Former Fort Wayne Democratic City Councilman Tom Hayhurst plans to give 3rd District Republican Rep. Mark Souder a rematch:
Hayhurst said that "the economy here is a huge problem," adding that the unemployment rates in some areas of northeastern Indiana are "approaching" Depression-era levels.
"I think there needs to be more focus with regard to that particular challenge," Hayhurst said.
A lesson learned by the Muncie school board -- don't ask for suggestions if you're just going to ignore all of them. The board got 90 potential names when it asked the public to come up with one for its newest school:
But ultimately board members ignored those ideas and named the facility the Muncie Community Schools High Performance Academy.
I grew up in a rural area where it wasn't that uncommon to barter, even for medical services: I can't afford to pay for that tooth extraction, but, say, do you need some chickens or a little firewood cut? Now, apparently, the deepening recession has gotten even city folks in the bartering mood.
Is it the federal government's business that some people can't travel by bus between Indianapolis and the cities of Muncie, Columbus, South Bend and Evansville and between Louisville and Evansville? It must be, beause $2 million has been awarded to provide that service, which, guess what, makes it your business, too. But don't think of that money as providing only limited service.
Illinois, where it sometimes seems political corruption was invented (it surely was perfected there), gets a little more serious about transparency in government:
The measure will plug many loopholes in the FOIA law and establish a public access counselor under the attorney general to issue binding opinions in records disputes.
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It's nice to have the All-America City bragging rights again, but I'm more impressed with Valparaiso's being named the state's 2009 Community of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The award reflects Valpo's economic growth and financial stability at a time when most other cities are falling apart. Public investment of $40 million has been topped by almost $700 million in private investment, which created 1,500 to 2,000 jobs. City government has a $2.6 million rainy day fund:
Rep. Joe Donnelly told people at his recent town hall meeting that the current health care system must change because otherwise Medicare will go broke. Granted. But he went on to say that:
. . . legislation should cover people with pre-existing conditions and provide benefits to small and medium-sized businesses while not increasing the national debt.
How, for God's sake, can we cover more people and provide more benefits while not increasing the national debt? And they accuse oppoents of exaggeration.
The federal government's delusion optimism knows no limits:
GARY, Ind. - Sen. Evan Bayh says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has established a "Gary Project" that will try to turn the gritty lakefront city into a national model for urban revitalization.
Defense lawyers know it is risky to put the accused on the stand and many often recommend against it. Eugene Echols, 44, of Indianapolis, is Exhibit A. He admitted that he performed oral sex on a 5-year-old child and even told police what he did was "not right." But he apparently thought he could get the jury's sympathy with an explanation of his actions:
“My intention was not to harm or hurt.”
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I'm sure what the value of this report is except maybe as a call for action to agencies that probably already know their own missions in addressing some of the problems identified:
A new report on the biggest threats to the health and well-being of Indiana's adolescents says the state's public health system needs to do a better job helping young people avoid unhealthy habits that can last a lifetime.
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