Three-time Grammy winner Billy Strings will play three sold-out nights at the Fishers Event Center this week, but fans without tickets won’t be left out of the fun.

The Fishers Event Center has partnered with the City of Fishers and Hamilton County Tourism to build a weekend of free, community-wide experiences around the concerts, set for Thursday, Aug. 6, through Saturday, Aug. 8. The shows were rescheduled from April.

Each day, the FORUM Credit Union Plaza outside the venue will host more than 40 Shakedown Street vendors and local artisans, along with a beer garden, food trucks, fan meetups, pop-up activities and photo opportunities. Official tour merchandise will be available early each day at the Fishers Event Center from 4:30 to 6 p.m. — no concert ticket required for any of it.

The three-night run caps a landmark stretch for Strings, whose latest album, “Highway Prayers,” won Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year. The record, produced by Strings and Jon Brion and released on Reprise Records, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart — the first bluegrass album to do so in 22 years. GQ has called Strings “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades.”

Since his 2017 debut, the singer, songwriter and guitarist has collected Grammy wins for Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd, 67th and 68th ceremonies, back-to-back Artist of the Year honors at the Americana Music Awards in 2022 and 2023, and Entertainer of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. He has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and PBS’ Austin City Limits.

Strings followed “Highway Prayers” with an Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP and a surprise collaborative album with Bryan Sutton, “Live at the Legion,” recorded at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82 and featuring 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs.

The concerts also mark one of the biggest weekends yet for the Fishers Event Center, which opened in November 2024. The 7,500-seat venue hosts concerts, comedy and family shows, and is home to the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball and the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League.

For a full guide to the weekend, including things to do around Hamilton County, visit visithamiltoncounty.com. More information about the venue is available at FishersEventCenter.com.

As the father of twin daughters, this story is especially important to me. I have seen firsthand the remarkable bond twins share, and few Hamilton County families illustrate that connection quite like Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt and his extended family.

Mark, a Westfield resident and longtime Hamilton County commissioner, is an identical twin. His brother, Mike Heirbrandt, lives in Cicero. The family’s history of multiple births also includes Mark’s twin sons, Ethan and Evan, and Mike’s triplet sons, Chase, Joel and Tim.

Their story comes as families celebrate National Twins Day and the 50th anniversary of the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. Founded in 1976, the event is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest annual gathering of twins, according to a news release about the Heirbrandt family.

For Mark and Mike, being twins has meant a lifetime of companionship, shared experiences and occasional confusion.

“Having a twin means built-in companionship from day one,” Mark said. “You share everything—from a childhood room to this incredible, unspoken connection. Watching that same dynamic play out across our entire family over the years has been truly special.”

Their nearly identical appearance once became an unusual asset during Mark’s political career.

During Mark’s 2016 reelection campaign, debates in Westfield and Fishers were scheduled for the same time. Mark said he asked Mike to attend one of the events, introduce himself as the candidate’s twin and answer questions on Mark’s behalf.

“People in the room were completely stunned,” Mark recalled. “It wasn’t just that he looked like me—his voice, his hand gestures, and everything else was an exact match.”

The resemblance has also created plenty of cases of mistaken identity. Mike has been approached by residents who thought he was the commissioner and wanted to discuss local issues, including drainage projects. Mark said he has occasionally been mistaken for Mike—with consequences ranging from amusing to uncomfortable.

“At this point, if someone calls me Mike or if someone calls him Mark, we’re used to it,” he said.

The family’s history of twins reaches back several generations. Mark and Mike’s maternal grandmother had identical twin brothers named Ennis and Willis, while their mother had identical twin cousins.

Then Mark and Mike carried the tradition into the next generation: Mark became the father of twins, while Mike became the father of triplets.

“Genetically, our family seems to be a complete anomaly,” Mark said. “To have my grandmother’s brothers, my mother’s cousins, Mike and me, and then pass that right down to twin boys and triplet boys—it completely defies the odds.”

The children who once appeared with Mark and Mike in a widely shared family photograph are now adults and pursuing lives of their own. But the connection between the original Heirbrandt twins remains as strong as ever.

Mark said he and Mike still speak three or four times each day.

“No matter how busy life gets, that connection never fades,” he said. “It’s a bond that’s unique and never fades.”

For those of us fortunate enough to raise twins, that bond is easy to recognize. The Heirbrandt family’s story is not simply about remarkable genetic odds. It is a local example of the companionship, shared history and enduring connection that make being a twin—and parenting twins—such a special experience.

