Ripple's grateful for the boom -- in part because it helps the firm offset pro-bono work.

CNN: Businessman bets $150k to help high school

The sapping of U.S. influence in this region has had wide-ranging ripple effects.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: "Fixing" US-Latin American relations

He was a high-school All-American at Broad Ripple High School before leading Bob Knight's Indiana University squad in scoring for three consecutive seasons.

WSJ: Sometimes Home Isn't Sweet

So while the hubbub is going on in Boston and New York, keep your eye on all of this year's races -- not only for their outcomes, but for their potentially dramatic ripple effects as well.

CNN: What Kerry needs in Boston

Mike Hannan, Broad Ripple's athletic director, said Woodson looms large both at his high-school alma mater and throughout the state as a whole.

WSJ: Sometimes Home Isn't Sweet

Sir Jeremy Beecham, who was acting as Mr Blair's warm-up man in the main hall, thanked Mrs Stihler and her campaign team, eliciting a ripple of applause from the hall.

BBC: Activists' gloom over by-election