Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Knight Ridder - Analyst Says Prerequisite for Buy is More Cost Cutting
Newsday runs a DowJones/AP report on the latest surrounding the possible sale of Knight Ridder as a whole or in parts. The story cites what Doug Arthur, newspaper analyst for Morgan Stanley wrote in a recent report:
The "absolute prerequisite" for any potential buyer, whether a rival newspaper company or a buyout firm, "is a view that a significant amount of both cost-cutting and value can be harvested and that some of Knight Ridder's depressed markets can grow again."Interesting lead for the story:
Bankers liken a potential acquisition of newspaper publisher Knight Ridder to buying beachfront property: It's a valuable, hard-to-come-by asset, but it's eroding.
Wheldon Explains Why He Didn't Go Formula 1
500 Winner Says He is Staying in USA for Love
The Kansas City Star today carried a story regarding 2005 Indy Winner Dan Wheldon and his reasons for switching to the Chip Ganassi racing team from the Andretti Green team. The story also quotes Wheldon as to why he decided to forego a pursuit of Formula 1 racing at this time.
The Kansas City Star today carried a story regarding 2005 Indy Winner Dan Wheldon and his reasons for switching to the Chip Ganassi racing team from the Andretti Green team. The story also quotes Wheldon as to why he decided to forego a pursuit of Formula 1 racing at this time.
Wheldon was being courted by a Formula One team as well recently. He said he chose to remain in the United States for a few reasons.
First, he said, he loves America. Second, he loves the IRL.
Third, “It just wasn’t for me,” Wheldon said. “The deal didn’t feel right to me.”
LIN TV - Becoming Indiana's Real News Center
WANE and WISH PARENT COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
TERRE HAUTE STATION FROM EMMIS TODAY
LIN picks up the WTHI 10 television station in Terre Haute along with two other stations from Emmis Communications. That gives LIN a presence in four markets across Indiana.
LIN already owns WISH TV in Indianpolis, WANE TV in Fort Wayne, and WLFI TV in Lafayette, Indiana. All four of the Indiana stations are CBS affiliates.
Unlike Fort Wayne rival Granite Broadcasting, LIN has had a strong financial performance in the past year. Granite is struggling under a huge load of debt.
[T]oday, LIN TV Corp completed its purchase of WALA-TV (Ch. 10, Fox affiliate) in Mobile, Ala./Pensacola, Fla.; WTHI-TV (Ch. 10, CBS affiliate) in Terre Haute, Ind.; WLUK-TV (Ch. 11, Fox affiliate) in Green Bay, Wis.; and KRQE-TV (Ch. 13, CBS affiliate) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, plus regional satellite stations. Because FCC license renewal is still pending, a fifth station, WBPG-TV (Ch. 55, WB affiliate) in Mobile, Ala./Pensacola, Fla., will be operated under a Local Programming and Marketing Agreement, which begins today. The sale price for the five stations is $260 million.Emmis is divesting itself of many of its television properties. Of the other transactions announced late today, Gray Television is picking up a station from Emmis. Gray, it was announced earlier this week, is acquiring WNDU-TV in South Bend, Indiana.
Emmis Communication is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. LIN TV Corp. is based in Providence, Rhode Island.
Bring Back Tax Adjustment Board
Leo Morris wrote an editorial published a week ago November 21, 2005 in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. It was headed: "Flexibility and discipline -If local governments get revenue reform, they must be serious about budgetary reform".
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the elimination of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the elimination of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
Let’s bring back the Tax Adjustment Board, the group that once reviewed the annual budgets and tax rates of all tax-dependent entities in the county. That’s a simple step – it can be done just with a vote by the County Council – suggested by Mitch Harper, former head of the Taxpayers Research Association, and it’s a good one. The state’s budget problems have added more urgency to the requests of local governments for more control over their own destinies. If there’s going to be greater revenue-generating flexibility, local units also need to show budgetary restraint and fiscal discipline, which can be provided by an adjustment board.Leo Morris further wrote:
Individual taxing units just look at their own realms, not at the overall impact of taxes in the county. The more local options there are, the more chances there will be to add to the array of confusion.
That’s where the Tax Adjustment Board comes in. It had the power to look at the overall picture and tell taxing units they needed to adjust their budgets according to an overall plan. Such boards were once mandatory. When the state made them optional, all but a few counties ended them. They were ended by votes of county councils and can be reinstated the same way.
One of the problems faced by local officials is the way all this “reform” is being forged – not by thoughtful debate over the most sensible way to run things, but in desperation because of increasingly difficult budgets at the local level and a state that needs to get its fiscal house in order. That means taxpayers will need more convincing that they’re being treated fairly. They tend not to see the specific needs of individual taxing units. They just look at their overall tax bill and judge accordingly. And the tax bill tends to rachet up.
In the best of all possible worlds, Harper says, we’d go back to a more rational time when “the state took care of its own needs and didn’t get federal money, and local units of government raised the money they needed locally.”
That will never happen, of course, which is why the burden is on local officials to be as scrupulous and transparent as they can be.
Pence Accompanies Bush to Annapolis
President George Bush is addressing the students at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland at this hour. Bush will be talking about the war in Iraq.
Prior to his main remarks, the President introduced three members of the US House of Representatives in attendance. Indiana 2nd District Congressman Mike Pence was among the three.
The other two were Congressmen Pete Hoekstra (MI) and John Shadegg (AZ). Both Hoekstra and Shadegg were recently in Fort Wayne at a fundraiser for US Representative Mark E. Souder of Indiana's 3rd District.
Historical photo from Pence website. Photo not of Naval Academy address.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Harper Begins Campaign
New elections have been called in Canada. Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party seeking to become Prime Minister, said:
"It's never enough to show the public just what we're against. We will show them a positive vision for the future," he said.Harper said a Conservative government won't cater to "privileged and powerful insiders," but will work to improve the lot of ordinary Canadians.
London: 50 Babies a Year Alive After Abortion
The London Sunday Times ran a story under the headline "Fifty Babies a Year are Alive After Abortion."
A government agency is launching an inquiry into doctors’ reports that up to 50 babies a year are born alive after botched National Health Service abortions.Indiana Parley strongly believes this story needed to be brought to your attention.
The investigation, by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH), comes amid growing unease among clinicians over a legal ambiguity that could see them being charged with infanticide.
Professor Dick Armey Lectures the Republican Party
Former House Majority Leader asks in today's Wall Street Journal - "Why are Republican Leaders governing like Democrats?"
Former US Representative Dick Armey has written a column published in today's Wall Street Journal where he warns the Republican leadership that they will not prevail unless Republican Congress reestablishes "its credibility as the party of spending restraint and fiscal responsibility."
Armey wrote:
Armey wrote:
Former US Representative Dick Armey has written a column published in today's Wall Street Journal where he warns the Republican leadership that they will not prevail unless Republican Congress reestablishes "its credibility as the party of spending restraint and fiscal responsibility."
Armey wrote:
All of our leaders are complicit in this spending spree. President Bush has yet to veto a single spending bill.He pointed to US Representative Mike Pence of Indiana with favor as one of a small number of "young Turks of the party - the brave backbenchers more inspired by Reagan than the possibility of a glowing editorial on the pages of the New York Times."
Armey wrote:
A serious effort to slow the growth of the federal budget is being driven by a small group of House Republicans led by Reps. Mike Pence, Jeff Flake, and Jeb Hensarling. Against their own leadership's wishes, this brave group and others from the Republican Study Committee gathered outside the Cannon House office building in September to kick off "Operation Offset," a modest proposal to pay for the extraordinary costs associated with Hurrican Katrina with savings from other parts of the budget.Armey began the column by remarking that during his entire political career he has
...never sensed such anger and frustration from our volunteers - those who do the hard work of door-to-door mobilization that Republican candidates depend on to get elected. Across the nation, wherever I go to speak with them, their refrain is the same: "I can't tell a dime's worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats." Our base rightly expects Republicans to govern by the principles - lower taxes, less government and more freedom - controlling both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, there is a widening credibility gap between their political rhetoric and public policies.Armey closed by saying that if the Republicans get their house in order, there will be a sharp contrast with Democrats. He closed by writing:
None of this will be easy. The good news for Republicans willing to do this heavy lifting is that the "ideas" of the left are bankrupt. Notice that the brightest liberal politicians, like Hillary Clinton, always move toward our policy ground as they prepare to run for national office. Why would Republicans want to act like them when they act like us in order to win?Excellent lesson, Professor Armey. Let's hope the students were paying attention and taking notes for all our sakes.
One final Armey Axiom: When we act like us, we win. When we act like them, we lose.
Indiana Libertarian Chair Responds to George Will
Mitch Daniels No Libertarian, Asserts Rutherford
Columnist George Will wrote favorably during the past week about US Representative Mike Pence and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Leo Morris noted the column at his weblog "Opening Arguments."
However, Indiana Libertarian Party Chair Mark Rutherford has taken offense to Will's characterization of Governor Daniels as a libertarian.
Rutherford wrote:
George Will contact information: georgewill@washpost.com. Address: 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
Columnist George Will wrote favorably during the past week about US Representative Mike Pence and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Leo Morris noted the column at his weblog "Opening Arguments."
However, Indiana Libertarian Party Chair Mark Rutherford has taken offense to Will's characterization of Governor Daniels as a libertarian.
Rutherford wrote:
Columnist George Will had this to say about Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels: "In the division between social conservatives, who emphasize nurturing virtue, and libertarian conservatives, who emphasize expanding liberty by limiting government, Daniels is with the latter."Mark Rutherford contact information: lpinhq@lpin.org Address: 156 East Market Street, Suite 600, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
No. Mitch is not now, nor has he ever been a Libertarian. And with such government-expanding actions as:
·advocating taxpayer money to build a new stadium for the multi-million-dollar business, the Colts;
·seeking to spend millions of dollars on an unnecessary Interstate-69 route when the state can't afford to maintain and upgrade current roads;
·dumping the state's tax burden onto local entities to fulfill the whims of the governor and the legislature;
Mitch Daniels will never become a Libertarian.
George Will contact information: georgewill@washpost.com. Address: 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
US Rep Pence Fundraiser to be Held in 3rd District
The re-election campaign committee for United States Representative Mike Pence will be holding a fundraiser on December 10, 2005.
There is nothing particularly newsworthy about that except that the reception will be held in the 3rd District. Pence represents Indiana's 6th Congressional District. US Representative Mark Souder represents the 3rd.
The "Holiday Reception" will be held in the home of Pence supporters in Whitley County. It can be noted, though, that the location is very near the southern border of the 3rd District.
On the other hand, the adjoining district is not the 6th District of Congressman Pence. It's the 5th District of US Representative Dan Burton.
There is nothing particularly newsworthy about that except that the reception will be held in the 3rd District. Pence represents Indiana's 6th Congressional District. US Representative Mark Souder represents the 3rd.
The "Holiday Reception" will be held in the home of Pence supporters in Whitley County. It can be noted, though, that the location is very near the southern border of the 3rd District.
On the other hand, the adjoining district is not the 6th District of Congressman Pence. It's the 5th District of US Representative Dan Burton.
Monday, November 28, 2005
500 Winner Dan Wheldon Splits Up
Another story that would seem more at home on the pages of Fort Wayne Observed - the Indianapolis Star carried word today that 27 year-old Indy race car driver Dan Wheldon is leaving a long-time relationship.
He didn't seem too broken up by the split. Wheldon said: "I can't talk about it right now, but it's good."
He didn't seem too broken up by the split. Wheldon said: "I can't talk about it right now, but it's good."
Phil Bloom of the Journal-Gazette Covers Local Blogger
Phil Bloom, Outdoor reporter for the Journal-Gazette, covered Team ETG last week for the JG's new Recreation feature on Wednesdays. Team ETG is a group of top post-collegiate runners in Fort Wayne who train together.
Casey Shafer, one of the Team ETG members, formed a blog for the group at about the same time Indiana Parley was created.
Casey Shafer, one of the Team ETG members, formed a blog for the group at about the same time Indiana Parley was created.
Bring Back the Tax Adjustment Board
Leo Morris wrote an editorial published a week ago November 21, 2005 in the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. It was headed: "Flexibility and discipline -If local governments get revenue reform, they must be serious about budgetary reform".
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshhold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the eliminatation of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
He did something I found extraordinary; he accurately expressed the thoughts of his major source. I can say that with absolute authority; I was the source. The editorial conveyed my views on local budgeting, which I will talk more about later.
The other key part of the editorial endorses the idea of bringing back the County Tax Adjustment Board TAB). We used to have one in Allen County. It was the last stop before the proposed property tax rates got sent to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance). The Board had the power to cut tax levies, it did not have the power to cut individual budget items.
The TAB looked at the OVERALL tax burden on any given piece of taxable real property. That is, it looked at the "stacked plates" of the township, school corporation, city, county, library, airport authority, and, potentially, the fire district, the parks and so on.
Right now, no entity performs that function. The Tax Adjustment Board made the true economic decision that the individual local taxing units often will not. Economics is defined as the "allocation of scarce resources." Many local governmental leaders do not believe that tax resources are scarce. Or if they are, it is due to the profligracy of the other tax bodies in their community.
Some local officials do get it. One Fort Wayne City Council member, John Crawford, recently referred to the separate taxing districts making decisions without relation to each other the "silo effect."
Two things happened to the Tax Adjustment Boards in Indiana. The first was that, generally, the late 1970's and 1980's were a time of inflation. Local governments were capped, as a general rule, by a 5% maximum annual allowable increase in their tax levy.
The question most often asked of local governmental officials when they were before county Tax Adjustment Boards was, "Did you exceed your maximum allowable levy?" The answer most often was, "No." Since inflation was often running higher than 5%, the TAB's didn't do much cutting. The property tax levy caps in the Property Tax Control program did the heavy lifting of serving as a barrier to excessive taxation.
Toward the end of the 1980's, a few counties asked the legislature to be exempted from the necessity of having Tax Adjustment Boards meet. Then, the legislature made TAB's optional for all counties.
Allen County did away with its Tax Adjustment Board by resolution shortly thereafter.
However, the 1990's and the first 5 years of this century have seen inflation drop to very low levels. The legislature and Governors of that time had loosened local property tax controls. Many local goverments had treated the maximum allowable increase as something they should seek lest they lose.
Even in those counties, like Delaware, which retained their Tax Adjustment Boards, the local governments would automatically use their right under the statute to appeal the decision to the State Board of Tax Commissioners (now DLGF). While the governors had the power to constitute a board which would have been more stringent the people of Indiana ended up with an agency routinely overruling the decisions of local TAB's and allowing the higher taxes.
TAB's are not perfect. The appointments are split between the County Commissioners (4), County Council (1), largest city (1), and largest school corporation (1). The overall effect is to shift power over city, town, township, and special taxing districts to the county.
On the other hand, it has amazed but not surprised me that many of the strongest proponents of combining governments in a county do not want to do anything which would give one body the power to rationally examine the overall tax burden in the county. When government consolidation proponents are presented with the idea of reinstating the Tax Adjustment Board or creating some other entity to rationally examine the overall tax burden on Allen County residents, they tend to shrink from the idea of fiscal controls.
The Allen County Tax Adjustment Board can be reinstated with the passage of a resolution to do so by the Allen County Council. This is not even a decision which requires initiation or even approval by the County Commissioners. Shouldn't the question of whether a candidate for county council supports reestablishment of the Tax Adjustment Board be a threshhold question for County Council candidates in 2006?
When state legislators are being asked to change state laws to allow more governmental consolidation, shouldn't legislators tell the proponents to at least make sure they have the basic mechanism of tax control such as a Tax Adjustment Board in place in the county before seeking legislative support for consolidation again?
The proponents of consolidation always allude that consolidation makes sense because it will save money through the eliminatation of duplication of services and "economies of scale." The proponents ask their audience, by and large, to accept this as a truism. However, the academic studies indicate that, in practice, this has always been a chimera. Consolidation usually begets more spending and governmental expansion.
Leo Morris and the News-Sentinel are now willing to tell their readers that oversight of local government total spending and taxing is a prerequisite. That's a start.
From Leo Morris for the editorial board:
Let’s bring back the Tax Adjustment Board, the group that once reviewed the annual budgets and tax rates of all tax-dependent entities in the county. That’s a simple step – it can be done just with a vote by the County Council – suggested by Mitch Harper, former head of the Taxpayers Research Association, and it’s a good one. The state’s budget problems have added more urgency to the requests of local governments for more control over their own destinies. If there’s going to be greater revenue-generating flexibility, local units also need to show budgetary restraint and fiscal discipline, which can be provided by an adjustment board.Leo Morris further wrote:
Individual taxing units just look at their own realms, not at the overall impact of taxes in the county. The more local options there are, the more chances there will be to add to the array of confusion.
