There are times when I truly believe I may be getting too old for this news reporting business.

I planned to attend Wednesday morning’s meeting of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board Policy Committee. I thought the meeting began at 8:30 a.m. Had I checked the agenda more carefully, I would have seen it started at 8:00. By the time I arrived at the administration building, the meeting had already been over for several minutes.

Fortunately, I ran into school board member Suzanne Thomas while walking in. Although Thomas is not a member of the policy committee, she typically attends the meetings as an observer. She had recorded the audio from the session and offered to play it for me, an offer I gladly accepted.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed three proposed policy changes. Two of the items dealt with public records procedures and background checks for employees and volunteers. Those proposals were routine updates and did not generate much discussion.

The third proposal drew considerably more attention. It addresses how and when school board members may attend certain district meetings that are not officially considered meetings of the board or its committees.

The proposal begins with a broad statement outlining the board’s oversight responsibilities. The language emphasizes transparency, accountability and the duty of individual board members—elected by the community—to have access to information necessary to oversee district operations and policy decisions.

More detailed language follows, describing circumstances under which board members could attend certain “district meetings.” These meetings include collective bargaining sessions between district administrators and the teachers’ union, insurance committee meetings, curriculum adoption committees and ad-hoc budget reduction committees.

Under the proposal, the board president could appoint a board member to attend such meetings as a non-voting observer. The appointed member would be required to notify the superintendent in advance and obtain approval from both the board president and the superintendent before attending.

The policy would also give the board president or superintendent authority to limit attendance because of confidentiality or legal concerns.

Board members attending these meetings would have a strictly observational role. They would not be permitted to ask questions, participate in discussions, record the proceedings, or publicly share notes or information obtained from the meetings. Any observations could only be discussed with fellow board members during executive session when allowed under Indiana law.

In addition, the policy specifies that board members would attend these meetings without compensation.

Policy committee members Dawn Lang and Juanita Albright both appeared to support adding the language to the district’s official policies. They indicated they would favor approval when the full Hamilton Southeastern School Board meets next Wednesday, March 11.

Seeing Suzanne Thomas did give us the chance to talk about her recently becoming a grandparent and we both discussed the joys of grandparenting.

The long-running effort to put a second American team on the Formula 1 grid becomes reality this weekend as Cadillac makes its debut at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

While the original push was led by Michael Andretti, the project ultimately shifted ownership and is now operated by TWG Motorsports — headed by Mark Walter and Dan Towriss — in partnership with General Motors. After years of resistance from Formula 1 leadership, the group secured approval one year ago and paid a reported $200 million anti-dilution fee to join the series.

Cadillac becomes the first new team to enter Formula 1 in a decade, following the 2016 debut of Haas, according to a story written for the Associated Press by motorsports reporter Jenna Fryer.

The team’s operations include multiple locations, with many key functions based in Fishers, Indiana, where a new headquarters facility is currently under construction. Additional operations are located near Silverstone in the United Kingdom, while General Motors’ power unit facility is based in North Carolina near Hendrick Motorsports.

For its first two seasons, Cadillac will lease engines from Ferrari while its own power unit program is developed. The team’s first car, named the MAC-26 — honoring 1978 world champion Mario Andretti — has already completed shakedown testing and preseason sessions in Europe.

Veteran Formula 1 drivers Sergio “Checo” Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been signed to lead the program in its inaugural season. Perez brings significant popularity in Mexico, an important market for General Motors.

Expectations for a first-year team are modest, as new entries typically struggle to compete immediately in the highly technical and competitive series. Team leadership, however, has made clear its long-term goal is to win — not simply participate.

Cadillac is positioning itself as “America’s team” in Formula 1, embracing a strong national identity and bold branding approach. If IndyCar driver Colton Herta earns a Formula 1 seat in the future, he could become the first American driver on the grid since 2023.

For Fishers, the team’s launch represents a rare connection to one of the world’s most prestigious sports properties, placing the growing Hamilton County city on the global Formula 1 map as the Cadillac program begins its ambitious climb.

Read Jenna Fryer’s Associated Press story at this link.

A cold, snowy early March day did not deter supporters of the disability community from gathering at Fishers City Hall Monday morning to mark the beginning of Disability Awareness Month.

