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Government
Commentary: It's time to split Indiana in two
April 2, 2007
Abdul-Hakim ShabazzA couple of years ago, during the daylight-saving time debate, a caller into my radio show suggested Indiana be divided into
two time zones, one Eastern, one Central, with U.S. 31 as the dividing line. The caller suggested that, this way, people who
wanted to be in the Eastern time zone could live in the eastern half of the state and those who wanted to be on Central time
could live in the western half. I told the caller he...
MoreStruggling office buildings face further losses: Existing tenants shopping for deals in troubled market
March 26, 2007
Cory SchoutenA big question is looming for property managers at National City Center and First Indiana Plaza: Will tenants stay or will
they go? Each of the downtown office buildings already is struggling, with occupancy rates in the 60-percent range at the
end of 2006. But a grim situation could worsen if some of their largest tenants with expiring leases find a better deal elsewhere.
Law firm Bose McKinney & Evans is considering a move from 80,000 square feet at First...
MoreConcrete price-fixing case might not be wrapped up: Undisclosed state investigation delaying civil lawsuit
March 26, 2007
Peter SchnitzlerThe U.S. Department of Justice's highprofile, three-year investigation into price fixing in Indiana's concrete industry resulted
in one of the largest antitrust fines in history: $29.2 million against Greenfield-based Irving Materials Inc. The investigation
might not be over yet. The DOJ seemed to conclude its Indianapolis inquiry last month, finally closing the criminal case.
But a recent filing in a pending civil suit against IMI and its four former top executives hints the probe is continuing elsewhere.
This time, IMI...
MoreSBDC network gets new chief
March 26, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonAfter about seven months without a leader, the Indiana Small Business Development Center network has found one in Jeff Heinzmann.
An attorney by training, the 39-year-old is charged with getting the statewide system of 11 regional centers on track in their
efforts to help entrepreneurs get started and grow. Despite their connection, the Indiana centers for the most part have operated
independently, and some-like the central Indiana office serving Marion and the surrounding counties-have struggled for stability.
Heinzmann aims to...
MoreMass-transit movement focuses on education: Passenger projections, search for director delay effort
March 26, 2007
Peter SchnitzlerEfforts to secure a mass-transit system for central Indiana are moving ahead. But not rapidly. Several mass-transit bills
are pending in the General Assembly-including one requiring the Indiana Department of Transportation to study building a rail
system from Indianapolis to Muncie, and another encouraging development of mass-transit systems across the state. But neither
is likely to result in immediate funding for a system serving Indianapolis commuters. Local mass-transit advocates still are
a long way from winning over lawmakers and others...
MoreSarbanes reprieve possible: Lawmakers consider extension for small biz
March 19, 2007
Scott OlsonSmall public companies yet to comply with the stringent accounting provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could receive a reprieve
from federal regulators weighing a one-year extension. Section 404 of the act requires public corporations to assess their
internal accounting controls to ensure their financial reporting is accurate-and requires accounting firms to vouch for those
controls. To comply with the act, which was enacted in the wake of financial scandals at Enron Corp. and MCI WorldCom, public
companies have devoted thousands...
MoreVIEWPOINT: The changing face of our homeless
March 19, 2007
David SilerThe face of the homeless is changing in our community. Two decades ago, the image conjured up by Indianapolis residents would
be that of a panhandler near the Circle or the occasional man with the "Will work for food" sign standing just off an exit
ramp; homeless families were virtually nonexistent. The fact is, this image is about half right-literally. Single homeless
men make up around 60 percent of the homeless in our city. Remarkably, the other 40 percent are...
MoreVOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Here's another tax break you may have overlooked
March 19, 2007
Paul CoanFinancial advisors counsel clients on income, estate and gift taxes among other things. But they often neglect residential
property taxes. That could well be a mistake. Property taxes are a significant cost of owning real estate - typically 1 percent
to 1.5 percent of market value. So, they must be considered in making financial decisions. They can also be a significant
cash-flow consideration for someone in retirement who has a lot of illiquid wealth-not just for your primary residence, but...
MoreBanks quick to embrace remote checking: Customers get on board as more institutions allow checks to be scanned, transmitted,
deposited electronically
March 19, 2007
Katie MaurerATMs are still convenient, but not much of a novelty anymore. That distinction now belongs to remote-deposit capture-a high-tech
advancement that guarantees a big payoff for banks and their customers alike. "From a technological standpoint, it's the biggest
thing happening in banking in 2007," said Lee Wetherington, senior vice president at Brentwood, Tenn.-based software maker
Goldleaf Financial Inc. Remote-deposit capture eliminates the need for businesses to physically deposit checks at their bank
branch. Using the new technology, checks are scanned...
MoreECONOMIC ANALYSIS: Ideas needed for fixing health care financing
March 19, 2007
Patrick BarkeyIt's been 15 years since third-party presidential candidate Ross Perot briefly captured the nation's attention with his crisp,
witty promises to "look under the hood" to fix the problems in Washington. Since that time, some problems have gotten worse,
some have gotten better. But in this era of political polarization and legislative gridlock, the idea of a new face coming
to town to actually fix some of the problems we face today is as appealing as ever. What would such...
