Latest News

Feds charge 5 in Indy Land Bank kickback scheme

cschouten@ibj.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:08:00 GMT

Federal prosecutors have charged two city employees in the Department of Metropolitan Development and three others in a scheme involving cash kickbacks on the sale of properties in the Indy Land Bank.

Donors help after girl's stand shut down at track

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:35:00 GMT

Morgen Morris said she had a line of customers during Saturday's Indy 500 qualifications day when a Indianapolis Motor Speedway employee told her she had to shut down her lemonade stand.

Beleaguered former IU-Kokomo chancellor lands new job

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:27:00 GMT

Michael Harris, who resigned from IU-Kokomo on Sept. 19, claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign by school administrators.

HHGregg's stock swoons after quarterly report disappoints

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:21:00 GMT

The Indianapolis-based retailer saw a big drop in earnings in its latest quarter on decreased sales, lower profit margins and higher advertising expenses, it said Monday.

St. Vincent sports practice to fill vacant Clay Terrace big box

tharton@ibj.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:14:00 GMT

St. Vincent Sports Performance will occupy a building in Clay Terrace originally occupied by Circuit City.

Group claims Ball State prof teaching creationism

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:39:00 GMT

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a formal objection with university officials over an elective honors class called "Boundaries of Science," which the foundation maintains teaches religion rather than science.

Indiana lawmakers gave approval to 12 percent of 2013 bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:07:00 GMT

Measures filed in the Indiana General Assembly this year faced about 1-in-8 odds of making their way to the governor's desk.

FBI searches City-County Building, makes multiple arrests in Land Bank probe

cschouten@ibj.com — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:08:00 GMT

FBI agents on Tuesday morning conducted a warrant search at the Department of Metropolitan Development in the City-County Building, shortly after agents arrested multiple people, including city employees.

Central Indiana county leaders back reservoir study

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:37 GMT

The Delaware County commissioners on Monday endorsed a resolution supporting environmental and engineering studies for the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir.

HHGregg earnings sink on declining sales

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:59:00 GMT

The Indianapolis-based retailer saw a big drop in earnings in its latest quarter on decreased sales, lower profit margins and higher advertising expenses.

Sanctions against Penn State were necessary, NCAA tells judge

Tue, 21 May 2013 03:45:00 GMT

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s sanctions against Pennsylvania State University for its role in the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal were needed to protect the integrity of intercollegiate sports, a lawyer for the Indianapolis-based association argued in court Monday.

Ex-councilor Bateman sentenced to 27 months in prison

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Paul C. Bateman Jr. had pleaded guilty in January to his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.

Lilly study: 1 in 5 Alzheimer's patients misdiagnosed

jkwall@ibj.com — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:10:00 GMT

The study results, which will be released Monday afternoon, are part of Indianapolis-based Lilly’s campaign to get Medicare to pay for use of its brain imaging agent Amyvid.

Deadline looms for state's Do Not Call list

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:33:56 GMT

Since January, the state attorney general's office said it has received more than 5,000 complaints about telemarketing calls from live operators or prerecorded messages.

Lids acquiring Kentucky sporting goods chain

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:19:00 GMT

The CEO of a private equity firm that helped fund the Lexington-based Fan Outfitters chain said new regulations imposed by the Affordable Care Act prompted the group to look at the offer from Lids.

Teamsters chief smacks down local pilots union

kmclaughlin@ibj.com — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:58:00 GMT

Teamsters President James Hoffa wants to rein in leaders of the pilots union at Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc.

Work stops on Greenwood pharmaceutical plant

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:00 GMT

Greenwood officials three years ago approved $8.4 million of incentives for the Elona Biotechnologies project, including the construction loan.

Proposed requirements could sink Muncie-area wind farm

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:27:10 GMT

A central Indiana official says the tough conditions opponents of a planned wind farm are seeking for the project would leave little room for the proposed power-generating wind turbines.

Purdue makes fast progress on tuition freeze

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:56:00 GMT

The school is nearly three-fourths of the way to reaching its goal of $40 million in savings or new revenue.

Counties worry about cost of sentencing overhaul

Sat, 18 May 2013 17:21:46 GMT

Indiana counties could be forced to pay some of the costs of a change in the state's criminal code that is designed to keep low-level offenders out of prison while ensuring the worst serve more of their sentences.

Athenaeum weighs bids for surface lot redevelopment

solson@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:10:00 GMT

Three developers are competing to build a mixed-use project likely to include a parking garage on a surface lot adjacent to the historic Athenaeum building.

Mobile health apps could cut into state companies' market share

jkwall@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:07:00 GMT

The future of Indiana’s sprawling health care and life sciences industry might be threatened by an unlikely source: smartphone apps.

Firms ladle trips, car allowances on top of rich pay packages

dhuman@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Senior executives at Indiana's public companies last year received, on average, more in perks than the typical Hoosier earned all year, IBJ found after reviewing Securities and Exchange Commission documents for more than 60 Indiana companies.

Oesterle sells land to Angie's List, reaping millions

comalley@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Angie’s List Inc. CEO Bill Oesterle has collected millions of dollars over the years by renting to the company property for its campus along East Washington Street. Now, the landlord and chief executive is pocketing millions more by selling Angie’s the property, at well above its assessed value.

Spate of banking mergers may be just the beginning

gandrews@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

First Merchants Corp. CEO Michael Rechin thinks a wave of bank mergers is coming—driven by financial institutions’ quest to increase profits in an environment where super-low interest rates continue to squeeze margins.

