MARCH 6-12, 2020
Anthony Schoettle reports that the long-planned 16 Tech Innovation District along Indiana Avenue has reached a pivotal moment. The first office building in the $500 million project will open in June, which could serve as a catalyst for tremendous growth on the 50-acre campus and elsewhere downtown. Also in this week’s issue, Mickey Shuey takes a close look at the effects so far of the coronavirus epidemic on Indianapolis’ tourism industry. And Lindsey Erdody unpacks the tensions between state lawmakers and Indianapolis officials as the Legislature considers several bills aimed directly the Circle City. Some folks say lawmakers are inserting themselves too far into local affairs.
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First 16 Tech office building set to open in June; Innovation Hub to follow
The long-planned $500 million project is at a pivotal moment—one its organizers say could serve as a catalyst for tremendous growth at the 50-acre campus and for central Indiana overall.
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Local tourism, convention officials prepare for impact from coronavirus
Officials say no events have been canceled locally, but groups—including the NCAA and Visit Indy—are watching the news and weighing their options.
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Three downtown hotel projects delayed amid development glut
A trio of hotels in downtown’s construction pipeline have stalled in recent months, raising questions about whether they will ultimately move forward.
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Filmmaker peddles Spanish wine in the United States
When Indianapolis outdoorsman and filmmaker Eddie Brochin was asked to lead adventure tours on a Mexican ranch in 2013, he had no idea it would lead him to import and distribute wine.
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Legislature proves it’s unafraid to meddle in Indianapolis affairs
Just in the past month or so, lawmakers have debated proposals to prohibit cities from regulating landlord-tenant relations, allow the attorney general to step in when a local prosecutor decides not to pursue a case, and cut funding to IndyGo—which might stop construction of future bus rapid-transit lines.
Read MoreQ&A with Victoria Beaty, Growing Places Indy executive director
Victoria Beaty used to promote McDonald’s food in minority neighborhoods. Now, she advocates for healthy lifestyles in Indianapolis.
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Liquor superstore planned for former Marsh location in Nora hits legal snag
The Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission ruled Tuesday that state law prohibits it from approving permits to out-of-state residents, potentially setting up a legal challenge based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that such requirements are unconstitutional.
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Caito Foods to eliminate Fresh Cut produce division, terminate 333 workers
The Fresh Cut operation at Caito’s main campus at 3120 N. Post Road cuts and packages fresh produce for distribution to retailers.
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Indianapolis Yellow Cab acquired by zTrip, ending seven-decade run
zTrip, a five-year-old company based in Kansas City, has been buying taxi businesses at a fast clip, and now has more than 5,000 cabs in 21 cities.
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Onyx+East continues near-north-side spree, planning 37 town houses on Monon Trail
Monon Roots is the third Onyx+East project on the near-north side to seek city approval in recent months. It would feature homes ranging from $280,000 to $420,000.
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How Farm Bureau Insurance runs with the big dogs of auto insurance
For four years, the insurer has held the state’s No. 4 market share for private-passenger auto insurance based on direct premiums written.
Read MoreBank disruptor Chime dangles hefty interest rates on deposits
Chime Inc. is part of a fast-growing class of well-funded financial technology startups offering debit cards, checking accounts and other financial services.
Read MoreCenterfield invests in California company
Centerfield provided debt and an equity co-investment to support The Courtney Group’s purchase of Tenacore.
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Editorial: IndyGo stuck in pothole of its own making
If IndyGo is to move forward with the next phases of its rapid-transit system—which we believe is crucial to the economic vitality of a huge swath of the city’s workers—it must shore up the community’s confidence in its ability to operate effectively and avoid future political gaffes.
Read MoreNATE FELTMAN: Could virus determine our next president?
Everyone should be able to agree that public health is more important than politics.
Read MoreSheila Kennedy: Legislators like to remind us who’s boss
Their most consistent behavior, year after year, is their adamant refusal to allow cities and towns—especially Indianapolis—to do much of anything unless and until our overlords in the Legislature deign to give local elected officials their official blessing.
Read MoreKaren Tallian: Outdated bail system creates two-tiered justice
The use of money bail fuels mass incarceration, erodes public safety and does irreparable harm to poor communities, with a particularly devastating impact on communities of color.
Read MoreMandy Haskett: Make sure to be ‘brilliant at the basics’
We get focused on making sure the big, complicated tough stuff is intact, only to miss the basic thing. The first thing. The most fundamental thing.
Read MoreKIM: Buffett on coronavirus scare: ‘We certainly won’t be selling’
Nobody knows how long and far the coronavirus outbreak will go or how it will end. In a global economy, near-term cash flows will be hurt, but cash flows going out 10 or 20 years will not be.
