JANUARY 11-17, 2010
This week, Greg Andrews reports some potentially heartening news for investors in Tim Durham's Fair Finance Co. who fear they've lost their nest eggs: Not all such cases end badly. Also, sports-business reporter Anthony Schoettle explores the impact Mark Patrick's return to the airwaves might have on local sports-talk radio and health care reporter J.K. Wall takes a look at proposed legislation that would allow physicians to limit the number of patients they accept from a health insurer. And in A&E, etc., we head north to Carmel for a quick course in Pizzology.
Front PageBack to Top
Death of heiress Ruth Lilly unleashes more philanthropy
Lilly’s death on Dec. 30 at age 94 will trigger the release of hundreds of millions of dollars from her
estate, with perhaps as much as $200 million flowing to the fledgling Ruth Lilly Charitable Foundation.
City’s once-thriving stand-up comedy scene fades
Crackers’ Broad Ripple and downtown locations are the only remaining comedy clubs in Indianapolis.
Read MoreVenue-management titans emerge as CIB front-runners
Experts say a unique four-way partnership that includes the Pacers and Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association may be the favorite to run the city’s sports and
convention venues.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Bill could pave way for Indiana nuclear power plants
The word “nuclear” isn’t even mentioned, but Senate Bill 69 is a virtual launch code for reviving attempts
at commercial nuclear power in Indiana.
Patrick’s return may reshuffle sports-talk ad spending
Local advertisers and media buyers said they’ll keep a close eye on the first half of 2010 to see
how Patrick, who launched his show Jan. 4, matches up against WFNI-AM 1070’s afternoon drive time
show.
Adversity prepared health exec for new role at helm of SynCare
Stephanie DeKemper believes everything in her adult life has prepared her to run SynCare LLC. She’s so
sure that she’s buying the company.
Investors in failed Church Extension poised to recoup 70 percent
Professionals liquidating the not-for-profit have so far recovered nearly 68 percent of the $82 million owed
investors.
Law firm Alerding Castor Hewitt hires ExactTarget’s ex-general counsel
William Boncosky spent seven years at the ExactTarget, a span when the firm’s employment grew from 14 to 500.
Read MoreDoctors resume battle with Anthem, health insurers
Doctors are pushing again to strengthen their hands in contract negotiations with health insurers, especially market leader
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
City’s plan to raise money with sponsorships takes wing with KFC
Mayor Greg Ballard this month rolled out the first of what he hopes will be 10 to 15 city sponsorship and advertising deals
this year, with the aim of saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
FocusBack to Top
Program offers women entrepreneurs their own experts
AthenaPowerLink selects Carmel firm Mitsch Design as the first woman-owned business it will assist locally.
Read MoreHiring family, friends can be dicey for business owners
Employing relatives or pals can be a godsend or a nightmare for small firms. And anecdotal evidence suggests it could be even
rougher on women business owners than it is on men.
OpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Biglari putting Steak n Shake’s future at stake
The company’s return to profitability under CEO Sardar Biglari can’t be overlooked. But neither can strong signals
that Steak n Shake’s CEO is using the venerable restaurant chain as a cash machine to finance his
bigger goals.
MAURER: Stay in the game, don’t break rules
Each January, I reflect on a few of the prior year’s columns. I’m always curious about the topics and
people I have written about over the course of the year. I hope you are, too.
MARCUS: Indiana third-worst in pay growth
Our legislators are reconvening in Indianapolis to “do the people’s business.” What they do actually
is send tremors though the fiscal foundations of our state. Households and businesses cannot figure out our tax structure
or our spending priorities.
MORTON: Colts’ decision was all business
The Indianapolis Colts’ decision to pull the plug on a potential undefeated season was made for one reason: “What
must we do to win Super Bowl XLIV in Miami on Feb. 7?”
FEIGENBAUM: Democrats start to embrace constitutional amendment
What changed over the last year to make House Democrats so eager to allow Hoosier voters to amend the property-tax caps
into the Indiana Constitution? The calendar.
SKARBECK: Looking at stocks, 10 years at a time
During this century’s first decade, investors had to cope with the uncertainties surrounding 9/11; huge corporate failures
including Enron, Worldcom, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Lehman Brothers; and volatility wrought by both the tech and housing
bubbles.
HICKS: Civic perceptions and economic development
There is certainly plenty of anecdotal evidence that what folks believe about a community matters for its economic fortunes.
Read MoreNot all charities should survive
My letter is in response to Kathleen McLaughlin’s excellent [Dec. 28] article, “Charity mergers scarce.” While
all of the comments shared are well-considered, the elephant in the room is nonprofit closures.
Future Fund’s start is not so slow
n response to your Dec. 21 article labeling the Indiana Future Fund as “off to slow start,” I believe some
additional historical perspective is warranted.
Here are some ways to help the CIB
Is there enough money coming in to keep the city’s world-class sports facilities maintained, pay them off, put enough away for
the inevitable refurbishing that they will need over time and also promote Indianapolis?
Goals are different than a decade ago
Bruce Hetrick’s [Dec. 28] “Could we start again?” article really made me remember the hope and excitement of
the new millennium 10 years ago.
Smoking should be part of health reform
As Congress debates health care reform, it’s easy to lose sight of what we agree on—and what we know works
to prevent disease and lower costs. Helping people quit smoking and keeping young people from starting are proven ways to
reduce the awful toll of cancer, heart attacks and other serious illnesses.
In BriefBack to Top
Lucas Oil Stadium lease for Final Four is on CIB’s front burner
Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president of basketball and business strategies, said the deal needs tweaking
because Lucas Oil Stadium was in the conceptual stages when Indianapolis won the bid to host the 2010
Final Four.
Carmel’s performing arts center hiring key staff
With a year to go before completion of a 1,600-seat concert hall, Executive Director Steven Libman added Jeremy Hatch as development
director.
Indianapolis Economic Development reports healthy 2009 job attraction, retention numbers
The organization responsible for attracting new businesses to Marion County and helping companies already
located here with expansion secured 11,135 job commitments and $157 million in private investment from
45 companies in 2009.
The Flying Cupcake is among restaurants expanding as others contract
Bobby Joe’s Beef and Brew, a popular home-grown restaurant at Southport Road and Interstate 65,
has closed. Riviera Maya, billed as an authentic Mexican restaurant, is slated to replace Old Town Ale
House in Fishers
Health care spending slows in most sectors, but government spending increases
Health spending is growing slower than it has in 48 years, but whether health care reform will continue the trend is the
subject of debate here and around the country.
High-end audio firm Indy Audio Labs powers up with new hires
An upstart audio products company with offices at Purdue Research Park at AmeriPlex has brought in big guns to launch sales.
Read MoreChildren’s Bureau consolidates
The Children’s Bureau Inc. has moved into offices in the Gene Glick Family Support Center.
The move represents the first time in 50 years that Children’s Bureau administrators have worked in the same building
that
houses their programs for families and children in crisis.
PROXY CORNER: Zimmer Holdings Inc.
Zimmer Holdings Inc. develops, manufactures
and markets orthopedic and dental reconstructive implants, spinal implants, trauma products and other related surgical products.