Hoosier lore

The Woodlan student-journalism imbroglio continues to get a lot of attention. Most of those weighing in make liberal use of the "C" word, including the two Franklin College profs featured on our editorial page yesterday. First there is John Krull, who is also the president of the state chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists:

Dispatches From The Culture Wars has an interesting discussion on whether Indiana's In God We Trust license plates could be considered a violation of the establishment clause. Probably not, suggests one observer, saying it is "analogous to the same motto on the currency, which the courts have ruled is not a violation of the establishment clause." On the other hand, other specialty plates cost motorists extra, while the religious one costs only  what standard plates would cost.

Some politicians realize the presidency isn't in the cards in the immediate future, so become obvious candidates for the vice presidency, including one of Indiana's own:

We're entering the silly season in the General Assembly, and it will be hard to top Sen. Dennis Kruse's apparently successful effort to name, as the official state beverage -- drumroll, please! -- water:

I have had so much coffee in my life that could have fit this description:

There is really nothing here, but that hasn't stopped the non-story from getting publicity all over the country, including in a national magazine:

It was one of 15 suicides in Vanderburgh County this year, with two more deaths under investigation considered likely suicides.

The unusually high number -- nearly triple what the Southwestern Indiana county saw by this time last year -- has left families grieving and county officials baffled.

Boy, if I'd known David Long was going to be a traitor to his sex by giving power to the gals, I wouldn't have been so supportive:

Would this be worth a try in Fort Wayne?

A "state as moral arbiter" update: 

You've heard about hobos. Before they were called the homeless, you see, these cats would just ride the rails, man, hop on that train and go . . . always some adventure somewhere down the line, a hot meal or two for chopping a little wood.