WBIW News

September 30

Don't forget the Lawrence County Health Department is closed for staff training today and tomorrow. They do have voice mail if you need to contact them.
Indiana has reported its fifth death from the West Nile virus. Once again, the death is reported from Allen County. The death is one of thirty one new human cases of West Nile virus in Indiana, bringing our state's total to 157. Symptoms of West Nile include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, and sore joints. If you think you might have West Nile, please see a doctor.
Governor Frank O'Bannon says that the senior citizen prescription plan Hoosier Rx has around fifteen thousand people using it. The prescription program was designed to provide easier access to discounted prescriptions for the state's senior citizens. The program provides instant discounts, instead of seniors having to save receipts to mail in for reimbursement. Hoosier Rx was developed to handle the prescription needs of thirty thousand people.
If you are not happy with life in the United States, just remember that people in Cuba have not had M&M's, Wrigley's gum, Kellog's Corn Flakes and a host of other American products since the 1950's - that is until recently. Trade sanctions imposed by the United States, paired with Fidel Castro banning gum, for example, kept these products off the market there. Now the rules have changed and American companies are showcasing their products in Cuba to try to regain a lost market.
On Saturday, Bloomington, IL, police shot and killed an escaped Bengal tiger that had escaped from its owner at a truck stop near a residential area. The animal escaped from the wooden crate it was being transported in as the owner tried to give it some water. A veterinarian tried unsuccessfully to tranquilize the tiger four times before police shot the animal as it appeared to become more aggressive.

September 27

It appears that an elderly Lake County resident is the 4th person in the state to die this year from the West Nile Virus. The Indiana Department of of Health won’t identify the victim other than to say that the person was older than 70. Confirmation on the cause of death still has to come from the Centers for Disease Control. More than 100 probable or confirmed human cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been identifies in Indiana. It also has been found in animals or mosquitos in all parts of the state.
Homeowners in 32 Indiana counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loan assistance from the US Small Business Administration, or SBA, Disaster Assistance Program. President Bush declared these counties a major disaster area as a result of damages caused by the storms of last Friday. Counties include Bartholomew, Brown, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Lawrence, and Monroe, among others. SBA Disaster Area Director Michael Allen warns that homeowners should not automatically turn over their insurance settlement check to their mortgage holder to pay down their mortgage. To be considered for disaster assistance, you must call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. The deadline for physical damage applications is November 25, 2002. The deadline for economic damage applications is June 25, 2003.
A 21 year old Indiana University Music Student died at Bloomington Hospital Wednesday afternoon from head injuries she suffered in a bicycle accident Tuesday afternoon. Georgia Marriott had been riding her bike west on Atwater Avenue when she collided with an eastbound Rumpke garbage truck. The truck driver was turning into an alley near Jordan Avenue and did not see Marriott until it was too late.
Although the Indianapolis Colts is Indiana's team for now, it seems most residents do not care to make the more than ten million dollar payment the team is asking for. A poll conducted for the Indianapolis Star and WTHR found that 67 percent of those surveyed do not want tax revenue to be used to pay the team to stay in Indianapolis.
Have you been following the Toogood saga? She is the woman caught on video tape beating her child. It seems that the FBI has been looking everywhere for any kind of charges to be filed. First, charges have been filed against her for battery of a child. Next they tried to pin pornography charges on the New Jersey doctor who examined the child after the video tape surfaced. Most recently, they have tried to identify her husband has the man wanted in Tennessee and Virginia on forgery, theft, and flight charges. Finger prints have proved him to NOT be the man wanted.
It is fall, and you know what season is coming soon? Yes, the dreaded flu season! That is the bad news. The good news is that health officials say this year's flu season should be mild, and there is plenty of vaccine this year. The prediction of a mild season should not make people take the illness lightly. In 2000, over one thousand people died of influenza. Those people who are in the high risk category should be first in line, while others can wait until November to get the shot.

September 26

Indiana has received a disaster declaration from the Federal Government. It follows the storms and tornadoes that hit several counties last week, and it frees up aid for victims. Senator Dick Lugar's office says the declaration was approved yesterday. That approval came less than 24 hours after the state sought immediate aid for 32 counties in the path of the storms. Aid is expected to include low-interest business loans, grants for people unable to repay loans, and emergency housing.
Mammoth Cave has been ranked as the third most polluted national park in the country. Environmentalists are concerned that the parks rank may move up in 2008 when a proposed power plant starts pumping out power among other things. The power plant will be only fifty miles from the park. Power plant officials say they will be using state of the art technology so the plant will not contribute to the already existing pollution problem.

