The Indoor Football League has expanded its television partnership with Yahoo Sports Network just one day after announcing it had ended its broadcast agreement with FanDuel Sports Network.

The move affects all IFL teams, including the Fishers Freight.

On Tuesday, IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon announced the league had ended its relationship with FanDuel following what he described as a “thorough evaluation” of the league’s media strategy. Tryon said the league was prepared for a seamless transition and promised no disruption to 2026 broadcast plans.

Wednesday, the league and Yahoo Sports confirmed an expanded agreement that will bring 64 live IFL games to Yahoo Sports Network this season — up from the 59 originally announced in December.

The enhanced package includes the league’s premier events:

• IFL National Championship Game — August 16
• American Dream IFL Cup — May 18–24
• Two First-Round Playoff Games
• Western Conference Championship

Games will stream exclusively on Yahoo Sports Network, which is distributed across major free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms including Amazon Fire TV, Fubo, LG Channels, Plex, Prime Video, Samsung TV Plus and The Roku Channel, as well as directly through yahoosports.tv.

“We are excited to bring our Championship Game and the IFL Cup to the Yahoo Sports Network audience,” Tryon said. “This is a big step for both of us. We are giving our coaches and players more opportunities to show what they bring to the game, while our fans have more ways to take in the action with all the viewing options Yahoo offers.”

Yahoo Sports Network President Ryan Spoon called the addition of IFL games a strong fit with the network’s growing football programming lineup.

Despite the expanded agreement, questions remain about the league’s full 2026 broadcast slate. The original FanDuel deal had called for 60 games. With 64 games now committed to Yahoo Sports Network, the league has not yet detailed whether additional games will be televised or streamed elsewhere.

The IFL said it will release its full 2026 broadcast schedule at a later date.

For Fishers Freight fans, the announcement provides clarity that key league events — including the championship — will be nationally available, though it remains to be seen how many regular-season Freight games will appear on the Yahoo platform or other outlets.

The 2026 IFL season kicks off in March.  The Fishers Freight open the season March 14 at the Fishers Event Center.

The Indoor Football League has ended its broadcast partnership with FanDuel Sports Network ahead of the 2026 season, Commissioner Todd Tryon announced Tuesday.

In a statement released “from the Office of the Commissioner,” Tryon said the league made the move following “a thorough evaluation of our media strategy.”

“After a thorough evaluation of our media strategy, the Indoor Football League has ended its relationship with FanDuel Sports Network,” Tryon said. “We are grateful to the entire FanDuel Sports Network team for their collaboration, professionalism, and support of the IFL.”

The decision affects all IFL teams, including the Fishers Freight, who are preparing for their upcoming season in Fishers.

Tryon emphasized the league does not expect disruption to its 2026 broadcast schedule.

“Our focus continues to be on delivering the highest-quality product for our fans, partners, and players, and ensuring that every game is accessible on a national stage,” Tryon said. “We have been proactively preparing for this transition and are fully committed to a seamless shift with no disruption to our 2026 broadcast plans.”

FanDuel Sports Network had been slated to air IFL games as part of the league’s national television package. The commissioner did not provide details on why the partnership was ended.  However, it has been widely reported that FanDuel is planning to shut down in April.

Tryon said new media partners will be announced this week.

“This week, we will be announcing our media partners for the 2026 season, including new platforms that will expand our reach and enhance the viewing experience for fans nationwide,” he said.

For Fishers Freight fans, the key takeaway is that the league expects games to remain nationally accessible, with more information on exactly where Freight games will air expected soon.

The Indy Fuel skated to a 6-2 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings Tuesday in the club’s annual Education Day game, highlighted by two goals each from Lee Lapid and Sahil Panwar.

Lapid continued his recent scoring surge, opening the scoring at 7:41 of the first period with assists from Brandon Schultz and Matt Petgrave. It marked the third straight game Lapid has scored the game’s first goal — all against Kalamazoo.

Indy doubled its lead late in the period when Petgrave capitalized on a power play opportunity at 17:09. Terry Broadhurst and Cody Laskosky assisted on the goal, Petgrave’s second point of the morning, giving the Fuel a 2-0 edge.

Former Fuel forward Colin Bilek answered for Kalamazoo at 18:54, trimming the deficit to 2-1. Shots were even at 10-10 after one period.

In the second, the Fuel regained control. Dustin Manz scored his third goal of the season at 12:24, finishing a play set up by Jordan Martin to make it 3-1. Indy killed off an early Kalamazoo power play and carried the momentum into the locker room, outshooting the Wings 20-14 through two periods.

The Fuel broke the game open in the third.

Panwar extended the lead to 4-1 at 6:09, converting a feed from Tyler Paquette. Less than a minute later, Lapid struck again, finishing off assists from Schultz and Petgrave to push the advantage to 5-1.

The final period featured a string of penalties and physical play, including a fight between Paquette and Powell Connor. Despite the chippiness, Indy maintained control. Kalamazoo’s Hunter Strand added a late goal at 18:30, but the outcome was long decided.

The Fuel dominated the third period, outshooting the Wings 14-1, and secured the 6-2 win on home ice in front of a lively Education Day crowd.

The Fuel will host Iowa this Friday and Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center.

Fishers residents are invited to celebrate heart health and the outdoors at the annual Heart Hike on Saturday, February 28.