That’s where the Tax Adjustment Board comes in. It had the power to look at the overall picture and tell taxing units they needed to adjust their budgets according to an overall plan. Such boards were once mandatory. When the state made them optional, all but a few counties ended them. They were ended by votes of county councils and can be reinstated the same way.
One of the problems faced by local officials is the way all this “reform” is being forged – not by thoughtful debate over the most sensible way to run things, but in desperation because of increasingly difficult budgets at the local level and a state that needs to get its fiscal house in order. That means taxpayers will need more convincing that they’re being treated fairly. They tend not to see the specific needs of individual taxing units. They just look at their overall tax bill and judge accordingly. And the tax bill tends to rachet up.
In the best of all possible worlds, Harper says, we’d go back to a more rational time when “the state took care of its own needs and didn’t get federal money, and local units of government raised the money they needed locally.”
That will never happen, of course, which is why the burden is on local officials to be as scrupulous and transparent as they can be.
Souder Ekes Out Win in Parley Poll 2
Incumbent 3rd District Congressman Mark E. Souder narrowly edged Democrat Tom Hayhurst in the second online poll hosted by Indiana Parley. Souder received 106 votes (40%) and Hayhurst received 101 votes (38%) out of 266 total online votes cast.The Libertarian Party as represented by the name of Allen County LP Chair Mike Sylvester received 59 votes (22%). Sylvester's name was placed in the poll as a "placeholder" for the Libertarians as no candidate has yet emerged for the Libertarian congressional nomination. Sylvester recently announced he will be running for the Board of Northwest Allen County Schools (NACS) in 2006.
Hayhurst and Sylvester jumped to early leads in the first few days of the poll. Hayhurst continued to lead until the final days. Souder then assumed a very narrow lead of a few votes.
Any lessons to be drawn from the poll? The main one is that Hayhurst enters 2006 with a Democratic base very accepting of his candidacy. The other is that a large percentage of Libertarians view this page, own computers and aren't afraid to use them.
Otherwise, as we have told you, this poll is unabashedly unscientific. You should be careful driving a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery after viewing these results.
Full Disclosure: The poll ran until approximately 6 AM, November 27. It had been intended that the poll would terminate at or near midnight November 25. However, the results on November 25 also displayed a narrow, single-digit vote margin for incumbent Souder.
Cougars Beat Cross-Town Rivals Indiana Tech
The University of St. Francis men's basketball team joined the football team in winning over the weekend. The Cougars beat Indiana Tech in the "Battle of Fort Wayne" 93-71. Indiana Tech graduated many of the top players who took Tech to the NAIA Final Eight in 2005.
The Cougars took advantage of solid outside shooting (8-of-19, 42% behind the arc) and a dominating performance on the glass (54-37 rebounding edge) while holding the Warriors to just 33% shooting on the afternoon (23-of-69).USF got out to a commanding lead in the first half and led 48-31 at the break.St. Francis plays the Huntington Foresters on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM on the campus of St. Francis at the Hutzell Athletic Center. The Hutzell Center is located on Leesburg Road south of Spring Street or north of Main Street.
Valediction
Condolences are extended to the family of Harry J. Okeson, of Fort Wayne, who died Wednesday. He was a civil engineer long involved in the construction industry. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and four sons, including H. John, former Clerk of the Indiana Supreme and Appellate Courts, and Paul, Chief Deputy Indiana Secretary of State. Services will be Saturday in Fort Wayne.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Cougars Claw Georgetown Tigers
Indiana Parley wishes the University of St. Francis well as they advance toward the NAIA National Football Championship. St. Francis trounced Georgetown (KY) 44-14.
St. Francis plays Morningside (Iowa) next Saturday, December 3, 2005 at Bishop D'Arcy Stadium. Two players suspended for misconduct last weekend , starting linebacker Brian Kurtz and tight end Jeremiah Wood, will be back for the semi-finals.
photo credit: Mitch Harper
Friday, November 25, 2005
Nicole Manske in the News
It's not often that Indiana Parley gets the jump on Fort Wayne Observed. But we do have news of a mention of Nicole Manske in an article by a Los Angeles dailynews.com sports columnist. Tom Hoffarth chronicles what are, in his judgment, the 12 Most Dubious Moments in sports coverage during the last year. While this type of story is a little off IP's normal beat, this is something fun for the holiday weekend.
Hoffarth's mention of Nicole Manske was included in an item about sports reporters and their romantic interests which might cast doubt about journalistic objectivity. Writing about Fox Sports Net West reporter Carolyn Hughes:
The crime: Was taken off the Dodgers coverage in July after the swirling rumors became reality - she was having a relationship with Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe.He concluded that relationship story by writing:
The floodgates finally opened when a media watchdog Web site, RonFineman.com, reported the affair with compromising photographs. Lowe's wife, Trinka, contacted the team and FSN to inform them of the conflict of interest, among other things.
According to Fineman, Trinka Lowe also confronted Hughes after suspecting there was something afoot and posed the question: "Do you think this is an appropriate and professional relationship?" To which Hughes responded, according to Trinka, "Yes I do ... There is no crime."
While Hughes and Lowe continue to be seen together at Lakers and Clippers games, it hasn't stopped other athlete-reporter relationships from becoming public. New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez recently announced his engagement to ESPN Deportes reporter Carolina Cruz, although the network claims she no longer works for them. Indy 500 winner and IRL champion Dan Wheldon has also gone public with dating Nicole Manske, a sportscaster at WISH-Channel 8 in Indianapolis.Hoffarth's other dubious moments with an Indiana connection include TNT commentator Cheryl Miller denying that her brother, Pacer Reggie Miller, was going to retire. She upbraided her broadcasting partner on-air for reporting such a thing. Two weeks later she announced it on TNT.
The other dubious moment concerned former Ball State University basketball coach Rick Majerus. Hoffarth writes:
The crime: During a Kentucky-Tennessee telecast in mid-January, the Wildcats built a 16-point lead with 3:30 left. Majerus remarked: "At this point in time, the game's over ... but I'm starting to look for Ashley Judd so I don't have to go home to the adult videos tonight."What will be the reaction to this post over at Fort Wayne Observed? Watch for Fort Wayne Observed to respond by starting to cover an Indiana Parley reporting niche like, oh, IPFW basketball.
MORE: Fort Wayne Observed reports on Nicole Manske here, here, here, here,and here.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Indiana Supreme Court Issues Abortion Decision
Court Upholds Indiana Law Regarding Waiting Periods
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued its ruling today upholding the Indiana statute mandating a waiting period before abortion.
You can read the complete decision of the Indiana Supreme Court here.
The Indiana Supreme Court has issued its ruling today upholding the Indiana statute mandating a waiting period before abortion.
You can read the complete decision of the Indiana Supreme Court here.
Bart on the Brink
Last September, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson traveled to northeast Indiana to speak at the Thomas R. Marshall Dinner of the Whitley County Democratic party. The report of his remarks by Angela Jones in the Columbia City Post & Mail had an interesting account.
Of the recent agreement for the $920 million Indianapolis Colts stadium project, Peterson said it was worked out so that none of the cost is coming from Hoosier taxpayers.Now, c'mon. What all was in House Bill 1120 passed by the 2005 legislature? The Indianapolis Star enumerated the various taxes:
• Hotel taxes: Marion County hotel tax increases to 9 percent from the current 6 percent. This is on top of the 6 percent state sales tax.The Mayor also talked about his program to help develop young people interested in government. Jones wrote:
• Car rental taxes: Marion County car rental tax would double, to 4 percent.
• Restaurant taxes: Marion County would double its food and beverage tax, to 2 percent. Meantime, neighboring suburban counties are expected to implement 1 percent restaurant taxes, giving half to the stadium and keeping the other half.
• Admissions tax: This tax, charged on Colts tickets, would increase to 6 percent from 5 percent.
• Ticket taxes: If necessary, the new state stadium board can implement an additional $3 tax on Colts tickets and a $1 tax on tickets to other events at the stadium.
Peterson announced a summit called "Leaders on the Brink" his office is working on. It will be held in Indianapolis in November. The summit is designed to teach younger people how they can become involved in government and how to win elections."Leaders on the Brink" of success... or disaster? The Mayor's title for the program didn't complete the phrase. Maybe the Mayor or his staff were just being realistic. Politics can lead to either outcome or sometimes both in the same career.
Star Does Something Right
They Run Craig Ladwig's Column on Poor Media Coverage of IndyWorks
The Indianapolis Star published Ladwig's column critical of Star's coverage of the hearing on IndyWorks. You can read it in the Star here or you read the entire column below. Indiana Parley is able to publish the full column with the permission of its author.
There are implications in the column for the consideration of consolidated government in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
The Indianapolis Star published Ladwig's column critical of Star's coverage of the hearing on IndyWorks. You can read it in the Star here or you read the entire column below. Indiana Parley is able to publish the full column with the permission of its author.
There are implications in the column for the consideration of consolidated government in Allen County and Fort Wayne.
The Unbrokered Public Discussion of IndyWorks
by Craig LadwigThe 50 or so senators, staff and onlookers in the state Senate Chambers last week for a hearing of the Marion County Consolidation Study Commission got a profound, albeit negative, lesson in why vigorous, inquiring media are so important to the democratic process.
The news that day was there was no news. The leads were not followed to the public records patiently assembled by the commission, records that would have shown how far the political debate had wandered from the verifiable.
The commission was charged with studying "IndyWorks," the proposal of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson to consolidate local government. When the plan was unveiled, the mayor projected significant savings and efficiency. His numbers were accepted unquestioningly at the time. Indeed, some in media and business circulated the mayor’s graphics showing supposed property-tax benefits of consolidation.
The overall public impression was that the merits of consolidation were obvious to all but the uninformed. After all, who could be against a plan that saved money and lowered property taxes?
Fortunately, Sen. Mike Young, the commission chairman, insisted on asking a few questions. The commission’s accounting found that the city projections were more than just rosy, they bordered on malfeasant.
For the first 18 months of consolidation, the mayor would have been nearly $31 million off – enough to make the project marginal for all but the most exuberant Indy booster. And those graphics showing property-tax reductions . . . well, they weren’t built on any actual data (merely "illustrative," the mayor’s office later explained).
Please know that more than half of the mayor’s shortfall, which some believe would have required a surprise tax increase soon after consolidation, was not a matter of interpretation. Any citizen or reporter could access public records to determine who had the facts straight. Sen. Young, to no avail, had carefully noted where each record could be found.
The commission learned something else important at last week’s hearing. A team of academics commissioned by the Indiana Policy Review Foundation surveyed the most recent research on consolidation, much of it specific to Indianapolis. Their survey showed that the success of downtown Indianapolis was considered the result of an incremental rather than utopian approach to consolidation. Most interesting to the commission’s hearings, the experts agreed that the city already had consolidated those areas most likely to yield public benefit.
So it turns out that consolidation is not a no-brainer. Its potential benefits in economic development, government efficiency and accountability depend on the individual case. That is, success varies widely according to such factors as the service being consolidated, at what stage it is being consolidated and who is doing the consolidating.
But for Indianapolis and other cities looking to reform local government, the idea that consolidation is good for consolidation’s sake is not seriously questioned. Even the most careful reader of the news pages or viewer of the nightly news can wrongly assume that you make city government work better by just making it bigger.
This assumption is so strong that both the president of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the head of the city firefighters felt comfortable publishing a letter a few days before the commission hearing saying that no accounting of IndyWorks was necessary, that the success of Unigov was self-evident.
That such public conclusions are being drawn on critical issues without even generally accurate information should trouble us at many levels.
At the least, it should trouble us that the media does not devote adequate resources to cover the government beats. It is expensive, certainly, to train and keep experienced government reporters. It is those beats, however, that could prove critical for readers and viewers.
Our Indiana communities once were blessed with local media that invested staff and resources in an effort to ensure that their governments made sound judgments based on informed discussion, not on press releases and political promises. The shallowness of the IndyWorks discussion should convince editors to reinvest in just that.
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T. Craig Ladwig, editor of the Indiana Policy Review and a veteran of 38 years in newsrooms and on editorial pages, has worked for Capital Cities Communications and Knight-Ridder News as well as on staff at the U.S. Senate. Contact him at cladwig@inpolicy.org.
Leo Morris Swats Indy STAR Managing Editor
Leo Morris mocked the Managing Editor of the Indianapolis STAR Monday for the column the editor had written in Sunday's Star.
Leo wrote his comments in a piece called "Indianapolis Saved!" for his weblog "Opening Arguments."
Indiana Parley had the same reaction Leo did when we read Dennis Ryerson's column Sunday. However, IP made the judgment that it would take too much space to explain Mr. Ryerson; after all, this hasn't been the first time we've looked askance at one of his columns.
A brief summary of Ryerson's puffed-up column:
Yes, Mr. Ryerson, I suppose you'd like to think so. However, we'd like to think that you don't have a very good understanding of the way police officers carry out their jobs and that you owe Sheriff Anderson, in particular, and all Indiana police officers, in general, an apology.
Leo wrote his comments in a piece called "Indianapolis Saved!" for his weblog "Opening Arguments."
Indiana Parley had the same reaction Leo did when we read Dennis Ryerson's column Sunday. However, IP made the judgment that it would take too much space to explain Mr. Ryerson; after all, this hasn't been the first time we've looked askance at one of his columns.
A brief summary of Ryerson's puffed-up column:
- The Indianapolis Star supports the combination of the Indy Police and the Marion County Sheriff.
- The Mayor has cut back the number of Indianapolis police officers over the last year and had threatened to cut back more if the merger of the police agencies was not passed.
- There is a crime wave now hitting Indianapolis of armed robberies and murders.
- The Sheriff, who had opposed the merger until the last minute, was completely oblivious to the crime wave.
- The Star, in the crusading journalist fashion of days gone by, brought the crime wave to the attention of the community and its leaders.
- Sheriff Frank Anderson announced that several suspects have been apprehended thought to have committed many of the robberies.
- Sheriff Anderson was only moved to action by the pressure created by the crusading journalists at the Star.
- This all shows why the merger is the solution to the crime now plaguing Indy (even though the proponents of the merger say that it will take at least 3 years to implement).
The sheriff then realized the jig was up -- "Gadzooks, the newspaper is onto us!" -- and immediately arrested nine suspects thought to be responsible for 30 robberies. The newspaper editor went home and slept snugly, pleased that once again journalism had saved the city.Ryerson had written: "Was there a connection between [the Star's] story and the announcement of the arrests? I'd like to think so."
God, we can be insufferable. How do you people put up with us?
Yes, Mr. Ryerson, I suppose you'd like to think so. However, we'd like to think that you don't have a very good understanding of the way police officers carry out their jobs and that you owe Sheriff Anderson, in particular, and all Indiana police officers, in general, an apology.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Dana Corp. Acquires 100% of Mexican Factories
Dana Corporation, the automotive parts maker with significant remaining operations in Fort Wayne, will be acquiring full ownership of five Mexican factories that it had operated as a joint venture with a Mexican firm. "These transactions will provide Dana with a strategic opportunity to strengthen our core axle and driveshaft businesses with vertically integrated and technologically advanced operations in a key geographic location," said Dana Chairman and CEO Mike Burns. "As a result, Dana will be positioned to benefit from low-cost manufacturing efficiencies, as well as top-line growth from fully owned core operations in Mexico."
CBS Orders Up Full Season of "Close to Home"
Announcement made Tuesday
The CBS Television Network will make at least one reader of Indiana Parley (IP) happy. CBS announced Tuesday that the series "Close to Home" will be picked up for the whole season. Strong viewership for the series after the move to Friday during sweeps month has secured its future.
Why will it make one reader of IP happy? Because that reader commented recently that IP seemed to be devoting too much bandwith to a show the reader regarded as "krep."
IP is pleased to note that it will probably stop giving weekly reports on the show's ratings now that it has been granted a successful run. We can now devote more of IP's resources to its main job of saving the Republic and securing the rights of free men and women.
"Close to Home" is a drama set in Indianapolis. It is written by James Leonard, Jr., a 1974 graduate of New Haven Senior High School and a 1978 graduate of Hanover College.
