Indiana doesn‘t expect to lose much federal funding to the government shutdown — as long as it doesn‘t drag on too long.

Office of Management and Budget director Chris Atkins says the state has enough cash reserves to keep many programs going for as long as a month before running into trouble. For instance, the way in which the government sends the funding checks for the WIC nutrition program for mothers and young children means there‘s still cash on hand to keep the program going.

Some other federally funded programs, such as the National Guard, are reimbursed after the fact.  Atkins says the state will dip into its surplus to put Guardsmen on the state payroll for up to a week, and reevaluate if the shutdown isn‘t resolved by then.

In past shutdowns, the government has made up lost paychecks after the standoff is resolved. Atkins says the state is counting on that happening again.

Atkins says he expects the state economic impact of the shutdown to be “small but manageable,” though he says the state will be monitoring the effect on defense contractors in particular.

Funding for Medicaid, highways, unemployment and education is unaffected.

Indiana High School Athletic Association Assistant Commissioner Chris Kaufman says Friday‘s fight involving Arsenal Technical and Fort Wayne South Side High School football players and coaches is unacceptable.

Kaufman says that‘s why IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox is meeting late this afternoon with school administrators on both sides to determine a possible course of action or even punishment.

Kaufman says the IHSAA spends a lot of money promoting sportsmanship and Friday‘s events go against IHSAA standards.

Tech has already fired a volunteer coach who brawled with a Fort Wayne South Side coach. Some fans also came onto the field during the fight.

The latest government shutdown is the first in 18 years. But Washington veterans know stalemate used to be the rule, not the exception.

The government shut down six times during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, for anywhere from one to four days, as Reagan and the Democratic House haggled over spending priorities.

Democrat Lee Hamilton and Republican Dan Coats were part of Indiana‘s congressional delegation for those fights, and for the 1995 faceoff between Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich which produced two shutdowns totaling 26 days. Both say Washington is more dysfunctional this time, but they place the blame in different places.

Hamilton, now retired, says Congress is lurching from one crisis to the next while denying the risks to the economy. Coats, now Indiana’s senior senator, says both Reagan and Clinton were deeply engaged in trying to reach a solution, while President Obama has refused to negotiate.

Both Hamilton and Coats warn the economy is more fragile than it was in prior shutdowns. And Coats points out Congress had passed seven of the necessary 13 appropriations bills in 1995. This time, none of the spending bills has passed, which he notes means troops overseas could see their paychecks dry up.

The commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association will decide tomorrow how to address the fight between players and coaches during Friday‘s football game between Arsenal Technical High School and Fort Wayne South Side.

Indianapolis Public Schools spokesman John Althardt says school administrators will meet with IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox to determine what, if any, punishment will be given to the schools.  Tech High has already dismissed a volunteer coach who fought with a Fort Wayne South Side coach – the school and IPS have not released the coach‘s name.

The game was stopped with 1:41 left in the third quarter and Tech leading 24-to-6.  The teams briefly scuffled after a South Side player was flagged for a late hit well out of bounds on the Tech sideline.  The fighting had seemingly stopped when the coaches started shoving each other.  Some fans also came out of the stands and on to the field during the melee. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called in to assist IPS poilce, but no arrests were made.

No one from Fort Wayne Community Schools has said anything outside of a statement released by the school district.  “We are disappointed with the turn of events at Friday’s football game, and we expect all involved in high school athletics – both our teams and those we play – to demonstrate good sportsmanship,” the statement read. “We will conduct our own investigation into what took place as well as cooperate with the IHSAA investigation.”

The prosecutor in Hancock County will decide by Wednesday whether to file charges against a woman for the shooting death of her husband at their rural Greenfield home.

The Hancock County Sheriff‘s Office filed a 72-hour extension so they could continue to hold 55-year-old Elizabeth Roberts.  She was held for questioning after 57-year-old Gary Roberts was shot dead on Friday inside their house in the 3900 block of South 800 East.

Captain Jeff Rasche (RASH), investigations commander for the sheriff‘s office, says the complicated nature of the case caused time to run out on the current jail hold.  Rasche says Elizabeth Roberts is only a person of interest, even though it appers she admitted to shooting her husband.

Elizabeth and Gary Roberts had been married 31 years, but Rasche says the couple had begun having problems recently.  Elizabeth Roberts had asked deputies to intervene earlier on Friday, and Rasche says he had obtained a warrant to detain Gary Roberts for a psychological evaluation and to remove his weapons from his home.  “Really, the only thing that we had was that he possibly was going to do harm to himself, so we wanted to take those weapons from him so he wouldn‘t be able to use those,” said Rasche.  “Unfortunately, circumstances drastically changed, and eventually we were called there for a person shot.”

