Weekend Update
Here’s a quick rundown of a few items of note from this past weekend. Enjoy…
There’s been a lot of controversy over an Indiana Supreme Court Decision that says an individual does not have the right to resist an unlawful entry into their home by police. I’ve embedded the opinion here Barnes v. State of Indiana. I’m working to get some 4th Amendment experts on the show to delve into the ruling. I hope to do that by Wednesday’s radio program.
The Libertarian Party of Marion County is fielding its candidates for local offices. The nominees are as follows
- Chris Bowen – Mayor
- Bill Levin, Reid Miller, Sheri Mineart – At-Large
- Mike Bishop – District 1
- Sam Goldstein – District 2
- Ray Vanalot – District 4
- Kevin Flemming – District 6
- Joell Palmer – District 10
- Tom Mulcahy – District 11
- Jasop Sipe – District 13
- Zach Capehart – District 15
- Josh Featherstone – District 21
- Kent Raquet – District 23
- Ed Coleman – District 24
- Kevin Vail District 25
Party officials tell me they plan to fill a couple more vacancies as well which they plan to do by June 30.
I’ve sent an open records request to Indianapolis Public Schools regarding their enrollment. Superintendent Eugene White says he has evidence that Charter schools are taking IPS students and then kicking them out after the attendance count date, so I’ve asked him to produce it as well as to cite the legal authority he would use to deny a student who lives in the district re-enrollment if they transferred to a charter, township or private school. According to the Indiana Department of Education, IPS had 32,197 students in October, the most recent unofficial real time count had the district at 28,696, for a loss of 3,501 students. There were 10,214 students enrolled in charter schools in October, the most recent unofficial count had that number at 8,814. However only 425 of those students went back to IPS. So IPS has a loss of more than 3,000 students. So are charters IPS’ problem or is it something else? I’m looking forward to sharing what Dr. White gives me. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I’ve embedded the state’s real time enrollment data in my Slideshare files off to the right. It includes IPS, charter schools and township schools.
Speaking of schools, officials from Hamilton Southeastern, Franklin Township and Middlebury schools have dropped their lawsuit against the state of Indiana over the school funding formula. They say that because lawmakers changed the funding formula during the last legislative session there was no need to move forward with their litigation. Interesting, because apparently someone forgot to mention lawmakers also changed the law so school districts could no longer use taxpayer dollars to sue the state, in most cases, so they would have had to find another source of funding for their litigation other than the taxpayers’ wallets. Funny how that happens.
The trial of former City-County Councilman Lincoln Plowman is scheduled to begin today in federal court. Plowman is accused of taking a bribe from an undercover FBI agent posing as a developer. You can get a refresher on the facts here.
Oh, and before I forget, here’s an interesting note. Apparently an analysis has been done of the new Indiana House and Senate Legislative maps and if you thought things were good for Republicans for the next 10 years, you are correct. How good? Well, if the last election was held with the new maps, Republicans would have had a 70-seat majority in the House and a 40-seat majority in the Senate. Next year should be interesting.
Democrat City-County Councilor Jose Evans is joining together with Republican Mike Leppert to form EvansLeppert, government relations, lobbying firm.
And if you’re up for it, join me Thursday at 5 p.m. for Cocktails and Conversation at Maple Creek Golf and Country Club near 21st and Mitthoeffer. Our guest will be syndicated radio talk show host Michael Smerconish.
