We’re trying something in a couple of weeks that I don’t believe has been done locally. During the week of July 7, the Chevrolet Division of General Motors will sponsor 6News at 7PM with Todd Wallace and Trisha Shepherd.

It will not only sponsor the news, Chevrolet will be the sole sponsor and will present only one ninety second commercial in each newscast. Some of the network newscasts have done this, with some success. The ninety second commercials, shot by our folks, feature several Chevy models that get more than 30 miles per gallon.

Each newscast will feature a special report from 6News Live Drive Reporter Tom Davis. Tom’s One Tank Trips will showcase different places around Indiana that viewers can visit with their families and use less than one tank of gas. If someone was driving one of the featured Chevy models they could probably make it on a lot less than one tank. Four of the vehicles featured are the Aveo, the Cobalt, the Malibu and the HHR.

The single-sponsored week of news will also feature the Gas Card Watch & Win contest. Right now viewers can register to win $100 gas cards by visiting the theIndyChannel.com. 6News Chief Meteorologist Kevin Gregory will announce a registered name during his forecast that week. That person will have six minutes to call and claim the $100 gas card.

It’s pleasing to work with a company of Chevrolet’s status on this innovative venture. By offering more content in our 7pm newscast and only having one commercial break, we’re aiming to give more impact to their important message. They’re showcasing vehicles that deliver more mileage per gallon; 6News at 7PM will give them more “MPG” with a single, clear message about their vehicles.

I hope you’ll watch.

6News has always been tagged as being “On Your Side. It comes from our long-standing “Call 6 For Help” franchise and a general approach  in news coverage and community service.

So, this evening 6News is again “On Your Side”  with a telephone bank of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) experts that will field calls during our early evening newscasts. They’ll be there to help sort through a lot of confusion about the government’s economic stimulus payments.

The newscasts will also feature stories to help viewers understand what they should expect and when they should expect it. There are caps based on income levels that make higher earners ineligible. And there is a mailing schedule based on Social Security numbers. Another determining factor is when the 2007 tax return was filed.

In recent weeks, tens of millions of Americans have flooded the IRS with questions. They are asking why their payment hasn’t arrived. They want to know when to expect it. Others want to know why the check was less than they were expecting.

The IRS has done a good job of handling this huge job is a relatively smooth manner. But the avalanche of phone calls seeking answer has led to unusually long delays. Tonight, 6News will try to help Hoosiers get their questions answered.

The government began sending payments April 28. So far, about 85 million payments totaling nearly $71 billion have been distributed. The IRS expects to make about 124 million payments this year. And about $100 billion will be sent.

Those eligible are gettting as much as $600 apiece, $1200 for married couples who file jointly, plus another $300 for each eligible child.

Tonight, we’ll work at getting information out to the folks of Central Indiana and be “On Their Side.”

Let’s hear it for Max Schumacher.

Schumacher, president of the Indianapolis Indians, made it clear in a recent meeting of stockholders that naming rights for Victory Field are not for sale. He’s getting pressure from those shareholders to explore corporate naming rights. The downtown minor league baseball park in considered by many baseball writers to be one of the finest in the country.

With the big bucks’ deals to name such iconic structures such as Conseco Fieldhouse, the RCA Dome and, now, Lucas Oil Stadium, it’s a big temptation. But, as Schumacher rightly explains in an article in today’s Indianapolis Business Journal, “..naming rights for a minor league team have not proven that lucrative.”

Seems like every stadium, arena and event is up for sponsorship these days.

In Virginia Beach, the McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach Presented by Verizon Wireless features about 250 animated light displays, including a surfing Santa.

In Oklahoma City, the Sonic Segway Santa is a big part of the Downtown in December festival. Santa rides a Segway through downtown to promote green transportation and Sonic Drive-in food.

Do you remember the Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville?

When this first came on the scene many years ago I was disturbed. Now we take it for granted. And that ought to have all of us disturbed.

“We think Victory Field is a great name. We think there’s equity in that name,” says Schumacher. We agree and hope he continues to hold fast.

The weather could not have been better for today’s Marsh Cookout On The Circle.  This was the 17th year that the grocery chain has underwritten and sponsored one of the local Boy Scout council’s important fund raisers.  The money goes towards providing a trip to summer camp for kids who would not otherwise be able to go.

The scouts and their leaders take over Monument Circle here in Indianapolis for most of the day, serving chicken, bratwurst, cookies and soda.  Mayor Greg Ballard was on hand to declare today Marsh Cookout On The Circle Day.  A lot more dignitaries were milling around the circle on a perfect day.

One of the great things about Indy is the large number of people who give their time and money.  And, it’s pleasing to see the folks at Marsh carry on the great tradition supported for so many years by Don Marsh and his family.

Is it me or are we getting mixed messages from the State of Indiana?

Obesity among Hoosiers is a big problem. The Center for Disease Control typically lists Indiana among the top tier of states whose citizens are considered obese. Studies have found that about one in four Hoosiers is in that category. The legislature has even tackled the problem with laws regulating vending machines in schools and mandating exercise for students.

So, it seemed odd this week when the Indiana State Fair opened its third annual signature food contest.

This year’s entries had to fit the 2008 fair’s theme, “Year of Indiana Trees.” To choose the winner, a blue ribbon tasting panel met earlier this month at the Indiana State Fairgrounds to sample the food vendors’ wares.

The panel’s favorite? Deep-Fried Bananas Foster Cheesecake On A Stick. (Cubes of frozen banana cheesecake on a stick were coated in sweet crumbs, then deep-fried and served with vanilla ice cream.)

Close behind were treats such as Maple Twists On A Stick (cinnamon-flavored yeast dough deep-fried and glazed with maple cream and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar) and Deep-Fried Maple Latte (coffee-flavored batter deep-fried until crisp, then topped with maple cream, whipped cream, dark chocolate and espresso beans)

There are a couple of healthy barbecue dishes on there as well. However, my code of ethics does not allow me to speak ill of anything with barbecue sauce.

And it’s also confusing that one of the panelists was Cheri Daniels, wife of our extremely fit governor (who appoints the Fair Board.) You can go over to NIFS on the IUPUI campus almost any weekday and see Mitch vigorously working out. But his spouse is on a panel that’s choosing sinfully caloric desserts?

The panel was assembled with other food tasters: WFMS radio’s J.D.Cannon, 2008 Fair Queen Kristen Smith, Shannon Coleman of IndyMoms.com and my old friend Judge Smith of Judge’s Bar-B-Que. There should be no contest involving barbecue without having him passing Judgement (pun intended.)

Every year, all the media, 6News included, gets suckered into covering the foods at the Indiana State Fair. Deep Fried Twinkies, Deep Fried Snickers Bars,. And this August our anchors and reporters will eat them on camera and go on about how this year’s Deep Fried Whatever is even more decadent than last year’s Deep Fried Whatchamacallit. It’s the focus of the Indiana State Fair. Not animals, not crafts, not midway rides.  It’s Deep Fried Foods.

But, it does seem oddly out of sync with the other messages we’re hearing from the state about the health of Hoosiers, our obesity ranking and the toll it takes on our health and our economy