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(03/20/13 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Consultants of the Certified Technology Park project presented the master plan of the CTP and redevelopment strategies to the general public Tuesday evening at Bloomington City Hall.The CTP consists of 65 acres in downtown Bloomington and is home to several technology companies and professional offices. Of the 65 acres, 12 are owned by the City of Bloomington and are the subject of the master plan.CTPs are created as a vehicle to advance the growth of high-technology businesses and to promote technology transfer opportunities.Possibilities for phase one include renovation of the printing services and IU Press buildings as well as reconstruction of Tenth Street and the nearby alley. Other phase one possibilities entail Madison Street construction, new central open space and the removal of the Food Services building. “The ultimate goal is not city ownership but providing infrastructure improvement and providing the opportunity for private redevelopment,” said Danise Alano-Martin, director of economic and sustainable development for the City of Bloomington.Alano-Martin said other redevelopment goals were to create jobs and merge the area into the fabric of downtown. “Part of the plan is to provide the city recommendations with priority projects,” Alano-Martin said. Craig Gossman is the principal for MKSK, one of the architectural firms working to create the design concept for the CTP. He said there are options for the cities to sell or lease buildings such as the printing services and IU Press buildings. “What we don’t want to do is destroy the original voice of the architecture,” Gossman said. Alano-Martin said the multidisciplinary team wants to see the buildings reused and new businesses opened in the area. “Ultimately the benefit is the redevelopment of properties that are downtown, integrating them into the fabric of downtown, keeping with Bloomington’s character and hopefully creating opportunities for new employment,” Alano-Martin said. Gossman said there are also possibilities for a visitor’s center along the B-Line trail. Alano-Martin said the multidisciplinary team will spend a lot of time designing and engineering the project. She said the project is probably a 15- to 20-year effort on part of the private sector and city. “(We are) gathering this feedback and refining the plan, so that it can be in the format (to) be presented to the city’s redevelopment commission.
(03/18/13 9:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indianapolis International Airport was named North America’s best airport in 2012 by Airports Council International. ACI’s Airport Service Quality awards were determined by passenger satisfaction surveys conducted at more than 275 airports worldwide. In North America, 32 airports participated in the ASQ surveys. The top three airports were announced in the following categories: best airport by region, best airport by size, best small airport and best improvement.The Ottawa Airport in Ottawa, Canada, and the Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., were ranked second and third in North America, respectively. Popularly traveled airports such as the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago did not participate in the survey. The ASQ awards program identifies the most passenger-friendly airports throughout the world. ASQ surveys are based on interviews with passengers in gate areas on the days they travel. Airports are selected for audits to ensure compliance and to validate the results of the surveys, according to the ACI website. The Indianapolis International Airport was also ranked the best airport in North America in 2010 and second-best in 2011. “Being the best airport in North America wouldn’t be possible without world-class employees,” Robert Duncan, executive director for the Indianapolis Airport Authority, said in a press release. “I am proud of their dedication and I especially thank our front-line staff who greet our guests and keep our facilities clean, safe and operational around the clock.” Carlo Bertolini, director of marketing and public relations for the IAA, said the staff goes out of their way when performing job duties.“The areas that are within our control that continue to drive overall satisfaction are cleanliness and attitude and courtesy of our staff,” Bertolini said. Bertolini said the airport is often the first place people see when they come to Indianapolis.“We always hear people passing through say it’s one of the best airports they’ve ever seen,” he said. Bertolini said the airport benefits from having a new terminal, which opened in 2008. He also said the airport is one of the few airports built with the post 9/11 security environment in mind. “We have a much more passenger-friendly experience in one of the passenger’s least favorite parts of the process, which is the security screening,” Bertolini said. For example, the airport has extra room for screening checkpoints and areas for passengers to pack up their belongings, Bertolini said.Bertolini also said he hopes the award reflects on the whole state in terms of hospitality. “It’s definitely a benefit internally not for only our staff, but for TSA and airline employees,” he said. “It’s always rewarding when you see your employees recognized in a very public way.”
(03/07/13 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An integral part of Monroe County Airport is closing. The control tower will no longer operate at the local airport.Bruce Payton, director of the Monroe County Airport, said he was notified via email of the official listing of Monroe County’s tower for closure Tuesday evening. Payton said Monroe County’s control tower is one of the 16 towers that will remain open until the end of the federal fiscal year, which is Sept. 30. The Federal Aviation Administration will close 173 air traffic control towers April 7 as the result of federal spending cuts. Sixteen cost-share air traffic control towers are believed to be targeted for closure at the end of the fiscal year, according to an email to United States Contract Tower Association members from USCTA executive director Spencer Dickerson. The Monroe County Airport’s air traffic control tower is operated by Midwest Air Traffic Control of Overland Park, Kan. Payton told the Indiana Daily Student last week that four air traffic controllers and a manager could lose their jobs as a result of the closure of the tower. Payton said Monroe County’s tower is listed for closure because the airport falls below the criteria of 150,000 flight operations or 10,000 commercial operations per year. “During today’s call, FAA officials indicated that they will consider requests to keep towers open in instances where closure would have a ‘negative impact on the national interest,’” Dickerson said in an email to USTCA members on Tuesday. Payton said the Monroe County Airport brings in high-profile collegiate athletic departments, world leaders and researchers. “It’s my opinion that all of those reasons clearly fall within national interest,” Payton said.Geoff McKim, president of the Monroe County Council, said the elimination of the air traffic control tower will make the airport less usable for people who fly in and out of it.Payton said the Monroe County Airport is large enough for military aircrafts to get in and out in the event of an emergency. “Monroe County Airport has been identified as a major supply base in the event of a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid area,” Payton said. Payton said he is forwarding information regarding the closure of the control tower to local elected officials to push for Monroe County to be removed from the list of closures.“Airports will have until March 13 to make the case that the closure of their tower will have national implications,” Dickerson said in an email to USCTA members. “FAA also made clear that they will contemplate keeping non-federal towers open at local airport expense.” Payton said when the FAA stopped funding the Monroe County air traffic control tower in 1995, Monroe County officials decided to fund the tower locally. “Monroe County officials reviewed the issue very carefully and agreed air traffic control services were way too valuable,” Payton said. McKim said it would be difficult for Monroe County to fund the control tower if the time came.“Everything is very tight,” McKim said. “I’m sure we would discuss it if it became an issue.” Payton said 84 percent of air traffic control services contracted at the Monroe County Airport are paid by the federal government through the contract tower program, while the remaining 16 percent are paid by the airport.“I have, for many years, argued and solicited support from our congressional leaders to continue to support this very valuable program because of the value of having air traffic control services here in Bloomington,” Payton said.
