The Indiana Senate approved the amended CIB funding plan, 33-17.  The bill now goes to the conference committee to work out differences with the House version. Marion City-Council County Democrats unveiled their CIB funding proposal today, it included expanding the professional sports district and a casino.  It did not include contributions from the Indianapolis Colts […]

Citing new data that shows half of Indiana’s students are in failing schools, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said all options are on the table in order to fix the problem, including a state take over of some schools as prescribed by law. According to released Adequate Yearly Progress reports (AYP), half of all […]

You’ll be seeing and reading a lot about “tea parties” today across the country.  Citizens who are mad about the stimulus package and everything else will show up and protest.  Organizers says thousands of people will meet at the Capitol this afternoon, even though only about 660 have signed up on their website. I expect […]

The Indiana State Senate, by a voice vote, amended the current CIB funding plan to adopt the Mayor’s finance proposal.  A final vote could come later this week.  Meanwhile, City-County Council Democratic Leader Joanne Sanders will have a news conference tomorrow to share her ideas on how to fund the CIB shortfall.  Monday she told […]

I’m at the Statehouse today and ran into a key lawmaker who says he would not be surprised if Governor Mitch Daniels vetoed whatever budget comes out of the General Assembly.  The Governor has expressed concerns that the budget spends too much money and relies to heavily on federal stimulus dollars.  There’s no word yet […]

Here is audio from Monday’s news conference where the Mayor outlined his proposal to address the CIB shortfall.  There is also react from the Council as well as industry spokespeople.   This way you can hear first-hand what was said and draw your own conclusions about the best course of action. Ballard Presentation, part 1 Ballard Presentation, part […]

THIS IS THE FULL VERSION UPDATED AT 3:50 P.M. With a little more than two weeks to go in the Indiana General Assembly, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard unveiled his plan to shore up the $47 million operational shortfall. The plan includes the following… Increasing the local alcohol tax and expanding the professional sports district ($20 […]

Here are some things to munch on this morning… Will Ballard C.I.B.? Expect a plan to be unveiled today from Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on eliminating the Capital Improvement Board’s $47 million shortfall.  Details are unclear at this time but expect the Mayor to offer up a menu of options that gets him to that […]

It’s no big secret that I like Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. I knew him before he ran for Mayor and I think he is what this city needs at this moment in time. Instead of spelling out lofty visions full of empty platitudes, Indianapolis needs someone who gets down to brass tacks and deal with […]

The controversy continues in Indianapolis Public Schools.   Indiana Barrister has obtained a copy of a recorded conversation between former IPS Principal Jeffrey White and his District supervisor Prudence Bridgewaters. In the conversation Bridgewaters tells White that he is not allowed to suspend students because of the school district will get sued, however the district’s public […]