September 25

A developer in Bloomington has demolished a house of potential historical value before the Bloomington Historical Preservation Commission could hold a hearing about the property. The developer cited that the property was just too valuable to have just a single house on it. The house and two others were part of the South Dunn Street District on East Third Street.
More in the Indianapolis Colts saga! Owner Jim Irsay has committed to stay for the 2003 season, but will not make a committment for the seasons after that. Team officials claim the team ranks in the bottom third of the league in revenue, and are trying to get the city to pay them more than the twelve million dollars they already get. Much of the money paid to the Colts from the city comes from leases on luxury suites, naming rights, concession sales and parking. Irsay wants to have a new deal with the city in place by the end of quarterback Peyton Mannings contract, which is up at the end of the 2003 season.
Radio station WGCL-AM in Bloomington has fired former state Rep. Jerry Bales as host of the popular call-in talk show "Afternoon Edition". Bales was not given a reason for his firing. The station manager says the show just was not working anymore. Bales is currently considering an offer for a talk show from another radio station.
A Marion County man has been found guilty of aggravated battery for chasing shooting an intruder. The man says the intruder broke in to rob him and tried to choke him. Authorities do not know for sure what happened inside the man's home, but they do know that the intruder was shot as he was running from the man's house. They suspect the shooting was the result of a drug deal gone bad. The intuder died four days later in the hospital.

September 24

The Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall will be in Syracuse, IN, for four days, beginning on October 2. On October 5, a parade will honor veterans of all wars. Other events are also scheduled to coincide with the wall's stop.
New evidence in the Jill Behrman case suggests that she was still alive when she was taken to Salt Creek, where she was likely killed and her body dumped. Investigators will not elaborate on what the evidence is, but they say there is enough evidence to possibly lead to charges in the slaying.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association's new game broadcasting rules are ruffling the feathers of many commercial radio stations throughout the state. The new rule require any commercial radio station that carries a postseason game in football or boys or girls basketball to be contractually bound to air at least one game of that sport's state finals, regardless of whether the station has a local team competing or not. Station owners and managers were not included in the decision process. Reising Communications, which serves the Columbus, Edinburgh, and Greensburg areas will not carry postseason games under the new rules.
The National Weather Service now says that there were just three tornados that ripped through portions of southern and central Indiana last week, and the total damage caused by them has not been estimated yet. Preliminary estimates show that one hundred and ten homes were destroyed, with more than eight hundred damaged. At least thirteen businesses were destroyed, too. If you would like to make a relief donation, you should contact Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers, which has a database that matches donations with need.
An eight member panel from the Governor's Education Roundtable is recommending that Indiana students be required to take algebra by the ninth grade and the graduation qualifying exam should include algebra questions beginning in 2004. The panel's recommendation goes before the full twenty-nine member roundtable on October 8, then it will go to the State Board of Education. The state does not currently require ninth-graders to take a specific math course, and it does not have any math standards for ninth grade. The new requirements will need extra teacher and student training in order to meet the testing requirements, a concern to some when Indiana is having to make budget cuts.
President Bush has lowered the nations terror alert back to yellow, after raising it to orange around two weeks ago. Government officials feel that the main threat of terrorist activity is passed with the passing of September 11, and the arrest of several terrorist suspects. Officials stress that even under code yellow, the nation still faces a significant level of risk for attack. Americans should still remain alert.

