AUGUST 1-7, 2011
This week, check out the final installment of our "Testing Reform" series on overhauling education and find out why successful businessman Bill Mays is retiring from the company he founded. In Focus, read about why more local life sciences firms are launching their products in Europe. And meet the power players in the construction, design and engineering industry in the latest Who's Who.
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Precedent joins ranks of battered developers
The Precedent Cos.—the local developer of The Precedent Office Park, Mount Comfort Commercial Park and several upscale residential communities in Hamilton and Johnson counties—is winding down operations in an out-of-court restructuring.
Read MoreIMS officials to revamp Brickyard 400
Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Jeff Belskus has an ambitious plan to “rebrand and reposition” the 18-year-old Brickyard 400 in a bid to fuel big attendance increases beginning next year.
Read MoreIndy Met’s messy year offers education-reform lessons
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School overhauled its academic program halfway through the school year, and students responded with significantly better performance on state tests. The lesson learned: Flexibility can produce academically superior outcomes.
Read MoreCharter school trying to build on test-score progress
Indy Met’s structured approach helped more students pass algebra, English exams. Now many say the school should work on solidifying its gains.
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Chinese firm aims to hire thousands at Indiana facility
A Chinese entrepreneur intends to open his first U.S. tire-recycling facility in Indiana. Good Time Technology Development is considering vacant industrial sites in Connersville, Kokomo and Muncie.
Read MoreBill Mays to retire from Mays Chemical
The most successful black businessman in Indiana plans to retire from the company that bears his name at year-end as part of a transition that ultimately will put his daughter at the helm.
Read MoreNFL’s new ‘salary floor’ could challenge Colts
Bigger player payrolls under the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement are expected to make life difficult for small-market teams like the Indianapolis Colts.
Read MoreEli Lilly’s Elanco unit blossoming at just the right time
An investment firm projects that the Elanco animal-health business will generate sales of nearly $2 billion by 2012 and surpass $3 billion by 2018.
Read MoreYouth agencies adapting on the fly to new school calendar
The Indianapolis Public Schools board voted in November to adopt a calendar that shortens summer vacation and introduces longer fall and spring breaks. The idea is to give kids less time to forget what they’ve learned and provide more opportunities to catch up.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indiana life sciences leaders look toward the future
Former Eli Lilly and Co. vice president Richard Dimarchi, BioCrossroads President David Johnson, angel investor Oscar Moralez and Purdue University Senior Vice President Alan Rebar discuss issues ranging from the depth of the life sciences industry in Indiana to venture capital and Purdue’s Discovery Park.
Read MoreMore life sciences firms opt to launch products in Europe
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s growing reputation for unpredictability is spurring some Indianapolis companies to join counterparts elsewhere and introduce products in Europe. The upshot is that some Americans may never benefit from innovations occurring in their backyards.
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EDITORIAL: Athletes could make charity last by giving instead of creating
It shouldn’t be any surprise that professional athletes are flexing their philanthropic muscles with increasing frequency, leveraging their wealth and fame to start tax-exempt entities of their own.
Read MoreMORRIS: Super Bowl inspires collaboration
In anticipation of what I’m sure will be an awesome event, I thought this would be a good time to talk about some unique collaboration that is taking place in the city leading up to the big game.
Read MoreMARCUS: Consumer Price Index proposal costs little, saves a lot
For all of our philosophical pondering combined with our statistical cleverness, we cannot figure out what is “living” nor determine its “cost.”
Read MoreKENNEDY: TIFs have gone from good idea to bad
The Ballard administration is proposing to turn large swatches of the urban core into TIFs, robbing school districts and libraries of desperately needed revenue.
Read MoreALTOM: Ready to toss your old cell phone? Think again
Today, the typical cell phone has the productive life of a cockroach: about 18 to 24 months. It’s not that the phones stop working.
Read MoreHICKS: Woody Guthrie, Ron Paul and the national debt
Now, I have been given to observe many a wondrous and unusual thing over the course of my life, but the thought of Ron Paul and Woody Guthrie cozying up on fiscal policy leaves me virtually speechless.
Read MoreSKARBECK: Regulators aren’t so bad, and we really need them
while the cost of regulatory compliance can be annoying, they do serve a vital societal function—consumer protection.
Read MoreMaurer column brought smile
I wanted to reach [out] about Mickey Maurer’s [July 25] column. It was very well done and put a smile or two on my face (and made me chuckle out loud).
Read MoreA twist on the hoax
I truly appreciated Mickey Maurer’s [July 25] column and actually laughed out loud.
Read MoreAthletes can win at charity game
I appreciated Kathleen McLaughlin’s [July 25] article on professional athletes’ involvement in philanthropic work, often creating their own charities.
Read MoreUnited Way clarification
The [July 13] news item explaining United Way’s community investments for the fiscal year indicates United Way will “contribute” $2.65 million from its budget to cover unpaid pledges calls for clarification.
Read MoreSuper Bowl is latest Indianapolis exploit
I think the Indy Super Bowl will be a success for our community [July 18 Benner column].
Read MoreLegacy project helps east side
Thank you for the [Bill Benner column on July 18] that lifts up our neighborhood.
Read MoreEast side getting Super Bowl boost
I enjoyed [Benner’s July 18] column on the Super Bowl Legacy project.
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
WellPoint insures two-thirds of Hoosier workers
Indianapolis-based WellPoint claimed 63 percent of all employees covered by small-group employers and 66 percent of the workers at large-group employers, according to Seattle-based actuarial firm Milliman Inc.
Read MoreJunior Achievement back in black after financial woes
The not-for-profit announced Wednesday morning that it has eliminated nearly $2 million in debt from six different creditors and has launched a fundraising campaign.
Read MoreTimmy Foundation changes name to reflect global reach
The organization that organizes medical teams to serve overseas is now called Timmy Global Health.
Read MoreProspects bright for Borders replacements
Brokers expect strong demand from other retailers, in part because the failed bookstore chain carefully chose its real estate, opting for locations near concentrations of affluent and educated consumers.
Read MoreStudy says Butler scored valuable media exposure in tourneys
A study says the school earned $512 million worth of media exposure thanks to the back-to-back runs to the men’s basketball NCAA Championship game.
Read MoreTech startup Tinderbox picks up more funding, industry veteran
A former executive vice president at Indianapolis-based e-mail marketing firm Exact Target will lead the firm’s effort to sell to bigger companies.
Read MoreWTTV Channel 4 nabs national award
WTTV-TV Channel 4 and Tribune Creative Group were recently recognized with a Silver Award at the 2011 Promax/BDA Promotion, Marketing and Design North America Awards Show.
Read MoreNFP of NOTE: Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention
he Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention mobilizes, advocates and empowers community collaboration toward the elimination of homelessness.
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