TERRE HAUTE — Milestones, big and small, are measures of progress for downtown Terre Haute.
As it stands, last week’s milestone — the dedication of a new federal building on the downtown district’s eastern border — was a big one. And its significance can’t be measured just by the size or stature of the building. It’s important to measure the structure by what it houses, and by recognizing that neither the new building nor the retention of a federal court was ever a sure thing for Terre Haute.
The U.S. government is always looking for ways to consolidate services, so when the aging federal courthouse at Seventh and Cherry streets had outlived its usefulness as a court and the first-floor post office, the possibility existed that no federal court building would be in the future for west-central Indiana.
Many influential people — including Indiana’s junior U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh — intervened on behalf of a federal courthouse retaining a physical presence in Terre Haute. The end result is good for this city, as well as the region. The simple but striking structure at 91⁄2 and Ohio streets makes a statement for the future. It’s an important investment in our city that undoubtedly will produce rewards through the years.
Meanwhile, the building vacated by the federal court is certainly not abandoned. In fact, it should emerge even better than before when renovations are completed by the new owner and tenant, Indiana State University and its School of Business. Like the new federal courthouse, the transplanted School of Business represents a sizable investment, and ISU and downtown will reap great benefits from its presence.
These hallmarks of progress, while occurring more often for the city, should not be taken for granted. Terre Haute and its many economic, social and cultural elements have come a long way in a rebirth that began decades ago. It has taken relentless attention to keep the drumbeat of progress loud and strong. May it continue.
Editorials
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: New federal building another milestone in rebirth of downtown
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EDITORIAL: Saluting his sacrifice
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EDITORIAL: Remembering Henryville
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EDITORIAL: Towering response
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EDITORIAL: Independent running mates
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
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EDITORIAL: Hazards of the spring abundant now on I-70
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EDITORIAL: Embrace the Sycamores
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EDITORIAL: Good choice for stability
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EDITORIAL: Correcting the prison imbalance
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the News
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EDITORIAL: When it’s IU vs. UK, there’s got to be a way
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EDITORIAL: Sen. Lugar’s compelling message
Richard Lugar, no stranger to reading political tea leaves, undoubtedly knew for weeks that defeat was coming Tuesday night in his primary fight for re-election against a more-conservative-than-thou opponent. A statement Lugar released just hours after his loss of titantic proportions indicates that the six-term incumbent saw the reality even before he knew Richard Mourdock was to be his opponent this May.
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EDITORIAL: Reviewing the landscape
The compelling story line surrounding the race between Richard Lugar and Richard Mourdock dominated most of the local primary election chatter. With those stunning results now in the books and Mourdock heading toward a showdown with Democratic Party nominee Joe Donnelly of South Bend (the current U.S. House rep from the 2nd District), it’s time to survey the landscape for other general election races that will be worthy of attention.
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EDITORIAL: GOP changed; Lugar didn’t
Six terms. Overwhelming popularity. A statesman and a gentleman. A visionary. An icon in the annals of U.S. Senate leadership, even world leadership. So dominating on the political landscape that the opposing party did not even produce a candidate in the last election.
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EDITORIAL: An exercise in democracy
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EDITORIAL: Fight against child abuse demands ongoing attention
As with many of our nation’s most maddening and perplexing social problems, one hardly knows how to fathom the egregious wrongs that occur when a child is abused.
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EDITORIAL: A ‘giant’ for his hometown
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EDITORIAL: Curbing corruption a worthwhile crusade
If you are cynical about government, down to its most local levels, you may think it is overrun — or even controlled — by corruption.
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EDITORIAL: The politics of Primary 2012
In less than a week, voting Hoosiers get a chance to make a statement about the future of politics in their state and beyond. But whatever that statement turns out to be, the final punctuation marks won’t be added until November. It’s possible that nothing will be settled by the end of the night May 8.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
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EDITORIAL: Hoosier Republicans should stick with Richard Lugar
Until late 2008, most Hoosiers were quite pleased — and in many cases, darn right proud — to call Richard Lugar their senior U.S. senator.
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EDITORIAL: Matt Branam: 1954-2012
The sudden death of 57-year-old Matt Branam on Friday morning continues to leave an air of sadness hanging over the community.
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EDITORIAL: A transplant from St. Ann’s
It would be understandable, for most of us, if we were madder than the opposite of heaven if a beloved, historic, personal part of our lives was to be taken away against our will.
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EDITORIAL: Pragmatic approach to downtown development benefits community
Terre Haute has known for some time now that Indiana State University’s master plan includes creation of student residential centers off-campus in the nearby downtown area.
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TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORIAL: A salute to pride of ’55
Terre Haute gets the chance to witness and appreciate the extent of its rich baseball legacy this Saturday. Its past and present will merge at Bob Warn Field.
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EDITORIAL: A match of Mitt and Mitch?
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EDITORIAL: Drilling for fairness
Consistency and fairness were on trial Monday as the Vigo County commissioners grappled with a controversial rezoning request from a property owner who wants to drill for oil on his land near Hawthorn Park northeast of Terre Haute.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
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EDITORIAL: Be fair, consistent, but keep smokefree ordinance on track
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EDITORIAL: Inspired by tradition, celebration
With the observance of Orthodox Easter on Sunday, the spring holy holidays for Christians and Jews will have passed for another year.
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EDITORIAL: Saluting his sacrifice




