FEB. 10-16, 2023
Neighbors of the Marion County Fairgrounds are calling for an outside audit of the Fair board based on allegations of misused public funds for political purposes. Taylor Wooten has the story. Also in this week’s issue, Sam Stall examines the growing problem of construction-site theft. And Dave Lindquist shines a spotlight on the rise of the Brown County Music Center, which is building a reputation for its pristine sound and hospitable vibe for national acts.
Front PageBack to Top
Critics call for audit of county fair board
Several neighbors denied entry to a Marion County Fair board meeting want city-county government to stop supplementing the private organization’s budget until the fair’s leadership agrees to an outside audit.
Read MoreBrown County venue draws stars, sold-out shows
The off-the-beaten-path Brown County Music Center has become a favorite of headlining acts and concertgoers.
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Marijuana backers prepping for ‘inevitable’ legalization
Supporters say Indiana is missing out on a valuable opportunity by remaining one of only 13 states without a medical or adult-use cannabis program.
Read MoreBuilders say construction-site theft is ‘rampant’
The people who do the stealing range from individuals committing small-time, spur-of-the-moment thefts to organized crews who go from state to state, hitting construction sites and then blowing town.
Read MoreDerek Schultz: They could be giants
While highly regarded heading into the 2022-2023 campaign, the Giants didn’t have a blue-chip prospect like defending champion Cathedral’s Xavier Booker (the No. 8 player in the class of 2023, according to 247Sports.com), nor the recent pedigree of Carmel (two 4A championships in three state-finals appearances since 2018), to lean on, but what they did have is experience, depth and a healthy dose of athleticism.
Read MoreArchitect hopes to build on momentum along White River on downtown’s west side
As envisioned by Stephen Alexander, the partially redeveloped area west of the White River would be known as Stockyards District. Indianapolis-based Hotel Tango Distillery is in the process of relocating and consolidating its production, warehousing, and fulfillment operations to the area.
Read MoreIPS moving ahead with part of Rebuilding Stronger plan
Indianapolis Public Schools plans to implement only part of its massive Rebuilding Stronger overhaul after the school board failed to place an operating referendum on the upcoming May ballot.
Read MoreRegenstrief Institute hires epidemiology, research expert as CEO
Dr. Rachel Patzer, director of the Health Services Research Center at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, will join Regenstrief Institute on May 1.
Read MoreProposal advances for Indiana driving cards for illegal immigrants
A state Senate committee voted 5-4 to endorse the bill, a step that comes after similar proposals introduced over the past decade never advanced in the Republican-dominated Legislature.
Read MoreIndiana lawmakers look to broaden birth control access
While Indiana’s abortion ban is on hold pending a decision from the state Supreme Court, lawmakers are looking to bolster services that would prevent those pregnancies in the first place.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
MPS offers first carbon-neutral eggs for U.S. consumer market
North Manchester-based MPS Egg Farms employs roughly 600 people and keeps 12.1 million laying hens, which produce 9 million eggs per day for distribution across the United States.
Read MoreAmy Waite: What ‘navigable waters’ definition means for Indiana agriculture
The scope of federal jurisdiction under the law has long been a challenge for farms, ranches and other agribusinesses.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
Editorial: Legislature needs to fix poor oversight of problem bars
It’s disturbing just how much work needs to be done to improve safety on the Indianapolis bar scene. And there’s plenty of blame to go around.
Read MoreLesley Weidenbener: Not an IBJ honoree? You didn’t lose.
About 260 people were nominated for Forty Under 40 this year. That means the judges could pick only about 15% of the nominees.
Read MoreDavid Barrett: Preserving affordable housing is a shared responsibility
With 72% of extremely low-income Hoosiers spending more than half their income on housing, Indiana is the Midwestern state with the highest housing-cost burden for the lowest-income residents.
Read MoreDr. David R. Diaz and Dr. Brian S. Hart: To bring costs down, keep physicians in charge of care
The notion of reducing costs by turning to less-experienced providers is seductive. But studies find these changes have pushed costs up instead of down.
Read MoreKim and Todd Saxton: The power of inflection points in your venture journey
Losing a key team member or a major customer, or having a product fail in the field, can lead to significant declines in revenue, customer trust and optimism.