A small blue rectangle on a commercial leasing plan has generated an outsized helping of headlines across Central Indiana.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams plans to open at The Union at Fishers District near Interstate 69 and 116th Street. If completed as planned, it will be the Columbus, Ohio-based company’s first Indiana scoop shop.

Jeni’s did not announce the location. Reporter Leila Kheiry of Current Publishing first discovered the company’s name on a leasing plan posted by developer Thompson Thrift.

The plan provides an important detail: Jeni’s is shown in the color designated for a signed lease, not a space under negotiation. However, Jeni’s has not confirmed an opening date and declined to comment when contacted by IndyStar.

The attention is not being driven by a shortage of ice cream. Handel’s has operated along 116th Street since 2002, while Graeter’s now has two Fishers locations.

Instead, the excitement centers on a particular brand entering Indiana for the first time. Jeni’s lists scoop shops in about 30 metropolitan markets, but none in Indiana. Its closest locations are in the Cincinnati area.

Founder Jeni Britton opened the company at Columbus’ North Market in 2002. The brand developed a following with flavors including Brambleberry Crisp, Salty Caramel and Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Britton’s cookbook won a James Beard Foundation award in 2012.

Jeni’s has also connected its products to popular culture through collaborations with “Ted Lasso,” Olivia Rodrigo and American Girl. A case study from a public-relations firm that has worked with Jeni’s says its campaigns generated 18 billion media impressions in 2024. That is a company-supplied marketing measurement, but it demonstrates the brand recognition behind the Fishers reaction.

The location also fits Jeni’s premium positioning. The Union will include approximately 60,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, 251 apartments, offices and a 135-room hotel. Together with the neighboring Slate development, nearly 500 apartments will sit within walking distance.

Fishers’ median household income is approximately $130,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making the city attractive to premium retailers.

The wave of coverage ultimately reflects four things: a first-in-state brand, an affluent and growing market, strong consumer familiarity and the appeal of a reporter, Leila Kheiry,  discovering the news before a corporate announcement.

One thing I learned early while studying political science in college in the mid-1970s is this: politics is a rough game. It is not for the faint of heart. It often does unfair things to good people.

That’s what first came to mind Friday when I learned that Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray will not seek re-election to his leadership post when lawmakers reorganize in November.

Sometimes a man can be judged by what others say about him.

House Speaker Todd Huston of Fishers issued a statement after Bray’s announcement, calling him a great friend and legislative partner over the past six years. “I admire his many legislative accomplishments, but what I admire most is his commitment to family and to our state,” Huston wrote. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside him as a senator and continuing our long friendship.”

Another measure of a man’s reputation is what his political opponents say about him. “From my years in the State Senate, I have personally known Rod Bray as a decent, thoughtful and honorable man,” said Indiana Democratic Chair Karen Tallian. “So it was particularly sickening for me to watch as the MAGA zealots put on the pressure and reviled this brave man during Trump’s gerrymandering crusade last fall.”

It was redistricting that drove Bray’s decision. Last fall, President Trump and Gov. Mike Braun pressed Indiana lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional maps mid-decade to favor Republicans. Bray voted against the new maps, and 21 of the Senate’s 40 Republicans joined Democrats to defeat the plan. Party leaders then threatened to recruit and fund primary challengers against any senator who backed Bray’s bid to remain leader. Bray said he would not put his members in jeopardy from their own party simply for supporting him. He will remain in the Senate, where his District 37 term runs through 2028.

I worked part time at the Martinsville radio station while in college in the mid-1970s and full time there for a year in the late 1970s. A Bray has held elective office in Indiana continuously since 1951 — the year I was born.

Rod’s father, Richard Bray, served 18 years in the Indiana House (1974–1992) and 20 more in Senate District 37 (1992–2012), when Rod succeeded him — roughly 38 years in the General Assembly in all. He was also Morgan County prosecuting attorney from 1958 to 1970, chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and practiced law in Martinsville.

Rod’s grandfather, William G. “Bill” Bray (1903–1979), a decorated World War II Army tank officer, served 12 terms in the U.S. House from 1951 to 1975, representing Indiana’s 7th and later 6th districts, before losing his seat to David Evans in the post-Watergate Democratic wave of 1974. He, too, had been Morgan County prosecutor.

I did not know Richard Bray well and have never met Rod, but I spoke with Bill Bray on several occasions. He once told us he spent more time socially at the White House during John Kennedy’s presidency than any other, because the two men — from different parties — had struck up a personal friendship.