(03/01/13 5:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Monroe County Airport might have to cease operation, and the Monroe County Community School Corporation could lose $560,000 if scheduled budget cuts are implemented subsequently following lack of a proposal from Congress or President Barack Obama. The sequester calls for $85 billion nationwide in spending cuts for the remaining fiscal year. However, the sequester will also have implications on state and local levels. Air traffic control elimination Bruce Payton, director of the Monroe County Airport, said the impacts of the sequester are quite clear.“If this happens, Monroe County Airport’s air-traffic control services will cease operation here on April 1,” Payton said.The sequester will cut $600 million from the Federal Aviation Administration. The Monroe County air-traffic control tower is currently funded in part with a federal cost-share program. Payton said operation cost of the lower cost $437,000 in 2012, of which 84 percent was paid by the federal government. Payton said the airport has about 120 flights, per year both incoming and outgoing. Large aircrafts carrying 40 to 170 passengers often come to the airport due to its close proximity to IU-Bloomington and Cook Medical. “With all this very high-profile traffic coming in and sophisticated aircrafts, mixing them in the small airspace around Monroe County Airport, we believe the air-traffic control services here are important for everyone’s safety,” Payton said. Payton said approximately 23,000 takeoffs and landings occur at the Monroe County Airport on an annual basis, while the tower is open. He said approximately another 20 to 25 percent landings and take-offs came in late at night. “If Monroe County feels we should still keep this going, 100 percent of the funding will have to from the county again,” Payton said.In the past, Monroe County officials agreed it was valuable enough to fund the tower locally, Payton said. He said the airport was able to gain entry into a federal cost-share program for the tower in 1995.Payton said there is potential for safety concern with the elimination of the air-traffic control tower.“Absolutely, in my mind, it is not as safe without the air-traffic controllers as it is with the air-traffic controllers in the area,” Payton said.Payton said it is a possibility for a total of five workers, four air traffic controllers and a manager, to lose their jobs as a result of the sequester.“It’s probably some of the most important jobs around the area,” Payton said.Defense Lt. Col. Cathy Van Bree, public affairs officer for the Indiana National Guard, said there is a potential furlough that will occur in late April and affect the National Guard, as a result of the sequester. According to a report from the White House, approximately 11,000 Indiana civilian Department of Defense employees could be furloughed. Van Bree said the potential furlough could affect half of the full-time employees at the Indiana National Guard by making them go into furlough one day for every 22 weeks. “What we will see is a decline in overall readiness on the full-time side,” Van Bree said. “Repair parts may be put on back order due to a lack of funding. Ground maintenance and aviation maintenance numbers will slow down.”Van Bree said the furlough will not affect the National Guard’s ability to respond to a national or state emergency, because they have more than just full-time employees.The DOD is required to notify Congress 45 days before any workers are furloughed. EducationAs a result of the sequester, MCCSC is expecting to lose $560,000 or 8.2 percent in federal grants. Beverly Smith, director of school and community services for MCCSC, said federally supported programs such as Title I, which helps fund preschool programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act, English Language Acquisition, Career and Technical Education and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. “Not a lot is known of what the final impact is going to be,” Smith said. “However, should it go through, we have reasons to be concerned.” Smith said the MCCSC school board signed a resolution in November lessen the adverse implications of the cuts.“Well, certainly these particular moneys are used to fund programs that impact students, so there is a direct correlation,” Smith said. HealthPenny Caudill, administrator for the Monroe County Health Department, said it’s hard for the health department to know what may happen because they don’t receive direct funds. Caudill said all the Monroe County Health Department funds are passed through the state. “Most of the things that will impact us will be indirect,” Caudill said. Statewide, Indiana will lose approximately $619,000 which would be used to respond to public health threats, according to the White House report. “At a national level, you have a reduction in food safety that’s going to play a part, because we might see more foodborne illness and outbreaks at the local level we would have to deal with,” Caudill said.
(02/27/13 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana House of Representatives voted on a bill that would require precious metal dealers to withhold acquired items for 10 days. According to House Bill 1188, precious metals dealers will also be required to have a 12-month lease for their buildings. The House approved the bill last Thursday with a 95-1 vote and moved to the Senate. The bill also requires metal dealers to require government identification to be shown of people selling gold, silver or platinum. The proposed legislation also calls for dealers to provide a description of all metals purchased to law enforcement agencies. Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville, who co-authored HB 1188, said there has been a problem in her district with individuals stealing valuables then taking them to cash-for-gold shops. Once gold is melted, it often not retrievable. Riecken said the 10 days in holding would allow police time to track down potentially stolen or displaced gold. “There are problems in many of the communities,” Riecken said. “The victims usually lose things that are irreplaceable.Many jewelry stores are exempt because they have an annual revenue of more than $20,000. However, pawn brokers must abide by similar regulations proposed by HB 1188.Jack McCroy, owner of Ace Pawn Shop in Bloomington, said is in favor of gold dealers having to abide by the same laws.“Here at the shop, we take a state ID, and we hold that item for 10 days,” McCroy said. “We give a full report to the police department so they can check it.” Rep. Christina Hale, D-Indianapolis,said cash for gold stores are commodities businesses which almost immediately melt precious metals. “We probably have some well-intentioned business owners that ensure they are not purchasing stolen items,” Hale said. “The issue is there is no governing code.” Hale, whose district includes the busy Castleton shopping district on the north side of Indianapolis, said a number of her constituents alerted her to the issue. “This is just a way of doing better business in a way that will protect citizens, taxpayers and consumers here in Indiana,” Hale said.Indiana State Police Sgt. Tony Slocum said ISP tries to pay attention to what time crimes occur and ensure that troopers on patrol are on the lookout for suspicious activity. This is in hopes detering criminals from breaking into homes. “Indiana’s been a state where theft of jewelry has always been a state on our radar,” Slocum said. “Obviously the valuable the item is, the more attracted criminals are to it. Theft in general is something we’re trying to get a handle on.”Ed Smoot, manager of Gold Buyers of America in Bloomington, said his location already requires photo ID, fingerprints sellers and also records a description of all items they purchase Smoot said his location already holds gold for seven days. “You’d have to have a piece of gold for ten days before you can ship it to the foundry,” Smoot said. “If you have to wait that long it would be very detrimental to the business.”Smoot said he has only had four or five instances in the past three years in which there has been stolen gold at his business. He also said any time they suspect stolen gold, they notify the police.“We buy it here, and it’s shipped out within a week,” Smoot said. “It could be as much as one day and as much as seven depending on which day of the week we buy it.”He said the crew then proceeds to the foundry where the gold is given a second examination, and it is smelted and the metals extracted. “So all of that process takes three to four weeks before it is completed,” Smoot said. “Our whole system is set up for that schedule and if we have to change that schedule it won’t be advantageous for us at any means.”However, Smoot said he is aware of questionable ethical practices among his competitors and understands why legislators want the bill.
