Panel Approves Indianapolis Commuter Rail Plan

WRTV

It's been in the slow lane for years, but a rapid transit plan for central Indiana got a real jumpstart Friday with the unanimous approval of a plan that could cost up to $200 million.

The starter plan would establish a 19-mile commuter rail line between Noblesville and downtown Indianapolis that could be running by 2012, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

The Indiana Regional Transportation Council has been examining rapid transit alternatives for nearly 20 years, but economic need and hunger for travel alternatives is the current impetus for action.

County abortion regulations closely watched in Indiana

USATODAY.com

Abortion opponents in Indiana are encouraging passage of regulations at the county level that abortion-rights groups say might be the leading edge of a nationwide effort to limit access to the procedure.

Two Indiana counties have passed ordinances that require doctors who perform abortions to have the authority to admit patients at local hospitals. A third county is considering a similar measure.

Some abortion clinics are staffed by doctors who are based elsewhere and are unlikely to have admitting privileges at local hospitals, so the rules present a new obstacle for abortion providers.

"Absolutely, it's a new strategy," says Mike Fichter, president of Indiana Right to Life. The ordinances ensure that women with complications after abortions can quickly get medical care, he says, but he hopes they also make abortions harder to get.

Mayors announce purchasing alliance

WISH TV

Several Central Indiana cities and towns are pooling their pocketbooks to save taxpayer money.

In a meeting Thursday morning, the group which consists of Mayors of Westfield, Noblesville, Beech Grove, and Indianapolis announced the new "Central Indiana Purchasing Alliance".

The goal is simple; Buy more, pay less for things like salt, road construction materials or fuel for vehicle fleets.

"We all have basic needs; salt, toilet paper, paper goods, etc.," said Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear.

"Our state legislature, the governor, and certainly the citizens are demanding of us to become much more efficient," said Westfield Mayor Andy Cook.

Brightpoint Wins Indianapolis Business Journal's Fastest Growing Company Award

Globe Newswire

"Brightpoint has been one of the real success stories among Indianapolis public companies in recent years. They have been a perennial on our fastest-growing public company list," said Chris Katterjohn, President and Publisher, Indianapolis Business Journal. "Last year, after a major acquisition and growing demand for their services, Brightpoint hit No. 1, more than doubling revenue over a three-year period. That's a lot of money when you're talking in the billions."

"I am proud of our 3000 associates in 28 countries who made it possible for us to win this award," said Robert J. Laikin, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Brightpoint, Inc. "We are positioned well in the global wireless value chain to take advantage of the many growth opportunities offered to us within the wireless industry. Our resolute commitment to enhancing long-term shareholder value remains unchanged."

Noblesville is Chamber's top city for 2008

The Indianapolis Star

Buoyed by a corporate campus and a new shopping mecca, Noblesville today was recognized as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2008 community of the year.

The Hamilton County city, whose population rose from less than 30,000 in 2000 to nearly 40,000 people in 2005, won the award for the first time. It succeeds Anderson, the winner for 2007.

The Indiana Chamber credited Noblesville with putting together "an aggressive plan to supplement its residential growth" with a 3,600-acre-plus Corporate Campus.

Obama Front Group Busted For Voter Registration Fraud In Michigan

Advance Indiana

The stakes in this election could not be higher. Democrats are frustrated by the red state electoral college majority that has emerged in recent presidential elections. By hook or crook, they are determined to win back the presidency. To this end, we've been told about the millions of new registered voters Democrats have added to the election rolls this year. The group at the forefront of this effort is the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a group with which Sen. Barack Obama worked closely as a community organizer and which is now spearheading his voter registration and GOTV efforts. In Michigan, a key battleground state where Obama is struggling against McCain, ACORN has registered 200,000 new voters in recent months. Election officials are only now beginning to uncover massive fraud committed by those "paid workers" of ACORN