JAN. 22-28, 2021
The number of public announced philanthropic gifts of $1 million or more from individuals to Indiana organizations plummeted in 2020, along with the total value of the big donations. Lindsey Erdody explores potential reasons for the shortfall—some of which suggest that big donors are using other avenues to gift their riches. Also in this week’s paper, John Russell pieces together the story of Ossium Health, a secretive Indianapolis-based biotech startup that reportedly raised an eye-popping $60.9 million in funding last fall. And Greg Andrews explains how a nontraditional way of taking companies public is making bucketsful of money for some Indianapolis businesspeople engineering the deals.
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Big-gift totals down significantly from prior years
While charitable giving increased overall last year, the number of million-dollar-plus gifts from individuals to Indiana organizations appears to have decreased.
Read MoreStartup quietly building bone marrow bank in Indianapolis
Ossium Health wants to build a huge bank of bone marrow and stem cells from deceased organ donors to treat patient with blood cancers and to improve organ transplantations.
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SPACs sound arcane, but make buckets of money for Indy investors
A nontraditional way to take companies public is booming on Wall Street, leading to an unprecedented explosion of deals.
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Indy seeks big growth in sports-tech sector
Local government, tech and sports leaders predict that the sector is poised to explode and could grow to rival the size of Indiana’s other tech sectors.
Read MoreWhitestown streamlines zoning rules to spur mixed-use development
Already, one developer—Steve Braun, a former tech entrepreneur, state lawmaker and commissioner of the state’s Department of Workforce Development—is taking advantage.
Read MoreQ&A with Taylor Schaffer, Indy’s new chief deputy mayor
Schaffer got her start with Hogsett as a volunteer—and eventually a full-time staffer—on his first mayoral campaign and became his communications director when he took office in 2016.
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Longtime anchor Morehead sues WTHR, claims harassment, discrimination
WTHR’s website still lists Andrea Morehead as one of its news anchors, but her attorney told IBJ that the station fired her in December.
Read MoreIndy Beacons: David Starr Jordan, university president and eugenicist
He lost his first teaching post when he insisted on teaching geological ages, which some interpreted as contradicting the Bible.
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NFL scraps scouting combine in Indy in 2021
The NFL scouting combine will not be held as usual this year in Indianapolis, where it has taken place every year since 1987, the league told teams in a memo Monday. The city has hosted the event every year since 1987.
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Women-led race team gearing up to run in Indianapolis 500
A new IndyCar racing team dedicated to giving women opportunities to work in motorsports has submitted an entry for this year’s Indianapolis 500. Simona de Silvestro, the 2010 Indy 500 rookie of the year, will drive the No. 16 car.
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Manufacturers hope Biden’s environmental policies will boost electric vehicle sales
During his presidential campaign, Biden detailed a multi-pronged plan to address climate change by, among other things, tightening fuel economy standards and moving the United States to 100% clean-energy sources by 2050.
Read MoreChina economy grew in 2020 on earlier rebound from virus
China eked out 2.3% economic growth in 2020, likely becoming the only major economy to expand as shops and factories reopened relatively early from a shutdown to fight the coronavirus while the United States, Japan and Europe struggled with rising infections.
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Editorial: Holcomb should put muscle behind regional recovery plan
We’d like to see the governor be more specific about his proposal. He didn’t say, for example, how much money he wants to put behind it.
Read MoreNate Feltman: Politicians should follow examples set by Hoosiers
Hoosiers fortunately have great examples of elected leaders who understood that, with great power comes great responsibility. The responsibility to tell the truth, inspire and implement reforms that bring about positive results.
Read MoreBrad Bostic: Saving money vs. saving lives? We don’t have to choose
To enable physicians to quickly, efficiently and accurately select the most appropriate course of action for their patients, health care leaders need to more widely embrace precision health care. Tailoring
Read MoreStephanie Sponsel: There’s more to do to support women-, minority-owned firms
But we’d like to see the governor be more specific about his proposal. He didn’t say, for example, how much money he wants to put behind it.
Read MoreMandy Haskett: Four resolutions to become better at change
We’ve made it across the threshold of 2021, and the hindsight of 2020 is revealed. How do you feel? A few of you had your best year yet, while many others among us still have a steep climb out of the depths of 2020. A Bain & Co. study recently revealed companies that were already […]
Read MorePete the Planner: Don’t share details with kids until you have to
Those very close to you—even well-adjusted adult children raised by you—will struggle to contextualize your balance sheet, which often becomes a detriment to their financial existence.
Read MoreBohanon & Curott: We must accept election results as part of free market, society
The prosperity of the United States of America flows from our freedom coupled with our adherence to a rule of law. And make no mistake, the rule of law was under threat that day.
Read MoreLetter: Column ignores Trump’s bad exit
Columnist Brad Rateike discusses the need to make a good impression when you leave a job, but ignores that his former employer, Donald Trump, didn’t do so.
Read MoreLetter: Violence can’t be compared
I don’t agree with columnist Riley Parr’s comment that “it is the height of hypocrisy for those on the left to (rightfully) decry the absurdity that took place at the Capitol on Jan. 6 when they turned a blind eye six months ago when cities burned.”
Read MoreLetter: Trump not first politico to lie
Most famously, anyone recall, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor”?
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16 Tech announces first round of food, retail vendors
The seven vendors, which include restaurants, a space for food entrepreneurs and a barber shop, will occupy 16 Tech’s 40,000-square-foot food and retail hall.
Read MoreLilly to help Dutch biotech develop cancer therapies in deal worth up to $1.6B
Merus N.V. specializes is so-called CD3 engaging T-cell therapies, a growing area of cancer research, based on immunotherapy, or using the immune system’s T cells to find and shrink tumors
Read MoreMissouri-based developer planning $70M industrial park on east side
Jones Development Co. plans to spend five years transforming a 121.7-acre agricultural site into the six-building East Indy Exchange.
Read MoreNCAA announces tighter schedule for March Madness
The much-anticipated opening Thursday of March Madness this year will belong to the play-in teams, part of a scrambled and modestly condensed schedule for the 2021 tournament released Tuesday.
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Mike Lopresti: March Madness in Indy with no teams from Indiana? It could happen.
When Indy last hosted the Final Four in 2015, five state teams were invited to the tournament. When the RCA Dome was the site in 2000, there were six.
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