Two hundred years ago, Indianapolis was carved out of a forest in the middle of nowhere-a planned capital city at the geographic center of a new state. The first few decades were marked by economic isolation, squirrel invasions, and a canal project that bankrupted the state. But the arrival of railroads in 1847 transformed Indianapolis into an economic powerhouse. And this "Crossroads of America" has been growing, transforming, and reinventing itself ever since.Indianapolis: An Illustrated Timeline tells the Indianapolis story from prehistoric times to the present day, exploring its Native American heritage, its rich automotive history, and its most beloved restaurants, sports teams, and cultural institutions. The timeline includes terrible disasters and crimes, but it also celebrates the city's unsung heroes and the rich cultural diversity inherent to a city of immigrants. At its core this is a story about people, from humble pioneers to US presidents-not to mention a celebrity palm reader, a vaudeville mayor, a wide array of writers, and the nation's first self-made female millionaire.Seasoned local author Ashley Petry brings the timeline of her hometown to life from specific event to specific event. It's all right here at the heart of the Hoosier state.

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.

This book integrates the problem of violence into a larger framework, showing how economic and political behavior are closely linked.

Hail to the Chiefs is a behind-the-scenes look at the Chiefs' 1993 season and the changes made by the team in hopes of reaching championship glory. Included is the biggest NFL story of '93 -- the trade with San Francisco that brought Joe Montana to Kansas City. Also discussed is the Chiefs' pursuit of Marcus Allen and his feud with Raiders' owner Al Davis, which forced him out of Los Angeles.

Getting the Message Through, the companion volume to Rebecca Robbins Raines' Signal Corps, traces the evolution of the corps from the appointment of the first signal officer on the eve of the Civil War, through its stages of growth and change, to its service in Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM. Raines highlights not only the increasingly specialized nature of warfare and the rise of sophisticated communications technology, but also such diverse missions as weather reporting and military aviation. Information dominance in the form of superior communications is considered to be sine qua non to modern warfare. As Raines ably shows, the Signal Corps--once considered by some Army officers to be of little or no military value--and the communications it provides have become integral to all aspects of military operations on modern digitized battlefields. The volume is an invaluable reference source for anyone interested in the institutional history of the branch.