MAY 13-19, 2013
College sports as we know them could change virtually overnight, and athletic porgrams could watch their budgets shrink by half, depending on the outcome of a lawsuit against the Indianapolis-based NCAA. Anthony Schoettle examines the potential consequences of the anti-trust case brought by a former UCLA player, which could become a class action in June. In Focus, learn about the comeback staged by credit unions in central Indiana, with profits climbing 45 percent statewide. And walk the halls of Howe High as a new charter school operator struggles to turn around the troubled school with declining enrollment. J.K. Wall presents a case study in revamping an institution.
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Lawsuit threatens NCAA’s amateur business model
On June 20, a California federal court will determine if an antitrust lawsuit brought by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon—who argues he should’ve been paid for the use of his likeness on game broadcasts and in EA Sports video games—can become a class action.
Read MoreWhitsett goes big with Star project
A local developer plans to tear down part of the Indianapolis Star’s downtown headquarters while saving most of the building in a redevelopment that calls for 350 apartments—more units than the massive CityWay.
Read MoreDevelopment may spawn TIF tug of war
The developer of a $17 million mixed-use project proposed for Broad Ripple is expected to seek a city subsidy—support that at least one City-County councilor believes should be reserved for neighborhoods starved for investment farther south.
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Howe toughest test yet for reformers of troubled city schools
Thomas Carr Howe Community High School, one of four taken over by the state Department of Education, is being remade yet again. And this time it faces a slew of competitors in the education-reform arena.
Read MoreSlingshot is shifting aim away from SEO
After Google cracked down on some of the tools companies were using to improve their positions in search results, Indianapolis-based Slingshot SEO opted to launch a sister brand called Digital Relevance that will focus on earning media attention.
Read MoreRuling keeps church ensnared in life insurance nightmare
A federal bankruptcy judge has slapped down an Anderson church that attempted to blame its bank for a failed scheme to finance church upgrades by buying life insurance policies on its elderly members.
Read MoreCo-founder’s death alters Naked Monkey’s growth plan
The recession and then the death of a founder put the Carmel waxing spa on a new trajectory. Now co-owner Brenda Schultz is mulling expansion plans.
Read MoreBiosciences institute aims for $300M endowment
The effort to launch the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute got $25 million from the Legislature, but the life sciences institutions backing the effort have set their funding sights much higher.
Read MoreCircle Centre hanging in despite anchor vacancy
The downtown mall last year saw its sales per square foot increase to $354, a 5.3-percent increase from 2011, according to an annual operating report it provides to the city. But non-anchor occupancy slipped below 90 percent.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: MainSource Financial Group
Greensburg-based MainSource Financial Group is the holding company for MainSource Bank, which has 78 offices in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indiana credit unions are booming again
Credit unions last year posted record earnings, thanks largely to lower loan-loss reserves, as well as to growing memberships, growing debit cards, selling off mortgages and stealing business loans away from banks, their arch rivals.
Read MoreCraft brewers stay neutral on Sunday alcohol sales
Indiana's craft breweries account for only a tiny percentage of annual statewide beer sales, but they've enjoyed a sweet spot on Sundays for the past two-plus years.
Read MoreFARRA: Don’t expect big dividends from banks anytime soon
Banks will not return to their status as reliable sources of shareholder dividends for three years or longer.
Read MoreBanks scale back real estate needs as transactions shift online
After zooming higher in the last decade, the number of bank branches in Indiana slipped to 2,056 in 2011, the lowest level since 2006.
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EDITORIAL: Where next for mass transit in Indianapolis?
Frustration on the part of mass transit proponents was palpable last month when the Indiana Senate shunted the matter to a summer study committee after the House had approved a bill with strong bipartisan support.
Read MoreMAURER: Five who made our 1980 dreams come true
‘Young Turks’ of 30 years ago largely achieved what they set out to accomplish for city.
Read MoreDRESSLAR: Extremists hindering Common Core
Controversy over education policy is normal for the General Assembly, but this session’s pointless rancor over Common Core State Standards has only hindered progress in teaching our children and building our communities.
Read MoreRUSTHOVEN: Bowen lived, governed with character
Early this month saw the passing of Otis Bowen, among the most admired, respected governors in Indiana history. Tributes following his death have been gratifying and well-deserved.
Read MoreKim: Twitter-fueled mayhem should worry investors
I’m old school when it comes to investing, so it baffles me that some professionals consider a tweet important to the investment decision-making process. But those 140 characters can do real damage when improperly used.
Read MoreHicks: Root cause of suffering labor market elusive
At the beginning of the Great Recession, in December 2007, there were more than 26 full-time workers for each part-time employee looking for full-time work. By June 2009, that number had shrunk to less than 15 full-time workers for each part-timer. There it has remained.
Read MoreDefer to Urbanski on seating decision
I strongly support Maestro Urbanski’s decision not to have people seated in the Stage Terrace behind the orchestra [April 22 editorial].
Read MoreSpeedway upgrades making difference
The substantial changes highlighted in the April 29 article, “Speedway’s Speed Zone redevelopment project in high gear,” should be praised.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Truck insurer’s new jobs to boast gold-plated pay
The 133 full-time jobs the truck and auto insurer plans to add over the next five years will pay around $60 an hour, or nearly $125,000 a year.
Read MoreLilly CEO to step down temporarily due to surgery
John Lechleiter has been suffering from a dilated aorta, Eli Lilly and Co. said Monday. Current CFO Derica Rice will take his place until later this summer.
Read MoreBrowning exec Dye joining The Whitsett Group
Dennis Dye will become a partner at Whitsett, a prolific developer of affordable housing. He has served two stints at Browning totaling about 20 years.
Read MorenFrame data center to get new identity
The change to the Expedient moniker is not expected to affect the center's 40 employees and 300 customers.
Read MoreGovernor taps ex-WellPoint CEO Braly for IEDC board
The appointment is the first high-profile post that Braly, 51, has accepted since she was ousted from the top spot at the Indianapolis-based health insurer in August.
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