Indianapolis Business Journal

The state tourism campaign “Honest to Goodness” was divisive from the start, but it has taken on even more baggage with the recent fight over Indiana’s religious freedom law. Anthony Schoettle reports that the public relations firm hired to help reform the state’s image will take a close look at the campaign. Also in this week’s issue, J.K. Wall reveals that the IU School of Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology is in the midst of an exodus of doctors rankled by compensation and privacy issues. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry reviews a pair of new eateries in SoBro.

The $1 billion plan to revamp and recast Methodist Hospital also will have a seismic effect on the surrounding area in downtown's Near North neighborhood. Scott Olson gets a handle on the scope of the projects and what to expect from the next steps. Also in this week’s issue, IBJ details the Midwestern expansion plans of the homegrown Yats chain. And in Focus, we look at how office space is changing to fit the tastes of millenials.

Social-media analytics firm Geofeedia didn’t have a presence in Indianapolis until October, and now it has committed to hiring 300-plus workers for its local office and is contemplating moving its headquarters here from Chicago. Jared Council explains how the firm quickly took root in Indy. Also in this week’s issue, Kathleen McLaughlin reports on the reservoir of cash awaiting use for economic development in downtown’s TIF district. One critic calls it a “slush fund.” And in A&E Etc., Mike Lopresti visits Brad Stevens in Boston to get a read on the former Butler coach’s success with the Celtics.

Indianapolis officials are dealing with a rash of applications for gas stations in some areas as developers try to beat a looming moratorium on their construction. Scott Olson explains the big rush and reveals where the proposed stations would be located. Also in this week’s issue, Kathleen McLaughlin reveals that the state is eyeing downtown’s Central Canal for a $25 million archives building. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry holds forth on the flock of new plays descending on local theaters.

From Mayor Greg Ballard’s perspective, WMB Heartland Justice Partners didn’t just have the best bid for building the city’s new criminal justice complex. It had the only bid the city could afford. Kathleen McLaughlin reports a key detail not widely advertised when the city received bids from three developers: Only Heartland met the requirement for maximum first-year payment. Also in this week’s issue, Scott Olson spotlights the change in leadership at Browning Investments Inc. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry reviews the new Yard House in Circle Centre.

Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle wasn’t the first business leader to denounce Indiana’s religious freedom law, but he was among the first prominent Indiana Republicans to vocally support gay rights. Jared Council explores his advocacy for gay rights and how he arrived at his decision to protest the law. Also in this issue, Kathleen McLaughlin scrutinizes the “one-bin” process for trash and recyclables that Indianapolis wants to institute. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry tests out Burger Theory by the airport.

Nurses at Indiana University Health’s downtown hospitals are moving quickly to form a union in a bid they say is designed to improve their own working conditions and pay and to improve care for patients. J.K. Wall reports the move could spark nurses at other hospitals to follow suit. Also this week, Lou Harry looks at the tough calculus thespians face when deciding to join the stage actors union. And in Focus, Scott Olson examines online residential brokerage Redfin, which aims to shake up the Indianapolis market.

After wearing the mantle of “emerging neighborhood” for two decades, Fountain Square has finally arrived in a way the business community can easily understand. Scott Olson reports that properties are fetching several multiples of their assessed values, proving the demand to locate in the hot area. Also this week, Jared Council illustrates the blurring lines between CMOs and CIOs in the C-suite. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry browses the new exhibition dedicated to the history of L.S. Ayres.

The IndyCar Series and USA Today have agreed to merge marketing, advertising and news coverage in a deal some observers describe as ethically worrisome. As Anthony Schoettle reports, USA Today will produce stories and special sections about IndyCar in exchange for preferred access to series bigwigs and potential advertisers. Also in this issue, Greg Andrews examines how Simon Property Group might proceed with its proposed $22.4 billion acquisition of Macerich Co. And in A&E Etc., Mike Lopresti looks back on great moments in Indy’s history of hosting the Final Four.

