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Who donates to Indy politicians’ and candidates’ campaigns? That information is going to be easier to get for people lik...
05/13/2026

Who donates to Indy politicians’ and candidates’ campaigns? That information is going to be easier to get for people like you and me.

The Marion County Election Board is shopping for software that would allow the public to download campaign finance data. That data would show who donates to local candidates and how their campaigns are spending the funds.

Yes, you can get this data now, but it’s stored in PDFs on the city’s website. Those PDFs can be hundreds of pages long and some are even handwritten.

Patrick Becker, director of elections for the Marion County Election Board, said the new system will streamline filing and make the records more accessible to everyone.

It will also make it easier for the election board to investigate complaints against candidates for potential violations.

“I think that’s definitely helpful,”said Wildstyle Paschall, a community advocate who frequently analyzes campaign finance records as part of his research.

The board hopes to have the system in place for the 2027 mayoral and council elections.

Chreece, Indy’s only hip-hop festival, returns to Fountain Square on Aug. 29 with headliners Rico Nasty, Jorjiana and Ov...
05/13/2026

Chreece, Indy’s only hip-hop festival, returns to Fountain Square on Aug. 29 with headliners Rico Nasty, Jorjiana and Ovrkast.

This is the first time two women will headline the artist-led festival since its founding in 2015 by Oreo Jones.

“Chreece was born from the need to create space for artists, community and culture to thrive on their own terms,” Jones said in a press release. “We carry forward the legacy of Black music in Indianapolis while building something new for the next generation.”

Over 70 regional and local hip-hop artists, DJs and producers will take the stage across eight venues. Limited early bird VIP and general admission tickets are still available.

You can purchase tickets on Aug. 29 at the festival box office.

Bus riders, big changes are coming to some eastside and near northside IndyGo routes this summer.Swipe through to find m...
05/13/2026

Bus riders, big changes are coming to some eastside and near northside IndyGo routes this summer.

Swipe through to find more details about the changes, including maps of the routes.

The updates take effect June 14.

Know a kid or teen in Indianapolis who would like to learn more about community journalism? Please encourage them to app...
05/13/2026

Know a kid or teen in Indianapolis who would like to learn more about community journalism? Please encourage them to apply to be a youth reporter this summer at Mirror Indy. They'll be paid for the work they do.

No journalism experience is needed -- just curiosity, creativity and an interest in telling stories about the things that matter to them and other kids and teens in their neighborhood.

We're looking for three Indianapolis students: One who lives on the eastside, one who lives on the westside and one who lives on the southside.

Applicants must be between the ages of 10 and 18. The deadline to apply is May 26: https://bit.ly/42tkjM3

Are you interested in getting a bachelor’s degree online? University of Indianapolis will begin offering bachelor’s of s...
05/13/2026

Are you interested in getting a bachelor’s degree online?

University of Indianapolis will begin offering bachelor’s of science degrees in health sciences, organizational leadership and elementary education in August.

The education degree is designed for school staff who have an associate degree to become teachers.

The classes are completely online and offered in an accelerated seven-week format. Tuition will be $400 per credit hour, or $1,200 for a standard three-credit class.
But, if you are a current student or a recent graduate of Ivy Tech, you can take your first UIndy Online class for free.

You can apply at the link in our comments. Be sure to say which program you are interested in when you apply. Classes will start in August.

Even when it isn’t May, cars race through our city, making many crosswalks and intersections unsafe. Many of these roads...
05/12/2026

Even when it isn’t May, cars race through our city, making many crosswalks and intersections unsafe. Many of these roads are wide, which encourages speeding, experts say.

That’s where tactical urbanism comes in. These projects utilize low-cost traffic barricades or murals on the surface of the road to slow down cars or provide safe pathways for people walking or biking.

One of the latest tactical urbanism projects can be seen at a busy southside intersection near Garfield Park where sidewalks don’t connect and the road widens.

Debbie Conway, the president of the Bean Creek Neighborhood Association near Garfield Park, said the work there will make it safer for neighbors.

She said about 30% of students who attend Adelante Schools at Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle school are walkers. But their pathway is dangerous because of the lack of sidewalks.

Before the water-filled barriers were installed on East Troy Avenue, Conway collected speed counts that showed some drivers were traveling roughly 10 mph over the speed limit.

She plans to collect speed data twice a week while the project is installed, and already, she said there’s been about a 5 mph reduction in traffic speeds.

The city hopes to open applications for new traffic calming projects, like this one, in July if you’d like to apply for one in your neighborhood.

05/12/2026

“There’s never anything to do in Indy.” Well, actually, there is!

Jazz shows, musicals and a boozy book fair are a few of the many things to do this weekend.

What are you hitting up? Comment below.

People gathered for “Celebremos con Arte” May 9 at Central library, celebrating Latin American music, dance and art. Pho...
05/12/2026

People gathered for “Celebremos con Arte” May 9 at Central library, celebrating Latin American music, dance and art.

Photographer Eliezer Hernandez was there and asked the same question to six different attendees of all ages: What does celebrating your heritage through art mean to you?

Swipe through to see their answers.

TWG, a real estate developer, will get a tax break of about $1.5 million to make improvements at 707 North Apartments, a...
05/11/2026

TWG, a real estate developer, will get a tax break of about $1.5 million to make improvements at 707 North Apartments, a low-income apartment complex downtown.

The tax break comes amid complaints from residents at some of TWG’s 42 Indianapolis properties about issues ranging from broken appliances to mold.

City-County Councilor Jesse Brown, a Democrat, voted in favor of the tax break. He wrote in an email to constituents that he voted for its approval because TWG committed to working with a residents’ association.

Residents will get access to services such as financial literacy courses.

The tax break TWG will get is known as a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT.

The agreement has become a common incentive from city government for projects that are also financed by low-income housing tax credits from the state.

If TWG violates the agreement, the city could terminate the tax break after a notice period.

The company also has to report how many people use the programs and services offered, with a goal of at least 25% of residents participating.

Martindale Brightwood residents are pushing back against an approved data center in the neighborhood.The Hoosier Environ...
05/11/2026

Martindale Brightwood residents are pushing back against an approved data center in the neighborhood.

The Hoosier Environmental Council joined several neighbors in filing a petition for judicial review of the Metropolitan Development Commission’s April 1 approval of zoning variances for a data center project.

They want to stop the project from moving forward.

“We feel as though we have been sidelined and that this has not been reviewed properly and that it may have been predetermined,” Cierra Johnson, president of neighborhood group One Voice Martindale Brightwood, told Mirror Indy.

Representatives from the Department of Metropolitan Development did not immediately respond to Mirror Indy’s request for comment. The lawyer representing the data center developer, Metrobloks, was aware of the petition but did not comment further. The lawyer for the petitioners could not immediately be reached.

You can learn more about the complaint and next steps at a One Voice neighborhood meeting at 6 p.m. May 12 at Polk Stables, 1533 Lewis St.

Crispus Attucks High School will get a new building as part of a $44 million expansion.The project will bring four new s...
05/11/2026

Crispus Attucks High School will get a new building as part of a $44 million expansion.

The project will bring four new specialty classrooms and a regulation-size gymnasium to the northwest corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Oscar Robertson Boulevard.

The new wing will not replace any part of the school, including its historic Crispus Attucks Museum.

Instead, it will connect to the existing building at its current main entrance.

Officials will share more about the expansion plans in a community meeting at 6 p.m. May 13.

A groundbreaking for the project will be held later this month with completion expected by winter 2028.

Classes will continue as usual throughout construction.

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