Read MoreEd Feigenbaum: Statehouse ‘silly season’ produces legislative surprises
As legislation entered the final days of committee deliberations, solons frantically sought to insert key provisions into bills perhaps only tangentially related. In some cases, amendments became the principal focus of the new bill, just like, for example, a former 500 winner salvaging a part-time ride with a small team.
Read MoreBOHANON & CUROTT: Delivering a commodity is tricky if it’s considered a public ‘right’
Politicians often proclaim that certain goods and services such as health care, housing and internet service are human rights.
Read MoreLetter: Moving schools requires careful study
It would be wise for officials to work with knowledgeable city planners and neighborhood leaders if any potential redevelopment of these school properties is to be studied.
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Controversial coal bill gets green light from Indiana Senate
The legislation, House Bill 1414, comes as large utilities across Indiana have announced plans to shut down thousands of megawatts of coal-fired generating capacity in favor of cheaper fuel sources.
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DePauw University appoints new president following 8-month search
Lori White will be the first woman and the first person of color to serve as president of the 183-year-old school. When she begins her job in July, White will be the only black woman leading a university in Indiana and one of just a few in the nation doing so, the school said.
Read MoreFormer SerVaas Laboratories employee sentenced in $772K fraud case
The long-term employee was sentenced to 27 months in prison after she admitted to stealing from the Indianapolis-based company, which makes the famous Bar Keepers Friend line of cleaning products.
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2020 Health Care Heroes: A new way of treating addicted moms, babies
Dr. Emily Scott and her colleagues found that keeping moms and babies together resulted in fewer babies needing morphine to wean them off their addiction.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Helping Hoosiers who are HIV-positive
The Damien Center is the largest and oldest provider of services to the local HIV/AIDS community. It has a budget of $12.5 million and about 70 employees.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Cutting non-emergency 911 calls while aiding residents
Some people call 911 for non-emergency assistance multiple times a day because they don’t know where else to turn. Each call requires the deployment of a vehicle, equipment and personnel.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Decades of research yields drug for bone disease
The drug Crysvita can be a game-changer for children and adults with X-Linked Hypophosphatemia, a painful and deforming bone disease that causes rickets and softening of the bones.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Simultaneous transplant of organs reduces rejections
Research shows simultaneous heart-kidney transplantation can reduce the renal failure that often occurs in post-transplant heart patients, who would then typically have to wait three or four years for a new kidney.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Breakthroughs boost spina bifida patients
Thanks to care advancements supported by and pioneered at Riley, spina bifida patients are living longer, healthier and more independently.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Doctor renowned for putting patients first
It’s not unusual to hear a doctor described as compassionate and caring. But when you hear Dr. Thomas Bright’s patients and colleagues in Anderson describe him that way, you get the idea Bright lives those qualities to an unusual degree.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Devoting a career to those with special needs
For 40 years, Dr. Daniel Shull has been the medical director at New Hope and has learned a thing or two about caring for the organization’s special patient population.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Surgeon repairs the littlest of hearts
Dr. Mark Turrentine’s interest in medicine started in western Kansas, migrated to Indianapolis and now takes him around the world performing heart surgery on children.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Nurse finds new passion after lymphoma diagnosis
A lab where cancer patients receive chemotherapy is where Kerry Skurka identified a problem and forged her new path in health care.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Showing deformities can be overcome
As co-coordinator of Riley Children’s Health’s Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program, Caitlin Church coordinates patient care for children born with cleft lips and palates and other abnormalities.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: A caregiver for families in poverty, disarray
Wanda Thruston decided at the age of 5 that she wanted to be a nurse. She wasn’t much older when she had a vision of working in a clinic that took care of people in distress.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Magic Castle Cart delivers smiles to hospitalized kids
Bob Baxter has been making weekly rounds at Riley Hospital for Children to coax smiles out of kids since he retired as president of the Riley Children’s Foundation in 1996.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Greeter brings charm, compassion to job
Brian Morson’s almost 20-year career as a greeter at the main entrance to St. Vincent Anderson Hospital was inspired by his short stay there in 2002 and by the country he left behind.
Read More2020 Health Care Heroes: Retired exec pours passion into kids’ bereavement camp
Garry Rollins was on the brink of retirement when he decided to help out at Camp Erin, a free bereavement camp for children that is sponsored by Community Health Network.
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MIKE LOPRESTI: Forty years later, the heartbreak lingers from storied final four
The Andrean-New Albany and Marion-Broad Ripple matchups in 1980 provided unforgettable drama—and lasting scars.
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