FEB. 14-20, 2020
Lindsey Erdody takes a deep dive into the career and influence of Rod Ratcliff, a pivotal figure in Indiana's horse racing and casino industry for more than three decades. And at nearly every turn, Ratcliff or his companies or his associates have run into questions and concerns about the way they interact with the public officials who make the rules associated with the industry. Also in this week's paper, Susan Orr examines the prospects for the site of the Diamond Chain Co. factory downtown. Diamond Chain’s parent company plans to close the 102-year-old facility, which is dead center in the quadrant of downtown including White River State Park, Victory Field, the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. And John Russell reveals that the nation's largest retailer of beer, wine and spirits is looking for a foothold in Indianapolis now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that residency requirements for liquor retailers are unconstitutional.
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Alcohol colossus seeking Indiana permit after Supreme Court ruling opens door
Total Wine & More, the nation’s largest retailer of beer, wine and spirits, has applied to the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission to open a store in part of a former Marsh Supermarkets in Nora.
Read MoreQuestions about ethics aren’t new for gambling-industry veteran Ratcliff
At nearly every turn, Rod Ratcliff or his companies or his associates have run into questions and concerns about the way they interact with the public officials who make the rules associated with the industry.
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Real estate pros bullish on Diamond Chain site
The planned closing of the 102-year-old factory in the southwestern corner of downtown likely will throw into play a nearly 18-acre site that real estate experts say would be attractive for myriad uses.
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Bottleworks’ Phase I could be 80% full when it opens
With its debut just months away, the 12-acre, $300 million Bottleworks District on the north end of Massachusetts Avenue has a majority of its Phase I office and entertainment space and nearly all of its food hall leased.
Read MoreInvestors keep their distance from Simon stock
David Simon said Simon Property Group’s ability to buy a company for $3.6 billion in cash without having to turn to a third party for financing and without suffering credit rating downgrades is a testament to the underappreciated strengths of the business.
Read MoreQ&A with Roger Veach, Axia Technology Partners CEO
Roger Veach’s fast-paced career hasn’t kept him from enjoying the rocket ride of his son, Zach Veach, a race car driver for the Andretti Autosport racing team.
Read MoreBarnes & Thornburg partner Mackey faces discipline hearing over relationship with former client’s then-wife
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission has filed a complaint against Larry Mackey, a titan in the Indianapolis law community and a former federal prosecutor. It alleges he had a romantic relationship with a woman while representing her husband in a high-profile fraud case.
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Josh Owens left SupplyKick weeks before dropping out of governor’s race
Owens told IBJ on Tuesday that he left his job as CEO of local tech firm SupplyKick in early January in part to focus on his run for governor. Now that he’s not running for governor, he said he hasn’t decided what his next move is.
Read MoreINDY BEACONS: Wes Montgomery, a modest king of jazz
The Indy native and self-taught musician was a regular at the city’s jazz clubs and won two Grammy Awards,
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Hoosier manufacturers prepping for NAFTA 2.0
The new agreement isn’t vastly different from NAFTA, observers say, but does contain new provisions automakers will be paying attention to—even if the impact of these provisions isn’t yet entirely clear.
Read MoreRobert Aboolian: 3 ways coronavirus will affect the U.S. economy—and 1 silver lining
The number of visitors coming to the United States from China could drop as much as 28% in 2020, which could translate into $5.8 billion in less spending this year and $10.3 billion less through 2024.
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Editorial: Lawmakers should say no to bill to prop up coal industry
Utilities are making the switch to other alternatives, including natural gas and solar, because they are cheaper and cleaner. Those are positive changes for Indiana economically—in both the sheer cost of power and the potential for improvements in health that come from cleaner air.
Read MoreGREG MORRIS: First half of year packed with inspiring IBJ events
Network and learn at Indiana Defense Summit, Health Care Heroes and other events that have the potential to help your business.
Read MoreRajan Gajaria: Indiana must forge global connections any way it can
With 1,000-plus foreign-owned businesses supporting 193,000 Hoosier jobs, we can’t afford to miss opportunities to invest in efforts that can directly help grow those numbers.
Read MorePhil Powell Higher education can lead region’s vision for talent
The data is clear. For Indianapolis talent to enjoy “major-league” status, a larger share of workers must have a college degree. If
Read MoreEd Feigenbaum: Opposition doesn’t stop bill to protect coal plants
One senator says calls and emails from constituents have outnumbered contacts on any other bill this session.
Read MoreKim & Todd Saxton: When does a side hustle become your main gig?
