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.

Hamilton County officials and public safety personnel gathered Thursday, March 19, to mark a significant construction milestone for the new Public Safety Center — a facility designed to strengthen emergency response across the county.

Staff from Hamilton County 911 and the Emergency Management Agency joined members of the Board of Commissioners for a ceremonial beam signing, a longstanding construction tradition symbolizing progress and teamwork. After signing the beam, attendees watched as it was lifted into place and installed at the front of the developing complex.

The event also gave employees a firsthand look at the building that will soon become their new workplace.

“Seeing our team members sign that beam and then watch it go into place was a powerful reminder of the people behind this work,” said Commission President Christine Altman. “This facility will give them the space, technology, and protection they need to serve our residents at the highest level — no matter the situation.”

The new 108,000-square-foot, three-story Public Safety Center will house the county’s 911 dispatch operations, Emergency Management Agency, and a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center. The EOC is being designed to remain operational even during extreme weather events, including an F5 tornado.

Once complete, the facility is expected to significantly enhance coordination among emergency services and improve the county’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to crises.

Construction is ongoing, with the building scheduled to be completed and ready for occupancy in spring 2027.

A new organization aimed at increasing civic engagement and leadership among women is set to launch in Hamilton County later this month.

The Hamilton County Federation of Democratic Women (HCFDW) will hold its inaugural meeting on Sunday, March 29, inviting Democratic women from across the county to help shape the group’s future direction and priorities.

Organizers say the new caucus is focused on educating, energizing, and empowering women while expanding opportunities for political involvement at the local level. The effort comes as Democrats across Indiana begin organizing ahead of an upcoming election cycle.

“This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor,” organizers said in a release, encouraging women of all experience levels—from longtime volunteers to those newly interested in politics—to participate.

The group’s goals include supporting Democratic candidates, increasing civic participation, and building a stronger pipeline of women leaders for both party roles and public office.

“Women are the backbone of our families, communities, schools, and corporations,” said Jessica Irvine. “It’s time we made a concerted effort to ensure civic engagement has not only their input, but their strategic direction.”

Attendees will have the chance to meet others from across Hamilton County who share an interest in politics and community involvement, while also helping to establish the foundation of the new organization.

The inaugural meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Eller House.

Organizers say all Democratic women in Hamilton County are welcome to attend.

The OneZone Business Action Committee (ZoneBAC) has announced its endorsement of Victoria Garcia Wilburn in her bid for re-election to the Indiana House of Representatives, District 32.

ZoneBAC, a committee comprised of members from the OneZone Chamber of Commerce, cited Garcia Wilburn’s leadership, policy experience, and engagement with the regional business community as key factors in its decision.

“In Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn, we see a proven leader who understands the importance of strong communities, economic opportunity, and thoughtful public policy,” said Jack Russell, president of the OneZone Chamber. “Her commitment to service and her collaborative approach make her a strong choice for State Representative, and we are proud to support her campaign.”

Garcia Wilburn was first elected to the Indiana House in 2022. She currently serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the House Judiciary Committee and also sits on the Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Public Health Committee.

According to ZoneBAC, Garcia Wilburn has been active in advancing legislation focused on mental health and resiliency, particularly for public safety professionals. She is also recognized for her work in health equity and behavioral health.

In addition to her legislative role, Garcia Wilburn is an associate professor at Indiana University, where she brings experience as a clinician and researcher to her work in public policy.

ZoneBAC previously endorsed Garcia Wilburn and noted her continued engagement on issues affecting employers and the regional economy. The committee said her qualifications, policy positions, and commitment to the business community made her a clear choice for endorsement.

ZoneBAC endorsement decisions are made using nonpartisan criteria, with committee members reviewing candidates based on their positions, experience, and alignment with business and economic priorities.