Tim Lanane at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information

By Rick Yencer

ANDERSON, IN -  A group of bi-partisan lawmakers joined with the gaming industry Friday to make one last pass at having live dealers at Hoosier Downs and Indiana Downs.

As Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson said, he was willing to fight over creating 600 new jobs from live table games in a bill that Lanane called exclusive job creation.

The scene was in front Hoosier Park where 600 signs resembling grave markers could be found under a banner that said ""Live dealers = 600 jobs."

The image was created by media graphics who work for gaming giant Centaur that owns the new horse racing tracks.

Veteran Rep. Jack Lutz, R-Anderson said the live table games did not cost the state a dime and  would help the economy.by putting hundreds to work in Anderson besides Shelbyville where Indiana Downs was located.

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Hoosiers are likely to see a tax cut in the new state budget as Senate Republicans ensure a 3 percent reduction in income taxes passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

By RICK YENCER

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Hoosier Park Racing and Casino got one step closer this week to having live table games at its popular Anderson destination.

And the Indiana Horse Racing Commission just expanded the racing season at Hoosier Park besides adopted a "one breed, one track" program, allowing Standardbred racing at the Anderson track while thoroughbreds will run at Indiana Grand Casino and Downs in Shelbyville. Both tracks are owned by gaming giant Centaur.

 The Indiana Senate adopted a billing expanding gaming on Monday by 32-18. Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, co-authored the bill that would allow casino games at the horse tracks while allowing riverboat casinos to move inland.

 That measure had bi-partisan support like Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, who also was among the unanimous approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Col. Kevin Ford, now working at the International Space Station believes the science, medicine and other study in space is still very important and should be led by the United States.

 "It is our obligation," said the Blackford County native astronaut who talked with lawmakers and hundreds of students during a link between the Indiana Statehouse and the space station.

By Rick Yencer

ANDERSON, IN - Hoosier Park Racing & Casino could soon have live table games like blackjack and roulette  that could mean more jobs, more development and a boom for the growing metro Indy community.

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Gov. Mike Pence proposes to give a half a billion in income tax cuts, slightly increase education spending and fully fund the Medicaid forecast in a new two-year state budget.

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Humbled by their support, Mike Pence promised to govern for all the people as he took the oath Monday, becoming the 50th governor of the Hoosier state.

 More than 1,500 people stood outside the Indiana Statehouse to watch new Gov. Pence, Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, and Attorney General Greg Zoeller be sworn into office.

 The cold brisk outdoors complete with supporters, school children and onlookers summoned in a new Republican governor who then signed 15 executive orders Monday afternoon, including some new initiatives like putting a moratorium on new business regulations and establish a separate Office of Energy Development. Another order set a goal of procuring three percent of state contracts from veteran-owned businesses.

 Pence, standing with his wife, Karen, and children, Michael, Charlotte and Audrey, brought hope and promise to the people, encouraging them to do whatever they can to improve themselves and the state.

By Rick Yencer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Indiana Senate went to school Wednesday, learning everything from more vouchers to cursive writing and the need for more money by higher education,

 That was among the agenda of Senate education committee that heard mixed views on several education issues after the legislative session began Monday.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  What Hoosiers want their lawmakers to do is not what Republican legislative leaders intend as the Indiana Senate minority leader called for a cease fire from ongoing political conflict.

 "People want a cease fire from contentious issues," said Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, who represents Muncie.

 Reps. Kevin Mahan, R-Hartford City and  Bill Davis, R-Portland, agreed that both parties had work together for the betterment of Hoosiers as Mahan referred to the Senate was the "House of Lords" while the House was more "Animal House."

 About 70 people gathered for breakfast at Meridian Health Services to get a preview of the upcoming Legislature that will consider a new 2-year state budget besides hundreds of other ideas.

 Lawmakers, including new state Rep. Sue Errington, D-Muncie, touched on a Hoosier survey released Thursday by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs at Ball State University along with WISH TV Channel 8.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - You cannot help but be inspired or motivated to go out and do something after attending a Whitely Community Council meeting says Chris McBride.

 McBride and fellow neighborhood council activist Steve Mitchell help children through the many programs that Whitely offers to build strong families and a better community.

 At a year end meeting on Monday, Cornelius Dollison, council president, talked about how much the neighborhood accomplished in 2012 with a narration by Drew Shermeta, who works for Muncie Public Library and also lends a hand with the community council.