Search Results

July 8 to Aug. 1
Phoenix Theatre

After earning a name for himself as a film writer/director (“In the Company of Men,” “Nurse Betty”)
and as a playwright off-Broadway (“Fat Pig,” “The Mercy Seat”), former IPFW teacher Neil LaBute made
his Broadway debut with his play “Reasons to be Pretty,” about a warehouse worker who discovers the danger of
saying what he means—particularly when it comes to his girlfriend’s appearance.

Its local premiere stars Ryan Artzberger, a familiar face to Indy theater-goers, who recently led a Washington, D.C., production
of the play to a twice-extended run. Having seen the piece in New York, I’m even more stoked to see it in a more intimate
production at the Phoenix. Details here.

 

Community Health Network announced a series of promotions within its operations:

Josh Arthur, a financial analyst, is now rehabilitation services manager for Community’s rehabilitation
sports medicine program. He has worked for Community for seven years as a financial analyst.
 
Stacey Faryna, a registered dietician, was named program director for Community Hospital East’s Center
for Wound Healing.

Lori Feldmeyer, a physical therapist, was named Community Health Network’s north market manager for
the rehabilitation and sports medicine centers.
 
Nichole Goddard is now named medical imaging manager of Community Hospital South’s medical imaging
center.  
 
Karla Kirby was named clinical director for behavioral health on the Community Hospital North campus.

 
Janie Klank has been named manager of psychiatric case management at Community Hospital North.
 
Cindy Matlock, a registered nurse, has been named Community Hospital East’s evening shift clinical
manager.

Terry Nelson, a registered nurse, has been named Community Hospital South’s emergency department clinical
manager.
 
Kimberly Snyder was named Community Health Network’s sleep lab director.

Roche Diagnostics, which runs its U.S. operations out of Indianapolis, has partnered with IBM to develop a DNA sequencer much faster and cheaper than current technology. Roche and IBM ultimately want to provide a test that performs whole genome sequencing for $100 to $1,000 per test. Such wide access could make genetic sequencing as standard as biopsies, for example, and then allow medical professionals to “personalize” medical treatment based on a person’s genes. As part of the agreement, Roche will fund continued development of the technology at IBM and provide additional resources and expertise through collaboration with Roche’s sequencing subsidiary, Maryland-based 454 Life Sciences. Roche will develop and market all products based on the technology.

Indianapolis-based insurer WellPoint Inc. said its California subsidiary will dial down rate hikes that drew national outrage earlier this year and helped spark a final push for health care reform, according to the Associated Press. WellPoint now plans to raise rates by 14 percent for California individual policyholders. It will cap rate hikes at 20 percent, even though the company said it would lose $100 million on the plans this year. In April WellPoint withdrew increases that averaged 25 percent—and topped out at 39 percent—after consumers and President Barack Obama expressed outrage. WellPoint defended the hikes by saying rising medical costs and healthy people dropping coverage during the recession were forcing it to raise rates. But an outside actuary also found math errors, which prompted last week’s reduction.

About $72 million in construction bids have been awarded so far for the new Wishard Hospital. The contracts total about 14 percent of the entire construction package for the $754 million project, said Matt Gutwein, president and CEO of Health & Hospital Corp. of Marion County, which owns the hospital. He said the new hospital is on schedule and slightly below budget. The 1.2-million-square-foot hospital will be built on 37 acres at the west end of the IUPUI campus. Bids that have been awarded include demolition work, as well as work on a parking garage, the hospital’s foundation and utilities. Wishard hopes to award all contracts by January.

High heat and humidity will continue in central Indiana this week. Temperatures are predicted to rise above 90 degrees and
the heat index is expected to top 100. Cities all across the East Coast are experiencing a similar heat wave. The National
Weather Service has issued an "excessive heat advisory" for several northeastern cities, including New York.

The parents of a two-year-old girl are facing charges of child neglect for making the toddler stand outside in the heat and
beg for cash. Police say the child’s mother, Lindsey Ramon, 23, and her father, Jacob Cotton, 36, were panhandling Sunday
on the city’s southeast side. A passerby spotted Cotton and the little girl in a Hardee’s parking lot at South
Emerson Avenue and East Thompson Road about 1 p.m. Sunday. After seeing the pair in the location five hours later, the person
called police. Investigators say the child was sunburned and dehydrated.
 

Police say racially motivated road rage was the cause of a wild scene in southeast Marion County early Tuesday morning. Officers
say two drivers chased each other through the small community of Acton before one of them crashed into a house on Exchange
Street, injuring a resident inside. Witnesses say the other vehicle involved in the chase intentionally struck two pedestrians,
seriously injuring one. Then, one of the witnesses began firing shots at the car after it hit the pedestrians. Police took
at least one person into custody. Fox59 will have more at 4 p.m.