,000 from the federal government to study the cause of a jump in the number of AIDS and HIV cases in the state. The health agency will begin the first part of the study by gathering test results and using more advanced equipment to determine wether people with newly reported cases of AIDS and HIV were infected within the past year. The results will be turned over to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has mandated to try to identify where the new infections are coming from. The second part of the study will expamine whether people have been infected with a drug-resistant strain of HIV. Project participants will come from traditional couseling and testing locations statewide and will sign a consent form or waiver before their test results are used. The exact sites for the project have not yet been determined.
The latest round of Democratic elections for the next presidential candidate has seen one more candidate to withdraw from the race. Wesley Clark has ended his presidential bid after third in Virginia and Tennessee. Front-runner John Kerry took top honors in both states, while John Edwards was the runner-up. Kerry has won twelve of fourteen contests, giving him 516 delegates out of the 2,162 needed to win the nomination.
TV giant Comcast Corp. has proposed to buy Walt Disney Co. Comcast had earlier proposed a merger between the two companies, but Disney boss Michael Eisner had declined the proposal. As a result of the rejection, Comcast made this public offer to buy the company.
The owner of Bob Knight's former residence has evidently decided to sell the spacious home in Bloomington. The home, on nearly five arces of secluded land in Bloomington, features five walk-in closets, a 546-square-foot study, skylights, and a nearly 300-square-foot master bedroom equipped with a "jetted ub" and steam room for two. All of this can be yours for a mere $397,500. The current owner, Scott E. Swaffar, bought the house last March fo $375,000. The house, built in 1982, is assessed for $275,000.

February 10

Several local soldiers who will be returning from Iraq later this week, will have a forty-eight hour leave with their familes before having to report back to Camp Atterbury for a five- to ten-day debriefing period. Upon arrival, the men are expected to be exhausted and in need of simply resting and soaking up the special love celebrating their safe return.
Let's all pray for and remember the families of soldiers who paid the ultimate price. Words cannot express out gratitude for their sacrifice.
The family of Michael McKinney, the Ball State student who was fatally shot by a campus policeman, plans to file a federal lawsuit against the university. Their attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, a Michigan attorney widely known for winning multi-million dollar awards for his clients, says he would seek $100 million in damages in a civil-rights suit. He plans to discuss the lawsuit further during a news conference later today in Muncie.
Did you know that Peyton Manning's contract with the Indianapolis Colts expires March 12? Colts team owner Jim Irsay does, and he is going to do everything he can to make sure that Manning stays with the Colts. If the negotiation process works the way it usually does, Manning stands to become the highest paid player in NFL history.
Mitch Daniels, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has made a pitch for his plan to revamp the state's business environment. Daniels has proposed a series of tax breaks for businesses to make the state more hospitable to job creators. Daniels also feels the whole state should observe daylight-saving time, preferable as part of the Central time zone that governs clocks in Chicago. Economic development is the underlying themse of his campaign. As usually happens in politics, Democrats quickly jumped on the phone or sent emails to reporters. Let the games begin!

