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:

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

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...

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:

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:

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.

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.

Purdue plans for a 28-acre wedge of land in downtown Indy — roughly the size of that on which Lucas Oil Stadium and its south parking lot sit — to host 16 new buildings for up to 15,000 students. See the plans:

SPARK, the pop-up park on Monument Circle, has taken over a roadway in downtown Indy for the third straight year. In a city grappling with how to make its streets more pedestrian-friendly, what would it take for something like SPARK to become year-round? I explore in today's piece:

Love this column from Oklahoma City's mayor about how, after OKC lost a bid for a major employer to Indianapolis in the 1990s, the city's officials stole Indy's downtown revitalization strategy. Now the two cities will meet in the NBA Finals.

IndyGo fares could increase by the start of 2026. With a vote scheduled for August, here's everything to know.

As Indianapolis looks to expand the Monon Trail, some homeowners are objecting that the proposed land grab would swallow portions of their backyards.

Does construction ever actually end? Here are 8 projects Indianapolis expects to finish in 2025, including a major one-way to two-way road conversion and four cycling trails.

A new state law offers Indianapolis an additional $50 million in state funding each year to improve the city's battered roads. But the money, which could prove difficult to obtain, can't be used for increasingly popular traffic-calming changes. Here's why:

“In Indianapolis, I joke that I’ve photographed everyone at least once," Wilkinson said. "I spend my days seeing through the eyes of others. And I realize that is a wonderful way to live.” See Kelly's best IndyStar photos in her 36-year tenure.

Find photos and details about Indy's first bridge with more space devoted to pedestrians and bicyclists than to vehicles, an impressive structure with a $30 million price tag.

Making the DOGE cuts less abstract: Here's how three Hoosier AmeriCorps workers say they were serving their communities, and how they're facing the abrupt fact that after last weekend they're no longer able to do that work.

IndyGo's Purple Line jumps to No. 1 in monthly ridership as Red Line, other routes falter

Indianapolis city code outlines protections for people at homeless encampments, and police tend not to clear them if the site stays clean, safe and out of major right-of-ways. But a proposed state law banning street camping would force a crackdown on the city's growing unsheltered population.

How Fountain Square and Fletcher Place neighbors banded together to temporarily convert a high-speed road lane to a multi-use path.

David Letterman's childhood home in Broad Ripple? It’s not now an Airbnb showcasing his life story. More from our @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social www.indystar.com/story/entert...

Braden Smith was fighting his own mind last season, a war of obsession he believed was for his very soul. Smith and his wife, Courtney, are telling their story now: The specifics of his diagnosis, how dark things got and the last-ditch treatment that finally helped. www.indystar.com/story/sports...

In Brownsburg for an early survey of the tornado damage through the eyes of residents. www.indystar.com/story/news/l...

The Factory Arts District, an industrial site whose founder had ties to the Indy 500, has become home to more than 100 new artists in the past decade. The owner's pushing for new restaurants and shops to bring in customers. See what's open/coming soon.

UPDATE: The city of Indianapolis rejected a developer's plan to build 35 high-end homes near a historic golf course. Here's how neighbors, concerned about losing trees and introducing too much density, successfully pushed back:

Uni-Gov swallowed the small town of Cumberland when it had less than 1,000 residents. Now the 6,500-person suburb whose residents complain of a tangled, confusing government wants to sever ties with Indianapolis.

Democrats not only need to be a real opposition party, they need to show they can address the affordability crisis in America, when they govern. Housing is a good place to begin. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/o...

A Sunday long read into why early childhood vaccine rates in Indiana have fallen sharply after COVID, and how pediatricians are seeing heightened vaccine hesitancy. 'Are we going back in time?' Public health experts worry as Indiana vax rates plummet