DeLaney Calls For Return of Durham's Tainted Money

IBJ.com reports that Indiana State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D.-Indpls) wants Indiana politicians and campaigns to return contributions they received from Indy businessman Timothy Durham.

Durham is the co-owner of an Ohio investment firm being investigated by the FBI.

Straub Makes Another Dubious Hire

According to Advance Indiana, Indianapolis Public Safety Director Frank Straub has hired another high paid, out-of-towner, this time as Deputy Director in charge of training and community relations. Rick Hite comes from Baltimore.

According to Wikipedia: Richard "Rick" Hite is a Lieutenant Colonel of the Baltimore Police Department. An African American, Hite is president of the BPD's Vanguard Justice Society, an organization representing the department's African American officers, and is the commander of the BPD's Youth Services Division, a division of the department with responsibilities concerning troubled inner city youths.

Parking Meter Fees to DOUBLE Under Privatization

"...[H]ow does [Ballard] think he's going to defend a DOUBLING of parking rates should he run for re-election in 2011?"

The rest is in Paul K. Ogden's blog posting.

Changes Afoot

"The city’s Department of Public Safety is finalizing plans to open police-and-fire hubs in two former IPS schools, retrofit a former Eastgate mall department store into an Emergency Operations Center, and build at least two fire stations."

Thus sayeth Cory Schouten. Read it all on IBJ.com here.

Visit Japan at the Indiana State Fair!

The new “Bridges to Japan” exhibit will show Indiana State Fair visitors what Japanese culture is all about, as well as the many connections between Indiana and Japan.

This year, in what is expected to be an annual international exhibition, the 154th Indiana State Fair will showcase Indiana’s relationship with one of its closest partners, the nation of Japan. The International Pavilion/Grand Hall, an 8,000 square foot building located on the Fair’s Main Street, is devoted to the in-depth exploration of Japan and its connections with Indiana.

The exhibit honors the fair’s goal of being a platform for education and showing visitors the strong ties between Indiana and Japan and in particular, Indiana’s Japanese “sister state” Tochigi Prefecture.

The “Bridges to Japan” Exhibition, organized by the Japan-America Society of Indiana (a member of the Nationalities Council of Indiana), the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (State of Indiana), and the Indiana State Fair, through the generous support of many companies and organizations, will appeal to a broad range of visitors who will visit the State Fair for two and a half weeks, from 6-22 August. “Bridges to Japan” will feature traditional and contemporary components, a variety of performances and activities, and displays on the relationships between Indiana and Japan, such as the importance of the Japanese manufacturing presence, sister cities, educational exchanges, and the history of the Japanese in Indiana.

The exhibit features traditional Japanese customs such as tea ceremonies, Japanese calligraphy, sumo wrestling, and a myriad of music and dance performances. In addition, representatives from Tochigi Prefecture and guests from the Japanese sister cities of Carmel (Kawachinagano), Lafayette (Ota City), and Shelbyville (Shizuoka City) will lead numerous cultural activities.

Once inside “Bridges to Japan” guests will pass through a bamboo grove and garden, created by the Engledow Group and Litchfield Landscaping, with advisory support from Dr. Takuya Sato, or cross over a koi pond on a traditional Japanese bridge. Japanese architectural styles will be readily apparent with a traditional inn featuring tatami (pron. tuh-tommy) mats and a Japanese stage, designed by Takenaka Corporation and constructed by nationally-recognized McGuire Scenic. An area devoted to contemporary Japan will help visitors delight in the fun of Japanese pop culture. Some of the programs and demonstrations scheduled for the stage include:

* Masaji Terasawa (pron. muh-sah-jee terra-sow-uh), the popular Candy man who makes intricate candy sculptures and entertains audiences of all ages
* Martial arts demonstrations
* A gourd painter craftsman from Japan (opening weekend)
* Taiko (pron. ty-koh) – traditional Japanese drum performances
* Bunraku (pron. bun-rah-coo)– Japanese puppet theatre
* Sumo wrestlers from Japan (opening weekend)
* An open audience-participation fashion show featuring Japanese pop culture (Cosplay) and the comic Japanese band Peelander-Z

The exhibit also features daily appearances of the top-ranked Japanese robots, including Wakamaru (pron. wok-uh-mah-roo), a communication and performance robot, sponsored by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-Japan and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Climate Control, Indiana. The Japan External Trade Organization of Chicago has facilitated the appearance of “Paro-chan”, the therapeutic seal pup courtesy of Paro Robots U.S., and the special appearance of the “I-Fairy” Receptionist Robot, which recently made headlines when it conducted a wedding in Japan, courtesy of the Kokoro Company.

Other special “Bridges to Japan” features fairgoers won’t want to miss are:

* A Japanese food corner offering traditional fare including Japanese pork cutlets (made possible by through the generous support of Indiana Packers Corporation), Japanese noodles, green tea ice cream and sushi (including a new “deep-fried sushi” specialty) provided by popular local Japanese restaurants Ocean World, Sakura and One World Market.
* A large-scale replica of a Tochigi Inn where guests will be able to participate in hands-on activities while sitting on tatami mats.
* A display of the Shinkansen bullet train with the topography of Japan passing by at 200 mph

The “Bridges to Japan” Exhibition is sponsored by a host of corporate partners and organizations, including: Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana; AISIN, Eli Lilly and Company, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Cummins, Delphi Corp., Duke Energy, Indiana Packers Corp., Kikkoman Corp., NTN Driveshaft, TOA (USA), Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing, and the United States-Japan Foundation, among many others.

“Yoroshiku!” “We hope to see you there!”

The Indiana State Fair takes place tomorrow through 22 August at the State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, Indianapolis.

Remember the Last Mayoral Campaign?

Indianapolis has seen 74 homicides so far this year, which is the highest number the City has experienced in several years since it recorded a record number of homicides in 2006. (courtesy of Gary R. Welsh's blog, Advance Indiana)

This Indianapolis Observer remembers the last mayoral campaign, where the number of homicides on Indy streets was one good reason to vote for Ballard. So, what happened?

More IND-JFK Flights

American Eagle Airlines will offer a new daily nonstop flight between Indianapolis and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport beginning in November.

This Indianapolis Observer is grateful to have another choice besides the one nonstop now available on Delta!