The CBS Television Network will make at least one reader of Indiana Parley (IP) happy. CBS announced Tuesday that the series "Close to Home" will be picked up for the whole season. Strong viewership for the series after the move to Friday during sweeps month has secured its future.
Why will it make one reader of IP happy? Because that reader commented recently that IP seemed to be devoting too much bandwith to a show the reader regarded as "krep."
IP is pleased to note that it will probably stop giving weekly reports on the show's ratings now that it has been granted a successful run. We can now devote more of IP's resources to its main job of saving the Republic and securing the rights of free men and women.
"Close to Home" is a drama set in Indianapolis. It is written by James Leonard, Jr., a 1974 graduate of New Haven Senior High School and a 1978 graduate of Hanover College.
IPFW and Coach Fife Showed Them at the Show Me Center
IPFW Gets 65-64 Win Over Southeast Missouri StateIPFW basketball gets its first regular season victory on the road at the Show Me Center at Southeast Missouri State. The SE Missourian newspaper gives the story from the losing team's homebase.
"Much credit to IPFW. They were more aggressive than we were starting out," senior center Ketshner Guerrier said. "We have to have that killer instinct from the start, and not wait until the second half."And if you think that is a great comment about the style of play new Coach Dane Fife is bringing to the Mastodons there is an even better comment about IPFW at the Sportsblog of the SE Missourian. Mike Mitchell writes on his blog:
Just how important is Montana transfer and Portageville native Roy Booker to the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks offense? Through the first two games, Booker has scored 42 points, or 34% of the team's total output. He had 25 in last night's one-point loss to Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. IPFW, by the way, has to have one of the coolest nicknames in all of college sports: the Mastodons. [Emphasis added]Flashback: Federal Judicial Decision states that Mastodon is a "cool" nickname. See page 2 - Crue v. Aiken, 370 F.3d 668 (7th Cir. 2004).
Drive-By Racist Comments Being Addressed by Ball State
Response Includes Bold, Aggressive Move of... Forming a Task Force
Ball State University is moving to address the concerns of students regarding incidents of racist harassment on the Muncie, Indiana, campus. As Indiana Parley noted last week, those incidents have included the yelling of racial slurs from vehicles along McKinley and University Avenues. Erin Moody, Chief Reporter for the Ball State Daily News, wrote last week's story about the incidents and she has followed up with today's report.
Ball State University is moving to address the concerns of students regarding incidents of racist harassment on the Muncie, Indiana, campus. As Indiana Parley noted last week, those incidents have included the yelling of racial slurs from vehicles along McKinley and University Avenues. Erin Moody, Chief Reporter for the Ball State Daily News, wrote last week's story about the incidents and she has followed up with today's report.
One idea already being implemented by the University Police Department is increasing the amount of police on duty, especially around McKinley Avenue where most of the verbal assaults have occurred. However, Director of Public Safety Gene Burton said it would take a “stroke of luck” for an officer to actually witness the harassment. Despite the difficulties, he said it was important the police assist however they can.The University is also setting up a task force.
“Nobody should have to put up with that kind of harassment as they are walking down the street at midnight minding their own business,” Burton said.
One possible tool to aid the fight against racism is the formation of a task force to deal with the problems.The initial story was the result of the concerns being raised at a Student Government meeting last Wednesday. Student Government leaders are probably hoping for Ball State faculty and administrators to act with more alacrity than when the Student Government asked for a student/faculty relationship policy. The Faculty Senate took 5 years to endorse a policy on that isse.
A meeting will be held Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center, room 331, Director of Student Affairs Kay Bales said. Anyone is invited to join the task force for the meeting.
“Essentially, what we are doing is asking students to come and talk about what are some other things that can be done on campus,” Bales said.
Brian Howey gets the Dogwood Treatment
The Dogwood Files weblog critiques Brian Howey's column on the defeat of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson's plan to combine the Indy Police and Marion County Sheriff's Department.
You don't need to go looking for the Howey column first. Dogwood provides the pertinent paragraph from Howey then writes the Dogwoodian response.
Major props to Indiana Blog Review
You don't need to go looking for the Howey column first. Dogwood provides the pertinent paragraph from Howey then writes the Dogwoodian response.
Major props to Indiana Blog Review
Morning Coffee and the Wall Street Journal
This morning's Wall Street Journal offers up another one of the many items that makes life easier. The WSJ has a short column on the front page of its "Personal Journal" section called "Quick Fix." It is geared toward offering solutions to those vexing problems of the modern world.
Loretta Chao writes about the "Interactive Voice Response Cheat Sheet." It has tips on quickly bypassing the touch tone or voice-recognition mazes one has to negotiate when calling a company's customer service number. That is, it tells you ways to reach a living, breathing human being at a company.
The service currently has information on 110 companies.
The website of this much needed service is www.paulenglish.com/ivr/
I really could have used it last week.
Loretta Chao writes about the "Interactive Voice Response Cheat Sheet." It has tips on quickly bypassing the touch tone or voice-recognition mazes one has to negotiate when calling a company's customer service number. That is, it tells you ways to reach a living, breathing human being at a company.
The service currently has information on 110 companies.
The website of this much needed service is www.paulenglish.com/ivr/
I really could have used it last week.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Knight Ridder to Three of Its Publishers: "STOP, Don't Move
Lou Heldman, former News-Sentinel Managing Editor, Told to Hold the Line In Wichita
Knight Ridder, told three of its executives who had had been announced as assuming new posts to stay put at their current positions until further notice. The move was seen as a further reaction by the company to the swiftly moving events surrounding the pressures for sale of the newspaper chain.
Peter Ridder, who had briefly been President and CEO of Fort Wayne Newspapers in the 1980's, will stay on at the Charlotte Observer for the near term. It had earlier been announced that he would retire. His brother, Tony Ridder, is head of Knight Ridder.
Knight Ridder, told three of its executives who had had been announced as assuming new posts to stay put at their current positions until further notice. The move was seen as a further reaction by the company to the swiftly moving events surrounding the pressures for sale of the newspaper chain.
Peter Ridder, who had briefly been President and CEO of Fort Wayne Newspapers in the 1980's, will stay on at the Charlotte Observer for the near term. It had earlier been announced that he would retire. His brother, Tony Ridder, is head of Knight Ridder.
The company had planned to move Ann Caulkins, publisher of The State in Columbia, S.C., to replace him. Lou Heldman was announced as Caulkins' successor in Columbia with Sharon Lindenbaum to take the helm at the Wichita Eagle.Lou Heldman was Managing Editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel when it won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the 1982 flood.
So, for now, Heldman will remain publisher of The Eagle while Lindenbaum will remain in her current position as vice president of business administration of the Knight Ridder-owned Kansas City Star.
Statehouse Visitor Center: Ball State Students Present Plan
At 2 PM today at the Indiana Statehouse, a group of Ball State University architecture students will present plans and a model for a museum and visitors' center for the Statehouse. Jessica Kerman, writing for the Ball State Daily News:The plans include removing the media area from the first floor of the Statehouse. The story in the Ball State Daily News didn't indicate whether the plans included designation of a spot for the relocation of the Statehouse reporters. Indiana Parley speculates that given the current trends in newspapers the BSU plans might include placement of the print reporters in the proposed Statehouse museum.Professor of architecture Sonne Palmer, who worked with the Statehouse for its centennial celebration in 1988, was approached to help with the project by the State House Museum Committee.
“They originally wanted us to use some space on the first floor to make a museum of the Statehouse,” Melisa Green, one of the students working on the project, said. “We looked at different options, different ideas about how we could do that.”
The group started working on ideas in the beginning of the fall semester, and on Oct. 21, it presented the final idea to the committee, which is comprised of eight senators and representatives.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
State Senator Antich Latest to Resign
Indiana Daily Insight carries the news that Indiana State Senator Rose Antich will be resigning the State Senate effective November 28th. She was elected to a vacancy in the office of Merrillville Town Clerk-Treasurer on Saturday.
"Close to Home" Continues Strong for CBS
Move to Friday is a Winner for 2nd Week for the Jim Leonard, Jr. Drama
The good ratings news continued for the second straight week for "Close to Home," the CBS drama created by New Haven native Jim Leonard, Jr. CBS moved the season's new television series to Fridays for sweeps month.
"Close to Home" won its 9 PM time period and that helped the CBS Network post a strong win for the whole night.
A so-so performer on Tuesdays becomes a winner on Friday night.
The "Close to Home" storyline is set in Indianapolis.
The good ratings news continued for the second straight week for "Close to Home," the CBS drama created by New Haven native Jim Leonard, Jr. CBS moved the season's new television series to Fridays for sweeps month.
"Close to Home" won its 9 PM time period and that helped the CBS Network post a strong win for the whole night.
A so-so performer on Tuesdays becomes a winner on Friday night.
The "Close to Home" storyline is set in Indianapolis.
Knight Ridder and the Fate of the 'Second-Rate'
Knight Ridder has been publishing mostly second-rate newspapers for as long as anyone can remember. Its strategy has been straightforward: Leverage de facto monopoly newspaper status in individual cities into ownership of the classified advertising business in those communities.That's a line from a piece written by John Ellis for the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and published Saturday for its Nov. 19-20 issue.
Ellis wrote that Knight Ridder will have a difficult time finding a deep pocketed buyer willing to acquire the whole company. If the whole KR company is purchased, Ellis and others have noted, it is likely to be at a discount so the buyer can then sell off the individual chunks at a premium.
This lack of enthusiasm for a company once regarded as a money machine is evidence of how thoroughly the Internet has disrupted media business models. And with broadband now reaching into more than half of U.S. households, disruption has morphed into menace.Dave Friedman comments on the piece at his blog, Soul of Wit. He carries most of the WSJ column. More from the Ellis column:
Newspaper chains like Knight Ridder retain a competitive advantage in classified advertising (and thus remain profitable), but that, too, is about to change. Just 24 hours after Knight Ridder made its for-sale announcement, Google said it was taking aim at the classified ad business. Classifieds are estimated to be a $100 billion market. Is there anyone who thinks that Knight Ridder can really compete with Google, if Google decides to mount a full-scale offensive? On the Google side, the best code writers and software programmers in the world will work on making its classified advertising application as good as it gets. On the Knight Ridder side, they will leverage what they have, for as long as they have it, which won't be long, if the Wall Street talking heads are correct.Ellis concluded:
Buying second-rate information providers makes no sense. The consolidation everyone expects may in fact more closely resemble a break-up of the old order, and the selling-off of its assets, piece by piece.Ellis is identified by the WSJ as a former columnist for the Boston Globe and now a partner in Sand Hills Partners, a venture capital firm.
Angelina Jolie Makes Eyes at Dick Lugar
Indiana Blog Review has made its selection of IBR's "Picture of the Week."
It's a photo of actress and UN activist Angelina Jolie giving Indiana's US Senator Dick Lugar what can only be described as an adoring look. Is it acting or real? Maybe Brad Pitt needs to find out.
It's a photo of actress and UN activist Angelina Jolie giving Indiana's US Senator Dick Lugar what can only be described as an adoring look. Is it acting or real? Maybe Brad Pitt needs to find out.
Sunday Morning - Coffee and the Journal-Gazette
A few noteworthy things from the Sunday morning Journal-Gazette:
- BIG has a Big Rebuttal - Chuck Bodenhafer of Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group writes a rebuttal to the Journal-Gazette's column questioning BIG's commissions on Allen County government's insurance and Bodenhafer's campaign contributions.
Bodenhafer Insurance & Investment Group (BIIG) has served as Allen County government’s insurance agent of record since 1983. Over that time, BIIG has worked diligently to build an insurance program that is effective and innovative. Our efforts have been very successful, resulting in just one increase in the cost of insurance to the employees in the past 21 years. That is a result that many envy and few can match.
- Orchard Ridge Country Club on the Cliff's Edge - Orchard Ridge is about to go under. The Journal-Gazette obtained a copy of a letter sent out to the Country Club's membership regarding the financial woes of the Club. Options may include sale to a private company.
Related golf news - Indiana Parley previously noted the recent acquisitions of golf courses in northeastern Indiana made by the R. H. West Group of Indianapolis.Orchard Ridge’s Board of Directors met Thursday night and its bank stated it was requesting the deed or it would begin foreclosure proceedings.
A copy of a letter e-mailed to Orchard Ridge membership was obtained by The Journal Gazette and its accuracy was verified by two members. In it, the board wrote it was not turning over the deed and it has “reviewed approximately four separate proposals to purchase the club and supply working capital.”
- Editorial Unwittingly Points Finger at Itself While Complaining about County Policy - The main J-G editorial criticizes the County Commissioners for eliminating payroll deductions for county employees which meant less collected for United Way. The decision to change the policy, the editorial notes, took place two years ago. The editorial stated:
This shockingly poor decision, made about two years ago with little attention, was a direct result of Allen County government’s one-party rule.
Why so little attention not only then but throughout the last two years? The editorial doesn't note that the lack of attention might have something to do with weak coverage by the newspaper itself over that period. After all, there had been an ongoing lawsuit against the County over the issue.
The editorial stated that the United Way was informed at the time the original decision was made. The County has since made the payroll deductions about submission of a request from individual employees.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Journal-Gazette's Edmonds to Run Her First Race Thanksgiving Day
She writes about it in her blog. It happens to be a race put on by the blogger of this blog.Rhea Edmonds is a writer for the Journal-Gazette who is participating in a 4-staffer weight loss program being shared with the J-G readers. The series, "Weighty Matters," is being carried in the Sunday print version.
Each of the staffer participating is also writing about it in separate blogs. Rhea's is "On the Weigh Down." Her latest installment is titled "On the Run" and it is about her decision to run the Galloping Gobbler, a 4 mile race in Fort Wayne at 8:30 AM Thanksgiving morning. It will be her first road race. Ever.
The Galloping Gobbler 4 Miler is conducted by the blogger of this blog, Indiana Parley. The race starts at the Hutzell Athletic Center on the campus of the University of St. Francis. Runners will run south on Leesburg Road to W. Main Street. The runners then enter Lindenwood Cemetery. They will then run the rolling hills of Lindenwood before heading back Leesburg Road to the finish line at campus.
Friday, November 18, 2005
IPFW's Van Coufoudakis Receives Appointment
Dr. Van Coufoudakis, Dean Emeritus of the School of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University - Purdue University at Fort Wayne, has received an appointment from the American Hellenic Instiute (AHI) to head the AHI Cyprus Chapter.
The announcement of his appointment was made on Friday, November 18th.
Dr. Coufoudakis, a familiar face to political science students of several decades at IPFW, is now rector at Intercollege in Cyprus.
"AHI is very honored to have Professor Coufoudakis lead our chapter in Cyprus. Professor Coufoudakis has been associated with the AHI almost from the beginning and is by far one of the leading authorities on the Cyprus question. His outstanding leadership skills throughout his career, and his deep commitment to the Hellenic community both in the U.S. and abroad uniquely qualify him for this new endeavor."
Large Number of Candidates; Big Election Turnout
NOTRE DAME University Has Huge Turnout for Student Election.
Notre Dame of Indiana? Nah, Notre Dame of Beirut.
It just goes to show what can happen where the voting right is precious and people take the act of voting seriously. Even student elections at Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon have large numbers of candidates, active parties and a big turnout. There may be some lessons here for us in America and none of them have to do with the lack of a football or basketball program.
Rafead El Rafei reports in the Daily Star of Lebanon:
Notre Dame of Indiana? Nah, Notre Dame of Beirut.
It just goes to show what can happen where the voting right is precious and people take the act of voting seriously. Even student elections at Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon have large numbers of candidates, active parties and a big turnout. There may be some lessons here for us in America and none of them have to do with the lack of a football or basketball program.
Rafead El Rafei reports in the Daily Star of Lebanon:
This year's elections saw record participation, with 85 percent of the students voting for 46 candidates vying for 21 seats.
Yellow Journalism
DANE FIFE - Above the Rim
Dane Fife debuts at IPFW 's first regular season game Saturday against Loyola of Chicago as the youngest head coach in Division I college hoops. But Coach Fife is already watching over those aiming their shots.
The IPFW Athletic Department is marketing the new coach and his team in restrooms all over Fort Wayne.
We don't think Athletic Director Mark Pope will be too, uh... ticked off at Indiana Parley highlighting the IPFW advertising tactics to get the fans streaming in. After all, the object is to hit the marketing bullseye.
And, somehow, we think Coach Fife's old coach at Indiana University, Bob Knight, would approve.
