JUNE 2-8, 2014
Indianapolis author John Green isn't a businessman, per se, but he's practically an industry unto himself. In this issue, IBJ's Lou Harry examines the blockbuster sales of Green's "The Fault in Our Stars," the prospects for the movie version (opening June 6), and Green's mastery of social media and multimedia to create a motivated fan base. Also this week, Scott Olson reports on the hops shortage threatening local breweries. And J.K. Wall explains how IU Health's Saxony hospital is finding ways to cut costs and improve outcomes with a focus on care coordination.>
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Pedcor angling for $16M subsidy for City Center expansion
Preliminary plans call for starting work on a parking garage and as many as three mixed-use buildings this fall, with another half-dozen projects in the pipeline.
Read MoreIndy’s Evolution: Johnson County steps up growth chase
The county south of Indianapolis was king of the suburbs in the 1970s, but now has fallen far behind Hamilton to the north in population and income, and in recent years slipped behind Hendricks County to the west.
Read MoreAuthor John Green sees earnings boost as movie debut nears
Indianapolis author John Green has sold more than 10.7 million copies of his novel “The Fault in Our Stars,” suggesting royalty earnings of more than $6 million, before the movie deal and merchandise sales.
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Surge in craft breweries strains hops supply
Hops, used as a flavoring agent, are in high demand by microbreweries that need the crop to give their pale ales and other varieties more taste than what’s found in traditional mass-market beers.
Read MoreOperator of lottery stands by lofty goals
Gtech Indiana says it can generate unprecedented growth by focusing on the basics. Rather than trying to add new types of games or turning to Internet gambling, the company plans a slightly different mix of games and a whole lot more opportunities for Hoosiers to buy them.
Read MorePolitical conventions fell short on return on investment
Daunting scheduling and fundraising challenges led city officials to walk away from opportunities to bid on the 2016 national conventions for both Republicans and Democrats, but the city’s latest Super Bowl setback might make the 2020 political conventions alluring.
Read MoreHHGregg’s board is bullish, but analysts remain skittish
The company scarfed up $49 million of its stock under a buyback program that ran from May 2013 to May 2014. And last month, the company launched a new buyback program, this one for $40 million.
Read MoreMailer quoting Giuliani targets Indy water-line woes
Indianapolis homeowners have received a scare-sell insurance pitch about their water-service lines that appears to carry the endorsement of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Teamwork transforming care at IU Health’s Saxony hospital
Getting everyone into the same room prior to surgeries is cutting costs and improving health.
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EDITORIAL: Party conventions not an easy call
Count us among those who are skeptical the attendance and media exposure the big political parties draw are worth the cost.
Read MoreMORRIS: Let’s ‘show up and perform’ for vets
A Hoosier veteran says the state could do a better job of honoring those who have served.
Read MoreMUTZ: Growth is answer to GOP agenda
It’s time for Republicans to stop playing defense on President Obama’s agenda and implement our own pro-growth agenda that solves the country’s biggest problems—the economy and jobs—then reap the political rewards.
Read MoreKENNEDY: A rose by any other name
What was that line from Romeo and Juliet? “That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Read MoreSkarbeck: Trillions raised, invested by private equity players
An estimated 2,700 private equity firms manage some $3.5 trillion in assets. Often called “buyout firms,” they solicit investments from pension funds and other well-heeled investors that are pooled into “funds” and used to acquire public and private companies.
Read MoreHicks: Income inequality tied to capital investments
French economist Thomas Piketty’s new book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” is far and away one of the most important books on the economy in some time.
Read MoreRACE: Old shopping centers don’t have to be heat islands
Here’s how we can mitigate the damage being done by the city’s acres of asphalt.
Read MoreRepeal 17th Amendment to restore balance
This year, I authored legislation that would have rescinded Indiana’s approval of the 17th Amendment. The 17th Amendment, adopted in 1913, requires U.S. senators to be elected by popular vote rather than by state legislatures. Doug Masson [May 19 Forefront] argued that this would be a bad idea, but he missed most of the story.
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Longtime Barnes & Thornburg leader stepping down
Alan Levin will relinquish his role as Barnes & Thornburg’s managing partner in November to Robert Grand, who leads the firm’s Indianapolis office. Levin has led the firm for 17 years.
Read MoreOurHealth to add employer clinics, 450 jobs by 2018
The 5-year-old firm has pledged to invest $20 million to double the size of its corporate headquarters in Indianapolis and lease real estate for a series of 3,500-square-foot health clinics across the state.
Read MoreBig-rig seller Stoops to unload six-location dealership
Stoops Freightliner, an Indianapolis truck and trailer dealer, has agreed to sell to a larger dealership after more than 25 years in business. Owner Jeff Stoops grew it into a $323 million firm with 563 employees.
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