Lilly, LEAP and water: ‘No sourcing from Tippecanoe Co.’
A few notes on a Saturday morning.
Thanks to Duke Energy for sponsoring today’s edition. Help our local ecosystems by removing invasive plants in your landscaping. With the support of Duke Energy Foundation, Tippecanoe County residents can receive a free native tree or shrub by removing a burning bush, callery pear, Norway maple, Japanese barberry or privet. Not sure if what’s in your yard qualifies? Email us a photo of the plant in your landscaping and a closeup of the leaf and twig, and we can help you identify it. Contact the Tippecanoe Invasive Cooperative Task Force for more information: TICTaboutinvasives@gmail.com and apply on the website.
A few notes on a Saturday morning.
‘NO SOURCING FROM TIPPECANOE COUNTY:’ A LOCAL ANGLE ON LILLY’S NEXT INVESTMENT IN LEAP DISTRICT
Ears pricked around Greater Lafayette in Friday’s announcement that Eli Lilly would bump up its investment in the Limitless Exploration Advanced Pace (LEAP) district in Lebanon from $3.7 billion to $9 billion. According to reporting by John Russell in the Indianapolis Business Journal, officials at the Indianapolis-based company were calling it the largest investment in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing of synthetic medicines in U.S. history, as Lilly targeted demand for its diabetes treatment Mounjaro and weight-loss treatment Zepbound.
Here’s a way in to Russell’s coverage in the IBJ: “Lilly to invest another $5.3B in Lebanon site.”
Russell and Daniel Bradley had this, too, about the $5.3 billion announcement: “Lilly’s huge expansion plan took place at record speed to reduce bottlenecks for Mounjaro, Zepbound.”
The interest here, outside the regional investment along I-65’s Hard Tech Corridor, turns immediately to questions about water, given the LEAP district’s growing needs in an area with limited supply. That equation is directly behind the Indiana Economic Development Corp.’s controversial pursuit to build a pipeline from Boone County to western Tippecanoe County, where tens of millions of gallons might be pumped from Wabash River aquifer to feed massive developments near Lebanon.
Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry told Based in Lafayette on Friday that the water needs did not include tapping into Greater Lafayette.
“Lebanon is working with regional water suppliers to deliver additional resources to the site,” Gentry said. He said that included “ongoing discussions with Citizens Energy and Indiana American Water.”
“This does not involve any sourcing from Tippecanoe County,” Gentry said.
In a November 2023 interview with Based in Lafayette, Gentry said the initial Lilly project would require about 1.8 million gallons of water a day. “It’s a significant amount of what we have, but we have the water for Lilly,” Gentry said at the time, pushing back on Lafayette-area conjecture that the pipeline was needed for that portion of the 9,000-acre LEAP district work.
MEMORIAL DAY IN GREATER LAFAYETTE
The Tippecanoe County Veterans Council will post colors and host its annual Memorial Day program at 1 p.m. Monday at Columbian Park’s Memorial Island in Lafayette. This year’s keynote speaker will be retired U.S. Army First Sgt. Bryan Arbic, the assistant director of the Dorothy Stratton Veteran and Military Success Center at Purdue University.
Indiana Veterans Home will have a Memorial Day ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The public is welcome to attend at the home, 3851 N. River Road, West Lafayette.
The Lafayette Citizens Band makes its 2025 season debut on Memorial Day at the Memorial Island Amphitheater in Columbian Park. The Memorial Day concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The Joy of Sax Quartet will play at 6:45 p.m., opening the band’s 182nd season in Lafayette. Food trucks will be on site. Lafayette Citizens Band performs at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Columbian Park, through Labor Day. The only exception is July 4, when the band plays during the Stars and Stripes Concert at Riehle Plaza. For a full schedule, here’s a link.
OTHER READS …
Lafayette police this week were dealing with fallout after a north end resident said he was taken into custody for resisting arrest after officers broke through his door without a warrant during a check on a potential domestic situation. William Neal, who was there with his son and girlfriend, said LPD had the wrong house and posted video of the scene on NextDoor after his arrest. LPD chief told local media: "Officers had received compelling evidence suggesting a domestic battery and confinement had occurred with persons at the address." Neal’s pushing back. WLFI had this report: “Residents file complaint that Lafayette Police wrongfully arrest two men without warrant.” The J&C had this one: “Man posts video, claims police ‘trampled’ his rights.”
Sales are good for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. But not good enough, Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials say, to allow people in central Indiana (including Lafayette) to watch the race live on NBC. Indianapolis Star reporter Nathan Brown has this explainer: “With 5,000 grandstand seats unsold, 345,000 expected, IMS won't lift Indy 500 blackout.”
Thanks, again, for sponsorship help today from Duke Energy, helping the Tippecanoe Invasive Cooperative Task Force raise awareness about ways to remove invasive species. For more information about what you can do, here’s your link.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.