Coach Fife was recently quoted as saying,
Follow-Up: Loyola of Chicago's Ramblers defeat IPFW.
Related: The IPFW-Loyola connection. Former IPFW player David Simon was a walk-on who had transferred from Loyola of Chicago.
© 2005 by Mitch Harper
Dane Fife debuts at IPFW 's first regular season game Saturday against Loyola of Chicago as the youngest head coach in Division I college hoops. But Coach Fife is already watching over those aiming their shots. 
The IPFW Athletic Department is marketing the new coach and his team in restrooms all over Fort Wayne.
We don't think Athletic Director Mark Pope will be too, uh... ticked off at Indiana Parley highlighting the IPFW advertising tactics to get the fans streaming in. After all, the object is to hit the marketing bullseye.
And, somehow, we think Coach Fife's old coach at Indiana University, Bob Knight, would approve.
Coach Fife was recently quoted as saying,
"The [IPFW] program hasn't had a lot of success in the past and because of that I think the expectations are relatively low. At the same time, my expectations are at the highest level, and we expect to have success here in a short period of time."All we can say, Coach, is we hope you aren't expecting everyone in Fort Wayne to be aiming high.
Follow-Up: Loyola of Chicago's Ramblers defeat IPFW.
Related: The IPFW-Loyola connection. Former IPFW player David Simon was a walk-on who had transferred from Loyola of Chicago.
© 2005 by Mitch Harper
Annexation Running Wild!
Yorktown and Fishers Stir Debate
The town of Fishers, now 52,000 people, is planning on annexing the homes around Geist Reservoir north of Indianapolis. From the Indianpolis Star:
The town of Fishers, now 52,000 people, is planning on annexing the homes around Geist Reservoir north of Indianapolis. From the Indianpolis Star:
Yorktown and Muncie have been trading barbs over Yorktown's plan to take in a large area between the two communities. Now the barbs have turned into swordsplay; Muncie has filed suit to stop Yorktown.The annexation plan came as a shock to Michael Smith, who has lived for 15 years in a house on a hillside overlooking the reservoir."We've had the best of both worlds," said Smith. "We've had all the fire and police we need with an Indianapolis address and Hamilton County schools."
Bloggers Can Get Fired Up! About the Election
FEC Ruling Blogs to Have Same Rights as Media
The Federal Election Commission voted 5 to 0 yesterday to cofirm that bloggers will be regarded similarly to the mainstream media in terms of an exemption from campaign expenditure laws.
The case involved Fired Up LLC. You can read the opinion here.
Thanks to Ed Feigenbaum of INGroup.
The Federal Election Commission voted 5 to 0 yesterday to cofirm that bloggers will be regarded similarly to the mainstream media in terms of an exemption from campaign expenditure laws.
The case involved Fired Up LLC. You can read the opinion here.
Thanks to Ed Feigenbaum of INGroup.
First Parley Poll Results
Parley Poll Results Show Fries in Front for Allen County Sheriff.
The results of the first Parley Poll are in. The final results show Ken Fries the leader with 65% of the votes cast in the online poll. Fries is a lieutenant with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. He heads the Detective division and is commander of the Allen County SWAT team.
RESULTS
Foster, Mike 8%
Fries, Ken 65%
Keesler, Mike 16%
Rhoades, Tom 11%
108 votes total were cast in the online poll.
Mike Foster is an Allen County Police Reserve member. ACPD Lieutenant Mike Keesler is with the Warrants and Fugitive Division. Tom Rhoades holds the rank of captain in the Fort Wayne Police Department.
While the results of the poll are non-toxic, non-fattening, and are not known to cause cavities they do carry the warning that the poll is unabashedly non-scientific. Be careful driving or operating heavy machinery after viewing the poll results.
Poll ran from 5 AM November 9, 2005 to 7 AM on November 18, 2005.
The results of the first Parley Poll are in. The final results show Ken Fries the leader with 65% of the votes cast in the online poll. Fries is a lieutenant with the Allen County Sheriff's Department. He heads the Detective division and is commander of the Allen County SWAT team.
RESULTS
Foster, Mike 8%
Fries, Ken 65%
Keesler, Mike 16%
Rhoades, Tom 11%
108 votes total were cast in the online poll.
Mike Foster is an Allen County Police Reserve member. ACPD Lieutenant Mike Keesler is with the Warrants and Fugitive Division. Tom Rhoades holds the rank of captain in the Fort Wayne Police Department.
While the results of the poll are non-toxic, non-fattening, and are not known to cause cavities they do carry the warning that the poll is unabashedly non-scientific. Be careful driving or operating heavy machinery after viewing the poll results.
Poll ran from 5 AM November 9, 2005 to 7 AM on November 18, 2005.
Parley Poll 2 - The Early Line on the 3rd District
One year to the next election. One year from the last one. But you can vote now.
The Inaugural Parley Poll is now over. Parley Poll 2 is now up and running for the week. You can find it on the top right side of this page. The new poll concerns the 3rd District US House Race. The Parley Poll will be open from today until Friday November 25. Results of the poll question regarding the 2006 Allen County Republican primary for Sheriff will be recapped shortly.
The new poll includes the likely nominees of the Republican and Democratic Parties. It is expected that the Libertarian Party will also nominate a candidate. The name of the Allen County Libertarian Party Chair, Mike Sylvester, has been added to the poll as a placeholder for the Libertarian Party to avoid a party designation without a name.
Comments about Parley Poll 2 or any of the persons or parties listed in the poll are welcome.
The first two Parley Polls are being done back to back. However, Indiana Parley (IP) will not be doing continuous polls. This is intended to be an intermittent feature of the IP site. Not all polls will be regarding political candidates.
As we noted when we posted the first poll: [t]he Parley Poll will be conducted from time to time to gauge the opinions of our visitors.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
Please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. Viewers will be allowed one vote per day under the current standards for the conduct of this poll. Future polls may operate under a different rule. Any change in that procedure will be disclosed to the visitors of this site. This voting rule may have the effect of amplifying the percentage difference between poll answers.
The poll measures only the votes of viewers of Indiana Parley who individually decide whether to participate. If the poll concerns political candidates there may be participation by viewers outside the voting district for that candidate. Once the poll is posted, IP will not reset the poll counter. The proprietor of IP does not vote in the poll.
Selection of the poll questions and determination of the frequency of the poll are done solely at the discretion of IP. Selection of prospective candidates to include in a poll are solely at the discretion of IP.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Full disclosure: I have been asked to advise the Souder for Congress campaign from time to time. Most recently, I have served as one of the "roasters" at a Souder for Congress fundraiser. None of the persons whose names are included in Parley Poll 2 have been told of the poll. Each of the prospective candidates for Sheriff in Parley Poll 1 was informed of the poll as nearly as possible at its inception.
The Inaugural Parley Poll is now over. Parley Poll 2 is now up and running for the week. You can find it on the top right side of this page. The new poll concerns the 3rd District US House Race. The Parley Poll will be open from today until Friday November 25. Results of the poll question regarding the 2006 Allen County Republican primary for Sheriff will be recapped shortly.
The new poll includes the likely nominees of the Republican and Democratic Parties. It is expected that the Libertarian Party will also nominate a candidate. The name of the Allen County Libertarian Party Chair, Mike Sylvester, has been added to the poll as a placeholder for the Libertarian Party to avoid a party designation without a name.
Comments about Parley Poll 2 or any of the persons or parties listed in the poll are welcome.
The first two Parley Polls are being done back to back. However, Indiana Parley (IP) will not be doing continuous polls. This is intended to be an intermittent feature of the IP site. Not all polls will be regarding political candidates.
As we noted when we posted the first poll: [t]he Parley Poll will be conducted from time to time to gauge the opinions of our visitors.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
Please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. Viewers will be allowed one vote per day under the current standards for the conduct of this poll. Future polls may operate under a different rule. Any change in that procedure will be disclosed to the visitors of this site. This voting rule may have the effect of amplifying the percentage difference between poll answers.
The poll measures only the votes of viewers of Indiana Parley who individually decide whether to participate. If the poll concerns political candidates there may be participation by viewers outside the voting district for that candidate. Once the poll is posted, IP will not reset the poll counter. The proprietor of IP does not vote in the poll.
Selection of the poll questions and determination of the frequency of the poll are done solely at the discretion of IP. Selection of prospective candidates to include in a poll are solely at the discretion of IP.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Full disclosure: I have been asked to advise the Souder for Congress campaign from time to time. Most recently, I have served as one of the "roasters" at a Souder for Congress fundraiser. None of the persons whose names are included in Parley Poll 2 have been told of the poll. Each of the prospective candidates for Sheriff in Parley Poll 1 was informed of the poll as nearly as possible at its inception.
WPTA-TV Mentions Ball State Story on Friday Morning Broadcast
The WPTA 21 Alive News 6 AM Friday news broadcast a story regarding the incidents of drive-by racial epithets at Ball State that Indiana Parley told you about Thursday morning.
The story was a voice-over of file footage of Ball State University. Indiana Parley's report was based on a story in the Ball State student newspaper.
The Indianapolis Star carried a wire report of the incident on Friday morning. It is now presumed that WPTA 21 Alive came to the story from the AP wire service and not through blog monitoring.
The story was a voice-over of file footage of Ball State University. Indiana Parley's report was based on a story in the Ball State student newspaper.
The Indianapolis Star carried a wire report of the incident on Friday morning. It is now presumed that WPTA 21 Alive came to the story from the AP wire service and not through blog monitoring.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Ball State Students Subject to Racial Slurs on McKinley
Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana just completed major improvements to McKinley Avenue prior to the start of the fall semester. McKinley is the major drive through campus and the improvements are quite impressive.But as Erin Moody, Chief Reporter of the Ball State Daily News, the college's student newspaper writes:
Reports range from 10 to 19 incidents of racist slurs from passing motorist along McKinley Avenue and University Avenue.Walking down the dark Cow Path, freshman Eden South said she felt safer than walking down lit McKinley Avenue.
After having racial slurs yelled at her out of a passing car and watching passengers in another car throw eggs at students, South said she would rather walk down a dark path than the main road through campus.
Freshman Brandie Smiley said when she arrived at Ball State, she did not expect this level of racism. Smiley and her friends have been verbally abused by passing cars, including being called “niggers” and being told to “go back to your plantations.”For the moment, Virgil recommends students travel in groups, attempt to record license plate numbers and call police or 911 when something happens, he said.Smiley and approximately 50 other students, mainly freshmen and underclassmen, have organized to fight the incidents. Their actions include traveling in groups and being vigilant to take down license plate numbers and descriptions of vehicles.“You get angry for a minute, and then you calm down so you don’t do anything stupid,” she said. “As a matter of fact, after they do what they do, they speed off immediately.”
New Haven Native Jim Leonard Gets a Jump "Close to Home"
Jim Leonard, Jr., New Haven High School '74, should be feeling much better this week. He is the creator of the new CBS drama "Close to Home." As Indiana Parley told you last week, the CBS Television Network bumped "Close to Home" from Tuesday to Friday nights during sweeps period.
It has turned out to be a very good move for the survival of the series. "Close to Home" is set in Indianapolis.
It has turned out to be a very good move for the survival of the series. "Close to Home" is set in Indianapolis.
In its first night in its new Friday timeslot, “Home” averaged a 3.2 18-49 rating, up 10 percent from the 2.9 it averaged in its old timeslot. More important, it held onto 98 percent of hit lead-in “Ghost Whisperer’s” audience, drawing 4.18 million 18-49s. Among total viewers, “Home” actually outpaced “Whisperer,” averaging 11.9 million versus the latter’s 11.4 million."Major props" to Indiana Daily Insight .
Blogs and the Pennsylvania Murders
David Ludwig, the alleged murderer of the parents of his 14 year-old girlfriend, has a blog. http://www.xanga.com/HaydrenRuth Holladay of the Indianapolis Star explores the implications of a new era when suspected murderers have blogs, victims have blogs, and anyone who wants to comment is setting up a blog to offer up their viewpoint on the banal and the significant surrounding a terrible act.
Photo of David Ludwig from the David Ludwig blog
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
His-Story: Bill Ruckelshaus
Some other Indiana blogs may have already pointed this out, but Indiana Parley just wanted to bring to your attention an interesting interview of Bill Ruckelshaus about his early life, influences, and career. He talks a great deal about his early start in Indiana politics.The interview can be found on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Ruckelshaus has been the the Majority Leader of the Indiana House of Representatives, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 1968 running against incumbent Birch Bayh, Administrator of the EPA (twice), Deputy U.S. Attorney General and victim of the 'Saturday Night Massacre' of Watergate, CEO of Browning-Ferris Industries. and CEO of Weyerhaeuser.
From the interview:
Ed Steers, the Indiana Attorney General, was a very helpful person in the early development of my legal career. He gave me increasing responsibilities and then made me the Chief Counsel of the Attorney General's Office, when I had been out of law school for less than three years. There were some 63 lawyers in the office at the time, so it gave me some early management experience, to the extent anybody manages lawyers.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Don't Confuse Us With the Facts
NEWS & COMMENTARY
One final aside - The six authors of the Star letter indicated that all one needed to know about consolidation was in the history of UnivGov.
But they proceeded in the next paragraph of the letter after they made that assertion to demonstrate that they didn't have a very good grasp of that history. The six wrote. "Those parts of UniGov that permit countywide or consolidated citywide services, such as public works, parks and metropolitan development, are effective and generally financially solvent." [emphasis mine]
The historical fact is that the a county-wide parks system had existed long before UniGov. This might point to the value of incrementalism for those services for which there is a defined benefit of consolidation.
The author of this commentary was a Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990. He served as Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee. He is an adjunt scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation.
The Indiana General Assembly's Marion County Consolidation Study Commission will be meeting tomorrow in Indianapolis.
Six (6) members sent a letter to the Indianapolis Star that was published in the Sunday, November 6 issue. Those members were Billie Breaux, Ed Mahern, Monroe Gray, Joe Anderson, A. Scott Chinn, John Myrland, and Tom Hanify.
It was an extraordinary letter because of the message those six members wanted to send. The basic message was "Don't confuse us with the facts." Anti-intellectualism hasn't been this open around the legislature since the legislature tried to define the value of pi in 1897.
They were objecting to a study which will be presented to the committee tomorrow by distinguished urban affairs expert Sam Staley, PhD. Staley was the director of the research study. The other academics were Dagney Faulk, Ph.D.,
The six members of the Study Commission weren't objecting to the findings of the study. Those won't be released until tomorrow.
No, they objected to the study even being done. They declared in public that "there was no need for the study to be conducted. " They asserted there was no need to look at the experience of other communities because, as they posit, the benefits of consolidating government in Indianapolis and Marion County are self-evident from the very history of UniGov.
Some of the content of the report has been obtained by Indiana Parley. Some of the report's major conclusions are these:
- Police services do not often experience economies of scale as the level of production increases. Larger departments through consolidation of police services would not likely lead to lower costs.
- "In general, it is uncommon (although not impossible) for operating costs to decrease—due primarily to the “leveling up” of salaries and benefits. As local governments with differing compensation structures are consolidated, salaries and benefits are often standardized at the higher level. "
- "The literature indicates a modest but positive correlation between consolidation and economic growth, but this correlation is less impressive when compared to economic growth in comparable areas without consolidation."
One final aside - The six authors of the Star letter indicated that all one needed to know about consolidation was in the history of UnivGov.
But they proceeded in the next paragraph of the letter after they made that assertion to demonstrate that they didn't have a very good grasp of that history. The six wrote. "Those parts of UniGov that permit countywide or consolidated citywide services, such as public works, parks and metropolitan development, are effective and generally financially solvent." [emphasis mine]
The historical fact is that the a county-wide parks system had existed long before UniGov. This might point to the value of incrementalism for those services for which there is a defined benefit of consolidation.
The author of this commentary was a Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1978 to 1990. He served as Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee. He is an adjunt scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation.
WANE-TV and The HERALD-PRESS; How It's Supposed to Be Done
Indiana Parley posted the news yesterday that the Huntington Herald-Press was on top of a story about the possibility of the Pennsylavania murder suspect having stopped in Warren. It sparked a comment by a reader of this blog that WANE-TV was first with the story.
Indiana Parley has spoken with both WANE-TV and the Herald-Press staff this morning. Both did an outstanding job of getting the story up and out to their viewers and readers as quickly as possible.
Here is the story of two good news organizations.
