Ind. Senate endorses meth bill, sends it to House

Chicago Tribune

A bill aimed at making sure Indiana's methamphetamine laws target people who try to buy cold medicines to make meth is now before the Indiana House.

The Senate voted 46-4 for the legislation on Tuesday.

The bill requires stores selling medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to make clear to customers the legal purchasing limit of those ingredients.

Former Sen. Dan Coats to challenge Evan Bayh in Indiana

Washington Post

Senate Republicans scored a major coup in their attempt to broaden the playing field this November by luring former senator Dan Coats (R) into the race against Sen. Evan Bayh (D) in Indiana.

Coats is expected to announce his candidacy today, according to informed Republican sources.

After serving four terms in the House, Coats was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Dan Quayle's election as vice president in 1988. He was subsequently elected in 1990 to the remainder of Quayle's term and in 1992 won the seat outright. He retired in 1998, making way for Bayh, who had been a two-term governor, to cruise to an open-seat victory over then Ft. Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke.

State throws flag on IPS Super Bowl delay plan

IndyStar

State officials have warned Indianapolis Public Schools officials that it cannot delay classes for two hours on the Monday after the Super Bowl and still count it as a full day of class.

School districts can institute two-hour delays only for emergencies, such as bad weather or utility problems, according to the state. Those kinds of delays receive automatic waivers from the state. Districts delaying for other reasons would have to apply for a waiver, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett signaled today that he would not look kindly on granting one for the Super Bowl.

“While we support the Colts, two-hour delays are reserved for emergency situations,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Bennett said. “We have presented IPS with alternatives that ensure our children receive the instructional time they deserve.”

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.