Last Update 1/7/2009

As Indiana lawmakers get ready for the start of the 2009 legislative session today, they'll be forced to hold the line on spending. Forecasters are projecting a four-percent drop in the amount of taxes collected by the state this year, and they say it could take another two years to make it up. In response, Governor Mitch Daniels has released his two-year budget, which is tight. It allows just a one-point-two percent increase in state spending. The slight increases for schools and prisons are just enough to keep their current service levels. Daniels says schools will have to find ways to save money to keep up with rising utility and insurance costs. Daniels says the plan to extend full-day kindergarten to every school may have to be placed on hold. He says he won't consider a tax hike and does not want to touch Indiana's one-point-three-billion dollar rainy day fund.

The Bureau of Labor is out with the latest jobless numbers, and they don't look good. Indiana's unemployment rate stands at six-point-eight percent, but Elkhart County's nearly doubles that at 12-point-four percent. And that's not even including all the people who don't qualify for unemployment benefits looking for jobs. The jobless rate in the South Bend-Mishawaka area is eight-percent.

Jobs and the economy are on the minds of most Hoosiers. That's according to a new poll just released by Ball State University. Political Science Professor Doctor Ray Scheele says the survey shows over 80-percent of people in Indiana are concerned about the job picture, while he's surprised at the number two issue -- how efficient local government is. The results show a lack of trust in our county and city officials but relatively high support for state government. The results have been sent to Indiana lawmakers and the governor for their information.

A new economic stimulus plan is in the works to help revive our nation's economy. It's one of the top priorities of Congress, which opened its new session on Tuesday. President-elect Barack Obama's plan calls for 300-billion dollars in tax cuts along with money for road and bridge projects around the country, which supporters like the Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council feel would create tens of thousands of new jobs in Indiana alone. Indiana Retail Council President Grant Monahan, though, wants a third part added to the package -- a ten-day suspension of our sales taxes, which he believes would help both retailers and shoppers. Congressional leaders have been meeting with Barack Obama to hammer out the details of the economic stimulus plan.

For nearly two weeks, gunfire and explosions have echoed across the Gaza Strip in the battle between Isrealis and Palestinians. Isreal says the campaign is aimed at stopping the firing of rockets into southern Isreal by Hamas. It's resulted in over 600 deaths, including at least 100 women and children. The U.S. has close ties with Isreal, but as the clock ticks down to Barack Obama's inauguration, he has remained silent on the Middle East battle. Marc Belanger is a political science professor at St. Mary's College and feels there's growing pressure on Obama to respond. Belanger says Obama's response could signal a shift in foreign policy. Isreal has ordered a cease-fire from its military for three hours everyday, so much-needed supplies can get to the innocent people in Gaza. That's in response to mounting concerns about shortages of food, water and medicine in the region.

In just 13 days, Democrat Barack Obama will become our nation's 44th president. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office for Obama. It's been a long-standing tradition for the oath to include the phrase "so help me God," but well-known atheist Michael Newdow is trying to remove that phrase and the mention of God from the inauguration. Scott Walter of the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty describes as nothing more than a publicity stunt and fundraiser. He says history says it's not a problem having prayers at the beginning of legislative sessions, prayers at the inaugural and is not a problem with the President saying "so help me God." Michael Newdow is also trying to stop Pastor Rick Warren from saying the invocation prayer at the inauguration.

The Goshen City Council has shot down an effort to change its stand on ultimate fighting. No-holds-barred ultimate fighting bouts have been held at Peddler's Village Auction, which has been annexed in the city, but in 2006, the Goshen Common Council voted to ban that kind of fighting unless it's sanctioned by a state or national body. Promoter Scott Johnson says it would cost too much money, so he asked Councilman Darryl Riegsecker to introduce an amendment to the city's law, based on Johnson's record of professionalism and having experienced doctors on the scene. The amendment would have put the city in charging is issuing permits, but the council voted five-to-two last night against that. The next fight in Goshen is scheduled for February 28th.

Two men and a dog are safe and sound this morning after some scary moments Tuesday night. They were in a single-engine airplane that had to make an emergency landing near the St. Joseph River near Three Rivers, Michigan. It seems the wings were iced over, forcing the aircraft down. The plane landed near Marlene Drive, southeast of the Three Rivers Airport.

A recent decision by the Indiana Court of Appeals could cut the number of undercover sting operations on the internet to catch online child predators. The court says certain criminal charges cannot be filed against online predators who meet up with undercover police officers posing as children. Kokomo Police Lieutenant Don Whitehead spends much of his day luring child predators on the internet, trying to get them out in the open. He says it's rare to get reported cases of actual children victimized online, and when they are, it's harder to prosecute them because the suspects are hard to find. Whitehead says the court process is expected when laws are trying to catch up to crimes.

A newly-elected judge in LaPorte County who was wounded by a gunshot in her home last month has taken the bench in LaPorte Superior Court. 34-year-old former deputy prosecutor Jennifer Evans was reportedly handling a gun she did not think was loaded when it fired. A bullet grazed her, but she's okay and presided over her first criminal case in LaPorte this week.

Citing bad weather conditions in Indiana and Alabama, Governor Mitch Daniels canceled his trip to Mobile, Alabama Tuesday night to see Ball State play in the GMAC Bowl. The trip created controversy after reporters raised questions about Daniels' use of a state-owned airplane for the trip, despite the state's tight budget. The Ball State University Foundation had already provided game tickets and lodging for the governor and offered to pay for the flight. Ball State lost last night's game to Tulsa, 45-13.


...In Sports...

The Purdue Boilermakers were picked by many to win the Big Ten this year, but the Boilers are off to an 0-and-2 start on the basketball floor after losing at Penn State Tuesday night, 67-64. Robbie Hummel and Chris Kramer missed the game for Purdue with injuries. The Boilers drop to 11-and-4 overall, while Penn State improves to 13-and-3, 2-and-1 in league play.

The Indiana Hoosiers tonight will try to snap a four-game losing streak as they host the Michigan Wolverines. IU is 5-and-8 after dropping its Big Ten opener at Iowa last Saturday, 65-60.

The Ball State Cardinals remain winless in bowl games with their 45-13 loss to Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Tarrion Adams ran for 209 yards and three touchdowns while David Johnson threw three TD passes for the Golden Hurricane, which set a school record with their 11th win of the season. Ball State won their first 12 games of the year but dropped its last two decisions.

The District Attorney in Philadelphia says no charges will be filed against Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison. Harrison was questioned by police about a shooting near his Philadelphia car wash. Police reportedly connected a gun owned by Harrison with the shooting, but Harrison said he was not involved. Neither he nor anyone else has been called a suspect.

The New York Jets plan on interviewing Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks Friday for their vacant head coaching job. Meeks has been the Colts' defensive coordinator for the last seven seasons and was a candidate for the Washington Redskins opening last season.

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