Indianapolis Colts raffling off Super Bowl rings for charity

The Canadian Press:

"Want to win an Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl ring? Here's your chance. During a pep rally for Sunday's game against New England, Colts owner Jim Irsay wore a giant blue top hat, large round blue sunglasses and a white showman's suit as he told hundreds of fans about the 'Quest for the Ring' raffle. 'I look like Willie Wonka Elton, a combination of Willie Wonka and Elton John,' Irsay joked before throwing open a gold treasure chest containing a small box with five shiny rings. Although some fans clearly hoped Irsay would toss the rings into the crowd, he explained the rings would be given away in a raffle he hopes will raise up to US$1 million for Indiana charities."

Analysis Finds 10 Indiana 'Dropout Factories'

WISH TV 8:

"A just realesed study says that six Indianapolis High Schools have some of the highest dropout rates in the state. In fact, they are so high that the schools are being called 'dropout factories.' Broad Ripple High School is just one IPS school that didn't make the grade. But administrators say they already have programs in place to improve the dropout rate. A new study of Indiana high schools by Johns Hopkins University doesn't paint a pretty picture of six Indianapolis schools. Broad Ripple High school along with Arsenal Technical High School, Manual High School, Arlington High School, Northwest High School and Perry Meridian High School were the Indianapolis schools mentioned in the study."

Indiana suing businesses for Do Not Fax violation

WTHR :

"The State of Indiana is suing eight companies for violating the Do Not Fax law put into effect at the beginning of the year. Those eight companies, the state says, did not stop faxing even after being told they were violating the law. Five other companies have already been cited for alleged violations and have paid penalties. If you feel you are getting faxes that violate the Do Not Fax law, you can file a complaint with the Attorney General's office. But Attorney General Steve Carter says there are a couple of things to keep in mind."

Buy Indiana Begins To Pay Off

TMNews.com :

"Keeping money in the state is the emphasis behind the Buy Indiana initiative that’s helping Hoosiers do business with military installations at Crane. The plan is working. Evidence of that was found at the 11th Annual Buy Indiana Expo, which took place this week at the French Lick Resort Casino and attracted 142 Hoosier vendors interested in forming business deals with Crane facilities. Among vendors who have found the annual expos worthwhile is Bedford Machine & Tool Co. Dale Anderson, sales manager with the company, said, “We do business with Crane, a lot. ... I think it has grown from the expos. ... We’re always looking to get more from them.”"

3-way battle is being fought in Beech Grove

IndyStar.com:

"After becoming Beech Grove's first Republican mayor in 48 years, Joe Wright set out to make a difference -- completing an overhaul of Emerson Avenue, pursuing a facelift of downtown's Main Street and a citywide wireless Internet system. But his projects have not come without some criticism in the city of 15,000 tucked into Indianapolis' Southeastside. Wright, 48, will face not one but two opponents Nov. 6 in his bid for a second term: Democrat Frank A. Mascari, 52, a jewelry store owner on Beech Grove's Main Street. Independent Ingle Harris III, 56, an insurance agent who is president pro tempore of the Beech Grove City Council, on which he has served 12 years as a Republican."

Tax plan may violate constitution

IndyStar.com:

"Without an amendment, the governor's plan to cap property taxes at different levels for homeowners, landlords and businesses could find itself on the losing end of a constitutional challenge, legal experts say. And because more than one powerful business interest has lined up against the plan, the politically difficult two-year task of amending the state constitution appears essential. At issue: whether the caps, welcomed by residential property owners but not by business interests, meet the constitutional requirement that taxes be assessed at a 'uniform and equal rate.'"

Desperate Peterson Resorts To Negative Push Polling

Advance Indiana:

"After a Star poll released on Thursday showed a dead heat in the race between Mayor Bart Peterson and Greg Ballard, Peterson's campaign manager Mike O'Connor said Peterson would not be changing his re-election strategy. He lied. Peterson's campaign is conducting negative push polling in the final days of the campaign to smear Ballard. Callers for Peterson's campaign are telling voters Ballard intends to eliminate basic city services like trash collection and sidewalk repairs if he's elected mayor. Relying on the old Democratic favorite of scaring senior citizens, the callers are telling people Ballard will end meals on wheels."

Indiana Chamber On Tax Plan

Indiana Chamber:

"Reaction from Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar on Gov. Mitch Daniels’ property tax reform proposal, announced today: “We appreciate the governor’s comprehensive and thoughtful approach to tackling the state’s property tax dilemma. We are still examining the details of his plan and are looking forward to getting more numbers to see how the various elements would interact with each other and their impact not only on the business community but all Hoosiers. “Going forward into the 2008 legislative session, what the Indiana Chamber will remain adamant about is that an increased tax burden cannot be unfairly put on one segment or segments of taxpayers. Our state constitution dictates uniform and equal property assessments and taxation.”"