Todd Huston, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing part of Fishers, announced Monday that the legislature will take up a redistricting plan and plans to convene for early session business from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12.

In a statement issued by his office, Speaker Huston said that after coordination with his House Republican caucus and their counterparts in the Senate, they “have determined that the General Assembly will address any time-sensitive issues during the first two weeks of December (Dec. 1 through Dec. 12).”

He added that the meeting days in December would form part of the 2026 regular session, which officially begins with Organization Day on Nov. 18, and that “because of this calendar alignment, starting the regular session early would be the most cost effective and efficient way to address the Governor’s call for a special session.”

“Our goal is to avoid any added session-related costs, and we will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule,” the statement continued. “More details on December session days will be made available in the coming weeks with a full calendar expected on Organization Day.”

This announcement signals that redistricting is a priority for the upcoming session. While Huston’s statement did not provide full details of the map plan, the December special meeting block suggests the caucus aims to move quickly.

At the same time, the decision to treat the December dates as part of the regular session rather than a separate special session appears aimed at streamlining logistics and minimizing additional costs.

For constituents in Fishers and Hamilton County, this schedule change may mean earlier deliberations than in prior years — and potentially an expedited timeline for hearings and votes on new legislative district boundaries.

When discussing school funding at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, one reality has held true for years: the state of Indiana funds schools based on student enrollment — a fixed amount per student. Suburban districts such as HSE, Carmel, and Zionsville consistently receive some of the lowest per-student funding in the state.

For example, Indianapolis Public Schools is projected to receive about $8,250 per student in 2026 and $8,360 in 2027. HSE, by comparison, is estimated to receive roughly $7,121 per student in 2025-26. These are estimates, but they illustrate a long-standing gap.

In other words, HSE begins each budget cycle at a disadvantage. And this year, lawmakers added another complication. Changes enacted through Senate Bill 1 have significantly constrained local school and government budgets statewide. The issue is complex, but the result is clear: schools are grappling with tighter finances than ever.

That reality sits at the center of the tense contract negotiations between the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and district leadership. Administrators have told HSEA that the latest contract proposal includes no salary increase and would raise health insurance premiums — leaving teachers with less take-home pay than under the current contract.

The district presented what it described as its final offer, the union then sent the proposal to teachers for a ratification vote. In a striking moment, no HSEA representative addressed the school board when the contract was presented — something I have not seen in 13 years covering this board. Union leaders clearly did not support the proposal.

Teachers overwhelmingly rejected it: 86% voted “no.” Long-time observers say they cannot recall another HSE contract being voted down.

Lines are now firmly drawn. District administrators say they cannot afford salary increases or additional support for rising insurance costs. HSEA argues the district has cash reserves that could at least prevent teachers from earning less this school year.

HSEA President Tyler Zerbe notified teachers — in a message also posted publicly — that the union is recommending “work-to-rule,” meaning staff should work only their contracted hours. Teachers often work beyond the school day grading, planning, and communicating with families. The move is meant to demonstrate the value that work brings to students and the community, Zerbe said.

Some in the community argue HSE teachers already receive competitive benefits — particularly the 5% district match on 403(b) retirement contributions. However, that enhanced match came about in past negotiations when teachers opted for stronger retirement benefits instead of higher salaries. This was a strategic choice by teachers, not a gift from the district.

What concerns me most is the sentiment I am hearing from teachers: they feel disrespected and undervalued. That perception — right or wrong — carries consequences. HSE’s strong reputation has helped fuel Fishers’ growth for decades. If educators feel the relationship with district leadership has deteriorated to the point of work-to-rule, we should all take notice.

If a contract is not ratified by November 15, the two sides will enter mediation. I have seen skilled mediators succeed in resolving difficult impasses. But if mediation fails, state law triggers fact-finding: a state-appointed official will choose one side’s final offer, and that becomes the contract, without ratification votes.

HSE is the fourth-largest school district in Indiana, and what happens here will be watched statewide. Can the district and union reach an agreement both sides can support? We will know soon.

For Fishers, the stakes are high — not only for our teachers and students, but for the community’s reputation as a place that values education.

The Indy Fuel built an early lead and survived a late push from Kalamazoo on Sunday afternoon, skating to a 3–2 win over the K-Wings in Michigan.

Rookie forward Jadon Joseph paced Indy with the first two goals of his professional career, helping the Fuel control the game through the opening 40 minutes before withstanding a frantic third period.

Indy set the tone early, piling up shots and pressure in the first period. Joseph broke through at 14:16 of the opening frame, converting a setup from Connor Joyce and Tyson Feist. The Fuel outshot Kalamazoo 16–3 in the first, but carried just the one-goal advantage into the intermission.

Owen Robinson doubled the lead at 4:16 of the second period, finishing a feed from Kevin Lombardi. Less than five minutes later, Joseph struck again at 9:23, with assists to Chris Cameron and Michael Marchesan, pushing the Fuel ahead 3–0.

Indy’s aggressive pace slowed late in the second after Jeremie Bucheler was assessed a four-minute high-sticking penalty at 17:29. Solid penalty killing kept Kalamazoo off the board, and the Fuel took their three-goal cushion into the third.

