JULY 11-17, 2011
This week, meet Holiday World family matriarch Pat Koch, who sets a high bar for hard work and dedication. Also, see what IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard is planning to drive up TV ratings and read about the motivation behind Eli Lilly and Co.'s big dividend. In Focus, find out why employers are tackling some complicated math. And in A&E, get a jump-start on the Indianapolis International Film Festival.
Front PageBack to Top
Lenders battling Broadbent legal strategy
Developer George P. Broadbent sold The Broadbent Co. to his wife for $50,000 in March 2010 as he faced a barrage of lawsuits threatening his control over the real estate company he co-founded in 1972. He has also transferred several properties to her.
Read MoreSimon wagers on Internet gambling’s future
Billionaire Herb Simon is betting online gambling will become legal—and that a new company he’s backing will reap a payoff as a result.
Read MoreMusic stations doing just fine without on-air DJs
Many popular and well-paid disc jockeys in the local radio market have been let go over the last several years, and their station’s ratings generally didn’t suffer when they left.
Read MoreDJ says diverging from playlist cost him job
Former WFMS-FM 95.5 on-air personality J.D. Cannon said he was fired for insubordination after Jan Jeffries, Atlanta-based senior vice president of programming for Cumulus, heard WFMS play “Long Black Train” by Josh Turner and “Killin’ Time” by Clint Black.
Read MoreTop StoriesBack to Top
Turnaround experts eye state schools
Interventions by state officials next month in as many as 18 struggling schools will open Indiana to a new and unproven breed of private education entities that have sprung up in just the past decade. That introduction is likely to be smaller than originally thought, but have far-reaching ramifications.
Read MoreMatriarch’s work ethic inspires Holiday World staff
Pat Koch, whose official title at her family-owned Holiday World theme park is director of values, sets a high bar for hard work and dedication.
Read MoreIndyCar CEO may take control of more races to boost TV ratings
IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard is so driven to increase race attendance and television ratings, he’s considering taking control of more of the open-wheel circuit’s races to make that happen.
Read MoreEli Lilly using big dividend to prevent investor exodus
Lilly executives are emphatic that they have no plans to reduce the company's 49-cents-a-share quarterly cash dividend, which gives the stock a rich annual yield of 5.2 percent.
Read MoreRural broadband provider Omnicity racks up legal bills tied to acquisitions
The latest of at least five suits filed since early last year involves Columbus, Ohio-based SZD Whiteboard, a consulting firm the company used to identify acquisition targets.
Read MoreOutgoing CEO: After ‘near-death experience,’ CNO doing well
CEO Jim Prieur got more than he bargained for when he took over CNO Financial Group (then-Conseco) five years ago, but he said he’s ready to step down now that the insurer is in good shape.
Read MoreMarsh lands big tenant, will reoccupy headquarters
Marsh Supermarkets is reoccupying a portion of its long-vacant headquarters building and has snagged a plum tenant to sublease most of the rest of the space.
Read MoreIBJ wins national journalism awards
IBJ won seven awards at the Alliance of Area Business Publications’ summer conference June 25 in Providence, R.I.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Employers face messy decision to drop health insurance
Companies that drop insurance coverage could, without spending any more money than they are now, give workers an 11-percent raise or else help them save as much as $2,000 per year buying health coverage in one of the exchanges, IBJ calculations show.
Read MoreUltrasound broker finds stronger market overseas
Used parts are in demand as health care reform changes industry dynamic.
Read MoreHendricks Regional, YMCA debut fitness center
Partnership combines wellness, hospital services.
Read MoreSTUMPP: Docs’ loss of independence driving up health care costs
The fact is that hospitals are paid three to four times for physician ancillary services.
Read MoreTiming good for 2-in-1 biotech drugs
Eli Lilly and Co.’s foray into combination drugs is well-timed because the company could take advantage of some the world’s most successful biotech medicines, which are about to see their patents expire.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: City should share more details on garage deal
The city’s decision to entice a developer to build a parking garage in Broad Ripple is entirely appropriate—we just wish there were more transparency about the deal that will involve more than $6 million of city money.
Read MoreMAURER: Snooky Hendricks is an urban legend
While visiting the Indiana Historical Society’s “You Are There 1968: Robert Kennedy Speaks” exhibit, I learned that in attendance on the evening more than 40 years ago were Hoosiers who went on to remarkable careers.
Read MoreMARCUS: Multipliers are what you make them
New money will not necessarily mean new jobs at the beauty parlor or the barbershop if there are already empty chairs.
Read MoreGARNER: Diversity leads to economic success
Creativity comes not from the brilliance of one person, or a singular “ah ha” moment, but from a collision of ideas.
Read MoreHICKS: Without real cuts, cost of borrowing will rise
What is abundantly clear is that federal spending is much higher than is currently sustainable.
Read MoreSKARBECK: Global economy extends beyond usual suspects
the global economy extends to many regions and countries that, while smaller in economic stature, are often overlooked.
Read MoreLugar responds
A [June 27] letter to the editor entitled “Lugar column sparks policy questions” asks for some examples of actions that have generated my claims of regulatory overreach at the Environmental Protection Administration.
Read MoreHudnut merits honor
I wish to give a resounding “second” to Louis Mahern’s “Call to properly honor civic giant Hudnut” in [Forefront, June 27].
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
2012 Super Bowl merchandise unveiled
Items ranging from T-shirts and sweat shirts to mugs and pennants are available exclusively through ColtsProShop.com, at the Colts ProShop in Lucas Oil Stadium and at Circle Centre mall.
Read MoreBasiles back IndyFringe’s building acquisition
Gift kicks of $600,000 campaign to renovate, expand theater building.
Read MoreBanker appointed chairman of Indiana higher education commission
The commission has drawn national attention for its performance-based funding plans.
Read MoreMiles & Brinson nabs Crossroads Industrial account
The agency will handle marketing, public communications and media relations for the division of Easter Seals Crossroads.
Read MoreCity taps downtown TIF funds for bridge repairs
The city is bidding work to repair concrete and add a green roof to the Meridian Street Bridge adjacent to downtown Union Station.
Read MorePurdue Research Park nears capacity
Purdue just added a large tenant to the Indianapolis research park, bringing the total to 14.
Read MoreJapanese industrialists tapped for Energy Systems Network board
The president and CEO of Toshiba Corp. is among those joining the board of the Indianapolis-based clean tech/energy initiative.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: HHGregg Inc.
Indianapolis-based HHGregg Inc. is a specialty retailer of consumer electronics and home appliances. It operates 180 stores in 15 states.
Read More