During Watergate, I interviewed Bill Bray about the impeachment hearings, knowing he was a staunch Nixon supporter. When I asked whether the Democratic chairman of the committee was handling the hearings fairly, he declined to comment. The chairman was a personal friend.

Big changes are sweeping our politics at both the national and state levels. Rod Bray’s decision is one of them. Where they take us is a question yet to be answered.

When I interviewed Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in July, I asked what success would look like on the morning of August 2, after two immigration-related events were expected to bring sharply opposing groups to Fishers.

“That everyone’s safe,” Fadness answered.

On Saturday morning, the city issued another statement saying Fishers “did not ask to be a part of this debate.”

Now it is Sunday morning, August 2. I have found no reports of arrests, injuries or violence connected with Saturday’s events, so the mayor’s basic test of success appears to have been met.

But another question has emerged: Was the Save Heritage Indiana rally ever held in Fishers?

For days, Save Heritage Indiana publicly advertised its invitation-only immigration rally as a Fishers event. Its official event page identified Fishers as the location and said the exact address would be provided to ticket holders after purchase. General-admission tickets cost $50, and the event was later listed as sold out.

The featured speaker was Greg Bovino, a former commander-at-large of the U.S. Border Patrol. The organizers also advertised prerecorded remarks from Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita, along with an appearance by state Rep. Jim Lucas.

Despite those repeated references to Fishers, no independent news organization has confirmed that the rally was held anywhere in the city.

A screenshot circulated online Saturday that purported to direct attendees to the Hancock County Public Library in Greenfield before they proceeded in small groups to another location. The Indiana Capital Chronicle properly described that email as unconfirmed.

Other online accounts later suggested the gathering may have occurred on private property in rural Boone County. Those assertions also remain unverified.

Photographs and portions of a subsequently deleted livestream do establish that a gathering took place. They show Bovino speaking from a podium inside a large white tent, with an audience seated in folding chairs. But the images contain no recognizable exterior landmarks or other details that independently establish where the tent was located.

Save Heritage Indiana organizer Daniel Poynter told the Capital Chronicle that two media outlets had been given exclusive access, but he declined to identify them. As of Sunday morning, I have not found an independent report from inside the rally. Poynter also declined to provide an attendance figure.

The public event held in response to the rally unquestionably took place in Fishers.

The Hoosier Hospitality March began at Holland Park late Saturday afternoon and proceeded to the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. It was organized by Fishers Resists and several partner organizations as a demonstration of support for immigrants and opposition to mass deportations.

No official crowd count was conducted. The Capital Chronicle estimated attendance at about 1,000. I watched the event in person, and from my vantage point, the crowd appeared to exceed 1,000 people.

Organizers ended the program somewhat early as lightning approached the area.

It is possible the Save Heritage Indiana organizers originally intended to hold their rally in Fishers and later changed locations because of security, weather or difficulty securing a venue. It is also possible that Fishers was deliberately publicized while the actual location was kept elsewhere. At this point, we simply do not know, because the organizers have not explained what happened.

What we do know is that Fishers spent days in the public spotlight. Residents debated the event, city officials and police prepared for it, news organizations covered it and more than 1,000 people participated in a public response.

The unanswered question is therefore one for Save Heritage Indiana: Why did the organization repeatedly identify Fishers as the site of its rally if the event ultimately took place somewhere else?

Until the organizers disclose the venue—or independent evidence establishes it—the most accurate conclusion is this: The rally occurred somewhere in central Indiana, but there is growing reason to doubt that it occurred in Fishers.

Fishers may have carried the public consequences of an event it never actually hosted.

Threatening skies and reports of nearby lightning cut the program short Saturday afternoon, but not before the Hoosier Hospitality march from Holland Park to the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater drew a substantial crowd. I am terrible at crowd estimates, but this count went well above a thousand, and was likely much more.

The event, organized by Fishers Resists under the title Hoosier Hospitality, was a response to the announcement that a group named Save Heritage Indiana would hold an invitation-only rally in Fishers later that day, billed as the nation’s first “mass deportation rally.” The headliner was Gregory Bovino, the former Border Patrol commander-at-large who became the public face of the federal government’s immigration enforcement operations in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis before retiring from the agency in March.

The Hoosier Hospitality theme was one of welcoming immigrants to the local community. Many in the crowd carried signs critical of Bovino and President Trump.

State Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) spoke to those assembled at Holland Park before the march stepped off, reminding everyone what happened in Indiana a century ago, when the Ku Klux Klan held sway over many state and local government officials — including the governor’s office and much of the General Assembly. He expressed concern that history could be repeating itself now.

There were a handful of counter-demonstrators at Holland Park and along the march route. Some unkind comments were exchanged, but each side exercised its First Amendment rights and the march proceeded without incident.

Once the marchers gathered at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, the program consisted of speeches by a variety of local officials, including a Hindu Carmel city councilor and a Jewish Rabbi, along with songs. The recurring message: we are all descended from immigrants.

Fishers resident Alyssa Roberts explained why she chose to be part of the event. “We’re here because we believe in the promise of America — welcoming immigrants and supporting all, and not supporting a mindset or legislation that is against welcoming people the way that they deserve to be,” she said.

Meanwhile, after announcing in advance that its rally would be held in Fishers, Save Heritage Indiana reportedly moved the event to Greenfield on the day it was to take place, with no other details available as of this writing.

Mayor Scott Fadness issued a statement Saturday morning as Fishers braces for two events reflecting sharply different views of immigration — a public march supporting immigrant neighbors this afternoon and an invitation-only “Mass Deportation Rally” tonight at a still-undisclosed location.

“Fishers is a thriving community that has become a global destination for all people to raise their families,” Fadness said. “Fishers did not ask to be a part of this debate, but today, people have chosen to express their constitutional right to free speech and assembly in our city.

“Our community expects those participating will obey all laws and will exemplify civil discourse. Fishers Police will be prepared to keep everyone safe and hold anyone accountable who does not follow the law.

“Today, and every day, we remain focused on creating and sustaining one of the best communities in the country.”

Two events, two messages

Fishers Resists and partner organizations plan a public “Hoosier Hospitality March” from 3 to 6 p.m., beginning at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park. The roughly 2-mile route is expected to follow Lantern Road and the Nickel Plate Trail to the Fishers Municipal Center, where speeches and a vigil are planned for those who died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and enforcement actions, before returning by 116th Street. Organizers describe the march as a nonviolent show of support for immigrant neighbors and say safety marshals will be present. Participating groups include several Indivisible community chapters, Indy Resistance, Somos Latinos, Action Neighbors, Indiana Organizing Project and Voices 4 Democracy.

The march is a response to Save Heritage Indiana’s “Mass Deportation Rally,” billed by organizers as the first of its kind in the country, set to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets have been advertised at $50, with the location promised only to approved guests shortly before the event. Former U.S. Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino is scheduled to speak, and Republican Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is expected to provide prerecorded video remarks rather than attend in person.

Save Heritage Indiana’s website calls for ending and reversing “mass migration” and backs universal E-Verify and mandatory local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Executive Director Daniel Poynter has said the event is about enforcing immigration laws, not promoting violence or racial division. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes the group as anti-immigrant, a characterization Poynter disputes.

Bovino retired in March after nearly 30 years with the Border Patrol. He led high-profile immigration operations in Los Angeles, Chicago and Minneapolis and was removed from his commander-at-large position after federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Bovino drew condemnation for saying Pretti planned to “massacre” officers, a claim The Associated Press reported authorities had not substantiated. Bovino also has claimed 100 million people are living in the United States illegally, without presenting supporting evidence; Pew Research Center’s latest comprehensive estimate was 14 million in 2023.

The city’s role

Fadness has said the city did not bring the private rally to Fishers, had no coordination with its organizers, and cannot suppress lawful expression on private property. Fishers police have been working to identify the rally site so they can protect participants and the public, but will not provide private security. Census data show 11.5% of Fishers residents were foreign-born in 2020-24, a figure that includes people with a range of legal statuses.

As of Saturday morning, organizers had not publicly disclosed the private rally’s address, venue or expected attendance, and no reliable crowd estimate was available for either event.

Weather could be a factor

Marchers should pack rain gear. The National Weather Service forecast for Fishers, updated at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, calls for an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with some storms capable of producing heavy rainfall. New rainfall amounts of three-quarters of an inch to one inch are possible, with a high near 77 and southeast winds of 9 to 13 mph gusting to 22 mph.

That puts the 3-6 p.m. march window squarely in the wet weather. Forecasters expect showers and thunderstorms before 3 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm mainly after 3 p.m. — meaning the walk from Holland Park to the Municipal Center could see rain from start to finish. Lightning would be the bigger concern for an outdoor crowd; standard safety guidance is to head indoors or to vehicles when thunder is heard.

