AUG. 27-SEPT. 3, 2021
Local arts organizations and event promoters are desperate to keep COVID-19 from ruining another season. IBJ’s Susan Orr reports that they’re using strategies such as vaccination requirements, mask mandates and capacity restrictions to preserve their ability to hold in-person events. Also in this week’s paper, John Russell charts the rise and fall of Windstream Technologies Inc., a green-energy darling that failed to repay millions of dollars ion federally guaranteed loans. And Emily Ketterer explores how the lack of child care providers is putting stress on parents hoping to return to return to work in person.
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The rise and fall of a renewable energy darling
The U.S. government is suing WindStream, which shut down in 2016. It says the company owes $3.12 million in loans that the U.S. Export-Import Bank guaranteed as WindStream was expanding globally.
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Concert, event organizers tighten entry rules as COVID cases increase
Local arts organizations and event promoters are using strategies such as vaccination requirements, mask mandates and capacity restrictions to help preserve their ability to hold in-person events.
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Colleges and athletes navigating new name, image, likeness rules
Hundreds of college student-athletes across the country have started signing endorsement deals and social media contracts, under rules the NCAA approved this summer.
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Lack of caregivers puts stress on parents, providers
Child care centers across the state are scrambling to find enough workers to meet demand and parents are struggling to find a child care provider with a vacancy.
Read MoreQ&A: ‘Game Changer’ Mel Raines looks forward to new season
Mel Raines will be recognized by the Sports Business Journal later this year as one of 50 women who are making a remarkable impact in the sports-business industry across the globe.
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Prosecutor uncertain whether he’ll move offices to Community Justice Campus
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said his hesitancy arises from concerns over how such a move could increase the prosecutor’s operating costs.
Read MoreAn Olympic medalist promotes Lilly’s migraine medicine (with an asterisk)
Eli Lilly and Co. has produced at least two video commercials featuring Olympic swimmer Ryan Murphy promoting its migraine treatment, Emgality. But one of the ads contains a fleeting disclaimer: Murphy doesn’t take Emgality.
Read MoreNot-for-profit legal services collective considers $7M HQ project in Zionsville
If Allies Collective chooses Zionsville, and the commission enters into a project agreement, the headquarters could create as many as 150 jobs paying an average of $41 per hour over the next six years.
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Montieth: Harkness was a long-shot artist in and out of basketball
Harkness, who passed away early Tuesday morning at age 81, had a knack for being part of history. He also had a knack for making it himself when necessary.
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New ‘iBuyers’ are jumping into central Indiana’s real estate market
San Francisco-based Opendoor and Phoenix-based Offerpad both announced in recent weeks that they were bringing their internet-driven real estate services to homeowners in central Indiana. They allow homeowners to request a cash offer on their homes—usually available within 24 hours.
Read MoreAll-Star Real Estate Agents: The Indy area’s top teams and solo sellers
Three veteran real estate agent teams retained the top three places in IBJ’s All-Star team rankings, with Dennis Nottingham’s Indy Home Pros Team claiming the No. 1 spot. Jennil Salazar of RE/MAX Ability Plus made it a three-peat as the top IBJ All-Star solo agent.
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Seeing Zionsville from a cozy front porch
John and Solveig Fiene’s Zionsville home has high ceilings, plenty of light streaming in the windows and a big, welcoming front porch, the perfect place to sit and talk to people walking by.
Read MoreResidential Real Estate: Marketplace stats for August 27, 2021
The region’s hot real estate market cooled slightly in July but continued at a rapid pace. The number of single-family home and condo sales in 16 central Indiana counties dropped 2.9% from June to 4,071 in July.
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Editorial: Prosecutor needs to get on board for Community Justice Campus
All parties need to sit down and figure out how costs can be contained and assure that the Prosecutor’s Office makes the move to help streamline the judiciary process and keep the campus’s development on track.
Read MoreLesley Weidenbener: Editorials often prompt critiques from all sides
Anyone who reads IBJ regularly knows that our editorial board (which is composed of three editors and the IBJ publisher) shies away from urging government mandates. I’m not going to say we’ve never done it, but it’s in no way our default position.
Read MoreGreg Keesling: Congress should invest more in subsidized employment
The true cost of mass incarceration in the United States is estimated at more than $180 billion a year. And the carceral system itself doesn’t reduce crime.
Read MoreIn the workplace: To outplay the ‘Great Resignation,’ employers must re-recruit
It is time to innovate and, to keep our best people, we absolutely have to “re-recruit” the talent we have on board.
Read MorePete the Planner: Use the ‘lazy person’s budget’ to see what’s left for hobbies
Most of the guilt people feel about spending money on unnecessary things arises from knowing they aren’t making tomorrow easier.
Read MoreUrban Design: Urban design, like fashion, should cover more than the basics
Design is often misconstrued to be a luxury. Yet, at its core, design is about creatively solving the problems we all face at any scale.
Read MoreBohanon and Curott: A failure in the basic economics of governing
A bit of background: Afghanistan is a tribal society dominated by tribal leaders and subject to tribal conflicts. This makes establishing an effective national government difficult.
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Smokey Bones chain returning to Avon after 15-year hiatus, but with ghost-kitchen twist
When it reopens in Avon, the barbecue hotspot will serve its own customers while accommodating two virtual takeout-and-delivery-only concepts—The Wing Experience and The Burger Experience.
Read MoreIndyGo gets $81M for Purple Line, allowing construction as soon as February
The Purple Line will run along 38th Street, upgrading a traditional bus route that IndyGo says is among its most ridden and most profitable, and connecting downtown Indianapolis to Lawrence.
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Westfield City Council approves $16.7M bond for new library
Plans call for the 45,000-square-foot library to be built on 3.6 acres at Westfield Boulevard and Park Street in downtown Westfield.
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Indy Library CEO to step down after months of controversy
The announcement of Jackie Nytes’ impending departure comes after allegations of racial discrimination within the library system and claims of a negative work environment.
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