New city-county councilors eager to tackle Indy’s challenges
Six Democratic councilors-elect, and one Republican, make up the freshman class that will take office Jan. 1. Democrats will have a 19-6 majority on the Indianapolis City-County Council.
Taylor Wooten
Articles
Q&A: IMPD Chief Randal Taylor talks about what’s next after he steps down
Taylor, chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for nearly 4 years, plans to step down at the end of the year into another IMPD role.
City ramps up climate staff amid weather concerns
Indianapolis officials say they are preparing for more severe weather in the years to come as climate-change events threaten to overwhelm the stormwater drainage system and pose other problems.
Ahead of construction-related closure, City Market waives two months of rent for vendors
The Hogsett administration has not yet released an ending date for the closure and has not committed to additional mitigation measures for the vendors.
Broad Ripple business owners express frustration at another construction project
A planned reconstruction of the Westfield Boulevard Bridge will require lane restrictions this month followed by a 100-day street closure. It comes on the heels of a major reconstruction of Broad Ripple Avenue that took much longer than expected.
Democrat Keith Potts ends U.S. Senate bid
Potts is ending his run for U.S. Senate, which would have pitted him against Marc Carmichael in the Democratic primary. The Senate seat is currently held by Republican Mike Braun, who is running for governor.
Second attempt at downtown fee appears poised for council passage
A new proposal to impose a fee on downtown property owners for initiatives aimed at public safety, cleanliness and homelessness in the Mile Square is gaining steam among Democrats on the City-County Council.
IndyGo CEO Inez Evans leaving after four years leading transit agency
Jennifer Pyrz, chief development officer for IndyGo, will become interim CEO after Evans’ departure.
City-County Council committee advances artificial intelligence proposal
The proposal from Republican Councilor Michael-Paul Hart, which would create a study commission on the city’s usage of AI, was passed unanimously by the Rules and Public Policy Committee.
City dismisses application of 1923 law on development of historical burial grounds
The city’s findings dash the hopes of a historical preservation group that the old law would require a full excavation of the city’s first public cemetery site before work could begin on a bridge over the White River and a proposed Indy Eleven soccer stadium.
Committee advances proposal for Mile Square district imposing fees on property owners
The City-County Council Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee heard testimony from over a dozen downtown residents and representatives of prominent companies before passing the proposal, 8-3.
Pacers, Colts team with city on Drive & Dish initiative to reduce food insecurity
The new program aimed at several city neighborhoods has a $530,000 fund, which includes donations from Carlisle, Pacers minority owner Steve Simon, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and the Indianapolis Colts.
City-County Council committee advances $37M plan to finance jail demolition, building improvements
If approved, the bonds are expected to pay for the demolition to demolish a former Marion County Jail 1 and renovate portions of the City-County Building ahead of a planned consolidation of city employees from satellite offices.
Indy council to consider imposing fee on Mile Square property owners
The proposal would result in a $250 flat fee on owners of single-family, residential parcels, while other properties would be charged 0.1681% of assessed value.
Hogsett wins third term in most expensive mayor’s race in Indianapolis history
Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett beat back his best-funded Republican challenger ever in businessman Jefferson Shreve, winning a third term Tuesday in what was the most expensive mayoral race in Indianapolis history.
IMPD’s expanding use of tech raises privacy concerns
The department is poised to invest $9 million in COVID-19 recovery funds into cameras and other technology. Some critics are raising privacy and efficacy concerns; others say the city hasn’t adopted the new techniques quickly enough.
Election primer: A roundup of IBJ’s municipal campaign coverage
Early voting is underway for Indiana’s Nov. 7 municipal elections. Here’s a roundup of IBJ’s campaign coverage for Indianapolis and the northern suburbs to help you get ready to cast your vote.
Shreve shifts campaign to issues beyond crime as election nears
The flurry of new proposals from Republican Jefferson Shreve, most of which came a little more than a week before he faces incumbent Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett in Tuesday’s election, left some political experts scratching their heads.
Shreve proposes property-tax freeze for some Indianapolis homeowners
Mayoral candidate Jefferson Shreve this week rolled out a proposal to freeze property taxes in Indianapolis for residents older than 65 and those seeing drastic increases in assessed home values.
Study: United Way grants provide $45M annual boost for regional economy
The study from the Kelley School of Business Indiana Business Research Center found the United Way of Central Indiana helped support groups that had a $1.52 billion impact on the regional economy since 2020.