Last Update Monday, May 12, 2008 10:18:40 PM

In the May 12 issue of INDIANA LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT:
Next issue: May 19, 2008

• The primary detritus
• Indiana acquits itself well
• The gubernatorial race shapes up
• Son of Voter ID case: no injunctions
• Bopp reigns supreme in first round of judicial canons case
• The turnout: who, how much, where, and what it portends
• Zoeller first candidate in the AG's race
• Indiana's two senators upset with a pair of different Administration foreign policy initiatives
• Property tax details still bedevil
• Some unions unhappy with Speaker Bauer
• Ron Paul campaign alive and kicking in Indiana
• Indiana Code sections translated into Español by court
• Mixed economic news
• Indiana business and economic news and numbers, and people moving to and fro

In the May 5 issue of INDIANA GAMING INSIGHT:
Next issue: May 19, 2008

• Lottery immunity case has immediate impact
• Paper-game parity: the next steps toward implementation
• Appeal filed in JPMorgan Chase casino marker case
• Majestic Star hits some hard financial times
• Racinos ready their product
• Lottery revenues up despite gas prices
• Hoosier Lottery readies new strategies
• Ohio casino push attracts Pokagons' partner
• Ameristar - Resorts tax bill bickering: what's at stake?
• Blue Chip tops off hotel as Horseshoe ahead of sked
• The results of the French Lick casino bond redemption offer
• Lots of riverboat and horse racing news and the latest legislative info

In the May 12 issue of INDIANA EDUCATION INSIGHT:
Next issue: May 26, 2008 

• Appellate court addresses school funding
• Review of 21st Century Scholar data reverses initial conclusions
• HEA 1001 continues to frustrate schools
• FDK plans still bandied about locally
• Construction plans change as schools cope with cost constraints
• IU, Ivy Tech reach agreement on program offerings and collaboration
• State Board of Accounts slams another school corporation
• Capital projects approved for several institutions
• USI readies its presidential search
• IU baffled by surge in download complaints
• More student loan changes at IU campuses
• Ball State concerned over one charter's management
• School technology news, court news, personnel changes, building plans, and more
   
  
   

• IN the Air
   

• (TUES) On the Garrison show from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on WIBC 93.1-FM, Greg Garrison hosts a show that should include discussion of the presiedntial campaign.
  
   

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Heads Up
 

• (TUES) Look for the Lieutenant Governor and racing industry leaders to join executives from an Indiana-headquartered motorsports company for an economic development announcement today in Boone County.
   

• (TUES) Expect the Governor to be back in Lincoln City today.
   

• (TUES) The House Select Committee for which U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R) serves as the Ranking Member for will hold a hearing today on House voting practices, one perhaps unparalleled in the annals of Congress.
   

• (MON) The dissatisfaction with the assessment situation builds in LaPorte County, and the Governor's Office is asked by a legislator to intervene with the Department of Local Government Finance. Details in the May 19 issue of Indiana Legislative Insight.
   

• (FRI) To clarify an item in the May 12 issue of Indiana Education Insight, Dr. Stephen T. Heck has voluntarily resigned from the Indiana Association of School Principals.
   

• (THURS) Clinton, Long Thompson, all of our incumbent members of Congress, and all senators, and all legislators save Reps. Simms and Ulmer survive the primary. The fun stuff coming in Monday's issue of your favorite newsletter.
   

• (THURS) The most "Googled" terms on Wednesday morning included (2) Lake County Indiana; (4) Gary Indiana; (5) Indiana primary results; and (7) Rudy Clay.
   

• (THURS) Former Indiana Democratic Party chair Joe Andrew, a superdelegate as a former Democratic National Committee chair, appeared live Thursday on CNN's American Morning opposite James Carville to talk with host John Roberts about the next move in the presidential race for the candidate he is now backing: U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
   

• (WED) Your complete primary wrap-up coming in Monday's issue of Indiana Legislative Insight. As of late Tuesday, Rep. John Ulmer (R) had gone down to defeat by a wide margin, results from Indianapolis were spotty, and while Rep. Greg Simms (D) was trailing in preliminary returns, voting problems in Porter County were expected to delay final returns until this morning. All congressional incumbents were safe, and the Democratic gubernatorial contest was still too close to call Tuesday night. With more than 85% of the vote in statewide (but not the bulk of Lake or Porter counties), there were more than 950,000 total votes counted, and the candidates were separated by only about 9,000 votes. An unprecedented number of absentee and early-voting ballots was slowing the vote count in Lake County election, with only about one-half of the 11,370 such ballots (almost three times the 2004 level) counted by shortly before 10:00 p.m. Indianapolis time, keeping analysts at CNN and Fox News up late.
   

• (WED) The Indiana State Board of Education meets this morning at 10:00 a.m., and will be asked to approve school loans for property tax shortfalls in Lake County. The Board will also discuss assistance for school corporations that have been placed on academic probation. Prior to the meeting, the Board will hold the sixth and final public hearing on a proposed amendment to the state's special education rules. The Department of Education posts a brief podcast explaining the rule changes on iTunes.  
   

• (WED) U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D) appeared live at noon Tuesday on MSNBC with Brian Williams, outside in downtown Indianapolis. He talked about the state's political history and composition, the potency of the gas tax issue ("some help's better than none"), and Williams noted that Sen. Bayh has "a lot on the line" personally in this contest. His appearance was followed by a live stand-up at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Andrea Mitchell, who followed a stop there U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). "This was fun," said Mitchell of the morning's events at IMS, before describing the "Zen moment" for Sen. Clinton talking in a "wistful" manner about the campaign. Just one hour later, Mitchell anchored coverage for MSNBC from the Circle City. Sen. Bayh appeared later in the afternoon live on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
  
                                        
  
                                                                                                

• (TUES) The Guv weighs in with his pick in the AG contest; details on what this all means in Monday's issue of Indiana Legislative Insight.
   

• (TUES) Superdelegate Joe Andrew appears live on CNN Monday afternoon with T. J. Holmes to talk about the superdelegate sweepstakes and reaction to his move from the Clinton to Obama camp.
   

• (WED) Early Tuesday afternoon, the top search term on Google was "Indiana exit polls."
   

• (TUES) Kifah Wael Jayyousi, who was sentenced last August to 12 years behind bars for aiding al-Qaeda, will serve his time at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, but has filed a motion protesting his placement in the prison's Communications Management Unit. The section of the prison, which currently houses 46 inmates, is reserved for those whose communications are monitored at all times.
   

• (MON) Sens. Lugar, Bayh express displeasure with Administration on foreign policy issues; details in today's issue of Indiana Legislative Insight.

• (TUES) The Governor’s Council on Impaired & Dangerous Driving and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute will join with more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies to launch Indiana’s “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign. The statewide “Click It or Ticket” seat belt mobilization will take place from May 16 – June 1.  With an emphasis this year on convincing more motorists to buckle up day and night, law enforcement officers will be on the look out for unrestrained motorists around the clock.  Through high-visibility enforcement efforts, all drivers and passengers will be reminded to buckle up every trip, every time or face a fine. According to the 2007 Annual Observational Survey, Indiana’s overall observed seat belt usage rate increased from 62.1percent in 2000 to a record high of 88.4% in 2007.  The survey also reported a 22 point increase of seat belt usage among pick up truck drivers – jumping from 49.5% in 2005 to 71.5% in 2007.
   

• (FRI) The Office of the Attorney General files a lawsuit against book publisher and promoter Airleaf, LLC for taking money without providing the promised services in return. The lawsuit is seeking consumer restitution for at least 120 customers. More than 120 people are named in the lawsuit, including many from Indiana who lost thousands of dollars. The lawsuit, filed in Morgan County Circuit Court, alleges Airleaf, formerly known as Bookman Marketing, LLC, and its owner, Carl Lau, violated Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. The State claims  that the company advertised that it would provide book publishing, royalty reimbursement, and promotional services to consumers in exchange for payment. The promotional services included in-person participation at book fairs; presentations to Hollywood movie producers; and newspaper, radio, and television advertisements. The lawsuit alleges that Airleaf accepted payment but failed to honor all, or part, of the Client Service Agreements and other agreements, dating back to at least January 2006. Lau is also alleged to have used Airleaf assets and consumer payments to cover expenses unrelated to the business, and that Lau continued to solicit business and accept payments months after he indicated that Airleaf was insolvent. In addition to consumer restitution, the OAG is seeking civil penalties of up to $5,500 per violation, as well as investigative costs.
   

• (THURS) The Wall Street Journal examines how economic progress is slow in coming to Gary, hard-hit in previous tough times. "Decades after deep job cuts in the steel and manufacturing plants, the Rust Belt city's residents and real estate still bear the scars."
   

• (WED) A federal court grants a preliminary injunction allowing judicial candidates in Indiana to answer certain candidate questionnaires; details in Monday's issue of Indiana Legislative Insight. Responses to the Indiana Right to Life questionnaires are available on-line.
  
