Indiana may lose local township boards and trustees

NewsLink Indiana

Indiana’s local township trustees may be on the verge of having to report to a new boss.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has proposed to re-assign the 3,000 elected township officials across the state to county positions.

Daniels mentioned several areas where Hoosiers can maintain their local distribution of poor relief, local identity and leadership.

“I hope I have seen for the last time new half-million dollar fire trucks bought in fire stations a couple blocks apart because two totally separate township boards were involved,” Daniels said during his State of the State address on Wednesday night.

Indiana Democrat Feels Icy Breeze From Massachusetts

Wall Street Journal

When Rick Berry heard on Tuesday that a Republican had won the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts, he emailed one of his friends: "Maybe there's hope for the country after all!"

The message was bad news for Baron Hill, a five-term Democratic congressman who represents Mr. Berry's district.

Mr. Berry, the president of Madison's city council, is a registered Democrat and a former supporter of Mr. Hill.

The political winds that buffeted Massachusetts this week are now blowing across the cornfields of southeast Indiana—smack into Mr. Hill.

Indiana State Police closing post in Seymour

Chicago Tribune

A spokesman says the Indiana State Police post in Seymour will be closed within about four months.

First Sgt. Dave Bursten says the change is being driven by technology and efficiency and no jobs will be lost.

Battery Manufacturer to Open 3rd Indiana Plant

ABC News

Lithium battery maker EnerDel says it will locate its newest manufacturing operation in Hancock County, bringing 500 jobs to the area.

Gov. Mitch Daniels joined EnerDel executives Thursday to announce the new operation near Mount Comfort just east of Indianapolis. He says he hopes EnerDel can help make Indiana the capital of the electric vehicle industry.

The developer of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles announced in 2008 plans to create jobs by expanding its Indianapolis location and building a new assembly center in Noblesville. It also committed to locating a full-scale manufacturing site in Indiana.