NOVEMBER 16-22, 2015
The FBI probe of American Senior Communities LLC has thrust into prominence the Jackson family—the intensely private clan that controls the state’s largest nursing home company. J.K. Wall scores a rare interview with family members to discuss their interconnected businesses and how they developed. Also in this week’s issue, Lindsey Erdody examines how the planned Ikea could change Fishers. And in A&E Etc., Mike Lopresti tries to make sense of the Colts’ season so far.
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FBI probe puts private Jackson family in spotlight
The family's American Senior Communities is the dominant nursing home company in Indiana, with 94 long-term care facilities.
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Outgoing Mayor Ballard’s new mission: energy security
Ballard is trying to spark a national conversation about how America’s dependence on oil is killing our troops—and how we can fix it.
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From small-town perch, mobile carnival firm leads industry
Farmland-based North American Midway Entertainment stages about 150 events a year, reaching 15 million people.
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Hotels, retailers expected to follow Ikea to Fishers
Hundreds of acres of undeveloped land surround the 35-acre site the popular Swedish home furnishing company selected—land now ripe for new projects. And in other communities, hotels, restaurants, retailers and even tech companies have followed Ikea stores.
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Outside banks nab deposits in Indy
Several out-of-town community banks have launched a full-court press on Indianapolis over the past decade and are seeing solid traction. Experts say they’re coming here because per-capita income and populations in their own back yards are growing more slowly and, in some cases, even declining.
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Woodruff Place neighborhood OKs tax to repair historic features
Residents in the neighborhood have created an Economic Improvement District—a tactic that the trendier neighborhoods of Fountain Square and Mass Ave have not been able to accomplish.
Read MoreCity-County Council gives go-ahead to 16 Tech bonds
The City-County Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve $75 million in bonds for infrastructure improvements that should allow development of the 16 Tech innovation district to move forward.
Read MoreState lawmaker floats pension alternative for new teachers
A key state lawmaker says he plans to sponsor a bill in the next legislative session that would allow new teachers to choose a retirement program similar to a 401(k) plan instead of the traditional pension system.
Read MoreCBRE’s three-year courtship of Sitehawk pays off
After becoming managing director in 2010 of the local CBRE office, John Merrill knew he needed to do something to improve the firm’s retail services. He soon set his sights on market leader Sitehawk.
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Groups push Pence to work on state energy plan as court considers EPA rule
There is a growing sentiment here among key energy leaders—even from those who oppose the EPA plan—that the state should develop its own compliance plan that focuses on realistic strategies to decrease carbon emissions and diversify its energy mix.
Read MoreSurviving U.S. power plants will help keep coal demand steady through 2016
Power plants with a total of 23 gigawatts of coal-burning capacity will close this year as utilities strive to meet federal limits on mercury and other air toxins but American will still use 773 million tons of coal in 2016, the same as this year.
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EDITORIAL: Others must fill Amos Brown void
Indiana needs that advocacy to come from a group of black leaders—men and women with diverse thoughts and ideas about solving problems in our communities.
Read MoreMORRIS: Downtown no longer good for cars
Bus lanes, parking lanes and bike lanes make stretches of road hazardous for all.
Read MoreKENNEDY: Now comes the hard part–governing
How will mayor-elect Joe Hogsett and the new City-County Council provide even the most basic public services, from public safety to paving streets to picking up trash, in the face of steady erosion of the resources needed to deliver those services?
Read MoreMcROBBIE: University research never more crucial
With its $300 million Grand Challenges program, Indiana University has joined a growing number of American universities committing major funding to tackling urgent, real-world problems.
Read MoreHUBER: Indy region needs Regional Cities lift
There’s no “manifest destiny” for Indianapolis. We aren’t sharing in the national migration of talent to metropolitan America. We lag most other large regions in population growth, including peers like Nashville, Denver and Columbus.
Read MoreSMARTT: Health disparities among Amos’ many causes
Before his untimely death, Amos Brown used his media pulpit to raise awareness among minority populations about their elevated risks of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Read MoreBOHANON & STYRING: Shed the thought that Social Security is a right
Want to get a group of retirees riled up? Tell them their Social Security benefits are welfare benefits.
Read MoreSKARBECK: Wall Street activists’ antics create carnival atmosphere
Reality TV has come to Wall Street. This drama is centered on Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and the players are activist investors led by the self-important Bill Ackman, gobs of other hedge funds and short-sellers.
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Frankfort bank CEO dies after battle with cancer
Karen Miller, CEO of The Farmers Bank of Frankfort, died Nov. 6 after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 60.
Read MoreDickson announces spring retirement from state high court
Brent Dickson, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 in July, was appointed to the Supreme Court in January 1986 and served as chief justice from May 2012 to August 2014.
Read MoreArea builders see third straight rise in monthly sales
Area home builders saw a 9 percent increase in buyers in October, according to the latest permit numbers from the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.
Read MoreWISH-TV launches news-gathering drone
The drone, called AVI8OR, is the first federally-sanctioned quadcopter aircraft cleared for media use in Indiana, WISH announced Tuesday.
Read MoreNew business group to promote Indiana LGBT protections
The group calling itself Indiana Competes includes the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and will lobby the General Assembly to adopt protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: Allison Transmission Holdings Inc.
Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. designs and manufactures commercial and military fully automatic transmissions and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses.
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