WISH-TV rakes in bucks with city's only locally produced lifestyle show

comalley@ibj.com — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

"Indy Style"--an hour’s worth of TV programming on everything from recipes to music to fitness to screen-door-repair tips--fills its show with guests who are a combination of invited guests, sponsors and one-time-only advertisers.

Union looks to settle with workers over right-to-work issue

kmclaughlin@ibj.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:33:49 GMT

A local union charged with violating Indiana’s right-to-work law is hoping to settle with six workers who say their dues were improperly collected.

Duke's CFO heading to Chicago real estate firm

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:13:00 GMT

Christie Kelly is credited with playing a critical role at Duke in helping the company keep a strong financial position during the recession and economic recovery.

Indiana withdraws support for fertilizer plant

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:17:00 GMT

State officials have withdrawn incentives for a fertilizer plant over concerns about whether its Pakistan-based owners are doing enough at their overseas operations to keep the potentially explosive material from being used against U.S. troops.

ExactTarget confirms Atlanta expansion

dhuman@ibj.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:49:00 GMT

Indianapolis-based digital marketer ExactTarget Inc. plans to add 225 jobs over the next five years in Georgia.

Report: Roche mulls sale of blood-glucose monitor business

jkwall@ibj.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Roche Diagnostics Corp. is considering a sale of its blood-glucose meter business, a move that would cast uncertainty over the nearly 1,000 people working for its diabetes business in Indianapolis.

Indiana adds jobs; unemployment rate slips

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:44:00 GMT

Indiana added 4,400 nonfarm jobs in April and the unemployment rate fell slightly, to 8.5 percent, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Friday morning.

River protest set for proposed central Indiana reservoir

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:26:00 GMT

Organizer and environmentalist Clarke Kahlo told The Herald Bulletin that the group is trying to build public awareness of the amount of land that would disappear if the reservoir is built.

New owner shutting down 520-worker Indiana plant

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:17:00 GMT

Allied Specialty Vehicles announced Thursday it was buying Monaco RV and shifting production to a factory in Decatur, near Fort Wayne. The 520 jobs lost in Wakarusa won't be replaced on a one-to-one basis.

Airport considers more parking changes

kmclaughlin@ibj.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Indianapolis International Airport plans to tweak another parking area, this time designating 260 spaces closest to the terminal for people who intend to spend a short time inside.

Critical questions follow reviewer's departure from Indy Star

lharry@ibj.com — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:33:00 GMT

The state's largest newspaper is mum on whether reviews will continue after the Friday resignation of its fine arts critic. Arts organizations are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Canada’s Supreme Court won’t hear Lilly appeal on Zyprexa

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:14:00 GMT

Eli Lilly claims recent decisions by Canadian courts invalidating 17 drug patents have made the country an outlier among major developed countries.

Court upholds Indiana's limit on civil damages

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:22 GMT

The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the state law limiting punitive damages awarded in civil lawsuits and directs most of that money to a state victims fund.

Herff Jones acquisition to form $1B company

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:10:00 GMT

Dallas-based BSN Sports will join the Herff Jones portfolio of companies and continue to operate as its own branded entity. Combined annual revenue is expected to top $1 billion.

Westfield Farmers Market pulls plug on 2013 season

adavis@ibj.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:54:00 GMT

Organizers at the not-for-profit Downtown Westfield Association on Wednesday said the open-air market near City Hall will not operate this year. It had been scheduled for Friday evenings from June to September.

Workers allege improper collection of union dues

kmclaughlin@ibj.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:52:00 GMT

The Indianapolis operations of a Canadian paper company and a Teamsters-affiliated local union violated Indiana’s right-to-work law, according to the allegations of six men who want out of the union.

Downtown Lilly building fetches $90 million

solson@ibj.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:39:00 GMT

American Realty Capital, a real estate investment firm based in New York City, bought the building on South Meridian Street occupied by Rolls Royce Corp. Lilly vacated the facility in 2010.

Truck stop mogul says he didn't know of fuel-rebate issues

kmclaughlin@ibj.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:31:00 GMT

In a speech in Indianapolis, embattled truck stop CEO and Cleveland Browns owner James Haslam took the blame for a lack of oversight in his fuel-sales rebate program, which is the subject of a federal investigation.

Aerospace company plans central Indiana factory expansion

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:51:45 GMT

L&E Engineering Co. officials say the company will spend $3.7 million to expand its Greenwood factory and add about 40 employees.

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plan

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:49:08 GMT

The operators of Indiana's largest wind farm are proposing changing the nighttime operations of the farm's 300-plus wind turbines to protect endangered Indiana bats from being killed by the turbines' spinning blades.

Bloomington manufacturer closing, laying off 72

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:24:00 GMT

Hartmann USA said Wednesday that it will move the Bloomington operations to its U.S. headquarters in Rock Hill, S.C., where it plans an $18 million expansion.

Senior curator leaving IMA after 11-year stay

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:30:00 GMT

Lisa Freiman directed the opening of the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres in June 2010 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. and is credited with transforming the experience of contemporary art in Indianapolis.

Fed review finds Indiana highway land deals compliant

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:28:00 GMT

The Federal Highway Administration report found Indiana Department of Transportation records were adequate and sufficient.

Indianapolis couple charged with mail fraud

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:55:00 GMT

George Bowman, 43, and Traci L. Bowman, 42, are accused of falsifying purchase records and fraudulently filing insurance claims for expensive construction equipment they never purchased.

Kessler Mansion neighbors balk at business uses

dhuman@ibj.com — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:26:00 GMT

An Indianapolis City-County Councilor is looking into the possibility of zoning violations at the massive north-side property. The mansion will host a camp for entrepreneurs in June.