September 23

Two of the three men who escaped from the Bartholomew County Jail almost three weeks ago have been apprehended along the Kentucky-Tennessee border. James "J.B." Hatton and Gabriel Ray Lee, both of Columbus, IN, were found Friday in a hideout in Franklin, KY. Bartholomew County Deputies were sent there after learning that a man named Jason D. Abney was in jail there for theft. Investigators knew that "Abney" was an alias previously used by Lee. After verifying Lee's identity, they were able to track down and arrest both Hatton and Lee without incident. The men are being held in the Simpson County Jail until extradition. The third escapee turned himself in shortly after his escape.
Madelyne Gorman Toogood, who was captured on tape beating her four year-old daughter, told reporters that she just lost her temper and she did not think that she had hit her daughter that badly. She says the video made her look like a monster. Toogood told reporters that she was in a bad mood that day and was nervous about being in the store because she thought that the store employees were looking down at her because she is an "Irish Traveler", who moves around following her husband's contract work. Toogood is scheduled to be arraigned today.
Heavy rainfall hampered the search for the body of Jill Behrman, who disappeared after riding her bike in May of 2000. FBI agent Gary Dunn says that Friday's rain has muddied the portion of Salt Creek that they had drained to search for her body. Behrman was an IU freshman, and authorities believe that she was struck by a vehicle and dumped into Salt Creek.
Fall has officially arrived, and so have the cooler temperatures. The National Weather Service says that highs this week will range from the middle 60's to upper 70's and the lows will range from the 40's to 60's. Nice weather after this summer's heat!
Attorney General Stephen Carter says that the state has tightened payment on claims made against the state of Indiana. He says that the state will pay if the claim is legitimate, but will aggressively defend claims that are not. Last year his office rejected more than fourteen hundred claims and has done the same this year. The Indiana Department of Transportation had the most claims with the State Police coming in second. The Department of Correction ranked third. Carter questions Indiana's system regarding legal payments. Payments do not come out of departmental budgets, but from the state's general fund, so there is no incentive for department managers to hold down litigation costs.
Last Friday, Indiana University trustees decided to require most freshmen on the Bloomington campus to live on campus, starting next year. This decision reverses a policy that had been in effect since 1967, allowing first-year students to live off campus. Administrators cite research indicating that students living on campus get better grades, are more likely to graduate, and are more involved in campus activities. There are provisions in the decision for certain student, but officials expect the rule to affect around four hundred students.
First the weather affected Indiana's corn and soybean crops, now the pumpkin crops are making the news. The lack of rainfall this summer has slowed the ripening of the soon to be orange fruits. According to one southern Indiana farmer, most of the pumpkins are underdeveloped and struggling, no bigger than softballs. The health of the pumpkin crop in Indiana varies from area to area, as does the health of the corn and soybean crops. All in all, any crop in Indiana that relies on rain suring the summer for growth has suffered this year.

September 20

The annual Mitchell Persimmon Festival starts at 8 a.m. tomorrow with a golf scramble, tennis tournament, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and horseshoe tournament. The candlelight tour of the village at Spring Mill State Park is tomorrow from 4-9 PM. Sunday will feature the Road Rally, starting at 11:30 a.m., and a 7:30 p.m. Vesper service. Daily Events Calendar.
At least 17 states now have the statewide "Amber Alert" system that has been credited with helping in some recent highly publicized rescues of kidnapped children this summer. Yesterday Indiana state officials announced that the system will become operational in this state on October 1st. Law enforcement agencies send the alerts to radio and television stations with descriptions of the missing children, their abductors and other information. They also are broadcast on electronic highway signs. The Indiana General Assembly authorized creation of a statewide system in this state during the 2002 legislative session. The victim must be under age 18 and believed to be in danger of serious harm or death, and authorities must have enough information to believe a broadcast will help. In case of a child abduction, State Police will work with local law enforcement to determine if the report meets certain criteria. If the case meets criteria, State Police would trigger the system by activating the Emergency Alert System now used to warn citizens of tornadoes, other severe weather or civil emergencies. When the system is activated, more than 340 radio stations and 25 television stations throughout Indiana will broadcast the Amber alert. The Indiana Department of Transportation will post messages on electronic highway signs telling motorists to tune to local radio and TV stations to learn more. The stations are to repeat the alerts every 30 minutes for the first two hours and at least hourly for the next three hours. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance Co. will pay for a toll-free telephone line that will be used to collect tips from the public. The number -- 1-888-58-AMBER -- will be activated only when an alert is issued, and calls will be directed to the appropriate police agency. The Indiana Broadcasters Association is underwriting the costs of a new Amber alert Web site -- www.amberalertindiana.com -- as well as equipment needed for some media outlets to accept the alerts. State Police have informed neighboring states about Indiana's system, and their respective state police agencies will be notified if Amber alerts are issued. Michigan already has a statewide Amber alert system.
Thursday the state asked the federal government to make an agricultural disaster declaration for 74 Indiana counties in Indiana where summer drought and heavy spring rains have hurt crops. If the U.S. Department of Agriculture grants the request, farmers in the counties covered under the declaration could be eligible for low-interest emergency loans. Farmers in neighboring counties also could qualify for help, Gov. Frank O'Bannon said. Area counties included in the group are Brown, Bartholomew, Crawford, Daviess, Jackson, Jennings, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, and Washington.
Not enough cream and too much crimson. For the fiscal year which ended June 30th, the IU athletic department has posed a first-ever deficit--more than $1 million. It is being attributed to a combination of higher cost of student-athlete scholarships (because of falling Varsity Club donations) and declining football revenues. Last year the number of fans per game averaged 32,605, so it is believed that increasing football attendance by 10,000 person per game could help boost the revenues. That is a no-brainer! Another option, which would be a last resort, is to raise ticket prices, as well as adding more games and football suites. To reduce spending, transportation dollars will be limited and some positions may not be filled when employees retire or move on. Although this is the first deficit the athletic department has posted, those "in the know" call it a manageable number and in line with what other schools are facing.
With the announcement yesterday of an additional 25 new probable cased of West Nile virus in Indiana, the total now stands at 104. Ten of the new cases are in Allen County, which now leads the state with 35 total cases. The new people suspected of being infected range in age from 19 to 85. Daily updates on West Nile virus cases in Indiana, and a virus surveillance map, can be accessed at the state Department of Health Web site: www.in.gov/isdh

