FEBRUARY 15-21, 2010
This week, read about what an east-west mass transit line could mean for Indianapolis' core and see what local convention chief Don Welsh says downtown soon will need. Also, Statehouse Dispatch columnist Ed Feigenbaum identifies the hot issue that will dominate the rest of the legislative sesson. And in A&E, Lou Harry gets an early look at the Indiana State Museum's new Lincoln exhibits—and takes you along on a video tour.
Front PageBack to Top
Republic stock falls following departure of Frontier exec
CEO Bryan Bedford remains at the helm, but shares of Republic Airways have fallen nearly 30 percent following the departure
of an executive deemed key to the operation
of the regional airline’s first two branded carriers, Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines.
Clarian, IU plan $100 million neurosciences center
Clarian Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine want their planned neurosciences hub to become a destination
for patients suffering
from brain, nerve and mental maladies—and for the government and industry research dollars that can
fuel advances in care.
State exporters poised to benefit from Obama effort
Overseas sales are a major emphasis for Indianapolis-based Peerless Pump, which makes highly engineered pumps for fire suppression,
factories and waterworks. President Obama’s administration wants to help rebuild the U.S. economy by putting more companies
on Peerless’ trajectory.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Banks suing Broadbent, pushing one strip center into bankruptcy
Locally based Broadbent Co.’s legal battles with lenders have escalated, pushing one of its 34 strip malls into bankruptcy
and prompting Huntington National Bank and PNC Bank to sue to collect principal owed on loans tied to four more.
Census expected to show Hamilton County tops in coveted demographics
Hamilton County is poised to become the demographic all-star of the decade. Its 269,785 residents make up the fastest-growing,
most educated and wealthiest county in the state, according to estimates from the Indiana Business Research Center.
East-west rail line could boost Indianapolis’ core
With traffic congestion growing, the idea of sending streetcars zipping down Washington Street—from
far-east-side Cumberland to Indianapolis International Airport on the west—is making a return. And
the route could offer the best bang for the buck in spurring transit-oriented development.
HHGregg’s faster growth boosts risk, potential rewards
HHGregg Inc. had been in business nearly a half century when it hit the 50-store mark in 2004. It plans to open nearly
that number within the next year.
PTS sues Roche Diagnostic to end blood-monitor royalties
Polymer Technology Systems Inc., a small Indianapolis-based maker of handheld blood monitors, has gone to court to fight
a competitor more than 100 times its size: Roche Diagnostics Corp.
Development firm Sandor leaving midtown for Carmel
Strip-center owner and developer Sandor Development Co. is moving its headquarters to Hamilton County after almost 50 years
in Indianapolis.
FocusBack to Top
Local convention activity warming up during winter months
Once considered a destination only eight months of the year, Indianapolis—with its compact downtown and indoor walkways—is
emerging as a convention powerhouse even during cold weather.
ICVA chief: Downtown Indianapolis will need another big hotel
The 1,000-room J.W. Marriott isn’t even finished and support already is emerging for a second downtown hotel that
would rival it in size.
Quick hits: Comparing tourism in Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio
A side-by-side look at infrastructure and visitor numbers.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: New transit study focuses on return as well as cost
Central Indiana is much better at churning out transportation studies than implementing a real transit system, but there’s
reason to take seriously the report released Feb. 10 by the Central Indiana Transit Task Force.
KATTERJOHN: Local businesses kick in for Haiti
Hoosier businesses have
stepped up for the citizens of Haiti, the island nation that was literally shaken to pieces by a massive earthquake Jan. 12.
MARCUS: Radical government budgeting proposed
The essential issue is to get out of the cycle where governments plan to spend money they don’t know they
will receive.
HENDERSON: Indianapolis getting squeezed by suburbs
Indianapolis’ successful suburbs are rapidly surrounding the city. More important, tax and cultural shifts
are starting to drain Marion County.
FEIGENBAUM: Remainder of legislative session will be all about jobs
House Democrats now have their opportunity to tinker with legislation sent to them by the Senate, and they will look for
every opportunity to use these miscellaneous bills to preserve and create jobs. Similarly, Senate Republicans will analyze
each piece of legislation that crossed the Statehouse Rotunda from the House to determine whether it is a “job-killer.”
ALTOM: How the Amish make technology work for them
BusinessWeek (www.businessweek.com) has a recent story about a growing $1.8 million enterprise that’s doing
just fine without the Internet, Web site, texting, customer-resource-management software, a fax machine or a single computer.
In fact, the company doesn’t even have electricity.
HICKS: A growing love connection to new media
Changes in media, especially new media,
will alter the life of my kindergartner. I am no futurist, but it seems to me that three big trends are clearly emerging.
HAUKE: Learn to read the map to navigate market waters
Over the last 100-plus years, bull and bear markets in the United States have broken down into different stages.
Read MoreMarcus column went too far
Kudos to Morton Marcus (with tongue in cheek) for pointing out [in his Jan. 25 column] that we should all pay for health care just as we all pay
for the fire department.
‘Avatar’ unimpressive
I enjoyed [Mickey Maurer’s Feb. 8 column] on “Avatar”! It was a refreshing counter to the media
(and social) phenomenon swirling around this (in my opinion) banal flick.
In BriefBack to Top
Startup VoCare Inc. might move to find venture capital dollars
A Lebanon-based startup wants to build a call center here and add up to 300 jobs, but state and local officials are struggling
with a big obstacle to keeping the company here.
Smoking ban legislation appears dead in Statehouse
Legislation that would ban smoking in all public places, enclosed areas of places of employment and certain state vehicles
appears headed for an Indiana General Assembly summer study committee.
Wishard construction project enjoying cheap debt
The Health & Hospital Corp. of Marion County got good news in its first round of borrowing to finance a new Wishard
hospital: The cost is less than expected.
City of Franklin selling two buildings, including former City Hall
Bids for one or both of the properties will be accepted from Feb. 17 through March 16 at the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office
at 70 E. Monroe St.
Kiwanis hires IU Foundation’s chief fund-raising officer
Matthew Morris will oversee fund raising for the world service project that Indianapolis-based Kiwanis will announce
in June.
Local lawyer appointed to lead national firm Ogletree Deakins
Kim Ebert is a veteran lawyer at the local office of the Atlanta-based firm, which has 470 lawyers in 37 locations nationwide.
Read MoreFour downtown hotels to be added to IndyGo’s Green Line route
The expanded service shuttling air travelers and airport workers to and from Indianapolis International Airport began Feb.
3, to the newly opened Fairfield Inn & Suites at West and Washington streets.
Brand Acceleration signs new client in North Carolina
ndianapolis-based Brand Acceleration Inc. recently signed a deal to be the public relations agency of record for Stanley
County Economic Development Commission in North Carolina.
NFP of NOTE: Camptown Inc.
Camptown Inc. challenges, mentors and teaches youth about life through outdoor adventure and nature programs that help
build confidence, character, and hope.