The process of redrawing school boundaries within Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools is moving forward. The district’s consultant, Woolpert, has been gathering input through public comments and focus groups throughout September and October, and the next phase will include two community meetings to present proposed maps.

The first meeting will take place Monday, October 20, at 6 p.m. at Fishers High School, in Cafés A & B. Attendees should enter through Door 19.  The second session will be held Tuesday, October 21, at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Southeastern High School, also in Cafés A & B, with entry through Door 1.

During these meetings, residents will have the opportunity to meet the Woolpert team leading the redistricting effort and view the first draft of proposed school boundary options. The district expects to present multiple scenarios for public review.

Community members will also be able to share feedback through a survey that opens at the meetings and will remain available for two weeks.

The redistricting process will review attendance boundaries for all schools serving students in pre-K through grade 8.

Superintendent Patrick Mapes noted during a recent school board meeting that redistricting could lead to cost savings by allowing for more efficient use of school facilities.

Following the community input period, Woolpert will work with HSE administrators to develop a final boundary recommendation. The proposal is expected to be presented to the HSE School Board for a final vote in December.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District has reached a tentative contract agreement with the local teachers union, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, covering the 2025-2026 school year.  The new pact calls for no base salary increase for teachers.  There will be a public hearing on the pact at the October 22 school board meeting.

The contract must be ratified by the teachers then approved by the school board

See the contract language, with more details on the health insurance and leave provisions, available at this link.

After recently writing about how I do—and do not—use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in producing this local news site and my podcasts, I’ve learned that I may now be in the minority. New data shows that a growing share of online content is being created entirely by AI.

Graphite, a firm specializing in search engine optimization (SEO), reports that AI-generated articles have overtaken those written by humans on the web. The company notes two key trends:

• The quantity of AI-generated articles has surpassed the number of human-written pieces published online.

• However, the proportion of AI-generated content has leveled off since May 2024.

Graphite also cautions that most AI-produced articles do not tend to appear prominently in Google search results or in ChatGPT responses—and that it remains difficult to determine exactly how many online articles are still authored by people.

AI’s impact extends beyond written content. The industry newsletter Podcast Tonight reports that artificial intelligence is transforming podcasting as well.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing podcasting by enabling the mass production of shows with virtual hosts, making it cheaper and easier to create content,” the newsletter says. “Companies like Inception Point AI are producing thousands of AI-generated podcasts weekly and attracting advertisers even for niche topics. Some experts worry this will make it difficult for independent creators to compete and maintain quality. While some believe audiences will accept AI-hosted shows if they’re engaging, others argue that listeners still value authentic human connection in podcasts.”

As for me, I have never produced a podcast hosted or created by AI—and I don’t plan to start. It remains to be seen how podcast audiences will respond to this wave of AI-generated programming.

For now, my approach remains the same: I make limited use of AI tools in writing for this site and have never used AI-generated audio in any of my podcasts. I have no plans to change those policies.

It’s not exactly a quiet week in Fishers—this is a busy community most of the time—but things do tend to slow down a bit every October when Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools take a week off for fall break.

For 2025, HSE’s fall break begins Monday, October 13. Expect lighter traffic on local roads and shorter wait times at area restaurants throughout the week.

The Fishers City Council usually meets on the third Monday of each month, but this October’s regular meeting was moved to the first Monday to avoid overlapping with families returning from fall break travel.

HSE Schools has long made a point of releasing its district calendar well in advance so parents can plan ahead for fall, holiday, and spring breaks. The current calendar is available through May 2028.

If you and your family are heading out of town this week, travel safely and enjoy the break. For those staying close to home, take advantage of the slower pace and explore some local activities. And to the teachers—no encouragement needed—enjoy your well-earned time away from the classroom.

When classes resume, HSE will have plenty of work waiting. The district must finalize its budget, continue negotiations with the local teachers’ association, and move forward with the redistricting process—all in the weeks ahead.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked-about topics everywhere these days. One profession still trying to determine how best to use — and not use — this new technology is journalism.

I began my career as a radio news reporter in the 1970s, left broadcasting to work in the federal civil service in the early 1980s, and later launched this local news site in 2012 after retiring from government service. Back in my days behind a microphone, I could never have imagined a tool like AI.

Today, newsrooms of all sizes are grappling with how to navigate this fast-changing technology. My goal in this piece is to explain how I use AI — and how I don’t.

First and foremost, I never ask AI to write stories for me. Every article you see on this site is the result of my own reporting and writing.

That said, I do find AI useful in limited ways. I sometimes use it to suggest headlines, offer alternative wording for a press release, or polish a story I’ve already written. Even then, I don’t always accept what AI produces — and every piece published here is reviewed by a human being: me.

