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Indiana is a top place to do business; home sales in the state’s northwest region rise and the RDA debate continues at a public symposium. Top young entrepreneurs recognized; ethanol plant searches for a home and Indiana’s casino tax rate is highest in Midwest. Valparaiso University recognizes Gandhi, MLK at new diversity centers; and hefty baggage fees now standard on Europe-bound flights.—Pat Colander, Editor and Associate Publisher, BusINess magazine, serving Northwest Indiana & Chicagoland

BusINess story of the week

• Indiana’s business tax climate improves
Indiana moved up two slots and now ranks as the 12th best business-tax climate in the United States, according to a new analysis by a nonpartisan foundation. Illinois ranks 30th. nwi.com

what’s news

• National home sales dip, as local figures edge up
Although home sales dipped last month across the nation, the number of homes sold in Northwest Indiana actually rose compared with numbers posted in July. The real-estate market may have hit bottom, according to one local realtor. nwi.com/inbusiness

• RDA symposium aims to clear up ‘confusion, misinformation’
The future of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority was on trial last week at a Times symposium at the Porter County Expo Center. No clear verdict was rendered, but plenty of evidence was laid before the people’s court by boosters and skeptics. nwi.com/inbusiness

• Ethanol plant future at a ‘stalemate,’ C.P. mayor says
Lowell’s apparent decision to remove itself from the running as the site of an ethanol plant in Lake County has not impacted Crown Point’s status as a possible location site, Mayor David Uran said Friday. nwi.com

• BusINess names ‘20 under 40’ list of exemplary entrepreneurs, leaders
A new generation of leaders stands poised to take Northwest Indiana into a future full of promise, according to one of the region’s longtime leaders, who spoke at The Times’ BusINess magazine’s “20 Under 40” reception late last week. nwi.com/inbusiness

this week on our website

• 20 Under 40 BusINess e-edition
Now in the right-hand column of the home page on our website, check out the live, full-color, all-content version of the newest issue of BusINess magazine. nwi.com/inbusiness

• IOC selection of Olympic host could impact region significantly
The International Olympic Committee is scheduled to meet Friday in Copenhagen to announce the results of its vote for the site of the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago could be the first U.S. city to host the Olympics since Atlanta in 1996, but it faces strong opposition from fellow candidates Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo. nwi.com/inbusiness

• Steelmaker plans repairs on blast furnace
U.S. Steel Corp. may quicken the pace of repair plans for its No. 14 blast furnace at Gary Works, which could mean changes for metal production employees, according to a local union official. nwi.com/inbusiness

• Networking group to meet at The Times
NWI Professional Referral Organization recently opened its fifth chapter in Munster. Meetings will be held every Friday at 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at The Times Media Co., 601 W. 45th Ave., Munster. There will be networking before and after the meeting. nwi.com/inbusiness

beyond the region

• INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana’s effective casino tax rate highest in Midwest
Indiana’s state pension funds suffered a 20 percent investment loss during the past year, but the plans remain sound with liabilities still more than 90 percent funded, pension officials said last week. nwi.com

• WASHINGTON—Disappointing economic stats signal bumpy recovery
Federal data on durable goods orders and new home sales released Friday are a reminder that the path to an economic recovery will be slow and bumpy. The reports “are a wake-up call for anyone expecting a smooth transition to a strong economic recovery,” said one economist. nwi.com

upcoming and interesting

• VU center named for peace icons Gandhi and King
Mohandas Gandhi’s charge to “be the change you want to see in the world” was invoked last week as Valparaiso University dedicated its new multicultural center, which will provide services, educational programs and support to students of color and international students in Harre Union. nwi.com

• Baggage fees join your overseas flights
Fees to check bags on international flights are creeping in and may be here to stay: in the past three months, the big U.S. carriers have added $50 fees to check a second bag on flights to Europe. yahoo.com