Purdue: Indiana grain yields to be better than expected
A Purdue University expert says flooding losses to Indiana's corn and soybean crops will be much lower than expected and concentrated in certain areas.
Energy & Environment
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Utility counselor recommends against Vectren plan approval
The state office that represents consumer interests in utility matters says Vectren's energy-efficiency proposal seeks to recover more costs than necessary from its customers.
Plant closure spurs call to step back from Indy’s Covanta deal
A recycling plant in Montgomery, Alabama, that Indianapolis officials once touted as a successful model of “one-bin” combined waste and recycling has at least temporarily shut down, citing a drop in the commodities market.
VW might compensate owners of diesel cars for loss of value
Earlier this week, Kelley Blue Book said the value of VWs with 2-liter diesel engines had fallen 13 percent since mid-September, about when the automaker’s emissions cheating scandal came to light.
Researchers, ranchers beefing up steak with algae, flaxseed
Health-conscious consumers might be persuaded to eat more beef if it was fortified with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids naturally found in salmon and walnuts, according to researchers and some ranchers.
Solar farm planned near Anderson airport
The 53-acre project near Anderson Municipal Airport is among several being developed by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency in communities where it provides electricity.
Lawsuit takes on Indiana’s right-to-farm laws
The Hoosier Environmental Council has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a pair of Hendricks County families who say they face “intolerable living conditions” created by odors coming from a nearby 8,000-hog farm that opened two years ago.
U.S., local forecasts call for lower heating bills this winter
Heating bills should drop this winter for most U.S. households thanks to a combination of lower energy prices and warmer weather.
Farm family near Grand Park adapted to encroaching development
Craig Wood has spent most of his 60 years on 191st Street in Westfield, living and working on his family farm. For most of that time, the adjacent land has been other houses and farm fields, but that all changed on Nov. 18, 2011, when construction on Grand Park Sports Campus began.
Neither side happy with EPA’s new ozone standard
The Obama administration set a new national ozone standard Thursday. Business groups said it is unnecessary and could jeopardize jobs. Environmental groups said it didn’t go far enough.
Growth allows Oliver Winery to invest in big equipment
This year’s grape harvest—a process which typically runs from the end of August to the second week of October—promises to be a bit less anxiety-inducing thanks to a decision that has been slowly processing over the past five years.
Environmental groups unhappy with lead smelter settlement
A proposed settlement of alleged Clean Air Act violations involving Exide Technologies’ battery-recycling facility has upset environmental groups because the agreement doesn’t require the firm to retrofit its complex with equipment that could dramatically cut lead emissions.
Covanta moving forward on automated recycling plant
Covanta still faces opposition as it moves closer to starting construction on a $45 million facility in Indianapolis that will use automation to pluck salvageable recyclables from household trash.
Dow AgroSciences opens research facility at Illinois
Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences is opening the facility in the research park at the University of Illinois' Champaign-Urbana campus.
State facing steep bill to keep water systems running
Much of the infrastructure that transports water from municipal drinking water plants in Indiana to homes and businesses is old and worn, and the state faces significant costs to complete needed upgrades, repairs and expansions.
Volkswagen to be subpoenaed in probe by 27 states
A majority of U.S. states, including Indiana, have begun a joint investigation of Volkswagen AG in the widening fallout from the company’s admission that 11 million of its diesel vehicles use software to cheat emissions tests.
VW not first manufacturer to use deceptive emissions tactics
Almost as soon as governments began testing vehicle emissions, automakers and engine manufacturers found ways to cheat. Indiana-based Cummins Inc., for instance, was involved in a high-profile case in the late 1990s.
Notre Dame to reduce carbon footprint after pope’s plea
Notre Dame President John Jenkins plans to announce Monday that the university will spend $113 million on renewable energy sources, including a hydroelectric project, solar power and geothermal fields.
Industrial power users fighting to get off grid
Indiana’s manufacturers and municipal utilities are preparing to wage a battle with investor-owned power companies in their desire to get a handle on rising electricity costs.
Turkey breast prices jump after bird flu creates shortage
U.S. restaurants and retailers are facing a shortage of turkey-breast meat, with prices at a record high. The nation’s worst outbreak of avian influenza is to blame.