Several Indiana restaurants are in the running for prestigious James Beard Foundation awards. Businesses including Bluebeard, Patachou Restaurants, The Libertine Liquor Bar, Recess and R Bistro in Indianapolis, plus Three Floyds in Munster and Tallent Restaurant in Bloomington have been named semifinalists for some of the culinary culture organization's top honors, which will be announced next month.
Hoosier Hospitals Considered Among The Best
Three Hoosier facilities are on this year's list of America's Best Hospitals from a national online information company focusing on physicians and hospitals. Community Hospital in Munster is the only medical center in the state to make the top 50 in the Healthgrades rankings. Indiana University Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and St. Vincent Indianapolis are in the top 100.
Purdue Touts Largest Gift Ever From Individuals
Purdue University is highlighting an anonymous $65 million estate gift. The funding will go to the College of Agriculture and Purdue calls it the largest donation from individuals in the university's history. The gift was originally announced over the weekend by university President Mitch Daniels.
Hospitals Forge 'Landmark' Deal
The president of the Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County says a new partnership with Community Health Network will create the largest health care provider in central Indiana. Matthew Gutwein says the agreement aims to improve access to care, particularly among underserved patients, and includes the new Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, slated to open in December.
Marsh to Close Two Locations
Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets Inc. says it will close locations in Marion and Columbus within the next three weeks. The company says many of the 75 workers affected by the closures will transfer to other locations.
Skillman Jumps Into New Role
Former Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman believes south central Indiana has enormous opportunity for economic growth. She is now chief executive officer of Bedford-based Radius Indiana and says her top goal is to establish a strong brand for the eight-county economic development partnership. Skillman says the area is strongly linked to defense-related technology and the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. During an appearance on Inside INdiana Business Television, she also mentioned the extension of I-69 could lead to an innovation corridor.
IU 'Twitter Predictor' Receives Patent
An Indiana University informatics professor's "mood tracking system" that uses Twitter activity to predict economic markets has received a U.S. patent. Johan Bollen is co-inventor of the technology that analyzes hundreds of millions of tweets each day. He is working to commercialize the process through his startup, Guidewave Consulting LLC, and says interest has been "tremendous."
Hicks: Indiana Cuts Could be Deep
A Ball State University economist believes Indiana's share of automatic, across-the-board federal spending cuts known as sequestration would be about $2.4 billion. Mike Hicks says legislators lack the political will to make more gradual, "studied" reductions in spending. He says Indiana is "as exposed as any other state in the union" when it comes to the potential impact of sequestration. Hicks tells Inside INdiana Business the defense sector faces short and long-term consequences.
Could Indiana Miss Brunt of Sequestration?
The president of Energy Systems Network believes Indiana's diverse economy makes the state "a bit immune" to the immediate effects of potential massive federal spending cuts. Paul Mitchell, who served as an economic development and energy policy director for former Gov. Mitch Daniels, says the state's defense-heavy regions would take the first hit from sequestration. He believes other states would be dealt a bigger blow.
Farmland Tax Bill Sails Through Legislature
A bill that supporters say would prevent a $57 million property tax increase on Indiana's farmers is on its way to Governor Mike Pence's desk. The proposal would delay new soil productivity factors from being used in farmland assessment until the Department of Local Government Finance and the Purdue University College of Agriculture complete a study on the process. The bill is the first to be passed by both houses of the General Assembly this year. State Senator Jean Leising (R-42), who is listed as an author of legislation, believes the bipartisanship on the farmland assessment bill is telling.
Gary Lands on 'Miserable' List
Gary is being featured on an unflattering list. The Northwest Indiana community is ranked 19th in Forbes' rankings of the 20 most miserable cities in the United States. The list is based on factors including crime, unemployment and weather.
For more Inside Indiana Business, visit www.insideindianabusiness.com
Please Wait…