May 22-28, 2019
In this week's issue, Susan Orr explores how eight Indiana public companies landed loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, which was intended to support small businesses. The issue also includes a story by Sam Stall on the Indiana Donor Network's new capability to recover organs for transplantation at its own facility, and a story by Lindsey Erdody on how rich unemployment payouts to laid-off workers are complicating efforts to rehire them. In addition, sports columnist Mike Lopresti looks back at 1945, the last year in which May lacked an Indianapolis 500.
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Sputtering public firms scoop up small-biz PPP loans
Eight Indiana-based public companies have disclosed that they qualified for more than $61 million in relief loans from a federal program designed to help small businesses.
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Donor organization to recover transplant organs at its own facility
The Indiana Donor Network Organ and Tissue Recovery Center has re-tasked two operating rooms and an intensive care unit to recover major organs, such as the kidneys, heart and lungs.
Read MoreExtra jobless payments complicate effort to rehire workers
As restaurants, retailers and service providers are allowed to resume in-person operations, some employers are eager to get started. But employees are not as excited to return to work and give up their unemployment benefits.
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Local virus relief funds top $45M and counting
The funding is going to businesses that need assistance paying their employees or rent, to organizations helping families pay their mortgage or buy groceries, and to companies bearing pandemic-related expenses.
Read MoreState’s contractor faces big test as it ramps up contact tracing effort
Washington, D.C.-area-based Maximus is taking on a critical, massive assignment: helping health departments across Indiana contact people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to learn whom they might have exposed.
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Sheltering at home has produced loads more residential trash
Refuse-collection companies are seeing longer days for drivers, lengthy lines at the dumping site, and increased repairs for hard-running trucks.
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Developer planning 35 condos, townhomes on near-east side, including church conversion
The Michigan-based firm intends to develop 20 condos and 15 townhomes on parcels near the nexus of the Holy Cross, Arsenal Heights and Woodruff Place neighborhoods.
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Gen Con cancels for 2020, but extends contract with city for two more years
Gen Con—the single-largest event the Indiana Convention Center hosts on an annual basis from an economic impact standpoint—will become an online event this year. Organizers said the social nature of the gaming event made it impossible to hold in-person.
Read MoreQ&A with Kelly Wierenga on social-distancing research
The IUPUI nursing professor is co-leading a study on health behaviors and health outcomes during the pandemic.
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Former GOP congressman Rokita enters AG race, seeks to oust Hill
Todd Rokita, 50, said he didn’t want to challenge an incumbent from his own party, but an Indiana Supreme Court decision suspending Hill’s license makes it clear he shouldn’t hold the office.
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INDY BEACONS: Recognizing Indy’s pandemic heroes—nurses
A shortage of nurses hit the city hard during the flu pandemic of 1918-1920.
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EDITORIAL: Pandemic is opportunity to rethink burdensome rules
For as much as government has been chided in some business circles for shutting down the economy—and that certainly has happened—officials have in other ways worked quickly to clear the path for business to innovate and adjust.
Read MoreGREG MORRIS: Cast your vote by Election Day
You might be tempted to sit out the primary election, but in many cases the nominating contest essentially determines the winner in November.
Read MoreTom Guevara: Communities need to plan now to rebuild after COVID-19
But drawing on my federal agency experience helping economically distressed areas and now leading an institute helping communities make better economic decisions, here is how leaders can create an economic recovery plan.
Read MoreChris Watts: Consumer spending, sales taxes show Indiana’s budget challenge
If sales taxes continue to fall in tandem with income taxes, the results would be crushing for Indiana; we collect more than half our general fund revenue from sales taxes (the 50-state average is about 31%).
Read MoreLetter: Let’s replay 1979 NCAA basketball final
How about those fighting Indiana State Sycamores in 1979 with the greatest Hoosier sports figure of all time, Larry Bird, going up against Magic Johnson and Michigan State?
Read MoreLetter: How many Hoosiers will die because of Tyson?
Workers are being forced to choose between their health and a paycheck they need to survive.
Read MoreMandy Haskett: Why now is an odd—but perfect—time to hire great talent
This large displacement of human capital has left some of the best and brightest talent in search of their next trail to blaze.
Read MorePETE THE PLANNER: It’s time to buckle down on convenience spending
Self-sufficiency can turn instability into stability by leveraging an abundance of time to save money.
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Downtown steakhouse joins list of restaurants permanently closing
The Facebook page for the upscale restaurant lists the location as “permanently closed.” It has been removed from the company’s online list of restaurants, and its local phone number no longer works.
Read MoreItalian steel firm to build $15M North American HQ in Indiana, hire 100
INOX Market Service announced Monday that it expects to open the 139,800-square-foot facility in Delaware County in the spring of 2021.
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Indy Parks board OKs lease for Broad Ripple Park development
The Indianapolis Parks Department has preliminarily agreed to pay nearly $1 million per year to lease space in a new family center planned for Broad Ripple Park.
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City moving forward with plans to close streets for dining, despite Mass Ave merchant concerns
Altogether, more than 50 restaurants across the city have submitted applications to expand outdoor dining, including four on Broad Ripple Avenue and five on Illinois Street.
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MIKE LOPRESTI: Let’s revisit the last time IMS took a pause
The Speedway and other venues paused for more than one season as World War II monopolized priorities and resources.
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