Forty percent of school districts to see no funding increase
Lawmakers overall increased school funding 2 percent next year and 1 percent the following year. But shifts in how that money is awarded mean some districts actually might see decreases.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
City fires indicted DMD employees, hires special attorney
The city terminated two employees indicted this week on fraud charges stemming from a bribery scheme involving the Indianapolis Land Bank. It also hired a veteran attorney to review city policies and handle communications about the scheme.
City panel tables approval of new towing contract
The Indianapolis Board of Code Enforcement put off voting on a new citywide towing-management contract Thursday after members said they wanted more information about the bids from San Francisco-based AutoReturn and its local competitors.
Pike Township audit focuses on misused gas card
A former secretary in the Pike Township trustee’s office could face criminal charges after an internal investigation and state audit found that she used a township credit card to fill up her own gas tank.
High-profile developer chases Indy debut
Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises Inc., developer of the 76-story New York by Gehry in New York City, is teaming with Keystone Group in its bid to redevelop a prime piece of downtown real estate where Market Square Arena once stood.
City expected to award towing contract to California firm
Indianapolis will choose a San Francisco-based company to oversee city-ordered towing under a contract expected to be authorized Thursday afternoon.
Mayor suspends land bank after indictments
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Wednesday sidelined a city program that sells vacant and tax-delinquent properties, one day after federal prosecutors indicted two of its top officials for allegedly accepting bribes and kickbacks.
Polaris plans $4.7 million laboratory expansion
Polaris Laboratories LLC, an Indianapolis-based company that analyzes oil, fuel and coolants, said it plans a $4.7 million local expansion that will add up to 25 employees by 2016.
Indiana BMV says it may have overcharged for licenses
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles made the acknowledgement in a response to a class-action lawsuit that alleges Indiana collected up to $30 million more than it should have by charging drivers more for licenses than allowed by law.
Feds used wire tap, undercover agent in Land Bank probe
A federal public-corruption task force used a wire tap and an undercover FBI agent to unravel a fraud scheme authorities say was orchestrated by two city employees and three co-conspirators.
Indiana lawmakers gave approval to 12 percent of 2013 bills
Measures filed in the Indiana General Assembly this year faced about 1-in-8 odds of making their way to the governor's desk.
Feds charge 5 in Indy Land Bank kickback scheme
Federal prosecutors have charged two city employees in the Department of Metropolitan Development and three others in a scheme involving cash kickbacks on the sale of properties in the Indy Land Bank.
FBI searches City-County Building, makes multiple arrests in Land Bank probe
FBI agents on Tuesday morning conducted a warrant search at the Department of Metropolitan Development in the City-County Building, shortly after agents arrested multiple people, including city employees.
Ex-councilor Bateman sentenced to 27 months in prison
Paul C. Bateman Jr. had pleaded guilty in January to his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
Deadline looms for state’s Do Not Call list
Since January, the state attorney general's office said it has received more than 5,000 complaints about telemarketing calls from live operators or prerecorded messages.
Work stops on Greenwood pharmaceutical plant
Greenwood officials three years ago approved $8.4 million of incentives for the Elona Biotechnologies project, including the construction loan.
Counties worry about cost of sentencing overhaul
Indiana counties could be forced to pay some of the costs of a change in the state’s criminal code that is designed to keep low-level offenders out of prison while ensuring the worst serve more of their sentences.
Indiana withdraws support for fertilizer plant
State officials have withdrawn incentives for a fertilizer plant over concerns about whether its Pakistan-based owners are doing enough at their overseas operations to keep the potentially explosive material from being used against U.S. troops.
Greenwood, Whiteland try to spur, shape growth
Two Johnson County communities are determined to capture—and control—the next wave of suburban growth.
Oesterle sells land to Angie’s List, reaping millions
Angie’s List Inc. CEO Bill Oesterle has collected millions of dollars over the years by renting to the company property for its campus along East Washington Street. Now, the landlord and chief executive is pocketing millions more by selling Angie’s the property, at well above its assessed value.