ANDERSON­ — To hear state Sen. Luke Kenley tell it, his free tickets to the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby — and the free meals that came with it — were all a misunderstanding. Kenley, R-Noblesville, accepted more than $1,000 worth of tickets and entertainment including meals from a lobbyist working on behalf of Centaur Inc., the parent company of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino.

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. — Rick Wood says he’s a proud American, and that’s why he’s flying the American flag outside his home upside down. About two months ago, Wood decide to flip the flag, displaying what’s traditionally seen as a military distress signal. His point? Wood believes the country is in distress.

NOBLESVILLE -- Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will do a book-signing at the Borders bookstore in the Hamilton Town Center at 6 p.m. Thursday.

CHESTERFIELD — Town officials have hired two part-time workers to fill vacancies left when town employees were allegedly discovered stealing from town coffers during a state audit. Maintenance workers James Walters and Chris Walters were fired along with Town Marshall Jamie Kimm and part-time police officer Joseph Brown after the five men were implicated in the theft of more than $259,000 from the town of Chesterfield. Earlier this year, Clerk-treasurer Chris Parrish resigned.

ANDERSON­ — Area lawmakers say that the coming short session of the Indiana General Assembly won’t be short on big issues. “First and foremost is jobs and the economy,” said Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson. “People want to work and we need to find a way to spur job creation in communities that have been hit extremely hard.”

ANDERSON — The Anderson Fire Department will give up part of its ambulance user fee collections, set aside to maintain equipment and fire stations, to help pay for its salaries in the midst of a city budget crisis.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Senate Republicans want to make changes in the way legislative district maps are drawn to lessen political factors used in redistricting.

ANDERSON — Local officials and community leaders should be gearing up for the 2010 census, as it could have a major impact on future federal funding and congressional districts, a local legislator said.

ANDERSON — City employees will get 14 paid holidays and two paid personal days in 2010, a policy that Board of Public Works member Mark Lamey said has been agreed upon through union contracts with the city. Employees get 16 total days each year, according to the contracts, but whether there are 12 or 14 holidays depends on whether it is an election year.