Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board President Juanita Albright has announced she will seek the Republican nomination for Indiana Senate District 31, a seat currently held by Sen. Kyle Walker. Walker said Tuesday he will not run for another term, opening the race for the 2026 election cycle.

Albright, a Republican and longtime Fishers resident, becomes the first announced GOP candidate in the district. The Republican primary is scheduled for May 5, 2026.

In her announcement, Albright said her campaign will focus on lowering inflation and the cost of living, promoting fiscal responsibility, advocating for quality education, and supporting public safety.

“My life has been defined by service over self, and that is why I became a doctor, ran for the HSE School Board, and it is why I am now running for the Indiana Senate,” Albright said. “I have received an outpouring of support and encouragement already from people all over the district.”

Albright is currently in the middle of her first term on the HSE School Board, where she serves as president. The district has recently been navigating a contentious contract dispute with the teachers union, an issue that has drawn significant community attention.

A native of rural Indiana, Albright said she was inspired in middle school to pursue a medical career despite limited expectations for higher education in her community. She has practiced medicine in Fishers for more than 20 years. Her husband, Eric, is a pediatric pathologist, and the couple’s three children are graduates of Fishers High School and now attend Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan University.

Additional candidates may still enter the race. The winner of the 2026 Republican primary will advance to the general election in November.

The Fishers Health Department is introducing a new “Aging Well” series, offering free workshops aimed at helping older adults—and those who support them—live healthy, active, and connected lives.

The series features practical, educational sessions on topics ranging from brain health and fall prevention to nutrition and cybersecurity. All programs are open to the public and presented in partnership with local organizations.

Upcoming sessions include:

• 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
Hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1–2 p.m.
Fishers Community Center, 11400 Johnson Farm Way
Participants will learn how to recognize common signs of Alzheimer’s and the importance of early detection.

• Talk Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention Training
Friday, Dec. 19, 12–1:30 p.m.
Virtual
This online training introduces participants to the basics of suicide prevention, including risk factors, warning signs, and ways to help.

• Healthy Eating on a Budget
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1–2 p.m.
Fishers Community Center
This session offers practical tips for maintaining a nutritious diet without overspending.

• Library 101
Presented in partnership with Hamilton East Public Library
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1–2:30 p.m.
Fishers Community Center
Attendees will get an introduction to available library resources, services, and programs designed to support lifelong learning.

The Aging Well series is free, but registration is required for each workshop.

For more information or to register, visit the Fishers Health Department’s website at this link.

The holiday season is set to begin in Fishers with a full slate of festive events organized by Fishers Parks, starting with the city’s annual tree lighting and continuing with a week of hands-on activities, performances, and family fun.

Tree Lighting & Holiday Kickoff – Friday, Dec. 5
The celebration begins Friday, Dec. 5, with Night Lights: Holiday Kickoff Celebration at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. The free event runs from 5 to 7 p.m., with the official tree lighting at 6:30 p.m.

The evening includes live music, fire pits, igloos, live ice carving, reindeer, animals, food trucks, photo opportunities, and holiday light displays throughout downtown Fishers. Santa and Mayor Scott Fadness will arrive by fire truck for the 6:30 p.m. lighting ceremony. No registration is required.

DIY Wrapping Paper – Tuesday, Dec. 9
Families can add an artistic touch to their holidays by creating custom wrapping paper at Jingle Bell Junction from 5 to 8 p.m. Fishers Parks will provide supplies for both freehand designs and wood-block printing. The drop-in event is free and features live acoustic music.

Santa’s Workshop – Wednesday, Dec. 10
Jingle Bell Junction turns into a holiday makerspace from 5 to 8 p.m. as the Maker Playground team leads visitors through simple woodshop projects suitable for all ages. Guests are encouraged to wear festive pajamas and enjoy holiday movie shorts, popcorn, and hot cocoa. Free and open to all.

Reindeer Games Night – Thursday, Dec. 11
A full evening of holiday bingo, music bingo, and karaoke runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at Jingle Bell Junction. A live DJ and emcee will lead the festivities, and prizes will be awarded throughout the night. Beer, wine, and spiced cider will be available for purchase from Mashcraft Brewing. Ugly holiday attire is encouraged.

