FEBRUARY 10-16, 2014
We only learned a few weeks ago about the National Rifle Association's annual convention in Indy (set for April 25-27), but Anthony Schoettle reports in the latest edition of IBJ that the effort by local tourism officials to land the mammoth event began more than a decade ago. Also this week, Chris O'Malley explores charges by some investors in Angie's List that the consumer review service has significantly changed its business model and concealed fundamental obstacles to reaching a profit. And in A&E, Lou Harry reviews the IRT's take on three short stories by Kurt Vonnegut.
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City beat steep odds to land NRA convention
City tourism officials worked for years to bring second-largest convention ever to Indianapolis.
Read MoreExperts see limits to state’s low-tax strategy
Thanks to a concerted effort to lower taxes and government spending, Indiana ousted Texas this year in the Tax Foundation’s annual ranking of business tax climates. Indiana now holds the No. 10 spot and could rise higher by eliminating the business personal property tax, an equipment tax that experts say deters investment.
Read MoreFalling reimbursements force Roche to innovate
U.S. sales are plunging for Roche Diagnostics Corp. and its fellow makers of diabetes-care devices because of lower reimbursements from the federal Medicare program. In five years, two of the four largest companies will have sold or closed their diabetes businesses, according to two industry analysts.
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Angie’s List business model faces new heat
At least two investor lawsuits note that the company now generates the vast majority of its revenue from the service providers it's paying members to review.
Read MorePacers on track to post best attendance in 13 years
The NBA season isn’t supposed to start in earnest until after the Super Bowl. But the Indiana Pacers this season didn’t wait until an NFL champion was crowned to go red hot—on and off the court.
Read More$80M project on tap for Keystone at the Crossing
A local developer plans to build a hotel, apartments, offices and retail space on the last two vacant parcels in Keystone at the Crossing.
Read MoreMall giant Simon beating back perceptions of Internet threat
Brick-and-mortar retailers experienced a rough holiday season, and the doldrums continued through January—fueling hand-wringing among investors and other observers over whether the Internet has permanently diminished the American shopping mall.
Read MoreLilly’s path to redemption: Turn new drugs into sales
This year will be ugly for Eli Lilly and Co., after the recent loss of two blockbusters, but it also gives Lilly an opportunity it hasn’t really had for nearly a decade: grow sales and profit by launching new drugs.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
National Rifle Association convention debuts in Indy
Businesses are scrambling to decide how to cater to the massive confab.
Read MoreROSENTRAUB: Indiana State Fairgrounds destination hurts downtown Indianapolis
The recovery accelerated a disappointing pattern. Regional economic growth and activity are increasingly moving to the suburbs.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Roll out red carpet for NRA confab
Few trade groups are more polarizing, so city officials, the local hospitality industry and the NRA itself have all been remarkably low-key about the group’s upcoming visit.
Read MoreMORRIS: Strong work ethic is key to finding a job
You can usually tell from a candidate’s past how dedicated they’ll be as an employee.
Read MoreMADDOX: Wolves are still at Gramma’s door
In the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Jordan Belfort, disgraced broker and owner of the now-defunct brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont, is portrayed by Oscar-nominated actor Leonardo DiCaprio as over-the-top good looking, witty and motivational. Belfort, if we are to believe what we see in the film, is a phenomenal salesman—a self-made man committed to making lots of money for himself and his friends.
Read MoreKENNEDY: Thinking outside the bank
Let me begin with a caveat: I’m no expert on financial services or the economics of banking. Like most middle-class Americans, my interactions with banking are all decidedly “retail”—checking and savings accounts, mortgages and car loans.
Read MoreMuch of ambitious legislative agenda remains alive
Despite concerns that debating a constitutional amendment defining marriage would rip our state apart, that didn’t happen and the General Assembly has proven quite productive—as well as judicious in deciding what issues not to become entangled in during the “short” session.
Read MoreSkarbeck: Analysts’ quarterly focus can lead investors astray
Wall Street analysts are notorious for their short-term attention spans. This leads to undue scrutiny of a company’s quarterly figures and can lead to poor decisions by investors.
Read MoreHicks: Sustainable middle class now built on work
America’s middle class was first built upon an unsustainable combination of low-productivity, high-wage jobs in large factories. The second half of the 20th century saw a different middle class emerge, with workers across many industries applying high-value-added human capital to the production of goods and increasingly services.
Read MoreEmpower parents with education
In “Pushing back against education ‘reform’” [Jan. 20 Forefront], Doug Masson seems to lump innovations such as charter schools in with vouchers and derides both.
Read MoreArgument was selective
Sheila Suess Kennedy should not have endorsed the Christian Theological Seminary president’s position [Jan. 27] even though his conclusion is the one she prefers.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Weaver Popcorn picks Whitestown for new HQ, production line
The firm plans to move its headquarters from Noblesville to the AllPoints at Anson development in Whitestown, where it expects to spend $18 million to add a production line and 40 jobs.
Read MoreAd agency Willow Marketing adds jobs
Indianapolis ad agency Willow Marketing has hired eight more employees since mid-2013, bringing its head count to 21. The jobs range from graphic designers to video producers to project coordinators. Even modest hiring in the public relations/marketing/advertising industry is notable given agency downsizings during the economic downturn, when many clients slashed their ad budgets. The […]
Read MoreCapital Center honored as outstanding building
Capital Center, a downtown twin-office-tower complex, has been honored with The Outstanding Building of the Year award for central Indiana by the Building Owners and Managers Association.
Read MoreBack to the future: Speedway to host vintage-car race event
The track has scheduled yet another new event for 2014. The move is bound to draw criticism from traditionalists who think Speedway officials are diluting the venue’s heritage by bringing in so many extra races.
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