A wide range of topics — from local classrooms to global concerns — are featured in this week’s Fridays with Larry podcast.

In the April 10 episode, I talk with Jamie Follis, a teacher at Hamilton Southeastern High School, about the growing interest in filmmaking among students. Follis has long been involved with the school’s student film club and now teaches a for-credit film class, giving students an opportunity to develop skills in storytelling and video production. He is also working on a new and different project planned for this summer and discusses how others in the community may be able to get involved.

You can help support this film project at this link.

The podcast also includes commentary on international developments, focusing on how the ongoing conflict involving Iran could affect Americans, based on analysis from a range of neutral experts.

Looking ahead to the world of sports, I raise concerns about the possibility of a Major League Baseball owner lockout ahead of the 2027 season and what that could mean for fans if labor tensions escalate.

The episode concludes with a lighter segment, featuring tips from experts on how your vehicle can serve as a place to relieve stress during a busy day.

Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

You can view the April 10 edition of Fridays with Larry using this link for the  video version,  or if you prefer just listening use this link.

A Fishers teenager is facing multiple felony charges in Hamilton County after investigators say they uncovered evidence of child exploitation involving multiple victims.

According to multiple media reports, Carson Springer, who was 17 at the time of the investigation, has been charged with offenses including child exploitation, possession of child pornography and possession of child sex abuse material. Court proceedings indicate the case has been moved to adult court.

Authorities say the investigation began after a parent reported discovering explicit material connected to their daughter. A subsequent forensic review of the suspect’s phone and digital accounts allegedly uncovered hundreds of illegal images and videos.

Investigators also reported finding communications with multiple juvenile victims, not only in Indiana but in several other states. Detectives said victims were identified as far away as Texas and Kansas.

According to reports, investigators believe Springer used a combination of social media platforms, messaging applications and cloud-based storage services to obtain and distribute the material.

Court records indicate the case includes multiple felony counts related to the possession and distribution of illicit material involving minors.

A jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin in September.

An IndyStar report published Thursday sheds new light on the uncertain future of Prema Racing and its involvement in the IndyCar Series.

Reporter Zion Brown cited an unnamed source in a story posted Thursday morning addressing the team’s current status. Prema fielded two cars in last year’s IndyCar season, with drivers Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott, but has not appeared on the grid so far in 2026.

Speculation has circulated for months regarding the team’s future, with little in the way of official comment. Brown reported that, despite financial challenges, the organization continues to operate out of its Fishers headquarters.

“Despite not having the finances to actually race, Prema is still operating daily at its Fishers location,” Brown wrote. “The company has more than 30 full-time employees and has cars built as it tries to return to IndyCar this season.”

According to the report, Prema is not expected to field entries in the upcoming races at Long Beach or the Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, the team has not ruled out a potential appearance in the Indianapolis 500 later this month.

Brown’s story outlines the financial and logistical hurdles the team would need to overcome to make the grid for the Indy 500.

Read the IndyStar story at this link (NOTE:  If you are not an IndyStar subscriber, you will likely not be able to access this story.  Once again, subscribe to your local media!  IndyStar initial subscription rates are very low)

A 45-year-old Fishers man and three co-conspirators have been sentenced in federal court for operating a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation in central Indiana, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

Eric Kendrick of Fishers received a sentence of 11 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Also sentenced were Kristopher Chavez, 38, of Gary, Indiana, to eight years and 11 months; Delray Bragg, 42, of Richmond, Indiana, to five years and 11 months; and Joaquin Ramirez-Molina, 41, of Phoenix, Arizona, to four years and nine months.

Federal prosecutors said the group was responsible for distributing at least 55 kilograms of cocaine between 2019 and 2023.

According to court documents, Kendrick leased commercial property at 5641 Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis in 2019 and used the location as a stash house to store and distribute cocaine.

On May 31, 2023, authorities said Ramirez-Molina arrived at the location carrying two suitcases filled with cocaine. Around the same time, Chavez arrived with contraband in his vehicle. The pair retrieved equipment used to repackage drugs, including a vacuum sealer, heat-seal bags and duct tape, along with a duffel bag containing $200,000 in cash.

Bragg later arrived to pick up 10 kilograms of cocaine for redistribution. As he left the property, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers conducted a traffic stop. Authorities said Bragg alerted others in the operation by text message, prompting them to flee.

Search warrants executed at the stash house and related locations resulted in the seizure of more than $580,000 in cash, 55 kilograms of cocaine, multiple firearms and several vehicles.

