Auto parts maker expanding in Franklin

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	Thursday, May 1, 2008
	Auto parts maker expanding in Franklin Casting Technologies Co. plans to add 40 jobs to 85 existing positions as it expands its aluminum parts operation in Franklin. Casting Technologies is owned by Compass Automotive Group Inc., which is headquartered in the city south of Indianapolis. Compass received commitments from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. of as much as $351,000 in incentives based on its reaching performance goals.  Bush Stadium added to endangered list Bush Stadium in Indianapolis, a grade school in Lowell, a historic district in Bloomington and a railroad depot in Syracuse have been added to a list of the 10 most endangered landmarks in Indiana. The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana says all the structures are threatened by neglect or encroachment of new development. Bush Stadium was built in 1931 and was home to the Indianapolis Indians minor league baseball team until 1996.
	Duke funds miss expectations Duke Realty Corp. reported late yesterday that it earned $89.2 million, or 58 cents per share, in funds from operations in the first quarter. The funds were down 4 cents from a year earlier and short of the 62 cents expected by analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Duke attributed the result to the sale of undeveloped land in the first quarter of 2007, which added 9 cents to funds from operation.   Evansville health care groups might merge Deaconess Health System in Evansville might buy Welborn Clinic, which has nine locations in Evansville and surrounding counties, according to the Evansville Courier & Press. Neither side confirmed the merger, but one Deaconess official said talks of a sale have been ongoing.   Home Depot to close Fort Wayne, Marion stores Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc. said today that it plans to close an underperforming store in Fort Wayne and another in Marion as part of a plan to cut costs. The plan includes closing 13 other of its namesake stores in states outside Indiana and eliminating 1,300 jobs. It is the first time the home improvement retailer has ever closed a flagship store for performance reasons.   Foreclosed business park acquired by bank An undeveloped parcel of 189 acres in Muncie has been bought out of foreclosure by the bank that foreclosed on the property, according to The Star Press. First Merchants Bank paid $2.3 million for the property, which is along Interstate 69 at State Road 332. The land is part of a business park called Park One/332. The bank previously acquired another 31 acres and a 60,000-square-foot building in the same park for $4.1 million. That parcel had been developed by the Tschuor family. German firm moving U.S. offices to South Bend A German manufacturer of dental products is moving its North American headquarters to South Bend, adding 45 workers to 61 who already work at a plant on the city's south side. Heraeus Kulzer's existing North American headquarters are in the New York suburb of Armonk. Indiana Economic Development Corp. said yesterday it provided $648,500 in tax credits and training grants, based on the company's hitting performance goals. WellPoint debuts directory for cell phones Health insurer WellPoint Inc. is offering a new provider directory designed for a patient's cell phone or BlackBerry. WellPoint says its directory can provide directions to hospitals or a doctor's office that are designed to fit on the small screen of a cell phone.
	Great Lakes pollution, health questioned A federal agency says it's impossible to tell from existing data how industrial pollution has affected the health of people in the Great Lakes region. Earlier reports by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted elevated levels of cancer, premature births and other health problems in counties where some heavily polluted sites are located.   From NY II: celeb spotting Why do celebrity spottings lodge in our brains? Lou Harry's A&E   Starbucks, piercings and Band-Aids Some Starbucks workers cover piercings with Band-Aids. NewsTalk   Speedway offers combo ticket for first time Race fans can now buy single ticket for three IMS events. The Score
	Ripple development, take two A firm has a new plan for a Broad Ripple site. Property Lines From IBJ staff - Compiled by Norm Heikens Clinton associate Andrew to endorse Obama Joe Andrew, who led the Indiana Democratic Party in the late 1990s and then the Democratic National Committee from 1999 to 2001, plans to announce today that he will support Barack Obama for the presidential nomination. Andrew has had a long association with Bill and Hillary Clinton. Andrew made the decision to endorse Obama because he said it was time to "heal the rift" in the party. Fox 59 will have more at 10 p.m. Primary election to be complex With 3,700 different types of ballots for the May 6 primary election in Marion County alone, clerks say this is a very complex election to run. County Clerk Beth White says it is standard procedure to test voting machines at least two weeks before any election. In related news, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will offer extended hours on Monday and Tuesday for voters needing government-issued identification cards or driver's licenses. The IDs are required in order to vote. Bus monitor saves choking student A Columbus bus monitor is being called a hero, credited with saving a first-grader's life. The Southside Elementary student was eating breakfast on the bus when he began to choke. Bus driver Darla Edwards noticed the boy's red face and alerted bus monitor Janet Tedder who performed the Heimlich maneuver. The grateful student repeatedly thanked Tedder for helping him breathe again. Tedder says she encourages all who work with children to attend CPR and first-aid training. Zimmer keeps absorbing bad news Zimmer Holdings Inc. makes products to help patients who have lost their shock-absorbing cartilage in their joints. Zimmer keeps finding shock-absorbers for its finances, too. The Warsaw-based orthopedic-implant company has shrugged off a U.S. Department of Justice investigation and quality problems, resulting in little impact on its stock price.
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