September 19

So the I.U. Corvette raffle is no longer tied to the election! The rules for the I.U. Student Association Corvette giveaway have changed since state officials have told them that the giveaway might violate federal election law. Now any student may enter the raffle and won't be required to vote in November to get a chance at the raffle. The association had intended to award the car in a contest for students who voted as part of a drive to get 10,000 students to register and hopefully vote for candidates that would be be in favor of more favorable funding for higher education. Federal election law prohibits anyone from paying or offering anything of value to entice someone to register or to vote, and the U.S. Department of Justice would become involved in any complaint filed for such a violation. Indiana election law doesn't go quite that far, but it does prohibit anyone from offering money or other valuable consideration to someone to vote for or against a candidate or public question. The student association's goal was to try to elect people who would address higher education issues. Although the giveaway is no longer tied to the election, the student association expects that all the attention has helped generate some student interest in the election. Even though the raffle now is not linked to the election, he thinks the attention has helped spur student interest in voting.

Many in the area are familiar with the syndicated column called "The Amish Cook", which Elizabeth Coblentz wrote by the light of a kerosene lantern, describing her family life and activities, as well as sharing recipes. Coblentz died Tuesday after collapsing in her hotel room. She was 66. It is believed that she may have suffered an aortic aneurysm. Her husband died of a heart attack a few years ago, and she is survived by eight children. Coblentz reportedly had discussed the possibility of one of her daughters taking over the column after she died, but that decision will be made later.

September 18

Today is another Seymour Chamber of Commerce Picnic in the Park at One Chamber Square, 11:30 - 1:30. This one is sponsored by the Behavioral Healthcare. In case of rain, it will be at the Gaiser Park Shelter House.
With the addition of twenty-one new probable human cases of West Nile virus, the total of probable and confirmed cases is now at 79, according to state health officials. The new suspected cases are in people ranging in age from 43 to 80. Currently, Allen County leads the state with a total of 25 cases. .The virus has been found in mosquitoes or animals in all areas of the state, and so far two people are believed to have died from the virus.
According to a Glenmary Research Center report that tracksreligious affiliation nationawide by state and by county, Indiana is one of the most religiously diverse states in the country, with 109 religious denominations represented, garnering the state a number seven ranking nationally. However, Indiana had a lower-than-average participation of 42.9 percent, compared with the national average of 50.2 percent. The report indicates that in Indiana Catholics make up the largest religious denomination with United Methodists coming in a distant second. The report also indicates that Evangelical and nondenominational Christian communities are growing since 1990. Included for the first time are Muslims, whose estimated active number is 1.6 million nationwide. Although not all religious groups were included in this study, the results do reveal that Indiana is diverse in its religious culture.