The Huntington Herald-Press staff photographer Andrew Hancock was at the scene scene at Ugalde's Restaurant at approximately 8:40 AM. The H-P had been monitoring Huntington County Sheriff's radio traffic. The group of 3 persons had left the restaurant at 8:17 AM. This was about the time that Huntington County police or the Indiana State Police received a call from a suspicious patron who had noticed the threesome.
On arrival, Hancock first talked with restaurant personnel and then began taking photographs at 9 AM. He was not only the first reporter at the scene but by the time he left to return to the Herald-Press offices there had yet to be any other journalist arrive. Assistant Editor Dave Schultz took wire service reports, police accounts and Hancock's information to write the story for the Herald-Press. Editor Mike Perkins made the decision at the Herald-Press office to put the breaking news up on the Herald-Press website along with Hancock's outstanding spot news photograph of the restaurant security videotape being examined.
The Herald-Press has done this before on breaking news. A few weeks ago the Herald-Press posted immediately on their website when a Huntington County Grand Jury recommended indictments of a Huntington couple for the death of their child.
So now you know about the online posting by the H-P. The Herald-Press is an afternoon newspaper. The print story was coming off the press shortly after noon yesterday.
WANE-TV was alerted to the Warren connection as they monitored radio traffic on the Indiana State Police (ISP) frequency. The story of the fugitives had been the subject of talk between WANE's Sam Shriver and News Director Ted Linn at approximately 8:45 AM at about the time an all points bulletin was put out by the ISP.
WANE's Kelly Koh and photographer J. R. Carmichael were at the Warren site at approximately 10:30 AM in a live truck interviewing witnesses. Due to the location, a signal providing a live shot was not possible. The decision was made by Midday Producer Brad Brown to put Ms. Koh on with a telephone interview for the midday WANE broadcast at 11 AM. This was shown with video from other sources regarding the search for the fugitives and the Pennsylvania murders.
Outstanding work by a television news operation and by a primarily print newspaper.
This is how it's done, folks.
A thank you to our reader for touting WANE's response. Following is a recap of the comment exchange following the original post:
(One note of correction - IP refers below to the Huntington newspaper "printing...later tonight." The Herald-Press is, of course, an afternoon daily Monday through Friday. The Sunday edition is an AM; the HP does not publish on Saturday).
Also reported on NewsChannel 15 when it was news not history when the paper printed it.
OK, now tell us WHAT they reported.
Was it a quick news alert that the suspects may be in Warren? Was it an item just about the fugitive and his girlfriend (a hostage or an accomplice)? Or was it an on the scene report with image?
There was a reporter on scene interviewing workers at the place where they were seen. The reporter also talked to the police at the scene. The promotion is already on the air about this and lays out the chronology quite well I think.
Indiana Parley has spoken with both WANE-TV and the Herald-Press staff this morning. Both did an outstanding job of getting the story up and out to their viewers and readers as quickly as possible.
Here is the story of two good news organizations.
The Huntington Herald-Press staff photographer Andrew Hancock was at the scene scene at Ugalde's Restaurant at approximately 8:40 AM. The H-P had been monitoring Huntington County Sheriff's radio traffic. The group of 3 persons had left the restaurant at 8:17 AM. This was about the time that Huntington County police or the Indiana State Police received a call from a suspicious patron who had noticed the threesome.
On arrival, Hancock first talked with restaurant personnel and then began taking photographs at 9 AM. He was not only the first reporter at the scene but by the time he left to return to the Herald-Press offices there had yet to be any other journalist arrive. Assistant Editor Dave Schultz took wire service reports, police accounts and Hancock's information to write the story for the Herald-Press. Editor Mike Perkins made the decision at the Herald-Press office to put the breaking news up on the Herald-Press website along with Hancock's outstanding spot news photograph of the restaurant security videotape being examined.
The Herald-Press has done this before on breaking news. A few weeks ago the Herald-Press posted immediately on their website when a Huntington County Grand Jury recommended indictments of a Huntington couple for the death of their child.
So now you know about the online posting by the H-P. The Herald-Press is an afternoon newspaper. The print story was coming off the press shortly after noon yesterday.
WANE-TV was alerted to the Warren connection as they monitored radio traffic on the Indiana State Police (ISP) frequency. The story of the fugitives had been the subject of talk between WANE's Sam Shriver and News Director Ted Linn at approximately 8:45 AM at about the time an all points bulletin was put out by the ISP.
WANE's Kelly Koh and photographer J. R. Carmichael were at the Warren site at approximately 10:30 AM in a live truck interviewing witnesses. Due to the location, a signal providing a live shot was not possible. The decision was made by Midday Producer Brad Brown to put Ms. Koh on with a telephone interview for the midday WANE broadcast at 11 AM. This was shown with video from other sources regarding the search for the fugitives and the Pennsylvania murders.
Outstanding work by a television news operation and by a primarily print newspaper.
This is how it's done, folks.
A thank you to our reader for touting WANE's response. Following is a recap of the comment exchange following the original post:
(One note of correction - IP refers below to the Huntington newspaper "printing...later tonight." The Herald-Press is, of course, an afternoon daily Monday through Friday. The Sunday edition is an AM; the HP does not publish on Saturday).
Also reported on NewsChannel 15 when it was news not history when the paper printed it.
Editor's Note: The News Channel 15 Report is timed at 4:25 PM. Do you know when they may have first reported the Warren angle?
The Huntington Herald-Press had it on their website in the early afternoon. Obviously, the newspaper won't be printing until later tonight - this was a good use of the online newspaper capability. I think they did a good job of original reporting and then posting the content on their website as it was breaking and as soon as it was available. It shows what a good small-city daily is capable of doing.
WANE-TV has gotten an objectively well-deserved reputation for getting on top of stories early.
Citing the Herald-Press doesn't detract from WANE.
The Huntington Herald-Press had it on their website in the early afternoon. Obviously, the newspaper won't be printing until later tonight - this was a good use of the online newspaper capability. I think they did a good job of original reporting and then posting the content on their website as it was breaking and as soon as it was available. It shows what a good small-city daily is capable of doing.
WANE-TV has gotten an objectively well-deserved reputation for getting on top of stories early.
Citing the Herald-Press doesn't detract from WANE.
OK, now tell us WHAT they reported.
Was it a quick news alert that the suspects may be in Warren? Was it an item just about the fugitive and his girlfriend (a hostage or an accomplice)? Or was it an on the scene report with image?
There was a reporter on scene interviewing workers at the place where they were seen. The reporter also talked to the police at the scene. The promotion is already on the air about this and lays out the chronology quite well I think.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Indy Police - Marion Co. Sheriff Merger Defeated
The Indianapolis City-County Council defeated the proposed merger of the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department by one vote on Monday evening.
This is a big setback for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. The deciding vote against was cast by a Democrat.
The Mayor has made major cuts in staffing of police officers while Indianapolis has been undergoing a sharp increase in crime.
This is a big setback for Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. The deciding vote against was cast by a Democrat.
The Mayor has made major cuts in staffing of police officers while Indianapolis has been undergoing a sharp increase in crime.
State Senator Murray Clark Resigns
Indiana Daily Insight reports that State Senator Murray Clark (R-Marion County) is resigning his seat today (Tuesday) to join the Baker & Daniels Law Firm.
IP Commentary:
A few years ago, Statehouse thought was that Republican State Senators Murray Clark, Becky Skillman and David Long should be considered to be among the top candidates to succeed Senator Bob Garton as Indiana Senate Majority Leader when Senator Garton chose to step down from his leadership post. Skillman's move to the Lt. Governor's office and Murray Clark's resignation would indicate that David Long of Fort Wayne is well-positioned if Senator Garton makes that choice.
However, that's quite a big "If". Senator Garton shows no sign of inching toward such a decision to quit. In remarks to the Indianapolis Star a few weeks ago he seemed to signal that no one should be expecting such a decision in the near future.
He is the longest serving Majority Leader in Indiana history. He came equipped to the job with a management and communication style that has served him well. He may be taking a deep satisfaction in applying the knowledge gained over a long career. No one else has the institutional memory. That he is the kind of person who gains a deeper satisfaction each year is an admirable trait.
Will Anschutz Buy Knight Ridder?
Described as "socially conservative Christian Republican"The Denver Business Journal reports that billionaire Phil Anschutz, founder of QWEST Communications Company, may be in the running to buy the Knight Ridder newspaper chain in whole or in part. Anschutz got in the newspaper business by buying the San Francisco Examiner. He has since founded the free Washington Examiner and the Baltimore Examiner, also free. He is expected to launch other such free newspapers in other cities.
Knight Ridder is the parent company of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel and is the majority owner of Fort Wayne Newspapers (FWN). FWN is the joint operating agency for the News-Sentinel and the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
Atlantic magazine referred to Mr. Anschutz as a "socially conservative Christian Republican" in its May 2005 issue.
Mr. Anschutz is also a producer of movies. Movies such as Ray, the biopic of the life of Ray Charles, which starred Jamie Foxx. Movies such as Around the World in 80 Days, Because of Winn Dixie and Holes. C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is to be released in December. He wants to underwrite movies that are suitable for families or which have an uplifting message.
Mr. Anschutz is originally from Russell, Kansas. The city is also the hometown of former Kansas Senator Bob Dole and Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter.
More: Anschutz is fond of tabloid-sized newspapers.
More: Fun stuff - when Indiana's Bren Simon and Phil Anschutz got zapped in the same western gossip column.
More: Anschutz Federal campaign contributions. Only Indiana contribution going back years was to Democrat Tim Roemer.
Photo from Horatio Alger Association
Were a Murder Suspect and His 14-Year Old Girlfriend in Warren?
Did a Pennsylvania murder suspect, David Ludwig, his 14 year-old girlfriend and a third person stop at a Warren restaurant? The Huntington Herald-Press is on the case. Warren is located in southeastern Huntington County just south of the interchange of Interstate 69 and Highway 5.
What is known for sure is that they were cheap. (Only 1 cup of coffee ordered between them) And they were suspicious. We know that because an unknown person called the Huntington County Police at 8:10 Monday morning.
The murder victims, Michael and Cathryn Borden of Pennsylvania, the parents of the 14 year-old girl, were killed on Saturday. The murder had been preceded by an argument about her curfew.
Indiana State Police and the Warren Police were investigating. Part of their investigation includes the examination of the security videotape at Ugalde's Restaurant in Warren.
What is known for sure is that they were cheap. (Only 1 cup of coffee ordered between them) And they were suspicious. We know that because an unknown person called the Huntington County Police at 8:10 Monday morning.
The murder victims, Michael and Cathryn Borden of Pennsylvania, the parents of the 14 year-old girl, were killed on Saturday. The murder had been preceded by an argument about her curfew.
"It's completely insane, completely insane," Lancaster County, Pa., Coroner G. Gary Kirchner said. "This isn't a Romeo-and-Juliet deal. This is far worse than that."America's Most Wanted said that
the Borden Family lived in the Warwick Township neighborhood for several years. Mike Borden worked for a printing company, and the children were home-schooled. Neighbors say the family knew Ludwig through a home-schooling network.The suspected killer and the girl were captured by police about 20 miles west of Indianapolis on Monday at approximately 12:30 PM. The suspect's car crashed into a tree at Belleville, Indiana, following a police chase. The girl was unhurt.
Indiana State Police and the Warren Police were investigating. Part of their investigation includes the examination of the security videotape at Ugalde's Restaurant in Warren.
Specific Circulation Figures for the Two Fort Wayne Newspapers
Editor & Publisher has the skinny on the latest circulation performance of the Fort Wayne Newspapers Joint Operating Agreement.
Editor & Publisher looked at the circulation figures for the existing JOA's around the country. The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) recently released the latest quarterly circulation figures for newspapers around the country. It wasn't pretty.
MORE: Tony Ridder sends letter this morning to Knight Ridder staffers about sale news.
MORE: Full letter and memo containing Q&A about things such as pension and 401-K's here.
EVEN MORE: The Journal-Gazette went up on its website at noon today with the wire service story on Knight Ridder. It promises more in tomorrow's JG in print or in the online edition after 7 AM. Neither the Journal-Gazette or the News-Sentinel to date has reported their latest circulation figures in their own newspages.
In Ft. Wayne, Ind., Journal Gazette circulation jumped 10% to 67,830 while its partner, the News-Sentinel, was down 8.4% to 31,213.Indiana Parley would note that the Journal-Gazette has been offering a Saturday and Friday newspaper to their Sunday-only subscribers for approximately the past year.
Editor & Publisher looked at the circulation figures for the existing JOA's around the country. The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) recently released the latest quarterly circulation figures for newspapers around the country. It wasn't pretty.
MORE: Tony Ridder sends letter this morning to Knight Ridder staffers about sale news.
MORE: Full letter and memo containing Q&A about things such as pension and 401-K's here.
EVEN MORE: The Journal-Gazette went up on its website at noon today with the wire service story on Knight Ridder. It promises more in tomorrow's JG in print or in the online edition after 7 AM. Neither the Journal-Gazette or the News-Sentinel to date has reported their latest circulation figures in their own newspages.
Radio's Phil Becker Coming Back to Fort Wayne
Friday Morning Quarterback (FMBQ) is reporting that radio's Phil Becker will be coming back to WJFX Radio in Fort Wayne later this month. He will be a partner with the Fort Wayne Radio Corporation, an Oasis company. There is an additional report at Radio & Records.
Becker has been working as a program director in Orlando, Florida. Becker had previously been a program director at WJFX.
Becker has been working as a program director in Orlando, Florida. Becker had previously been a program director at WJFX.
Knight Ridder Getting Ready for Possible Sale
Board Hires Goldman Sachs to Guide Knight Ridder Sale
Knight Ridder's Board has retained the investment banking firm of Goldman-Sachs to advise it regarding the possible sale of the company in whole or by individual divisions and properties.
Jon Fine wrote in BusinessWeek magazine, about where K-R went wrong, that
Knight Ridder's Board has retained the investment banking firm of Goldman-Sachs to advise it regarding the possible sale of the company in whole or by individual divisions and properties.
Jon Fine wrote in BusinessWeek magazine, about where K-R went wrong, that
"[Sale] would mark a weird and ignominous end to Knight Ridder - and the career of P. Anthony Ridder, the 65 year-old family scion who has been chairman and CEO for a decade. But during his tenure, through circumstance and choice, Knight Ridder solidified a portfolio that left them exposed to what could be termed the curse of the cities and the stigma of the second tier."
Updating Flu Vaccine
Dr. Julie Gerberding of the Centers for Disease Control held a telephone news conference on November 10th to give an update on flu vaccine.
Gerberding notes that there has been the start of an effort to redistribute vaccine among clinics and health care providers in certain areas of spot shortages. Clinics and health providers who have received vaccine from producers other than Chiron have shipments on time. Those that have been reliant on Chiron have had some shipments delayed. Gerberding said:
Those who wish to see those articles should go to the Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition at WSJ.com. You many subscribe to the Wall Street Journal Online which gives you access to additional content not published in the daily print edition. The morning print edition is available for home delivery in much of the Fort Wayne area.
Additionally a great study on herd immunity to the flu was published earlier this year. The link is courtesy of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The NCBI is part of the National Library of Medicine operated by the National Institutes of Health.
Gerberding notes that there has been the start of an effort to redistribute vaccine among clinics and health care providers in certain areas of spot shortages. Clinics and health providers who have received vaccine from producers other than Chiron have shipments on time. Those that have been reliant on Chiron have had some shipments delayed. Gerberding said:
"These health officials are also really going to help with the redistribution process, so they're reaching out to find out who has surplus vaccine, who still needs doses, and they'll work on trying to redistribute that at the local level. Gerberding said that there is no area in the country showing an outbreak of flu and that 2005 looks to be a record year for flu vaccine distribution."The Wall Street Journal has been doing a ongoing, extensive, and comprehensive job in covering flu and avian flu. There is nothing comparable being done by any other newspaper. Community newspapers which subscribe to the Wall Street Journal news service would have done well to publish many of the articles.
Those who wish to see those articles should go to the Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition at WSJ.com. You many subscribe to the Wall Street Journal Online which gives you access to additional content not published in the daily print edition. The morning print edition is available for home delivery in much of the Fort Wayne area.
Additionally a great study on herd immunity to the flu was published earlier this year. The link is courtesy of the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The NCBI is part of the National Library of Medicine operated by the National Institutes of Health.
