MARCH 15-21, 2010
This week, see how a natural disaster is reshaping the Johnson County town of Franklin—complete with a video tour of its redevelopment areas. In Focus, check out a big battle that's heating up between community banks and their national brethren. And in A&E, etc., Style columnist Gabrielle Poshadlo provides a sneak peak at the sixth annual Midwest Fashion Week, including a slide show featuring some of the designs that will be showcased.
Front PageBack to Top
Brizzi’s lease deals benefited friend, donor
Records show Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi directed lucrative work for the Prosecutor’s Office to his friend, business
partner and political contributor John Bales.
Marine tech unit to fill four floors at struggling M&I Plaza
A 10-year, $20 million deal for a civilian division of the U.S. Marine Corps to occupy four floors of the 28-story M&I
Plaza building downtown will push
the city’s sixth-largest office tower from a woeful 30-percent occupancy rate to about 50 percent.
Banking reforms may bite weakest institutions
Indiana banks soon might have to pay the state as much as $300 million in new fees for deposit insurance at a time the industry
is experiencing its deepest woes in decades.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Citizens says buying water, sewer systems won’t harm bond rating
Citizens Energy Group’s plan to buy the city’s water and sewer systems will require the utility to raise $262 million in new
bond debt and inherit $1.5 billion in debt. Yet Citizens executives maintain the financial load should not impair the bond
ratings of its principal utilities, Citizens Gas and Citizens Thermal.
Indy Racing League still trying to turn a profit
Terry Angstadt, who oversees the Indy Racing League’s commercial division, thinks the series could break even in 2011
and be profitable by 2012 despite myriad challenges facing open-wheel racing.
Many banks cutting dividends to merely a penny
Banks used to take pride in having long records of increasing dividends. Now, about all most can say is they still pay one.
Read MoreIndianapolis Housing Agency pulls off big tax credit deal
City agency plans renovations, expansions at eight apartment properties.
Read MoreFlood leaves redevelopment opportunity for Franklin
The city of Franklin is using the post-flood era to push for comprehensive redevelopment in and around downtown.
The cornerstone of the plan is a flood plain southwest of the courthouse.
FocusBack to Top
Community banks face fight of their lives against big players
Small, community banks will bet on their strength in customer service, and large banks will offer business customers lower
costs.
REED: Imprudence, bad economy will claim several Indiana banks
Banks are in trouble. Most are suffering at least a little, and many will not survive. That includes Indiana banks.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Citizens’ utility deal is smart move
Much work remains before the city’s water and sewer utilities are sold to Citizens Energy Group, but the general outline
of the deal makes sense and deserves support—not political posturing—as final terms are hammered out.
PARENT: Take your brain out for a walk
Urban life has
serious costs; it actually impairs our ability to think.
MARCUS: It’s not too late for a high-speed stimulus
“Too little, too late” is the standard objection to the economic stimulus program now in effect. That criticism
is based on opinion, not fact. It will take several years to know whether the stimulus (or stimuli, because there was more
than a single stimulus) worked.
FORSELL: Look beyond results for reciprocity in health care
I want to matter to the nurse standing next to me. I want to be more than a number, more than just a name on a list of hundreds
of patients on a research protocol.
FEIGENBAUM: Legislature heads toward bumpy conclusion
OK, I admit that I’m still wincing about last week’s column about a peaceful, easy feeling in the General Assembly
as it approached the leadership-targeted early-adjournment date.
ALTOM: Who knew YouTube had potential as a free university?
As much as I love and happily use technology, I come from a different age and time when, as they say, life was simpler. I
have students who are aghast that I’d rather use a folded paper map to get around town than a GPS and Google Maps in
a smart phone.
HICKS: Recession slows with costly job creation
While economists share broad agreement on a surprisingly large number of issues, the most visible discord lies in how two
groups view the causes of recession.
HAUKE: Greece should own up to its spending habits
I normally don’t expect complete child-like behavior from heads of state, but every political leader in Europe has been
acting like a little kid trying to run away from the broken window.
Bars should cater to smokers, too
I am replying to the article in the March 1 IBJ where [Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association President
Don] Welsh made his nebulous claims that Indy’s weak smoking ban hurts his ability to market the city to visitors and
convention business.
Praise for Marcus
I am a probably [columnist Morton Marcus’] biggest fan in Indiana whom you never have met.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
It’s Reggie Wayne vs. Drew Brees for video game cover
The Madden video game is one of the best selling video games worldwide, typically grossing more than $100 million in the week
of sales after its initial release.
HEALTH CARE
With President Obama looking to squeeze a bit more revenue out of the pharmaceutical industry, the stakes just keep getting higher for Eli Lilly and Co.’s efforts to develop drugs faster and cheaper. Lilly is already trying to shave a year or more off the time it takes the company’s scientists to turn a newly […]
Read MoreDoctors fighting insurers with data
The Indianapolis Medical Society hopes an online database that compares one doctor's reimbursement rates against market
averages helps its members negotiate with health plans.
Recycler J. Solotken & Co. recycles old building
Century-old firm moves from facility it had occupied since 1936 to former home of Frank E. Irish Co.
Read MoreCorinthian Colleges leases space for local campus
The new campus, which will operate as Everest College, will be the second Indiana campus for Corinthian
Read MoreCarpenter Realtors trots out smart phone technology
Specialized bar codes will be on Carpenter materials ranging from print advertisements to yard signs.
Read MoreNFP of NOTE: Joy’s House
Joy’s House is committed to supporting families by providing exceptional adult day service.
Read More