Inside INdiana Business Television Podcast

I-70 Tolls, Final Four Economy and Arsenal Tech's Mental Health Win

Indiana could soon toll I-70 from border to border, a proposal that would cost passenger vehicles roughly $16 and trucks more than $80 per trip across the state. Danville Duncan, associate professor at Indiana University's O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, breaks down the fuel tax erosion driving the push for new highway revenue and the real concerns about traffic diverting to smaller roads like State Road 40. Also covered: Indianapolis prepares for its ninth Final Four, with Post Malone headlining the NCAA March Madness Music Festival and the city hosting Division I, II, and III championships alongside the NIT for the first time ever, a combination expected to generate $400 million for the Indiana economy. Toyota is investing $200 million at its Princeton plant to boost Grand Highlander production, and Patrick Industries is rolling out a digital design studio that lets RV buyers visualize their purchase on a life-size virtual screen. Then, the turnaround story at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. After a winless 2023 season, the football program built back-to-back winning records by adding Mental Resiliency Training, a pilot program led by Dr. Elaine Gilbert of Riley Children's Health and supported by a grant from the Riley Children's Foundation. The program is now expanding to athletes across all Indianapolis Public Schools. Plus, Fort Wayne's Science Central opens a new $3 million planetarium, the region's only public facility of its kind, and IBJ Media's Innovate Indiana series returns for a fifth year with nine stops across the state.

Indianapolis Airport Adds Routes, Indiana Invests $1B in Life Sciences, LEAP District Update

Indianapolis International Airport is on track for its second-busiest spring break season ever, with an estimated 620,000 passengers expected between mid-March and mid-April. Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez joins the show to discuss a new airline, Avelo, launching nonstop service to New Haven, Conn., and Concord, N.C., on June 18, bringing the airport's total nonstop destinations to 57. Work continues on a new on-property Westin hotel and Rodriguez discusses the benefits of a $76 million parking expansion completed in 2024. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announces a $1 billion, 10-year investment in agriculture technology and life sciences with a goal of creating more than 100,000 jobs statewide. Eli Lilly commits an additional $1.8 billion to its technology center near downtown Indianapolis and remains on schedule to begin producing medicines at the LEAP District in Lebanon. Also: a look at aviation growth at Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville and Purdue University airports; the Monon Corridor South Shore Line extension opening March 31; and Amish bull rider Marcus Mast representing Indiana on the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour.

WNBA Labor Talks, GE Aerospace Invests $65M in Indiana, Women Behind Bars Build Workforce Skills

The WNBA and its players union remain in collective bargaining negotiations, with players pushing for higher salaries, retired player benefits and team-provided housing. IU Columbus Associate Professor of Finance Ryan Brewer breaks down what is at stake as the league navigates its first profitable year, fueled in part by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. Also, GE Aerospace commits $65 million to three Indiana facilities in Indianapolis, Terre Haute and Lafayette as part of a $1 billion U.S. investment plan. Plus, the Televerde Foundation helps women in Indiana correctional facilities build workforce skills through a six-month career program. And a look back at the legacy of Purdue University's Dr. Philip Low, a serial entrepreneur whose work helped launch Indiana's radiopharmaceutical industry.

Eye on Indiana’s $6.5B Defense Sector, Mortgage Rates Fall Below 6%

Indiana’s $6.5 billion defense sector is playing a growing role as the U.S. military operates in the Middle East. Sen. Todd Young and industry leaders discuss how assets like Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, hypersonics research, microelectronics and a new munitions campus are expanding the state’s national security footprint and supporting more than 60,000 jobs. Also in this episode, mortgage rates dip below 6% for the first time in more than three years. Indiana Association of Realtors CEO Mark Fisher explains what falling rates and rising inventory mean for buyers and sellers as the 2026 housing market begins to thaw. Plus, a Fishers filmmaker releases his short film about losing his sister to addiction on YouTube to expand its reach to students and educators. And in Plymouth, Zentis North America marks 20 years of production as the largest popping boba manufacturer in the United States.

Eli Lilly’s LillyPod with Nvidia, SpectronRx cyclotrons, Bears stadium debate

Kylie Veleta fills in for Gerry Dick with a look at high-tech health innovation in Indiana, including Eli Lilly’s new LillyPod supercomputer built with Nvidia to speed drug discovery and development, and SpectronRx’s growing cyclotron operations fueling radiopharmaceutical cancer treatments. The episode also updates the Chicago Bears stadium push tied to Hammond and Wolf Lake, along with Illinois lawmakers’ efforts to keep the team in-state.Plus, an Indy 500 ticket design reveal and the launch of IBJ Media’s “Playmakers” podcast with Dave Calabro. You will also hear about New Shoe Day’s effort to provide properly fitting shoes for kids across Indiana and plans for new dining options and an incubator space at Indianapolis International Airport.