Welcome to my second episode of the Fridays With Larry podcast. This week, I review some news of the past week and have a conversation with one of the owners for the new Fishers restaurant, Vicious Biscuit.
My podcasts are sponsored by Citizens State Bank.
Links to the video and audio versions of the podcast are here and below.
Fishers residents are being urged to prepare for a dangerous stretch of winter weather as the National Weather Service has issued both a Cold Weather Advisory and a Winter Storm Warning covering much of Indiana, including Hamilton County.
The Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday, with wind chills expected to drop as low as 20 degrees below zero. Forecasters warn that these dangerously cold conditions could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Prolonged exposure to the cold could also lead to hypothermia.
Residents are advised to limit time outdoors and dress appropriately when outside, including wearing hats, gloves and layered clothing. The National Weather Service also recommends keeping pets indoors as much as possible and checking frequently on older family members, friends and neighbors. Officials caution residents to use space heaters safely and to never use generators or grills indoors.
In addition to the bitter cold, a Winter Storm Warning has been issued from 7 p.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday. The storm is expected to bring heavy snow, with total accumulations between 5 and 7 inches across central Indiana.
The heaviest snowfall is forecast to occur late Saturday night through early Sunday afternoon. During that time, travel conditions could become very difficult, especially on untreated roads. Reduced visibility and snow-covered roadways are expected to impact travel throughout Fishers and the surrounding area.
Residents who must travel during the storm are encouraged to take extra precautions, including keeping an emergency kit in their vehicle with items such as a flashlight, food and water. Motorists can check the latest road conditions by calling 511.
City officials and emergency responders are reminding residents to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storm, and stay informed as weather conditions may change.
Updated forecasts and additional advisories are expected as the storm approaches. Residents are encouraged to monitor local weather updates and official communications throughout the weekend.
Indiana House lawmakers are partnering with the Indiana Diaper Bank to collect diapers and diapering supplies for Hoosier families as part of the House’s 2026 philanthropy initiative.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers), who represents part of Fishers, joined House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) in announcing the collection drive, which will run through the end of the 2026 legislative session in February.
The Indiana Diaper Bank works to ensure families across the state have access to essential diapering supplies. The nonprofit partners with 70 distribution organizations statewide and, since 2017, has distributed nearly 19.8 million diapers to more than 294,000 babies.
“We’re proud to partner with the Indiana Diaper Bank this session to support the vital work they do for Hoosier families,” Huston said. “The cost of raising a child adds up quickly, and no baby should ever go without clean diapers.”
The House will accept donations of new or opened packages of diapers in all sizes, pull-ups, wipes, diaper cream and clean cloth diapers. Donation bins are located near the House Chamber entrance and in the fourth-floor South Atrium at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
GiaQuinta said the organization provides crucial support for families facing financial strain. “It’s expensive and stressful to be a new parent, and the Indiana Diaper Bank helps Hoosier parents keep their heads above water,” he said.
In addition to physical donations, the House is also accepting monetary contributions to benefit the Indiana Diaper Bank.
Ashley Burns, president and CEO of the Indiana Diaper Bank, said diaper need affects one in two Indiana families. “When babies have access to clean diapers, they are healthier, parents are better able to work and families are more stable,” Burns said.
More information about the Indiana Diaper Bank using this link.
The City of Fishers is asking residents to share their thoughts on quality of life and city services through the 2026 Fishers Community Survey, now open to adults age 18 and older.
City officials say the survey is designed to gather feedback on a broad range of topics that affect daily life in Fishers. Questions focus on overall quality of life, neighborhood experiences, public safety, transportation, growth and development, parks and recreation, and community amenities.
Residents are also asked to evaluate specific city services, including streets and sidewalks, utilities, snow removal, recycling, public safety, parks and facilities, public information, and customer service.
“Resident feedback is essential to how we plan, invest, and deliver services,” Mayor Scott Fadness said in a statement. “This survey allows residents to tell us what’s working well, where improvements are needed, and what matters most to them in their daily lives.”
According to the city, results from the survey will be used to help guide future planning efforts, identify priorities for service improvements, and inform investment decisions across city departments.
The survey is being conducted by Polco, an independent research and benchmarking firm that works with local governments nationwide. City officials emphasized that all responses are confidential and that no identifying information will be shared.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and will remain open through Feb. 24. Some residents may receive an invitation to participate via text message from Polco. The survey is also available online at this link.
City leaders encourage residents to participate to ensure community input is reflected in future decisions and initiatives.
Creative Valentine’s Day experiences are on tap this February at the Indy Art Center in Broad Ripple and the Fishers Art Center, offering hands-on activities for couples, friends, families — or anyone looking to try something new.