The free, all-ages event will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, 10410 Hague Road. The event is hosted by Fishers Parks in partnership with the Fishers Health Department.

The Heart Hike is designed as a short, self-guided walk along the preserve’s natural trails. Participants will encounter posted images of heart shapes found in nature throughout the park, along with heart-healthy tips provided by the Fishers Health Department.

In addition to the hike, visitors can interact with Fishers Parks nature education staff to learn more about the preserve and the wildlife that calls Ritchey Woods home.

The event encourages residents of all ages to get outside, stay active and focus on cardiovascular health while enjoying one of the city’s natural areas.

Organizers are also seeking volunteers to serve as event ambassadors during the hike. Those interested in volunteering can learn more and sign up at this link.

Heart Hike is free and open to the public.

The Fishers City Council on Monday approved a rezoning request for the proposed Memory Story Cottage facility, despite opposition from nearby residents and several homeowners associations.

The measure passed on a 6-1-1 vote. Council President John DeLucia abstained, Cecilia Coble voted no, and Councilor Tiffany Ditlevson was absent.

Coble said she understands the need for memory care services, noting that close family members have required such care. However, she said her vote was based on safety concerns, specifically the grading of Brooks School Road at the proposed location, which she said has already contributed to traffic accidents.

The Memory Story Cottage will be a 7,500-square-foot facility housing no more than 12 residents at any given time. The residents will be individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related illnesses. Staffing levels are expected to range from two to three caregivers on site.

At the Plan Commission public hearing earlier this month, a handful of speakers supported the project, but most voiced opposition. The Plan Commission, which serves in an advisory capacity, declined to make a recommendation to the Council.

In other business Monday:

— The Fishers Health Department will begin offering sports physical exams for a $25 fee.

— The maximum hourly wage for part-time Health Department employees was set at $60.

— A proposal to modify land use at the IKEA site received first reading and will move to the Plan Commission for a public hearing in March.

— An update to the city’s thoroughfare plan also received first reading and will advance to the Plan Commission for a March public hearing.

— The Hamilton Southeastern High School We the People team was honored for winning the state championship and will advance to national finals. Coach Janet Chandler was recognized for her upcoming retirement, marking her final year leading the team.

— The city also recognized employees from several departments for years of service:

35 years
Anthony Holland
Jim Alderman
Greg Scheele
Stephen White

25 years
Michael Zajdel

20 years
Michael Hamilton
Robert Hackett
Jeffrey Stephenson
Thomas Brooks
Melissa Crowe

An in-depth report by Indianapolis Star reporter Jake Allen takes a close look at the Republican primary race for Hamilton County sheriff — a contest that is likely to decide the county’s next top law enforcement officer.

No Democrat or third-party candidate has filed for the office, meaning the May primary will almost certainly determine who becomes sheriff.

Allen reports that two prominent figures in Indiana law enforcement have aligned themselves on opposite sides of the race.

Current Sheriff Dennis Quakenbush has endorsed his chief deputy, John Lowes, positioning him as the candidate to continue the current administration’s leadership.

Meanwhile, former Hamilton County Sheriff and former Indiana State Police Superintendent Doug Carter is backing challenger Dustin Dixon.

Dixon has also secured several other high-profile endorsements. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen have both announced their support, along with former Hamilton County judge and County Prosecutor Steve Nation. In addition, the Hamilton County Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Dixon.

Both Lowes and Dixon bring extensive experience within the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Each has spent years serving in the department and points to that background as qualification to lead one of Indiana’s fastest-growing counties.

With no opposition expected in November, Allen’s reporting underscores the significance of the Republican primary, which now stands as the decisive election in determining Hamilton County’s next sheriff.

You can read Jake Allen’s story at this link.  (Note:  You will need an IndyStar online subscription to access this article.  As I have stated many times, subscribe to your local media!  If you do not, it will go eventually go away.)

I programmed music for radio stations in the 1970s, but once you get past about 1978, my knowledge of popular music becomes a bit thin. That’s why I was surprised when the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation asked me to cover its annual fundraising event Friday night with a reviewer’s pass.

The featured acts were Gin Blossoms and Blues Traveler, bands that reached peak popularity in the 1990s. It makes perfect sense that the foundation would book artists from that era. Many parents with children currently in school came of age during that time and remain loyal fans of that music.

My reviewer’s pass provided an excellent vantage point from the stands, offering a clear view of the stage and the performance. But the foundation’s annual fundraiser is about much more than the concert itself.

It is one of a handful of events each year in Fishers that brings together many of the city’s political, business and civic leaders. From my perch above the floor of the event center, I had a bird’s-eye view of the activity below — tables filled with guests, food and conversation before the show, a silent auction underway, and many of the community’s movers and shakers greeting one another.

As for the music, I will readily admit it is not from my era of expertise. But the packed house needed no introduction. The audience clearly loved every minute of both performances. While I may not be qualified to critique the set lists or guitar riffs, I can confidently report that the crowd thoroughly enjoyed what they heard — and that is review enough.

I also had the opportunity to visit with the couple seated next to me, learning about their family and their close-knit neighborhood. They, too, were clearly having a wonderful evening.

The concert, combined with the silent auction, raised significant funds for the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation, which supports teachers, classrooms and students in Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

That, in the end, is the true measure of success for Friday night’s event.