Highest attack rates for influenza occur in children. Immunization of schoolchildren with inactivated influenza vaccine in Michigan and Japan was associated with decreased morbidity and mortality, respectively, in older community contacts.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Harper Announces He's Seeking Election
“I don’t believe this government has the moral authority to govern,” says Harper.That's Stephen Harper. Harper is the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Stephen Harper met Sunday with the leader of the two other opposition parties and the three issued a joint statement calling on Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin (Liberal) to call new elections.
The Conservatives, the New Democratic Party and Bloc Quebecois asked Paul Martin to dissolve the Parliament and call new elections or face the prospect of his minority government losing a no-confidence vote in Parliament. An ongoing corruption scandal finally tipped New Democrat leader Jack Layton to join in the call.
According to an April 2005 statement:
[Indiana's] largest export market, by far, is our NAFTA trading partner Canada. Indiana exported $8.5 billion worth of merchandise to Canada in 2004, almost half (45 percent) of the state total.
Bayh PAC Director Quits; Conservatives Win in NH on Issue of Taxes
The Indianapolis Star reports that Steve Bouchard, head of the Evan Bayh presidential campaing fundraising arm has quit after one year in the post. The Bayh campaign describes the split as amicable although there is no immediate replacement named.
Bouchard is a native of New Hampshire. PoliticsNH.com reported that:
An e-mail to board members of Sen. Evan Bayh's All America PAC said that Manchester native Steve Bouchard, the PAC Executive Director, was leaving [to] "explore other opportunities".In other New Hampshire news, PoliticsNH.com noted that this past week saw upset victories by several New Hampshire conservatives who ran on the issue of taxes in local elections. Hoosier politicians may wish to take note.
Bayh photo link: MSNBC
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Marion County Sheriff Switches Sides; Backs Merger Idea After Changes
Merged Indy Police/Marion Sheriff Would Be Under Sheriff's DirectionMarion County Sheriff Frank J. Anderson announced Friday that he will now back a merger ordinance before the Indianapolis City-County Council that would combine the Indianapolis City Police and his Department.
Anderson, a Democrat, has been a vocal opponent before Friday of the merger proposal by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, a fellow Democrat.
The Sheriff, according the the Indianapolis Star story, says that numerous negotiated changes made to the legislation have made it acceptable. Among those changes is a delay in the implementation date to allow for more planning and provision that puts the elected Sheriff in essential charge of the Department when the merger is completed.
Mehlman Says Bloggers Changing Political Landscape
Republican National Chair Ken Mehlman was in Fort Wayne Friday night to address the Allen County Republican Party's Annual Bean Dinner.In his remarks, Mehlman said that the political landscape was rapidly changing and that the old ways in which voters received news were being transformed. He said that no longer were American citizens dependent only on the mainstream media; that new sources of news and commentary had emerged.
Mehlman cited cable news, talk radio, websites, and... bloggers as agents of this change.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Souder District Director Mark Wickersham to Take New Post
READ IT FIRST HERE AT INDIANA PARLEY:The District Director for the Office of 3rd District U.S. Representative Mark Souder will be leaving that position for a new job in the private sector.
Mark Wickersham, who has served as Mark Souder's District Director since Souder was first elected in the 1994 election will be leaving that post. It was announced late today that Wickersham will be taking a job with MarkleBank. Wickersham is a resident of Huntington County and had previously worked for Huntington College (now Huntington University).
There is no word of Wickersham's possible replacement. The District Director for the Congressman is headquartered at the Congressman's office in the E. Ross Adair Federal Building in Fort Wayne.
Mark Wickersham has served the people of the 3rd District honorably and well.
End of Garage Polling Place in Des Moines Echoes Last One in Fort Wayne
The Des Moines Register story about the end of the last garage polling place in its city brought to mind the last such polling place in the Summit City. In Des Moines, Stacey and Beverly Carper's two-car garage had hosted voting machines for every Election Day of the last 33 years.However, Mr. Carper died last week and Polk County (IA) election officials moved the polling place for voters in Precinct 72 to a nearby school.
There is something right and appropriate when the basic democratic right of voting is conducted in a residential garage.
Fort Wayne had several of these polling places. Each faded away. There were varying reasons. In some cases, new homeowners were not willing to allow the use of their residential property. In others, a more convenient polling became available with the construction of a school or church. Finally, updated regulations about handicapped accessibility did away with the remainder.
The last garage polling place in Allen County was at a residence on the corner of Tacoma and Prange Drives on Fort Wayne's southwest side. Fort Wayne attorney C. Erik Chickedantz (pictured above) and his family owned the house from 1979 to 1989. When he bought the property from Dr. William Kleifgen it had already been use as a polling place. When the Chickedantz' sold it, a covenant was included to keep it as a polling place.
The Des Moines Register's description of the Carpers' experience:
Voters in Precinct 72 on Des Moines' west side have traditionally settled the issues of the day in Stacey and Beverly Carper's two-car garage.Chickedantz said that his family also enjoyed hosting the poll workers and voters.
The couple volunteered the garage as a polling place when the old neighborhood spot at Frisbie Elementary School shut down 33 years ago.
For each election since Richard Nixon was president, the Carpers would back their vehicles into the street at 6100 Gordon Ave., fire up the wood stove, put on the coffee, and let democracy run its course. About 300 people are registered in the precinct. Voting has become a family affair.
Beverly said her husband always kept the garage tidy because his neighbors visited with regularity. But her friends said it would be too much to host an election today with so many grieving friends and relatives at the house.
Polk County Auditor Michael Mauro called the Carpers' garage "the most unique polling station I've ever seen."
"We've talked about moving it before, but it has such historic significance," Mauro said. "The Carpers have enjoyed hosting it. They've been such gracious, nice people, and the people in the neighborhood have always enjoyed it."
Chickedantz said, "It was a great civics lesson for the kids. Our kids were in grade school and middle school at the time."
When asked whether the advent of the election provided impetus to keep his garage neat and tidy, he remarked, "I'm ex-military so I tend to be inclined that way."
Chickedantz said that the poll workers would visit the site the day before the election to get set up and obtain a key to the house. On Election Day morning, the poll workers would arrive at 4 AM. The house had a bathroom inside just a few steps from the back door. He remarked that, starting at shortly after 4 AM, "the bathroom got used a lot."
NPR's Korva Coleman Speaks in Fort Wayne Tonight
National Public Radio (NPR) reporter Korva Coleman visits Fort Wayne today. She will be at Cineman Center Tech in the Andorfer Commons at Indiana Tech, 1600 E. Washington Boulevard for the 6 PM program "Evening In with Korva Coleman."
The event is jointly sponsored by Cinema Center and Northeast Indiana Public Radio (NIPR). She will be discussing her career at NPR before introducing the film "Immortal Beloved."
Tickets are available for $8 for general admission. Those interested in attending may call Cineman Center or NIPR.
The event is jointly sponsored by Cinema Center and Northeast Indiana Public Radio (NIPR). She will be discussing her career at NPR before introducing the film "Immortal Beloved."
Tickets are available for $8 for general admission. Those interested in attending may call Cineman Center or NIPR.
Dr. Eugene White Keynote Speaker for National Conference
Indiana Daily Insight reports today that Dr. Eugene White, Superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools, and former principal of Wayne High School in Fort Wayne, will be the keynote speaker at the National Men of Color Conference in Bloomington IN.
The student-led conference is committed to uniting African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American men throughout the country by providing a platform and a venue for effective dialogue and leadership development. Now in its second year, it is being expanded beyond IU to include student leaders, community members and educators from across Indiana and other states. Participating students will include those from Purdue, Indiana State and Ball State universities, other IU campuses and two historically black colleges -- Morgan State University of Baltimore, and Savannah State University in Georgia.
Dr. White will speak at a luncheon that begins at 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 12 in the Frangipani Room in the IMU.Dr. White was principal of Wayne from 1985 to 1990 and was the first African-American high school principal in the history of Fort Wayne Community Schools.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Palmeiro Walks; David McIntosh Hits Home Run
Former Indiana Congressman David McIntosh began a new career as a lobbyist after his gubernatorial loss. A well-known new client this year is Major League Baseball star Rafael Palmeiro. Mr. Palmeiro, as you may recall, had a rather uncomfortable time as a witness before the US House of Representatives Government Reform Committee this summer about the use of steroids in Major League Baseball.Mike Dooley of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel had described Dave McIntosh's new gig a few weeks ago in his regular column "Dooley Noted."
If today's news reports are any indication, it sounds as though Mr. McIntosh got a homerun on his first at-bat because Mr. Palmeiro got a walk.
Howard Fendrich of the AP wrote:
Baseball star Rafael Palmeiro will not be prosecuted on perjury charges after lawmakers said Thursday there isn't enough evidence to prove he lied when he told Congress under oath that he had ``never used steroids'' -- six weeks before failing a steroid test.
The investigation did not conclude whether the former Baltimore Orioles slugger had actually ever used performance-enhancing substances prior to his testimony before the House Government Reform Committee.
``We couldn't find any evidence of steroid use prior to his testimony,'' Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., said in releasing a 44-page report. ``That's not a finding of innocence, but it's a finding that we could not substantiate perjury.''
Linda Buskirk Going to the Dogs...and Cats, too
For those who may have missed the November 7, 2005 item in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette Business People feature, Indiana Parley can report that former two-time mayoral candidate Linda Buskirk has been hired as the Interim Executive Director of the Allen County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ACSPCA).Paw Prints, the newsletter of the ACSPCA, reports in its November 2005 issue (Vol. 6, Issue 10):
A Search Committee was appointed to seek an Interim Executive Director, to structure the Executive Director position, and to search for that candidate. After several interviews, the Search Committee recommended Linda Buskirk as the Interim Executive Director. The Board voted to hire Linda's consulting company to manage the shelter, to establish policies and procedures, to develop community awareness, and to assist with the search for the Executive Directror.Buskirk's consulting firm is Accountable Solutions of Fort Wayne. Buskirk had previously been Vice-President of Administration for the University of St. Francis before resigning to begin her second campaign for Mayor of Fort Wayne against incumbent Graham Richard in 2003. She lost a very close race for the city's top job in 1999 against Richard. At that time Buskirk was the head of the Board of Public Works.
Buskirk was awarded a Master's degree in Public Administration in 1994. She previously had worked for the Allen County Board of Commissioners. She came to Fort Wayne to work as a newsperson for WOWO Radio. She was then known as Linda Losch. She is married to former Fort Wayne Police officer Ron Buskirk. Ron Buskirk was a candidate for State Senate in the Republican primary against David Long.
The ACSPCA has its shelter located at 4914 S. Hanna Street on Fort Wayne's south side.
In the interest of full disclosure, my wife and I provide room and board for two cats from the ACSPCA shelter.
Photo of Linda Buskirk from the Buskirk for Mayor website.
Robberies Way Up in Indy
The Indianpolis Star is reporting that robberies are way up in Indianpolis. The Star cites numerous folks who advance a number of theories. A theory not mentioned in today's story was one that was talked about in a Star editorial last weekend. That is the ongoing pulling and tugging over the size of the Marion County Jail and the release of many offenders.
Mayor Peterson and others are touting a combination of the Marion Sheriff's Department and the Indianapolis Police Department as a way of improving public safety. Peterson has been about the business of cutting the number of police officers while advocating more business subsidies and the construction of the Colts Stadium. From the November 5th Star editorial:
Fred McCarthy at IndyTaxDollars takes issue with that and offers a more rational view.
Unigov was touted as a way of revitalizing the revenue base of the then-exisisting City of Indianapolis boundaries. Those boundaries remain, for the most part, the boundaries of the current Indianapolis Police Department. However, that revenue base has continued to decline in relative terms. Quite a bit of the new construction has either been by non-profit, governmental and otherwise tax-exempt entities. Quite a bit of the rest of that new construction has been the beneficiary of various tax breaks or has had revenue siphoned off to support specially designated districts. How is the cutting of the Indianapolis Police Department an argument for expanding Unigov? Isn't it evidence of its failure?
Mayor Peterson and others are touting a combination of the Marion Sheriff's Department and the Indianapolis Police Department as a way of improving public safety. Peterson has been about the business of cutting the number of police officers while advocating more business subsidies and the construction of the Colts Stadium. From the November 5th Star editorial:
But there's plenty of reason to be concerned. Mayor Bart Peterson announced budget cuts earlier this year that will reduce the police by 78 officers. He also has threatened to lay off another 48 officers if the City-County Council doesn't approve the proposed merger of the Indianapolis Police Department with the Sheriff's Department.
Unigov was touted as a way of revitalizing the revenue base of the then-exisisting City of Indianapolis boundaries. Those boundaries remain, for the most part, the boundaries of the current Indianapolis Police Department. However, that revenue base has continued to decline in relative terms. Quite a bit of the new construction has either been by non-profit, governmental and otherwise tax-exempt entities. Quite a bit of the rest of that new construction has been the beneficiary of various tax breaks or has had revenue siphoned off to support specially designated districts. How is the cutting of the Indianapolis Police Department an argument for expanding Unigov? Isn't it evidence of its failure?
Newspaper Biz Not Bad Says 3rd Largest KR Shareholder
Explains: It's Just That Knight-Ridder Stock Price is Too Low
The San Jose Mercury-News carries an interview with the 3rd largest Knight-Ridder stockholder. Harris Associates of Chicago is owner of 8.2 % of the Knight-Ridder stock. Harris has joined the two stop stockholders in calling for the sale of Knight-Ridder in whole or in pieces. Henry R. Berghoef, portfolio manager and the research director of the firm says that the newspaper is undergoing transition but that the doomsayers are getting things wrong. His judgment is that the newspaper business is still pretty good.
The San Jose Mercury-News carries an interview with the 3rd largest Knight-Ridder stockholder. Harris Associates of Chicago is owner of 8.2 % of the Knight-Ridder stock. Harris has joined the two stop stockholders in calling for the sale of Knight-Ridder in whole or in pieces. Henry R. Berghoef, portfolio manager and the research director of the firm says that the newspaper is undergoing transition but that the doomsayers are getting things wrong. His judgment is that the newspaper business is still pretty good.
``We're not trying to make any broad statement about how we feel about the newspaper industry,'' Berghoef said. ``What we're specifically looking at is a path to achieve the appropriate return for our investment.''
Knight Ridder spokesman Polk Laffoon declined to comment on Berghoef's remarks.
[Berhoef]says his views of the future of newspapers and traditional media are less apocalyptic than many of the comments he's heard over the past week.
``I think all traditional media are facing challenges right now,'' he said. ``By the same token, these are fairly good businesses. They're not as dominant as they used to be. But it's also my view that people are too pessimistic. What did Mark Twain say? `Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.' ''
How Free Markets Ended the UFO Craze
Douglas Kern, writing for Tech Central Station, has posted a thoughtful article that really has more to do with the nature of the internet than it does with UFOs. Tech Central Station describes itself as a place "Where Free Markets Meet Technology."
If you're looking for one of those famous, big-eyed alien abductors, try looking on the sides of milk cartons. The UFO cultural moment in America is long since over, having gone out with the Clintons and grunge rock in the 90s. Ironically, the force that killed the UFO fad is the same force that catapulted it to super-stardom: the Internet. And therein hangs a tale about how the Internet can conceal and reveal the truth.He explains:
Yet in recent years, interest in the UFO phenomenon has withered. Oh, the websites are still up, the odd UFO picture is still taken, and the usual hardcore UFO advocates make the same tired arguments about the same tired cases, but the thrill is gone. What happened? Why did the saucers crash?
The Internet showed this particular emperor to be lacking in clothes. If UFOs and alien visitations were genuine, tangible, objective realities, the Internet would be an unstoppable force for detecting them. How long could the vast government conspiracy last, when intrepid UFO investigators could post their prized pictures on the Internet seconds after taking them? How could the Men in Black shut down every website devoted to scans of secret government UFO documents? How could marauding alien kidnappers remain hidden in a nation with millions of webcams?
Just as our technology for finding and understanding UFOs improved dramatically, the manifestations of UFOs dwindled away. Despite forty-plus years of alleged alien abductions, not one scrap of physical evidence supports the claim that mysterious visitors are conducting unholy experiments on hapless victims.
