NOVEMBER 18-24, 2013
In this week's issue, Scott Olson reveals that the new owner of the Illinois Building is stirring conversation about an upscale hotel in the downtown landmark. Also in this issue, Dan Human checks in with the Indiana entrepreneur who famously rejected a $200,000 offer from Mark Cuban on "Shark Tank." And in A&E, Lou Harry essays the biennial contemporary exhibit at the Eiteljorg.
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Buyer of Illinois Building envisions conversion into upscale hotel
A high-profile local developer has bought the Illinois Building and is considering offers to convert the downtown landmark into a boutique hotel that could be the city’s first five-star lodge.
Read MoreCity designs new strategy to combat panhandling
A bipartisan group of city-county councilors is considering an ordinance that would increase panhandling restrictions, including barring panhandling and street performances within 50 feet of any area where any financial transaction is made.
Read MoreAirport terminal’s striking architecture attracts film crews
The airport has hosted in the last few years about a dozen shoots, for everything from magazine covers to television commercials to pilots for short films.
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Future murky for Carmel’s 2-story development rule
City leaders are embroiled in a debate over the future of Range Line Road, through the heart of Carmel’s redeveloped downtown. Special density zoning rules are intended to create a consistent look and keep residents from bearing the brunt of the city’s significant infrastructure investment. The question is whether it’s working.
Read MoreStudy: IU, Purdue rank best in return on investment
Big budgets used to rule in college rankings. But that could be changing. A new report from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education is the latest effort among several nationally to score universities on their bang for the buck.
Read MoreGrowing central Indiana suburbs mull class status
When Fishers becomes Hamilton County’s newest city in 2015, it also will be the first of Indianapolis’ northern suburbs to achieve “second-class” status. Others—including suburban standouts Carmel and Noblesville—qualify for an upgrade because of their growth but have not made the leap. Yet.
Read MoreUptown Business Center headed to sheriff’s sale
The building in SoBro is at the center of a lengthy court feud in which the owner had attempted to delay foreclosure by filing to reorganize assets—a strategy that a bankruptcy judge rejected last month.
Read MoreLilly pledges up to $1.8B to Pfizer for access to potential blockbuster
Eli Lilly and Co. and Pfizer Inc., which are both suffering through some of the largest patent cliffs in the industry, will split any future costs and profits of an osteoarthritis drug that has stalled in clinical testing.
Read MoreFirst Internet up-shifts in commercial lending
First Internet Bank raised eyebrows this month when it filed a $25 million secondary stock offering said to be for organic growth and “other general corporate purposes.”
Read MoreFocusBack to Top
Indiana in natural gas dilemma
‘Fracking’ has made natural gas cheap and abundant, but prices could rise with demand, costing consumers.
Read MoreBiomass could power 1/3 of Hoosier homes, report says
Despite ongoing research, the energy form is still not economical in many cases.
Read MoreHILL: Too much money blown on energy fixes
More than one homeowner has been convinced to cut home energy bills by replacing windows or installing radiant barriers in their attic.
Read MoreMCCANN: Energy research evolving to meet massive demands
The days of lone-wolf researchers shouting ‘Eureka’ are over.
Read MoreOpinionBack to Top
EDITORIAL: Pence should explain stance
Mike Pence officially began running for governor in May 2011 and has occupied the office since January, yet Hoosiers still don’t know why he doesn’t want tax subsidies to help people buy private insurance. It’s time he made the reason clear.
Read MoreMORRIS: Ritz should be last elected schools chief
Partisan fighting shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way of doing what’s right for Hoosier students.
Read MoreHEALY: Envision Broad Ripple promotes change
Apparently, it’s no longer possible to undertake a project in Broad Ripple Village without its being labeled “controversial.”
Read MoreKENNEDY: Coats’ religion is no defense
Americans have been using religion to argue for and against laws since the country was founded. Proponents and opponents of slavery both pointed to Bible verses justifying their positions. Opponents of equal rights for women claimed suffrage violated God’s law.
Read MoreHicks: News media often misread rotten job numbers
At first blush, 200,000 new jobs noted in the latest jobs report would be welcomed news, as it is almost half the number of jobs we need each month to return labor markets to normalcy by the end of the decade. Alas, the Department of Labor publishes much more detailed data, and in that lurk dark shadows of a still-stagnant economy.
Read MoreSkarbeck: Controversy dogs some public-pension programs
Heated talks are taking place in public-pension boardrooms across the country over issues like risk levels of investments and fees paid to fund managers.
Read MoreALTOM: Airplane device change is small—just like seats
The loosening of restrictions on electronic devices on planes is of little consequence.
Read MoreBenner will be missed
Dang! I just read the [Nov. 11] IBJ, as I have done every Monday since forever (always reading Benner’s column first).
Read MoreIn BriefBack to Top
Faces changing on local TV news
Several new faces have been appearing on local television news broadcasts.
Read MoreSoftware developer Blue Pillar changes CEOs
Blue Pillar Inc. selected Thomas Willie III to take over as its CEO following the departure of Kevin Kushman. Willie started the new job Nov. 4.
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