SEPTEMBER 7-13, 2009
This week's issue includes a story about the lawsuit 43 former Navistar employees filed, alleging the plant closure that cost them their jobs violated their labor contract. Also, an Evansville bank president says it's only a matter of time until an Indiana bank fails. And in our annual Arts & Entertainment Season Preview, you meet some behind-the-scenes players who have a big role in what audiences see.
Front PageBack to Top
Region’s expertise in hybrid cars goes beyond high-profile players
Bright Automotive and EnerDel are well known for their development of components for hybrid cars, but the region has several
other players poised to be big players in the sector. In fact, few realize that North America’s largest producer
of electric motors for hybrid vehicles is based northeast of Indianapolis, in Pendleton.
Sweetener company Heartland looks for openings in crowded field
Heartland Sweeteners LLC is now a top maker of private-label alternatives to Splenda. The company also
markets its own products directly to consumers.
Soft sales plague furniture retailers
Furniture is one of the easiest big-ticket purchases for consumers to defer when money is tight. Couple
that with a housing bust that left demand for new couches on the curb, and tight credit markets that
continue to prevent retailers from financing customers without perfect credit, and you’ve got the
worst market for furniture since the Great Depression.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Ex-workers sue Navistar, charge plant closing violated contract
Forty-three former employees of Navistar Inc.’s shuttered diesel engine plant have sued the company, claiming it
breached their collective bargaining agreement by moving plant work in recent years to non-union facilities.
Sidewalk inspections help downtown get spiffed up for big events
They used to say that downtown Indianapolis rolled up the sidewalks at 6 p.m. No one says
that anymore. Now they say those sidewalks need to be clean. Sidewalk cleanliness is important on a day-to-day
basis for aesthetic reasons, but even more so when Indianapolis wants to put on its best face for major events
like the Final Four, the Indianapolis 500 and the Super Bowl.
Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute seeks comeback
The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute’s board has hired Indianapolis Star business columnist John Ketzenberger to engineer a resuscitation.
Read MoreRash of bank failures sure to spread to Indiana
Not a single Indiana bank has failed since the sector tanked last year. But Bob Jones, CEO of Old National Bancorp in Evansville,
figures it’s only a matter of time.
Developer Lauth’s bankrupt units win round in court
Lauth Group Inc. in recent weeks has won critical courtroom victories that likely will allow company principals
to retain control of three subsidiaries in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Art-gallery operators opening new spaces on Mass Ave
The launch of two new gallery ventures come on the heels of the closing of one of the
city’s most well-established fine contemporary art spaces, Ruschman Gallery.
FocusBack to Top
Corporate sculptures lauded as landmarks, investments
In hard times like these, why would corporations spend on sculptures? Because sculptures create one-of-a-kind landmarks, and
the art has potential to grow in value.
Building information modeling replacing computer-aided design
Architects, engineers, contractors and others in the design-build industry hope building information modeling will cut waste.
The technology allows more detailed viewing of projects before they move to construction.
OpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: City government in financial bind
The solution to the property tax fiasco that swept Republican Mayor Greg Ballard into office in 2007 is making his job harder, and
it could lead to his undoing.
MAURER: Can you puzzle out My Word?
I recently welcomed a special guest to “Mickey’s Corner”—Will Shortz, the crossword editor of The
New York Times and the riddle maven we love to listen to every Sunday morning on
National Public Radio. In order to engage this creative genius, I conceived a challenge that I present to
you now: a two-part game called My Word.
MARCUS: Transportation tells us about economy
Our many national concerns are manifest in the widespread transportation industry. The level of
economic activity determines the demand for transportation services and equipment.
ZEIGLER: Downtown deserves better design
Downtown Indianapolis has a housing problem. I am not referring to the abandoned and foreclosed homes that blight many of
our neighborhoods. This is a problem of new, prominent construction projects that are out of place in our built environment.
SKARBECK: Iceland offers case study of economy out of control
Nowhere else on the stage of global economics was financial boom and bust more surreally scripted than in the small isolated
country of Iceland.
HICKS: Card check folly and the demise of unions
This Labor Day sees the American labor movement in serious decline. In fact, U.S. private-sector union membership
has been in serious decline for three decades.
Reduce government role in health care
Bruce Hetrick’s patronizing and dismissive reference [in his Aug. 24 column] to the idea of death panels (“There is,
of course, no such clause or intent in any health-reform legislation”) is insulting to any reader who has followed the
debate over health care reform.
ISO conductor should live here
I know that I will not be supporting the [Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra] in any way until they have a conductor that lives here and is paid a reasonable salary.
Read MoreExperience doesn’t mean talent
Paul Barada’s argument that teachers with 30 years of teaching
experience making $50,000-plus a year are underpaid is flawed.
Wrestling yields long-term benefits
As another former high school wrestler from the 1959-1960 season, [Mickey Maurer’s Aug. 24 column] about Cleo Moore
was an opportunity to reflect.
Wrestler also excelled at football
[Mickey Maurer’s Aug. 24 column] on Cleo Moore caught my attention. I have read his name in the papers many times
and thought it sounded familiar. As I read through your article on Moore, it dawned on me why I recognized his name.
Investing columnist needs new topics
It is rather obvious [investment columnist] Keenan Hauke has run out of things to write about. Give the readers a break,
this guy’s views are downright irresponsible.
In BriefBack to Top
Oak Street Funding raises $50 million in new capital
German group invests in Carmel-based company that specializes in financial services for insurance agencies.
Read MoreHall-Render co-founder returns to law firm
A co-founder of Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC is returning to the downtown law firm more than a decade after
he left it. Rex Killian will lead the firm’s governance consulting practice, which serves both not-for-profit
and for-profit health care clients.
Air-filter maker fills orders for overseas destinations
With a recent surge in overseas sales, Pure Air Systems is reaping the benefits of incorporating new technology into its product
line.
Downtown apartment complex expanding
The developer of The Waverley apartments downtown has filed plans to expand the complex because of high demand for one-bedroom
units.
Neighborino LLC rolls out software for homeowners associations
Upstart software company rolls out software that enables homeowners’ associations to create community
Web sites without technical assistance.
Carmel arts foundation adds directors; Stutz names residents
The Carmel Performing Arts Foundation has appointed its first independent board members, Rollin Dick and Rosemary Waters.
In downtown Indianapolis, two local artists will receive free studio space in the Stutz Building
for the next year.
Delaware County joins Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority
Delaware County’s representative on the CIRTA board will be Marta Moody, executive director of
the Delaware-Muncie Plan Commission.
PROXY CORNER: Monroe Bancorp
Monroe Bancorp, 210 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, 47408 (www.monroecountybank.com) is the holding company for Monroe Bank, which provides consumer and commercial banking services and related financial services in Monroe, Hendricks, Lawrence and Jackson counties.
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