Articles

Muncie rezoning land for mystery bio-life project

The Metropolitan Plan Commission in Muncie last night unanimously approved rezoning 35 acres for a life science facility that would cost $70 million and create up to 170 jobs. However, the identity of the company or organization planning the project wasn’t made public, according to The Star-Press of Muncie. Speculation is circulating in the city […]

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State budget czar takes position at Baker & Daniels

Chuck Schalliol, the state’s first budget director, will join Baker & Daniels next month, the Indianapolis law firm said today. The former Eli Lilly and Co. executive and BioCrossroads president, who is trained as a lawyer, will focus on life sciences, venture capital and corporate finance.

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Biomet accepts sweetened offer, two execs retire

A group of private equity firms has upped its offer to buy Biomet Inc. after a Maryland shareholder advisory firm urged shareholders to reject the original bid of $10.9 billion. Biomet said today it accepted the $11.4 billion offer from LVB Acquisition LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co., Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group. The […]

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Poindexter injuries stop work at Honda site

Minor injuries sustained by Poindexter Excavating Inc. employees on Friday resulted in the Indianapolis company stopping site work at the Honda Motor Co. assembly plant at Greensburg until Tuesday. A piece of equipment hit a truck, although the exact cause couldn’t be determined, according to the Greensburg Daily News. Work has resumed on the $550 […]

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Finish Line expects loss as same-store sales drop

First-quarter sales at stores open at least a year fell 3.9 percent for Finish Line, the Indianapolis shoe and clothing retailer reported today. However, its Man Alive stores saw a 0.6-percent increase. Finish Line said it anticipates reporting a loss of 9 to 11 cents per share when it reports on June 28 financial results […]

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Shelby County won’t pay into metro planning group

Commissioners in Shelby County have voted unanimously to not pay $1,431 in matching funds to Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization. One commissioner, Tony Newton, told the Shelbyville News that Marion and Hamilton counties “created their own problems up there, and they are trying to get other counties to bail them out.” The organization, which is studying […]

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Rezoning sought to build 228-acre Hancock industrial park

Verus Partners LLC of Rosemont, Ill., has filed a request to ask the Hancock County Area Plan Commission to rezone 228 acres near Mount Comfort Airport to light industrial from institutional. The Chicago-area commercial real estate development company said the property no longer fits into the airport’s long-term plans, and that it wants to launch […]

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BREAKING: Lauth settles casino feud, agrees to sell stake

The warring partners in the $382 million French Lick Resort and Casino are parting ways. Locally based Lauth Property Group has agreed to sell its 50-percent interest in the venture to an affiliate of Bloomington billionaire Bill Cook, the companies announced Wednesday night. The deal would give Cook affiliates full ownership of French Lick Resort […]

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First Indiana boots external auditor KPMG

First Indiana Corp., the parent of First Indiana Bank, has fired KPMG LLP as its external auditor and hired BKD LLP, the bank said today. There was no disagreement with KPMG that would have resulted in a reference in financial statements for either 2005 or 2006, the bank said in a statement. Spokeswoman Beth Copeland […]

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Airport Adams Mark hotel bought by Oxford Lodging

San Francisco-based Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group said today it has bought the 407-room Adams Mark Hotel on Executive Drive near Indianapolis International Airport for an undisclosed price. Other Adams Mark properties acquired by Oxford from St. Louis-headquartered HBE Corp. are in St. Louis, Denver, Dallas and Buffalo, N.Y. The deal, which is expected […]

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General manager named for struggling Columbia Club

The Columbia Club has hired Maarten van Wijk as general manager and chief operating officer to replace Edward Albany. Albany stepped down early this year after the not-for-profit hired a St. Louis consulting firm to help it reverse declining membership and other problems. Van wijk was general manager of the Four-Star Mobile award Hotel Hershey […]

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Toll road operator declines to pay fire departments

Associated Press The costs of responding to crashes on the Indiana Toll Road have some local fire departments asking the highway’s private operator to help pay the bill. The toll road company, though, said it would not change its stance that the departments should be seeking money from those responsible for the crashes. A chain-reaction […]

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Arson investigators looking into garage fire

Investigators say a garage fire on Boyd Avenue on the southeast side of Indianapolis early this morning is suspicious. It is the latest of several fires along the Raymond Street corridor. Meanwhile, Robert Green, whom police believe is connected to at least one fire in the area, is scheduled to appear in court today. Watch […]

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Perry superintendent court case continues

A hearing to determine if two Perry Township school board members can vote on the superintendent’s future continues today. Superintendent Doug Williams has asked a federal judge to prevent the members from voting on his contract. Williams says he’s being denied due process because they have made up their minds about his fate.

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Agency awaiting details on pipeline plans

The company planning to build a natural gas pipeline across central Indiana said it was working to provide details to a federal agency so it can gain approval for the project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week sent its fourth letter in five months to Rockies Express seeking environmental information and project details necessary […]

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Overnight shooting critically injures man

Police are searching for two men in connection with an overnight shooting on Colorado Avenue on the near-northeast side. A man was shot multiple times while unloading groceries and is in critical condition.

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Patrick to exit interior-door business

Patrick Industries Inc. has warned 44 workers that they might be laid off because of plans to close an Elkhart plant that makes interior doors for RVs and motor homes, according to the South Bend Tribune. Elkhart-based Patrick has 1,000 workers supplying the RV industry.

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STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S IBJ

ITT boss rose fast Youthful-looking Kevin Modany has huge shoes to fill after taking over as ITT Educational Services Inc.’s chief executive for Rene Champagne, who retired. Refunds taken off hold The state’s 30 or so independent payphone operators may begin receiving refunds next month from AT&T Indiana and Verizon for excess charges the phone […]

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