IndyGo to use $10M grant for all-electric buses
IndyGo will use a $10 million federal grant to convert 22 city buses to all-electric power. Each bus will cost about $550,000 to convert and will have a range of about 100 miles.
Kathleen McLaughlin
Articles
Combatants draw partisan distinctions in debate over sheriff’s budget
The Marion County sheriff can’t control the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but Mayor Greg Ballard can’t tell the sheriff how to operate jails or secure the City-County Building, and, much to his frustration, he’s been unable to control the sheriff’s spending.
New Indy Chamber chief Huber broadens group’s agenda
Michael Huber is about to step out from behind the curtain. As CEO of the Indy Chamber, he’ll be the face of the metro area’s largest business membership organization, rather than the brains behind top city initiatives.
New school to anchor Central State project
The first new non-residential building at the former Central State Hospital campus, at the corner of West Washington Street and Tibbs Avenue, will be a charter school. Christel House Academy West broke ground last month on about nine acres donated by the city.
State pension fund’s performance falls short of target
With more money in bonds than in publicly traded stocks, Indiana’s $27.1 billion pension fund took a beating in the Bernanke sell-off and closed the fiscal year short of its targeted return.
Special Report: City’s building spree leaves trail of spoils
Mayor Greg Ballard takes pride in Rebuild Indy, the city’s nearly $400 million program that doubled the volume of public works projects—and became engineering and construction firms’ largest business opportunity with the city in more than a decade.
Former Ballard deputy Huber to lead Indy Chamber
Michael Huber will replace Scott Miller, who resigned this year to pursue his own business consulting practice. Huber will leave his role as senior director of commercial enterprise for Indianapolis International Airport.
Amtrak service, local maintenance facility in danger
Indianapolis will lose regular passenger rail service to Chicago and possibly a major employment center if the state declines to take over a federal subsidy for Amtrak after Oct. 1.
Ballard again targets homestead credit in latest budget proposal
Mayor Greg Ballard will introduce a $1 billion budget for 2014 Monday night that chops the Marion County Sheriff’s spending and once again hinges on a complicated reshuffling of tax revenue.
UPDATE: City plans to borrow $135M to keep up Rebuild Indy
City officials said Thursday that they intend to spend $350 million over the next three years to improve streets, sidewalks, trails and bridges. More than a third would come from a proposed bond issue.
City plans to borrow $135M for Rebuild Indy
City officials said Thursday that they intend to spend $350 million over the next three years to improve streets, sidewalks, trails and bridges. More than a third would come from a proposed bond issue.
Sugarland insurer sues state fair over stage collapse
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. is suing the state and Indiana State Fair Commission over losses from instruments and sound equipment that was damaged in the Aug. 13, 2011, stage collapse.
Goldsmith: ‘Big data’ to reinvent government
While some Americans question the National Security Agency’s habit of amassing citizens’ phone records, former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith urges city governments to dive into “big data.”
City officials mull income tax hike to add police officers
Facing pressure to boost the police force and avoid further cuts in city services, Indianapolis leaders head into the next budget season with open minds about a tax increase.
Mass-transit planners unveil proposed route details
Central Indiana’s mass-transit planners unveiled detailed route information for the first time Wednesday and say a series of open-house meetings in August will be the public’s last chance to request changes before final recommendations.
Battery maker EnerDel lays off 65 workers
Lacking production contracts, struggling battery maker EnerDel Inc. has once again downsized its Indianapolis-area work force.
Airport wants to smooth over artwork controversy
The Indianapolis Airport Authority decided Friday morning to spend $105,000 on a new piece of public art by James Wille Faust. The authority created controversy in 2011 when it removed another piece by Faust from a prominent spot in the airport.
Developer F&C’s ‘bold statement’ could finally solve MSA puzzle
City incentives and a strong apartment market suggest Flaherty & Collins’ proposed $81 million, 28-story downtown apartment tower has a better chance of getting built than two previous attempts to redevelop the former site of Market Square Arena.
Shelbyville sees spark of revival downtown
A homegrown revival in Shelbyville could gain serious momentum with redevelopment of the vacant First Methodist Building, one of the most prominent buildings on the circle. A California investor bought the five-story building in May and plans a $3.5 million renovation.
Firm passed over for Ball State planetarium cries foul
Bowen Technovation President Jeff Bowen says the university unfairly favored his Florida-based competitor to install a sophisticated audio-visual system for its new planetarium, but Ball State maintains there was nothing wrong with its process for awarding the nearly $2 million contract.