Fort Wayne Observed

Governor Nomination: Tomes Volunteer Calls

The Republican nomination for Indiana governor will be determined tomorrow by the 22 member Indiana Republican State Committee.

While a candidate only has a potential call list of 22 persons, State Senator Jim Tomes has had a volunteer making recorded requests for support.

FWOb has exclusive audio on one such call. Listen here:

Jim Tomes Governor call

Former WANE Reporter Anthony Ponce Gets a Lyft

Fort Wayne area television watchers may remember Anthony Ponce's time at NewsChannel 15 WANE.

A talented reporter, he quickly moved to WISH TV in Indianapolis and then to his hometown WMAQ in 2007. WMAQ is an NBC owned and operated station. It was reported last week that he was quitting the station and that his last day would be this past Sunday.

Yesterday, he played a video on his last day as to what he would be doing next. He will be a Lyft driver; a job, as it turns out, he has been doing for four months. Albeit, it will be as a Lyft driver with a side activity: he will produce a podcast of interviews he has with his fares.

Sort of like a more interesting and adult "Cash Cab." Hopefully, he will never encounter a situation as happened to "Cash Cab": a traffic fatality.

While this is seemingly an odd choice, Mr. Ponce's talent has been clearly in evidence since his time at WANE. No doubt, he will make a success of it.

This is what the Poynter's Kristen Hare reported today:

After his last day on air at Chicago's WMAQ, Anthony Ponce shared a video on Facebook about his new gig.

"Four months ago, I took a second job," text at the bottom of his video reads. "A job as a driver. A driver for Lyft. Yes, those pink mustache cars."

Ponce is leaving the newsroom, but he still plans to tell stories. They'll just be stories from the people he meets in the backseat of his Chevy Equinox.

In August, Ponce will launch "Backseat Rider," a podcast that features interviews with people he drives around town for Lyft.

 

 

FiveThirtyEight: If Election Today, Trump has 55.9% Chance

Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight blog projects Trump having a 55.9% chance of winning presidency if election held today.

 

 

Vice-Presidential Nomination - Hanover Squared

Senator Mitch McConnell introduced Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb to nominate Governor Mike Pence for Vice-President.

It is nearly an alumni event for Hanover College.

Eric Holcomb's speech has been a great national advertisement for Indiana's economic climate.  And it is, of course, a great opportunity to enhance Eric Holcomb's stature and name recognition a week away from the selection of the gubernatorial nominee by the Republican State Committee.

Woodburn's Wegmann - The Daily Signal Take on the RNC

Woodburn native, Philip Wegmann, is a writer for The Daily Signal. He talks with Fort Wayne Observed about his impression of the Republican National Convention.

Woodburn's Philip Wegmann at the RNC from M Harper on Vimeo.

Indiana - The Votes are Cast

Indiana's delegation is bound to support the choice of primary voters.  The primary that

But, first, a shout out for the leadership of Governor Mike Pence.

And all 57 votes are cast for Trump.

 

Roll Call Gets Rolling

The roll call is about to begin.

Curious to see if there is about to be some drama. 

Nomination Speeches - Where is the Policy

The nominating speeches of Senator Jeff Session and US Representative Chris Collins reiterated the themes and the rhetoric of the entire Trump campaign.

Representative Collins thanked Speaker Ryan for introducing forward thinking policies but did not make any specific reference to any of those policies.

The future is described in scary terms. The present described as a disaster.  But the nominating rhetoric is that the subject of the nominating speeches is a leader who will lead, a winner who will win,

The convention needs to swing toward a mention of more specific policies and actions if it is to win over the wavering.

Live Blogging Tonight at the RNC Cleveland

Introduction to Tuesday night at the RNC Cleveland from M Harper on Vimeo.

Indiana State Troopers Helping to Provide Security in Cleveland

Hoosier citizens in Cleveland are seeing some familiar figures providing security in Cleveland.  Indiana State Police officers are helping to assist Ohio and federal law enforcement personnel along with State Police from Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina and numerous other states.

Troopers of the ISP have special commissions issued by the State of Ohio in order to carry out their duties during this week of the convention.