Around The Region

Hogs killed in car accident\nOCKLEY, Ind. -- More than 20 hogs were killed when a semitrailer collided with a minivan and overturned on U.S. 421 in Carroll County.\nThe semi was carrying a full load of about 200 hogs Tuesday to the Indiana Packers processing plant in nearby Delphi, about 15 miles northeast of Lafayette.\nWitnesses said the minivan, driven by Lola O'Brien, 76, of nearby Cutler, pulled from a county road onto the highway into the path of the semi, driven by Gregory A. Brinkman of Ferdinand.\nBrinkman slammed on his brakes and swerved to avoid a collision, but the semi struck the front of the minivan before skidding off the west side of the road and overturning, police said.\nO'Brien was in satisfactory condition Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lafayette. Brinkman, 34, was treated at the hospital and released.\nState senator forms committee for 2004 governor run\nINDIANAPOLIS -- State Sen. Murray Clark is creating a committee to begin planning and raising money for a possible run for governor in 2004.\nClark, an Indianapolis Republican and the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor in 2000, filed papers Wednesday with the secretary of state's office to form the committee.\nClark has been considering a run for governor for more than a year. He said the battle in the Legislature over the state's budget deficit and tax restructuring prompted him to take the next step.\n"It appears the General Assembly and especially the governor is moving closer and closer to passing tax increases on Hoosiers during tough economic times," Clark told reporters. "It seems to me we've lost sight of the real issue here, which is how we make the state government live within its means while changing the tax code to move the state's economy forward."\nState Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, and Randy Harris, a three-term mayor of Petersburg in southwestern Indiana, have also said they would seek the GOP nomination for governor. Conservative activist Eric Miller has indicated he might also run.\nLt. Gov. Joe Kernan is widely expected to seek the Democratic nomination to succeed Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who is barred by law from seeking a third term.\nClark, 44, was first elected to the state Senate in 1994, representing parts of Marion and Hamilton counties.\nCourt wants statewide computer network\nVALPARAISO -- The state Supreme Court is taking the lead in creating a statewide case management computer network by offering to provide money to help make it a reality.\nThe computer system envisioned by the court would allow lawyers and the public to access information about cases from around the state over the Internet.\nThe plan was pitched Tuesday during a statewide conference of county clerks. It has triggered positive responses among officials.\nPorter County Clerk Dale Brewer would like to see the county replace its court computer system and accept the state's offer to pay for much of the expense.\nWith connected systems, courts would be able to send orders to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles for suspended drivers licenses immediately after a ruling was made. Courts also would be able to check to see if defendants have charges pending in other counties.\nThe system would allow the state to maintain an accurate electronic registry of domestic violence protective orders.