FEBRUARY 17-23, 2014
This week, Chris O'Malley reveals a new niche opening up in weather forecasting that could make the future of TV meteorologists more gloomy—Internet-based independent forecasters who provide more detailed data, sometimes for a price. Also in this issue, Dan HUman explains how a lack of infrastructure is bottlenecking Indiana's wind-powered energy market. And in A&E, Lou Harry takes the temperature of new Fountain Square nightspot Thunderbird.
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Pence cracks door to electricity deregulation
The Pence administration is discussing whether to include electric-utility deregulation in a new state energy policy, making Indiana one of the few states since California’s electricity crisis to consider opening its market to competition.
Read MoreZionsville sticks with big-box ban despite growth push
Even as retail development continues to proliferate just outside Zionsville’s borders, town officials say they remain committed to an 8-year-old zoning ordinance banning big-box stores.
Read MoreInternet-based weather forecasters offer bolder, more detailed outlooks
A posse of Internet-based prognosticators is offering not just forecasts but sometimes even mounds of data left open to interpretation.
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Symbol of Durham’s opulence heading for a sheriff’s sale
Tim Durham’s 10,700-square-foot Geist home has languished on the market for years with an asking price of $5.5 million.
Read MoreFirst family gives TLC to little-used Brown County cabin
The Pence administration has overseen the six-figure renovation of a Brown County cabin that one political observer calls Indiana’s Camp David.
Read MoreNursing home profits surge as owners seek moratorium
Nearly two-thirds of the state’s nursing homes are now participating in partnerships with county-owned hospitals that effectively double their profit margins.
Read MoreIncoming OneAmerica chief has big goals for growth
As Scott Davison steps into the shoes of OneAmerica’s retiring CEO Dayton Molendorp, who led a massive expansion of the company in recent years, he’ll be challenged to keep growing pains at a minimum.
Read MoreEx-Marcadia execs raise $1.7M to launch drug firm
Fritz French and Richard DiMarchi, the former leaders of Marcadia Biotech, have teamed up to launch the diabetes drug development firm Calibrium LLC.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Bottleneck bedevils Indiana’s mighty wind turbines
Lack of transmission lines keeps green energy from flowing to the Midwest.
Read MoreRockport plant might not be dead, after all
A controversial power plant planned for southern Indiana has quickly and quietly moved forward after developers said they no longer planned to pursue the project.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Don’t isolate heart of criminal justice
Most everyone agrees that a core function of government is justice—to accurately determine guilt or innocence of the accused and to carry out appropriate punishment.
Read MoreMAURER: Hoosier bigotry has real-life consequences
Let’s elect legislators who recognize the damage that can be done by measures like HJR-3.
Read MoreFEIGENBAUM: Revenue forecast, cold weather complicate budget
The gubernatorial legislative agenda came with a heavy price tag even as Mike Pence declared the $2 billion state surplus off limits.
Read MoreRUSTHOVEN: Obama’s shifting sands of definitions
When this column first talked about Obamacare, a reader called the term disrespectful. The president disagreed—well, he did in 2012—saying he was "fond of this term" and "actually like[s] the name, because I do care—that's why we fought so hard to make it happen."
Read MoreZOELLER: The rule of law is underappreciated
The Pirate Code made famous in the series of “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies established rules to avoid the heightened opportunity for chaos among 18th century pirates. In some respects, all laws are established by societies to bring certainty in an uncertain world.
Read MoreKim: Sports wagers illustrate concepts of investing
Sports betting wouldn’t be what it is today without an innovation by Charles K. McNeil. McNeil’s strong analytical ability enabled him to earn a living as a professional gambler, or “sharp.” His innovation was the “point spread.”
Read MoreHicks: It’s irrational to dislike most rich people
The plain fact is, of the households with earnings in the top fifth, only 0.0016 percent earn more than half their income from stock dividends. Simply put, most rich households work. It is also plainly true that someone else’s riches don’t come at the expense of the rest of us. There is not a finite amount of income.
Read MoreThere’s more to the rural vs. Indy story
Richard Sullivan [Feb. 3 Viewpoint] offers the perspective that Indiana’s rural areas “stick it” to Indy when folks in rural areas don’t support urban issues. He links this long-running, alleged battle to the lack of rural support for the anti-gay amendment in the news today.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Auto industry strength boosts Indiana’s outlook
Economists at BMO Harris Bank are projecting “above average” growth for Indiana this year, citing a stronger auto sector and a healthier housing outlook.
Read MoreEmmis acquiring two New York radio stations for $131 million
The purchase from YMF Media will bulk up Emmis' presence in the nation's largest radio market and is projected to double the company's radio station operating income.
Read MoreKite paying $1.2B for rival real estate developer
Kite Realty Group Trust will remain in Indianapolis after the purchase, which will balloon its holdings to 131 properties covering 20 million square feet of shopping center space in 26 states.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: Bioanalytical Systems Inc.
Bioanalytical Systems Inc. (www.basinc.com), 2701 Kent Ave., West Lafayette, 47906, provides contract-research services to the pharmaceutical industry. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013, Bioanalytical earned $773,000, or 9 cents per share, on revenue of $22.1 million. In the same period a year earlier, the company lost $6.3 million, or 88 cents per […]
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