AUG. 29-SEPT. 4, 2025
Columbus-based SIHO Insurance Services is a small health insurer tackling the huge challenge of growth in the employer-based benefits market in Indianapolis and across the state. Daniel Lee reports that it’s taking on national insurers and scoring early wins. Also in this week’s issue, Taylor Wooten has an update on the progress made by the Indy Health District in improving outcomes in five historic Indianapolis neighborhoods. And Dave Lindquist sits down with local musician Otis Gibbs, who’s enjoying a career renaissance through his music-history storytelling channel on YouTube.
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Health district takes shape ahead of IU Health hospital completion
The recently established Indy Health District is dedicated to reducing health inequity across Indianapolis. It stretches from St. Clair Street north to 38th Street, encompassing 1,500 acres.
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Small Columbus health insurer tries to take on the giants
SIHO Insurance Services is tackling the gargantuan challenge of growth in the employer-based benefits market in Indianapolis and across the state.
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Q&A: Debra ‘Fergy’ Ferguson leads company that makes ads for major concert tours
Beyond radio commercials and ad-mats, TourDesign produces video content for online platforms and television plus lyric videos for record labels and even album covers, in the case of rock band Toto.
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Zionsville organization helps adults with disabilities find work
Watch Us Farm is a nonprofit with an ambitious plan to grow and develop its program that provides job training and employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Otis Gibbs’ creative life includes his music, YouTube
The prominent Indianapolis musician with a healthy following in Europe is experiencing a career renaissance thanks to storytelling videos he posts on YouTube.
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Mark Montieth: Speedway’s Tom Gilbert was billed as Purdue’s next hoops hero, but fate intervened
Gilbert passed through the stages of an idyllic childhood and nationally recognized high school athletic career at Speedway High School to a college experience at Purdue that was both snakebitten and self-destructive to an adult life that was cruelly unfair.
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Parkview Health to build $150M hospital in Lebanon
Parkview said work on the 108,000-square foot hospital and 30,000-square foot medical office building is expected to begin next year.
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State sells former GM stamping plant site to Elanco for $27M
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said the agreement “enables Elanco and its partners, including Purdue University, to accelerate the creation of an innovation district in downtown Indianapolis.”
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Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner unanimously confirmed as new higher ed commissioner
Jenner will lead both the K-12 and higher education agencies, beginning Oct. 11.
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Indy councilors line up in opposition to Google’s billion-dollar data center
Almost half of the council has spoken out against the controversial project, which was approved by the Metropolitan Development Commission last week.
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Lucas Oil founder Forrest Lucas dies at 83
Lucas, who was born in southern Indiana, built Lucas Oil Products into a household name by signing a sponsorship to put the company’s name on the home of the Indianapolis Colts for 20 years beginning in 2006.
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Apartment project with 261 units of workforce housing planned on far-west side
Raceway Development Partners LLC intends to construct the six-building project on nearly 11 acres on the western edge of Marion County.
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Local businesses see big opportunities ahead in new drone-flight rule
Once the rule takes effect—which could be as soon as early next year—observers expect a huge increase in drone use for everything from package delivery to public safety to agricultural activities to aerial surveying.
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Editorial: Braun smart to sell land to Elanco for health district
Government doesn’t always move as quickly as the business community—and Elanco and Purdue have a vision for the kind of campus they want to develop.
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Lesley Weidenbener: ‘I’ve had to give up fear’
“Fear is tiring, it’s draining, it’s expensive, it’s a barrier to creativity, and it hinders the connecting of people. Yes, fear can also act as a guide, a vehicle even for honoring our creator and even a natural protectant,” she continued. “But I’m talking about the fear that prevents collective progress.”
Read MoreDan Leonard: A case for sustaining leadership in biomedical innovation
It would be catastrophic on multiple levels if we ceded innovative superiority to our international competitors.
Read MoreKia Wright: Investing in our youth is state’s economic imperative
When young people connect with leaders who share their cultural background, they gain professional skills and confidence in their ability to succeed.
Read MoreSamantha Julka: To fuel a think tank, you need an original thought
Put a group of smart people in a room, and innovation happens.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: When economic statistics lose integrity, bad things happen
The Federal Reserve uses BLS data to determine the inflation rate and whether the economy is in a recession.
Read MoreMickey Kim: Danger: Private funds are salivating over your 401(k)
America’s 401(k) system controls over $12 trillion in retirement assets, the single largest reservoir of investable long-term money on the planet.
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Indiana State Fair overcomes heat, sees slight attendance increase
This year’s attendance figure was the largest since 2019, when the fair ran 17 days instead of 15.
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Former pharmaceutical exec’s Zionsville home hits market for $11.9M
The 18-acre estate features a 14,200-square-foot residence with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms, as well as a guest house.
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Illinois Street Food Emporium changing ownership
Vivian Farris, who acquired the cafe, bakery and catering business in 2014 from founders Ernie and Sue Kobets, is set to retire after a long career in the food-service business.
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