The technology for sophisticated photograph analysis can be found in every PC in America, and yet, oddly, recent UFO pictures are rare. Cell phones and instant messaging could summon throngs of people to witness a paranormal event, and yet such paranormal events don't seem to happen very often these days. For an allegedly real phenomenon, UFOs sure do a good job of acting like the imaginary friend of the true believers. How strange, that they should disappear just as we develop the ability to see them clearly. Or perhaps it isn't so strange.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Huntington Close to Approving Airplane Subdivision
Airplanes and Cars would Both be on Taxiways -Another Reason Why Little Johnnie Shouldn't Play in the Street
The Huntington Herald-Press reports that the Huntington Plan Commission is getting close to approval of "Aero Landings" subdivision. The new residential area would be located next to the Huntington Airport on the southeast area of US 224 and Highway 5 on the south edge of the City of Huntington.
The topic of "Aero Landings" came before the Huntington Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday afternoon. The matter will be before the County Plan Commission on Wednesday.
Aero Landings first came before the Huntington County Plan Commission in June of 2004, and commission members were apprehensive to give the go-ahead for the subdivision. One of the chief concerns expressed, for instance, was the possibility of vehicle traffic and taxiing airplanes sharing the thoroughfares in front of the house.
Nate Schacht, the acting director of the Huntington Countywide Department of Community Development, has sent out copies of the proposed covenants at Aero Landings to Plan Commission members. He has since received additional information about the development.
He said, based on what he sees, that the commission may give final approval to the subdivision.
“I think they'll be able to work their way through it,” he said.
Among the additional information Schacht says has come in was an insurance quote covering liability for the shared car/airplane right of way. Even though the subdivision will be a gated community and the streets/runways will be private drives, commission members were still concerned about lawsuits.
The "Aero Landings" subdivision as well as another residential project along US 224 will put additional development pressure on the J. Edward Roush Lake (Huntington Reservoir) area. Roush Lake is a popular recreation area which includes the Little Turtle State Recreation Area, Kil-So-Quah Campground, boating facilities, the Kekionga Trail and numerous hunting areas. The area is managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Army Corps of Engineers. There was no word as to whether the State of Indiana or Army Corps officials had been asked for comment.
Follow-Up: Plan Commission approved airpark subdivision but rejects other request.
PARLEY POLL Debuts
A quick glance at the right side of this page will show a new feature for Indiana Parley. The Parley Poll will be posted from time to time to gauge the opinions of our visitors.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
I'll also use it to ask you about features or contents of this blog.
All that being said, please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. I am.
The first question is about the Allen County Republican race for Sheriff. The field seems to be taking shape this week. If you wish to comment on particular attributes of the candidates or you want to comment on the poll itself, do so at the end of this post.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Also, one matter in the interest of full disclosure: I want to note that I have served as an advisor to Sheriff's candidate Ken Fries in his campaign. However, it is my aim to have Indiana Parley serve as credible source for news and opinion. Some may ask,"Then, why report any coverage of the Sheriff's race at all?" My answer would be that this site's coverage of the Sheriff's race, as modest as it may be - is my way of showing that Indiana Parley is really about credible journalism and editorial views in the public interest.
The poll is unabashedly unscientific. Its usefulness may come over time as its results are compared to its own prior results. At best, it will help gauge interest in certain public questions. It may even show movement when the same poll questions are repeated later. I hope it heightens interest in whatever topic is the subject of the poll.
I'll also use it to ask you about features or contents of this blog.
All that being said, please keep any Parley Poll results in perspective. I am.
The first question is about the Allen County Republican race for Sheriff. The field seems to be taking shape this week. If you wish to comment on particular attributes of the candidates or you want to comment on the poll itself, do so at the end of this post.
Remember, you can post a comment anonymously if you wish. You will be asked to complete a short exercise in retyping letters before your comment is posted. This is a small measure to avoid spammers from loading up the comment boxes.
Also, one matter in the interest of full disclosure: I want to note that I have served as an advisor to Sheriff's candidate Ken Fries in his campaign. However, it is my aim to have Indiana Parley serve as credible source for news and opinion. Some may ask,"Then, why report any coverage of the Sheriff's race at all?" My answer would be that this site's coverage of the Sheriff's race, as modest as it may be - is my way of showing that Indiana Parley is really about credible journalism and editorial views in the public interest.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Blue Streak went; then Red Streak went; then the Indianapolis News was Gone
News-Sentinel Cut of 2nd Edition a Reminder of the Fade of the Indianapolis News
Fort Wayne Observed scored an exclusive with the news that the News-Sentinel will be ending its second edition on November 21st. That means the one and only News-Sentinel of each day will be printed at 8:30 AM. (Sundays, of course, excluded).
Fort Wayne Observed noted that the second edition could have the content changed by the time it went to press at 10 AM and that a breaking story could merit a replating of the front page up until 1 PM.
So, no EXTRA ever again. It would be interesting for local historians to note how many major front page changes were done in the last 70 years. The examples would tend to be the News-Sentinels that people held for safekeeping. You know, the ones chronicling the beginning - and end - of wars; the deaths of Presidents; natural disasters; and man-made ones, too. These are the ones given to the grandchildren. These are the News-Sentinels I often see at personal property auctions.
That the News-Sentinel is ending its second edition reminds me of the way the Indianapolis News came to its end. The Indianapolis News was the afternoon paper in Indy. The Star was purchased by Eugene C. Pulliam in 1944. He bought the News in 1948.
When Eugene C. Pulliam bought the Star it was lower in circulation than the News. The News had been, at one time, the largest circulation paper in Indiana. By the time Mr. Pulliam purchased the News, the Star had a larger circulation.
Evening newspaper readership was strong when the rhythms of life were different; when heavy manufacturing was strong.
Mr. Pulliam continued a separate identity for each newspaper. Each had its own news staff and its own editorial writers.
The News was always a little scrappier than its morning sister. It had to be. It was not only operating during the daytime as news was happening. It also competed, until 1966, with the afternoon paper, the Indianapolis Times.
The paper published a home edition, a red streak and a blue streak. Sometimes there was even a blue streak Extra. When I served in the legislature, the first edition of the Indianapolis News would come out with the barest outline of a breaking story. Often, by the time of the later edition, the details were so fleshed out that you were compelled to buy another copy of that day's News. If one can refer to a single reader as a market, then, on many days, the Indianapolis News had more than 100% market penetration of me.
In 1995, the News combined its news staff with the Star while the editorial staff remained distinct. In 1999, the News was gone.
In its final years, they kept eliminating the later editions until there was only one. And when they were down to only one edition it was really just a late edition of the Star.
The end hadn't come with crash. It was a whittling away until there wasn't anything left to whittle.
Thanks to Russ Pulliam for some of the historical detail drawn from fine biography he wrote of his grandfather.
Fort Wayne Observed scored an exclusive with the news that the News-Sentinel will be ending its second edition on November 21st. That means the one and only News-Sentinel of each day will be printed at 8:30 AM. (Sundays, of course, excluded).
Fort Wayne Observed noted that the second edition could have the content changed by the time it went to press at 10 AM and that a breaking story could merit a replating of the front page up until 1 PM.
So, no EXTRA ever again. It would be interesting for local historians to note how many major front page changes were done in the last 70 years. The examples would tend to be the News-Sentinels that people held for safekeeping. You know, the ones chronicling the beginning - and end - of wars; the deaths of Presidents; natural disasters; and man-made ones, too. These are the ones given to the grandchildren. These are the News-Sentinels I often see at personal property auctions.
That the News-Sentinel is ending its second edition reminds me of the way the Indianapolis News came to its end. The Indianapolis News was the afternoon paper in Indy. The Star was purchased by Eugene C. Pulliam in 1944. He bought the News in 1948.
When Eugene C. Pulliam bought the Star it was lower in circulation than the News. The News had been, at one time, the largest circulation paper in Indiana. By the time Mr. Pulliam purchased the News, the Star had a larger circulation.
Evening newspaper readership was strong when the rhythms of life were different; when heavy manufacturing was strong.
Mr. Pulliam continued a separate identity for each newspaper. Each had its own news staff and its own editorial writers.
The News was always a little scrappier than its morning sister. It had to be. It was not only operating during the daytime as news was happening. It also competed, until 1966, with the afternoon paper, the Indianapolis Times.
The paper published a home edition, a red streak and a blue streak. Sometimes there was even a blue streak Extra. When I served in the legislature, the first edition of the Indianapolis News would come out with the barest outline of a breaking story. Often, by the time of the later edition, the details were so fleshed out that you were compelled to buy another copy of that day's News. If one can refer to a single reader as a market, then, on many days, the Indianapolis News had more than 100% market penetration of me.
In 1995, the News combined its news staff with the Star while the editorial staff remained distinct. In 1999, the News was gone.
In its final years, they kept eliminating the later editions until there was only one. And when they were down to only one edition it was really just a late edition of the Star.
The end hadn't come with crash. It was a whittling away until there wasn't anything left to whittle.
Thanks to Russ Pulliam for some of the historical detail drawn from fine biography he wrote of his grandfather.
Sheriff News: Keesler in the Race, Taviano Announcing
Allen County Sheriff's Lieutenant Mike B. Keesler (pictured right) has confirmed that he will be a candidate for Sheriff of Allen County in the 2006 Republican primary. He had previously filed a committee with the Allen County Election Board.Keesler is a 30 year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, having been hired in 1974 during the tenure of Sheriff Robert Bender. He is currently assigned to the Warrants and Fugitive Division.
Keesler has developed a campaign website as part of his election effort.
The Republican Sheriff's race now has three active contenders. ACPD Lieutenant Ken Fries is head of the Detective Division as well as Commander of the ACPD SWAT team. Mike Foster is a member of the Sheriff's Reserve and is a former Democratic candidate for Congress. A fourth possibility, Fort Wayne Police Captain Tom Rhoades has filed an exploratory committee.
Meanwhile, Allen County Sheriff Sergeant Tina Taviano is holding a news conference today to announce her candidacy on the Democratic ticket. Taviano is head of the ACPD Training Division.
Damon Bailey to Coach Bedford-North Lawrence
READ IT HERE FIRST IN FORT WAYNE:The Bedford Times-Mail has reported that Damon Bailey has been nominated to be the basketball coach at Bedford-North Lawrence High School. The school board will vote on Bailey's nomination Thursday.
The Bedford Times-Mail is running an online poll regarding the choice.
Bailey played for the Fort Wayne Fury of the Continental Basketball Association.
Columbia City Golf Course to be Managed by Indy Company
R. H. West Also Owns LaFontaine of Huntington and Timber Ridge of BlufftonThe Huntington Herald-Press and the Columbia City Post & Mail report that R. H. West Management Corp. of Indianapolis has added The Links of Eagle Glen of Columbia City to its stable of 6 Indiana golf courses.
Eagle Glen is located at US 30 and State Road 205 in Whitley County.
Reciprocal memberships will be honored at all three northeast Indiana golf courses managed by the company.
The Herald-Press reported:
Scott Rinear, director of golf for the West organization, said work has begun to prepare the grounds for spring play. The course will be open throughout the winter months.
"Given the proximity — especially to LaFontaine, only 19 miles away — we look at this as a win/win for everybody," he said of the deal to acquire Eagle Glen. "We think it will be more attractive for people to become members at any of the three courses because they'll be members at all three. That way, if there is an outing or something at LaFontaine they can go elsewhere, still be a member, and get the variety they like to have."
Jim Leonard's "Close To Home" to Get Shifted by CBS for Sweeps
"Close to Home," the new television drama by New Haven (IN) native Jim Leonard will get shifted from its Tuesday night slot to Friday nights at 9 PM for the next two weeks during ratings sweeps. The CBS Television Network announced the change for both "Close to Home" and new series "Threshold" yesterday.
Zap2It.com notes that a Jerry Bruckheimer show will now be on every night of the week for CBS.
If these alternative time slots prove successful, CBS could make the moves permanent.
Neither "Threshold" nor "Close to Home" has been a failure for CBS, but neither drama has achieved quite the level of viewership the network had hoped for.
"Close to Home" has averaged just under 10 million weekly viewers, holding on to most of the 10.8 million people who watch "Amazing Race" each week. That's not bad, but CBS cancelled venerable drama "Judging Amy" (nearly 10.6 million viewers) in hopes of finding a younger Tuesday night audience. "Home" has fallen short of that goal.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Night of the Iguana; New York Times on the Lab at Indiana State
New York Times Profiles Iguana Brain Wave Research at ISU
Quite a lead for the November 8th New York Times story by Carl Zimmer:
Quite a lead for the November 8th New York Times story by Carl Zimmer:
And they will also likely be finding out what PETA thinks now that the NY Times has highlighted the ISU research project for a national audience.In a laboratory at Indiana State University, a dozen green iguanas sprawl tranquilly in terrariums. They while away the hours basking under their heat lamps, and at night they close both eyes - or sometimes just one. They lead comfortable lives pretty much indistinguishable from any ordinary pet iguana, except for one notable exception: the bundles of brain-wave recording wires that trail from their heads.
A team of scientists at Indiana State would like to know what happens in the brains of the iguanas when the lights go out.
US DOT Sets Time Zone Hearings
The US Department of Transportation has set the hearing schedule for those Indiana Counties which are seeking to change from Eastern to Central time. The schedule is:
- Nov. 13 - McHale Performing Arts Center, Logansport Community High School, 1 Berry Lane, Logansport, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
- Nov. 14 - Hulman Center, Meeting Room Complex, Indiana State University, 200 North Eighth St. (corner of 9th and Cherry Streets), Terre Haute, 5-10 p.m.
- Nov. 16 - Jasper Arts Center, 951 College Ave. (adjacent to Vincennes University, Jasper Campus), Jasper, 6-10 p.m.
- Nov. 21 - Student Activity Center, Indiana University, South Bend Campus, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, 5-10 p.m.
Wall Street Journal Online is Free for the Week
The Wall Street Journal Online edition (WSJ.com) has free access for the week courtesy of Chase Bank.
The Wall Street Journal has a successful online newspaper model which relies on subscription sales. At the time it was introduced, few thought that requiring a subscription to access an online version of a newspaper would work.
However, the online edition continues to draw new subscribers. Part of the credit goes to a canny decision to provide content on the website that is not available to print subscribers.
Most other newspapers offer stripped down versions of their print editions hoping to avoid the cannibilization of their own subscriber base.
Ball State Faculty Approve Policy on Faculty/Student Sexual Relationships
POLICY TAKES 5 YEARS to PASS
The following news item from the Ball State Daily News edition of November 4th may say something larger about the usefulness of faculty senates in higher education. Or it may something about math; any relationships started with freshmen students in the same year the faculty senate began debating the topic would be over by the time the policy was passed. Or it may just say something about Ball State University.
You can read it and make your own judgments.
The following is excerpted from the report by Chief Reporter YaVonda Smalls:
It will take a year or two after the policy is adopted to see if grade deflation occurs.The Ball State University Senate voted Thursday to approve the Policy on Consensual Sexual and Romantic Relationships. This was the first time the policy was approved after more than five years of working through the system.
According to the policy, “It is the University’s policy that persons shall not have instructional or supervisory responsibilities over anyone with whom they have a sexual or romantic relationship. If such a relationship exists or develops, the person with instructional or supervisory responsibilities shall immediately make arrangements to terminate his or her instructional or supervisory responsibilities over the partner in the relationship.”
Bruce Hozeski, chairperson of University Senate, said the policy has now been recommended to the president, who will decide whether it can be implemented now or whether the policy needs to go to the Board of Trustees. Because the board has the legal authority over the university, the policy will probably go the board, Hozeski said.
The Policy on Consensual Sexual and Romantic Relationships has been through multiple committees and councils, from the Senate Agenda Committee in January 2000 to Legal Counsel in October 2005. The policy has also been through the Academic Freedom and Ethics Committee, the Professional Affairs Council and the Agenda Committee.
“This policy has been around a while,” said Sali Falling, executive director of University Compliance. The policy is beneficial because it is specific and provides clarity about consensual sexual and romantic relationships, she said.
The policy states that “legal and ethical risks are inherent in any sexual or romantic relationship between a person with instructional responsibilities (full-time or part-time) a student whose academic work is being supervised by the person with instructional responsibilities, even when the relationship seems to be consensual.”
The policy further states that people who are involved in a romantic relationship cannot be expected to assess objectively the performance of their partners in the relationship.
The fact that the policy took more than five years to be approved and passed is “extremely unusual,” Hozeski said.
“This is probably the longest it’s ever taken anything,” Hozeski said.
MORE: Ball State Daily News historical links about the policy.
northAmerican Parent SIRVA Seeking to Amend Credit Terms
Sirva, the parent of northAmerican, Allied and Global, with major operations in Fort Wayne said today that it would be seeking to amend credit terms.
In September, Sirva announced that there had been a "material weakness" in its financial controls.