February 9

A survey conducted by an Indiana University institute has found that most Indiana residents are satisfied with the state's public schools. Parents of school-age children generally believe, however, that the schools are underfunded. Fifty-six percent of the survey's 1,001 respondents rated the schools as good or excellent, and forty percent rated them as fair or poor. Respondents tended to rate their local schools higher. The purpose of the survey, which was conducted by telephone in November, was to see how specific Indiana data compared with national education surveys. Among other findings in the survey:
*** More than half of those surveyed believe public schools are underfunded.
*** Those who responded generally favor the state's ISTEP test and like the idea of having a rigorous performance test in place.
*** Indiana residents mostly approve the ISTEP tests are and relatively unfamiliar with federal and state education accountability measures.
*** Indiana resident favor many parts of the state's P-16 plan.
*** Sixty percent of those surveyed say they know little or nothing about the No Child Left Behind Act.
*** Eighty percent said they knew little or nothing about Public Law 221, a state law mandating strict accountability and demanding major improvements at all Indiana schools.
The interviews were conducted by Stone Research Services in Bloomington. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3%.
State gaming regulators will give Orange County officials three weeks this spring to negotiate directly with four companies vying for the state's final casino license. The state commission will temporarily lift its ban on direct negotiations with prospective casino operators. The gaming commission will then probably hold a public hearing in July to allow the four companies to publicly outline their plans. The commission would meet two weeks later and vote to award the twenty-year contract to one of the applicants.
Have you ever been to the Red Wolf Sanctuary and Raptor Rehabilitation Center in southeastern Indiana? Well, you cannot visit the wildlife sanctuary now until the center meets state and federal standards. This is the first time the nonprofit sanctuary has had to close in its twenty-five year history. The sanctuary covers more than twenty acres about twenty-five miles northeast of Madison. Conservation officers investigated the sanctuary after ten wolves broe free from a three-acre pen. Most were rounded up, but two died. The animals can be kept there, but the owner must upgrade fencing and make other improvements before he can acquire permits and tours can resume. The center relies on donations, so the source of funding for the improvements is unclear at this time.
Over the weekend, John Kerry won three states' elections. That has left his rivals scrambling to find a way to stop him. Kerry's campaign is boasting ten wins in twelve contests, going into Tuesday's primaries in Virginia and Tennessee - the opportunity for the Massachusettes sentator to show his clout in the south. At this point, no other candidates have withdrawn. Most of Kerry's rivals are focusing on the Wisconsin battle.
Evidently, the bird flu is not just for the birds anymore. Preliminary tests have indicated that pigs in Vietnam might be infected with the virus. Experts say if the results are confirmed, the level of concern over the outbreak sweeping through Asia will definitely intensify. At this time, health officials are saying that this outbreak is no threat to human health. At least eighteen people - mostly Vietnamese - have died from bird flu since the outbreak began. Most cases have been traced to direct contact with infected chickens. Experts have sais it is possible for the virus to jump to humans through another mammal, like pigs, which have been implicated in human flu epidemics in the past.

February 6

Many people in Iraq are in fear that the United States will leave too soon and leave their country in the wrong hands. Iraq is in danger of gangster rule by insurgents or bombers on the one hand, or mob rule on the other by radical Shiites. Shiite leaders have mobilized thousands of muslims to protest plans for the first round of elections in regional caucuses slated for Spring in Iraq's eighteen provinces. Iraqis are eager to start their own democratic traditions. The people do not want to live in an Islamic Republic where a clerical elite holds veto power over elected officials. The Iraqis cherish the freedom they have while U.S. forces control the country and they understand that may not last forever.
The Woolery Stone Mill in Bloomington, and vacant for the past ten years, may be used again - not for limestone this time. A developer wants to convert the aging limestone mill into living space. The mill served as the backdrop in the movie "Breaking Away." So far, most people seem to be in favor of the project, even though the developer wants a ten year tax abatement for the project.
The Indiana House approved a bill to create a commission that could grant automatic pay increases to lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, and other public officials on July 1, 2005. Lawmakers could get a payraise of up to $7,000 without having to vote on it. That increase is on top of the $8,000 average increase in pay they received last year through higher expense allowances. The legislator's, who work part-time and earned an average of $45,221 last year, did not debate the bill much before passing it. The bill is expected to pass in the Senate. Useful information: The average full-time state employee earns $32,410. Why should the part-time legislator be paid more?
Efforts to toughen child-restraint laws in Indiana have been weakened again. House Bill 1098 would repeal the current law and prohibit police from stopping a motorist for a seat-belt or child-restraint violation. It would also require that children ride in a car or booster seat until they turn five, rather than the current age of four. Also, children wold be required to wear seatbelts until the age of sixteen, rather than twelve. The bill does not require children ages 5, 6, or 7 to ride in a car or booster seat.
The House also approved legislation that would regulate massage therapists, allow schools to raise property taxes to pay for transportation and provide more safeguards to protect against absentee ballot fraud during elections. The House had until midnight to pass or reject a host of bills. Some bills did not make it. Among those were one to protect whistleblowers who work at the BMV, and another to break the deadlock on the Indiana Election Commission.
The second Republican gubernatorial candidate has filed to run for governor in the May 4 GOP primary. Conservative activist and attorney Eric Miller submitted the petitions on Thursday that were required to put his name on the ballot. Miller's filing came one day after Mitch Daniels'. Two other GOP candidates have until February 20 to file their petitions. They are Petersburg mayor Randy Harris and Indianapolis businessman Bob Parker.
General Motors has announced that it will be recalling about 1.8 million cars to fix an electrical defect that can spark fires in the steering column. The cars from the 1998-2001 model years are some Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunfires built between March 1997 and April 2001. Some 1998 Pontiac Grand Am, Oldsmobile Achieva, and Buick Skylark cars built between March 1997 and January 1998 are also being recalled. No injuries or fatalities have been reported due to the defect, but eighty incidents of heat build-up, melted components, smolder parts, or fires in the ignition system and sterring column of the vehicles have been reported.
You never know how good our medical care system in the United States is until you go elsewhere. Beware needing healthcare in London! It has been reported that British surgeons are endangering patients by using paper clips to close wounds and tongue depressors as splints for babies. The use of tongue depresors in a neonatal intensive care unit as limb splints led to two deaths and one amputation because of fungal infection. Surgeons were also closing wounds with paper clips and urinary catheters. Others were using wooden clothes pins to clip devices that measure the pulse on to patients' earlobes or using fake fingernails to fix cuts on the nailbed. Makes you wonder if the doctors there are required to go to med school.

