Two Democratic members of the Indiana House Public Health Committee are urging Gov. Micah Braun to lift secrecy requirements placed on his newly created Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy working group.
State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) and State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) criticized the governor’s directive that members of the group sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in order to participate. They argue the move keeps the policy review hidden from both lawmakers and the public.
The working group was established through Executive Order 25-31 in response to rising Medicaid costs. Its purpose is to examine spending on autism therapy services across the state.
Garcia Wilburn said she formally requested to serve on the panel but received no response. Both lawmakers expressed concern that the governor’s approach limits public input in a process that directly affects families who rely on Medicaid for autism services.
“Families across Indiana depend on Medicaid services to access life-changing therapies. They deserve transparency and accountability, not secrecy,” Bauer said in a statement. “It is deeply concerning that decisions affecting real people are being made out of the public eye.”
Garcia Wilburn added that autism services are “too important for closed-door politics,” and said Hoosiers deserve to know how policy decisions are being made, particularly when cost-cutting measures are under consideration.
In a joint statement, Bauer and Garcia Wilburn called on Braun to open the meetings, allow bipartisan participation, and center the discussion on families rather than finances.
The governor’s office has not yet responded publicly to the lawmakers’ concerns.
Matt Kegley discusses academics with the school board
Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Patrick Mapes described Wednesday night’s school board work session as a “celebration” of state standardized test results.
Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley presented the data, beginning with a reminder about the role of testing in evaluating schools.
“’We know that standardized assessments from the state do not tell the whole picture of our children, of our schools, of our entire district,” Kegley told the board. “But they are a moment in time where we can take a picture and say, how are we doing?”
Kegley then reviewed the results, which show steady and significant improvement since 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning and sharply reduced in-person classroom time.
The latest 2024–2025 scores reflect that rebound and continued growth. Among the highlights:
IREAD testing: 96% of HSE students passed.
Elementary schools: 10 of the district’s 13 schools reached a 95% passing rate or higher, and every school scored at least 90%.
ILEARN testing: Combined English Language Arts and Math scores increased 1.4% compared to the previous year.
Mapes noted that more state data, including graduation rates, will be released soon. He and other administrators praised educators across the district for their work in driving the test scores upward.
Still, district leaders emphasized that improvement remains an ongoing process. Each school will be tasked with developing a new school improvement plan to build on this year’s gains.
Indiana consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally in voter turnout. Despite high registration numbers, many Hoosiers simply don’t cast ballots when Election Day arrives. Why does this gap exist—and what can be done about it?
Those are among the questions ReCenter Indiana is working to address. The nonprofit group focuses on strengthening civic engagement and exploring ways to improve the state’s political landscape.
In this podcast, ReCenter Indiana Board President Don Knebel joins Larry to discuss the organization’s mission and priorities. Also featured is Jocelyn Vare, a longtime Fishers resident and former local Democratic leader, who was recently appointed as ReCenter’s first executive director. Vare also responds to criticism from some Republicans who argue she is too partisan to lead a centrist organization.
Consultant options for placement of a traffic signal along 116th Street between Cumberland and Hoosier Roads.
A traffic consultant hired by the City of Fishers has completed a study on possible locations for a traffic signal in the Spyglass neighborhood area along 116th Street. The Board of Public Works and Safety reviewed the findings Tuesday morning and plans to seek feedback from residents before making a final decision.
The study, conducted by A & F Engineering, recommends placing a signal on 116th Street at either Klotz Farm Boulevard or Spyglass Ridge Drive. In addition, the consultant suggested building a connecting street between Laurel Falls Lane and Knightsbridge Boulevard to improve neighborhood traffic flow.
That connector had been the original recommendation from city engineers, but the Board of Works previously voted in favor of adding a traffic signal after hearing concerns from residents in the Spyglass and Spyglass Falls neighborhoods. The new study was commissioned to determine the most suitable intersection for the light.
Mayor Scott Fadness acknowledged the neighborhood connector remains a divisive issue. Some residents support the idea, while others strongly oppose it. He noted that even without the connector, neighborhoods would see benefits from a nearby traffic light, since stopped traffic on 116th Street would make it easier to turn out.
The consultant also concluded that adding another signal between Cumberland Road and Hoosier Road would cause “minimal disruption” for motorists. The study included projections of future traffic growth.
Other board action:
The city clarified days and hours for parking restrictions in two areas. The streets involved remain the same. Near King Jugg, restrictions will apply Thursday through Monday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Near the Al Huda mosque, restrictions will remain in place each Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The board renewed the city’s contract with Fall Creek and Delaware townships to provide fire and emergency services in unincorporated areas outside Fishers city limits.
OfficeWorks has been named No. 13 on the Indianapolis Business Journal’s 2024 list of Central Indiana’s Largest Minority-Owned Businesses, highlighting the company’s growth and its commitment to building workplaces that help people and organizations thrive.
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Fishers, OfficeWorks employs 64 full-time staff, with 20 percent of its team identifying as minorities. The company says that diversity, combined with an emphasis on values-driven practices, has been central to its long-term success.
