Major Moves: All the Benefits and Almost no Risk
Indiana Writers Group column for March 1 and thereafter 780 words (Editors: Optional 83-word trim noted in text) by Andrea Neal In 1836, the Indiana General Assembly set out on a major venture to boost the economy. The title of the legislation told it all. The Mammoth Internal Improvements Act would establish a system of Read the full article…

Parole, Probation and Pollution in Muncie
Indiana Writers Group column for Feb. 22 and thereafter 670 words by T. Norman Van Cott, Ph.D. It is often a heartbreaking story. It is also a repeating story. Details change, but the essentials remain the same. What is it? It is people on parole and probation committing yet more crimes — thousands each year. Read the full article…

Culture in the Cornfields
Writers Group column for Feb. 15 and thereafter 740 words INDIANAPOLIS — When the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church announced recently it would be leaving its inner-city location for the affluent suburb of Carmel, Indianapolis leaders were disappointed but not surprised. Suburban flight has been going on since the 1950s and, high gas prices Read the full article…

Crafting a Slogan to Sell Indiana
Indiana Writers Group column for Feb. 8 and thereafter 740 words INDIANAPOLIS — As state tourism slogans go, Indiana’s latest — "Enjoy Indiana" — had to be an all-time worst. Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman was right to dump it and embark on a search for something better. No controversy there. The question is: Read the full article…

Can They Take the Evansville Shrine?
For release Feb. 1 and thereafter 501 words by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. Since the Supreme Court’s recent and controversial decision in Kelo vs. New London, legislators in Indiana and elsewhere have begun to pass laws to temper the government’s ability to seize property under the auspices of economic development. Evansville, for example, has moved in Read the full article…

I Wish They Just Wanted the Money
for Jan. 25 and thereafter 616 words by Cecil Bohanon, Ph.D. What is the proper job of Indiana state government? Reasonable people can and do disagree. Almost all believe the state ought to maintain prisons. Most of us think the state should have a role in financing roads and schools though perhaps not in operating Read the full article…

