Toyota Halting Production @ Princeton

Let's hope this halt to production does not last very long:

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx

If it lasts too long, it'll spell even more economic devastation for SW Indiana... not only through the employees that work there, but the plant's small suppliers scattered about, as well as outsourced services provided locally.

IBJ: Indiana Troopers Association Files BK

The Indianapolis Business Journal is reporting that The Indiana Troopers Association has filed for bankruptcy protection. More here at the IBJ: http://www.ibj.com/indiana-troopers-fraternal-group-files-bankruptcy/PARAMS/article/14941

Radius Indiana Announces Its Leader

A few weeks back, Radius Indiana announced its leader for the newly-formed regional orgnaization: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/43412.htm Meanwhile, note the blurb at the end that SAIC announced plans to locate employees in the new East Gate facility. The BEdford facility is picking up steam, it appears.

APPEALS COURT: Greene County Jail Escape?

Is it 'escape' when an inmate leaves his/her jail cell, but doesn't intend to escape out of the facility? And does the 'intent' of the inmate even matter? These are questions that the Indiana Court of Appeals answered earlier today. While the majority did not consider it an act of escape and punishable as a crime, one judge dissented saying that indeed it was.

The Court's opinion can be found here:
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/10070902jgb.pdf

More Taxes, O' They Are Coming

More reassurances that local tax increases are on their way soon:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-strainedbudgets,0,6566458.story

COA: Indiana Voter ID Law is 'Unconstitutional'

An Indiana Court of Appeals opinion dated earlier today calls the Indiana Voter ID law "unconstiutional" by stating, "we conclude that the Voter I.D. law violates Indiana Constitution Article 1, Section 23, and must be declared void because it regulates voters in a manner that is not uniform and impartial."

You can view the Court's whole opinion here:
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/opinions/pdf/09170901par.pdf

Indiana Businesses

There’s a lot of Indiana-based business news coming out today, including:

In Indianapolis, Steak ‘n Shake will acquire the Western Sizzlin’ restaurant chain, various news reports state.

To the southwest, in Terre Haute, a new agri-business incubator on the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds is planned, which will help early-stage companies.

Working down further south in the state in Santa Claus, Holiday World announced it will spend $5.5 million for a new water ride, dubbed ‘Wildebeest’. The water ‘coaster’ will cover more than two acres, they say.

Perhaps, the economy is beginning to turn positive.

Indiana & the Tomato

The 'Who knew?' factoid of the day: Indiana ranks second in tomato production in the United States.

AllState Ends Sponsorship of Brickyard

Today, AllState announced it would end its sponsorship of the Brickyard 400. I just wonder who will pick up the sponsorship now?

Money & Politics in Indiana

If you want to follow the 'money trail' as they say, the Indy Star has made up a database of all-things-lobbyist for Indiana, which can be seen here in their Money & Politics section: http://www.indystar.com/data/government/lobbyists_search.shtml

Pinkie, the Roseate Spoonbill

The Courier Press posted a nice article around 12 hours ago about 'Pinkie,' a roseate spoonbill found at the Goose Pond recently: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/jul/12/migrant-birds-get-major-wow-at-goose-pond/

Visitors to the area may find this map with local eateries and points of interest helpful: http://www.gcedc.us/PDF/visitorhandout.pdf

Alanar Scandal: Receivership Link

As regular readers know, charges were recently filed against the Reeves family for this church bond scam in nearby Sullivan County. More info from the other day can be found here: http://magiccoalcity.blogspot.com/2009/07/alanar-saga-continues-with-charges.html

When a huge scam unravels in your own backyard, the story is all the more riveting. Here’s a link to the law firm that has been handling the Alanar receivership: http://www.silegal.com/cases/alanar/

It contains lots of good background information, and it's been a website I've been following for quite some time, so I thought I'd share the link.

Road Salt Not So Salty This Winter

The State of Indiana is working with local government units to reduce the price of road salt needed on Hoosier roadways this next winter.

Press release: http://www.in.gov/portal/news_events/40286.htm

Injunction Issued Against Misleading Companies

Here's the text from a recent newsletter from the Indiana Secretary of State:

"Indiana Corporate Compliance, International Corporate Compliance, Inc. and Papillon Global Marketing, LLC are no longer allowed to misrepresent themselves as a government agency to Indiana business owners thanks to an investigation conducted by the Indiana Secretary of State. The Marion County Superior Court issued a permanent injunction requiring the companies to immediately stop sending any written notices or transmissions that could reasonably be interpreted as a compliance notice from a government entity.
In May, the Indiana attorney general's office filed a complaint against the companies, most commonly known as Indiana Corporate Compliance, alleging multiple violations of Indiana's Deceptive Commercial Solicitation Act. Individuals Aaron V. Williams and Lisa Diane Brown, both of California, were also named in the lawsuit. Indiana Corporate Compliance had been sending letters to businesses all over Indiana under the guise of the Business Services Division of Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita's office, citing a fictitious state law implying businesses were required to send up to $150 for record keeping services.
"The permanent injunction is an important step forward in our ongoing efforts to prevent Indiana businesses from being deceived," said Secretary Rokita. "Obtaining this judgment is the direct result of the tireless work by my investigators and the cooperation of hundreds of businesses from around the state who were targeted by this scam. My office will continue to make businesses aware of these types of scams, and I thank Attorney General Zoeller and his team for working with us to bring justice through the legal system."
The Secretary of State's office, which registers and certifies Indiana businesses, began an investigation as a result of complaints it received from businesses. A hearing will be scheduled to determine the total amount of damages which could be awarded to those who fell victim to the scam. More than 150 Indiana businesses reported sending money in response to the letters from Indiana Corporate Compliance and its affiliates.
Recipients of the letters reported believing the compliance notices were generated by a government agency and were misleading and confusing. As a result, the court found it reasonable that business owners would be confused and would comply with the notice."

Partial State Shutdown Soon?!

If state lawmakers fail to pass a new budget by midnight, employees working in 'non-essential' services will be furloughed. This could get very interesting.

Unemployment Will Hurt Local Grant Apps?

Greene County's current unemployment rate is high, yet as compared with other Indiana counties, it ranks as the 75th worst unemployment rate. That's according to the data posted the other day on this blog.

And that'll hurt.

Many grant applications ask for unemployment data and stats, and ranking in top 'most employed' counties -- wow, that's hard to believe! -- that'll subtract points for submissions.

Indiana Unemployment Rate Up Again

WISH-TV is showing the Indiana unemployment has risen to 10.6%:
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/Ind_jobless_rate_percent_in_May_20090619

Greene County ranked 75th with 8.8%.

Like a Good Neighbor

Interesting little story out of the Evansville Courier Journal printed yesterday:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090618/NEWS02/906180358/

Is Muncie Foretelling of What's to Come?

With local funding shortfalls, will our area see consolidations too?

Muncie, Indiana is battling this with fire fighters & stations, but it seems to me that more governmental services could be affected as well. Read this article on Muncie's consolidation plans: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20090606/NEWS01/906060311

Is Muncie at the forefront of the issues to come here locally soon?

Halted Chrysler Sale is Restarted

The other day, the Supreme Court lifted the stay on the sale of Chrysler to Fiat, making this a very bad day in history for the Treasurer of Indiana, as well as Indiana teachers, troopers, and others. Here's the document: http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chrysler-order-6-9-09.pdf