Millennials are more likely to have a side hustle than older workers, and people earning higher incomes are more likely to have a side hustle.
Read MorePETE THE PLANNER: Think twice about offering to pay for college
Unless you have an ungodly amount of money, you need to define exactly what it means to “pay for their education.” That’s a much bigger and broader promise than most people know.
Read MoreBOHANON AND CUROTT: Iowa fiasco obscures beauty of the caucus
The hullabaloo will probably kill off the Iowa caucus. Yet there is much to like about a caucus system—especially if one sees democracy as something more than a frantic media-driven circus.
Read MoreLetter: Indiana lawmakers, focus on smoking cessation
Raising the age to 21 must be complemented by an increase in the state’s tobacco tax, and more resources must be directed to underfunded tobacco prevention programs.
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Deal between Indy Reads, library would relocate bookstore to Fountain Square
The Indianapolis Public Library has reached an agreement in principle to close its Fountain Square branch in May so the not-for-profit literacy organization can move its bookstore to the space this summer.
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New owners plan wholesale change for vacant Marsh in Lawrence
Two brothers who hail from the Lawrence area have purchased North Lawrence Shopping Center in part to relocate their business, SE Imports & Wholesale. But another grocery is expected as well.
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Sullivan’s Hardware buys Fishers garden-and-home center for $5M, plots growth
After more than 40 years as the nursery’s founder and owner, Jeff Gatewood decided last fall to retire and put his five-acre business at 11405 Allisonville Road up for sale.
Read MoreCalifornia-based OpenPath to open Fishers office in Flexware project
The security firm’s Fishers office will be its first major move outside of its home base in Los Angeles, where most of its 70 employees are located.
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Bill Oesterle: Why do women disappear from politics?
One hundred percent of the elected lieutenant governors in that period are women. … Not one of those women became governor.
Read MoreDeborah Daniels: ERA may not be worth the effort if just for symbolism
Though I eagerly advocated for the ERA in 1972, I now think we ought to focus on more pressing problems.
Read MoreAmy Levander: ERA matters legally, practically, symbolically
To those who say it is unnecessary, I would argue that if it makes a difference for one girl, young lady or woman, than it makes it worth it and absolutely necessary.
Read MoreMichael Leppert: Here’s who should have received president’s medal
Dividing Americans is a skill Donald Trump and Rush Limbaugh share.
Read MoreAbdul-Hakim Shabazz: Put an end to taxpayer-funded primaries
If the point is for Democrats and Republicans to pick their candidates for the general election, why should the general public pick up the tab?
Read MoreTom LoBianco: What’s the right approach? Rip it up or don’t care?
Nancy Pelosi’s fire stands in contrast to Pete Buttigieg’s calculated coolness on the campaign trail.
Read MoreRiley Parr: Undermining what it means to be American
The tension between what kind of equality Americans want lies at the heart of what most separate us today.
Read MoreJennifer Wagner: Kids remind us common sense still works
How is it possible that a group of 12-year-olds can handle disagreement and debate better than many of our adult elected officials in Washington?
Read MorePierre Atlas: The Founders are spinning in their graves
Can anyone say with a straight face that these Republicans would have voted ‘not guilty’ had President Obama done the exact same things as Trump?
Read MoreCurt Smith: Acquittal was good for country, Constitution, Congress
Is all this poisoned politics preventing a lack of positive progress? The trend lines and this columnist say ‘yes.’
Read MoreSid Mishkin: Impeachment was a ‘Show Trial’ in the style of Stalin
The result was predetermined by those in power.
Read MoreDanny Lopez: The missed opportunity on infant and maternal health
Healthy mothers have healthy babies, which keeps health care costs for employers under control.
Read MoreMarshawn Wolley: Sending 12-year-olds to adult court is ridiculous
Societies are judged ultimately by how they treat the most vulnerable among them.
Read MoreDr. Richard Feldman: Legislature must act to fix ‘surprise billing’
Past attempts to correct this problem legislatively in Indiana have been unsuccessful at the expense of Hoosiers seeking medical care.
Read MoreShariq Siddiqui: Does data-driven fundraising exclude some voices?
Engaging diverse voices with our organizational mission will make our not-for-profits more pluralistic and inclusive.
Read MoreJim Shella: Churches still struggle with issues of inclusion
People who believe the Lord is on their side often act in less than godly ways.
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MIKE LOPRESTI: Drew family puts additional stamp on college basketball, this time in Texas
Baylor’s rise to the top of the polls was guided by Hoosier Scott Drew, whose dad, Homer; brother, Bryce; and sister, Dana, have left their own mark on the game.
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