The evening rally may be less exposed if it is held indoors, though attendees traveling to the event face an 80% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms before 11 p.m., with a low around 67.

Fishers drivers should expect several closures, lane restrictions, and detours in early August. The intersection of 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road is fully closed for roundabout construction, while 136th Street is closed to through traffic between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road. Signed detours are available for both projects.

At 116th Street and Allisonville Road, traffic has shifted to inside lanes and designated turn lanes through early October. Businesses remain accessible, but Fishers Crossing Boulevard is closed immediately west of Allisonville Road through mid-August. USA Parkway north of 106th Street will have lane restrictions through October for widening, trail construction, curb improvements, and resurfacing.

Short-term restrictions include the eastbound lane of 126th Street east of Brooks School Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 4, plus temporary lane closures at Allisonville Road and 111th Street on August 3–4. Cumberland Road also remains restricted between 106th and 116th streets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Construction continues at the Southeastern Parkway–Olio Road roundabout. Early-August restrictions will reduce Olio Road to one lane in each direction and close the roundabout’s fifth leg. Resurfacing and trail work may also cause temporary restrictions and delays across several neighborhoods and roads.

Regional projects include overnight Clear Path 465 closures and restrictions, continued finishing work near State Road 37 and 141st Street, and temporary traffic impacts for Woofstock on August 8. All schedules are weather-dependent; drivers should follow posted signs, use caution, and allow extra travel time.

Here is the full road construction listing for the week beginning Sunday, August 3, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road Construction Update for the week beginning Sunday, August 2 →

Drivers on the northeast side should brace for another round of overnight restrictions on I-465 Friday and Saturday nights as crews race to finish work ahead of forecasted rain.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says work under the Clear Path 465 project will run from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. both nights. Crews will install signs, remove barrier wall, put down pavement markings and perform other road maintenance.

INDOT is warning of delays and asking drivers to plan ahead and use alternate routes when possible.

Friday, July 31

• The ramp from Allisonville Road to eastbound I-465 will be closed.
• The ramp from eastbound I-465 to southbound Binford Boulevard will be closed.
• I-465 will be reduced to one lane in both directions between Fall Creek Road and 71st Street.
• Eastbound I-465 will be reduced to two lanes from River Road to Allisonville Road, with brief 15-minute stoppages for sign installation.
• Eastbound I-465 will be reduced to three lanes from Allisonville Road to I-69/Binford Boulevard.

Saturday, Aug. 1

• The ramp from Allisonville Road to eastbound I-465 will be closed.
• The ramp from eastbound I-465 to southbound Binford Boulevard will be closed.
• Eastbound I-465 will be reduced to two lanes from River Road to Allisonville Road, with brief 15-minute stoppages for sign installation.
• Eastbound I-465 will be reduced to two lanes from Allisonville Road to I-69/Binford Boulevard.
• Southbound I-465 will be reduced to one lane from 71st Street to Fall Creek Road for road maintenance.

The 15-minute stoppages mean traffic will be held completely while crews hang overhead signs, so drivers who find themselves in the work zone should expect to sit briefly rather than roll through.

INDOT cautions that the schedule could change. Dates and planned work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances arise.

Indiana created the Office of the Public Access Counselor in 1998 to give citizens a fast, free referee when government agencies deny access to records or meetings. Today, that office is under scrutiny. A recent Indianapolis Star analysis found the current counselor, Jennifer Ruby, has taken an average of nearly 250 days to issue advisory opinions — far beyond the 30 days contemplated in state law — and has sided with government agencies in roughly two-thirds of her opinions, the exact inverse of her predecessor’s record.

On this week’s edition of the Fridays with Larry podcast, I trace how Indiana’s public access laws were built over seven decades, and how 2024 legislation changed the counselor’s independence and authority.

My guest is Zachary Baiel, president of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government. We discuss what open government should look like in everyday life, the practical impact of the changes at the Public Access Counselor’s office, and the hotline ICOG launched to help Hoosiers who can’t get answers. Baiel also explains how government agencies use cloud services and outside vendors to sidestep records requests — and why he urges civility and persistence for anyone seeking public records. The ICOG hotline is 260-ASK-ICOG (260-275-4264), and the group’s website is indianacog.org.

Also in this episode: a look at New York Times reporting on the enormous global build-out of AI computing power, and the story of an upstate New York school district that paused plans for an AI-powered classroom robot.

Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

Watch the podcast using this link, listen at this link or use the links below.