DECEMBER 14-20, 2009
This week, read about a newly revealed connection between Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi and beleagured businessman Tim Durham. Also, find out where Indiana mayors might turn to replace millions lost because of tax caps. And in A&E, etc., see what Lou Harry has to say about Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's annual "Yuletide Celebration."
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General Growth deal would extend Simon’s mall dominance
Wall Street analysts have described the potential sale of Chicago-based General Growth Properties as a “once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity” for a company to make “the deal of the decade” in the shopping-mall business.
Basketball tournament expansion could pay off for NCAA
The NCAA might expand its annual men’s tournament from the current three-week, 65-team format
to one featuring an added week and a whopping 96 teams. Proponents of the plan say it will generate a bigger
television rights-fee deal for the not-for-profit NCAA, which disperses 95 percent of the income to member institutions.
Obama reforms not necessarily dire for Sallie Mae in Indiana
The plan to nationalize the federal student loan program threatens to force Sallie Mae
to hack its network of 26 offices down to five. Yet the company’s Indiana operations have several advantages that could
help weather the cuts.
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Federal filing lists another link between Brizzi, Durham
A federal financial-disclosure statement Brizzi submitted in May lists the politician as an investor in Red Rock Pictures
Holdings Inc., a film-development firm also backed by Durham.
Cash-strapped mayors may tap owners of tax-exempt property
A group of mayors led by Tom Henry of Fort Wayne and Greg Ballard of Indianapolis is seeking new sources of revenue to replace
the millions they’ll lose because of property tax caps.
Stout’s Shoes still in step after 123 years
After more than a century in business, Indianapolis-based Stout’s Footwear Co. isn’t just
surviving. It also is proceeding with plans to open
a store next year on the city’s north side.
Plainfield’s MD Logistics sued by Bristol-Myers over lost insulin
Two semi-trailers of the medication were stolen in 2007 from a back lot at Daum Trucking, which isn’t named in the lawsuit.
Bristol-Myers charges MD Logistics with negligence in the $10.7 million suit.
Fledgling motorsports show growing faster than expected
The show held in Indianapolis Dec. 3-4 is picking up speed much faster than event organizers and local
convention and tourism officials expected. But the nation’s biggest motorsports trade show, Performance
Racing Industry Show, is considering competing with the local show head-on in 2010.
Hoosier Energy avoids financial brownout
Hoosier Energy, which supplies electricity to customers in 48 counties in central and southern Indiana, has settled a dispute
that had threatened to plunge the utility into bankruptcy.
Widow aspires to continue operating Burd Ford
Chris Burd still unsure why husband, Rich Burd, owner of Burd Ford, committed suicide. Burd was an auto dealer in Lawrence.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Espresso Book Machine could open new pages in local retailing
The pricey Espresso prints and binds books while customers wait. But retailers aren’t sure what to expect when the the machine
gains wider acceptance.
GUY: Ethical collapses offer many lessons
“The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse,” by Marianne M. Jennings, caused me to wonder whether investors
could have avoided various corporate disasters in Indiana.
OpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Loss of tennis tournament an ominous sign for city
It’s hard to fathom how Indianapolis lost the Indianapolis Tennis Championships—an event with 90 years of history—without
anyone in the city sounding an alarm.
MAURER: Cousin Eddie is a fine doctor and a special guy
Remember Cousin Eddie? He is the obstetrician/gynecologist in Houston I wrote about who tried to cut the mustard
in the hot dog business (“There ain’t no hog in the Yoso Dog”). He dreamed of having his own restaurant
and, against the advice of friends, he went to the dogs.
MARCUS: Where are 108,000 missing Hoosiers?
In my fantasy world, the country singer asks, “Are you ready for some data, some labor market data, for the nation,
for the states, and for Indiana counties?” Now those are words that stir the blood and stimulate the imagination.
HICKS: Short-term thinking won’t yield long-term payoffs
Macroeconomic forecasting is a tough â??science.â?? One may have the economy completely right, but that doesnâ??t mean it will make you any money as an investor.
Read MoreHICKS: Recession may help close job-skills gap
One of the most important effects of the recession â??lower employment â?? is likely to be stubbornly persistent.
Read MoreHealth care issues haven’t changed much
[In response to Chris Katterjohn’s Nov. 21 column] In ’73 I was a grad student in a master’s health care
management program and the same issues were the topic of the day, especially in the econ class.
Fix what’s broken first
As a physician, I owe it to my patients to help get health care reform right. From the front line, physicians can offer
changes that could result in more cost-effective, efficient and accessible health care. That’s why I joined the Coalition
to Protect Patients’ Rights, along with 10,000 other doctors.
Column overlooked airport parking option
In your Nov. 2 edition, Tom Henderson weighed in on the new Indy Airport experience. One of his complaints about the new
midfield terminal was that, without competition, available parking options have you where they want you. He realized, why
complain when it is a fait accompli? There is, however, another option.
Property taxes are out of whack
I have always found Morton Marcus’ columns both entertaining and informative. I read the Dec. 7 column, in which
Marcus seems to insinuate that property taxes were acceptable as they were and do not require modifications. As a resident
of Marion County, I could not disagree more.
In BriefBack to Top
Danica Patrick’s NASCAR move could fuel MainGate growth
MainGate holds an exclusive license to make and sell Patrick’s IRL-centric merchandise, and is
now in negotiations with New York-based IMG to get part of her NASCAR-related business.
Loss of partner at accounting firm Greenwalt Sponsel results in new name
The firm is now Greenwalt CPAs following the departure in September of Tom Sponsel, who launched Sponsel CPA Group.
Read MoreNoble of Indiana to provide in-home services to disabled
The service will launch in February. Its goal is to serve 15 clients by June 30, 2010.
Read MoreHealth care reform would push state to hike Medicaid pay to docs
An actuarial report prepared by the local office of Milliman Inc., a Seattle-based consulting firm, projects
that the state of Indiana would have to hike its Medicaid payments by one-third in order to entice more
doctors into the program.
Fishers-based Buckaroo Marketing grows with acquisition
The firm founded in 1999 recently announced it bought Indianapolis-based Zent Consulting. Financial terms
of the deal were not disclosed.
INDOT using federal funds to improve transportation options near schools
The Safe Routes to School program “aims to influence a new generation of healthy, sustainable travel
behavior,” says INDOT.
PROXY CORNER: Calumet Specialty Products Partners
Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP processes crude oil into lubricating oils, solvents and waxes, as well as into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
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