Read MorePete the Planner: Life changes? Go see your financial planner—now
You listed nine instances in which you should have reconnected with your financial adviser. You are zero for nine.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: In war, looking at wrong things can bring defeat
If you look at the wrong things, such as how many enemy soldiers are killed, measures such as “cost-effectiveness” can become misleading.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Weezer, Jason Isbell to headline WonderRoad festival
Other acts announced for the second-year event include Local Natives, Marcus King, Coin, Tegan and Sara and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Read MoreState senator from Indianapolis removed from committee
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray made the move public Monday in the latest chapter of a rocky relationship with Sen. Michael Young.
Read MoreDoden shakes up gubernatorial campaign by hiring former Disney actress
Caroline Sunshine, 27, is best known for her role as Tinka Hessenheffer opposite Zendaya and Bella Thorne on the Disney Channel dance-focused sitcom “Shake it Up.”
Read MoreScarlet Lane Brewing to take over Black Acre’s Irvington tap room
Horror-themed Scarlet Lane Brewing Co. LLC revealed plans this weekend to open a tap room and hamburger restaurant in Irvington.
Read MoreDoc B’s Restaurant opens at Fashion Mall at Keystone
The 5,600-square-foot restaurant at 8702 Keystone Crossing is Doc B’s first location in Indiana.
Read MoreForefrontBack to Top
Sen. Brian Buchanan: Parents should have choice in educational options
By expanding the ESA program to allow more families to participate, we can ensure that Hoosier children have even more opportunities to be successful in school.
Read MoreKeith Gambill: School choice is a lie. Parents know it.
A recent Indiana Department of Education and Gallup survey showed that 88% of Hoosier parents are satisfied with the quality of their child’s school.
Read MoreDr. Richard Feldman: Nurse practitioners are not the same as physicians
Physicians value their APRN colleagues but have long believed they should be part of a health care team led by a physician.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: Bail is major obstacle to reducing violent crime
Those with money, such as drug dealers, can afford to post whatever bail is set and continue to terrorize their communities while awaiting trial.
Read MoreDana Black: More police reform is needed to protect Blacks
If good cops hate bad cops, then why don’t they put them in check? Because they can’t. It’s the culture.
Read MoreJim Shella: Noncompete clauses need to be eliminated
I’m watching intently because I have seen firsthand how employers benefit and workers are held back by the use of the noncompete clauses.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner Chartier: Here’s what to expect at the Statehouse this year
Are there circumstances that cause an issue to jump from something … in the background to something that’s having its moment?
Read MoreClaire Fiddian-Green: We must increase FAFSA completion to boost economy
Indiana’s current FAFSA completion rate is 32.5%, which ranks 35th nationally.
Read MoreCurt Smith: Vivek Ramaswamy is a rising conservative star
Whatever venues he chooses, Ramaswamy is a future force for conservative values and views.”
Read MoreKaren Celestino-Horseman: Call me woke. History has valuable lessons to teach us.
I miss the days of civil politicians such as Richard Lugar, Lee Hamilton, Evan Bayh and Mitch Daniels.
Read MorePierre Atlas: Acknowledging reality is not being ‘woke’
Banning DEI might score points in the culture wars, but it won’t erase the facts or the legacy of America’s history.
Read MoreBrian Schutt: A recession might be right time to take the plunge
The reality is, constraints can be a catalyst for creativity. Or as the cliche goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
Read MoreBrad Rateike: Mark and DeLaine Emmert are all class
Being a good neighbor is difficult to fake, and they were great neighbors.
Read MoreUna Osili: We need to track racial-equity progress, keep going
Tyre Nichols’ brutal death at the hands of those charged with protecting him reminds us of the tragic burden of stalled reforms.
Read MoreMarshawn Wolley: I’m eyeing the future this Black History Month
We have the potential to have multiple Black candidates for mayor in this municipal election cycle.
Read MoreShariq Siddiqui: What we can learn from other global communities
Training highly diverse audiences globally requires a special skill set that goes beyond scientific knowledge and professional curriculums.
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