Some Democrats upset over Honda hiring

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	Wednesday, October 17, 2007
	Some Democrats upset over Honda hiring Five state Democratic lawmakers from Anderson, Muncie and Pendleton have written a letter to Indiana Secretary of Commerce Nate Feltman to say they're upset that their constituents were prevented from applying for the 2,000 production jobs created by the Honda Manufacturing of Indiana plant in Greensburg. The lawmakers say their constituents should be able to apply for the jobs at the $550 million plant because their tax dollars were used to fund the incentive package that helped lure the Japanese automaker. Honda is taking applications from only 20 Indiana counties that are within about an hour's drive of the plant.   Physical rehabilitation rivals settle long battle A dispute between two local companies over intellectual property rights to the Graston physical therapy technique has been settled-again-three years after the parties reached their original settlement. This time, the agreement is better defined, said Michael I. Arnolt, the president of the party that forced the issue in court, TherapyCare Resources. The newest agreement, reached Aug. 16 but implemented recently, will prevent rival Carpal Therapy Inc. from infringing copyrights, trademarks, patents and equipment associated with the technique, Arnolt said.
	Gannett earnings drop 11 percent Gannett Co., which publishes The Indianapolis Star as well as the Journal & Courier in Lafayette and the Palladium-Item in Richmond, said today that third-quarter earnings fell 11 percent, as revenue slipped from a year-ago period boosted by spending on political advertising. Profit dropped to $234 million, or $1.01 per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30. The latest quarter included a charge of $14.5 million for restructuring costs.   Fort Wayne hires Victory Field designer The company that designed Victory Field in Indianapolis has been hired by the city of Fort Wayne to design its planned $30 million downtown baseball stadium. The home of the Indianapolis Indians minor league team isn't the only venue designed by HOK Sport of Kansas City, Mo. The company also has worked on Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission approved the $1.7 million contract with HOK Sport for the design of the new ballpark, which will serve as a centerpiece to the Harrison Square development.   Manufacturers lead in injury, illness improvement The Indiana Department of Labor reports a 5.2-percent drop in the number of workplace injuries and illnesses in 2006 from the year before. The figures are compiled in a survey by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest survey indicated the greatest improvement was in manufacturing, which had a drop from 8.3 injuries or illnesses per 100 workers in 2005 to 7.3 in 2006.   Steel Dynamics profit rises 12 percent Profit at Fort Wayne-based Steel Dynamics Inc. increased 12 percent, to $101 million, in the third quarter on across-the-board increases in its businesses. The steel recycler said today that revenue swelled 27 percent from the $876 million of a year earlier. The improvement came despite softness in flat-rolled steel and some slowness in certain bar steels, the company said. Evansville may study creating inland harbor The Port Authority of Evansville may approve spending $50,000 for a feasibility study to build an inland harbor near Howell Yards railroad yard, reports the Courier & Press . The project would require cutting into the land to form a water harbor where barges could be brought. The need for an inland harbor is in response to growth of the waterway industry over the use of freight or railways. A study could take 12 months to complete. Republican mailing stirs ruckus in South Bend Democrats are accusing the state Republican Party of negative campaigning after the party mailed cards to residents of South Bend claiming that businesses are leaving the city, among other problems. "RIP" said the card, which has a picture of a tombstone. "Here lies South Bend, a once-vibrant city now abandoned by business, overrun by violent crime and driving people from their family homes because of high taxes." The card also accuses incumbent Democratic Mayor Stephen Luecke of presiding over the decline, according to the South Bend Tribune.
	Miss IBJ's 2008 Economic Forecast? If you weren't able to attend IBJ's 2008 Economic Forecast on Oct. 12, you can still watch Fifth Third Bank strategist John Augustine discuss what he believes will be an uncertain investment environment. To see video from the speech, go to www.ibj.com. From IBJ staff and Associated Press-Compiled by Norm Heikens Fugitive awaits extradition to Indiana An Indiana fugitive arrested Oct. 13 in Pulaski, Tenn., says she's not a murderer. Linda Darby, 64, was convicted in her husband's murder, but escaped from Indiana Women's Prison in 1972. Darby was going by the name Linda Joe McElroy. She got married and had two children. Darby says she doesn't know how she managed to keep her escape secret from family and friends for so long. Fox 59 will have more at 10 p.m.
	Health officials search for E. coli cause The source of an E. coli infection at a southern Indiana elementary school that sickened 10 children remains a mystery. The Indiana State Department of Health says the state's examination is nearly complete with no conclusive findings. A spokeswoman says the infection may have been brought to Galena Elementary School in Floyds Knobs by an individual. The first case was reported on Sept. 21. Carmel residents hold vigil for health care Some Indiana residents gathered in Carmel's government center to let lawmakers know that they support a vote in favor of overriding President Bush's veto of a children's health care bill. President Bush says he supports child care for America's children, but feels the $35 billion over five years is too expensive. Lawmakers will vote on whether to override the president's veto, tomorrow. New reuse authority leader at home in new role Cassandra Ashley-Jordan is literally returning home to become the new executive director of The Fort Harrison Reuse Authority. Ashley-Jordan, who was named head of the authority Oct. 15, spent years of her childhood living at the former military base while her father, an officer, served in the Vietnam War. "It's kind of like coming full circle for me to now be working here," Ashley-Jordan said.      Sign up today for IBJ's Real Estate Weekly E-mail Alert. This once-a week e-mail focuses on real estate, both commercial and residential, including news about deals, people, meetings, trends, projects and more. If you have any connection to real estate, you'll want to read IBJ's new Real Estate Weekly. Sign up today for your free subscription.
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