Hoosier lore

A South Bend Tribune writer, in describing a new play, unintentionally revealing the decline of civilization:

SOUTH BEND -- The ex-patriot bar owner. The falsely accused innocent man on the run.

The down-and-out broad.

Some Hoosiers are apparently watching the political turmoil in Wisconsin and starting to get ideas:

Recalling underperforming lawmakers is possible in many states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and California, and was instituted during the Progressive Era early in the 20th century, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

What causes crime? Oh, come on, that's an easy one: Laws cause crime. "Crime" is an activity that the appropriate governing body puts sanctions on in order to discourage the activity. Remove the sanction, and it's just another activity. Reduce the number of laws, reduce the amount of crime.

With Rick Perry apparently poised to enter the presidential race, the Washington Post pulls out a journalistic staple and heads to the Lone Star State in an effort to understand the politician "as Texans see him."

Just a quiet little story a lot of people will barely notice:

Homeland security officials plan to install more security cameras Downtown in time for the Super Bowl.

Sixty-eight cameras are mounted in key areas throughout Downtown. By year's end, officials plan to add seven more near Lucas Oil Stadium and six or more along Georgia Street.

All right, troops, listen up! We're getting the Super Bowl in here, and millions and millions of dollars will be floating through for the taking. All you enterprising souls who want to get in on the gravy, take one step forward. Not so fast there, scalper scum!

Indianapolis is looking to crack down on ticket scalpers.

Hey, clean-living fans, good news. Hoosiers are cutting down on their vices. Revenues have been dropping at casinos:

Casino executives blame the downturn on the recession leading to fewer players at the slot machines and table games.

And the number of smokers has reached a historic low:

Sneegas said the new 2010 Indiana smoking rate validates the hard work underway in Hoosier committees to end tobacco use.

Recently, courts in Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana, Idaho and New York have allowed therapy dogs to sit with witnesses, many of whom are children, as a way of relieving the witnesses' stress. Defense lawyers of a man convicted in New York, objected:

No one denies that Rosie, a New York therapy dog who works with witnesses in criminal cases, is very cute. However the defense lawyers of a man convicted of raping his daughter claim that the golden retriever's cuteness swayed a jury too much.

Omigod! The debt-ceiling deal might hurt Indiana! Quick, undo it! We take back all the mean things we said! Hurry, hurry, hurry!