DECEMBER 3-9, 2012
This week, find out what media observers think about the turnover at the top of local TV newsrooms and read about a small local charity's big opportunity. In Focus, see why Indiana manufacturers are struggling with new fuel standards. And our Forefront columnists weigh in on a range of issues from the marriage amendment to the war on poverty. Plus: Meet the financial gurus honored in IBJ's fifth CFO of the Year program.
Front PageBack to Top
VC funds hope to help early-stage life sciences firms
Early-stage venture capital has been harder and harder to come by for life sciences companies in recent years, but two Indianapolis investors are working to raise sizable funds to help fill the gap.
Read MoreWabash Valley Power aggressively shifting to greener alternatives
The Wabash Valley Power Association has been reducing its dependence on energy produced from coal—from 95 percent five years ago to 54 percent today. The utility is leaning more on natural gas and even renewable-energy sources like methane from landfills and animal waste.
Read MoreAnthem rolling out 401(k)-style medical benefits
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana will open a new online exchange to Indiana employers on Jan. 1, where workers could purchase medical benefits from a group of plans using a fixed sum of money given them by their employers.
Read MoreTop StoriesBack to Top
TV news director departures shake up market
Three of Indianapolis’ four local TV news providers—WTHR-TV Channel 13, WISH-TV Channel 8 and WRTV-TV Channel 6—are looking for news directors.
Read MoreBrightPoint buyer Ingram Micro mulls cost-cutting
A top BrightPoint Inc. executive expects little employment change for the distribution and logistics company’s 1,100-person central Indiana work force, despite the potential for job cuts and facility closings across the country.
Read MoreSmall charity to use NBC show to boost visibility, vie for $1M prize
The efforts of Indianapolis-based Timmy Global Health to improve health in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa while exposing hundreds of students to the realities of the medical industry have earned it an appearance on network TV and a shot at a $1 million unrestricted grant.
Read MoreAs Simon soars, two big mall anchors retrench
Are Simon investors overlooking the potential fallout from trouble at two of the mall giant’s biggest tenants, Sears and JCPenney?
Read MoreData center N/Frame spending more on Carmel upgrade
The company that hosts outsourced computer operations is dramatically boosting its investment in its local operation.
Read MoreCity leads Midwest in speculative industrial development
Indianapolis has more speculative industrial space under construction than any other market in the Midwest as developers try to capitalize on about four million square feet of tenant interest in the market.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indiana manufacturers struggling with fuel economy standards
Automakers and suppliers are pumping more money into research and development at a time many of their sales departments struggle with a slowing global economy.
Read MoreRailcar shipments making a comeback in Indiana
High diesel prices are turning companies to trains.
Read MoreCONOVER: Manufacturing still drives Indiana’s economy
It’s no secret that Indiana’s factory workers took more lumps during the Great Recession than workers in other sectors, with nearly 120,000 losing their jobs. Indeed, from the state’s manufacturing employment peak at the start of the century, our factories had shed a quarter million jobs by the recession’s end.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Holiday giving should last all year
Tis the season to give—and we’re not talking about the shop-till-you-drop display of conspicuous consumption that started before the Thanksgiving leftovers were even cold.
Read MoreMORRIS: Setting an example we hope Washington will follow
I’ve been knee deep in budget meetings, one after another, for what seems like an eternity now. It’s been only about a month, but it seems much longer. I’ve talked to many business colleagues who have been doing the same.
Read MoreKENNEDY: The long and short of it
There’s an old saying to the effect that a politician’s idea of “long term” is the next election. Our system rewards folks who can front-load the goodies and postpone the pain, even when doing so is clearly not in the long-term public interest. Budget deficits are an obvious case in point.
Read MoreFORSELL: Knowing this, how shall I act?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a couple of terrific opportunities to reflect upon the deepest things in life. One opportunity came thanks to the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, of all things, and the other from a life-threatening disease.
Read MoreRACE: We’re turning our back on the city’s design DNA
Some large projects are in the works for Massachusetts and Indiana avenues. These projects are important. They can reconnect the fabric of downtown neighborhoods and commercial areas while adding economic and cultural vitality.
Read MoreALTOM: Passwords are passe, but there’s no good alternative
Even the most supposedly secure password is toast from the time you first use it, because today’s hackers have a veritable arsenal of ways to get through or around any password scheme.
Read MoreHICKS: Demagoguery and the truth about taxes
The popular media lately has been full of astonishing piffle with regard to taxation—so much so that a reasonably smart listener might suppose there was some magnificent disagreement among economists, like there is among lawyers in a court case. That is not the case.
Read MoreSKARBECK: Giant H-P’s recent missteps a valuable lesson for us all
The Hewlett-Packard saga portrays the huge importance the capital-allocation function plays in deciding ultimate shareholder wealth.
Read MorePacers revenue sharing will be less than reported
The Indiana Pacers are pleased that the NBA revenue sharing plan reached almost one year ago includes significant changes to the sharing among all 30 NBA teams. As was pointed out in the Nov. 26 IBJ, the Pacers’ amount will likely increase, beginning in 2013; however, the increase in 2013 will be dramatically lower than what IBJ reported.
Read MoreRitz aims to protect teachers’ unions
J.K. Wall is to be congratulated on his [Nov. 19] exposure of the true Glenda Ritz. Her quote, “Rewriting that waiver is my most important mission,” says it all. It is clear she has no interest in continuing to achieve the education improvements made here under Tony Bennett.
Read MoreFever overlooked
I am disappointed that [Benner column, Nov. 19] did not mention the Fever’s WNBA championship as something to be thankful for.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Luck apparel sales soar for MainGate
The rookie quarterback’s jersey is No. 6 in sales among all NFL players, according to the league.
Read MoreRecord number of companies grow Indiana operations
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said 220 businesses have expanded or started here, and the number could grow before the end of the year.
Read MoreIndyGo to sweeten the deal for driver recruiting
Bus system taking page from trucking firms to find people to staff new routes.
Read MoreBloomington approves $27 million downtown hotel project
The Bloomington City Council has approved giving up some city property for construction of a $27 million Hyatt Hotel near the downtown courthouse square.
Read MoreProposal would move up online sales tax collection
Two lawmakers say they plan to introduce legislation in the new year that would require Amazon.com and other online-only retailers with a presence in Indiana to begin collecting sales tax on July 1, 2013, six months earlier than expected.
Read MoreUpscale grocer Fresh Market planning Fishers store
Specialty grocery chain The Fresh Market is planning its third store in the Indianapolis area, this time at 116th Street and Cumberland Road in Fishers.
Read MoreNFP of NOTE: The Social of Greenwood
The Social of Greenwood develops and provides programs, activities and services to enhance the quality of life of older adults in the community.
Read MoreHoliday Wish List
The following is a list of Indianapolis-area not-for-profit organizations and the things each needs most.
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