The cost of sponsoring emerging NASCAR star and Type 1 diabetic Ryan Reed may be a drop in the bucket for Eli Lilly & Co., which spends more than $445 million annually on advertising. But the investment in Reed is starting to pay off and could help boost Lilly's market share in diabetes, IBJ's Anthony Schoettle reports. Also this week, Kathleen McLaughlin explains how the owners of 20 polluted industrial sites are hiding behind legal protections of a state-run voluntary cleanup program, and Lindsey Erdody reports that pizza and beer could be the key to a commercial turnaround for the Village of West Clay in Carmel. And in A&E Etc., a caffeinated look at the pour-over coffee craze and Lou Harry reviews the homegrown Icarus Ensemble.

White River State Park officials are working on plans to acquire part of the former GM stamping plant site and build a permanent music venue to replace The Lawn. Kathleen McLaughlin has the scoop.  Also this week, Anthony Schoettle unpacks how middling radio station WRWM-FM 93.9 turned the tables on its competitors, rocketing to first place one month after switching its format to old school hip hop. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry says Bent Rail Brewery will be famous for its sandwiches before its beer, and Mike Lopresti lowers the curtain on a Butler fairy tail.

Back in early 2008, ChaCha Search Inc. seemed like it was poised to become a major player in the digital search market. Voice mail pioneer Scott Jones was the prime mover, and some big names in tech were providing funding. In this week’s issue, Jared Council answers the question, “How did ChaCha lose its mojo?” Also this week, Scott Olson examines the sudden disappearance of thousands of downtown parking lots. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry reviews Tinker Street, the new eatery from restaurant veteran Peter George.

Anthem Inc. invests a lot in data security, but the health insurance giant still left itself vulnerable on key fronts leading up to the recent theft of 80 million consumer records. IBJ’s J.K. Wall explains how hackers exploited the cracks. Also in this issue, Scott Olson takes the measure of Circle Centre mall on its 20th anniversary and finds room for improvement. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry has a ho-hum experience at Giordano’s.

The arrival of Allegiant could spark a revival of leisure travel and help reverse a years-long decline in passengers at Indianapolis International Airport. Kathleen McLaughlin reports that more carriers could be coming. Also in this week’s paper, Anthony Schoettle details how the online lodging service Airbnb is establishing a foothold in Indianapolis and freaking out hoteliers across the country. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry reviews R2Go, the grab-and-go eatery concept from the founder of R bistro.

This week, IBJ unveils the members of its Forty Under 40 Class of 2015—a collection of unusually accomplished young professionals who already are making vital contributions to life in Indianapolis. Also in this issue, Scott Olson uncovers plans from PulteGroup to build an 800-lot development in Plainfield from 270 acres it has purchased. And in A&E Etc., Mike Lopresti chats with Ball State and NCAA tourney legend Paris McCurdy.

All signs point to University Hospital closing as Indiana University Health goes from three downtown hospitals to two. J.K. Wall reports on the deliberations as IU Health seeks to save money, and it appears that Methodist and Riley hospitals are in the clear for now. Also in this issue, Anthony Schoettle explains how Fox Sports Indiana is trying to bring Pacers telecasts to mobile devices. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry conducts a debate on the improvisational works of Erwin Wurm, now taking shape at IMA.

Infotech firm Scale Computing Inc. has been raising money at a clip similar to other prominent local tech companies in their early days and is gearing up to increase its workforce by a factor of five. Jared Council has more on its growth prospects. Also in this issue, Anthony Schoettle reports on the remarkable turnaround at Indy Lights engineered by the open-wheel racing series’ new CEO. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry recommends IRT’s new comedy, “Good People.”

Lids Sports Group is grappling with growing pains as it strives to expand its product line beyond hats. In this week's issue, Scott Olson explains how the company is coping with flat sales. Also in this issue, Anthony Schoettle dishes on a possible location for the $87 million soccer stadium proposed for the Indy Eleven. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry reviews Spoke & Steele, the new restaurant in the former Canterbury Hotel.