A long-standing principle in American politics—that government works best when decisions are made closest to the people—is taking on new meaning in Indiana.

In this week’s Fridays With Larry podcast, we examine how that idea of “local control,” once a cornerstone of conservative philosophy, appears to be shifting. Lawmakers in the Indiana General Assembly have increasingly stepped in to override decisions made by local governments, raising questions about whether the balance of power is changing—and what that could mean for communities across the state.

The episode also features a conversation with Amie Drudge of the BE Foundation, a group formed in the wake of tragedy that is now making a meaningful impact in the Fishers community through its outreach and support efforts.

And in a lighter final note, we take a look at new data showing golf’s continued rise in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic—an example of how lifestyle trends continue to evolve even years after the height of the public health crisis.

It’s a thoughtful mix of policy, perspective, and community storytelling in the latest edition of Fridays With Larry.

Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

The video version is available at this link.  If you just want to listen, use this link, or a link below.

Conner Prairie is set to open a newly reimagined Museum Experience Center (MEC) next month, introducing an expanded, year-round destination designed to deepen how visitors engage with history, science and the arts.

The two-floor facility, built as a transformation of the museum’s Welcome Center, is aimed at broadening access to interactive learning while providing visitors with a deeper foundation before they explore the outdoor living history areas.

Museum officials say the new center reflects a shift toward more inclusive storytelling and hands-on educational experiences. As Indiana’s first Smithsonian Affiliate, Conner Prairie is emphasizing innovation and accessibility as part of the redesign.

“This is more than a renovation — it is a reimagination of how we welcome our community,” said Norman Burns, president and CEO of Conner Prairie. “The Museum Experience Center will set the tone for a visit that is curious, reflective, and inspiring.”

Six interactive experience areas

The reimagined MEC will feature six signature spaces designed to engage visitors of all ages:

• Power of Place – An immersive look at how land and environment shape identity and community over time.
• Wellspring – A combined art installation and playscape created with artist Wes Bruce and The Curious Life.
• TORN: A Family Portrait – An exhibit exploring family, resilience and the history of the Lenape people and Conner families.
• Spark!Lab – A Smithsonian-developed innovation space focused on invention and hands-on learning.
• Caring for Collections – A behind-the-scenes look at preserving more than 20,000 historical artifacts.
• Traveling Exhibit Gallery – A rotating space for national and regional exhibitions.

Together, the spaces are designed to serve as a central hub that prepares visitors for the museum’s outdoor experiences while offering meaningful engagement indoors throughout the year.

Part of $44 million campaign

The project is part of Conner Prairie’s Prairie Pathways Campaign, a $44 million initiative funded through private philanthropy. The campaign also supports development of the Trails at Conner Prairie and the Promised Land as Proving Ground project.

In addition to new exhibits, the MEC emphasizes accessibility, with features including elevators, wheelchair and stroller access, a sensory room, sensory kits and designated sensory-friendly hours.

Visitors will also find new amenities, including the Harvest Café and the Ricker Prairie Overlook, offering indoor gathering space with views of the historic grounds.

Opening dates

The Museum Experience Center will open to the public on Friday, April 3, 2026. Members will get early access during preview days March 31 through April 2.

Museum leaders say the new facility is designed to expand Conner Prairie’s reach, making it a destination for learning, reflection and community connection in every season.

The Fishers Freight are ranked No. 4 in the Indoor Football League (IFL) Coaches Poll following the league’s first two weeks of play.

Fishers entered the week ranked No. 2 but dropped two spots after a road loss to the Green Bay Blizzard last weekend.

Despite the loss, Freight coaches around the league appeared to weigh several factors in their evaluation. Fishers was facing the defending conference champions on the road and showed resilience after falling into a significant first-half deficit. The Freight mounted a strong second-half comeback, with the outcome not decided until the game’s final seconds.

Meanwhile, Freight head coach Dixie Wooten has launched a new weekly video series, “Coach’s Corner,” alongside the team’s radio play-by-play announcer Andrew Smith.

In the first installment, Wooten and Smith break down the team’s first two games and discuss how the coaching staff and players are approaching this week’s bye.

As community banks across the country navigate a rapidly evolving financial landscape, one Central Indiana institution offers a compelling example of how local roots and modern strategy can coexist.