Rasche says Gary Roberts was one of the better known gun collectors in Hancock County.  “He had quite a collection of weapons.  Not only did he collect weapons, he collected the right ones. His collection was probably one like no one else had ever seen,” said Rasche.   Roberts had also been experiencing a problem with alcohol and drugs recently.

The prosecutor has the option of filing or declining to file charges or referring the case to a grand jury.

Your next trip to the license branch will probably cost less, as the B-M-V scrambles to fix a series of overcharges.

A class-action suit over Hoosiers being overcharged for licenses prompted the B-M-V to order an independent review of all its fees. Spokesman Josh Gillespie says that review found the bureau has been charging one-to-three dollars too much for most of its 300 different fees.

The overcharges will show up as a credit on your next B-M-V transaction.

Some fees were assessed too low. Gillespie says the state will eat those costs.

Gillespie says the miscalculated fees are the result of multiple state laws which must be read together to determine the correct amount. In some cases, Gillespie says misreading a single word is enough to produce an incorrect charge. The bureau will ask legislators next year to streamline the fee structure to make it easier to understand.

A Dallas-based company is taking the movie theater experience to a whole new level in Indianapolis.

Today marks the opening of Studio Movie Grill‘s latest location in the United States.

It‘s located on the city far northwest side at 86th & Michigan.  CEO Brian Schultz says Studio Movie Grill combines movies with a full scale restaurant.  He calls it, “In Theater Dining.”  Schultz says they‘ve invested $7 million in renovating the leased facility which used to be the old Movie Buff Theater.

Schultz says they‘ve torn each theater down to the bones, put in new digital projection screens, luxurious chairs and other accommodations for people to drink and dine full meals in the actual theaters. He says each table has buttons that patrons can press to request service from waiters and waitresses.

Schultz says one of the old theaters has been converted into a full service kitchen.  Schultz says the largest theaters will have 60-foot screens.

He adds that the Indianapolis location is Studio Movie Grill‘s 13th theater nationwide.  He says “in theater” dining is the best way to combine movie and restaurant night into one location and lure patrons from their big screen televisions at home.

Schultz says the revamped space now includes 13 theaters and will also show sporting events.  He says dining includes a full menu consisting of crab cakes, chicken, pizza, burgers and fries, drinks and more.  He says most of the entrees run upwards of $12.

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is seeking video entries for its newest game to take place during the Annual Dinner on Nov. 2^nd.

The Chamber will be hosting two groups for its own brand of Family Feud called “Community Feud.”

Tickets will go on sale soon!

Washington County Chamber of Commerce members are invited to participate in Community Feud (similar, but better than the TV show,  Family Feud).

The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will choose 2 teams to participate in the show.

Why should your business/organization participate:

1. For the Glory!!!
2. For the Fun
3. For the team building experience
4. For the free PR from the Chamber of Commerce (info sent to members and press in all surrounding counties) AND
5. A small prize

How do you participate?

Send in a video (3 minutes max) of your team (5 people per team) and tell the Chamber Board why your business/organization should be chosen?  Make your video funny!  Make it unique!  Keep it tasteful!  (send to info@washingtoncountychamber.org)

Videos sent in will be placed on the Chamber of Commerce website and may be shown at the Annual Dinner.    Videos become the property of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Only two teams of 5 persons will be chosen to participate.

The deadline to enter is October 7!  So get the smart phones out and video your team today!

Note:  Videos sent in AVI, MOV, MP4 files would be best for email.

The nomination forms are ready for several annual awards for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations for the 2013 Citizen of the Year Award and Emerging Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award are being sought.  These awards will be announced at the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, planned for Nov. 2.

A new award has been added this year.  Join the Chamber in celebrating the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.  The nomination form can be obtained from the Chamber website.

Deadline to nominate (all awards) is Wednesday, Oct. 23^rd.

Forms may be mailed or emailed to the Chamber Office.

The Indianapolis Colts will once again add a touch of pink to their traditional blue and white color palette as the team joins the NFL’s national “A Crucial Catch” campaign in partnership with the American Cancer Society to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and encourage annual screenings for women over forty.

