Daniels reaches out for Hispanic support\nINDIANAPOLIS -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels courts Hispanic voters in their native language in a television commercial his campaign plans to start airing in the next week.\nThe decision to produce an ad entirely in Spanish was a natural one given the growing number of Hispanic voters in the state, campaign manager Bill Oesterle said Wednesday.\n"They are becoming an increasingly important part of the Hoosier landscape, and because Mitch is fluent in Spanish, it made obvious sense to us," Oesterle said.\nThe campaign is still deciding where to air the commercial, which shows Daniels traveling the state in his recreational vehicle and mingling with people.\n"We're always on the road to bring people the message that, in Indiana, everybody counts, and that we will not ignore one town or one person," Daniels says in Spanish. English subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen.\nTina Noel, campaign spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Kernan, said the Hispanic/Latino population "is a very important constituency for both candidates."\n"Our opponent is clearly reaching out to this burgeoning group of Hoosiers, and Gov. Kernan is doing so as well," Noel said.\nShe said the Kernan campaign has a coordinator for Hispanic outreach and that Kernan plans to attend this weekend's Fiesta Indianapolis, a celebration of Latino culture.
State awards $500,000 grant for biotech degree \nINDIANAPOLIS -- State officials announced a $500,000 grant Wednesday to help employees of 11 life-sciences companies pursue associate's degrees in biotechnology, which are being offered for the first time by two Indiana colleges.\nGov. Joe Kernan presented the Advance Indiana grant to the Indiana Health Industry Forum, a nonprofit, private-sector initiative that promotes development of the state's health industry.\nThe money will allow 134 current employees of 11 life-sciences companies to pursue an associate's degree in biotechnology at one of six Ivy Tech State College campuses or at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.\nUnder an agreement signed Monday, students will be able to earn the new, two-year degree and transfer into a four-year program at IU.\nThe Health Industry Forum and four companies -- Eli Lilly & Co., Roche Diagnostics Corp., Dow AgroSciences and Baxter Pharmaceutical Solutions -- helped develop the biotechnology degree.\nEmployees at those companies and seven others that joined the effort will be eligible for a portion of the state grant. It will pay for tuition, books and fees.\n"The opportunity for our workers to earn a biotech degree strengthens our competitive edge in one of the world's most important and fastest-growing industries," Kernan said.\nOfficials also announced a pilot program in Marion County that will help 50 young adults who face social and educational barriers pursue a biotech degree. The Indianapolis Private Industry Council created the program.\nIn Indiana, life-sciences industries account for 320,000 jobs in 12,000 companies that have an estimated $36 billion impact on the state's economy. A Hudson Institute study projected that life-sciences and biotechnology industries could create 45,000 jobs over the next five years in the state.
Bishop will deny Communion to pro-choice politicians\nEVANSVILLE -- The Roman Catholic bishop of Evansville said he would deny Communion to politicians who vocally support abortion rights or gay marriage.\nBishop Gerald Gettelfinger said Catholic politicians who publicly defy the church's teachings on such issues should expect bishops to refuse to include them in the sacrament.\n"To be pro-anything requires us to be accountable for our actions before God, and before our community, our sisters and our brothers," he said Tuesday during a Rotary Club program.\nGettelfinger told the Evansville Courier & Press that the decision to withhold Communion would be a response to outspoken politicians who criticize the teachings of Catholicism, such as its anti-abortion stance.\nThe bishop said he knew of no Catholic politicians in his diocese of about 89,000 Catholics in 12 southwestern Indiana counties to whom he would deny Communion.\n"I know of no one who would be so brash in this community. No one," he said.\nAmerican bishops issued a statement in June saying lawmakers who consistently back abortion rights risk "cooperating in evil" and must examine whether they should receive Communion.\nA handful of American bishops have said they would deny the sacrament outright to defiant politicians.\nGettelfinger said that while some bishops have threatened to withhold Communion from those who support abortion-rights candidates, he would rely on church members to consider the church's teachings in their votes.\n"I will trust that person is approaching me in good faith, with integrity," he said.