Schedule:
• 6–7 p.m.: Standard Bingo
• 7:15–8:30 p.m.: Holiday Music Bingo
• 8:45–10 p.m.: Christmas Karaoke

Fishers Parks is also partnering with Heartland Film Festival for a 7 p.m. showing of It’s A Wonderful Life inside the Fishers City Hall Theater.

Community Jazz Improv & Lounge – Friday, Dec. 12
A special jazz-focused evening runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at Jingle Bell Junction. Musicians of all ages and skill levels are invited to join a 120-minute live improv session with the house band. Afterward, the venue will transition into a Jazz Lounge with a professional performance from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. Free admission.

Cookies with Characters – Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 13–14
The annual Cookies with Characters event returns to Jingle Bell Junction with two themed sessions. The Saturday event (5–8 p.m.) features a Whoville theme with classic holiday characters. On Sunday (11 a.m.–2 p.m.), families can meet Bluey and Bingo from Australia’s beloved Heeler family.

Both sessions include cookie decorating, games, and activities. Registration is required, and tickets are $10 per person ($15 for nonresidents).

The Fishers Plan Commission voted 6–1 Wednesday sending a favorable recommendation to the City Council for a proposed rezoning that would allow construction of a memory care facility at 10982 and 10990 Brooks School Road.

The project, known as Story Cottage, calls for a 7,500-square-foot residential-style memory care home on a parcel adjacent to the Breakwater subdivision.

During a public hearing, the president of the Breakwater Homeowners Association and four additional speakers urged the commission to reject the rezoning. They argued the use is not appropriate for the location, is incompatible with surrounding homes, and would add to traffic. One real estate developer cited an example from Arizona, saying a zoning decision there dramatically changed one of his properties after the city approved an affordable housing complex. Another speaker described the Story Cottage proposal as a “crazy idea.”

Commission member Kim Logan cast the lone dissenting vote, saying she agreed with many of the concerns raised by the remonstrators.

Fishers City Council President—and Plan Commission member—Pete Peterson expressed strong support for the facility, as did Council Member Selina Stoller, who also serves on the commission.

The Plan Commission’s action is advisory. The final decision on the rezoning will be made by the Fishers City Council.

State Sen. Kyle Walker, who represents Fishers and portions of northern Indianapolis, announced Tuesday he will not seek another term in the Indiana General Assembly.

Walker, a Republican first elected in 2020, informed constituents in an email that he will serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in November 2026, but plans to “start a new chapter” in his professional career.

“Serving the people of Senate District 31 has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Walker wrote. “But I will not seek reelection in 2026.”

In his message, Walker highlighted several legislative efforts he has championed during his six years in office. Among the initiatives he cited as most impactful for Fishers was his work to change the state’s local income tax distribution formula, which he said ensured the city receives a more equitable share of revenue. He also pointed to securing funding for the Internet of Things (IoT) lab in Fishers and helping create a professional sports development area to encourage private investment and new entertainment amenities.

Walker also referenced statewide economic development initiatives, including authoring the Sports and Tourism Bid Fund to help Indiana communities attract major events.

Public safety was another area of focus. Walker noted his role in creating the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to improve firearm tracing and information sharing among agencies. He also pushed for laws enhancing communication between law enforcement agencies, improving emergency dispatch systems, and increasing penalties for swatting.

Walker emphasized his work supporting foster youth, including legislation providing tax credits for foster care organizations and helping young people access bank accounts and car insurance. He said he plans to continue working on a foster youth bill of rights during the upcoming 2026 session.

Other legislative efforts he highlighted included modernizing charitable gaming rules for veterans and fraternal organizations and lifting restrictions on restaurant “happy hour” specials.

Walker said he wanted to announce his plans now, ahead of the February candidate filing deadline, to give potential candidates time to consider a run for the seat.

“What I will miss most are the people,” he wrote, mentioning community meetings, school visits, and conversations with residents throughout the district. “Hoosiers are thoughtful, engaged, and deeply committed to their communities.”

Walker said he remains committed to serving with “the same focus and energy” for the remainder of his term.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District continues to move forward with its 10-year facilities and grounds plan, as the school board’s finance committee recently reviewed an estimated $40 million in proposed spending for 2026.

Director of Facilities and Maintenance Matt Rapp outlined several major projects, including the replacement of the HSE High School varsity gym floor, priced at $350,000. The new floor is expected to last about 60 years, needing only a sanding roughly every decade.