The team will officially kick off the month by turning Colts.com pink and hosting the “Pinking of the Canal” event, presented by Pools of Fun, on October 4, and will continue their efforts by dedicating their October 6 game vs. the Seahawks to Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition, the team will introduce their “Pamper Her Pink” program to give breast cancer survivors and women who are currently battling this disease the opportunity to receive a day of a pampering and enjoy dinner with Colts players. The Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization will also have a Limited Edition Colts Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt for sale with all proceeds benefiting the IU Simon Cancer Center. Information on each of these events and programs is included below. Fans may visit www.colts.com/pink for more information.

PINKING OF THE CANAL, OCTOBER 4, 2013

For the third consecutive year, the Indianapolis Colts will turn Indianapolis’ downtown canal pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The public is invited to the free “Pinking of the Canal” event, presented by Pools of Fun, on Friday, October 4, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Ohio Street Basin of the Canal.

Indianapolis Colts Vice Chair and Co-Owner Kalen Irsay will be joined by Indianapolis’ First Lady Winnie Ballard to pour the pink dye into the canal at approximately 12:15 p.m. following a brief program at 12:00 p.m. In addition, attendees will be able to sign a special Colts flag in honor of someone in their life who has been affected by breast cancer. The flag will then be carried by the Colts Mascot, Blue, to lead the team onto the field at their October 6 game vs. the Seahawks.

Additional event activities include:

• Live Music by ”Dave and Rae”
• Free Limited Edition Colts Pink Posters
• Special Edition Pink Colts Item for Sale by the      Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization (proceeds benefit the IU Simon Cancer Center)
• $5 Lunches
• $1 Bottled Water and Pink Lemonade, provided by      Coca-Cola (proceeds      benefit the American Cancer Society)
• Colts Cheerleaders and Blue
• Opportunity to win Colts tickets
• Informational booths
• Pink Ribbon Passout, provided by Zeta Tau Alpha

“The Pools of Fun family lost a precious member to breast cancer several years ago and we are determined to do what we can to fight this disease as a tribute to her,” said Tim Colon, Pools of Fun President. “By supporting the Pinking of the Canal event it is our hope that we can continue to raise awareness and funding to fight this terrible disease.”

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS GAME, OCTOBER 6, 2013

The Indianapolis Colts are dedicating their October 6 game to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and will include several gameday activities to recognize survivors and engage their fans in this important cause. Colts players will be outfitted in a variety of pink accessories including cleats, wristbands, gloves and more. Other gameday elements include:

• Large Pink Ribbon held by 75 Breast Cancer Survivors during the national anthem
• Run-out tunnel formed by 50 Colts Season Ticket      Holders who are      currently battling or have survived breast cancer
• Special edition flag carried by Blue and signed by, or in memory of, breast cancer      survivors
• Honorary Coin Toss Captain and 12^th Man      Fan of the Game from the      IU Simon Cancer Center
• National Anthem sung by a Breast Cancer Survivor
• Special Edition “Pink” Cover for the Scout      Gameday Program
• Colts Cheerleaders and Blue in Pink Attire
• Pink Ribbon Passout, provided by Zeta Tau Alpha
• Special Edition Pink Colts T-shirts for Sale by the      Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization (proceeds benefit the IU Simon Cancer Center)
• Large Inflatable Pink Ribbon in the American      Family Insurance Touchdown Town, provided by Indiana University Health

PAMPER HER PINK, SEPTEMBER 16-OCTOBER 8

For a second year, the Colts are excited to launch the “Pamper Her Pink” program, sponsored by Tyler Mason Salon & Spa, to provide a day of pampering for 10 women who are currently battling, or have survived, breast cancer. Nominations are being accepted online at www.colts.com/pink through October 8. Ten finalists will then be selected to receive a day of pampering from Tyler Mason Salon & Spa, as well as dinner with Colts players at Indianapolis Colts Grille on Tuesday, October 15.

Individuals who have a special woman in their life who has survived breast cancer or is currently battling the disease are encouraged to visit www.colts.com/pink to submit a nomination.

SPECIAL EDITION COLTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS T-SHIRTS

The Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization will be selling special edition Colts e t-shirts during the month of October and will donate all proceeds to the IU Simon Cancer Center. The t-shirts are gray and feature a pink Colts horseshoe on the front. They are $20 each and will be sold at the team’s “Pinking of the Canal” event on October 4, as well as their October 6 game versus the Seattle Seahawks. At the game, the t-shirts will be available in the American Family Insurance Touchdown Town, on Lucas Oil Plaza inside the north end of the stadium, and near sections 117 and 143 on the main concourse.

The Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization is comprised of Colts female staff as well as wives of staff, coaches and players. The Organization plans monthly service projects during the season and supports a variety of charities including School on Wheels and D.R.E.A.M. Alive, Inc.