JULY 8-14, 2013
This week, learn how former Indiana Pacers forward Jonathan Bender turned his career-ending knee injury into the inspiration to become an entrepreneur and develop a medical device for strenthening the lower body. Speaking of inventions, Dan Human reports on the hundreds of patents produced through Indiana's universities over the last 20 years, and a gaping disconnect with the private sector: Many of these developments are simply irrelevant to Indiana's strongest industries. And in A&E, Lou Harry returns to the hallowed Pawn Shop Pub to see how the food fares in the post-smoking ban atmosphere.
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Auto dealers turn bullish, snag sites
Local car dealers are investing in projects ranging from new facilities to showroom renovations as the economy improves and the auto industry rebounds from a crippling slump in sales.
Read MoreMass transit opponent pitches wider roads
A leading opponent of the plan for regional mass transit is floating an alternative that calls for widening north-south commuter corridors like Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Capitol Avenue and College Avenue.
Read MoreFormer Pacer invents device to increase leg strength
In April, Jonathan Bender launched a company based on a device he invented to help others avoid the knee troubles that put an end to his promising NBA career. Already, he’s brokered a deal with California-based Relax The Back retail chain.
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Citizens Energy quizzed on exec pay levels
Citizens Energy Group has enjoyed a certain amount of public good will over the last 125 years as a not-for-profit, charitable trust. But rising incentive pay to the trust’s top brass recently has conjured up images of an investor-owned utility—and the scrutiny of regulators.
Read MoreIngersoll-Rand’s spin-off plan may give boost to area
Irish industrial conglomerate Ingersoll-Rand Plc is poised to spin off its security operations late this year into Allegion—which will have its North American headquarters and most of its executive team in Carmel.
Read MoreAnderson woman churning out dog chews made from elk antlers
Cindy Dunston Quirk spent a decade coming up with an allergy-free dog chew idea, then, within two weeks of deciding on elk antlers, had a product packaged and ready to sell.
Read MoreFirms unravel implications of same-sex court ruling
Judges have spoken and people have celebrated, but human resources departments remain confounded on what will change for their companies with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act.
Read MorePromoters of arts trail recast vision
A mural slated for one wall of the Broad Ripple parking garage will be the first new artwork within view of the Central Canal Towpath, which a group of north-side institutions would like to rebrand as the Art2Art trail.
Read MoreFast-growing Stonegate Mortgage files for public offering
Stonegate ranked No. 1 on IBJ’s May list of fastest-growing Indianapolis-area private companies. The eight-year-old company saw revenue rocket from $15.5 million in 2010 to $95.5 million in 2012.
Read MoreBig Red Liquors buys south-side building for HQ
The Bloomington-based company followed its acquisition of United Package Liquors by acquiring a vacant, 33,000-square-foot building on U.S. 31.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Universities’ patents often lack commercial applications
The state's universities crank out patents that find their way to pharmaceutical, prosthetics and surgery technology companies. But they also generate reams of patents in areas with few industrial applications.
Read MoreFirm uses ‘causality’ to improve Internet searches
Allegient LLC and subcontracted IUPUI informatics experts wrote algorithms that go beyond word searches to look for “causality”—relationships between words suggesting one thing caused another.
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EDITORIAL: IPS’ new chief can’t dilly-dally
Ferebee must be bold, decisive in effort to reverse district’s decline.
Read MoreMAURER: Community leadership is legitimate source of civic pride
Unlike public safety and education, this is a city asset we have in abundance.
Read MoreRUSTHOVEN: This is post-racial America?
The final days of June made me wonder if we’re ever going to get past race.
Read MoreStudent loan debt could cripple recovery
Congress should act immediately to reverse increase in interest rate.
Read MoreHicks: Same-sex debate obscures larger family crisis
Same-sex marriage or household arrangements possess no economic consequences. However, the debate itself does have consequences because it crowds out honest deliberation on the real problems of collapsing families.
Read MoreKim: Bill Gates’ favorite teacher can help your child–for free
Wouldn’t it be great if there were an online platform offering an easy and engaging way to sharpen skills and improve knowledge so your student can hit the ground running when school starts? Khan Academy fits the bill.
Read MoreUse sports model for schools
So why not follow the sports franchise model to pull our schools out of their sorry state?
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
St. Vincent gives big execs the ax; current job cuts just ‘first pass’
The job cuts at St. Vincent Health last month were so extensive that even two of the hospital system’s C-suite executives got the ax. And one local hospital accountant predicts these cuts are just the first pass that St. Vincent—and all of its hospital peers—will have to make.
Read MoreCity proposes historic district for Monument Circle and nearby area
The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission is proposing to take under its jurisdiction 90 buildings on and near the Circle, giving the city stricter control over signage and other changes to building exteriors.
Read MoreTaxi cab drivers file suit against Town of Speedway
Speedway police improperly seized the licenses of as many as 80 cab drivers on the day of this year’s Indianapolis 500, and later charged them $50 each for their return, according to a federal lawsuit filed against the town.
Read MoreSharper minds coming to TV production truck?
Ball State University next month will launch what’s believed to be the nation’s first-ever digital sports production major.
Read MoreTech expo offers elevator opportunity
A growing expo for Indiana’s technology industry will give 60 startups a shot at pulling in capital on July 11. Each company will get 60 seconds to pitch their businesses to Halo Capital Group, Elevate Ventures and a handful of other seed- and early-stage investment firms.
Read MorePROXY CORNER: HHGregg Inc.
Indianapolis-based HHGregg Inc. is a specialty retailer of consumer electronics and home appliances. It operates 228 stores in 20 states.
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