FEBRUARY 1-7, 2016
One of Indiana’s largest home health care providers is fighting for its life after the federal agency that operates Medicare tried to cut off funding for allegedly putting patients in danger. J.K. Wall reports on Nightingale Home Healthcare’s appeal. Also in this week’s issue, Lindsey Erdody explains how Carmel is trying to pave the way for more urban-style development in its core, potentially cramping the historic style of its Old Town neighborhood. And in A&E, Lou Harry digs into the Great American Songbook Archives & Library at the Palladium.
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Feds want to cut off funding for Carmel home health firm
Carmel-based Nightingale Home Healthcare Inc. is trying to keep from being kicked out of the federal Medicare program for allegedly putting patients in “immediate jeopardy,” according to documents in a bankruptcy reorganization case the company filed in December.
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Two downtown towers soon up for sale
The Chase Tower, the state’s largest office building, might fetch more than $200 million—a price driven up by a nearly finalized deal that would boost sagging occupancy.
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Not everyone in tech wants venture cash
It’s immensely difficult for tech firms to quickly build and sell technology software or hardware without a sizable venture war chest. Nevertheless, at least a few central Indiana firms have managed to grow at a healthy pace without trading equity stakes for cash.
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Carmel plans changes to pave way for development
Officials are laying the groundwork to change the historic status of hundreds of buildings, eliminate industrial use from certain areas, and allow new buildings to tower as high as 75 feet.
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Tax break in works for struggling farmers
Farmers across Indiana would get a big property tax cut under legislation moving through the General Assembly that would reduce their assessed land values an estimated $4.2 billion for taxes paid in 2018 and $8.9 billion for 2019.
Read MoreBelievers in Noble Roman’s see groceries as super market
The Indianapolis company has been trying to juice growth by franchising stand-alone take-and-bake pizza stores and by selling freshly made take-and-bake pizzas in grocery stores nationwide.
Read MoreState seeks to regulate, not ban, fantasy sports betting
A bill moving through the Senate and another introduced in the House are designed to encourage fantasy wagering in Indiana.
Read MoreINSIDE THE STATEHOUSE: Required Work One visits move jobless off assistance
The Department of Workforce Development finds that 30 percent of people move off unemployment after they receive notice that they must visit a Work One center. In most cases, the worker finds a new job; in a few cases, the culprit is fraud.
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Athenaeum receives Basile gift to help fund $1.2M in theater repairs
Local philanthropists Frank and Katrina Basile have contributed $225,000 toward a fundraising campaign for renovating the theater, which will be renamed for the couple.
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Noblesville’s Grace Church buys Nora building for expansion
The church, which already is building a second home in Fishers, has bought an office building on Westfield Boulevard and plans to launch services at the site.
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Children’s Museum matures to become keystone of city, state tourism strategy
The museum is arguably the Indy area’s most magnetic force, luring visitors from virtually every state in the country and six of seven continents.
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EDITORIAL: Pence off course with roads-funding plan
The governor has floated a misguided, $1 billion plan that relies on appropriating $150 million more per year, borrowing $240 million and spending down the state’s fiscal reserves by a similar amount.
Read MoreMAURER: Pence’s brand of Christianity repels me
Unlike our governor, others manage to live their faith without picking winners and losers.
Read MoreMcROBBIE: Blocking out larger world is no solution
We should be looking for ways to come together, and to lower barriers by increasing our understanding of different cultures and the complex issues that too often tear us apart.
Read MoreGUY: The myth of ‘my favorite teacher’
Being popular in the classroom does not necessarily translate into being effective.
Read MoreGALLAGHER: For a first impression, look at a city’s streets
Streets are a city’s first ambassadors. Most in downtown Indianapolis, however, don’t live up to our standards of hospitality.
Read MoreKIM: Herd mentality dangerous for coaches and investors
Investors are often reluctant to act on their own information and go against the comfort of the herd, fearing damage to their reputations as sound decision-makers.
Read MoreBOHANON & STYRING: Market ultimately keeps gas prices in check
As long as a price-fixing scheme cannot be enforced by law or mafia contract, we consumers have little to fear.
Read MoreColumn on gun owners was short on specifics
We are a nation that depends on the self-regulation of so many of our industries, and it seems helpful to encourage gun owners not simply to champion their rights, but also to take the lead in addressing the problems that go along with the easy access to guns in our society.
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UPDATE: Abercrombie & Fitch closes most Indiana stores as sales drag
Struggling retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has closed four of its five stores in Indiana, including Indianapolis locations at Circle Centre and the Fashion Mall at Keystone.
Read MoreBall State president abruptly resigns after less than 2 years
Paul Ferguson, who was hired in August 2014, requested a two-month sabbatical and will officially resign at the end of that leave.
Read MoreInvestment broker’s plea deal erases 20 felony counts
Robert E. Wilson of Indianapolis originally faced up to eight years in prison on 20 securities-related felony counts. Under a plea agreement, he’ll serve six months probation on one misdemeanor count.
Read MoreJudge OKs reworked NCAA concussions settlement
A federal judge in Chicago gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a modified head-injury settlement between thousands of former college athletes and the NCAA that includes a $70 million fund to test for brain trauma.
Read MoreUPDATE: Sunday alcohol sales bill defeated by legislative panel
Indiana's ban on Sunday carryout alcohol sales will continue now that the House Public Policy Committee has rejected a bill to legalize the sales.
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