Two tennis court replacements are also planned. The project at Fishers High School carries a $3 million price tag, while the courts at Fishers Junior High are scheduled for a $1.25 million overhaul.

Rapp also reported that a major generator at Fishers Junior High has “given out” and will be replaced for $700,000. At Brook School Elementary, a more energy-efficient boiler will be installed at a cost of $250,000.

These items represent a portion of the district’s planned work for 2026.  Review the full listing of work in the 10-year plan for 2026 at this link.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told committee members that two general obligation  bonds will be issued next year to fund the full $40 million in projects—below the $42 million HSE invested in 2025 as part of its 10-year capital plan.

In other business, Brown noted that the district slightly overestimated its student enrollment projections, resulting in $252,000 less in state funding for November than anticipated.

As the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) prepare to resume contract negotiations with a state-appointed mediator, the teachers union is signaling that a tentative agreement may be possible.

In a post to teachers on social media following Thanksgiving break, HSEA encouraged members to be ready for a potential vote soon. “Prepare to participate in building-level ratification on December 18th. Details are on the way,” the message read.

The notice raises the question of whether union leaders expect a tentative contract to be ready by the state’s mid-December mediation deadline. HSEA President Tyler Zerbe indicated that is the goal.

“It is HSEA’s utmost intention to have a contract that our teachers will ratify after mediation,” Zerbe said in an email to LarryInFishers.

Formal mediation sessions between the district and union are expected to begin in the coming days. If the parties do not reach a ratified agreement by the state-mandated deadline, the process moves to fact-finding — a step that is uncommon but occasionally used when talks reach an impasse.

HSEA has said it wants a pact that will not result in teachers having less take home pay.  HSE has argued it does not have the funding to provide what the union wants.

For now, HSEA appears confident that negotiations will produce a tentative agreement in time for teachers to vote on December 18.

Fishers Fire Department crews responded to a residential fire Monday evening on East 136th Street that left a woman displaced from her home.

According to a department statement, the woman who lived in the home was able to evacuate safely before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.

Crews encountered heavy fire conditions on arrival and initially mounted an exterior defensive attack. Once most of the flames were knocked down, firefighters moved inside the structure to complete suppression efforts.

Fishers Fire officials said assistance was provided by the South Madison Fire Territory, and FFD Fire Corps volunteers were on scene to support responders with rehabilitation services.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by Fishers Fire Department fire investigators.

Hamilton county has announced County Prosecutor Greg Garrison is leaving his post December 19, due to “health concerns.”  Josh Kocher will take over the job December 20.  the full statement, posted on Facebook, is below:

Hamilton County Prosecutor J. Gregory Garrison will step down on December 19, 2025, due to recent health concerns. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Josh Kocher will assume Garrison’s duties beginning December 20 to ensure a smooth transition. Prosecutor Garrison says serving Hamilton County has been an honor and extends his heartfelt thanks to colleagues and the community. 

Two-time Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist Billy Strings will bring his 2026 headline tour to the Fishers Event Center for a pair of shows next spring. The performances are scheduled for Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Tickets will be released in stages: an artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. (sign-up available at billystrings.com/tour), followed by a venue pre-sale on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. through FishersEventCenter.com. General ticket sales open Friday, Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.

The spring dates extend what has already been a standout year for Strings. His latest album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Produced by Strings and Jon Brion and released by Reprise Records, the album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart — the first bluegrass record in more than two decades to reach the top spot. The project has drawn national praise, with GQ describing Strings as “the hottest roots-music phenomenon in decades.”

Strings has continued releasing new music, including an Apple Music Nashville Sessions EP that revisits several tracks from Highway Prayers. He also surprised fans with Live at the Legion, a collaborative live album with Bryan Sutton recorded at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82. The record features 20 traditional bluegrass and folk songs.

The acclaimed musician has been highly visible in recent months, performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and appearing on NPR’s Fresh Air and The Howard Stern Show. His winter tour includes multi-night stops in Louisville, Athens, Asheville and Nashville, along with an exclusive performance at the Ryman Auditorium.

Since emerging in 2017, Strings has become one of the most recognized names in modern bluegrass, earning multiple Grammy Awards, four International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year honors and widespread critical acclaim. He has also performed on major national platforms, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Austin City Limits and Bluegrass Underground.

Tickets and additional tour information are available at billystrings.com/tour and FishersEventCenter.com.