(02/22/13 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Prospective players will rush the field, and coaches will look for their new recruits during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this weekend. The Combine, which will run from Saturday to Tuesday, is a yearly showcase that allows college football players to perform tests in front of scouts, coaches, spectators and media members. Visit Indy, the official tourism website for Indianapolis, estimates the economic impact of the NFL Scouting Combine to be $5.5 million, Morgan Greenlee, senior communications manager for Visit Indy said in an email.Greenlee said the NFL Scouting Combine started in 1982 and moved to Indianapolis in 1987. Greenlee said 4,000 people are expected in Indianapolis for the Combine, which includes 333 NFL prospects and 800 media members. “At the end of the day, they are going out to Indy restaurants and seeing and experiencing the city and hopefully loving it,” Greenlee said.Greenlee said the visitor experience begins the second visitors stop off the plane in Indianapolis. “We are known for our Hoosier hospitality,” Greenlee said. “I think that’s very evident from the time you step off a plane from the time you get to your hotel.”Greenlee said more than 70,000 hospitality employees in Indianapolis have gone through service training called Super Service, which ensures workers have knowledge regarding Indianapolis. “The Super Service program has played a very high role to ensure a high level of hospitality,” Greenlee said. Phil Ray, general manager of Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, said the NFL staff, as well as some players, is staying at the Marriott for the Combine.Ray said since the Combine is not a game, the coaches are more relaxed and are having a good time with their counterparts.“From an economic standpoint, it’s just great,” Ray said. “We are in a sold-out situation for most points during the week.”Ray said the Marriott has had a long history with the NFL, such as by accommodating the New York Giants during the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis. “We are always going to try and make sure it’s a quality stay for all of our guests,” Ray said. “We have a lot more VIPs and potentially even some media-type folks.”Greg Basey, owner of Basey’s Downtown Grill and Spirits a half-mile away from Lucas Oil Stadium, said the Combine increases revenue for his business.“It’s about like anything else,” Basey said. “The conventions and other events that go on downtown bring in revenue to most bar and restaurant owners.”Basey said during the Combine, he tunes most of the televisions in his grill to the NFL Network.“We have welcome signs that we put outside the building, because of the fact it is televised,” Basey said. John Dedman, vice president of communications for Indiana Sports Corporation, which brings other sporting events to Indianapolis, said the Combine has had an indirect impact on his company. “It allows us to have a number of key NFL decision makers in Indianapolis in bringing the Super Bowl here in 2012 and possibly 2018,” Dedman said. “Of course, it’s also a great branding opportunity and sports initiative here.”Dedman said the event gives people the opportunity to brand Indianapolis. “I think it is a huge advantage to have the Combine here in Indianapolis as we were bidding on the Super Bowl,” Dedman said. “To have all the players be familiar with Indianapolis and have them previously at the RCA Dome and now at the Lucas Oil Stadium and see that all the opportunities it has to offer is invaluable.”
(02/20/13 5:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some owners of small businesses are opposed to a metered parking proposal for downtown Bloomington, and John Bailey, managing partner of Malibu Grill, isn’t one of them.The vote on the proposal, which calls for metered parking in downtown Bloomington, was delayed until March 20 by the Bloomington City Council.“During our initial Council meeting to discuss parking it became clear there were opportunities to gather additional information and potentially identify compromises or alternatives to the original parking proposal,” Darryl Neher, president of the Bloomington City Council, said in an email. “After talking with Mayor Kruzan, I offered the motion to postpone to provide everyone involved additional time to consider our options moving forward.”Neher said the Council believes additional research is necessary for the metered parking proposal. “I hope we are able to come together in the coming weeks to identify common ground in developing a comprehensive downtown parking policy,” he said.The parking proposal calls for a “fixed supply” of 1,200 spots that will cost $1 per hour, according to a memo from the City Council. Metered spots currently exist in parts of downtown Bloomington including the parking lot on Dunn Street. “Smart-meter technology is the most effective way to manage our finite, on-street parking resources,” Susie Johnson, director of public works, said in a memo. “Metering will allow for a more universal consistent and predictable approach for motorists.” “The problem, in brief, is that the city has the duty of managing use of on-street parking spaces as a public resource for the betterment of the community,” the memo said.Jim Shelton, interim president and chief executive officer for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber is in opposition to the metered parking plan.“We are opposed to putting meters in downtown until they make it part of a comprehensive plan that addresses conditions of the garages and all of the volunteers downtown,” Shelton said. There are more than 100 volunteers that work at places such as the Wonderlab Museum and Monroe County Public Library who should receive special parking accommodations or perhaps even free parking, he said. Shelton said some small businesses will probably suffer from metered parking.“There are some small businesses there are operating on very thin margins and this could make the difference whether they survive or not,” Shelton said.Bailey said he was once opposed to the idea of metered parking downtown Bloomington, but now he supports it.“Not only am I for it,” Bailey said. “We have to do it.”Bailey said there is competition among employees, customers and residents for “hot spaces” around the square and up and down Kirkwood Avenue. “The customer should win that battle,” he said. “The customer doesn’t have a lot of economic decision in the matter versus the employee that’s got to think about 20, 30 or 40 dollars.”Bailey said if there are more parking spaces available, businesses will get more customers.The reality is a lot of small business owners don’t want to pay for parking themselves, he said. Bloomington City Council member Tim Mayer said people do not have a full understanding of the metered parking process. “For example, some people will think metering will be in effect seven days a week,” Mayer said. “There are some free opportunities for parking in garages in the evening.” “Part of our problem is we didn’t communicate that as well as we could,” Mayer said. Mayer said the reason for metered parking is to raise revenue. He also said there is a shortfall in operations of parking garages in Bloomington on an annual basis, which is currently be funded out of the budget’s general fund. Bloomington currently has three parking garages downtown. “By statute, the money stays within the district basically,” Mayer said. “That’s how we would be able to fund operations of the parking facilities, as well as enhance the district where the parking will be facilitated, if the council decides to put meters in those areas.” John McGuigan, an employee of Caveat Emptor, a local bookstore, said he has collected more than 3,000 signatures for a petition against the proposal. “Basically, we had no idea what to expect,” McGuigan said. “It turns out the number of Bloomingtonians who object to the parking meters turns to be huge.”McGuigan said they’ve also created a coalition of downtown businesses who oppose the meter plan. “I think a lot of people think installing parking meters throughout the downtown area will change the character of Bloomington,” he said. “Not only by businesses who are concerned about a possible decline in their business because people will probably be less inclined to browse, whether at a bookstore or records store.”McGuigan said he foresees a significant curtailment with browsing activity.“Well, first of all, we don’t think there is a parking problem,” Mcguigan said. “We think the parking problem has been used to disguise a budget problem. The city isn’t within its means.”McGuigan said the meters are intended to bring in significant revenue for the city, not only for parking garages, but for city operations in general.Bloomington City Council member Marty Spechler said metered parking needs to happen downtown.“We feel as if we have to create more places for people, and one way to do that is change nominal amounts, so that people don’t warehouse their cars on the streets,” Spechler said. “We’re particularly interested in having workers park in garages so customers will park in the street.”Spechler said the city needs the money from metered parking to provide better lighting and cameras for the garages. “When they (garages) are fully used, there are going to be more spaces on the streets,” Spechler said. Spechler said he doesn’t think metered parking won’t hurt strong businesses with good business plans. “Even if there were no parking meters, some small businesses come and go,” Spechler said. “It’s hard to find a business that’s been there a very long time, and the job of the city council is not to choose who will live and who will die.”He said small businesses will have to move or adjust if they don’t meet needs of the customers.“We have to do it because the future is more demand for parking and less supply,” Spechler said. “That’s really the bottom line.”Bailey said metered parking is a supply and demand issue. “It’s a divisive issue. It’s a polarizing issue,” Bailey said. “There’s a lot of people that don’t want it and do want it. Personally, I don’t want to start paying for parking, but I understand the gravity of the situation. The writing is on the wall.”