   

IN Education

• (TUES) Trustees at the University of Southern Indiana have requested more time to consider President Ray Hoops' proposal for same-sex domestic partner benefits for faculty and staff. A familiar group organizes an e-mail campaign against the benefit policy; details in the next issue of Indiana Education Insight.
   

• (THURS) Indiana State University plans to spend $2.6 million for an asbestos abatement project at the Hulman Center. The school will remove asbestos-contaminated structures used in the original construction of the home of ISU basketball, and will replace ceiling and lighting fixtures as a result of the project.   
   

• (TUES) The Department of Natural Resopurces Division of Forestry (DoF) draft environmental assessment of the forest management program on state forests is posted on the DoF Web site for public comment and review over a 60-day period. The document, “Increased Emphasis on Management and Sustainability of Oak-Hickory Communities on the Indiana State Forest System,” is accessible at dnr.IN.gov/forestry/6407.htm.
   

• (TUES) Chicken and pork will soon be more expensive at the grocery store, according to the Associated Press, and the biggest factor driving the price inflation is grain costs, which have been affected by ethanol production and strong export demand because of the weak dollar. According to AP, "Corn costs have more than doubled over the past two years from $2.50 a bushel to $6. That has added $6 billion to chicken farmers' annual feed bills, according to the National Chicken Council, a trade group. As a result, companies are slaughtering animals to tighten supply. The move will temporarily increase supply, lowering prices, but as farms herds and flocks get smaller, it will raise prices."  Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist at Purdue University, calls the pork industry "a financial disaster in progress."
   

• (MON) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 office issues a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) that resolves a violation of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the Crosbie Foundry Company in Elkhart, Indiana. Crosbie generates hazardous waste in the form of spent foundry sand containing lead. Inspections conducted by Region 5 and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management found that Crosbie failed to comply with RCRA storage and emergency preparedness requirements. The CAFO requires Crosbie to certify its return to compliance and to pay a fine of $1,000.
   

• (THURS) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 office issues Consent Agreements and Final Orders (CAFOs) in the Black Beauty Coal Company (BBCC) Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Mining Case. BBCC will pay a $75,000 fine (divided evenly in 3 CAFOs), and perform a Supplemental Environmental Project creating a 41.8 acre forested wetland and establishing a permanent environmental restrictive covenant on the wetland, valued at $292,345 (divided evenly in three CAFOs). Between March and August 2006, BBCC applied for 4 CWA Section 404 permits involving a significant amount of after-the-fact impacts on streams and wetlands at 4 of its surface coal mining operations: Cottage Grove/Wildcat Hills mine (Gallatin and Saline counties, Illinois); Farmersburg mine (Sullivan and Vigo counties); and, Somerville North and Central, and Somerville South mines-combined for purposes of settlement (both in Gibson County). U.S. EPA is enforcing the CWA for BBCC’s unpermitted mining activities beginning in approximately 2000 that have impacted waters of the United States. BBCC has directly or indirectly impacted or will impact approximately 164,179 linear feet of ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams, as well as approximately 16.69 acres of wetlands.
   

• (WED) From the Boston Globe: "For more than four months, perplexed scientists have struggled to understand why upwards of a half-million bats may be at risk of dying in the dark caves and mines of Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. Last year, thousands of dead bats were found in four caves within 7 miles of one another. This year, at least 25 caves and mines spread across 135 miles were found to have sick or dying bats. Homeowners from Hanover, N.H., to East Canaan in northwest Connecticut have reported dead bats on lawns, decks, and roofs, a sign the animals might be affected in an even wider area. But so far, no one has found an infectious agent or any other cause .... Six species of bats appeared to be affected, though little brown bats seemed hardest hit. Not all the dead bats had white noses, but enough did for scientists to dub the sickness "white nose syndrome." Most had virtually no fat on their body, indicating they had starved. But even some live bats that were a healthy weight and lacked white fungus were acting strangely by flying out in the middle of the day. Mortality in some caves was nearing 100 percent. No one had seen anything like it. 'We hope that our concern is overblown and that in a short time people are laughing at us for saying, `The sky is falling, the sky is falling,' ' Virgil Brack Jr., a bat consultant and assistant director of the Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation at Indiana State University, wrote in an e-mail to the group in January. 'But until that proves to be the case, this . . . scares the hell out of us.' "
   

