I was getting a little burnt out on the upcoming May primary and have been looking for something else to write about.  And then, like manna from heaven, I was looking at the Indianapolis Star’s website and found that the Indianapolis City-County Council Democrats are seriously looking at wasting more than $180,000 of the taxpayers’ [...]

I’ll be doing a little on-air radio work this morning at 11.  I’ll be filling on the “Back to Business” Radio program at my old stomping grounds of WXNT-AM, Newstalk 1430 .   We’ll be talking about the State of the City and I’ll have some audio from Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and City-Council Vice-President Brian [...]

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, Public Safety Director Frank Straub and newly appointed acting IMPD Police Chief Rick Hite went before the media this afternoon to tell the public that the second vial of blood in the David Bisard drunk driving case had been mishandled and several IMPD staff were being put on administrative leave and [...]

It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Indianapolis City-County Council tonight will pass an amended smoking ban that includes bars and taverns.  And I think it’s fair to say that unless there is some hidden ticking time bomb in the measure, Mayor Greg Ballard will sign it.  So when it is all said and [...]

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been relatively quiet about the new smoking ban proposal making it’s way through the Indianapolis City-County Council.  Part of the reason has been taking care of the Lovely Mrs. Shabazz  who was injured a month or so ago in a car accident, she is recovering slowly and painfully,  but [...]

I learned a long time ago from a very wise man that the only problem with playing games in politics is sometimes you come across people who can play better than you.   I strongly suggest the Indianapolis City-County Council keep that in mind as it navigates the waters of Public Safety Director Frank Straub’s “confirmation” [...]

I was going to write something snarky about Monday night’s failed override of the smoking ban veto, but my parents told me to never speak ill of the dead, so I won’t.

With Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard expected to veto the current smoking ban passed by the City-County Council, I argue in my monthly column in today’s Indianapolis Star, that the recent success of the recent Super Bowl clearly demonstrates there is no need to expand the ban.  I’d be happy to hear your thoughts.

My good friend Jon Easter has posted at his blog, Indy Democrat,  a list of his Super Bowl 2012 ‘Winners and Losers.”  For the most part, I think Jon gets his list right.  The city of Indianapolis and the Mannings are obvious winners, while New England is the obvious loser.  However my Internet counterpart misses [...]

Smoking bans will get taken up on both ends of  Market Street Monday.  The Indiana House of Representatives will vote on a proposal that would ban smoking in most public places except casinos and racinos, cigar bars, private clubs, and hookah bars.  It would also grant an 18-month exemption to bars and taverns in order [...]