Kalamazoo pushed back in the final period, aided by a pair of too-many-men penalties against Indy that briefly gave the K-Wings a 5-on-3 advantage. The Fuel penalty kill came up strong again, turning aside both chances.

The K-Wings found life late. With Indy’s Michael Marchesan in the box for roughing and the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Kalamazoo’s Quinn Preston got the home team on the board with a 6-on-4 power-play goal at 16:40. Andre Ghantous scored again at 19:11 to pull Kalamazoo within one.

Despite being outshot 34–27 overall — including a surge by the K-Wings late — Indy held firm in the final minute to secure the two points and improve their early-season standing.

The Fuel return to the Fishers Event Center Wednesday night to take on the Bloomington Bison.

As Fishers emerged from the COVID era, city leaders sought ways to rebuild community connections and provide new spaces for residents to gather. City Councilor Todd Zimmerman was tapped to lead a committee exploring how to make that vision a reality.

A community survey drew more than 3,000 responses — an unusually strong turnout — offering a clear picture of what residents wanted. While leaders expected calls for recreation and gathering spaces, they were surprised by the strong interest in an arts facility. As a result, the new Fishers City Hall complex now includes an arts center. Residents also expressed strong support for an indoor playground, walking track, aquatic facilities, and indoor courts for basketball, pickleball, volleyball, and more.

Mayor Scott Fadness and the City Council Finance Committee, chaired by Councilor John Weingardt, ultimately identified a funding plan that allowed the city to move forward without increasing local property tax rates. On Saturday morning, Fadness, Zimmerman and Weingardt were all smiles as they cut the ribbon on the new Fishers Community Center.

Located at 11400 Johnson Farm Way, near 121st Street and Hoosier Road, the 105,000-square-foot facility includes a 9,800-square-foot aquatics center featuring Central Indiana’s first NinjaCross system, an 11,000-square-foot fitness center, an indoor walking track, and the Fishers Community Center Indoor Playground. A dog park is also expected to open in spring 2026.

Several speakers took part in Saturday’s ceremony, but it was a group of Hoosier Road Elementary third-graders who stole the show. The students attended the groundbreaking as first graders and shared their excitement about the center in charming, third-grade fashion.

The playground and walking track are free for anyone who signs up for a Community Pass. Access to the aquatics center, fitness areas, and other amenities requires a membership. For more information, use this link.

The Indy Fuel dropped their second straight matchup against the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night, falling 6–2 in Toledo’s home opener. Special teams proved decisive, with the Walleye scoring three shorthanded goals and converting twice on the power play.

Toledo struck early, scoring just 37 seconds into the game on a goal from Chad Hillebrand. Indy answered midway through the first period when Owen Robinson tallied his first goal of the season, assisted by Matt Petgrave and Kevin Lombardi. The Fuel trailed 13–8 in shots after one period but remained tied 1–1.

The game turned in the second period. After a slashing penalty put Indy shorthanded, Toledo reclaimed the lead at 7:04 on Will Hillman’s first professional goal. Just 21 seconds later, the Walleye struck again while still shorthanded, with Hillebrand notching his second goal of the night.

Toledo extended its lead to 4–1 at 12:53 before the Fuel responded quickly, as Brett Moravec scored 22 seconds later off a feed from Jeremie Bucheler. However, a holding penalty late in the period put Indy back on the penalty kill, and Toledo capitalized to make it 5–2 heading into the third.

The Fuel penalty kill was tested repeatedly in the final frame, facing three straight minors—including a 5-on-3 disadvantage—but successfully held Toledo off during that stretch. Still, the Walleye sealed the win with another shorthanded goal at 19:38, Hillman’s second of the game and his young career.

Toledo outshot Indy heavily, finishing with a 51–25 advantage.

The loss drops the Fuel to 0–2 against Toledo this season following last weekend’s 4–1 defeat. Indy will look to rebound as they next travel to Kalamazoo for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Wings.

Although the fall chill is in the air, there is no letup in the list of road construction projects in and around Fishers.  Watch for a closure on 96th Street starting on November 7,  But there are plenty of details about all ongoing road projects in the area.

Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading 96th St. lane closure between Hague and Masters starts November 7 →

The standoff between Hamilton Southeastern Schools and its teachers escalated Friday as the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) urged educators to begin a “work-to-rule” action in response to stalled contract negotiations.

The move comes after teachers overwhelmingly rejected what the district described as its final contract offer, with 86% voting against the proposal. The district has argued it faces budget constraints, while union leaders maintain the school system has sufficient cash reserves to provide fair compensation.

In a message posted to teachers and shared publicly, HSEA President Tyler Zerbe said the union’s members have reached a breaking point.

“We navigated not ratifying our contract for the first time in HSE history,” Zerbe wrote. “We refused to stand down, even in the face of adversity and divisiveness.”

Work-to-rule means teachers will perform only duties specifically required in their contracts — a shift that could result in staff no longer answering emails outside school hours, grading or planning lessons after the school day, or volunteering for extra responsibilities.