The City of Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability organized the kickoff event, led by co-chairs Cecilia Coble and Kelly Hartman.

Jessica Minor of the accessABILITY Center for Independent Living delivered the keynote address. Minor shared her personal story of overcoming significant disabilities, as well as the challenges faced and overcome by her husband. Both have built successful careers and are raising two children.

Minor emphasized that accommodations are a part of everyday life for many people, noting that something as common as wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses is, in fact, an accommodation.

Mayor Scott Fadness told those in attendance that promoting accessibility and inclusion aligns with his long-stated vision of building Fishers into a smart, vibrant and entrepreneurial city.

As part of the event, the city awarded three grants to support organizations serving the disability community: Fishers United Methodist Church, Opportunities for Positive Growth, and Outside the Box.

Several individuals and organizations were also recognized for their contributions:

• Life Without Limits Award — Crysta Coble

• Cornerstone Employer Award — Amanda Smith and Spavia

• Accessibility Award — Dalia Kassas and Sara MacGregor

• FACD Years of Service Award — Shelby Slowik

Additional photos from the event are posted below.

Continue reading Fishers Launches Disability Awareness Month with City Hall Ceremony →

Weather forecasters said Sunday that accumulating snow might stay south of Fishers, but the track of the system remained uncertain.

By Monday morning, that uncertainty was gone.

Fishers received between 1 and 2 inches of snow overnight, prompting Hamilton Southeastern Schools to operate on a two-hour delay. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the area through 9 a.m.

Forecasters warn that untreated roads, bridges and overpasses are likely to become slick. Hazardous travel conditions could affect the Monday morning commute.

Motorists are urged to allow extra time, reduce speed and use caution while traveling.

At a recent meeting of the Fishers Plan Commission, neighbors voiced opposition to a proposed memory care center along Brooks School Road. As the public hearing concluded, City Councilor Pete Peterson — who also serves on the Plan Commission — warned those in attendance about legislation moving through the Indiana General Assembly that he said could significantly limit, or even eliminate, local control over such land-use decisions in the future.

The General Assembly wrapped up its 2026 session Friday. So what, exactly, did lawmakers send to Governor Mike Braun on that issue?

The answer is a sweeping housing measure aimed at increasing residential development statewide and reducing housing costs — but one that stops short of fully stripping zoning authority from cities like Fishers.

Required review of local zoning rules

Under the new law, local governments must hold a public hearing by January 1, 2027, to review their unified development ordinance (UDO) and zoning rules “with the goal of increasing housing development.”

The legislation directs cities and counties to specifically consider a wide range of changes, including:

• Allowing duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in areas currently zoned for single-family homes
• Permitting accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
• Encouraging adaptive reuse of commercial buildings into residential housing
• Increasing allowable density and floor-area ratios in multifamily districts
• Reducing or eliminating minimum lot sizes, setback requirements and parking mandates
• Shortening permitting timelines and streamlining approval processes

Local governments are also required to submit a report to the Legislative Services Agency outlining what changes were made — or explaining why changes were not adopted.

The law does not mandate that cities adopt these reforms. However, it requires them to publicly examine their land-use rules through the lens of housing production and formally document their response to the state.

Impact fees and development costs

The legislation also tightens rules on local impact fees — the charges assessed on new development to pay for infrastructure such as roads and public safety facilities.  Fishers has made use of such fees for many years.

Under the new framework, impact fees must meet more uniform standards and procedural requirements. Lawmakers argue this will create predictability and reduce development costs. Local officials, however, have expressed concern that additional state oversight could limit flexibility in planning for growth.

What it means for Fishers

Fishers retains zoning authority under the new law. The Plan Commission and City Council will still vote on rezonings and development proposals, including projects like the Brooks School Road memory care center.

However, the city will be required to formally review its development code and consider whether its standards — including density limits and design requirements — are restricting housing supply.

The broader message from the Statehouse is clear: local zoning authority remains in place, but it must now operate within a statewide policy push favoring increased housing density and reduced regulatory barriers.

For residents who packed the Plan Commission meeting concerned about a single project, the larger debate about local control and housing policy may just be beginning.

