Hoosier Briefs

Baron Hill sees progress in Afghanistan

Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th, says he sees clear signs of progress in Afghanistan and plans to support further funding for the war.

The Indiana Democrat told reporters Thursday that a trip to the region last week with other members of Congress eased his reservations about President Barack Obama’s war plan in Afghanistan.

Hill says he plans to vote for funding for the war and believes that the revised U.S. mission, which includes a troop surge, is having a positive impact on Afghan safety.
He says he also was heartened by the support of the Pakistani military, whose commitment he had doubted.


Illegal tobacco sales to Indiana teens hit new low

A new report says the number of Indiana teenagers who were able to illegally buy tobacco products from Hoosier retailers hit an all-time low last year.

The state’s Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program enlists teens to test whether stores will sell them cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or cigars in violation of state law.

The program’s annual report released Wednesday found that illegal sales were made by retailers in only 5.6 percent of more than 9,000 inspections the program made last year.

When the inspections started in 2000, 40 percent of retailers sold tobacco to minors.


Whirlpool discourages march at Ind. plant

Whirlpool Corp. officials are discouraging workers at an Evansville factory being shut down from taking part in a protest of the plant closing with national union leaders.

Union officials say AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka is among those expected at Friday’s march from a nearby union hall to the factory.

Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool announced in August that it would shut down the 1,100-worker refrigerator factory by mid-2010 and move production to Mexico.

A memo from plant managers to workers says they fear actions by protesters could hurt Whirlpool employees as they seek new jobs. Factory operations director Paul Coburn wrote that the decision to close the plant wouldn’t be reconsidered.

Local union president Darrell Collins says the factory is being closed because of corporate greed.


North Indiana commuter line makes cuts with fewer riders

Declining ridership on northern Indiana’s South Shore commuter railroad has led it to cut about 10 jobs and end a couple trains.

Marketing director John Parsons says that 2009 ridership was down about 7 percent, costing the rail line $1.3 million in fare revenue. It also received $500,000 less from state taxes.

Parsons says the railroad is asking unions to cut scheduled pay increases in half or consider unpaid furloughs. The railroad’s some 250 unionized workers are scheduled to receive 3 percent pay increases for 2010 and 2011.

Conductors union chairman Tony Wojasinski says it’s open to discussing wage changes but is awaiting a proposal from management.

The South Shore line runs between South Bend and downtown Chicago.


— AP Reports