Both locations will host Valentine-themed “Date Night Make It Take It” classes on Feb. 6, 7, 13 and 14. These two-hour sessions are designed for couples and friends to create a finished art project in a relaxed, guided setting. Classes span a variety of studios, including jewelry, welding, clay and glass.
Valentine-inspired projects include heart-shaped fused glass pendants, hand-printed Valentines, a Robert Indiana “LOVE” screen print, felted heart potholders, glass hearts, welded candle holders and even mobile phone portrait photography.
Families with younger children can also take advantage of special Valentine programming. At the Broad Ripple location only, the Indy Art Center will offer Valentine Art Parties for kids while adults attend Date Night classes. Parties are available for children ages 4–5 and 6–10 and include art activities led by professional artist educators, games, a snack and a handmade keepsake to take home.
Beyond Valentine’s Day, Make It Take It classes are offered year-round at both art centers. These sessions allow participants to sample a new art medium without committing to a long-term class. The programs are open to individuals, groups, friends and families, and gift cards are available.
Date Night Make It Take It classes and Valentine Art Parties take place Feb. 6, 7, 13 and 14. Regular Make It Take It classes are offered throughout the year.
In Fishers, classes are held at the Fishers Art Center, located inside the Fishers Arts & Municipal Complex at 1 Municipal Drive. Registration is available at fishersartcenter.org/miti/.
Classes are also available at the Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St. in Indianapolis, with registration at indyartcenter.org/miti/.
Class costs vary depending on the project and materials.
When the City of Fishers implemented an ordinance limiting rental homes to 10 percent of residences within a neighborhood—while allowing for certain exemptions and grandfathering provisions—it also required rental properties to be registered with the city.
Community Development and Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the Fishers City Council Tuesday night that compliance with the registration requirement has been high. Only 137 homes citywide are suspected of being unregistered, meaning approximately 95 percent of rental homes have registered as required.
With the registration period largely complete, the city will now begin enforcing the ordinance.
The Council also approved a change in the administrative oversight of the program, shifting responsibility from the Planning and Zoning Department to Community and Economic Development.
Other items before the Council Tuesday night included:
• Fishers approved an interlocal agreement with Hamilton County allowing work to begin on a planned roundabout at 131st Street and Brooks School Road. A portion of the necessary right-of-way for the project is county-owned, requiring the formal agreement.
• Rising personnel costs prompted changes to the city’s fee schedule for police video requests. Under the new rates, Fishers Police Department review will cost 64 cents per minute, while attorney review will be billed at 94 cents per minute per video.
• Councilors approved amendments to the residential parking permit ordinance aimed at improving the city’s ability to enforce the regulation in the future.
• A $1 million transfer from the utility fund to the stormwater fund was approved to support an economic development agreement with INCOG. The city is offering incentives for the company to expand its workforce from about 400 employees to roughly 1,000 by 2030. The funding will allow INCOG to expand its parking lot to accommodate additional staff.
• A revised proposal for the Story Cottage Memory Care facility was introduced on first reading. The project, proposed for 10990 Brooks School Road, was withdrawn and reworked before returning to the Council. Only one Council vote is required to advance the proposal to the Fishers Plan Commission, which is expected to consider the project and hold a public hearing on February 4. The City Council is scheduled to take final action on February 23. During public comment, nearby residents said they continue to oppose the memory care facility, even with the proposed changes, citing concerns about its proximity to their homes.
The Fishers City Council on Tuesday night discussed legislation moving through the Indiana Statehouse that could significantly affect how cities make decisions in the future.
Councilor Brad DeReamer highlighted two bills currently under consideration by state lawmakers that he said raise concerns for local governments.
The first, House Bill 1152, would require homeowners associations to have a quorum of residents present at any meeting where an annual budget increase is approved. DeReamer said many HOAs already struggle to get enough residents to attend meetings, and the requirement could result in underfunded neighborhoods and neglected basic maintenance.
DeReamer also focused on House Bill 1001, which legislative leaders have described as an effort to improve housing affordability. He expressed concern that the bill could limit the ability of local governments to make zoning and land-use decisions.
Mayor Scott Fadness told council members he was at the Statehouse earlier Tuesday meeting with the bill’s author, Rep. Doug Miller of Elkhart, and described the conversation as productive.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that we can get to a place that doesn’t strip you guys of your authority to make decisions on behalf of our residents and what kind of community they want to live in and grow,” Fadness told council members.
Fadness said several provisions in House Bill 1001, as currently written, could impede a city’s ability to charge impact fees, establish design standards, and regulate development density. While the bill includes an opt-out provision allowing some cities to avoid certain requirements, Fadness said he is concerned lawmakers could remove that option in a future legislative session.