(02/13/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The number of beer bottles on the shelves in retail stores might be decreasing on Sundays within the next few years. Supporters of ending Indiana’s ban on the sale of alcohol on Sundays will soon know if their measure will move forward in the legislature. Rep. Bill Davis, R-Portland, chairman of the House Public Policy Committee, will bring House Bill 1146 to a vote by the Committee before it can be discussed in the House of Representatives. Feb. 6 was the first time an Indiana House Committee had taken up the proposal to end the retail sale of alcohol on Sundays, although legislators have filed to end the ban multiple times in the past. Indiana is the only state that currently prohibits the sales of alcohol in retail establishments on Sundays.HB 1146 would allow grocery, convenience and liquor stores to sell carryout alcohol on Sundays. Indiana law currently allows for individuals older than 21 to consume alcohol on premises at bars and restaurants on Sundays. Senate Bill 75, signed into law by former Gov. Mitch Daniels in 2010, allowed breweries to sell items for carryout on Sundays. Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, author of HB 1146, said the main reason for the bill is to get rid of a silly, outdated law on the books. “My bill would bring some consistency to our alcohol beverage laws,” Eberhart said. “It would not really invent the wheel. It would allow those who want to purchase alcohol on Sunday to take it home and consume it in a safe environment.”John Livengood, president of Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers, said passing HB 1146 would be devastating for liquor stores because they would have to be open seven days a week.“Fortunately, the state’s general assembly has cared more about protecting its own policy they created a long time ago, than they have been in helping the big stores enrich themselves outside of Indiana,” Livengood said. “The battle here is over whether the state’s policy is going to continue whether alcohol should primarily be sold in stores.” Livengood said HB 1146 is an effort by retail stores to attract more shoppers to their stores. “It’s just about them wanting to make more money. It’s not about anything else,” he said. “They wouldn’t spend the money they’ve spent on this campaign, if they wouldn’t benefit financially.” Livengood cited a 2006 study from Ball State University which reported approximately 2,000 people would become unemployed if alcohol sales were allowed on Sundays.John Elliott, public affairs manager for the central division of Kroger, said Kroger is in favor for Sunday sales for retailers that are already licensed to sell alcohol. “We’re projecting $300 to $600 million increases in revenue for all the Indiana retailers, but that comes in more than one way,” Elliot said. “There are a certain number of sales that are certainly lost each Sunday.”Elliot said many sales are lost each Sunday due to consumers traveling to neighboring states to buy alcohol. “If those hundreds of millions of dollars are lost to Indiana business, we are not just talking about people going from Richmond (Ind.) to Ohio,” he said. “They take their entire shopping list with them.”Eberhart said allowing alcohol sales on Sundays in Indiana would hurt other states, because Indiana is currently hurting from cross-border sales. “We’re losing millions upon millions on liquor sales, but also any other type of product they (consumers) may buy on Sunday,” Eberhart said. Charles Key, owner and president of Indianapolis-based liquor store chain Payless Liquors, which operates 22 stores throughout central Indiana,said he would have to open his doors on Sundays. Key said he has to pay more than $3 million in labor each year, while he said his opponent does not. This is because his competition, large retailers, use suppliers and don’t require the liquor sections of their stores to be staffed. “They don’t have to order product. They don’t have to stock product,” he said. “Their supplier does all that for them.”Key said there needs to be the same level of restriction for large retailers and liquor stores. “If everybody is treated in the same manner, I would have no problems,” Key said.For instance, Key said clerks are not allowed to work at a liquor store if they have a DUI, but are allowed to work at a chain store which sells alcohol.He said the sale of alcohol on Sunday would substantially decrease the revenue of his stores. “They’re doing it for the growth of out of state owners, shareholder value,” Key said. “The consumers of Indiana are not pushing this, the retail stores are pushing this.” Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, said the concerns of the liquor stores are valid, but doesn’t think it’s enough to have a specific law that protects their industry.“I don’t see any reason why alcohol can’t be sold on Sundays like on any retail or food item,” Stoops said. He said the ban of liquor sales on Sundays will give Indiana residents a freedom of choice. “This legislature needs to make a decision,” Elliot said. “It is their role to support Indiana’s economy, Indiana jobs and maximize tax revenues.”
(02/11/13 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>FROM IDS REPORTSThe Bloomington Economic Development Corporation and the Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College joined together to launch an entrepreneurial ecosystem for Bloomington and Monroe County. The effort is spearheaded by leaders of several local organizations that provide services to start-ups and small businesses. These leaders will review current programs and services, identify possible new programs and services based on best practices in other communities and develop recommendations for the community, according to a press release. The initiative is funded by a $35,000 Community Impact Funding Grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County. “Entrepreneurship is not new to Bloomington,” Mayor Mark Kruzan said in a press release. “But entrepreneurs have new ideas every day that, in the right environment and with the right help, will be transformed into new businesses and new jobs. As a community, we have to make sure we’re providing the right support at the right time.”Ivy Tech Chancellor John Whikehart said in a press release that the joint effort will help further the mission to ensure Bloomington and other Monroe County communities provide a continuous service to entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurs take great personal risks which can return immense community rewards in terms of jobs and economic vitality,” Whikehart said in the release. “A community that is successful in helping entrepreneurs make sure those risks are calculated risks, by providing education, technical expertise, mentorship, financial capital and so on, will reap long-term economic benefits that are driven by home-grown innovation.”The group will outline existing entrepreneurship and innovation programs, benchmark communities that have supportive services and gather ideas from local entrepreneurial leaders. Final recommendations for entrepreneurs will be released in the spring.— Matt Stefanski
(02/06/13 4:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Companies with central Indiana ties were recently placed on the list of 150 top workplaces by Workplace Dynamics. Workplace Dynamics, which conducts employee surveys, polled more than 1 million employees from 872 companies.“Our survey is unlike any other ever conducted of American employees,” Workplace Dynamics CEO Doug Claffey said in a press release. “Rankings are determined exclusively by employee responses to survey questions, removing any subjectivity, and the scale of the survey means that we have a real snapshot of what is happening in corporate America.”Companies were required to have at least 1,000 employees in the United States and 350 survey responses to be eligible for ranking. The survey, which included 22 questions, outlined components such as management, business operations and company values. Some of the top-ranked companies with local ties include Aerotek, ATI Physical Therapy, FedEx and Resorts Condominiums International. Aerotek Aerotek, which has a regional office in Indianapolis, is an operating company of Allegis Group, a recruiting and staffing company headquartered in Hanover, Md. Aerotek is an employee staffing agency, which matches job seekers with opportunities that fit their skills. Aerotek was ranked No. 28.“It is an honor to be named as one of the Top 150 Workplaces based on our employee feedback,” Tanya Axenson, vice president of human resources for Aerotek, said in a press release. “At Aerotek, we believe our employees are our most important asset, and we remain committed to investing in our people.” ATI Physical Therapy ATI provides physical therapy, conditioning, aquatic health and sports medicine. It has many locations in central Indiana, including a location in Bloomington. ATI was ranked No. 54 out of 150 companies surveyed. Kim Waterman, public relations manager for ATI, said ATI aims to provide many opportunities for employee advancement.“We provide continuous education credits, and as our company continues to grow, that provides more opportunities for growth and personal development,” Waterman said. The culture of ATI sets it apart from other companies, she said.“If your employees are upbeat and friendly, it comes across in the clinic, so your patients are that way, as well,” she said. Waterman said ATI employees want the visit to be the highlight of patients’ days. “We have great benefits, but what sets us apart is the overall culture and we have great benefits like health care,” Waterman said. “We really do kind of have all the great workplace benefits, but it’s the culture of focusing on every patient as an individual person and the ability to make a difference in people’s lives which makes this a great place to work.”FedExFedEx provides transportation, e-commerce and business services to the general public and businesses worldwide, with locations in Bloomington and throughout Indiana. FedEx’s second-largest cargo hub is located at the Indianapolis International Airport. FedEx was ranked No. 82 out of 150 companies surveyed.Resorts Condominiums InternationalRCI specializes in vacation exchange and timeshare services, and is an entity of Wyndham Exchange and Rentals. Regional offices for RCI are located in Carmel, Ind. RCI was ranked No. 88 out of 150 companies surveyed.
