U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., wants the newly restructured Chrysler and the new General Motors to cover claims made against them for defective products from their former companies. He has filed the Jeremy Warriner Consumer Protection Act. It's named after an Indianapolis man who was suing Chrysler for a defect in his vehicle that led to a fire after a crash. Warriner lost both legs. His claim was essentially shelved by Chrysler's bankruptcy court agreement.
Cummins moves ahead with insurer lawsuit
Columbus-based Cummins Inc. is open to further negotiations with its insurers, even though the company is suing them over claims stemming from last summer's record flood. Cummins has submitted claims of more than $380 million and accuses the insurers of covering $64.5 million, with plans to only add $26.5 million to the total payout. The lawsuit claims the insurance companies do not want to pay more because some of the Cummins buildings are in a 100-year flood plain.
Circle City Classic hires new executive director
A Purdue University graduate has been hired as the fourth executive director of the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis. Marc Williams will oversee the event after most recently serving as chief executive officer of sports marketing company Williams Communications LLC. Williams has also been global brand director at Champs Sports, where he forged partnerships with the operators of the Champs Sports Bowl and the Capital One Bowl.
USDA rural development names new state director
The economic development manager for the Indiana Municipal Power Agency has been named Indiana state director for rural development at the United States Department of Agriculture. Philip Lehmkuhler is an adjunct professor at Indiana University and has worked for Congressman Lee Hamilton and Senator Evan Bayh. He replaces Bob White who resigned from the post earlier this year.
FHLBI unveils $7.7 million in grants
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis has unveiled its latest round of grants totaling $7.7 million under its Affordable Housing Program. The money is funding 16 projects to help create nearly 495 units of affordable housing. The grants are also helping renovate the historic Providence Hall in West Terre Haute and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence at the Sheltering Wings Center for Women in Danville.
'Makeover' neighborhood to receive stimulus funding
The Indianapolis neighborhood recently featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is getting another boost. The Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County has received more than $874,000 in federal stimulus funding to address health hazards and residential safety in the area. Four hundred homes will receive a healthy homes assessment and low-cost intervention tools aimed at reducing home hazards. Up to 150 homes will receive additional repairs for elderly or disabled residents.
Learnability Project at IU gets five-year extension
Indiana University's Learnability Project has received a $2.34 million, five-year renewal grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The interdisciplinary program is part of IU's Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Department of Linguistics. More than 1,000 children from Indiana and elsewhere have received free therapy through the program since its initial NIH funding in 1985.
Teen summer worker safety campaign kicks off
The Indiana Department of Labor is launching a Teen Worker Summer Safety Campaign. It includes a series of bi-weekly news releases designed to educate and inform Hoosier employers, teens and parents on occupational safety, health hazards and Indiana's Child Labor laws.
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