February 5

House Joint Resolution 5, legislation that would have started the process of changing the Indiana Constitution to use money dedicated to school construction for full-day kindergarten, has been rejected for good by the House. This is the second time Democrats failed to muster the fifty-one votes necessary to approve the proposal. The vote even included a vote from a sick Democrat from his home via cell phone and video conferencing equipment. That move infuriated Republicans and even stunned some Democrats. Only a few Democrats knew of the plot to include the vote from their ill colleague. House rules are interpreted to bar absentee lawmakers from voting, although Democrats combed through old legislative journals dated as far back as the 1940's to come up with exceptions. Republicans don't see any wiggle room in the rule. After seeing the computer and cell phone at the front of the chamber, Republicans began to realize what Democrats had up their sleeve and bedlam erupted. Even the state police got involved, to the point that one trooper was at the absent legislator's side to verify his vote. State Police Superintendent Mell Carraway stood in the wings of the House chamber, also to verify the absentee's vote. Kernan defends the use of the state police in this matter saying, "This is state business." After asking for the absentee's vote to be removed two times, Republicans left the floor. That is when other Democrats starting complaining that they had not been told about the sceme.
Amid heavy lobbying against the cap on tuition hikes at Indiana public universities, Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, decided to not call his bill for a final vote. He felt he had enough Senate votes to pass the unprecedented measure, but chance of passage in the House were slim at best.
In other action in the Senate, they defeated legislation to do away with automatic exemptions from jury duty for dentists, veterinarians and others. They passed Senate Bill 155, to authorize City-County Council to reduce or modify - but not increase - proposed operating and maintenance budget or tax levies for certain nonelected local bodies. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 286, which would make Indiana's research and development tax credit permanent. The credit is used by such companies as Eli Lilly.
The Senate also approved a bill that would creat regulations on indoor fireworks shows similar to the one that starting the fire in a Rhose Island nightclub last year and killed around 100 people. The bill now moves to the House.
The Senate also passed a bill that would restict the sale of furniture made in prisons by Indiana prisoners to government agencies only. This was done so the prisoners furniture could not unfairly compete with private sector furniture. It costs much less to make the furniture in prison, than it does in the private sector.
The Senate also passed a bill restricting the sale of ephedra. This was done despite the Bush administration planning a federal ban on the diet drug. Indiana officials did not want to wait for any delay that might come from the federal government's process of banning drugs. Ephedra has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, and death. The bill now moves to the House.
Action in the Indiana House saw approval of a bill that would permit electronic slot-like gambling machines at the state's two horse racing tracks and in two off-track betting parlors. This bill will now move to the Senate, where it has meet opposition in past years.
Mitch Daniels has become the first candidate for governor to file the required petitions to appear on the ballot for the May 4 primary. At last three other Republicans are expected to make the ballot. They are conservative activist and attorney Eric Miller, Petersburg Mayor Randy Harris, and Indianapolis businessman Bob Parker. A candidate must obtain the signatures of at least five hundred voters in each of Indiana's nine congressional districts to be on the ballot. The deadling to file is February 20.
U.S. Representative Julia Carson is back at the battlefield on Indiana's time zone issue. She has asked the federal General Accounting Office to investigate how much it costs Indiana residents to live in different time zones. Currently, 77 of Indiana's 92 counties never reset their clocks.Several bills were introduced this year in the state Legislature to adopt daylight-saving time, but such efforts have been unsuccessful for years.
If you plan to go to Venice, you had best pay attention to pedestrian laws. The city may not have cars, but the canal city has designated some narrow streets "one-way alleys" and plans to levy fines against those who do not go with the flow. The fines will run from $31 to $625.

