The Indianapolis Colts blew a 10-point lead en route to a 31-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Former Purdue QB Drew Brees was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The White House will host discussions today with the governors of Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois about ways to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

Steuben County is looking at development options for the Steuben County Park.

The saga of the Illiana Expressway takes another wacky turn.

The Arts Council of Southern Indiana is looking for $50,000 to make it through 2010.

Television sales are spiking in Indianapolis ahead of the big game this weekend.

Gary has received a $3.1 million federal grant to buy up to 120 flex fuel police vehicles.

Lambro’s Rib & Steak House in Fort Wayne is closing after 41 years.

Multiple utility rate hikes could be coming in northern Indiana in the first half of 2010.

The national unemployment rate fell unexpectedly to 9.7% in January.

Indiana Tech is expanding its facilities in Fort Wayne.

Muncie schools face steep budget cuts.

A $5.5 million project to expand Ardmore Ave. in Fort Wayne is getting underway.

Indianapolis is bracing for a snowstorm that could snarl evening rush hour traffic tomorrow.

Despite a nationwide drop in giving, charitable contributions to Purdue University fell less than one percent last year. On the other hand, Ball State University saw charitable giving fall off 36 percent.

About 90,000 people across Indiana received food from the Community Harvest Food Bank last year, up 85 percent versus four years ago. Overall, 650,000 Hoosier now receive emergency food assistance.

NIPSCO is set to ask state regulators for its first natural gas rate adjustment in 20 years.

The first hotel at Marriott Place in Indianapolis opens today.

The Indiana Senate has approved a bill which would tighten lobbying rules.

Production of Humvees for the Army is ending in South Bend.

Business-to-business barter is booming due to the weak economy.

Fort Wayne is pressing ahead with plans to redevelop a blighted apartment complex despite not winning a $62 million federal grant for the project.

St. Vincent and The Care Group appear to be headed for a marriage.

Two apparel stores in the city of La Porte are closing.

Final plans are in place for the $74 million Indiana 641 bypass in Terre Haute.

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $225 million in additional funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) in fiscal year 2010. The state of Indiana is among the grantees, getting $1.294 million to address unmet needs for employment and job training among low-income, older workers.

“This additional funding greatly expands SCSEP’s ability to serve older workers who face challenges in re-entering the workforce and attaining economic stability,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to expanding employment opportunities to even more low-income seniors and to enhancing their own career opportunities as they dedicate millions of hours to nonprofit and civic organizations.”

Successful applicants were chosen based on demonstrated need among the older worker populations they serve; the capacity to immediately and effectively expend the additional funds; and past performance in serving older workers.

Only 15 states received more than $1 million in additional funding, and only seven — California, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas — received more than Indiana. The bulk of the funds went to organizations specifically targeting seniors, such as Experience Works ($49.4 million) and the AARP Foundation ($37.8 million).

SCSEP is a community service and work-based training program for older workers. It provides part-time, community service-based job training for unemployed, low-income individuals age 55 or older. Through this program, older workers have access to SCSEP services as well as other employment assistance available through the workforce investment system.

ArcelorMittal is boosting production at its East Chicago plant.

U.S. Air Ambulance is considering relocating its HQ from Florida to South Bend, but wants more breaks from St. Joseph County.

The U.S. economy grew 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009 as companies restocked depleted inventories.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Authority announced yesterday that it had received a $5.4 million gift from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to promote the city.

Though Indiana received $71 million for the “Indiana Gateway” high-speed rail project, a $2.8 billion request for a Chicago-to-Cleveland route was rejected.

ISU is expected to announce about 100 job cuts today.

Indiana has received a $71.4 million grant for High-Speed Rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Midwest received $2.6 billion of the $8 billion distributed nationwide under this program.

“By working across state and party lines, the Midwest showed unified support for this energy efficient, modern form of transportation,” said Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Michael W. Reed. “Indiana’s much-needed award will attack the country’s most delay-prone rail corridor.”

More than $244 million was awarded to improve the efficiency and reliability of rail service for the priority route connecting Chicago and Detroit. Northwest Indiana’s portion of $71.4 million will build passing tracks, high-speed crossovers and signal system improvements for the existing Norfolk Southern rail line between Porter and the Illinois state line. A PDF copy of Indiana’s High-Speed Rail applications can be found online at here.

Nine states are part of an ongoing effort to develop and expand access to an improved passenger rail system in the Midwest. This proposed system would provide 80 to 110 mile per hour rail service with shorter travel times, increased frequency of service, accessibility and reliability. Other participating states are Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

In addition to High-Speed Rail grants, the Recovery Act also provides $1.5 billion in transportation funds nationwide known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER). Indiana has submitted eight competitive applications, and awards should be announced by February 17.

Racing bike component maker Zipp Speed Weaponry will expand its design and manufacturing operations in Indianapolis, creating 105 new jobs by 2013.

The company, which designs and manufactures wheels, bars and accessories for racing bicycles, will invest $12.4 million to construct a new 70,000-square-foot manufacturing and customer service center on the city’s northwest side.

Zipp, an international company with more than 50 percent of its sales outside of the United States, currently employs nearly 130 Hoosier associates at its manufacturing and design operations in Speedway. The company plans to begin hiring additional manufacturing and customer support associates in the second quarter of 2010 in preparation for commencement of operations at the new facility in July.
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Pharmacy benefits management company Express Scripts will consolidate operations in Indianapolis, creating 182 jobs by 2012.

Express Scripts’ entry into Indiana comes in the wake of its 2009 acquisition of Indianapolis-based Wellpoint’s NextRx subsidiaries. The agreement, which was completed in December, called for Express Scripts to take over NextRx’s pharmacy benefits management services, including home delivery and specialty pharmacy services. The Fortune 500 company will invest $5.17 million to consolidate its specialty pharmacy operations to the facility formerly occupied by NextRx near the Indianapolis International Airport.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts employs 12,500 associates throughout the United States and Canada. The company, which handles millions of prescriptions each year, plans to begin hiring additional pharmacy technicians in the next month.
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