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Landlord handling of water, sewer bills under scrutiny: Utility commission examining charges to see whether owners operate as utilities

State utility regulators are examining whether operators of apartments and trailer parks are hosing tenants with excessive bills for water and sewer service. The inquiry by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission takes aim at decades-old billing practices that include dividing up a complex’s total water and sewer bills among all tenants. The commission said it’s received a handful of complaints over the years alleging rental property owners, or their billing agents, are assessing tenants higher rates than the commission permits…

VIEWPOINT: Domestic ‘insourcing’ our way to job growth

Anchor Lou Dobbs of CNN is a pest to some folks and a hero for others. His recurring economic message laments a view of U.S. workers losing out as companies send jobs overseas. Dobbs’ critics, of course, cite his convenient omission of the many interna tional companies that invest in U.S. communities through new manufacturing plants, research facilities and other initiatives. Love the debate or detest it, but consider this: Hasn’t Dobbs helped stir a discussion about how the new…

FUNNY BUSINESS: Working from home not all Sprite and Cheetos

Being selfemployed and working at home is usually a pretty good deal. You set your own hours and your own dress code (you haven’t seen Casual Friday until you’ve seen Home Office Casual Friday). Snack time is never far away. And if you need to take a break for the 4 p.m. showing of “Hong Kong Phooey” on the Boomerang channel, well, who’s to stop you? But that’s not to say it’s all Sprite and Cheetos. I’m thinking of vacations….

Speeding Toward Better Health: Regenstrief Institute continues to fine-tune a medical-records system that many think could someday become a national model

Regenstrief Institute continues to fine-tune a medical-records system that many think could someday become a national model The Regenstrief Institute is a racing team. Only instead of drivers and grease monkeys, the Indianapolis-based medical research group has doctors and computer geeks. And instead of a race car, Regenstrief runs a massive computer database with 35 years of medical records from Indianapolis-area patients. But Regenstrief’s mission is still all about speed. The not-for-profit is driving to discover better ways to care…

CEOs’ friendship helped pave M&I’s way for First Indiana buyout

If First Indiana Corp. was looking to pull off a sale quickly, Milwaukee-based Marshall & Ilsley Corp. was a natural place
to turn. First Indiana CEO Robert B. Warrington had been doing deals with the bank since he took the helm from Marni McKinney
in 2006. Warrington also is a friend and golfing buddy of M&I CEO Mark Furlong.

Clarian launches venture capital firm

The city’s largest hospital system will try its hand at high-stakes investing. Clarian Health Partners is forming its own
venture-capital fund, called Clarian Health Ventures, to invest in fast-growing companies and finance the commercialization
of research conducted at Clarian or by its staff.

BEHIND THE NEWS: Why diner chain whets the appetite of the buyout crowd

The Steak n Shake Co. may not be delighting diners these days, if slumping sales are any indication. But you can bet the privateequity crowd is salivating. Investment pros say the Dallas-based investment group that recently amassed a big stake in Steak n Shake surely isn’t alone in hungering to take the Indianapolis-based diner chain private. “Some … funds make their money by identifying underperforming companies that have intrinsic value which can be unlocked,” Motley Fool columnist Timothy Otte wrote…

Methodist, Decatur hospitals team up at Honda site: Providers supplying on-site, off-site health care to construction workers on $500 million auto plant project

A major construction project is like a football game-no matter how careful everyone is, sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, at least a little. Indianapolis-based Methodist Occupational Health Centers Inc., which is part of Clarian Health Partners, is partnering with Decatur County Memorial Hospital to provide an answer to this problem at the Honda automobile plant construction site in Greensburg. The two institutions are providing on-site medical services and offsite treatment facilities for workers at the $550…

Aging IT system contributes to property-assessment woes

Indiana deliberately chose not to invest the tens of millions necessary for technology that could provide an accurate property-tax
forecast. Instead, the state relied on an aging patchwork of property tax software that allows officials only to guess whether
assessed valuations of homes and businesses are correct.