February 4

According to state and federal officials, the number of mail fraud schemes operating in Indiana is on the rise. The purpose of National Consumer Protection Week is to try to educate people about these scams. Americans are most often swindled in free-prize schemes, foreign lotteries, pyramid schemes, investment fraud, and work-at-home scams.
A bill that would boost local economic development efforts, authored by State Senator Becky Skillman R-Bedford, passed the full Senate by a vote of 47-2. Senate Bill 274 will aid small town and rural county economic development organizations in making more aggressive efforts in attracting and retaining businesses in the area. The bill is awaiting further action in the House.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels has released a statement he made to officials investigating allegen IPALCO stock dumping after the secretary of state refused to make the statement public. Daniels released the 175-oage document saying he has nothing to hide. IPALCO is the subject of a lawsuit by former employees who suffered lossed in their retirement funds when a large debt burden and worldwide drop in power prices caused AES shares to plummet from $49.60 in 2001 to $.92 in 2002. Daniels has said all along that he sold the shares under an ethics agreement designed to avoid appearances of impropriety. It now seems he has been vindicated.
The latest on the chronicles of Bob Knight's life. As we left you at the top of today's news, Bob Knight lost his temper with the Texas Tech chancellor in a grocery store. We now continue the story with Tech athletic director saying that "appropriate personnel action was taken." Knight says he regrets that the situation turned out the way it did. Knight spent much of the day Tuesday in meetings with school officials. This is the first time Tech has punished Knight in his three seasons at the school. Knight, a Hall of Famer, was hired at Tech to revive an almost dead team. He did that be getting the Red Raiders into the NCAA his first season, but he failed to repeat the second season. Knight returned his $250,000 salary that year to the school saying he had not earned it. Stay tuned for the next episode of "The Days of Knight"!
The latest on the Democratic presidential showdown - John Kerry easily came out on top in five of seven states in Tuesday's elections. John Edwards won his birth state of South Carolina, and Wesley Clark won in Oklahoma. Kerry won in Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, Missouri, and Delaware. The latest round of election has driven Joe Lieberman out of the race, and once-favorite Howard Dean's campaign is in jeopardy. Of the 269 pledged delegates at stake with Tuesday's elections, the AP shows Kerry winning 128, Edwards with 61, Clark with 49, Dean with 7, and Al Sharpton with 1. Twenty-three are still yet to be allocated. Kerry now has almost 250 of the 2,162 delegates needed for the Democratic nomination.
It's a parent's worst nightmare - having a child abducted. In Florida, dozens of FBI agents joined in the search for a sixth-grade girl whose abduction was captured on a car wash surveillance camera. She was abducted Sunday evening while walking home from a friends house. She took a short-cut behind the car wash, which was closed for the day. Pictures show the man's arms have tattooes, so FBI has enlisted the help of NASA to see if enhancing the pictures can reveal any more clues.
In an effort to increase their clout in this year's presidential election, Muslim groups are mobilizing to sign up new voters across the nation. The drive started on an Islamic holiday. The goal is to bring more Muslims into the political system so they can help decide the future direction of the nation. The drive comes as result of the backlash felt by our nation's Muslims since September 11. Many of the Muslims in our nation feel an erosion of civil rights has occurred. The Patriot Act comes to mind with this feeling. It is a complex issue. One that will take a long time to be resolved.
Passing a law banning the use of cell phones while driving sounds like a great idea! But, does it work? A study has revealed that New York drivers obeyed the law when the state banned them three years ago, but they are back to using them at nearly the same rate they were before the ban. The behavior is attributed to a lack of publicity. In 2001, New York became the first state to prohibit drivers from talking on hand-held devices while operating a motor vehicle. Since they, New Jersey and Washington D.C. have also passed cell phone bans, with a number of other states and cities considering similar laws.