The Indy Ignite shook off a rough opening set Sunday and powered past the Omaha Supernovas 3-1 at Fishers Event Center, winning 17-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-13.

The victory pushed Indy to a league-best 12-2 record at the midpoint of the Major League Volleyball season and extended the Ignite’s winning streak to six matches, a franchise high.

After Omaha controlled the first set, Indy head coach Lauren Bertolacci went to outside hitter Kayla Lund in the second set — and the match changed. Playing extended minutes for the first time in about a month after dealing with a knee injury, Lund delivered 14 kills on 20 swings, finishing with a .700 kill rate and 10 digs for a double-double.

Indy edged the second set 25-22, then used a key surge in the third to take a 2-1 lead. The Ignite closed the third set with outside hitter Anna DeBeer scoring Indy’s final three points, including a service ace, in a 25-21 win.

The fourth set was all Indy. The Ignite jumped out early, hit at a blistering clip in the clincher, and rolled to a 25-13 finish. Indy hit .374 as a team for the match, a figure Omaha noted as the highest hitting percentage the Supernovas have allowed.

DeBeer led Indy with 19 points (13 kills, three aces, three blocks). Lund and opposite Camryn Hannah added 14 points apiece, and middle blocker Lydia Martyn chipped in 10. Setter Mia Tuaniga posted 52 assists and 11 digs for a double-double.

Omaha was led by Emily Londot with a match-high 19 points. The match drew 4,483 fans.

Indy’s next match is Sunday, March 8, at home against Grand Rapids

For nearly a decade, I have recorded and produced podcasts in and around Fishers. As a one-person operation since 2016, that means not only asking the questions, but also handling every technical aspect of production.

Over the years, there have been minor technical issues. Until now, I have always managed to work around them and get each podcast posted.

Last week, for the first time, I lost an entire recording due to a catastrophic technical failure.

That loss is particularly disappointing because the podcast was my annual preview of Disability Awareness Month in Fishers. Fishers City Councilor Cecilia Coble, who chairs the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, and Molly Connolly, who oversees Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) matters for the City of Fishers, joined me for what was a thoughtful and informative discussion. Both have long been deeply involved in disability advocacy and inclusion efforts locally, and they had much to share about this year’s observance.

Unfortunately, that entire conversation was lost.

Even without the podcast, March 1 marks the beginning of Disability Awareness Month, and the observance deserves attention. The City of Fishers and the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability will sponsor a variety of events throughout the month, partnering with local organizations to highlight the contributions of residents with physical and intellectual disabilities and to promote greater understanding and inclusion across the community.

During my 28 years in the federal government — as a rank-and-file employee, union official and manager — I saw firsthand the quality of work individuals with disabilities can produce when given the opportunity and the accommodations they need. It remains one of the most underutilized pools of talent in our workforce.

Each March, Fishers makes a deliberate effort to spotlight those contributions and encourage broader awareness.

Readers can learn more about Disability Awareness Month events and activities in Fishers at this link.

It was Chicago Blackhawks Night at the Fishers Event Center Saturday, complete with a booming rendition of the national anthem by longtime Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison and a sellout crowd of 6,572.

But the pageantry did not translate into goals for the home team.

Iowa Heartlanders goaltender William Rousseau turned aside every shot he faced, lifting Iowa to a 2-0 victory over the Indy Fuel. Both goals came in the opening period, and the Fuel were unable to recover.

Jonny Sorenson opened the scoring for the Heartlanders a little more than six minutes into the first period, giving Iowa an early 1-0 edge. Jaxon Nelson added to the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the period.

That was all the offense Iowa would need.

The Fuel generated chances over the final 40 minutes, but Rousseau was steady in net, preserving the shutout. Indy pulled goaltender Owen Flores with under three minutes remaining in regulation in favor of an extra attacker, but the move failed to produce a late breakthrough.

Despite the loss, the atmosphere was playoff-like. The building was loud throughout the night. The Fuel, however, could not convert that energy into offense.

With the defeat, Indy remains in the thick of the ECHL playoff race, where every point is critical down the stretch.  The Fuel remain in third place in the Western Conference Central Division.

The Fuel continue their homestand at the Fishers Event Center in the coming week when the Wichita Thunder visit for a three-game series. The teams meet Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.