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Through Aug. 13

Lucas Oil Stadium

There should be even more eyes than usual on the competing squads at this annual percussive battle. Not only is Fathom broadcasting the finals to movie theaters around the country (including screens in Brownsburg, Plainfield and Noblesville), but organizers also have added a Saturday downtown parade to the entertainment lineup.

The main event, though, remains the World Championship Finals in which the top 12 corps compete for major (and majorette) bragging rights. Details here.

Aug. 17

Indiana State Fair

Two months ago, Janet Jackson performed in the Louvre Museum’s I.M. Pei glass pyramid. This week, she performs at the Indiana State Fair. I’m not sure what that says, but it sure says something.

One of the most successful musicians of the past 20 years—and as much a product of Gary, Indiana, as brother Michael—Jackson has a long string of No. 1 hits to choose from, a growing film career (most recently “For Colored Girls”), and a Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction” reputation that will no doubt always follow her (I still contend that Justin Timberlake and the show’s producers should have taken as much heat as she did). For more details on the show, click here

Aug. 12-Sept. 15

Herron Gallery

It’s one thing to commit to an idea. It’s another to be artist Martin Brief. In one of his series of works, “Newspapers,” Brief randomly picks a date, takes the front page of The New York Times from that day, and fills in every letter o. Those dots are then copied, without the source material, and they become, well, art. And more art. And more art. Brief says he’s going to continue the series until he randomly picks his birthday.

In another Brief work, “Truisms (after jh),” he takes familiar statements (i.e. “A little knowledge can go a long way”) and replaces every word with its dictionary definition. Rather than help explain the quote, it becomes more convoluted.

Artistic thumb-twiddling? Fascinating explorations of meaning and content?

Decide for yourself at this show, which features drawings by Brief and eight other artists from the Midwest. Details here.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has opened an inquiry into allegations of a speeding police officer captured on video on Interstate 65 over the weekend, a spokesperson said. A motorist took video of the patrol car traveling from Southport Road to Raymond Street at speeds above 100 mph without using warning lights or sirens. The department would not confirm if the officer was on duty or off duty or if he had been questioned by supervisors.

In a special promotion, the Indiana State Fair is rolling out $2 Tuesdays. On Tuesday this week and next, fair food vendors will be offer $2 servings to give patrons a chance to sample more items. In addition, a $2 admission voucher will be available on Turkey Hill’s website, and rides will cost $2 from noon to 10 p.m.

For the second year in a row, the smoking rate for Indiana adults has decreased.  According to new data from the Center for Disease Control’s annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the smoking rate in Indiana dropped to a new low of 21.2 percent in 2010. The rate was 23.1 percent in 2009. More than 27 percent of Indiana adults were smokers 10 years ago. Indiana still has a high rate of smoking compared to most states. The national median was 17.3 percent in 2010.