(02/01/13 5:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Monroe County had the lowest reported rate of asthma hospitalizations for 5-to-17-year-olds from 2007-11, according to a report issued by the Indiana State Department of Health.The county reportedly had the state’s third lowest rate of emergency department visits for children experiencing asthma.In 2011, Monroe County had the seventh lowest rate for asthma-related emergency visits of all ages, with 21.39 visits per 10,000 people.Rates per 10,000 persons were age-adjusted to enable comparisons between groups of different age distributions, according to the report.Monroe County had the lowest reported rate of asthma hospitalizations, according to the report.During the five-year span, 172 children experiencing asthma visited emergency departments in Monroe County at a rate of 16.7 per 10,000 people, according to the report. In the same time period, there were 28 hospitalizations of children with asthma in the county at a rate of 2.72 per 10,000 children. Statewide, cases occurred at a rate of 9.02 per 10,000 children for hospitalizations.Dr. Richard Malone, pediatrician for Southern Indiana Pediatrics, said asthma is best defined as a chronic condition best managed under the category of chronic disease management and is triggered by number of external factors, such as viruses, allergens, physical activity and weather changes. Southern Indiana Pediatrics is a division of Southern Indiana Physicians, which is a part of IU Health. Malone said preventative asthma medicines are anti-inflammatory, either of the steroid class or the leukotriene class, which can reduce the severity of swings in the state of asthma. “I think the reason for the low local hospitalization rate is due to disease management,” Malone said. “Probably the early aggressive use of inhaled steroids helps to reduce inflammatory states that may predispose for asthma.”Malone said a few years ago, there was an asthma expert who came to Bloomington and noted the low hospitalization rate. “He probably thought that was due to our chronic disease management level than anything else,” Malone said. Malone said the emergency department and pediatricians at Southern Indiana Pediatrics maintain good communication to manage the chronic aspects of the illness to prevent it from getting out of hand. “I think the continuity of care is probably the most important in chronic disease management, so the availability of practitioners to manage illness before it becomes severe enough to require hospitalization is very important,” Malone said.Hospitalization rates for children in Brown, Greene, Lawrence and Owen counties from 2007 to 2011 were not reported, because they were considered unstable as less than 20 hospitalizations occurred, according to a report from the Indiana State Department of Health. Hospitalization rates of all ages in 2011 were also not reported in Brown County.
(01/30/13 6:08am)
Last year, the Indianapolis International Airport reported the largest boarding decline in the past decade.Passenger boardings fell 2.2 percent last year, Director of Corporate Communications for the Indianapolis Airport Authority Carlo Bertolini said. The Indianapolis Airport Authority operates the Indianapolis Airport.Bertolini said boardings in December 2012 were down 6.6 percent compared to December 2011.Arrivals in 2012 were down 2.5 percent from 2011, while departures were down 2.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.The average fare for flights at the Indianapolis Airport was $391 in mid-2012, while the average fare was $367 in mid-2011.Nationally, the average fares in mid-2011 and mid-2012 were $369 and $384, respectively.Bertolini said the decrease in boarding in December was due in part to a snow storm in December 2012."That was definitely impacted by the so called blizzard," he said. "That storm in late December counted for 147 cancellations. Four percent of flights were cancelled."On Dec. 26, 2012, 7.5 inches of snow fell at the Indianapolis International Airport, according to a report from the National Weather Service.Bertolini said the airport is looking for ways to help support lower costs."To remain as competitive as possible for other airports, look for sources of non-airline revenue," he said.Non-airline revenue includes revenue from food and drinks, as well as leasing space on airport property. Bertolini said there is a good amount of land near the airport which is not traditionally available."A solar farm is a use for the land, we get revenue and the developer gets to create energy that’s an example of a non-airline source of revenue we are able to tap into by being creative and innovate," Bertolini said.Bertolini said the boarding decrease is definitely nationwide, except for airports with hubs such as Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which is home to American Airlines, and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, home to United Airlines.He said airports are now more disciplined about scheduling too many flights.Airlines have been a lot more focused on profits than market share," Bertolini said. "In the old days, if one of the competitors opened a route from Indianapolis to Boston, other airlines might match that."Bertolini also said mergers have had a large effect on airports.He said one of the airports that was effected by airline mergers was the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, when Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines merged in October 2008.Delta decreased the amount of flights coming out of the Cincinnati hub and jobs were lost as a result."Whenever you have mergers, you get less choice for the consumer. It tends to reduce capacity and drive up prices," Bertolini said.
