SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2014
Two of downtown's largest office buildings are close to getting new owners. Scott Olson reports on the likely fates of the 36-story Regions Tower and 30-story Market Tower. Also this week, Kathleen McLaughlin reveals how Monarch Beverage Co. is taking aim at state regulators in its aggressive bid to break into hard-liquor wholesaling. And in A&E Etc., Lou Harry recounts the tale of a lost sculpture designed by Roy Lichtenstein that now resides on the front lawn of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
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Beer distributor Monarch stepping up booze push
In a campaign to enter the hard liquor business, Monarch Beverage Co. is pursuing a new tactic that takes aim at state regulators. Indiana’s largest beer distributor has accused the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission of letting politics influence its decisions.
Read MoreTwo downtown office towers changing hands
The 36-story Regions Tower is selling in a negotiated transaction, and the 30-story Market Tower is getting a new owner via a loan default. They are among downtown’s largest office complexes.
Read MoreAs other WNBA teams struggle, Indiana Fever becomes model of stability
An aggressive year-round sales effort and the backing of the Indiana Pacers’ owner and top executive have pushed the Indiana Fever to profitability and helped the 15-year-old team become one of the WNBA’s model franchises.
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Noblesville pursues cultural district designation
Noblesville is positioning itself to join an elite group of Indiana Cultural Districts—a state designation officials say should boost the city’s appeal and help drive economic development.
Read MoreNuvo enters Bloomington market, eyes other college towns
Nuvo has entered a long-abandoned market, Bloomington, and is eyeing other Indiana college towns, particularly Muncie and West Lafayette, for expansion. The alternative free weekly newspaper has been working on the plan for six months.
Read MoreIndy Star will be carrying lots of baggage to new home
Revenue for Gannett’s newspapers may continue to drift lower after the company breaks into two next year.
Read MoreInsurer competition stiffens, but tax credits may shrink, on Obamacare exchanges
When Hoosiers start shopping on the Obamacare exchanges again in November, they’ll find new, lower-priced competitors and modest price increases that are much lower than insurers initially proposed. But that doesn’t mean they’ll save money.
Read MoreFeds: AIT’s Evans ‘unjustly enriched’ himself in sale to employees
Just three months before the parent company of AIT Laboratories was sold in 2009 to its employees for $90 million, it was appraised for $17.1 million, according to a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit.
Read MoreSimon estate in Carmel hits market for $25 million
The 106-acre property includes a 50,000-square-foot mansion and private, 18-hole golf course. Mel Simon and his wife, Bren, had been working on disposing of the home even before the billionaire’s death in September 2009.
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Ideal owners needed for tricky north-side properties
Size and age complicate the sale of several prominent structures in Boone and Hamilton counties.
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EDITORIAL: Digital billboards could fill coffers
The city should put another bargaining chip on the table: revenue.
Read MoreMorris: Start with Art inspires again
Local arts organizations are doing something right, deserve your support.
Read MoreHENDERSON: No, you can’t hide anymore
Customer retention and new sales can be trendy. If you’re Comcast/Xfinity, as an example, you’re reeling from the insane firestorm of social media castigation as regards to how you’ve trained, monitored and improved the quality of your customer service representatives.
Read MoreKENNEDY: In the country of the blind
Two unrelated articles in the Aug. 31 New York Times brought me up short. The first was yet another analysis of (un)representative government in Ferguson, Mo.; the second addressed the growing power of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers’ political organization.
Read MoreSkarbeck: Risk measure stokes debate over merits of index funds
While the goal of many investors is to “beat the market,” it is a well-known fact that most investors (including professionals), underperform the market over the long run. Hence, the argument to buy index funds. Investors who invest in index funds accept the aggregate ups and downs (volatility) of the broad stock market.
Read MoreHicks: Sluggish economy complicates forecasting
When the economy is getting much better or much worse, the trend is obvious even if there are occasional mixed signals. When the economy changes little, almost every piece of new data can be confusing.
Read MorePence owed apology
In response to Gov. Mike Pence’s [Aug. 25] letter “Maurer distorted Pence position,” I agree with the governor on Mickey Maurer’s poor choice of words.
Read MorePence should stand tall
Mickey Maurer’s [Aug. 18] comments on the children from Central America who are being made into a political football by people who lack compassion are spot on.
Read MoreIllegal means illegal
Having completed Mickey Maurer’s [Aug. 18] column, I have just one simple question for him: When did Webster’s change the definition of illegal?
Read MoreSticking it to commuters
I found [Sheila Kennedy’s Aug. 11 column] to be incredibly compelling. For years, I worked in Louisville, Ky., while living in Indiana, and for each of those years I was required to pay into a sinking fund (often referred to by commuters as a stinking fund).
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Self-made developer, Castleton pioneer Peterson dies at 84
Howard C. Peterson, an enterprising bricklayer who went on to build a prolific development company that transformed Indianapolis' north side with massive office complexes, died Friday after a long illness. He was 84.
Read MoreUPDATE: NFL suspends Irsay for 6 games, fines him $500,000
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been suspended for six games and fined a maximum $500,000 by the National Football League for violating the league's personal conduct policy, the NFL said Tuesday.
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