February 3

Good Tuesday morning! Keep in mind this health advice costs next to nothing, but a bit of time. Washing hands often during the day can do wonders in helping you avoid the spread of germs. Another bit of preaching that we all need to heed this week: Watch for drops in the temperature. A few degrees can turn wet roadways into slick, hazardous challenges.
The I-69 project, that's the proposed extension of Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Evansville, is projected to cost more than two billion (that's with a "B") dollars. Every politician along the proposed route is naturally in favor of it from the standpoint of accessibility and future economic development. Bedford mayor Joe Klumpp and Adele Bowden-Purlee, president of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce, are confident the money will be found. They believe the route will help insure Crane's future and all of the jobs there. State Senate Finance Committee Chairman Larry Borst isn't so optimistic, considering the state and federal spending budgets are way out of control.
A study by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce finds that many of the state's townships have high overhead costs. That could be more ammunition for legislators who argue that townships could be abolished. The study found that townships spent $29 million delivering $32 million in relief for the poor last year. An interpretive center in Clarksville along the Ohio River, has fallen short of attendance estimates, as the staff marks its tenth anniversary. The Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center has never drawn the 250,000 people a year that developers had hoped for. Its budget this fiscal year is $456,000. About eighty-five percent of which goes toward salaries and benefits for nine full-time employees and a few summer part-timers.
We've all heard the Don's Guns commercials: "I don't want to make any money, folk. I just love to sell guns." A federal weapons-trafficking investigation found that at least twenty-eight guns from Don's Guns were involved in "straw purchases." These are purchases in which a person legally bought a gun from Don's Guns, and resold them to people barred from possessing firearms. Eleven of these guns were recovered in Chicago during criminal investigations. In this investigation, there were more arms tied to Don's Guns than any other out-of-state-dealer (out of Illinois). Don's Guns is not accused of any wrong-doing. In fact, the records kept by the business helped to track down some people who had purchased guns legally in order to give them to gangs or convicted felons.
Bob Knight's hot head may get him into trouble again, this time with Texas Tech. He got into a verbal spat with the Texas Tech chancellor at a grocery store, and school officials are looking into the incident. No comment has been made on the possibility of removing Knight from his position.
Indiana's Senate has approved legislation that would repeal a law requiring hotels to pay state sales tax on rooms they give out for free. The bill was passed unanimously, and has been sent to the House for consideration. The law was originally aimed at casino hotels that routinely gove away rooms to their best customers, but it was applied to all hotels.
Being a public official can have its risks these days. A white powder found in the office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist tested positive as ricin, a deadly poison. Frist's staff first discovered the white powder in their Dirksen Senate Office Building mailroom Monday afternoon. Dirksen and two other main Senate office building were closed in order for aithorities to remove and test all mail that has been delivered there. There were no reports of anyone becoming sick from exposure. At least sixteen people were decontaminated. If symptoms of ricin poisoning do not surface in about eight hours, then no one is expected to get sick. Symptoms are a suddenly developed fever, cough and excess fluid in the lungs, followed by severe breathing problems and possibly death. Ricin is twice as deadly as cobra venom, and there is no known antidote.

February 2

Strange. How do you figure that the Indiana University Power Plant recorded only minue 8 degrees last Saturday at 7:00 a.m., while the Monroe County Airport, west of Bloomington, recorded minus 22? Does the I.U. Power Plant have their thermometer on top of the smokestack?
Governor Kernan's full-day kindergarten proposal was delivered a possible setback today. House Joint Resolution, which would have given voters the opportunity to change the Indiana Constitution to allow state officials to spend the principle of the Common School Fund for long-term funding for full-day kindergarten, was defeated 49-46. This may not be a permanent setback, though. Since only forty-nine legislators voted against it, the measure can be brought back again Wednesday for another vote. The measure would have been permanently defeated if fifty-one legislators voted against it.
Have you ever visited the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center? If not, you may want to plan a trip soon. The future of the center is uncertain due to a steady drop in attendance and a shrinking budget. The center was built around an ancient coral reef and just celebrated its tenth anniversary, but there was no party. Officials hoped the brick building perched on the Clarksville riverfront would draw as many as 25,000 people a year to examine fossils, gaze at a mammoth's skelton, or learn about the tropical oceans that once covered what is now Indiana and Kentucky. The center, located inside Falls of the Ohio State Park, hopes to turn things around, but any changes made now will not have much effect for a couple of years.