“Shipments containing multiple kilograms of cocaine, delivered in suitcases, underscores the profound danger these drugs pose,” U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler said in a statement. “Our federal prosecutors remain steadfast in partnering with the DEA, ATF and local drug task forces to remove dealers from our streets.”

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Hamilton/Boone Drug Task Force.

April 9 marks the first-ever Local News Day, a national initiative designed to reconnect communities with the trusted local news sources that inform, engage, and strengthen civic life.

Modeled after movements like Giving Tuesday, Local News Day is led by a coalition of journalism organizations and nonprofit leaders working to ensure that local news not only survives, but thrives. The goal is simple: encourage readers, listeners, and viewers to support the outlets that keep them informed about what is happening in their own backyard.

That mission hits close to home here in Fishers.

For more than 14 years, LarryInFishers.com has worked to fill a critical need in the community—providing consistent, in-depth coverage of local government, schools, development, transportation, and community events that often receive limited attention from larger regional media outlets.

In an era when many communities across the country have seen reductions in local reporting resources, smaller, independent platforms like LarryInFishers have become increasingly important. They provide a level of detail and accountability that helps residents understand decisions being made at City Hall, by school boards, and across local institutions.

Local News Day organizers point out that Americans overwhelmingly believe local news is essential to democracy and everyday life. Yet, many communities struggle to access reliable, in-depth reporting. That is where local outlets—large and small—play a vital role.

Here in Fishers, that role often means covering City Council meetings, following Hamilton Southeastern Schools policies and leadership decisions, reporting on major infrastructure projects, and telling the stories behind local sports teams and community events. It also includes providing a platform for local voices through podcasts and interviews.

Local News Day is also about action. Residents are encouraged to support local journalism in a variety of ways—by reading and sharing stories, subscribing where possible, engaging with content, and simply staying informed.

For a one-person operation like LarryInFishers, that support can make a meaningful difference. Reader engagement, story sharing, and community feedback all help sustain the effort to provide consistent local coverage.

As Local News Day launches its inaugural celebration, it serves as a reminder that strong communities rely on strong local journalism. And in Fishers, that connection continues to grow—one story at a time.

The Fishers Freight picked up a significant win Sunday night, defeating an Arizona Rattlers team led by one of the Indoor Football League’s top quarterbacks, Max Meylor. The victory not only adds to the team’s momentum but is also reflected in the latest IFL Coaches Poll, where Fishers has climbed to No. 3 in the league.

The Freight now trail only Green Bay and Orlando—formerly based in Massachusetts before relocating to Florida in the offseason—in the weekly rankings, underscoring the team’s emergence as a legitimate contender.

Fishers returns to action Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. against the Iowa Barnstormers. While Iowa sits at the bottom of this week’s Coaches Poll, winless teams can present unique challenges, particularly early in the season when clubs are still finding their rhythm.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are available online using this link.

Off the field, fans can get additional insight into the team through the latest edition of the Freight Coaches Show. Host Andrew Smith sits down with head coach Dixie Wooten to break down the win over Arizona, including the team’s emphasis on establishing a strong running game.

The show also highlights a recent roster move, as the Freight added a linebacker to strengthen the defense—an addition Wooten said could play an important role moving forward.

The Coaches Show can be viewed at this link or the link below.

The City of Fishers will begin a major roadway improvement project at the intersection of 116th Street and Allisonville Road next week, with construction expected to continue through late October.

City officials say the project, originally planned as a roundabout, has been redesigned and will now consist of roadway improvements aimed at enhancing traffic flow and safety at one of the city’s busiest intersections.

Construction is scheduled to begin during the week of April 13, weather permitting. Early work will include installation of construction signage and signal-related upgrades. That will be followed by intersection improvements, curb and ADA ramp work, sidewalk construction, and paving later in the season.

Despite the construction, the intersection will remain open to traffic throughout the project. However, drivers should expect lane shifts, restrictions, and slower travel times, particularly during peak hours.

Access to nearby businesses will be maintained during all phases of construction.

City officials note that, as with most roadway projects, the timeline is dependent on weather conditions and the availability of materials, and schedules may change as work progresses.

Lasima Packet was the first Democrat to announce her candidacy for Indiana Senate District 31, prior to incumbent Republican Kyle Walker’s announcement he will not seek another term.  Now, she is one of many candidates in the Democratic primary.

I spoke with Lasima Packett and talked about her candidacy in a podcast interview.  That podcast is available at this link or the link below.

Catherine Torzewski is a local realtor, small business owner and a candidate for Indiana Senate District 31 in the Democratic primary election.  Here is my podcast discussion with her, available at this link and the link below.