Hoosier lore

A lot of people in the press are grumbling over the state's intrusion on their turf after Gov. Mike Pence announced that the state its creating its own news agency. Called "Just IN," the website "will feature stories written by state press secretaries and is being overseen by a former Indianapolis Star reporter, Bill McCleery" and stories there will "range from straightforward news to lighter features, including personality profiles."

I will be on WFWA, PBS Channel 39, at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow with Journal Gazette Editorial Page Editor Karen Francisco, IPFW's Andy Downs and moderator Bruce Haines for the annual legislative preview edition of "PrimeTime 39." The early consensus among General Assembly watchers is that there won't be anything big or controversial like gay marriage or school prayer this year, so legislators will concentrate on the basics, such as education and a new two-year budget. But we don't always agree with conventional wisdom.

Too bad. At least one Indiana city is plunging into the "somebody might sue us, so nobody is allowed to have fun" movement:

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As anyone who has grown up around snow knows, part of the fun of sledding is the risk of soaring off a jump or careening around a tree.

This is a movement/trend that Indiana, alas, has been in the vanguard of:

When I exercise my rights, how does that violate your civil liberties?

A lot of people have been complaining about the crushing weight of college costs, but leave it to a conservative Republican like Mitch Daniels to actually do something about it:

Thank God for the South Bend City Council president, who is trying to make the world better for politicians and editorial page editors everywhere.

So, I guess it's possible to be pretty and ugly at the same time:

Police arrested a former Miss Indiana for public intoxication and disorderly conduct Wednesday.

Terrin Thomas reeked of alcohol when she drunkenly tried to find her boyfriend's apartment early Wednesday, police said. Miss Indiana 2013 allegedly banged on doors and screamed, "let me in" for half an hour, enraging sleeping neighbors.

Giving back free stuff -- somehow, I don't think it will beome a trend:

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - A southern Indiana police chief plans to return four Humvee vehicles his department received as military surplus this year from the Department of Defense.

New Albany Police Chief Todd Bailey says the vehicles were acquired by his predecessor as chief and that he's found they don't fit the department's needs.

Nice to see Indiana in the vanguard once again, becoming one of 17 stares (led, naturally, by Texas) filing a lawsuit against President Obama's decision to create legal status for millions of illegal immigrants by executive action: