Sen. Andrea Hunley, one of the most outspoken Democrats in the Indiana Senate, will not be running for a second term. That leaves her seat up for grabs. As of right now, there are three candidates running – Allissa Impink, Clif Marsiglio and Sam Glynn: https://bit.ly/3O3aUav

Today is Local News Day. This is a national day of action with a simple ask: Find your local news, subscribe, and help the people around you do the same. Make sure you’re connected to Indianapolis news by signing up for our free newsletters and texts mirrorindy.org/sign-up/

15 acres of green space, an extended walking trail and a “river theater.” These were the promises of the White River State Park expansion — an expansion that state officials have now scrapped due to lack of “available funding.” https://bit.ly/4bphtf5

State officials are abandoning plans to expand White River State Park. Reporting w/ @enriquesaenz.bsky.social

Several tech companies want to build data centers in Indianapolis. Mayor Joe Hogsett has taken a neutral position on data centers, but a letter from his economic development organization in support of a proposed data center in Indianapolis sends a different signal 📡

Gov. Mike Braun will have greater influence in the process for picking Marion County judges under a Republican-backed bill that is set to become law. Critics say the move will weaken the independence and diversity that helps define Marion County's justice system mirrorindy.org/indiana-gove...

"Many of the candidates, some of whom worked for Democratic politicians or remained active in party politics for decades, unsuccessfully appealed their cases to the election board." by @peterblanchard.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/marion-count...

Dozens of Indy residents who applied to run for Democratic Party positions are having their candidacies challenged by the Marion County Democratic Party because of their voting history. Some pulled Republican ballots in the '24 primary to vote against Mike Braun mirrorindy.org/marion-count...

Westfield, where the median income is more that 2x Warren Township’s, got a new YMCA. Meanwhile, Ransburg is closing, shortly after the closure of the Athenaeum. We sought answers from Y leaders. They declined to provide them. Here’s what we asked: mirrorindy.org/ransburg-ymc...

City-county councilors could lose the ability to handpick projects that benefit their districts after a state lawmaker criticized the process. It comes after I reported last year that some councilors used taxpayer dollars to fix roads in front of their homes mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

This is beautiful journalism. The mayor of Indianapolis failed on his promise to deliver a "one-stop shop" for public records such as ethics filings, campaign finance reports and city contracts. So journalists with IndyStar and @mirrorindy.org built their own. A link is in comments. Just wow.

We made a one-stop shop for city transparency after the Hogsett administration failed to. While reporting, we noticed years worth of missing reports. Since we contacted the city, they've updated their website. Updates to ours coming shortly. mirrorindy.org/disclose-ind...

We've compiled our Mr. Clean series with our previous investigations into the Hogsett administration. You can read it all here: mirrorindy.org/mr-clean/

"There is a wealth of knowledge, ideas and passion in public service. But a maze of self-instituted processes and an engrained culture of deflection has led to an inability to make simple, incremental improvements for the betterment of our city" www.indystar.com/story/opinio...

Have you thought about how you can get involved in local politics, but aren't sure where to start? Have you ever, like me, wondered what a precinct committee member is? I put together a guide for Mirror Indy on how to get started mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

There are so many ways you can get involved in the political process. @peterblanchard.bsky.social lays out what's coming this year. Deadline to file is Feb. 6. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

Vop Osili is running for mayor of Indianapolis. He has effectively fired the first shot in what is expected to be a highly contested and expensive Democratic primary election. Osili will have a head start in fundraising, having reported over $300,000 in cash on hand at the beginning of 2025.

A barista at my local Starbucks is wearing an Amelia's Bakery hat and I am here for it

Standing in front of Monument Circle with an “Abolish ICE” banner behind him, Johnny Hall called on Indianapolis leaders to loudly and publicly oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown: “You do not get to sit on the fence" mirrorindy.org/ice-protest-...

Mayor Joe Hogsett has named IMPD Police Chief Chris Bailey as his new chief of staff. Bailey has led IMPD since January 2024: https://bit.ly/4pzS2fM

Nearly 18 months since the city committed to eliminating traffic deaths by 2035, there are few concrete details on how the city will get to Vision Zero. Advocates say it’s possible — if Mayor Joe Hogsett and city-county councilors live up to their promises mirrorindy.org/vision-zero-...

The City-County Council will have different leadership in 2026. The Democratic caucus said they plan to elect Maggie Lewis as council president. This would be her second time in the role: https://bit.ly/4sakqYh

Just call me "the reporter in a suit" from now on

About 100 immigrants showed up to a naturalization ceremony at Union Station expecting to leave as a U.S. citizen. But 38 of them left empty-handed. The applicants were denied citizenship because they were from countries listed as “high risk” by the Trump administration.

The past few months have been difficult for a lot of people. We wanted to give some tips on how to stretch the dollars you have to feed yourself and your family: https://bit.ly/3XNtmoF

As Indiana lawmakers consider mid-decade redistricting, people continue to show up at the Statehouse. Most showed up to protest the bill. Fewer people showed up in support. Here is what Brett Phelps saw through his lens: https://bit.ly/4rUQGPi

City-County Council President Vop Osili has announced he won't seek reelection to his leadership post, fueling speculation that he will run for mayor in 2027.

Eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2035, in one of the largest cities in the country, is no easy task. But a commission formed by the city to achieve that lofty goal just took a major step forward mirrorindy.org/vision-zero-...

Indiana House Republicans have released a draft congressional map for redistricting. It would split Indianapolis into four different districts. Indiana Democrats say the new maps “put Trump’s demands ahead of Hoosiers”

Some shots from the talented Doug McSchooler of the Safe Streets Protest at College Ave/Mass Ave intersection where pedestrian Brandon Breedlove was killed by a drunk driver in March 2024 #indianapolis #visionzero mirrorindy.org/photos-peopl...

"Do more good for the world without permission." That's the philosophy of Anderson York, an Indianapolis resident who is making benches and placing them in spaces where they're needed most mirrorindy.org/indy-benches...

City-county councilors want to create a safer work environment for city employees. The changes being considered come in response to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against Thomas Cook, his former chief of staff and campaign manager.

Some great journalism from Mirror Indy's @peterblanchard.bsky.social

Last year, each member of Indianapolis City-County Council got $1 million to spend on a park or road project. Two of them are using their share to repave the street in front of their house, @mirrorindy.org has learned mirrorindy.org/city-county-...

The Irvington Community Council, which puts on the Irvington Halloween Festival, is asking Mayor Joe Hogsett not to attend this year's event, according to a letter obtained by Mirror Indy. "At best, it would be a distraction; at worst, it would be re-traumatizing for members of our community"

What do the city-county councilors think about Mayor Joe Hogsett ignoring conflicts of interests involving millions of dollars in city incentives? Many ignored requests for comment, some want more info and others want changes to city policy: https://bit.ly/46ShNlv

Mayor Joe Hogsett was once named “Mr. Clean” by a watchdog organization for his tough stance on government corruption as U.S. attorney. A Mirror Indy/IndyStar investigation finds that the mayor ignored conflicts of interest involving millions of dollars in city incentives. https://bit.ly/3L8OOBe

Elanco Animal Health opened its $200 million headquarters on the west side. Residents living near the site wonder if they will benefit from all the progress they can see from their front porch: https://bit.ly/46Bk844

Google’s decision to withdraw its application for a $1 billion data center represents an early defeat for Mayor Joe Hogsett’s new economic development organization. Reporting w/ Elizabeth Gabriel @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/google-data-...

After initially proposing a $100,000 budget cut to Indy’s immigrant legal services fund, Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration decided to restore the funding. Mirror Indy’s @mcmolloy.bsky.social first reported the proposed budget cut in August: https://bit.ly/4pEfcmB

Forests for Indy asks city to acquire urban forests. These folks have been a regular presence at council meetings for more than a year. by @peterblanchard.bsky.social Photos by Brett Phelps / @mirrorindy.org mirrorindy.org/forests-for-...

Councilors in Lawrence are calling out Mayor Deb Whitfield’s administration over concerns that the 2026 budget process has not been transparent. They’re also concerned they won’t have enough time to review it. Plus, the financial advisor helping them has backed out. https://bit.ly/4mzQYXM

We are thrilled to celebrate the transition of our friend and colleague, Ryan Martin, to the role of executive editor at the IndyStar. Ryan has been instrumental in helping bring the creation of Mirror Indy from concept to reality. We are grateful for his service and wish him well.

Sheriff Kerry Forestal was met with protesters at the budget meeting earlier this week who are upset at his office for housing ICE detainees in the jail. They even brought spines because they say don’t know if he’ll stand up for the community. Catch up on what happened: https://bit.ly/47oG5Em

For years, city employees and political volunteers would not speak negatively about working for Mayor Joe Hogsett. Now, a collection of current and former employees are speaking out about what they say is a toxic work culture in the administration mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

The hardest thing about the past few weeks was not being able to tell every single person I spoke to about my new position as the Women & Girls Reporter for Free Press Indiana. But now I can 😊

lmao because of course she didn’t just refuse the cash SHE REFUSED THE CHIPS

Indy DPW is scrapping some bike lanes that were slated for the Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood after residents complained about the loss of vehicle parking. “These are not the actions of a city that is serious about Vision Zero” - @indypedcrisis.info mirrorindy.org/bike-lanes-w...

I asked IMPD Chris Bailey whether he thinks ICE's generous salaries and sign-on bonuses could affect his recruitment efforts. "It’s a concern when you throw that kind of money out there that you could take potential applicants from local police departments" mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

Some highlights from Mayor Joe Hogsett's 2026 proposed budget: - $1.7B budget (3.5% increase over last year) - no new tax increases - 4% cuts across agencies depts (except DPW, police, fire, sheriff) mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...