Jordan Smith

Indiana Republicans could approve a map splitting Indy into four House districts, drowning out neighborhoods of color that lean Democratic with Whiter areas of the state.

We analyzed the maps and talked to Indy residents to understand the consequences:

Indy's first DORA in Irvington cleared a major hurdle Tuesday and could open in early 2026.

But ahead of a final vote, the idea is opposed by residents worried about public safety issues. What have other cities with DORAs found?

Find out here:

Ahead of the new legislative session, Statehouse insiders are looking into possible changes to Indiana law that could give National Guard troops more power to enforce laws in local jurisdictions.

Read the IndyStar exclusive:

In debates over where to relocate one Indiana casino, the numbers seem to favor a downtown Indianapolis location.

But objections from local "racinos" and the horse-racing industry make it a tough sell for top state lawmakers.

DORAs have taken Indiana by storm in the two years since state lawmakers legalized the outdoor alcoholic beverage districts.

But Indianapolis had been a holdout until now, with Irvington poised to host the city's first. Other neighborhoods say not so fast.

The city gave early approval to a developer's plans to tear down about a half-dozen buildings to make way for a 300+ unit apartment complex along the Monon Trail in midtown.

Wawa's 2025 expansion into Indiana hit a rare snag today as a city official rejected a planned store and gas station on Indy's east side for being too car-centric. Here's what to know:

The Nickel Plate Trail is (mostly) finished. Here's when it will connect Hamilton County to Indianapolis:

A quarter-million households were chosen to partake in this travel survey. Too few people are responding, and the lack of data could jeopardize millions in federal funding for Central IN transit projects.

How to help:

In Indy's Franklin Township, the debate is underway over what should be built on the site where neighbors turned away Google.

The farmers and neighbors differ in how they’re confronting growth that seems inevitable.

NEW: Indianapolis has found a new west side building to convert to a temporary homeless shelter this winter, as a rising number of people are sleeping outdoors.

Read more to see where it is and other details:

Conversations On A Bench YouTube video by Wheeler Mission

Over the next 24 hours, the CEO of Indy's largest homeless shelter will sit outside on a bench downtown and livestream conversations with past or current homeless guests and others.

(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)

Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...

After Indy passed its 2026 city budget Monday night, here are the biggest winners and losers from months of debate:

www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

A new report shows how downtown Indianapolis has changed over the past year. Here are five takeaways from the data that explain the evolution of the capital city's core:

For IndyStar's Meet the Staff column, I wrote about why I do journalism, my favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote and my old self-given nickname in high school -- "J-Buckets" -- among other miscellany:

The beloved chain Wawa wants to build a store in east Indianapolis. But the city could block it for being too car-centric.

The latest on that debate:

Where Indy Republicans and Democrats agree: AES rate hike must be stopped

www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

While Indy Democrats rejected some fines for youth curfew violations, there's still a path under state law for the city to force parents and guardians to pay thousands.

Here's how:

A council proposal would remove the 50-year Marion County residency requirement in place for most city workers to boost hiring and retention. But top city leaders are raising the alarm in opposition.

Will track today's 5:30 meeting on this proposal:

Breaking: IndyGo just approved fare hikes over 50%, its first fare increase in over 15 years. Story below with all the details:

Find out about the fates a few lots near major corridors in Indy that are currently either vacant or dotted with abandoned buildings:

Breaking this afternoon: Indianapolis has officially reversed course and will not close the Fountain Square homeless camp until social workers offer permanent housing to all the residents.

Find the reasoning here:

Did the Fountain Square homeless encampment actually close Monday? Here's why you'll likely still see people living there in the coming days:

Marion County's top public health agency praised Gov. Mike Braun for backing health care with a $500,000 ad campaign this spring. Then state lawmakers and Braun cut millions in funding.

What happened?

What Trump's attack on 'Housing First' means for Indy's effort to end chronic homelessness A new program to end chronic homelessness in Indianapolis comes with a steep price tag, as Trump aims to undercut the "Housing First" approach.

What Trump's attack on 'Housing First' means for Indy's effort to end chronic homelessness

'Nowhere else to go': Indy to shut down Fountain Square homeless camp after months of debate Ahead of a new program that will change how the city deals with homelessness, officials caved to mounting pressure and shut down a Fountain Square camp.

BREAKING: Indianapolis will shut down the Fountain Square homeless camp by next month after a spate of negative press and months of mounting concerns from neighbors.

Also included: a deep dive into how the situation progressed to this point.

Link:
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

Indy homelessness keeps rising in 2025 — but not for veterans. 4 takeaways from new data Homelessness in Indy climbed closer to the highest levels recorded in the past 15 years, new data shows. But one group is bucking that trend.

Overall homelessness in Indy is above 1,800 people for just the third time since 2010, a new count shows, with some of the most vulnerable groups like children increasing.

But veteran homelessness has fallen drastically in the last decade. Here's how:

Who are the people in yellow and red shirts downtown? How a new tax funds cleanup, safety patrols A new tax that launched this year is funding dozens of workers doing cleanup and safety patrols downtown. They hope everyone follows their mantra: "See something, say something."

In a 2024 survey, just over half of people said they feel safe downtown most of the time.

Here's how Downtown Indy workers doing cleanup and safety patrols, funded by a new downtown tax, are trying to fix that:

'Tell those stories': What Greenlawn Cemetery excavation is revealing amid Henry Street expansion Amid the excavation of part of the city's first cemetery, an archaeology firm has found more than 1,100 graves filled with 19th century artifacts.

Just southwest of downtown, archaeologists have found more than 1,100 graves in Indianapolis' first cemetery.

Read more about what the 19th century artifacts they're revealing with high-tech analysis reveal about who may be buried there.

'Legacy of disinvestment': ATM near Black church ignites debate over Indianapolis bank's lending history An ATM planned in a majority-Black neighborhood has gone from a PR win for a major Indianapolis bank to a source of criticism over its lending history.

An ATM planned in a majority-Black neighborhood has gone from a PR win for a major Indianapolis bank to a source of criticism over its history of overlooking Black borrowers.