EYE ON THE PIE: Health care and the pursuit of happiness

Some people believe the Fourth of July grants them liberty to disturb the night with their firecrackers. My pursuit of happiness is in conflict with theirs and I want them jailed. We all gladly infringe on the liberties of others while in pursuit of our own happiness. For example, should motorcyclists wear helmets? Yes, if all of us expect to pay their hospital bills (through higher premiums) and maintain them on disability after they have head injuries that might be…

A&E: Gospel, Garland and more

“Smoke on the Mountain” belongs-along with “Nunsense,” “Forever Plaid,” and a handful of others-to an interesting phenomenon in contemporary theater: Musicals that don’t have Broadway pedigrees or familiar composers, yet celebrate long, popular runs with group sales and word-of-mouth buoying their box office. Theater artists despise these shows because of their perceived pandering and artlessness. Theater managing directors love them because they bring in the cash. As with many of these populist shows, “Smoke” (currently running at Beef & Boards…

Advertising in high-definition still fuzzy

Production companies here say advertisements they’ve produced using high-definition technology are being held hostage by local television affiliates that have no way of showing them. The TV stations counter that they’re working as fast as they can to get up to speed.

INVESTING: How Middle East turmoil might affect financial markets

Al Qaeda is threatening Iran-saying that if the country does not stop supporting Shiites in Iraq within two months, it will suffer terrorist attacks. In addition, Al Qaeda has called for a jihad against Shiite Muslims across the world. With the blessing of the U.S. government, the Shiites are in charge of Iraq now. Iraqi Shiites are receiving arms and support from Iran, a nation the United States has long called evil. We dislike Iran and are at war with…

Richest soon may assume larger share of tax burden: BULLS & BEARS

The rise in property taxes and a doubling of the Marion County income tax have residents steaming. Yet as IBJ columnist Ron Gifford noted in his column last week, you can argue about which taxes legislators should increase-whether on property, income or sales-but the fact is that governments need more revenue, and, therefore, a variety of taxes are rising. Paying tax is not the most pleasant of human endeavors. However, in a capitalistic society, taxes are necessary and, when applied…

Retailer’s growth plan boon for Plainfield facility: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ strategy to expand west will push inventory through local distribution center

Dick’s Sporting Goods’ aggressive nationwide growth plan will mean about 400 new jobs at the retailer’s Plainfield distribution center, industry experts said. Last month, Pittsburgh-based Dick’s rolled out a plan to grow from 309 stores to 800 nationwide within seven years. The plan includes growing from zero to 90 stores in California, two to 60 in Texas, and two to 40 in Florida. “Their expansion plans are so aggressive, they’re eventually going to have to open another distribution center, but…

Physician assistants taking on larger role: New law allowing prescribing power makes profession more appealing

Indiana’s physician assistants received a collective shot in the arm earlier this month when their authority to prescribe medicine to patients became effective. The profession had long lobbied lawmakers for the right before the Legislature relented with the passage of House Bill 1241 this year. July 1 officially marked the milestone in which Indiana became the last state in the nation to grant prescribing powers to physician assistants. “It’s the right thing to do,” said Dr. John Lucich, director of…

Industry takes deep breath over ozone: Tougher EPA standards could force costly emission controls, choke economic growth

Just when the nine-county metro area appeared back in the good graces of the federal government where ozone levels are concerned, the feds want to tighten the standard once more. Manufacturers and other businesses that pump pollutants into the air that combine with sunlight to produce ozone are “apprehensive” about the proposed new rules, said Patrick Bennett, vice president of environmental, energy and infrastructure at the Indiana Manufacturers Association. Businesses in non-attainment counties face possible restrictions on expansion of facilities…

SPORTS: Tennis tourney healthy but needs a new home

A significant Indianapolis sporting event with international appeal is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011. The Indianapolis 500? Well, yes, that too. Far less-wellknown and recognized is that the origins of elite-level competitive tennis in Indianapolis also date back to just after the turn of the century … the last century, that is. Records show that the Western Tennis Championships, which led to the U.S. Clay Court Championships, which led to the U.S. Hardcourt Tennis Championships, which led…

MICKEY MAURER Commentary: Should trysts sink a career?

“There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – “Anthem,” by Leonard Cohen How outrageous does executive behavior have to be before it should be deemed unacceptable by corporate America? Are we experiencing a trend toward greater scrutiny of our executives’ personal lives and is this a good idea? What should be the peccadillo standard for the executive officers of public companies? Witness the recent forced resignation of David Colby, chief financial officer and…