Brown County - Strahl Lake

Lilly CEO elected chairman of United Way Worldwide board

From the IBJ -

"The chairman and CEO of pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. has been elected chairman of United Way Worldwide's board to help lead the nation's largest charity.

The Alexandria-based United Way announced Wednesday that John Lechleiter will serve a two-year term as board chairman.

United Way President and CEO Brian Gallagher said Lechleiter will help strengthen the not-for-profit network's capacity to meet growing human needs around the world."

Continue Reading →

HHGregg launches rebranding effort to improve sales

From The IBJ -

"HHGregg Inc. unveiled a new marketing campaign Tuesday in an effort to boost sales at the slumping Indianapolis-based electronics and appliance chain.

The wide-ranging “brand transformation” includes a new company logo and television commercials, in addition to an improved website and more services offered to customers who purchase big-ticket items from an HHGregg store.

The final piece of the company rebranding could be the most noticeable—a total redesign of HHGregg stores slated to start next year, said Julie Lyle, the company’s chief marketing officer, who arrived from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in December."

Continue Reading »

Chrysler set to celebrate Indiana factory's opening

From IBJ.com -

"Chrysler is set to mark the opening of a new transmission plant in central Indiana with a ceremony next month that will include the company's top executive.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to take part in the May 13 grand-opening event at the factory along U.S. 31 about 30 miles north of Indianapolis, the company said.

The company started testing new transmissions assembled at the factory last month, the Kokomo Tribune reported. Chrysler is looking to start shipping transmissions from the plant by mid-May."

Continue Reading »

Indy Fuel sign affiliation deal with Chicago Blackhawks

From The Indy Star -

"The Indy Fuel will make their ECHL debut with prospects from the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Fuel owner Jim Hallett confirmed a five-year affiliation agreement with the Blackhawks will be announced today.

"We're really excited because it's a first-class organization," Hallett said of Chicago, a former parent club for the now-defunct Indianapolis Ice during International and Central Hockey League days."

Continue Reading »

Would-be Lilly foe wins U.S. panel backing for inhaled insulin

Reported at The IBJ -

"MannKind Corp.’s inhaled diabetes treatment won the backing of a panel of U.S. regulatory advisers, boosting the company’s long-running effort to get its first product on the market. Shares more than doubled in extended trading Tuesday after the panel’s recommendation.

Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted 13-1 and 14-0 that the drug, Afrezza, should be approved for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, respectively. The FDA doesn’t have to follow the panel’s recommendation. FDA staff raised concerns in a report March 28 that the drug may affect lung function and about missing data from a study on Type 1 diabetes patients."

Continue Reading »

Gov. Pence signs bill to let State Fair sell alcohol

From The IndyStar -

"Hoosiers soon will be able to enjoy frothy mugs of beer with their elephant ears at the Indiana State Fair.

Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a measure that lifts a 67-year ban on alcohol sales at the fair.

It was enacted in 1947 after litterbugs trashed the fairgrounds with beer bottles, which were dispensed only after vendors ran out of paper cups."

Continue Reading »

It's make-or-break time for several bills at Statehouse

From The IBJ -

"Indiana lawmakers approved a number of bills Wednesday but will try to settle some of the tougher fights later during the 2014 legislative session.

The General Assembly gave final approval to measures that would improve state oversight of private bus inspections, increase digital privacy, help more veterans enter teaching and grant excused absences for students attending the Indiana State Fair. Lawmakers also created a task force to study long-term answers to the state's transportation funding troubles."

Continue Reading →

Indiana House Votes to Repeal Common Core

From Truth in American Education -

"SB 91 originally stated that the new Indiana standards must “comply with federal standards to receive a flexibility waiver under 20 U.S.C. 7861.” Proponents believe that “college and career ready standards” means adopting Common Core or something practically identical to the Common Core State Standards in order to stay within compliance of the state’s conditional waiver. The bill also says the standards must “Prepare Indiana students for college and career success, including the proper preparation for nationally recognized college entrance examinations such as the ACT and SAT.” While that seems good, ACT and SAT have said their tests will be aligned to the Common Core."

Continue Reading →

Ivy Tech moves Franklin campus to central region

Reported at the IBJ -

"Ivy Tech Community College says it's shifting administration of its Franklin campus into its central Indiana region as part of a system-wide reconfiguration. The shift follows several Ivy Tech cost-cutting consolidations, including those of the Columbus and southeast regions and of the Bloomington and Evansville regions. The 175,000-student statewide system is trying to close a $68 million budget deficit. Franklin is in Johnson County, which previously was divided between two Ivy Tech regions."

Continue Reading →

Ballard outlines list of initiatives in annual 'state of' address

From the Indianapolis Business Journal -

"Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, in his annual State of the City address Thursday night, exhorted citizens to become ambassadors for Indianapolis as a great place to live. “I know Hoosiers are humble, but be proud Indy,” he said in closing remarks. “Be proud. Be determined to make the next decade in our city better than the last. And, be an ambassador for all things that make Indy a great place to live, work and raise a family.” “Live Indy” was the slogan behind a panoply of initiatives geared toward making Indianapolis a more desirable place to live. While that’s the obvious goal of almost any city, Ballard’s administration is focusing its effort on residential growth in order to capture more local income-tax revenue in hopes of eventually closing a large structural budget deficit. The gap is projected to be $40 million in 2015."

Continue Reading →