“If it requires us to show up outside [contract hours], we don’t,” Zerbe said. “It is high-time for everyone to know this one, incontrovertible fact: our classrooms, these buildings, this district, do not run without us.”

Zerbe emphasized that teachers will continue to teach and support students in their classrooms, but said they will no longer put in the unpaid time that often fills evenings, early mornings, and weekends.

“Staff will continue to deliver high-quality instruction to students, as they always have,” Zerbe said. “But, as the old saying goes: enough is enough.”

The dispute marks a sour turn in what has historically been a cooperative labor-management relationship in one of the state’s largest and highest-performing school districts. This is the first time HSE teachers have rejected a contract agreement.

Tensions have risen in recent months as bargaining intensified, with union leaders publicly challenging district financial claims and warning that the proposed contract would amount to a pay cut once inflation and insurance costs are factored in.

In earlier statements, administrators said the district is “operating under significant financial limitations” due to state funding levels and rising expenses.

Zerbe framed the action as a reluctant but necessary step to demonstrate the value teachers bring to classrooms and to the Fishers community.

“We are asking you to reclaim your time and value,” he told teachers. “We are reaffirming the one truth that we have said over and over again: teachers are the backbone of HSE.”

The district and union remain at odds as bargaining continues. It is unclear how long the work-to-rule effort will last.

Hamilton County officials will break ground next week on a new Public Safety Training Center designed to bring police, fire, and emergency personnel together for joint training exercises.

The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. The 96-acre site is located near East 160th Street and River Road in Noblesville, just south of Beaver Materials along the White River.

County leaders say the shared campus will improve coordination among responders across Hamilton County communities, including Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, and county agencies.

“This is one of the most important public safety investments our county has ever made,” County Commissioners President Steve Dillinger said in the announcement. “As Hamilton County continues to grow, so does the need for well-trained, well-equipped first responders. This facility will allow them to train together, strengthen coordination, and ensure they’re ready for whatever emergency situations may arise.”

Plans call for roughly 20,000 square feet of classroom and indoor training space, a five-story fire training burn tower, multiple shooting ranges, SWAT and tactical training areas, and designated space for the county’s Emergency Management Agency. The project also includes environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the property.

Jim Barlow, the county’s new training center coordinator and former Carmel police chief, said the campus will raise the bar for first-responder readiness.

“This will be one of the best facilities in the Midwest—if not in the country,” Barlow said. “We react the way we train. This center will give our first responders the tools and space they need to serve our residents even better.”

The project is set to take about 18 months to complete once construction begins. Media attending Monday’s groundbreaking are asked to park near the pole barn on site.

The Indy Fuel earned their first victory of the 2025–26 season Thursday night, grinding out a 2–1 road win over the Cincinnati Cyclones in a physical, penalty-filled matchup at Heritage Bank Center.

Both teams spent much of the opening period feeling each other out, and scoring chances were limited. The Fuel were forced to kill off an early penalty when Kevin Lombardi was called for interference at the 6:30 mark, but the Indy penalty killers stood tall. Cincinnati found momentum late in the frame, firing seven unanswered shots to close the period with a 9–3 advantage, yet Indy goaltender Owen Flores kept the game scoreless after one.

The second period brought a noticeable shift in intensity — and the scoreboard. Tempers sparked less than two minutes in after Flores made a save in traffic, but no penalties were called. Soon after, Cincinnati’s Marko Sikic went off for slashing, giving Indy a power play they couldn’t convert.

Momentum finally swung in the Fuel’s favor midway through the period. Brett Moravec broke the deadlock at 9:23, finishing a partial breakaway for a 1–0 lead with assists from Jacob LeGuerrier — playing in his first pro game in two years — and Dylan McLaughlin. LeGuerrier made his return even more memorable moments later, burying a backhand shot at 12:43 to stretch Indy’s lead to 2–0.

Physical play continued to escalate as tensions boiled over multiple times. Jesse Tucker and Rhett Parsons dropped the gloves at 14:35 for the game’s first fight, each earning five-minute majors. As the second period ended, another scrap broke out between Indy’s Christian Berger and Cincinnati’s Nick Rhéaume, who also received an extra two minutes for instigating. Berger and Rhéaume served their penalties to open the third.

Cincinnati pushed hard in the final frame, but Indy’s defense and penalty kill remained sharp. Chris Cameron picked up his first penalty of the season at 4:56, but the Fuel again killed it off. Indy had a chance to ice the game midway through the period on a Cyclones slashing minor, but failed to extend the lead.

The Cyclones appeared to get on the board at 17:26, but the goal was wiped out due to a holding-the-stick call. With time running out, Cincinnati pulled goaltender Talyn Boyko while shorthanded to skate 5-on-5, and the gamble paid off. John Jaworski scored at 18:42 to cut the Fuel lead to 2–1, injecting late drama into the contest.

Indy weathered the final push, and after offsetting roughing minors with 13 seconds left, held firm to secure the win.

The Fuel now head to Toledo for a match Saturday night with the Walleye and a road date with the Kalamazoo Wings the next day.  The Fuel return home Wednesday, November 5, for a game with the Bloomington Bison.  The Fuel are 1-2 in this young season.