(01/29/13 5:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Vickie Davison was driving down a rural Bloomington road when it happened. The water started pouring into her truck. She said she knew she and her stepson had to get out.Davison said she was driving out in the country in the pitch dark in the mid-2000s. She and her stepson climbed out of the back window of her truck to safety. Davison, the owner of Bloomington Hardware who experienced the flood of 2008, said there are many ways people can prepare for floods.A flood watch is currently in effect for much of central and southern Indiana. On Monday afternoon, the Bloomington area experienced rain, but not nearly as much as predicted by the National Weather Service for this evening. A flood watch is in effect from tonight through Wednesday morning for many central and southern Indiana counties, including Monroe County, according to a report by the NWS. Joe Skowronek, meteorologist for the Indianapolis office of the NWS, said the watch is in effect from 7 p.m. today to 11 a.m. Wednesday.“A watch means the potential exists for flooding,” Skowronek said. “It’s not a certainty, but the conditions are favorable for flooding.”The Bloomington area has had its share of past floods with notable floods in 1913, 1937 and 2008, according to the Indiana Geological Survey. The Great Flood of 1913 occurred along rivers including the Ohio and Wabash. Nearly every town in Indiana located along a major drainage experienced flooding in 1913, according to the survey. The storm resulted in a total of $25 million of damage. In January 1937, a major flood occurred on the Ohio River Valley. Severe winter storms in the Midwest lead to intense flood damage across southern Indiana, according to the survey. A flood in June 2008 resulted in people covered knee-deep in water on Kirkwood Avenue and power out in various buildings on IU’s campus, according to an Indiana Daily Student article from June 5, 2008.Davison said she remembers the flood of 2008, and she said it was horrible. “The creek in front of the hardware store was at the bottom of the bridge,” she said. “That bridge is eight feet above you. If I walked underneath, it was raging.”Immediately following the June 2008 storms, 82 of Indiana’s 92 counties were declared presidential disaster areas, according to the survey. Davison said one of the main ways to prepare for a storm is to make sure gutters are clean. “Make sure where the downspout comes out of the yard,” Davison said. “If the gutters in the downspouts are doing their job, they are going to collect the water in the roof and move it away from the house.” When storm drains are clogged with sticks and ice, water can back up, which can cause increased flooding. “If you end up seeing a drain that’s full of leaves and trash, make sure that it’s cleaned,” Davison said. “Clean it out and put it in a new trash can.” Davison said tube sand especially sells during the times when a flood is expected. “The tube sand is great to put up and stop water from coming into a window well or basement,” she said. “The tube sand makes a nice little barricade against the water.”Davison said people need to have a basic knowledge of plumbing in the event of water entering their basement. She said many houses have pumps in the event of a flood. “The pit will collect the water and the pump helps it out, so it will go into the water pipes and sewage pipes,” she said. Davison said residents should make sure pumps are in working order.A water alarm is one of the new tools sold at Bloomington Hardware that helps flood prevention, Davison said. “You put it on the floor near, say, a floor drain,” she said. “As soon as it makes contact with any water, the alarm goes off.”Davison said the alarm is a really good precaution, especially for people who have experienced flooded basements.“If you don’t hear an alarm, you could have a real flood down there before you realize it,” she said. “If it’s something you’re aware of quickly, you can get right on it and get a replacement pump to minimize the damage.”Davison said the main thing is to move things off the ground in case, if someone lives on a ground level without a basement. “Once the water recedes, get your water extraction equipment in there,” Davison said. Davison said maintenance and prevention is important, especially for college students. “I think a lot of times, college students haven’t had to do the maintenance on a house before,” she said.Davison said people should do a good visual inspection of the house to make sure water is connected and the downspout will take it away from the house. Companies such as the American Automobile Association offer members 24-hour road service for disabled vehicles. Greg Seiter, public affairs manager for AAA’s Hoosier Motor Club, said AAA trucks are available to assist members unless an area is declared a state of emergency. Seiter said Hoosier Motor Club is fully staffed with trucks, because winter is generally a very busy time. Seiter also said what motorists can do in the event of a flood. “Certainly if water is entering the vehicle, you need to get out as quickly as you possibly can,” Seiter said. “Of course you need to take into consideration whether that means breaking the window, exiting through a door, that means you have to get yourself out.” Davison said Bloomington Hardware offers glass cutters, which motorists can use if they need to escape the water. “We sell a lot of glass break,” she said. “It has glass break on one end, so that way you can cut the seat belt, and if you needed to, you can break the glass.”Skowronek said the best chance of any flooding is during the watch, because heavy rain is expected at those times. According to a report by the NWS, up to three inches of rain are expected tonight, and flooding is possible in lowland areas. Skowronek said there is potential to upgrade to a flood warning. “The potential is there for things to flood, so we may have to upgrade to warnings at that time,” he said. “Everything we are looking at is pointing in that direction at this time.”Skowronek said people should continue to monitor the forecast and state of weather, especially in areas prone to flooding, such as low-lying areas and areas near rivers.“When an actual warning is issued, that’s when you want to take action,” he said.
(01/28/13 4:21pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Taking a tour of a residence with your potential landlord is the best way to identify potential problems and submit requests before being bound by contracts and clauses.Whether you’re on the verge of signing a lease or are simply getting a feel for how a leasing office runs its properties, make sure you have this checklist on hand for all important questions and notes.What is the maintenance policy of the property?Be familiar with this policy so you know what to do when equipment needs maintenance or the lawn needs mowed.Does the landlord have any plans to sell the property within the time frame of the lease?In some cases, the landlord does not have to notify the tenant if he or she wishes to sell the property.Does the landlord require the last month’s rent in advance?Many landlords ask for the last month’s rent before move-in.How old is the equipment in the house? Does it function properly?Make sure the equipment and appliances work properly before you decide on a residence.Is this a long-term lease or a month-to-month option?Many renters will require you to pay for summer months even though you might not be in the residence.Is parking included?If you have a car, get a feel for driveways on the property or city parking zones nearby.Have there been mold or mildew problems in the apartment or adjacent apartments?Mold and mildew can pose serious health risks and are often not immediately visible in residences.How old is the wiring?Old wiring and two-pronged switches can become hazardous.What utilities does the landlord pay for? Which utilities do you have to pay for?The landlord might pay for some utilities like water or pay electricity up to a certain cap. Understand your responsibilities and any stipulations. What are the guest restrictions?Some landlords might not allow other people to stay in the property for a certain period of time, and others don’t allow guests to stay for more than 30 days. Look into guest parking.
(01/25/13 5:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two longtime members of Congress are set to join the IU School of Global and International Studies faculty.IU President Michael McRobbie confirmed Thursday that former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton will join the faculty of the School of Global and International Studies.The announcements were made at the Lilly Library with Lugar and Hamilton in attendance. University Officials such as Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Larry Singell and Trustee Mary Ellen Bishop were also in attendance. Lugar and Hamilton will join the School of Global and International Studies as distinguished scholars and professors of practice. They will also co-chair the new IU International Advisory Committee. According to a press release, Lugar and Hamilton will advise the University on broad issues concerning its international engagement strategies and the development of the School of Global and International Studies. Hamilton said the school, which was approved by the Board of Trustees last fall, is a striking achievement for the leaders of IU. “It places IU on the forefront of international education,” Hamilton said. McRobbie said both Hamilton and Lugar will serve as major assets to the University. “I think it’s hard to see that any other school in the area would have on its faculty two better qualified people with more experience in the last 50 years of politics in this country, outside of certain cabinet members,” McRobbie said. Lugar, who served six terms as an Indiana Senator — his last ending Jan. 3 — announced the donation of his senatorial papers to IU’s Modern Political Papers collection at the Herman B Wells Library. Hamilton, the current director of the Center on Congress at IU, former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, and Gov. Mike Pence are among politicians whose papers are housed in the collection. McRobbie said IU made the case to Lugar that they already had one of the finest collections of modern political papers in the U.S. “I think he felt that having his papers join the papers of those people, most of whom he knew or know and the resources we were able to bring to properly manage and curate his papers just made this the obvious place for him to go,” McRobbie said. Lugar said there were many alternatives for the deposit of his archives.“The archives professionals here at Indiana University are truly impressive,” he said. “They have a program which gave me assurance if we shifted over 1,000 boxes of all these archives, all sorts of trophies, metals, memorabilia and so forth.” McRobbie said it’s a historic day for Lugar, who served on the senate for 36 years, to join the IU faculty and offer his papers. “He served on some of the most important committees during that period,” McRobbie said. “The committees of the places that really do the work and develop the legislation has had such a profound impact on the nations and the world.”In 1967, Lugar, then 35, was elected as the mayor of Indianapolis. He ran for the Senate in 1974 and was defeated by incumbent Sen. Birch Bayh, D-Ind. In 1976, he was elected senator after defeating the other incumbent, Vance Hartke, D-Ind.During his time in the senate, Lugar was the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and two-time chair of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. He developed a bipartisan reputation in the Senate, and riled conservatives when he voted for Obama’s Supreme Court appointees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kaganin 2009 and 2010, respectively. He was attacked by advertisements from challenger Richard Mourdock, former Indiana Treasurer, in the May 2012 primary campaign for this reputation. Lugar was defeated May 8, 2012, in the primary by Mourdock, who then lost to Democratic candidate Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd District.As of 2009, Lugar had a 98-percent attendance rate in the Senate. He is currently tied with three other senators for the position of 17th longest serving Senator in U.S. History. McRobbie said Lugar’s papers are a complete record of his time in the senate.“This is just a remarkable resource for scholars and researchers, for students interested in the political history of the state, for the United States, over the last almost half-century,” he said. “That will soon be available to the whole scholarly community of the University.”Lugar said he would like to inspire a number of students to become leaders in security of the U.S. “This is remarkable opportunity for students to engage in a large number of cultures and different languages to understand that threats to America are less likely to be invasions by troops,” he said. Lugar also said people need to understand the geography of the world and its changing boundaries, especially the dynamics in Asia and the Middle East. “These are things I hope that I can help pick up, through at least my own lectures or talks, but also responses with students,” Lugar said. “We’ve had great opportunities with all of the hundreds of interns who have been in our senate office who assured, day by day, my experiences, my challenges and I come out from that with a very different view of public service and the world.” McRobbie said both Hamilton and Lugar played pivotal roles in the development of foreign policy in the U.S. “We have people ... in the deepest resources of the engine room of foreign policy development in the United States now on our faculty, now in a position where they can be put forth to the students, work with the students, work with faculty and so on for the foreseeable future,” McRobbie said. Lugar said he has been attempting to set up a new office in Washington D.C. since he left the Senate Jan. 3. “We’re going to have in that office a sort of many think tanks which we are going to be talking about how do we continue to control weapons of mass destruction, and how do we feel feed the world, how do we bring about productive agriculture in countries all over the world, how do we deal with energy efficiencies and problems with that sort,” Lugar said.