I can’t recall a single instance where I’ve taken AI’s advice completely as-is. Those who design these systems even have a term, “hallucination,” for the times when AI confidently produces something that’s just plain wrong. It happens more often than you might think.

For example, just a few days ago, I asked an AI program for background information about government shutdowns. It responded that no federal shutdown was in place — even though there clearly was one. When I asked again, it apologized and corrected itself.

Experts warn that AI could one day replace human thinking and decision-making as it grows more sophisticated. In my humble opinion, though, no AI will ever attend a local government meeting, grasp the nuances of what happens, and accurately report it for the public. There’s a human element to journalism — context, judgment, empathy — that machines can’t replicate.

I may be proven wrong someday, but for now, I see AI as a useful yet limited tool in the reporting process. Like any new technology, it holds great promise — and real potential for harm.

Remember when social media was first promoted as a great way to stay connected and share ideas? It certainly does that, but we’ve also seen the unexpected downsides that came with it.

Across the country, newsrooms are developing policies to guide their use of AI. As for me, I’ll continue to use this technology carefully, ethically, and transparently — keeping human judgment at the heart of everything I publish.

Current Publishing posted a story October 10th about charges filed against a man in connection with reports to police of a man pointing a gun in a Fishers establishment October 8.

Read the story online at this link.

With no classes at Hamilton Southeastern Schools the week starting October 13, the City of Fishers is closing the roundabout at 121st Street and Hoosier Road for one week to complete construction.  That roundabout is next to Hoosier Road Elementary School.

There is a long list of updates, and here it is, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the work week starting Monday, Oct. 13 →

Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart has announced that official Trick-or-Treat hours in the City of Fishers will be Friday, October 31, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

In preparation for Halloween, Chief Gebhart also shared several safety reminders for families and children. Trick-or-treaters are encouraged to stay in groups, walk on sidewalks when possible, and have all treats inspected by an adult before eating them.

Parents or adults should accompany children while trick-or-treating, and participants are urged to carry flashlights or glowsticks and visit only homes with porch lights on. Bright-colored, flame-resistant costumes are recommended, and officials advise avoiding masks that obstruct vision.

Drivers and pedestrians alike are reminded to use extra caution when crossing streets, and children should never accept rides from strangers.

Fishers police officers will patrol neighborhoods throughout the evening to help ensure a safe Halloween for all. Residents who notice anything suspicious are asked to call 911 immediately.

The city will also host its annual Boo Bash celebration on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nickel Plate Amphitheater, featuring family-friendly activities ahead of Halloween night.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) will host its 19th annual Tinsel & Tails Holiday Petacular on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 6–9 p.m. at the 502 East Event Centre in Carmel. The event serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year, supporting the shelter’s annual operating expenses.

Tickets and tables remain available for purchase at TinselandTails.com.

The evening will feature a seated dinner, silent auction, and the popular “Golden Ticket Raffle,” offering guests a chance to win $2,500 in prizes. The highlight of the night comes during a video presentation and runway show where several adopted pets and their owners share touching stories of rescue and redemption.

“This event is always a night to remember,” said Emma Nobbe, Community Engagement Manager for HSHC. “It’s a unique chance for our community to experience firsthand the true healing power of pets through the year’s most remarkable adoption stories.”

Those unable to attend can still participate by donating or bidding in the silent auction online. Bidding opens November 13 at TinselandTails.com. Among this year’s auction items are two experience packages: a stay at a Sanibel Island condo in Florida and a trip to Punta Mita, Mexico.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves as both the county’s animal control facility and humane society. About 20 percent of its funding comes from Hamilton County, while the remainder relies on individual donations. HSHC operates as one of the few open-admission, no-kill shelters in the nation, taking in animals regardless of age, breed, injury, or special needs.

For more information about Tinsel & Tails or to learn about HSHC’s programs such as the Survivor Program and Pets Healing Vets, visit HamiltonHumane.com

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) joined Vice President J.D. Vance, Governor Mike Braun, and other state legislative leaders today for a meeting at the Statehouse focused on key policy issues under consideration by Indiana lawmakers, with media reports indicating redistricting was on the agenda.

Following the meeting, Huston’s office released a statement thanking the vice president for engaging directly with members of the Indiana House Republican caucus.

“I thank Vice President Vance for again talking with our caucus members and facilitating an open dialogue on this important topic,” Huston said. “It means a lot to us that he is willing to spend time in our state, personally communicating with and answering questions from Hoosier lawmakers. We had another productive conversation today and we’ll keep discussing this within our caucus and with the Hoosiers we represent as we come to a decision soon.”

Huston’s office did not provide additional details about the specific issues discussed during the meeting.