DEC. 8-14, 2023
Eli Lilly and Co. has struck pharmaceutical gold with its obesity drug, Zepbound. But the new drug carries a hefty price of $1,060 per month, and insurers and health care plans are balking, questioning its affordability. John Russell explores the ramifications for patients and the health-care cost debate. Also in this issue, Susan Orr reports the banking industry foresees an end to the slump in financial stocks. And Mickey Shuey explains how Indy-area logistics companies are using drones to help them track inventory inside giant warehouses.
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Lilly launches obesity drug, but insurers balk over price
The new drug, called Zepbound, carries a hefty price of $1,059.87 per month, and insurers and health care plans are balking, questioning its affordability. Many employers and government health programs exclude obesity treatments from their coverage.
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Indiana-based banks see stock-price rebound on horizon
Most of Indiana’s 14 publicly traded banks have seen a significant drop in stock prices at some point this year, in some cases falling more than 50% from their Jan. 3 prices, the first trading day of the year.
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New Whitestown leaders prepare for next phase of town growth
With less than a month to go before they take office Jan. 1, the five members of Whitestown’s next town council—three new councilors and two who will start their first full terms—are preparing to get to work in Indiana’s fastest-growing community.
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Warehouse drones scan codes to help track inventory
Greenfield-based Progressive Logistics and Indianapolis-based Langham Logistics are both working with Pittsburgh-based Gather AI Inc. to use drones to scan and track items in their facilities.
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Derek Schultz: Broadening the Horizon
As one of the top mid-major conferences in the country, [the Horizon League] is affected by every single one of these seismic changes, even if that impact isn’t always direct.
Read MoreIndiana 250: Dr. Lisa Harris
Dr. Lisa Harris leads Eskenazi Health, one of the nation’s essential health care systems that also serves as a training ground for the Indiana University School of Medicine. She’s been engaged in patient care, research and teaching for 40 years at Eskenazi Health, which the Lown Institute Hospitals Index has ranked as one of the […]
Read MoreMade in Indiana: Pressure washers by Aqua Blast Corp.
History: Founded in Bluffton by Paul Gerber in 1962, Aqua Blast first sold pressure washers only to agricultural customers. Under new ownership in 1984, the company moved to the Adams County community of Decatur. Present owner David Tumbleson joined Aqua Blast’s sales staff in 1987. Tumbleson became a co-owner two years later, and he’s been […]
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Council votes to approve creation of downtown enhancement tax
The 19-5 vote, which followed party lines, creates an economic enhancement district—or EED—bound by North, East, South and West streets—the Mile Square—that would see increases to property taxes within those boundaries.
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Alabama firm buys Keystone, Greenwood shopping centers for $27.5M, seeks more upscale targets
The company’s primary investment focus is unanchored shopping centers located in more affluent areas of major cities. Its founder sees Indianapolis “as one of the most attractive cities in the Midwest.”
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State files to dismiss media legal challenge to law enforcement ‘buffer zones’
The state’s highest legal office filed to dismiss a challenge Friday from a group of media entities to the state’s “buffer zone” law, which creates a 25-foot zone around law enforcement officers during certain activities.
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Plainfield warehouse serves as auction hub for returned goods at deep discounts
Online auction hub AllSurplus Deals opened Nov. 17 in a Plainfield warehouse to sell returned and overstock items directly to the public.
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Expect a tamer legislative session in 2024
Republican leaders in the Indiana General Assembly say not to expect the same level of heated debate in the 2024 legislative session as in recent years. Instead, look for lawmakers to “tweak” and “fine-tune” existing laws.
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Editorial: This holiday season, your gift to charity is especially welcome
Choose something that is meaningful to you—then make a meaningful contribution. You can even donate in honor of someone else, which might make a perfect Christmas gift for that person who has everything.
Read MoreNate Feltman: Mitch Daniels inspires next-generation leaders
Daniels’ philosophy of working hard, thinking boldly, keeping score, delivering results and lifting everyone up continues to inspire me and countless Hoosiers.
Read MoreTing Gootee: How Indiana leaders can focus on startup success
Capital isn’t everything to a VC ecosystem, but it is an important input to venture building and is an indicator of a robust innovation ecosystem.
Read MoreSean Mobley: Indiana’s time to get renewable energy right is now
As the world’s eyes turn to Dubai for climate leadership on the global stage, the real and hard work of meeting our state’s and nation’s energy needs will take place here at home.
Read MoreTiffany Sauder: How I navigate motherhood in two-career house
For me, the journey of becoming a working mom—and a two-career household (my husband has an enormous job) —emerged slowly.
Read MoreMickey Kim: Nondescript pair revealed superpower of simple lifestyle
I’m always amazed and awed to read about “salt-of-the-earth” people like Holt who are of modest means but still manage to amass multimillion-dollar estates.
Read MoreCecil Bohanon and John Horowitz: Henry Kissinger’s legacy can be seen in China
In 1972, the ordinary citizens of mainland China were overwhelmingly poor and sick.
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Scarlet Lane Brewing to close two of five locations
Scarlet Lane Brewing announced Monday plans to close tap rooms in the Meridian-Kessler and Kennedy-King neighborhoods.