MoreState's financial institutions leader quietly blazes trail: Appointment of Rice puts a credit union leader in top spot for
first time; bankers group withholds judgment
March 19, 2007
Scott OlsonRick Rice's ascension to chairman of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions typically would be the type of lowkey
government appointment that invokes nary a murmur of opposition. Why would it when current affairs facing the sevenmember
panel are as harmless as allowing state-chartered financial institutions to charge patrons who wish to skip a loan payment?
Yet, Rice's selection in late January as head of the DFI board has the credit union community gushing with pride, and the
banking industry...
MoreNOTIONS: How to save lives, money, and still win re-election
March 19, 2007
Bruce HetrickAs a hearing-impaired, diabetic, migraine-suffering cancer survivor, father of a cancer survivor and widower of a cancer victim,
I've followed my share of doctor's orders. So I've taken two of Monroe's tenaciousness pills, and I'm calling (well, writing)
you in the morning. Since my late wife the non-smoker was diagnosed with a smoker's cancer, I've shared our sad story to educate
government officials and citizens about the dangers of secondhand smoke. But let's skip the emotions this time, abandon impatience...
MoreBEHIND THE NEWS: WellPoint succession breeds unease on Wall Street
March 12, 2007
This isn't the Well-Point Inc. way. The last two times the Indianapolisbased health insurer appointed a CEO-when Ben Lytle
took the job in 1989 and Larry Glasscock succeeded him in 1999-there was no drama. The board had publicly, and painstakingly,
groomed the new leader. WellPoint did nothing remotely similar this time around. As CIBC World Markets analyst Carl McDonald
pointedly observed in a research note, "There's clearly a gap in succession planning when a company of Well-Point's size has
to...
MoreSnubbing of 'queen of the skies' to save millions: Airport decides it can't justify taxiway upgrades with FedEx cancellation
of 'super-jumbo' Airbus A380
March 12, 2007
Chris O\'malleyNot only did airport tenant FedEx cancel its order for the cargo version of the "superjumbo" last November, but no other carriers
have indicated they'll likely use the super-jumbo here, said airport Director Patrick Dooley. Nor, Dooley added, is there
a compelling case to be made for taxiway upgrades merely as a contingency for A380's being diverted here occasionally from
Chicago's O'Hare International or other airports. So managers are removing all references to the A380 in a long-range airport
plan...
MoreCommentary: How to improve Indy's 2011 Super Bowl
March 12, 2007
Brian WilliamsFeb. 4, 2007, will be a day fondly remembered in Indianapolis for generations to come. It was the day the Indianapolis Colts
emerged victorious from Super Bowl XLI. The Super Bowl media exposure, combined with the city's proud history of organizing
and hosting some of the world's largest sporting events, should position us well to serve as host for the 2011 Super Bowl.
Already, a host committee has been formed and seed funds committed. The General Assembly has passed legislation...
MoreTax break would reward patent producers: Indiana legislators view bill as way to attract young, innovative high-tech companies
and solo entrepreneurs
March 12, 2007
Scott OlsonA bill weaving its way through the Indiana General Assembly could give the state an edge in attracting and growing the type
of high-tech ventures several states covet. Indiana House Bill 1461, introduced by Rep. Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, advanced
to the Senate after sailing through the House of Representatives on Feb. 26 by a vote of 95-3. The legislation that was referred
to the Senate's Economic Development and Technology Committee would provide a tax incentive that would shield income from...
MoreLawmakers look to accelerate fight against IP piracy: Proposal calls for more cooperation, national network
March 12, 2007
Scott OlsonU.S. Sen. Evan Bayh need look no further than his home state of Indiana when recounting the scores of companies victimized
by intellectual property thieves. The product designs, brand names and copyrighted material stolen by foreign firms to make
counterfeit knockoffs likely are costing Hoosier companies millions of dollars annually. Nationally, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation estimates the figure to be $250 billion a year. The pervasiveness of the theft-counterfeiting has increased
10,000 percent during the past two decades-has prompted...
MoreBULLS & BEARS: Amid all the complaining, U.S. continues to prosper
March 5, 2007
Dave GilreathA few weeks ago, I heard Ben Stein speak about politics and the economy. The noted lawyer, writer, actor and economist spouted
off various positive statistics about the U.S. economy and then lamented that the public seemed morose about the financial
sunshine. Even though our standard of living is at an all-time high, it seems as if Americans like to grovel and complain.
Stein said, in his best Ferris Bueller drone, the American public was the most "unhappy happy society"...
MoreMixed-use project would transform Lawrence: Final piece of Fort Ben development includes residential, retail, offices
March 5, 2007
Cory SchoutenThe final piece of a decade-long redevelopment of Fort Benjamin Harrison would give Lawrence a new downtown with shops, offices
and public plazas mixed among as many as 1,000 condos, townhouses and apartments. The Fort Harrison Reuse Authority hasn't
settled on a name yet for the 88-acre project, but the quasi-governmental group's board is expected to approve zoning updates
this month that pave the way for the project. Public meetings will be held in March and April, and the first...
