As 2025 draws to a close, it is worth taking a look back at another busy year in Fishers — a fast-growing suburban city that expects to reach a population of roughly 110,000 in 2026.

Indiana has no elections in the year following a presidential election, so 2025 brought little in the way of traditional campaign politics. Still, there were a number of stories with clear political and policy implications that shaped the year.

Each year since this local news website was launched in 2012, I have compiled a list of what I consider the top 10 stories of the year. The rankings are based on my reporting and judgment, and deciding what to include — and in what order — is never easy. That was certainly true again in 2025.

With that in mind, here are the top 10 news stories in Fishers for 2025, as I see them:

10. Eric Pethtel dies
Eric Pethtel led the Fishers Department of Public Works dating back to the days when Fishers was still a town, before its transition to a city in 2015. He developed the snow-removal plan that remains in place today and continues to evolve. His funeral was truly a celebration of a life well lived. Eric Pethtel played an important role in shaping the Fishers we know today.

9. Two local nonprofit organizations merge
Youth Mentoring Initiative and the Fishers Youth Assistance Program merged in 2025 to form the Fishers Youth Initiative. The new organization combines mentoring services with direct assistance for students and families in need.

8. HSE student and football standout Mason Alexander dies in car crash
A tragic March 1 crash at 113th Street and Florida Road claimed the life of Mason Alexander, 18. Alexander had already been recruited to play football at the University of Pittsburgh, a member of the ACC. On March 3, thousands gathered at the Hamilton Southeastern football stadium for a balloon release in his honor.

7. HSE Schools and the teachers’ union
Negotiations between HSE Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association were contentious. Teachers rejected the initial contract offer, talks moved into mediation, and a revised agreement was eventually ratified. The contract includes no pay raises or step increases and higher health-insurance premiums, deeply dividing the community.

6. Growth of professional sports in the first full year of the Fishers Event Center
Fishers has long supported high school athletics, but the opening of the Fishers Event Center ushered in a new era. Three professional teams now call Fishers home: the Indy Fuel hockey team, the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League, and the Indy Ignite women’s volleyball team. Mayor Scott Fadness also delivered his State of the City address at the venue, marking his 10th year as mayor.

5. Fishers expands local amenities
Two long-anticipated projects opened in 2025: the Fishers Community Center and Fishers White River Park. Both had been years in the making and added significantly to the city’s growing list of recreational and quality-of-life amenities.

4. Life sciences industry continues to grow
INCOG helped establish Fishers as a life sciences hub and announced plans to expand from about 400 employees to roughly 1,000 by 2030. The city approved economic incentives to support that growth. Italian life-sciences firm Stevanato Group also continues life science  operations in Fishers.

3. Cadillac Formula One team to call Fishers home
For the first time in decades, Formula One will have a U.S.-based team. Cadillac is building a headquarters at the airport complex just north of 96th Street in Fishers. The move places Fishers on the international stage as the team prepares to field two cars in the 2026 season.

2. Hamilton County Election Board rejects voting centers
Indiana allows voters to cast ballots at any early-voting location, but Election Day voting remains precinct-based. Voting centers would have allowed voters to use any polling site in the county on Election Day. Approval required a unanimous vote, but the Hamilton County Election Board split 2–1. Republican appointee Ray Adler cast the dissenting vote.

1. Fishers approves a 10% rental-home cap per neighborhood
Fishers became the first city in Indiana to adopt a cap limiting rental homes to no more than 10% of residences within a neighborhood. The proposal, introduced by Mayor Scott Fadness and approved by the City Council, includes lengthy transition rules and takes effect in 2026. The measure sparked intense debate and could still draw attention from state lawmakers.

And there it is. Several notable stories were left on the cutting-room floor, but this list reflects the best assessment I can make based on my reporting over the past 14 years — and particularly in 2025.

Here’s hoping 2026 brings plenty of good news for Fishers.