September 17

Keeping the Colts in Indy is not a top priority to everyone living in Indiana, especially when the bottom line is that it may cost all Indiana taxpayers money in order to meet the team's demands for millions to keep the team members competitive in the lifestyle of the rich and famous on the gridiron. Although some legislators believe the Colts are an asset to Indy and the rest of the state, there are some who believe the Indianapolis area gets most of the benefit and that the financial assistance should come from Marion County. Although no package for "state assistance" has been put together yet, the possibility of seeking such is still in the minds of city officials as they examine ways to help the franchise bolster its bottom line. The Colts' contract to play in the RCA Dome expires in 2014, but if revenues do not improve, the team could leave as early as 2006. What will happen? No one is guessing at this point, but the General Assembly passed legislation in 1997 that was designed to help keep the Colts and the NBA's Indiana Pacers in town. One bill enabled the City-County Council to approve increases in local taxes to expand the Indiana Convention Center and make modifications to the RCA Dome. The legislation to benefit both franchises became part of a contentious special session. It eventually passed, despite much resentment toward a county many lawmakers regard as already loaded in spoils from the Legislature. Stay tuned!
Purdue University will get a new identity on Thursday when the university releases its new logo and typeface as part of "Discover Purdue Week" leading up to the Sept. 28 homecoming game against the University of Minnesota. The changes result from recommendations made by a committee with input from outside consultants and focus groups. "People will not see an immediate, dramatic change. What they will see is a very specific identity," Bennett said. Does this mean Purdue Pete and the Boilermaker Special will no longer be part of the identity?
The right stuff at I.U? Recently The Indiana University Student Association congress voted 25-4 to purchase a 2002 Corvette (cream and crimson color, or course!) and to fund two $5000 student scholarships. All a student will have to do to get a chance in this raffle is to register and vote in the November election. While the plan is receiving mixed reaction on the campus, the vice president of administration for the student government group believes that desperate times call for desperate measures as their goal is to get at least 10,000 students to vote and make an impact on local and state elections, electing candidates who care about higher education funding and other issues important to students, especially continuing tuition increases. The car giveaway is part of the Project Vote Hard campaign, created by student leaders elected last spring with a slogan of "Work Hard, Party Hard." The money comes from higher-than-anticipated revenue from the association's cut of interest earned on IU credit cards. Is this the right way to promote the performance of civic duty? Would this be a form of bribery? The association has sent out nearly 17,500 voter registration forms to students and has set up tables on campus so students can register before the Oct. 6 deadline.
Some charities are complaining that a Web site created by the Indiana attorney general is harming their efforts to solicit donations by distorting how much money is kept by professional fund-raisers. Michael Ward, executive director of the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police is one of those complaining. However, Attorney General Steve Carter defends the site and says if charities are concerned, they should take up the issue with their fund-raisers. The website, which is based on documents filed before a fund-raiser begins, says 37 percent of registered fund-raisers in Indiana keep virtually all of the money they collect on behalf of charities, but charities claim the site leaves out key information because it does not acknowledge that final campaign reports rarely reflect early estimates and often give more to the charity than initially promised. When a professional fund-raiser begins a campaign drive in Indiana, the company must file a report with the attorney general, and, under state law, that report must declare what percentage of the money raised will go to the charity and what portion is kept by the solicitor. Those reports show that many professional telemarketers keep most of the money, with the largest companies often citing 99-to-1 ratios in favor of the telemarketers. The companies also file end-of-campaign reports with the actual dollar figures given to each side, but Carter has not analyzed that data, and it is not posted on his Web site. However, the Journal Gazette reviewed 100 fund-raising campaigns conducted in Indiana during the last two years and found that 80 charities received more money than the initial estimate, twelve got less, and eight got the exact amount promised. Attorney General Carter believes that if a charity is embarrassed about the initial information filed, they should correct the situation with the fund raising company. He also pointed out that is is incredible how much money never gets to the charity. Check out the Attorney General's information at http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer/charities.htm

September 16

Today state officials announced that they will relax identification requirements for new driver's licenses. The state's current policy went into effect in July and required people getting a new Indiana driver's license to show proof of a Social Security number and five other documents to prove identity. That policy, which generated a civil rights lawsuit filed by the Indiana Civil Liberties Union on the grounds that it violated the state and U.S. constitutions by determining who is and who is not a legal Indiana resident, will now be adjusted to require applicants to present only four documents: proof of a Social Security number, primary identification, one piece of secondary identification, and one residency document. Those who are renewing diver's licenses will not have to show proof of residency unless their addresses have changed. This adjusted policy is scheduled to take effect on September 30th.
Construction has now begun on the new Doppler radar complex in southwestern Indiana. The National Weather Service broke ground Saturday for the the facility that will keep watch for tornadoes and other severe weather. Currently an interim Doppler has been running at the Evansville Regional Airport since May 2000.
The investigators draining a creekbed so they could search for the remains of missing Indiana University student Jill Behrman said the retreating waters have already revealed evidence connected to her. Authorities planned to finish pumping water from a 1.4-mile stretch of Salt Creek on Monday. Two temporary dams were erected last week so the water between could be drained. Investigators have said they suspect that Behrman, who disappeared while on a bike ride on May 31, 2000, was hit by a pickup truck driven by someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that her body was dumped in the North Fork of Salt Creek in Monroe County. Authorities have declined to identify any of the evidence that was found.
Decorating in the extreme! Wonder what Christopher Lowell will say about this one! The two pyramids in the side yard of Patrick Conner's property in Columbus, IN, attract a lot of attention from motorists on U.S. 31. Conner has even carried the theme indoors to make the interior look like the inside of the pyramids by coating the walls with hand-painted symbols of early Egyptian history. Even his bathroom has the feel of an Egyptian burial place. He has used Egyptian objects on the floor, furniture, and shelves in the bedroom and den as well. Conner traces his interest back to his school history classes and said that a television program about ancient Egypt a few years ago sparked the idea for his projects which he pursues during the day since he works nights. He currently has only two pyramids in the yard, but he plans to build the Giza Plateau, adding more pyramids and will feature the Sphinx.
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is returning to Bedford Little Theatre by popular demand on September 26-29th. The musical had a ten performance run last March to sellout audiences The Box Office is now open and taking reservations for four performances this month to launch the membership drive for Bedford Little Theatre's 2002-2003 season.