Founded in 1873 and still serving Hoosiers more than 150 years later, Citizens State Bank has built its reputation on a simple but increasingly rare model: combining relationship-based service with the tools and capabilities customers expect in today’s digital banking world.

In this podcast episode, I sit down with the bank’s Chief Lending Officer, John DeLucia, to explore how a regional bank competes in an industry dominated by national and global financial institutions. From lending decisions made close to home to the advantages—and challenges—of staying community-focused, DeLucia provides insight into what sets a local bank apart in an era where many customers feel like just another number.

DeLucia also brings a unique dual perspective to the conversation. In addition to his role at the bank, he serves as president of the Fishers City Council, offering a front-row view of the economic growth and development shaping one of Indiana’s fastest-growing communities. That intersection of public service and private-sector banking adds another layer to the discussion about how financial institutions can support local businesses and residents alike.

As disclosed at the outset of the podcast, Citizens State Bank became a sponsor of this series in 2026. However, this conversation focuses squarely on the broader question facing community banks today: how to remain competitive, relevant, and rooted in the communities they serve.

Listen to the podcast at this link or the link below.

Graeter’s Ice Cream is expanding its footprint in Fishers with the opening of a second location, giving local residents another spot to enjoy the Cincinnati-based brand’s signature treats.

The company, which has operated a shop in Fishers Market Place just east of State Road 37 on East 131st Street for several years, officially opened its newest store at 8699 East 106th Street Wednesday. Members of the Graeter’s Ice Cream family were on hand to mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Chip Graeter told LarryInFishers the company was drawn to the new site for several reasons, including its proximity to the Fishers Event Center, surrounding commercial activity and nearby residential neighborhoods.

Founded in 1870, Graeter’s remains a fourth-generation, family-owned business headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to its well-known ice cream, the shop offers a variety of baked goods, pastries and gourmet chocolates.

The new location is expected to serve both event-goers and area residents, further establishing Graeter’s presence in Fishers.

I had a political theory professor in college who was a strong admirer of Roger Fisher, the Harvard academic who co-authored the landmark book Getting to Yes.

I often find myself wishing more people in government today subscribed to Fisher’s approach. It might lead to more productive talks between the United States and Iran.

Fisher spent his career teaching that successful negotiations are not about winning arguments, but about solving problems. By that standard, what’s happening now between Washington and Tehran is not yet true negotiation. It is something closer to a carefully choreographed standoff.

At the heart of Fisher’s philosophy is a simple but often ignored principle: focus on interests, not positions.

Today, both sides appear locked into rigid positions. The United States continues to press for sweeping limits on Iran’s nuclear program, along with broader constraints on its missile capabilities and regional influence. Iran, meanwhile, is demanding sanctions relief and recognition of its sovereignty before making significant concessions.

Fisher would argue those are surface-level demands. Beneath them lie deeper interests. For the United States, the core concern is preventing a nuclear-armed adversary and maintaining stability in the Middle East. For Iran, the priority is regime survival, economic recovery and maintaining a level of deterrence against its adversaries.

Until those underlying interests are addressed directly, progress will remain elusive.

Just as important in Fisher’s framework is the need to “separate the people from the problem.” That, too, appears to be breaking down. The current talks—often indirect, sometimes publicly denied and conducted through intermediaries—reflect a profound lack of trust. Public rhetoric on both sides only reinforces that divide, making it harder to build the kind of working relationship meaningful negotiation requires.

Another key concept Fisher introduced is the idea of a “BATNA,” or Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. In simple terms, it’s what each side believes it can achieve if talks fail.

Right now, both Washington and Tehran appear to believe their alternatives are strong. The U.S. continues to rely on economic pressure and the implicit threat of military force. Iran, for its part, seems willing to endure sanctions while leveraging its regional influence and waiting for political winds to shift.

That dynamic is a recipe for stalemate. Negotiations rarely succeed when both sides believe they have better options outside the room.

There is also little evidence, at least for now, of what negotiators call a “zone of possible agreement”—the overlap where a deal becomes feasible. The gap between what each side is demanding remains wide, particularly over whether talks should be limited to nuclear issues or expanded to include missiles and regional activities.

So what would Fisher recommend?