With the General Assembly’s short session expected to conclude before the City Council meets again, Fadness said he will draft a letter on behalf of the council outlining its concerns. Individual council members may choose to sign the letter if they wish.
The Fishers Police Department is providing new details in the ongoing search for 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, whose case was recently upgraded to an endangered missing juvenile investigation.
In an update released Tuesday, police said they have received and investigated numerous tips from the public with the assistance of state and federal law enforcement partners. Authorities thanked the community for continuing to share Hailey’s information and for reporting credible leads, noting that public involvement has been critical to the investigation.
Because the case remains active, police said many details cannot be released in order to protect Hailey. However, investigators confirmed that Hailey left her home willingly sometime during the night of January 5 or the early morning hours of January 6 and initially was classified as a runaway.
Police now believe Hailey did not act alone and left with a plan. Based on investigative findings that have not been made public, her case has since been elevated to endangered missing juvenile status, indicating heightened concern for her safety.
Anyone who sees Hailey or has information that could help locate her is urged to call 911 immediately or contact the Fishers Police Department non-emergency line at 317-773-1282.
Police emphasized that continued sharing of Hailey’s information and reporting of relevant tips could help bring her home safely.
Chase Rice will headline the 17th annual Evening of Inspiration: Chasing A Cure, a concert benefiting Huntington’s disease research, on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center. Indiana native Clayton Anderson will join Rice as a special guest for the event.
Presented by the Bev Hartig Huntington’s Disease Foundation, the annual concert and gala raises funds to support research aimed at finding a cure for Huntington’s disease, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. Since its founding, the nonprofit has donated more than $3.6 million toward Huntington’s research.
Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday, January 23, at 10 a.m. and will be available through FishersEventCenter.com.
“This event reminds us what is possible when hope, music and purpose meet,” said Lisa Rump, gala committee co-chair for the foundation. “Together, we are not just raising funds—we are fueling real progress, honoring families affected and moving one step closer to the future Bev dreamed of.”
Rice is a multi-platinum country music artist with a career spanning more than 15 years. He first gained widespread recognition as a songwriter on the Diamond-certified hit “Cruise” before launching a successful solo career that includes multiple No. 1 singles such as “Eyes On You” and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” Rice has sold out tours worldwide and shared stadium stages with artists including Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. His most recent album, ELDORA, reflects a more stripped-down, independent approach to songwriting inspired by the American West.
Anderson, a Southern Indiana native, has built a national following rooted in Midwest sensibilities. He won Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star competition in 2008 and has since released several albums while touring with major country acts including Eric Church, Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean. His music has also been featured in national campaigns and sports broadcasts on ESPN and through partnerships with brands such as Ford.
The Bev Hartig Huntington’s Disease Foundation was established in 2011 and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Inspired by the late Bev Hartig, who was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, the foundation focuses on education, funding innovative research and maintaining awareness that a cure is achievable. Its flagship Evening of Inspiration event has grown into one of the organization’s most significant annual fundraisers.
More information about the foundation and its mission is available at bevhartighuntingtonsdisease.com.
Indiana University’s climb from one of the most historically challenged programs in college football to a national championship is the kind of story that feels almost too improbable to be real. It is a journey worthy of a Hollywood script, and someday, it just might become one.
There are countless angles to explore in IU’s remarkable rise, but I want to focus on just one part of the story: Don Fischer.
Don Fischer and I both worked at Network Indiana Radio in early 1983. I was in the newsroom, while Don’s office was on the sports side of the building, so our paths didn’t cross often in those days. Still, even then, his reputation as a dedicated professional was well known.
I next spent meaningful time with Don in the late 1980s at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Each May, I took a working vacation to cover practice and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. We would talk along the pit wall, catching up and reconnecting with many of the people we had both known during our time at Network Indiana. What stood out then, as it does now, is that Don Fischer is first and foremost a kind and considerate man.
That is why it was especially gratifying to see ESPN give Don a well-deserved shoutout during the national championship game, even replaying his call of the interception that sealed IU’s historic victory. After calling multiple national championship games for IU basketball, delivering that moment for the football program had to be especially meaningful.
Fischer has been the voice of IU football and basketball for 53 years. Very few broadcasters spend that long in one place, and even fewer do it at such a consistently high level. At 78 years old, Don Fischer is still at the top of his game. I called high school and college sports on radio in the 1970s, and at 74, I know I could not perform at the same level today as I once did. Yet Don continues to do the job with the same precision, passion, and professionalism he has shown since 1974.
So, Don, congratulations. I suspect that once the glow of this national championship fades, your thoughts will not linger on what has been accomplished. Instead, you’ll be focused on preparing for the next IU basketball broadcast.
That, after all, is the Don Fischer I know.