IUPUI’s student diversity quest sees wins, challenges
About a third of IUPUI’s freshmen this year are minorities, the most in the university’s history, after officials made a concerted effort to increase the number of under-represented students.
Samm Quinn
Articles
Disparity study says minority, woman-owned businesses underutilized in city contracting
The city of Indianapolis released a study Thursday that looks at disparities minority-owned businesses face as part of the city’s business-contracting processes.
City to consider purchase of Blue Indy’s assets
The city of Indianapolis will have up to 90 days after Blue Indy ceases operations in May to decide whether to purchase the electric-car-sharing service’s assets
More students return to college, but not as many as the state hoped
The state’s “You can. Go back.” campaign aims to shore up the number of Hoosier adults with either a college degree or a high-quality training certificate. In 2015, the commission set a lofty goal for the campaign: It wanted to see 200,000 adults with some post-secondary education go back to school and earn a degree by 2020.
Can a city battle climate change? Indianapolis wants to find out.
A plan drafted by the city’s Office of Sustainability—and a commission the City-County Council is forming—aim to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Circle City.
Council Republicans to introduce proposal to study violent crime in Indianapolis
The proposal comes after police investigated 154 criminal homicides in 2019—five lower than the record set in 2018—and an increase in the number of non-fatal shooting victims.
Hogsett unveils tenant protection initiative, aims to cut down evictions
Under Hogsett’s proposed initiative, $250,000 of new funding would be allocated toward increasing resources for tenants. The city will work in partnership with Indiana Legal Services to provide free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income residents.
Develop Indy: Deals reached in 2019 expected to create 4,000 jobs
Indianapolis’ economic development agency negotiated 67 relocation or expansion projects in 2019, the city announced Tuesday.
Former city controller Qaddoura takes gig at Katz Sapper & Miller
The position was created for former City of Indianapolis Controller Fady Qaddoura, who announced in November that he was leaving his job with the city, where he had worked for four years.
IEDC says 2019 deals created fewer jobs, but more investment, higher wages
The state’s lead economic development agency announced Monday that it secured nearly 300 development deals in 2019 that are expected to result in more than 27,000 new jobs.
Indianapolis Democrats want to study impact of climate change on city
A City-County Council proposal introduced Friday calls for the creation of a year-long commission to take stock of climate-change effects and make recommendations to address them.
Children’s museum reports record attendance in 2019
New exhibits such as “PAW Patrol Adventure Play” helped the museum trump its previous record-breaking tally in 2009, when it featured a King Tut exhibit and the launch of “Take Me There: Egypt.”
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW: Big year for Hogsett, Buttigieg and Dems in Boone, Hamilton counties
Despite no state or federal elections in 2019, Indianapolis and its suburbs made plenty of political news. Voters across the state cast ballots in municipal elections, re-electing Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett plus three Hamilton County mayors. The year also brought plenty of 2020 news.
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW: IPS picks its new superintendent from within school district
Aleesia Johnson, a longtime ally of charter schools, was named superintendent of the state’s largest school district—Indianapolis Public Schools—in June, after filling the job on an interim basis for several months.
City promotes chief information officer to controller
Ken Clark, who joined the city’s Information Services Agency in 2013, will replace controller Fady Qaddoura, who is stepping down from the position at the end of the year.
Plan to house homeless off to slow start
It’s been more than two years since the city and state chose four developers to build 500 affordable housing units—including some reserved for people experiencing homelessness.
Fresh baby food maker plans first retail shop in Castleton
The shop in Castleton is expected to open in March and will sell fresh baby food plus merchandise for both babies and mothers. The company also offers baby food subscription boxes.
Program that gives residents rides to groceries expands to city’s west side
The Lyft Grocery Access pilot program, which launched on the city’s far-east side in July, will now serve residents living in the area bounded by 42nd Street on the north, St. Clair Street on the south, Meridian Street on the east and Riverside Drive on the west.
Merged not-for-profit group to push redevelopment out to townships
Renew Indianapolis will merge with the King Park Development Corp. on Jan. 1.
Q&A with Connie Bond Stuart, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership chairwoman
Connie Bond Stuart, PNC Bank’s regional president of central and southern Indiana, says CICP is unlike any other organization in the country.