First, reframing the problem—not as a contest of demands, but as a shared challenge: how to provide security for both sides without escalating conflict.

Second, a step-by-step approach built on reciprocity. Small, verifiable actions—matched by corresponding concessions—can gradually build trust where none currently exists.

Third, the use of objective standards, such as international inspections and clearly defined benchmarks, to move discussions away from politics and toward measurable outcomes.

Finally, and perhaps most difficult, reducing the kind of public posturing that often undermines private diplomacy. Negotiations conducted for domestic audiences rarely produce lasting agreements.

From Fisher’s perspective, the current U.S.–Iran “dance” is not unusual. It is what happens when mistrust is high, stakes are enormous and both sides are reluctant to appear weak.

But it also carries a warning.

Until the focus shifts from positions to problem-solving, what looks like negotiation will remain something else entirely—a prolonged and potentially dangerous stalemate.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board will wait at least a few more weeks before taking action on a proposed policy governing board members’ access to district meetings held outside regular sessions.

At a Wednesday morning meeting of the board’s Policy Committee, interim Superintendent Matt Kegley said written guidance from the Indiana Public Access Counselor has not yet been received by the district’s legal counsel, Barnes & Thornburg. That guidance is considered key to resolving outstanding legal questions tied to the proposal.

As a result, a board decision on the policy—originally expected in April—will now be delayed until at least May.

The issue centers on whether allowing the board president to appoint individual board members to attend certain district meetings, including collective bargaining sessions, could create legal concerns under Indiana’s Open Door Law. Specifically, attorneys are seeking clarification on whether the presence of appointed board members could effectively turn those meetings into official public gatherings, potentially requiring they be open to the public.

The policy proposal has drawn interest from the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, which has expressed support for the Policy Committee’s recommended language. However, the union continues to oppose holding contract bargaining sessions in public, noting that such negotiations are typically conducted privately under state law.

The school board previously delayed action on the policy while awaiting direction from the Public Access Counselor. Without that written opinion in hand, district officials say the board will continue to hold off on any final decision.

In the meantime, the proposed policy would allow board members to attend certain district meetings as silent observers, with the ability to take notes and share information with fellow board members only in ways permitted by state law.

Until formal guidance is received, the timeline for final action remains uncertain, but board members now expect the issue will not return for a vote before May at the earliest.

The long-awaited widening of Cumberland Road between 106th and 116th streets is now expected to move forward with bidding later this year and construction beginning in 2027.

That update was presented Tuesday morning to the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety by city Engineering Director Hatem Mekky.

The timeline update came as the board approved a $237,000 utility reimbursement agreement with Duke Energy, part of ongoing utility relocation work along the corridor.

City officials say those utility relocations remain the primary factor delaying the project.

Utilities at the Center of Delays

Before construction can begin, a complex network of underground and overhead utilities must be moved. That includes water and sewer lines, natural gas pipelines, electric infrastructure and fiber optic cables—often owned by multiple companies operating independently.

Because each provider must coordinate work within the same corridor, the process can be slow and difficult to sequence. In many cases, one utility cannot proceed until another has completed its work, creating a cascading effect that extends timelines.

As a result, the project remains dependent on the completion of this preliminary work before any major road construction can begin.

More Than a Road Widening

The Cumberland Road project is more extensive than a typical resurfacing effort. Plans call for expanding the current two-lane roadway into a wider, higher-capacity corridor to accommodate increased traffic driven by Fishers’ continued growth.

The project also includes replacing the aging bridge over Sand Creek, along with significant drainage improvements and safety upgrades.

In addition to its scope, the project requires coordination among local, county and federal partners, with funding expected from a combination of those sources.

Key Corridor for Growing City

Cumberland Road serves as an important north-south route in Fishers, providing an alternative to heavily traveled corridors such as Allisonville Road and Interstate 69.

With traffic volumes increasing, city officials have identified the corridor as a priority for long-term infrastructure improvements aimed at reducing congestion and enhancing safety.

Waiting on the Next Step

While the project is now expected to be bid later this year, construction will not begin until utility relocations are complete—pushing the start date into 2027.

Until then, the largely unseen, and sometimes seen, work happening below and alongside the roadway will continue to dictate the pace of one of Fishers’ more significant upcoming infrastructure projects.