September 13

Fifteen additional probable human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Indiana. State health officials announced the cases yesterday. The new reports bring the total of probable or confirmed cases in Indiana to fifty-seven. Five of the new probable cases are in Allen County, which leads the state in West Nile cases. Two are in Lake County. One is in Jackson County. The new people suspected of being infected range in age from 22 to 73.
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is wanting an investigation into the possibility of terrorists being responsible for the spread of the West Nile virus. He has no specific evidence to suggest a link, but he wants all possibilities investigated. The CDC has said there is no evidence to suggest the spread of the disease is anything more than a natural occurence.
The White River RC&D Forestry Committee has planned a series of lcoally led meetings in each of four counties, Lawrence, Orange, Washington and Jackson. The schedule is: Washington- Extension Office in Salem 8:30am 9/23 Jackson- NRCS Service Center in Brownstowm 7pm 9/23 Lawrence- Fairgrounds in Bedford 8:30am 9/26 Orange- Superburger in Paoli 7pm 9/26
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson says that it could cost the city another $10,000,000 per year to keep the Colts. Peterson says that he won't rule out the possibility of seeking state help or a tax increase to generate the money. The Inianapolis Star says that the city might start having to pay the money as soon as 2004. An attorney for the Colts says the ten million dollar estimate is on the low side. Obviously, the two sides have some differences to work out.

September 12

Are you a Colts fan? If you are, you may want to consider making a donation to Indianapolis to keep the team there. According to officials, it may cost the city another ten million dollars to keep the team in Indy. According to the original lease, the city of Indianapolis agreed to guarantee the income of the team to the NFL average. So far, Indianapolis has spent almost thirty-seven million dollars since 2000 and the city expects to pay another twelve-and-a-half million dollars ont he tem next year. The current lease is valid until 2014, but the Colts can break it as early as 2006.
First, Indiana was tops in the nation in bankruptcies filed in court. Now the state is tops in home foreclosures for the second quarter of 2002. Indiana's rate of 2.22 percent of all home loans now in the foreclosure process is almost twice the national rate of 1.23 percent. Opinions for the reason of the high foreclosure rate vary from the bad economy to bad lending practices.
A state trooper in pursuit of a speeding vehicle on I-65 was injured on Wednesday after colliding with the escaping vehicle in Bartholomew County. The trooper was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for tratment of an injured wrist. The other driver was not injured, but was arrested for fleeing, which is a felony, and criminal recklessness. The chase started when a motorist called 911 to report a dangerous speeding driver passing vehicles on the berm of I-65 southbound at 3:30 p.m. At almost the same time, the state trooper radioed that he was chasing a vehicle fitting the description in the 911 call. The chase continued at speeds of more than one hundred miles per hour for seven miles, ending with the crash. Both vehicles sustained minor damage. Details about the crash were not released.
We have all heard about mad cow disease, and how it can affect humans. Did you also know that there is a similar disease that affects deer? This diease, chronic wasting disease, has been found in deer herds in Colorado and Wyoming, but has also spread to the Midwest. This year, beginning October 1, officials from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be collecting heads of around three thousand hunt-killed deer this fall at check stations. These heads will be tested to determine if chronic wasting disease has worked its way into Indiana. Although there is no evidence that chronic wasting disease can infect humans, officials warn against eating any deer, moose, or elk that is suspected of being contaminated. Hunters should take maximum precautions: wear rubber gloves while field dressing; avoid handling or eating deer brain, spinal cord, spleen or lymph nodes.

September 11

The events that unfolded one year ago today remain forever etched in our countries memories. Late this morning Indiana will unveil a monument on the Statehouse lawn. If you are not attending a memorial service anywhere today, please take the time to remember the thousands of people affected by the terrorist attacks. Blood donations are always welcome. Call the Blood Center to find out where you can go to donate.
Last week it was reported that the Indiana Civil Liberties Union had filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Now the BMV says it may soften the identification requirements for new driver's licenses. the BMV Commissioner said he would be talking to the attorney general about the matter.
Indiana farmers are not the only ones suffering with crop losses with the lack of rain this summer. Kentucky tobacco farmers are losing five to seven hundred pounds of tobacco per acre. The Bluegrass portion of the state is officially in a severe drought, with the rest of the state in a moderate drought, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index.
Indiana is finding itself between a rock and a hard spot when it comes to pollution. The air quality in the nine-county Indianapolis area has been the worst in more than a decade. Many factories are just now coming to compliance with the old standards. New standards were adopted by the EPA in 1997. The EPA has the option of designating the area as a nonattainment zone. That would mean that any new manufacturing plant would have to have tougher emmissions standards than the companies already there. That will make it more difficult to attract new businesses to Indiana.

