JULY 5-11, 2010
This week, see who has invested $41 million in Steak n Shake parent Biglari Holdings in just two months and find out how central Indiana is positioning itself to become an electric vehicle powerhouse. In Focus, read about how health care reform is changing local firm Caregivers. Also, Return on Technology columnist Tim Altom shares how Google stole productivity from businesses by celebrating a birthday.
Front PageBack to Top
Bond swaps cost city units $93M in penalties
Wall Street bankers for decades sold municipalities like Indianapolis on debt instruments called swaps as a safe way to reduce
borrowing costs and hedge against rising interest rates. In reality, the swaps were complicated bets that relied
on misguided assumptions, and taxpayers paid.
Radio warrior Amos Brown’s style boosts ratings, influence
The WTLC-AM 1310 personality’s penchant for asking tough questions has made him one of Indianapolis’ most influential
community activists
and made his daily radio show—“Afternoons with Amos”—one of the city’s most popular talk shows.
Thirst rises for liquor licenses in Marion County
Finding the golden ticket of a liquor license in Indianapolis can be tricky—and costly. All 321 permits allowed in Marion
County under a state quota have been allotted. Unless a restaurant is opening in an “off-quota” district, the
owner has to find someone willing to transfer an existing license.
Top StoriesBack to Top
Biglari invests $41M in Steak n Shake parent over 2 months
The CEO of the parent company of Steak n Shake spent $40.8 million to acquire more than 134,000 shares in May and June. He
now controls about 202,000 shares, or 14 percent of the 1.4 million shares outstanding.
Central Indiana aims to become electric vehicle powerhouse
Central Indiana might be in line to tap hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and loan guarantees to energize
the rollout of plug-in electric cars and trucks. Both chambers of Congress are considering measures that would require the
Department of Energy to select up to 15 cities nationwide to participate in a national electric vehicle deployment program.
Smart plug-in is audibly different from conventional model
The future of electric-powered automotive transportation is already sitting in the showroom of the Indianapolis Smart car
dealership at 4000 E. 96th St. It’s a European version of the plug-in Smart.
Developer George Broadbent sued for $9M by widow of co-founder
Avis Skinner alleges Broadbent isn’t making the payments he committed to when he bought out her husband's real estate
interests in 2006.
IBJ wins 9 national journalism awards
IBJ won eight awards at the Alliance of Area Business Publications’ summer conference June 26 in Indianapolis.
Read MoreRisk inherent with bid to bring World Cup to Indy
But promoters of effort to bring global soccer competition here in 2018 or 2022 aren’t concerned about repeat of financial
failures of World Basketball Championships.
Program tying doctor bonuses to quality goes statewide
The program currently includes 1,200 physicians—about 10 percent of all doctors in Indiana.
Read MoreDelta Faucet adaps to new normal in homebuilding
The company's total employment is 1,345, down 43 percent from 2007.
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration schedule
Indiana Black Expo kicks off its 40th annual Summer Celebration July 12 with a full schedule of events.
Read MoreHealth care reform bringing changes to Caregivers
Caregivers anticipates coping with declining Medicare reimbursements while having to offer insurance to its employees.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: New gun, booze laws make no sense
Businesses no longer can prohibit their employees from
bringing firearms to work, and everyone buying alcohol must show ID. Say what?
MORRIS: First Amendment protects five freedoms
The First Amendment is the cornerstone of democracy and truly guarantees
freedom for all.
MARCUS: Let’s focus on keeping retirees in Indiana
It is counterproductive to have Hoosier children stay in Indiana as young adults. Let them come
back when they have something to offer.
HENDERSON: On civility and donning the brain bucket
Some of the things I was warned as a young man that I should never get into arguments over
were—in no particular order—religion, politics, which hand in a card game wins, and whether there should be a
motorcycle-helmet law.
ALTOM: Is Pac-Man robbing your workers of productivity?
When Google users stumbled on a surprise gift from the giant search company, it was inevitable that in business offices
everywhere, the long-forgotten sounds of Pac-Man would come to life again.
HICKS: Town squares reflect forefathers’ optimism
In my line of work, I travel to many small towns. One eccentricity I indulge in on these trips is to drive around town
squares.
HAUKE: A long market slump would defy history
While the stock market is not as easy to follow as watching a calendar, it leaves evidence as to what it is going to do next,
much like falling leaves warn you about the coming of winter.
Arts groups support each other
We are writing to give our wholehearted endorsement to [columnist] Greg Morris’ appeal for generous support for the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (“Confessions of a symphony newbie,” June 21).
City Market should build on immigrant roots
I would like to suggest that the 124-year-old
landmark serve as an anchor for a broader vision of the near-east side.
Avoiding fraud easier than recovery
We want to
emphasize ways that investors can avoid fraudulent schemes, as the opportunity for restitution rarely compensates investors
for their losses.
World Cup nations were confused
Bill Benner’ sopinion lost all credibility
for me in the end, though, because he obviously didn’t do his homework.
Utility user fees to be diverted
A [wrong] is being perpetrated on the citizens
of Indianapolis by our city-county councilors, Mayor Greg Ballard and the board of Citizens Energy, by negotiating a “sale”
of the water company to Citizens.
In BriefBack to Top
Widowed car dealer Christine Burd becomes mental health advocate
Burd, who is president of Burd Ford, a mother of four, and a fixture on television commercials for the dealership, has become
an advocate for mental health following her husband’s suicide.
New Conner Prairie exhibit could be set in 20th century
Work is starting at the former site of Liberty Corner on a new exhibit that will be announced in late summer or early fall.
Read MoreJoe Andrew to chair international law firm
The former chairman of the Democratic party in Indiana was named co-chairman of the firm resulting from the June 9 merger
of Washington, D.C.-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP and United Kingdom-based Denton Wilde Sapte LLP.
Lilly’s Effient steps forward, then back
A day after doctors were alerted to a black-box warning that could slow sales of Effient’s main competitor,
Plavix,
a medical journal published research showing that patients suffered 43-percent more cancer tumors on Effient than on Plavix.
MillerWhite Marketing nabs Indiana State job
The firm was selected over another Indiana firm, a Texas firm and two Washington, D.C., firms to redesign the university’s
magazine.
Indy Racing League signs Avis as new sponsor
Avis will take an active role in promoting the series through e-mail campaigns, displays at select airports, and other large-scale
promotions, company officials said.
NFP of Note: ACLU of Indiana
The ACLU of Indiana promotes, protects and defends the rights, liberties and freedom guaranteed to all people in our state
by the U.S. and Indiana constitutions.