INDIANAPOLIS, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Commander of the 125,000-member Indiana American Legion today challenged the Indiana General Assembly to "find the courage to speak and act plainly on behalf of the youngsters at the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home at Knightstown." Ralph Tolan called on legislators to "not use the current budget impasse as cover for closing the home" which, under plans announced by the Indiana State Department of Health, would close effective May 23, 2009. Following an intensive lobbying and communication effort by the Legion and its allied organizations, the ISSCH Alumni Association, and other interested groups and individuals, legislators restored funding for the home for one year to the 2010 budget.

By Schnitzler, Peter If Indianapolis built a mass-transit system to serve its northeast corridor, state Sen. Luke Kenley could board it in his home district of Noblesville and ride all the way downtown.