U.S. News & World Report has seen better days, like many legacy publications. Even during the golden age of national weekly news magazines, U.S. News was generally considered third-best, trailing behind Time and Newsweek.

Still, U.S. News has carved out a lasting identity through its rankings—especially its widely cited lists of top universities.

One of its ongoing projects is ranking the best places to live in America. As I’ve noted before on this blog, I believe Money Magazine has the most solid methodology when it comes to evaluating livability in local communities.

That said, U.S. News just released its latest list of best places to live—and Fishers landed in an impressive fourth place nationwide. For context, our neighbor Carmel came in second.

I’ll admit I’m a bit skeptical of their approach. The methodology leans heavily on raw data that can sometimes be misleading and relies too much on public surveys, which often come with built-in biases.

Still, it’s worth noting that the city I’ve called home for 34 years has been recognized as one of the top places to live in the country. However imperfect the rankings may be, U.S. News & World Report gave our city a boost—and I’ll take that.

“There are no moral victories” at this point in the season, Fishers Freight head coach Dixie Wooten said after his team’s tough 46–40 loss to the Jacksonville Sharks at the Fishers Event Center. With the defeat, the Freight drop to 2–6 and now turn their attention to a critical road matchup against the Green Bay Blizzard.

Things started strong for the home team. The Freight took a 28–14 lead into halftime, thanks to an impressive first-half performance from quarterback Keegan Shoemaker, a reinvigorated defense, and big plays from special teams, especially on kickoff coverage.

But the second half told a different story.

A pivotal moment came early in the fourth quarter when Shoemaker lost the ball on a controversial fumble. It was unclear whether he was down before the ball came loose, prompting Coach Wooten to challenge the play. After video review, the ruling on the field stood, giving Jacksonville possession.

To make matters worse, Shoemaker was injured on the play and did not return. Backup quarterback Jiya Wright took over for the remainder of the game.

Jacksonville capitalized quickly, scoring with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth to take a 30–28 lead—their first of the night. They never looked back.

Emotions ran high throughout the contest, with a flurry of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both sides. The intensity reached a boiling point in the third quarter when Jacksonville’s Malik Jones received a second unsportsmanlike flag, resulting in his ejection. It’s safe to say there’s no love lost between these two teams.

Jacksonville improves to 6–2 with the win, while Fishers will regroup and prepare for a crucial game on the road. Despite the disappointing result, an energetic crowd of more than 4,000 fans stayed loud and engaged until the final whistle.

Tonight, Saturday, May 24, the Fishers Freight honor those serving in the Armed Forces with Military night, as America observes Memorial Day weekend.

Also, Starting at 5pm Saturday evening in front of the Fishers Event Center, the Freight will host Tailgate Party, featuring  lawn games, inflatables, a beer garden, and food.  Arrive early for tonight’s Indoor Football League game as the Freight face the Jacksonville Sharks, starting at 7pm.  Tickets are available. 

Roundabouts are to be constructed at 131st & Howe Road, along with Hoosier Road & 121st Street.  As a result, on or after May 29, both intersections will be closed for an estimated 60 days, allowing for construction.  Also, look for road closures on parts of 136th Street in the northeast area of Fishers.

Those are just a few examples of all the road construction updates listed below, provided by the City of Fishers, for the week of May 26:

Continue reading Plenty of updates on Fishers-area road construction for the week of May 26 →

The Hamilton County Democratic Party has announced the hiring of its first-ever full-time Executive Director, Raleigh Brown. The move marks a major milestone for Democrats in one of Indiana’s fastest-growing and, according to a party news release, increasingly competitive regions.

Brown, a Kokomo native and graduate of Butler University, brings a background in campaign strategy and grassroots mobilization. Most recently, she served as campaign manager for Josh Lowry’s 2024 run for Indiana House District 24, a race that saw Democrats make notable gains in one of the state’s most hotly contested districts. Under Brown’s leadership, the campaign raised nearly $250,000 and moved the district closer to flipping blue.

“Raleigh Brown stepping in means we’re turning intention into action,” said Lowry, who also serves as Chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. “This is the year we get serious—and we’re just getting started.”

Brown also played a key role in Lisa Washington’s 2022 campaign for Howard County Commissioner and led the State College Democrats of Indiana as president from 2022 to 2024. In that role, she was instrumental in energizing young voters and building statewide networks for Democratic outreach.

“I am extremely passionate about improving communities,” Brown said in a statement. “The data shows that the majority of our residents value great schools, public safety, and common-sense, people-first governance. I’m excited to support and elect candidates who share that vision for Hamilton County.”

The hiring signals the Democratic Party’s growing ambitions in suburban strongholds like Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, and northern Hamilton County—areas that the local party says have shown shifting political trends in recent years. With a full-time executive director now at the helm, party leaders say they’re laying the groundwork for sustained growth and electoral competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.

The Indy Fuel are ensuring stability behind the bench, announcing today that Head Coach Duncan Dalmao has signed a two-year contract extension. Dalmao, already the winningest coach in franchise history, has led the team to three consecutive Kelly Cup Playoff appearances, a first in Fuel history.

