JANUARY 24-30, 2011

This week, find out why the emphasis on smaller classes is shifting in the education reform debate and see why some motorsports insiders think IndyCar racing is making a comeback. In Focus, read why mergers and acquisitions are primed for a burst of activity. And in A&E, check out the warm, family atmosphere at Donatello's Italian Restaurant.

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Unions looking to make Hoosier comeback

January 20, 2011 |

Indiana could be on the front line in the United Auto Workers’ campaign to unionize foreign-owned plants.

21st Century Fund pockets a payoff from sale

January 20, 2011 |

The state’s principal fund investing in high-tech companies has reached a milestone—for the first time recouping all the money it granted an emerging company, and then some.

Class size takes back seat in education debate

January 20, 2011 |

In his State of the State address, Gov. Mitch Daniels called class size “virtually meaningless” in determining which kids succeed.

Trucking firms need drivers; students can’t afford training

January 20, 2011 |

A study by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals estimates that the trucking industry needs to hire 200,000 more drivers this year, but some driver-training schools locally say many potential students don’t have the $3,000-to-$5,000 or more for tuition.

City push on building codes draws gripes

January 20, 2011 |

A vigorous effort by city officials to enforce building-safety codes has some concerned that it’s becoming tougher to revitalize older properties.

Analyst says spurned Simon still has plenty of potential

January 20, 2011 |

Simon Property Group Inc. used multibillion-dollar buyouts to become the nation’s largest public real estate company. So should investors be worried its last two acquisition bids have gone bust?

Legislation seeks RFP option for selling state land

January 20, 2011 |

The bill would allow the Indiana Department of Administration to sell real estate using a request for proposals, in addition to existing options for competitive bids or an auction.

IndyCar, other circuits show signs of motorsports recovery

January 20, 2011 |

Open-wheel series leads resurgence in sponsorship dollars flowing to racing circuits, venues and teams.

NAI Olympia vets join brokerage startup Alliance

January 20, 2011 |

If Alliance grows as fast as projected, it could break into the city’s top-10 largest commercial real estate brokerage companies for 2011, based on IBJ’s Book of Lists.

Indiana companies prepping for burst of acquisitions

January 20, 2011 |

Conditions are ripe for a barrage of mergers and acquisitions to take place this year.

Uptick in M&A activity suggests a turnaround

January 20, 2011 |

Fourth quarter helps to bolster 2010 deal-making.

Indiana mergers and acquisition ranged upward of $2.3 billion

January 20, 2011 |

Simon Property Group’s acquisition of Prime Outlets was the largest by an Indiana company in 2010.

EDITORIAL: Time for mayor to clear the air, back smoking ban

January 20, 2011 |

Another year, another parade of editorials, opinion pieces and studies that call for Indiana to join its neighbors in banning smoking in all workplaces.

MAURER: This is a broker’s tale worth reading

January 20, 2011 |

“Twelve years after I popped out, I learned to sell. During the next three, I began to write. Fifty years later, I discovered how to kill.” Thus begins the journal of investment adviser Jack Chap, protagonist in John Guy’s novel “Middle Man, a Broker’s Tale.”

MARCUS: A good bill benefits dinosaur buildings

January 20, 2011 |

Building owners or developers use the Indiana Industrial Recovery Income Tax Credit to reduce their costs in restoring or rehabilitating dinosaur industrial structures.

COX: Shrinking government can increase costs

January 20, 2011 |

Legislation will likely be introduced in the Indiana General Assembly to abolish township governments and consolidate their functions into counties. As in the past, the proponents claim this would save money for taxpayers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

FEIGENBAUM: Daniels experiences pushback even from Republicans

January 20, 2011 |

Assorted issues advanced by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels are confronting political pushback—from his Republican legislative majority.

HICKS: Earmarks need overhaul, but they aren’t entirely bad

January 20, 2011 |

Our influential senior senator, Richard Lugar, and 6th District congressman, Mike Pence, disagree on an outright ban on earmarks. This is a rare case in which the differing concerns of both men are right.

SKARBECK: Big banks still face issues over soured mortgages

January 20, 2011 |

The U.S. banking system continues on its path toward healing—with many thanks to the ongoing generosity of U.S. taxpayers.

Children need broad education

January 20, 2011 |

I applaud Bruce Hetrick’s column (Jan. 10, “Why this public-school baby fears school reform”) for its keen observations about the value of education in the arts and humanities.

Criticism of IEDC was off-point

January 20, 2011 |

Professor [Morton] Marcus’ warning about the perceived under-appreciation of local economic development organizations [in his Jan. 10 column] places a spotlight on the importance of these groups and those who lead them.

Should teachers be unionized?

January 20, 2011 |

[In response to Teresa Meredith’s Jan. 10 column in Forefront] I would like to know, if collective bargaining has all of those benefits, why are our public schools performing so badly that a great percentage of the students do not graduate?

Union backer has vested interest

January 20, 2011 |

The reason [Teresa] Meredith is so gung-ho regarding her union stance is she has so much to lose: 18 years into her profession, vice president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, her pension and benefits.

Evans dreams big as Clarian becomes IU Health

January 18, 2011 |

Clarian Health, which is set to change its name to Indiana University Health on Jan. 24, is relying on the academic expertise of its downtown Indianapolis hospitals to pull in patients from a wider swath of the state and the nation.

Former Allison exec settles suit alleging bribery

January 20, 2011 |

A former China-based executive of Allison Transmission has agreed to drop a lawsuit that claimed the company won business by bribing foreign officials. But it's likely that the firm still must deal with scrutiny from the Department of Justice, according to one legal expert.

Indianapolis Business Journal