News & Analysis

Cummins sues insurers over $381M in flood claimsRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Peter Schnitzler
Cummins Inc. is battling its insurers in court, saying they're refusing to pay most of the company's $381 million in claims stemming from the flood that immersed its southern Indiana facilities a year ago.
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Clean air strategy: Some nightspots opt to tighten smoking rulesRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
Coaches Tavern, MacNiven's Restaurant and Bar, and The Jazz Kitchen are among Indianapolis bars that recently limited or banned smoking. Those establishments join a short list of bars that already buck the trend in Indianapolis. Smoking in public places, including restaurants, has been banned in Marion County since 2006, but it's still OK to puff away in places that don't admit minors.
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Republic growth strategy fraught with riskRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Chris O'Malley
By purchasing two struggling airlines for which it flies, Republic Airways Holdings is taking aboard substantial risks that threaten its profitable niche, analysts say. Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines are not only leaking money, but fly at an altitude where major carriers routinely dogfight in a fare war Republic hasn't had to fight as a contract carrier.
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Star newsroom braces for pay cuts, possible layoffsRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Anthony Schoettle
he next two weeks could be critical in determining the level and quality of staffing in the newsroom of The Indianapolis Star, the state's largest daily newspaper. The paper's union—which represents about 160 news staffers—and management have been at an impasse since employees' union contract expired Dec. 31.
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Businesses discover dangers of relying too heavily on a single client or industryRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Peter Schnitzler
In this deep recession, many local small-business owners suffer a harsh dilemma: Heavily tied to a single supplier, customer or industry, they must diversify or die.
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Despite what you might think, lawyers are compartatively scarce in IndianaRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Scott Olson
Only North and South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin have smaller proportions of lawyers within their working populations. Experts point to the state's shrinking base of corporate HQs, the exodus of law school graduates, and a less litigious climate overall.
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Pets, often overlooked in wills, are getting more attentionRestricted Content

June 29, 2009
Rebecca Berfanger
While most people consider their family members and funeral costs in estate planning, many overlook their babies who happen to have four legs, a tail, feathers or even scales. A pet trust is a good solution.
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Half of state's public-company CEOs saw pay rise in 2008

June 22, 2009
Peter Schnitzler
For investors, 2008 was the worst year since the Great Depression. Even so, more than half of the state's public-company executives saw the value of their pay packages rise from 2007—despite the fact that only 10 of the companies posted a positive total return in 2008, and 46 companies shed more than one-third of their stock market value.
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Local social networking site connects users offlineRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Kim Puckett
Growing by leaps and bounds, smallerindiana.com will host its first-ever "Bigger Ideas" conference for the high-tech and Internet-savvy crowd.
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Colts extend home sell-out streakRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Anthony Schoettle
Despite a ticket price increase, the terrible economy, and an uncertain season ahead, the Indianapolis Colts have sold out of season tickets, assuring the team will extend its sell-out streak to 97 regular-season home games.
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$65M development deal would cost Capital Improvement BoardRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Cory Schouten
The Capital Improvement Board could be forced to give up one of its most profitable assets so the city can pull off a $65-million public-private downtown development deal. The city has agreed to help a developer revitalize the vacant former Bank One operations center in part by acquiring an adjacent parking garage for $18.5 million.
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Judge to determine whether Lauth's filing was properRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Cory Schouten
The largest outside investor in embattled developer Lauth Group Inc. is asking a federal judge to dismiss the company's bankruptcy cases.
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Boomtown on hold: Recession delays Honda's full impact on GreensburgRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
Jobs created by the new manufacturing plant have been offset by losses elsewhere in the community, and related development remains scarce. But local officials remain optimistic about Honda's long-term impact.
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Government-run insurance plan draws mixed reviews from employersRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
J.K. Wall
Businesses all want to see reform of the health care system, but they diverge on how much the U.S. government's entrance into the insurance market would help or hurt them.
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Ice Miller still in merger talks with Louisville law firmRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Scott Olson
The city's third-largest law firm is poised to tie the knot with Kentucky's Greenebaum Doll & McDonald. But differences in the way the firms compensate partners are taking longer than expected to sort out.
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Below-average test scores raise questions about elementary teachers, collegesRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
J.K. Wall
Students going into and out of Indiana's teacher education programs tend to score below average on standardized test scores. And national data indicate the gap is entirely attributable to those headed into elementary education.
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Law grants teachers immunity from civil suitsRestricted Content

June 22, 2009
Scott Olson
Educators widely support a new state law that gives teachers immunity from civil lawsuits for trying to discipline students. But opponents of corporal punishment are giving it a frosty reception, fearing Indiana students could be subjected to more paddling without legal recourse.
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$65M downtown development deal raises questionsRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Cory Schouten
A $65 million public-private plan for the redevelopment of a vacant downtown office building is raising eyebrows for its unusual approach and potential risk to taxpayers. The plan calls for a private developer to acquire the former Bank One operations center, surface parking lots and an adjacent parking garage from a private owner for $18.5 million, then sell the 1,680-space garage to the city for $18.5 million.
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Expanded FedEx cargo hub not meeting expectationsRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Chris O'Malley
Indianapolis International Airport, already suffering from a 10-percent drop in passenger traffic and a projected $15 million revenue shortfall this year, is also feeling financial drag from its single most important tenant. FedEx Express cargo shipments, which amount to about half of the $25 million in airfield fees generated at the airport, fell 16 percent in the first three months of this year vs. the same period last year.
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Anderson's abundant water supply makes city well-suited for Nestle, other food processorsRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
The city of Anderson soon will tap a new well to help accommodate demand from Nestle USA, which opened a Madison County plant in May 2008 producing bottled, flavored Nesquik and liquid Coffee-mate, a water-based creamer. The company already has launched an expansion slated for completion in 2011.
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Marketing veteran to lead Circle City ClassicRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Anthony Schoettle
The Circle City Classic has hired Marc Williams, an East Coast marketing consultant, as its executive director, a post vacated in March when Tony Mason left to become senior vice president for the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee.
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IU to offer degree in fund raising

June 15, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
Most fund-raisers stumble into the profession, but within a decade the field could be populated by recent college graduates who hold degrees in philanthropic studies.The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University soon will roll out a bachelor's degree that would be among the first of its kind. If all goes as planned, IUPUI would begin marketing the degree, granted by the School of Liberal Arts, for the fall of 2010.
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Arts backer Efroymson returns to contemporary museum he helped start

June 15, 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
Jeremy Efroymson recently agreed to return to the financially flailing Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art as its executive director and work for free. Efroymson, one of the museum's early leaders, has a strategy for seeing IMOCA through a financial rough spot, but what remains unclear is how the museum will wean itself off his support.
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Browning acquires 43 homes for $100 million mixed-used development in CarmelRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Cory Schouten
Developer Brown Investments has reached terms with the owners of 43 of 49 homes in the North Meridian Heights neighborhood in Carmel. Browning plans to demolish the homes to make way for a $100 million commercial development over 17 acres.
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Pacers coach takes to streets to combat homelessnessRestricted Content

June 15, 2009
Anthony Schoettle
Even with the NBA draft approaching, Pacers coach Jim O'Brien makes time for his duties as a board member and on-the-ground volunteer for the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention. A strong commitment to community service runs in the coach's family.
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