September 10

Now is the time for all our citizens... O.k. we don't need to be that dramatic, but it got your attention. There are people in the United States that are pushing for the removal of the words "Under God" from the pledge of allegiance. USA Today is currently taking an online poll. To put in your two-cents on this matter, go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/06/27/pledge-hold.htm . Currently the "no"'s have the lead.
Environmentalists are against it, the Department of Natural Resources is for it. What is it? "It" is the sale of stands of trees in two state forests. The tracts are scheduled to be sold on Tuesday despite a lawsuit filed by the Indiana Forest Alliance. The alliance has called on Gov. O'Bannon to stop the sales and issue a moratorium on logging until its environmental impact can be studied. Since the judge has not issued an injunction yet, the sales will proceed.
The heat may seem unbearable, but relief is on the way, according to the National Weather Service. Theory has it that temperatures will be cooler after Tuesday night's showers and thunderstorms.
Indiana reports that there are twenty-eight more human cases of West Nile virus. As a result, officials warn people to protect themselves. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Try to limit outdoor activity during peak mosquito time. Use insect repellant containing DEET. Symptoms of West Nile virus are high fever, weak muscles, and headaches. Symptoms can appear anytime from three to fifteen days after a bite.

September 9

Former Indiana University Basketball Coach Bobby Knight underwent surgery yesterday for an intestinal obstruction related to scar tissue within the abdomen. Dr. Michael Robertson says that Knight was admitted through the emergency room yesterday after experiencing some problems earlier in the weekend. Robertson said that the procedure was very standard. Robertson says that Coach Knight will probably be in the hospital for several days.
IU President Myles Brand has been contacted by Rutgers University for that school's top job, but Brand is not interested, according to IU officials. Officials contacted Brand by telephone two times, and Brand thanked them, but politely declined. Rutgers officials are not commenting on who else is being considered for the position. The current president will step down once a replacement is found.
The statute of limitations for Bob Knight to sue Indiana University over his firing expires today, but neither side is in a hurry to get to court. Both sides have waived the two-year limit for filing while talks continue. Both sides have agreed to have the issue settled by October 11.
Politics had nothing to do with a political decision. According to the State Elections Commission chairman, politics had nothing to do with a split vote to keep The Green Party's Jeff Melton off the ballot, even though the split was along party lines. Officials are trying to work with legislators to clarify the confusing form and instructions to avoid any of this political confusion in the future.

September 6

A Mitchell native is a big part of a segment on bioterrorism which will air this Sunday evening on CBS's "60 Minutes". Trisha Sorrells is associate producer of the segment.
The Green party's congressional candidate will appear on the ballot in the ninth district after all. The state election commission deadlocked yesterday on a vote to remove Jeff Melton of Bloomington from the ballot. Since they could not decide, that means he stays on the ballot. At issue was the fact that Melton did not collect enough signatures to add his name to the ballot.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, there will be an air show at the Mount Comfort Airport that will feature the Red Baron squadron. The public will have the opportunity to see aircraft from the past and present. The show begins Friday night with a concert and air show starting at 7:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.

September 5

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is starting another campaign on Bloomington's Indiana University campus. This time it is going to target people who drink milk. The group wants to bring to the student's attention the fact that if they consume dairy products, they are promoting animal abuse. The group is targeting not only students at IU, but also the other schools that made the Princeton Review's top ten party schools. The campaign will be spoofing the "Got Milk?" campaign with their "Got Beer?" campaign. This is the second time the group is trying it. They cut the campaign short the first time due to criticism from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Some students at Indiana University are complaining to police about its policy on arresting students who walk while drunk. The complaint centers on the student's idea that it is smarter for the students to walk home from parties instead of driving while drunk. The students feel that if a person is over 21, the legal age for alcohol consumption, there should be no problem with that person walking drunk. Police say their policy is in response to off-campus complaints that student parties get out of hand.
Indiana's budget crisis is still in the news, and lawmakers are trying to find ways to help ease the budget crunch. Lawmakers will convene in January to discuss an increase in the state gasoline tax. Some lawmakers are planning to push for an additional gas tax increase, even though a three-cent increase approved this year during the special session will take effect January 1. Lobbyists and some lawmakers want the increase, but the Indiana Department of Transportation does not think it is wise to increase the tax so soon after the recent increase takes effect.
Bryan Nichol, Indiana's Transportation Commissioner has said that although the state will select the route it deems best for the I-69 route, the public is more than welcome to comment on the twelve possible routes until November 7. There is a website you can go to for more information or to express your opinion. It is The I-69 to Evansville Study.