MoreNOTIONS: A heapin' helpin' of straight-and-narrow satire
March 5, 2007
Bruce Hetrick·mo ·pho ·bia, noun: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals -Merriam-Webster's
Dictionary Hi. Big Brother here. You know me: Mr. Government-Knows-Best, Mr. Run-Your-Life-For-You, Mr. Tell-You-What-You-Can-and-Cannot-Do.
I realize I'm not popular in these Hoosier parts. I know I've failed to mandate the use of motorcycle helmets. Failed to mandate
the use of safety belts in trucks. Failed to stop you from smoking up that old Chevy Malibu with your little munchkin ridin'
shotgun. Granted, after decades of...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: What's wrong with property taxes?
March 5, 2007
Morton MarcusSo much is going on in the Indiana General Assembly that it makes my head spin, which makes me dizzy and unfit for driving
safely on the roads. That, plus the recent heavy snows, has made me a hermit. To re-enter society, I called Dr. Werner von
Fizzle, the only psychologist I know who provides at-home consultations. As he sat down, Dr. von F asked, "Do you have some
tonic vater?" I nodded and rose to fill his request. "And,"...
MoreRETURN ON TECHNOLOGY: Battle brewing between big business and the Web
March 5, 2007
Tim AltomThe Web has always been viewed with suspicion by many people, but now it's become nothing less than the cause of copyright
lawsuits against Ellen DeGeneres for letting a guest dance the Electric Slide, against the Girl Scouts for doing the Macarena
a satire Web site about Barney the purple dinosaur for making fun of the big guy, and against the online deal-finder site
Black Friday for publishing prices from retailer Best Buy. Back in the old days, copyright holders...
MoreDST changes may create time trials: An extended schedule threatens calendars on electronic devices
March 5, 2007
Scott OlsonIt must seem like déjá vu to Hoosier companies who again must prepare their computer networks for the confusion caused by
daylight-saving time. Indiana's first-ever switch to DST last year triggered a mass adjustment of electronic clocks essential
for computers and other devices to spring ahead with the rest of the world. Now the ritual must be repeated, due to a 2005
federal law decreeing that DST start three weeks earlier and end one week later, beginning this year. The...
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: What is the truth about jobs in Indiana?
February 26, 2007
Morton MarcusIt seems I have to write this column every year. Our elected leaders and their appointees are once again telling us how many
jobs they have brought to us through their superlative efforts. Have pity on them. They know what they are doing, but they
don't know what's going on. Yet, you and I will go to the polls and judge them based on the number of jobs they bring to the
city, county or the state when we vote...
MoreNew NFIB boss knows politics: State chapter to devote more time to campaigns
February 26, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonKevin Hughes cut his teeth in the political world. Now he's taking a bite out of small business, as the new state director
for the National Federation of Independent Business. Hughes, 30, has never owned his own business, but he worked for six years
at the Ohio State Legislature as a legislative aide and for the Senate Republicans there. He also worked on several campaigns.
In 2004, Hughes took a job as the Midwest regional political director for NFIB in...
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Many serial killer types and psychopaths work as lowly bureaucrats, just waiting to impose their wrath on a powerless person, child, or pet. Don't forget, the BTK killer was a dog catcher.
If a television station wants to improve viewership, get rid of the local blackout. I was born by the brickyard, and have attended 15 or more races. I have children now, I won't attend unless circumstances are perfect. As those with growing families know, they never are. I'm always impressed that upwards of 250,000 people attend the 500. However, as a growing, or, more apt, sprawling city, Indianapolis and its immediate suburbs count almost 2.2 million. Show the race live, let the venue get a kick-back on revenues, and open-wheel racing might have a fighting chance to be relevant again. Just in time for those tax-payer lights to make sense.
John Moore, I too have had the same issue recently. A property next to my house was on the Land Bank and I was interested in purchasing. When I tried to contact Reggie, I got back emails that had nothing to do with what I asked about. Actually my latest response from him was on this past Friday. I had asked about how to buy the property and if it was still available. His response to me was to contact the mayor's office to get the schedule of his appearances. (???) Hopefully the city is able to do something to fix what this guy has done, it would be nice if they would take the properties back and sell them properly so land owners like me and you mother would have a fair chance.
I too work in the industry, with over 25 years of experience and your political spin has probably nothing to do with any rebranding. "Let's dress it up" would have nothing to do with the government "telling us how and what to eat." Give it a political rest. And being a producer for a radio show doesn't mean you've been involved in advertising and branding for 30 years.
Ms. Morris did not understand the ways of the business world, otherwise, like the IMS, she could have petitioned the State Legislature for a handout of State Funds for her charity work. Ms. Morris should consider becoming a state lobbyist for Lemonade Stand Operators.