For release Aug. 15 and thereafter (720 words) by Andrea Neal Running the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) is harder than being Marion County juvenile judge “by a factor of 18,” Jim Payne concedes. Within days of being tapped by Gov. Mitch Daniels to head the new cabinet-level department, Payne recognized the challenge: Combining 92 county programs with “92 different ways of doing things” into a statewide system with consistent policies for handling child…

For immediate release (769 words with optional cut) by BARRY KEATING, Ph.D. It was a simple statement, not particularly remarkable: “I really want the council and the city to take a second look at how we are spending the taxpayer dollars,” the new council member said, “and make sure we are getting the best return on investment.” The statement was made recently after my city council’s discussion of a more than a million-dollar loss by…

For immediate release (538 words) by Cecil Bohanon, Ph.D. A Manhattan scion gets on United Airline flight 797 to Los Angeles on August 31 and takes her seat in the first class section. Her daddy, who has taxable income of $1 million, forks out $6,288 so his princess can fly in style to Southern California to work on her tan. A teenage girl from New Jersey flying to California to attend a church youth conference…

The definition of mysology is contempt for reason, hatred of truth. The Greek root is a clue that it has been around for a while. Some of us, though, see it waxing, especially in our morning newspapers. I have my edition in front of me, and we can begin our forensics of the local mysology there. The headline declares: “TAX CHANGES LIKELY, COUNCIL SAYS, TO FIX CITY FISCAL CONCERNS” Changes? Fiscal Concerns? The truth apparently…

A Note to Editors:  A Notre Dame professor, a national expert on the economics of sports, offers a deeper perspective on the Penn State scandal than typically can be found on the sports pages. His column is written amidst concern that the core problem for the nation’s colleges was left unaddressed by the NCAA ruling. The corruption only touched the famed football program because that’s where the accused was employed; it could have happened anywhere…

For release Aug. 1 and thereafter (657 words) by Andrea Neal Within days of taking office in 2005, Gov. Mitch Daniels issued an executive order creating a new Department of Child Services. The handling of abuse and neglect cases was “a matter of life and death for many children,” Daniels said, but it was not getting the attention it deserved under the Family and Social Services Administration. Governor Daniels named Marion County Juvenile Judge James…

by KARL BORN, J.D. As Indiana’s bicentennial is now only four years away – and with that, the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the State’s first constitution – I propose that we amend Indiana’s current constitution to restore an important part of the original, which was replaced when Indiana’s second (and current) constitution took effect in 1851. Our original (1816) constitution’s Bill of Rights began: “That the general, great and essential principles of liberty…

“Capitalism works better from every perspective when the economic decision-makers are forced to share power with those who will be affected by those decisions.” — Barney Frank *      *      * WITH THE ECONOMY the overriding political issue, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce next session arguably will be the most powerful force at the Statehouse — the question is a force for what? As suggested in our summer 2011 journal, Reawakening the Chamber, a free-market legislator…

by Matthew Hisrich In 2008, a large manufacturer in my county shuttered its doors and the head of the local economic-development group resigned. At that time, there were calls to re-evaluate our approach to economic development. Fast forward four years and once again we find ourselves in a similar situation. The question stands before us again: Will we continue to regard economic development as something best left to publicly-funded agencies run by highly-paid “experts,” or…

For immediate release (634 words). by Heather Crossin and Jane Robbins, J.D. Part of the mantra recited by proponents of the nationally designed Common Core State Standards, endorsed in concept by both Gov. Mitch Daniels and Superintendent of Education Tony Bennett, is that they will make students “college-ready.” Producing college-readiness, however, could take place in one of two ways: 1) Increase the academic preparation of students to meet college requirements; or 2) decrease college requirements…