Sirva stock has had a 52 week high of $24.45 per share and a low of $6.34 per share. At 9:41 AM the stock had a listed price of $7.95.
Sirva also recently announced changes to its financial team.SIRVA, Inc. (NYSE: SIR), a global relocation services provider, announced today that it plans to hold discussions with its lenders to negotiate an amendment to certain terms of its credit facility.
Although SIRVA expects to file its 2004 Form 10-K by mid-November, it will request an extension of the deadlines for filing periodic reports such as Forms 10-K and 10-Q. SIRVA also will seek greater flexibility under the credit facility's financial covenants for the period December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2006.
Milewski had been appointed acting CFO on January 24, 2005 upon the resignation of Joan E. Ryan. Sirva stock lost 38.5% of its market value on one day in January.James J. Bresingham, presently Vice President of Business Development, has been named to the newly created position of Executive Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer, effective January 1, 2006. He will report to the CFO.
Ronald L. Milewski, presently acting Chief Financial Officer, will become Executive Vice President – Restructuring and Chief Risk Officer, effective when a new CFO joins the Company.
Andrew E. Reisman has joined the Company as Chief Compliance Counsel. He will report to Ralph Ford, Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
In September, Sirva announced that there had been a "material weakness" in its financial controls.
Sirva stock has had a 52 week high of $24.45 per share and a low of $6.34 per share. At 9:41 AM the stock had a listed price of $7.95.
Theaters of the Absurd
Leo Morris, writing in his blog Opening Arguments, notes a letter received from Ken Brown of Delphos, Ohio, who was shocked by the opening trailers at the Rave movie theater where he had taken his 10-year old daughter to see the moving "Dreamer." The trailer in question dealt with child prostitution. Mr. Brown was not at all pleased with what he termed the "disingenuous" response from Rave management in Fort Wayne.
On a related note, kids were shocked in New York at a Times Square showing of "Chicken Little." There, they had presumably already endured the trailers when the theater began showing the feature. Unfortunately, the feature was not "Chicken Little" but "Andrea," a film from the Dominican Republic which charmingly opens with an image of a boy hanging himself from a tree.
The New York Daily News reported that it took 5 minutes for the theater to get the film stopped.
On a related note, kids were shocked in New York at a Times Square showing of "Chicken Little." There, they had presumably already endured the trailers when the theater began showing the feature. Unfortunately, the feature was not "Chicken Little" but "Andrea," a film from the Dominican Republic which charmingly opens with an image of a boy hanging himself from a tree.
The New York Daily News reported that it took 5 minutes for the theater to get the film stopped.
ABC to Release Newspaper Circulation Figures Today
The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) will release its quarterly figures on newspaper circulation today. The only questions being asked are all related to: "How far is the fall"?
The last release of figures in March showed the largest drop in circulation in nine years. Today's figures are expected to show an even bigger drop.
Some papers, such as the Chicago Tribune are releasing the figures specific to their newspaper in anticipation of the ABC report. Other publicly-traded newspaper chains have already publicized estimates of the expected drops. Knight-Ridder, for example, has already reported that its overall daily loss is 2.9%.
The last release of figures in March showed the largest drop in circulation in nine years. Today's figures are expected to show an even bigger drop.
Some papers, such as the Chicago Tribune are releasing the figures specific to their newspaper in anticipation of the ABC report. Other publicly-traded newspaper chains have already publicized estimates of the expected drops. Knight-Ridder, for example, has already reported that its overall daily loss is 2.9%.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Conspiracy Theorists Warn of Republican Takeover of Knight-Ridder
The following is from a feverish post in Editor & Publisher headed " Knight Ridder Reporter Warns of Hostile Takeover--with Political Twist?
As reports swirl that KR could or should be sold, under new pressure from what he calls a "pro-GOP" big investor, a longtime Philly Daily News scribe charges that this would be "bad news" for the chain--and all of American media".
So, now we are being led to believe that Knight-Ridder is not in play because its been an undervalued investment. Nosiree, it's a conspiracy by the Republicans! Ooh, watch out, Halliburton is hiding behind that tree over there!
More: Here's an analysis by another writer who appears to have written his column while at 98.6 degrees.
As reports swirl that KR could or should be sold, under new pressure from what he calls a "pro-GOP" big investor, a longtime Philly Daily News scribe charges that this would be "bad news" for the chain--and all of American media".
So, now we are being led to believe that Knight-Ridder is not in play because its been an undervalued investment. Nosiree, it's a conspiracy by the Republicans! Ooh, watch out, Halliburton is hiding behind that tree over there!
More: Here's an analysis by another writer who appears to have written his column while at 98.6 degrees.
Gloria Goeglein Nature Center to be Dedicated at Metea Park
The following invitation is for a dedication honoring the late Indiana State Representative Gloria J. Goeglein:
The Allen County Commissioners along with the Allen County Park Board and the Friends of Metea invite you to join them in dedicating the Gloria J. Goeglein Nature Center - Metea County Park - November 15, 2005 - 4 PM. Open House follows until 6 PM. Intersection of Leo and Union Chapel Roads
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Regarding Knight-Ridder "This is a falling knife"
The credit market is making its judgment about Knight-Ridder. This, from a Reuters report:
Editor & Publisher reports that Knight-Ridder issued its first statement about the quickly progressing events of the past week. That statement, read by Knight-Ridder's Polk Laffoon IV, was all of two sentences.Jake Newman, analyst at CreditSights in New York, maintained his "underweight" recommendation on Knight Ridder, adding it is impossible to predict how much debt a buyer might add to the company's balance sheet.
"This a falling knife," Newman said, which means it is difficult if not impossible to know when to jump in and go long this credit.
In the bond market an "underweight" recommendation is roughly comparable to "sell" in other markets
... he [Laffoon] said that the "board takes its fiduciary duties seriously and will respond in due course."
He did not confirm reports that the company had retained an investment bank to explore strategic options.
Coliseum to Host the Komets, the Annual Vera Bradley Sale...and Flu Patients
WANE-TV News Channel 15 is reporting that it has learned some of what will likely be included in the Fort Wayne-Allen County Board of Health pandemic flu plan when the plan is released after the first of the year.
She [Dr. Deborah McMahan, Health Commissioner] says when the pandemic breaks out, the community will need to be able to provide a certain level of service on its own. For instance, a mass treatment center with thousands of beds could be set-up at the Memorial Coliseum. If there are no anti-viral medicines or vaccine available, people could be supported by IV fluid, portable ventilators, and respiratory systems. Since those things require money, the Health Commisioner would like to see federal funds in local hands soon.
Indiana Parley Reaches a Milemarker
Two New Changes: An Easier Way to Find Indiana Parley and the Addition of Audio Content
Indiana Parley is now in its second full month in the blogosphere.
It's now easier to type in the blog's URL. Just type in IndianaParley.com.
The second change is the addition of audio content. Just hit the "Play this audio post" button above to HEAR this post. This provides a new option to get content to you faster. When you visit Indiana Parley you may see audio content added to the regular posts.
You may also visit in the future and just see the audio symbol posted without a headline or other written content. Go ahead and click on the audio symbol. It may mean that I've called in a post at a time when I can't access the computer screen. This allows the ability to report breaking content sooner.
Again, thank you for your visits over the last month. And, by the way, don't be shy about posting your own comments.
Indiana Parley is now in its second full month in the blogosphere.
It's now easier to type in the blog's URL. Just type in IndianaParley.com.
The second change is the addition of audio content. Just hit the "Play this audio post" button above to HEAR this post. This provides a new option to get content to you faster. When you visit Indiana Parley you may see audio content added to the regular posts.
You may also visit in the future and just see the audio symbol posted without a headline or other written content. Go ahead and click on the audio symbol. It may mean that I've called in a post at a time when I can't access the computer screen. This allows the ability to report breaking content sooner.
Again, thank you for your visits over the last month. And, by the way, don't be shy about posting your own comments.
Pence Looking Up to the Post of Majority Leader
The Washington Post reports that U.S. Representative Mike Pence of Indiana is exploring the possibility of running for House Majority Leader if U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay steps down permanently from that post.
Already, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) has said he would like to run for a leadership post. Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, an increasingly influential faction of fiscal conservatives, has signaled to members that he is exploring a run. And many expect Rep. John A. Boehner (Ohio), a leadership member since the 1994 Republican House takeover, to make a bid.
All that has helped fragment the House Republican Conference as members jostle for advantage.
"There's a power vacuum," said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.). "If we don't get some unity and sense of purpose soon, people will start looking after themselves."
DeLay has tried to shore up his position by lining up with conservatives, especially on the drive for budget cuts, where he once played the role of conciliator. And that has created other problems, as the Republican Study Committee gains power at the expense of other factions.
"You can't have a part of the conference wagging the whole body," Davis said. "The conservatives say it's all about keeping the party base, keeping the party base. But you hold the majority by holding your marginal districts."
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Indiana High School Streaker Punished
This story from Northwest Indiana involves a streaker, former East Allen County Schools Superintendent Michael Benway, and a discussion of just how long a reach a public school has in punishing a student.
The story from The Times of Northwest Indiana is by Elizabeth Holmes.
Although the streaker was not on school grounds, the event did not happen during school hours and did not involve any of the corporation's schools, East Porter County was well within its legal right to suspend the student. Indiana law allows a school corporation to punish a student in violation of a school policy anywhere at any time, according to Dana Long, assistant director for legal services at the Indiana Department of Education.
Such consequences typically stem from criminal charges being filed, like underage drinking or drug possession. But in the case of the streaker, no police action was taken, according to Cpl. Michael Grennes, public information officer for the Valparaiso Police Department.
Bruce Sherman - The Man Shaking Up Knight Ridder
The news that Private Capital Management (PCM), a unit of Legg Mason, wants a sale or shake-up of Knight Ridder is major news. Indeed, PCM wrote in the letter it sent to the Board of Knight Ridder and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that "We anticipate that other shareholders would strongly support the Board's efforts to auction the Company at this time." (Full text of letter here)
Bruce Sherman (pictured at right) founded Private Capital Management, based in Naples, Florida.
Just who is Bruce Sherman? Here's a profile from a 2002 piece by Jon Markman.
There’s dumb money, and there’s smart money. And then there’s Sherman money.Photo of Bruce Sherman from the Legg Mason website.
You know all about dumb money, and a little bit about smart money.
But, chances are, you have never heard of Sherman money. That’s the kind of well-informed money that buys the most-hated stocks at very low prices ahead of the smart money, holds a long time and stealthily feeds them out, usually amid a love fest, at high prices to the dumb money.
Bruce Sherman is that kind of money, that kind of investor. The kind that even Warren Buffett comes to see when he’s in a buying mood.
EXTRA: A free-wheeling view describing the effect of Knight-Ridder cutbacks in Philly.
ANOTHER EXTRA: Fascinating column by Daniel Rubin on his Philadelphia Inquirer blog about the future of newspapers and the discussions going on in another Knight-Ridder newsroom. Contains great insights from news folks AND readers about likes, dislikes, web-based newspapers and blogging. A sample:
"We’re having so many meetings it’s a wonder we can get the paper out. But we do."ONE MORE: Poynter does a Q&A about the consequences of PCM's letter and where all of this may lead from here.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Goldman Sachs Lowers Forecast for Newspaper Growth
"The newspaper business is lousy and its going to be worse next year than we thought." I've taken a bit of license to paraphrase what seems to be the verdict of Goldman-Sachs as it lowers its already low growth predictions for 2006.
The weak ad environment for newspapers has caused Goldman to scale back its 2006 growth forecast to 3.5 percent from 4.0 percent. The note said national ad growth would once again be weakest at 1.0 percent, followed by retail, 2.5 percent, and classifieds at 3.6 percent. The bright spot continues to be online newspaper revenues, which are projected to grow an impressive 25 percent in 2006. Despite this, online will still represent 5.0 percent of total newspaper revenues.
Ross Fadner reported on the Goldman Sachs analysis in MediaDaily News.
Leo Reflects on His Blogging
Leo Morris Says He Reads Indiana Parley Daily
Leo Morris of the blog Opening Arguments and, oh, incidentally, The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, looks back over his time in the blogosphere. He notes that he has hit a milestone - his 500th blog posting. He compares that number with the number of editorial pieces he has written in the same time span (fewer than 200).
Leo also reflects on the growth of the overall blogosphere during that time. Most importantly for our modest effort here is that he admits to checking out Indiana Parley daily. The other two blogs he admits to visiting every day are those of our colleagues Nathan Gotsch (Fort Wayne Observed) and Tracy Warner at the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
Leo doesn't say whether he views these visits as a guilty pleasure or a sound journalistic practice. All three exhibit editorial judgment. Both Fort Wayne Observed and Indiana Parley are independent blogs unassociated with other journalistic enterprises. However, each has presented original reporting as well as commentary.
He writes:
Yet, sometimes the practice yield comments, insights or even tips on another blog which wouldn't have been made by the readers of the original blog. And even if those insights do nothing more than deepen my own understanding of a topic, the effort has been worth it.
Leo Morris of the blog Opening Arguments and, oh, incidentally, The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, looks back over his time in the blogosphere. He notes that he has hit a milestone - his 500th blog posting. He compares that number with the number of editorial pieces he has written in the same time span (fewer than 200).
Leo also reflects on the growth of the overall blogosphere during that time. Most importantly for our modest effort here is that he admits to checking out Indiana Parley daily. The other two blogs he admits to visiting every day are those of our colleagues Nathan Gotsch (Fort Wayne Observed) and Tracy Warner at the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
Leo doesn't say whether he views these visits as a guilty pleasure or a sound journalistic practice. All three exhibit editorial judgment. Both Fort Wayne Observed and Indiana Parley are independent blogs unassociated with other journalistic enterprises. However, each has presented original reporting as well as commentary.
He writes:
Some real back-and-forth conversations are taking place, and news is beginning to be broken on blogs.I would agree on both points. However, as I noted a few weeks ago to Doug Davidoff at Straight Talk PR - when bloggers repeat what is on each other's blogs and then engage in a back and forth discourse we may be doing nothing more productive at times than "taking in each other's laundry."
Yet, sometimes the practice yield comments, insights or even tips on another blog which wouldn't have been made by the readers of the original blog. And even if those insights do nothing more than deepen my own understanding of a topic, the effort has been worth it.
US Supremes to Hear Indiana Case on Criminal Law
Hammon v. Indiana One of Two Cases to Clarify 2004 Crawford Decision Limiting Use of Statements
Story by Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times:
Story by Linda Greenhouse of The New York Times:
The Supreme Court's decisions, in the two cases it accepted on Monday for argument in March, will govern proceedings in state and federal courtrooms. The decisions will require the justices to interpret the Sixth Amendment's "confrontation clause," which gives defendants the right to confront their accusers.
It was this right that Justice Antonin Scalia, in his opinion for the court in the Crawford case, said was inadequately protected by the decision that the Crawford ruling overturned. The earlier decision, Ohio v. Roberts, from 1980, permitted the use of statements from absent witnesses as long as the trial judge regarded the statement as having "adequate indicia of reliability."
Bank One No More
The Bank One name will disappear in Indiana over the next week as the new name of Chase Bank is introduced.
The following is my attempt to recount from memory the lineage of the new Chase Bank in Fort Wayne: Bank One in Fort Wayne was formerly known as NBD. NBD bought Summit Bank which had been formed from the mergers of People's Trust Bank, Indiana Bank & Trust, and Anthony Wayne Bank. Anthony Wayne had been born out of the Morris Plan in Fort Wayne. Indiana Bank & Trust was the former Dime Bank.
Botox Injections Can Improve Stroke Recovery
Study Done by Dr. Allison Brashear While at Indiana University
Findings presented last Friday at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R):
Findings presented last Friday at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R):
Dr. Brashear received her medical degree from Indiana University and completed her residency there. She was Vice-Chairman of Clinical Practice and Practice Development while at I.U. School of Medicine and was an Associate Professor of Neurology. She has special interests in Botulinum toxin, dystonia, and Alzheimer's disease.New research shows that repeated treatments of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) over one year after a stroke can improve muscle tone and reduce pain in the arms and hands, making it easier for patients to dress themselves and perform personal hygiene.
“The treatment resulted in sustained and meaningful functional improvement that makes a difference in the daily lives of stroke patients and the people who care for them,” said Allison Brashear, M.D., professor and chairman of neurology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
The study was conducted by Brashear and colleagues while she was at Indiana University School of Medicine.