IN Business, the Economy, Energy, and Infrastructure
 

• (TUES) Scott N. Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, authors a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal that we quoted from here. He writes that the editorial "Indiana to Beijing," "flunks a basic test that most of our children learn in high school: how to balance an account. The Journal chides Hillary Clinton's criticism of China's mercantilist trade policies that distort the free market by citing export figures from Indiana. However, the Journal does not factor in imports, which have led to a record $256 billion trade deficit with China, costing Indiana more than 45,000 jobs since 2001. China's unfair trade practices, including currency manipulation, dumping, subsidies, and lax labor and environmental enforcement have contributed to these market distortions and job losses. Criticism of these policies is not anti-China, but rather pro-rule of law and pro-free market. Why is the Journal -- or for that matter the U.S.-China Business Council -- supporting practices by an authoritarian regime that distort the free market? Perhaps remedial lessons in arithmetic and trade theory are in order."
   

• (THURS) Raytheon Company in Fort Wayne will provide a critical communications solution for the Department of Defense's Joint Tactical Radio System. JTRS is the next generation of radios for the U.S. military. Raytheon will be a subcontractor on the $766 million JTRS Airborne, Maritime and Fixed contract, which was awarded to Lockheed Martin in March 2008. The AMF domain will provide network and interoperable communications for more than 160 platform types, including fixed and rotary wing aircraft, submarines and surface ships, and fixed stations worldwide. Raytheon will co-lead the design, development and manufacture of the joint airborne radio of the JTRS AMF communications simulation efforts, and the company will design, develop and manufacture ancillary products for the
  system including power supplies and filters. Raytheon will also lead the Army aviation platform piece of the contract with responsibility for overall integration of the communications systems on all Army aviation platforms.
  
   

• (TUES) Purdue University announced launches EcoliHub, a central on-line source for information about the bacteria Escherichia coli. Barry L. Wanner, who is leading the project, said E. coli has served as a model organism that has led to innumerable discoveries about fundamental cellular processes that are key to understanding all living cells (in addition to the illness aspects).
   
  
   

• (WED) U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar (R) receives the Dale E. Kildee Civitas Award from the Center for Civic Education, which recognizes members of Congress for their dedication to civic education. 
   
  
  
  
   

• (TUES) Hoosier Hannah Storm will join ESPN to anchor a new morning version of SportsCenter.
   

• (MON) Kevin Lilly, a three-year veteran of the Logansport Pharos-Tribune, is named news editor of the paper.
   

• (FRI) The Philadelphia Daily News' media writer reports that "6ABC sports anchor Keith Russell has reportedly supplied wholly unsubstantiated details to a Florida radio station about last week's shooting linked to Marvin Harrison, the Indianapolis Colts and Roman Catholic football star. Harrison is being investigated by Philadelphia police following the April 29 shooting in which a gun he owns was used to shoot a man who had just beaten him up. According to ProFootballTalk. com, Russell appeared with Jason Jackson on Miami's WQAM, and said his sources told him that the man who was shot had come to carry out a gangland-style hit on Harrison. According to the Web site, Russell said during the segment that the issue relates to Harrison's father, who Russell told! the radio station was incarcerated. According to a Sporting News article from 1999, Harrison's father died when he was 2."
   

• (FRI) According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, former WTHR-TV meteorologist Rob Guarino "will be working weekends in Seattle. Guarino, 44, who left Fox29 in December after his contract was not renewed, auditioned last weekend on the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts at KIRO-TV, a CBS station. Guarino told The Inquirer that he will be on again this weekend. If he gets the job, he said he would shuttle to the Philadelphia area, where his two children live."
   

• (FRI) WTWO-TV General Manager Duane Lammers will leave Terre Haute Channel 2 after 11 years to move to the St. Louis area, where he will be taking an as-yet unidentified post within the TV industry that will not include actually running a TV station.
   

• (FRI) Ball State University alum Stephanie Soviar, a former WTHR-TV entertainment reporter and WRTV-TV traffic reporter, will host Great Day St. Louis beginning in September on KMOV-TV there under her married name, Stephanie Simmons.
   

• (FRI) The Rochester Sentinel becomes the second Indiana newspaper in recent weeks to shift subscribers to U.S. mail from carrier delivery.
  
   

“Now that the Supreme Court has resolved this matter, wouldn't it make sense for everyone to work together to get an ID into the hands of those who need them? Andrew Young, a former Atlanta mayor, believes that in an era when people have to show ID to rent a video or buy an Amtrak ticket, "requiring ID can help poor people." He expressed support for deploying mobile buses to issue free voter IDs and allowing groups like the NAACP to arrange for visits to specific sites and neighborhoods. One stop ought to be St. Mary's Convent in South Bend.”