(01/22/13 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indianapolis was the latest city to be granted a North American Soccer League franchise Wednesday. NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson welcomed the franchise into the men’s professional soccer league for the 2014 season during the Major Soccer League draft Wednesday at the Indiana Convention Center. “We have all witnessed great sporting moments in Indianapolis over the years and in that same vein, the support for this team has been overwhelming,” Peterson said in a press release. The Indianapolis team will be owned by Ersal Ozdemir, president and chief executive officer of Keystone Construction Corporation. Ozdemir is open to the idea of local investors who have expressed interest in owning shares of the team, according to the press release. Peter Wilt, former president and general manager of the Chicago Fire who was hired as president for the Indianapolis team, said Indiana was chosen for a NASL franchise partially because of the area’s passion for sports. “With a market like this with a high passion for soccer, it’s a great opportunity,” Wilt said. “With Ozdemir providing resources, I think we can do it the right way and have an exceptional team.”Gov. Mike Pence and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard were also on hand for the announcement. “Indianapolis’ success as a city in many ways is defined by our long-term blueprint focused on sports, both professional and amateur,” Ballard said. “Our large sports presence greatly impacts the community, from its effect on teams, players and facilities to quality of life for residents, including our local sports hospitality workers.” The team is in discussion with IU-Purdue University Indianapolis to play home games at Michael Carroll Stadium for the 2014 season.Kate Julius, assistant vice chancellor for auxiliary services at IUPUI, said IUPUI is working at the campus level to get through all the details regarding the team playing at Carroll Stadium.“Anytime we have additional traffic and particularly for a sport that is so globally accepted and loved. We believe it’s going to have a positive impact on the campus,” Julius said. Wilt said there is no draft for the team.“We are looking at acquiring people in three basic areas: international players, players from Indiana and players from other parts of United States,” Wilt said. “We are trying to reflect the community and create emotional connections with the fans and the team.”Wilt said he is particularly interested in the soccer program at IU.“We believe that IU does a tremendous job with developing quality players with a championship this previous year,” Wilt said. “(Coach Todd) Yeagley not only developed talented players that develop very well. I talked to both the son, Todd, and dad to include former Hoosiers on the roster and how important that is.”The unnamed franchise has an advisory poll on indyprosoccer.com, in which fans can vote on the team’s name. A coach and players are to be named later this year, according to the press release. Season tickets for the inaugural season can be reserved now at the team’s website.
(01/16/13 5:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Bloomington City Council supported a tax abatement for the relocation of Hoosier Energy’s corporate headquarters to an area east of Indiana 37 and north of Tapp Road, last Wednesday.Hoosier Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative, is looking at various locations both in and near Bloomington to relocate its headquarters. The headquarters are currently located north of the city along Ind. 37. A tax abatement is when a board grants a taxpayer the exemption of paying taxes for a given time period.Hoosier Energy might build a multi-story Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified building with about 80,000 square feet. The building would keep 116 full-time positions according to the legislative documents for the city council meeting. LEED certification is a rating system for United States green buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council. Council members voted 7-1 to recommend the approval of a 10-year tax abatement and 7-0-1 to recommend vacating a right-of-way on South Tech Park Boulevard. Council member Chris Sturbaum said he favors the relocation of Hoosier Energy. “They looked all over the place, all over the state,” Sturbam said. “We needed to step up and have them stay here.” Sturbaum said he liked that the company is looking at staying in Bloomington. “We’re always talking about the quality of life and Bloomington being something that attracts business and drives economy,” Sturbaum said. “No matter what the tax abatement was, people wanted to be around Bloomington.”Sturbaum said a tax abatement is necessary for the move. “If everyone else is offering something like that, to not offer an abatement would be an indication to them we don’t care if they stay or not,” Sturbaum said. “If you lose them, you lose all that tax money.”For the new building, Hoosier Energy is looking at a LEED silver certification, the second level of certification.LEED certification begins with a “certified” designation and then progresses through silver and gold to platinum, the highest level of certification. “A building LEED certified will also be more energy efficient and will be designed to utilize things such as natural lighting,” said Danise Alano-Martin, director of the economic and sustainable development department. “There’s a number of great benefits of green buildings, and LEED certification is one of the more popular standards that people try to achieve.”Alano-Martin said Hoosier Energy is planning on implementing sustainability features such as carpool spaces and six spaces for electric plug-in vehicles.“The building design is one that they are working on to make sure it protects the area,” Alano-Martin said. “Surrounding where the building will be, they will be planting native tree species opposed to invasive.”Alano-Martin said the company also has a comprehensive educational and environmental community outreach program and a lending library provided to schools for environmental education.“The City of Bloomington is very excited about this project,” Alano-Martin said. “We are very happy they are considering the City of Bloomington location. It’s an important, long-standing company in Monroe County.”Alano-Martin said Hoosier Energy will go to their board of directors in March and finalize a site for the relocation. Sturbaum said the project is beneficial to everyone from an environmental standpoint. “It’s good for the planet, and it’s good for the company,” Sturbaum said. “By building it efficiently, they are going to help the planet and help themselves be sustainable throughout the future. It’s a smart business.”Sturbaum said Bloomington would miss out by not keeping Hoosier Energy in the city. “If you lose them, you lose every cent,” he said. “If you keep them, you keep them for the foreseeable future. The community shares the cost to some very small extent, but really it’s a win-win.”