September 4

Bob Knight has settled a one million dollar lawsuit filed by a former assistant coach. In the settlement, Knight agreed to pay twenty-five thousand dollars, which was by far cheaper than continuing with the battle in court.
Former Indiana congressman Frank McCloskey has announced that he has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He has undergone tests to determine whether the cancer has spread, and he is waiting for those results. McCloskey had been serving as the Kosovo director of the National Democratic Institute, and returned to the United States after developing a cough last month.
The suspect may be dead, but the murder investigation continues. Martinsville police have no intention of dropping the murder charges against a man accused of killing a black encyclopedia saleswoman thirty-four years ago. There is a second suspect in the murder, and leaving the case open could aid investigators in searching for that suspect. Kenneth C. Richmond, the main suspect, died last month from cancer. Police have been granted access to Richmond's medical records to aid in the investigation.
The Internal Revenue Service agent who was removed from a plane and arrested at Louisville International Airport due to disorderly conduct was released from jail on Tuesday after posting bond. He will be arraigned on Friday in Louisville on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The armed agent boarded a flight bound for Chicago on Monday night. After making obscene comments to a couple, the pilot was called. While it is not against the law for the agent to carry a gun onto the plane, the pilot told the agent he did not want an unruly armed man on the plane. This was the fourth such incident since June at the Louisville airport.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union has a new cause. ICLU attorney Ken Falk has filed a class action suit in Marion County Superior Court alleging that the new policy violates the state and U.S. constitutions. Falk is seeking a preliminary injunction next week to prevent the BMV from using the new requirements. The new requirements were adopted to make identity theft more difficult and as a guard against terrorism. There are two plaintiffs in the suit, one of which entered the country illegally in 2000. She then married a U.S. citizen and is currently waiting for a green card.
The ripple effect of Indiana's budget crisis is being expected to hit the state's nursing homes. Recent cuts in Indiana's Medicaid expenditures is expected to cause a wave of nursing home closures that will displace thousands of ill and disabled senior citizens. 495 of the state's 555 nursing homes depend on Medicaid for income. The cuts will severely affect nursing homes in rural areas and in homes with thiry-five percent or more of their beds empty. Nursing homes have a legal duty to provide at least thirty days' notice to the residents when preparing to close. Indiana has one of the highest levels of empty beds in the nation.

September 3

Three men escaped from the Bartholomew County jail on Sunday, and two are still at large. Gabrial Lee and James Hatton are still on the loose. Bill Mead, the third escapee, turned himself in around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. The three men squeezed through a twelve by fourteen inch opening created by knocking out the window. Authorities are unsure how Hatton, weighing two hundred and forty pounds was able to fit through it. The men are not considered dangerous, but police would like any information on the whereabouts of the men. Call the sherriff's department at 812-379-1689, if you have any of this information.
Although N'Sync's singer Lance Bass has the spacey look, it seems that he will not be going into space at this time. The Russians have asked him to leave the space program because he was unable to come up with the twenty million dollars required.
Are your neighbors driving you crazy? Count yourself fortunate. It could be worse. For years, a Turkish woman has kept many cows in first and third floor apartments in Istanbul. Health officials have finally ordered her to remove them due to the noise and smell.

September 2

It's Labor Day, and you know what that means! All city, county, state and federal offices are closed. Banks are closed, and there will be no mail delivery. Most retail stores will remain open, but you should call in advance if you are unsure of the hours.
No other university in Indiana does it, so I.U.'s Bloomington campus is in a class with only the University of Michigan when it comes to classes on Labor Day. While students, staff, and faculty of all other campuses are off-duty for the day, I.U.'s campus is a hive of teaching activity. The Labor Day class policy is evaluated every four years to see if it is time for change, but so far not many people see an easy way to change the schedule. Until a solution is found, students and faculty will still be laboring in the classroom on the national holiday.
After the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York, people all over the country turned out to donate blood. Almost one year later, the Indiana Blood Center has a blood shortage crisis on their hands. The center has tried everything from a Greek cookout to merchandise giveaways to lure donors. Hospitals call to order blood every day, and the center needs almost five hundred donations a day just to meet demand. They have been averaging two to three hundred donations all summer long. Thousands of people donated blood in the four days after last year's attacks. Half of them were first-time donors. Only thirty-six percent have donated again. Part of the reason the supply is so low is that five hundred people had to be turned away in each of May, June, and July due to stricter testing guidlines.