“We are thrilled to bring Duncan back for two more years,” said Fuel chairman Jim Hallett. “Duncan has been an integral piece of this team for over three years now, and we could not imagine building on our success with anyone else leading the charge behind the bench.”

Dalmao first took over as interim head coach late in the 2021-22 season before officially earning the role ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. Since then, he has reshaped the team’s trajectory, guiding them to a franchise-best 43 wins in 2022-23, setting records in scoring (244 goals) and road victories (23).

That momentum carried into the following seasons. In 2023-24, the Fuel secured their highest playoff seeding ever, earned their first home playoff win under Dalmao, and broke their attendance record. Then, in 2024-25, the team moved to the Fishers Event Center, where Dalmao once again delivered playoff hockey. On November 29, he cemented his legacy as the winningest coach in Fuel history, securing his 100th victory with the franchise before closing out the season with 125 total wins.

His leadership has also brought a sense of community and excitement to Indy hockey fans, as proven by another attendance record in 2024-25, with 15 sellout home games. Dalmao, who has now coached 232 regular-season games with the Fuel, looks forward to continuing the momentum.

“I’m really looking forward to being behind the bench in Indy and being a part of the community we’ve built,” Dalmao said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to represent this organization. We will continue to build on our success but also strive for more as we look forward to the upcoming season.”

Before coaching, the Toronto native played 11 professional seasons across North America and Europe. He skated in 391 ECHL games, collecting 49 goals and 152 assists while earning ECHL Defenseman of the Year honors in 2001. Now, he continues to make his mark in the league—this time from behind the bench.

State Representative Victoria Garcia-Wilburn encouraged constituents to step away from their computer screens, talk to their neighbors, and make their voices heard on pressing public issues, during a well-attended town hall Thursday evening at the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers.

One emotional moment came when a local nurse shared the challenges she and her colleagues face due to ongoing staffing shortages. Garcia-Wilburn emphasized the importance of sharing such personal stories with lawmakers, saying they help humanize policy debates and influence meaningful change.

The representative also reviewed key issues addressed during the recently concluded Indiana General Assembly budget session. She voiced her opposition to a new law allowing partisan school board elections, raised concerns about proposed cuts to local health department funding, and called for large corporations to pay what she described as their “fair share” in taxes.

Garcia-Wilburn praised her constituents for their civic involvement, noting that her district had the highest response rate to her legislative survey among lawmakers In the Indiana House. She added that her voting record during the session closely aligned with the views expressed by survey participants.

House District 32, represented by Garcia-Wilburn, includes the west side of Fishers, much of Carmel, and a portion of northern Marion County.

Drivers navigating the ongoing construction at 146th Street and Allisonville Road should prepare for a significant traffic pattern change set to begin on or after June 2, according to the Hamilton County Highway Department.

The next phase of the infrastructure project will make the new roundabout at the intersection operational, and one lane of 146th Street will reopen in each direction via the newly constructed bridge over Allisonville Road. Once this phase is in place, left turns—currently prohibited in all directions—will be allowed once again through the roundabout.

Until then, drivers are reminded to continue observing the 35 mph posted speed limit and to avoid making left turns at the intersection. The construction zone remains active, with periodic lane closures and temporary traffic stoppages expected as crews complete various work items.

“Please watch for flaggers and workers in and around the construction zone, and use extreme caution,” the department advised in its latest update.

Bridge rehabilitation and widening efforts continue on the westbound bridge over the White River. Warmer temperatures have allowed the contractor to resume key operations including grading, storm sewer installation, subgrade preparation, and paving.

Additionally, the bridge railing over Allisonville Road was completed in recent weeks, marking a notable milestone in the broader improvement project. Crews are also working on roundabout construction and barrier wall installation within the active work zone.

Construction vehicles will be entering and exiting the site frequently, so motorists are urged to stay alert and reduce speeds while driving through the area.

After the June traffic shift, westbound traffic on 146th Street will be divided over the White River bridge, with active construction continuing between travel lanes. The county cautions drivers to remain vigilant and allow time to adjust to the new traffic configuration.

County highway officials say the project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of this year.

The illustration below is provided by Hamilton County.

The Hamilton County Commissioners and County Council are now accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations seeking grant funding for the 2026 calendar year.

The Hamilton County Non-Profit Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance to organizations that offer services supporting the County’s goals. These services are considered essential to the community, and without them, the County may need to consider developing such programming internally.

Grants will be awarded based on the score of the application and the availability of funds. All awarded funds must be matched by other funding sources or supported through documented in-kind services. Funding will only be distributed to organizations based in Hamilton County.

Applications are due by Wednesday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants selected for funding will be notified on or after Wednesday, November 12, and funds will begin to be distributed in January 2026.

More details, including eligibility requirements and application forms, are available on the County’s Non-Profit Grant Application webpage. For additional information not addressed in the application materials, contact Director of Council Operations Kelly Morehouse at Kelly.Morehouse@HamiltonCounty.in.gov or Assistant Director of Administration Dianna Lynch at Dianna.Lynch@HamiltonCounty.in.gov.