(01/09/13 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ind. Gov.-elect Mike Pence is looking at public-private partnerships to complete Indiana’s 142-mile Interstate 69 extension.The first 67 miles of the highway opened in November 2012 from Evansville to Crane, Ind., and section four is set to open by the end of 2014.In December, the Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Michael Cline asked contractors to propose ways they might play a greater role in completing I-69.Will Wingfield, media relations for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said INDOT is requesting ideas from the private sector to reduce the overall construction cost and development of the project to expedite the process.Wingfield said INDOT involves the private sector by utilizing consultants and contractors to design and build the project. “You can bundle multiple types of work together so that the work can take place concurrently instead of consecutively,” Wingfield said.Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, said he does not favor the I-69 project. “I’m not sure that road would have efficient use for a private investor,” Stoops said. “That would mean tolling opportunities.” Stoops said he does not think INDOT is up-to-date with repairs.“INDOT is probably a billion dollars behind in emergency repairs, road repairs and maintenance,” Stoops said.Wingfield said if the partnership is pursued, it will be used to reduce the cost and expedite the construction process of section five from Bloomington to Martinsville. He said INDOT is not exploring tolling opportunities for the interstate. “We want to make it clear we are not exploring tolling options for I-69,” he said. “Tolling is not an option for I-69.”Stoops said areas will have to be demolished in order to make room for the extension.“There’s an area of Monroe County they will have to blast 800 feet deep by 300 feet wide,” he said. He said the extension of I-69 will be more suited for local commuters, adding that trucking companies would choose different routes.Wingfield said the I-69 project has an unprecedented number of environmental commitments.“Great care has been taken to identify and avoid impacts to underground water features known as karst and the habitat of the Indiana brown bat among other environment, historical and archaeological features,” Wingfield said. Stoops said there are safety concerns pertaining to the extension project.I-69 section four is scheduled to open at the end of 2014. Section five is currently in the environmental period in order to finalize the environmental impact state and record of decision. “INDOT’s commitment is to mitigate the impacts of traffic on existing State Road 37 for the citizens of Bloomington,” Wingfield said.
(01/08/13 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ethel Hoover opened up her mailbox to an unpleasant surprise last month: a termination notice.Hoover’s 22-year career as a nurse for IU Health Goshen Hospital came to an end with the refusal to get a flu shot.She was among eight employees fired at Goshen Hospital in December for refusing to get the vaccination. “I’m not opposed to all vaccines, but I’m opposed to the flu vaccine,” Hoover said. “They’re telling me I believe it and I have to take it. I’m telling them, ‘No, you can’t tell me what to put in my body.’”Hoover said she has taken the vaccine in the past and subsequently experienced negative side effects.IU Health developed a system-wide Influenza Patient Safety Program based on recommendations from health authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association.“I believe that, first off, there is no study to prove that the flu vaccine is effective,” Hoover said. “Maybe a 60, 70, 80-percent chance it’s effective.” Herd immunity theory suggests when a whole community is vaccinated, the community becomes immune to the disease with the addition of the number of individuals that become vaccinated.“If you watch, listen, hear the news they are going to say this is the worst flu epidemic in years,” Hoover said. “If that is a theory, it’s incorrect. More people are becoming immunized, yet it’s worst one that we’ve had yet.”Amanda Roach, media relations coordinator for IU Health Bloomington Hospital, said in an email that IU Health’s top priority is the health and well-being of its patients. IU Health adheres to the recommendations of the CDC.“IU Health employees who held concerns — be they medical, religious or other — were given the opportunity to apply for exemption,” Roach said. “Each request for exemption was taken seriously and considered by a panel of experts composed of physicians, infection control specialists, chaplains, ethicists and human resources and legal experts.”Hoover said she went through three sets of appeals for an exemption, all of which were denied. Hoover said other employees at Goshen Hospital were granted an exemption. “Some people did get a religious exemption,” Hoover said. “Some of it was not any different than any reason than we stated.”Hoover said people in waiting rooms pose the same risk as a health care worker without the vaccine.“If we ask you, as a patient, you still have the right to refuse it,” Hoover said. “As a health care employee, you can’t negate. How am I going to expose a patient any more than a visitor that’s sick?”Roach said IU Health communicated details regarding its annual flu vaccination policy to employees beginning in September 2012, through to the participation deadline of December 2012. “More than 95 percent of IU Health employees have complied with the policy,” Roach said. Elaine Cox, director of infection prevention at Riley Hospital for Children, an IU Health hospital, said the flu shot is beneficial to health care workers because they are exposed to many people during the flu season. “If you go patient to patient, you can be the vector of which the flu is spread,” Cox said. “We get them the flu shot so they won’t unwillingly spread it to patients.”Cox said symptoms of the flu are usually not noticed until three to five days of exposure, and she said she suggests college students get vaccinated. “We have such a better focus on patient safety and ... stopping all the ways that infections can be spread in the hospital has been such a focus of our resources,” Cox said. “It just naturally follows that the flu would be one of the things we try to prevent in this era of patient safety.”For Hoover, she said she hasn’t decided what comes next.“Through all this, we are hoping and praying that a good thing will come out of it, (and) that they can’t make flu vaccines mandatory,” Hoover said. “If they can do this, next it will be the public, the school children and everyone.”
(12/06/12 4:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Animal tool behavior and crafting were among topics discussed Wednesday night in “Are Chimpanzees the Most Proficient Animal Tool Users?” by Robert Shumaker, vice president of life sciences for the Indianapolis Zoo.Shumaker highlighted his book, “Animal Tool Behavior,” which focused on the use of tools by various animals from insects to orangutans. Shumaker then explained instances in which animals uesd tools. He said hermit crabs inhabit shells of animals after the other animals die. “Putting this shell on, carrying it around with their body absolutely fits our definition of tool use,” Shumaker said. Shumaker said dogs also use tools. In one instance, a dog put a hockey puck on top of a frisbee in order to carry them both with his mouth, he explained. He also talked about anelephant that held a fly swatter with its tusk and swatted the flies away. “Tool use occurs throughout the animal kingdom, but there is no way to accurately predict which animals use tools,” Shumaker said. Shumaker showed a video of an experiment he conducted with an orangutan. He put a treat inside a wooden box and tied it closed with a rope. In order for the box to open, the rope had to be cut. Shumaker demonstrated to the orangutan how to open the box by cutting the rope with a razor blade and showed her the treat was inside the box.He then let her try to figure it out. She started plucking and scraping the rope with the razor blade and initially had no success. After a few moments, she was able to cut the rope with the razor blade and retrieve the treat.After she cut the rope, she inspected it by touching it with her lips, something Shumaker said orangutans often do. He then had her try again.Shumaker said the orangutan cut the rope the second time so quickly, they had not even turned the video camera on yet. Shumaker also spoke about tokens, which are used to represent an object, such as a piece of food.He said that the greatest example of tokens involved Fifi, a 49-year-old chimp at the Toledo Zoo who passed away in 2009, and her toy alligator.According to an article by the Toledo Blade in 2009, Fifi became inseparable with the toy after its original owner, Mickie, another chimpanzee, died in 2000.Shumaker said Fifi had an unusual history for a chimpanzee.“She had an unusual habit, and it revolved around this alligator toy,” Shumaker said.He also said Fifi became remarkably distressed when she was separated from her toy.“The keepers tried to trade her a new alligator, and she rejected all of them,” Shumaker said.He said the only toy she wanted was the original one, the toy Mickie had up until his death. “It was only her original one that provided her security,” Schumacher said. “It gave her security in order to function.”