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WTHR meteorologist Greene signs off after 10 years at WTHR
Kelly Greene has been delivering TV weather forecasts in Indiana for the past two decades,
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Phyllis Armstrong named next CEO of Child Advocates
Armstrong will succeed longtime CEO Cindy Booth, who is retiring after nearly 30 years with the children’s advocacy organization.
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Former Colts punter Hunter Smith launches Statehouse bid
Smith said he would prioritize bipartisanship, “balance” and “dialogue,” and was also clear in calling himself a “pro-life conservative” and “pro-school choice.”
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IndyGo CEO Inez Evans leaving after four years leading transit agency
Jennifer Pyrz, chief development officer for IndyGo, will become interim CEO after Evans’ departure.
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Sam Carpenter and Indra Frank: State water investments should include wetlands
Policy is an essential part of the answer to both water quantity and water quality.
Read MoreDavid Rosenberg: Water should be distributed to benefit all
As other states suffer droughts or lack of resources, Indiana won’t.
Read MoreRep. Sharon Negele: Rising water demands require thoughtful balance
We need to look at water differently in Indiana, and to plan for and prevent any future water problems.
Read MoreRandy Kron: Water isn’t an infinite resource. We must be mindful.
Agriculture needs a seat at the table as Indiana seeks a lasting solution that safeguards our water for generations to come.
Read MoreBrian Daggy: Protection of finite resources crucial to our future
Agriculture needs a seat at the table as Indiana seeks a lasting solution that safeguards our water for generations to come.
Read MoreDr. Richard Feldman: A difficult question: Is medical aid in dying ethical?
The prescription medications used are self-administered; this is not euthanasia.
Read MoreCurt Smith: After divorce, shared parenting is key to happy kids
The stories one hears about estranged parents, bruised children and a weaponized court system break your heart.
Read MoreBrian Schutt: Legislature should consider pro-startup incentives
More innovation and entrepreneurship in a place impact its culture in a multitude of subtle but cumulatively significant ways.
Read MoreJim Shella: Kudos to Debby Knox and her long Indianapolis career
Over the years, every station in town has tried—without success—to find an anchor who would match Debby’s skills and longevity.
Read MoreKaren Celestino-Horseman: Candidates should be judged by company they keep
We have time before the 2024 elections to examine and vet the candidates.
Read MoreDana Black: With Trump endorsement, so long integrity
Indiana, we deserve better than this.
Read MoreClaire Fiddian-Green: To protect our kids, we must limit social media
While certainly an unpopular decision among young people, we’ll all be better off in the long run.
Read MoreAbdul-Hakim Shabazz: This Christmas, I want civility for my neighbors
We can have a spirited debate. I’ve never had a problem with that.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner Chartier: Let’s find more happiness in the next election season
Politics has long run on fear and anger, but it’s hard to ignore how much hotter that rage fire burns in the age of social media and widespread misinformation and disinformation campaigns.
Read MoreRep. Ed DeLaney: What laurels may the Indiana Republicans rest on?
These mighty engines are full of braggadocio but empty of substance.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: Students need better education on Jewish history
There cannot be a clearer case of blaming the victim.
Read MorePierre Atlas: Israel faced a moral dilemma in responding to Oct. 7
Unlike Israel, Hamas has no struggle with a ‘moral dilemma.’
Read MoreBrad Rateike: Find your ‘foxhole’ people, hold them tight
It is not even a ‘friendship’ thing; it is a character thing.
Read MoreSpecial SectionsBack to Top
2023 CFO of the Year: Evan Brown
Evan Brown was one of the first team members at The Garrett Cos., which appeared on IBJ’s Fast 25 list in 2018, 2021, 2022 and again this year.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Michele Kawiecki
Michele Kawiecki joined First Merchants Bank nearly nine years ago as senior vice president of treasury and accounting.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Rick Schulz
Rick Schulz joined Evansville-based United Cos. in 1992 as CFO.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Mundo Sanchez
Mundo Sanchez, CFO of refrigerated-trucking company Renewable Transport Services, said his role as chief financial officer extends far beyond financial reporting.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Chris Huxhold
Chris Huxhold is vice president of finance at Casted Inc., an Indianapolis-based company that makes and markets a platform for branded podcasts.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Kip Zurcher
Kip Zurcher leads all financial, legal, compliance and data-privacy operations for Authenticx, an IBJ Fast 25 company whose software allows customers in the health care and insurance industries to analyze millions of client interactions (phone calls, texts, online chats and more) to improve their services.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Jeanné Wickens
As CFO of Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health, Jeanné Wickens is responsible for financial decision support, fiscal services, health plan services, managed care contracting, strategic financial planning and budgeting, tax and treasury services, and more.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Cris Johnston
Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2019 appointed Cris Johnston director of the Office of Management and Budget after he served about a year as Holcomb’s deputy chief of staff.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Kevin Wilson
Kevin Wilson has worked for the state of Indiana for 16 years and been in his current position since 2019. His role is to develop strategies and financial models to ensure the office delivers cost-effective services to partner agencies.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Jeff Curiel
As CFO and chief operating officer of the Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, Jeff Curiel oversees several departments, including finance, human resources, technology and facilities.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Annie Costlow
As CFO of Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, Annie Costlow oversees the financial and administrative pieces of the organization as well as information technology and human resources.
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2023 CFO of the Year: Monica Markovich
Monica Markovich oversees all operations of Holy Cross College, including human resources, information technology, finance, facilities and risk management.
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