Around The Region

Bush budget could delay Indiana roads projects\nMUNSTER, Ind. -- Indiana could see a $152 million cut in federal highway money and be forced to reconsider road projects under the 2003 budget proposal President Bush has sent Congress.\nFrom the Federal Highway Administration projects Indiana would receive $486 million in fiscal year 2003 under the budget Bush submitted Monday, down from $638 million in 2002.\nThe 24 percent reduction would result in the projected loss of 6,391 roads-related jobs over a seven-year period, with most of the losses occurring in 2003 and 2004.\n"If this happens, we will not construct all the projects we planned," Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner J. Bryan Nicol told The Times for a story published Wednesday. "We'll have to rethink what we'll do in developing projects, as we move from design and land acquisition to construction."\nBush's proposal would boost spending on defense and domestic security initiatives while cutting money for programs nationwide that lawmakers agreed to finance last year. Highway funding would be reduced by $8.6 billion.\nGov. Frank O'Bannon took part in a conference call with the national governors' executive committee Tuesday to discuss the issue, Nicol said.\n"He's concerned because this could exacerbate the recession we're in," Nicol said.\nThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials is formulating a plan to oppose Bush's proposed cuts, said John Horsley, the group's executive director.\n"Immediate action to sustain highway funding levels will preserve those jobs and allow the delivery of transportation projects that are vital to our economic growth," Horsley said.\nSenate eases off community college system to pass bill\nINDIANAPOLIS -- State senators have backed away from threats to dissolve the partnership that created Indiana's community college system, voting instead for legislation designed to give lawmakers a greater voice in higher education issues.\nLess than a week after threatening to overhaul the partnership between Ivy Tech State College and Vincennes University, the Senate passed a bill Tuesday intended to ease tensions in the community college program without dismantling it.\n"I think the legislators, while they might have been frustrated that some of these issues haven't been solved, didn't want to step into the breach and be the new referee," said Stan Jones, the state's higher education commissioner.\nThe bill now includes a provision to create seats for four lawmakers -- two each from the House and Senate -- on the commission.