“At OfficeWorks, we believe the outcomes of a business depend on people, places, and actions being perfectly aligned to do their best work,” said Tom O’Neil, chair and CEO of OfficeWorks. “Being recognized among Indiana’s leading minority-owned businesses is an honor that reflects both our team’s dedication and the strong partnerships we have built with clients and our community.”
OfficeWorks provides more than office furniture. The company’s services include workplace experience consulting, interior construction, modular walls, and furniture solutions. As a platinum MillerKnoll dealer and a DIRTT partner, OfficeWorks gives clients access to a range of design resources, products, and research insights.
The company says its guiding principles include delighting customers, fostering a caring workplace, encouraging growth among employees, and supporting the broader community.
Fishers firefighters responded late Saturday night to a residential fire in a townhouse on Gatsby Drive.
No one was home when the fire broke out, and officials say the family was not injured. The blaze did, however, temporarily displace the residents. Fire crews also assisted the family’s pets during the incident.
According to the Fishers Fire Department, quick response and teamwork kept the fire from spreading to neighboring townhomes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The department also reminded residents of the importance of working smoke alarms. Officials recommend testing alarms monthly, changing the batteries at least once a year, and replacing units every 10 years. For assistance with smoke alarm installation, residents may email fire@fishers.in.us or call 317-595-3219.
There is a long list of road and trail projects on this week’s report. Note that there will be road work downtown, as well as other parts of Fishers. I would recommend you check the entire list to see whether you will be impacted.
Here is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:
ReCenter Indiana Inc., a nonpartisan nonprofit aimed at strengthening civic participation, has appointed its first executive director as part of an expanded effort to address Indiana’s consistently low voter turnout.
Jocelyn Vare, a former Fishers City Council member and past chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, was named to the new leadership role. Vare also ran for the Indiana Senate and has been active in local politics for more than a decade.
ReCenter Indiana was founded in 2022 to promote centrist candidates through a political action committee, including a statewide billboard campaign ahead of the 2024 primary election. The organization now plans to sharpen its focus on voter engagement, particularly among young people who are eligible to vote but choose not to cast ballots.
Vare said she hopes to help reconnect Hoosiers with the political process. “When we vote, we remind elected officials to work together and recenter on the priorities of the people,” she said in a statement.
As part of that effort, ReCenter Indiana will launch a new survey this fall targeting Central Indiana residents ages 18 to 34 who registered but did not vote in the 2024 general election. The research will be conducted by two national polling firms—one Democratic, the other Republican—to better understand the perspectives of younger nonvoters.
Funding for the survey will come from a $50,000 grant awarded by the Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation. “The generous Noyes Foundation grant will strengthen ReCenter Indiana’s ability to show young adults that they and their priorities matter,” Vare said.
ReCenter Indiana’s founder and board president, Don Knebel, said the nonprofit is refining its mission to push back against political polarization by encouraging citizens to participate and reminding elected officials to focus on the public interest.
“The chasm between our elected officials and the people keeps widening,” Knebel said. “We have a determined executive director, a significant grant award and a sharpened strategy that will help Hoosiers’ voices be heard.”
Mike Reuter (center) speaks to the City Council Finance Committee, as Councilor Bill Stuart (left) and Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren follow along
Many Fishers residents may remember Mike Reuter, the long-time Chief Financial Officer for Hamilton Southeastern Schools who retired at the end of 2019. Since then, he has launched his own consulting business, advising local governments, including the City of Fishers.
Reuter presented an overview of the revenue side of the city’s 2026 budget during a City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday morning. He said the budgeting process this time is “significantly different from last year,” citing sweeping changes made earlier this year by the Indiana General Assembly.
Mayor Scott Fadness described the new system as “unbelievably complicated,” noting that some changes will take effect immediately while others will phase in over the next several years.
For years, Indiana has tried to control property tax bills through rate caps and so-called “circuit breakers,” which limit what homeowners pay. Now, a new state law creates a 10% property tax credit—capped at $300—for homeowners. In Fishers, most residents will qualify for the full $300 credit. Although the city’s property tax rate is projected to decrease slightly in 2026, rising home valuations may still push tax bills higher. Reuter explained that the new credit will soften those increases.
Additional changes are coming to the Homestead Deduction. Homeowners in 2025 will receive a 37.5% supplemental deduction, increasing gradually to 66.7% by 2031. The deduction is set at 40% for 2026, which will reduce the taxable base for property taxes.
Fishers has worked to keep its share of the property tax rate stable over the past six years. However, with the taxable base shrinking, Reuter warned that rates will likely begin to rise in 2027. Fadness added that the impact will vary widely among homeowners, while traditional commercial real estate—particularly office buildings—could face the steepest increases.
Reuter also reported that Hamilton County’s income tax base rose 2.7% this year, lower than increases in neighboring counties such as Hancock, Johnson, and Marion.
Historically, Indiana cities have relied heavily on property taxes for revenue. Fadness predicted the new system will balance property and income taxes more evenly, with Fishers drawing on both sources at roughly equal levels. He said discussion about the 2028 rate will begin in mid-2026.
Currently, Hamilton County collects a 1.1% local income tax and distributes it to cities and towns under a formula set by state law—a system that has been largely unchanged for 50 years. But beginning in 2028, local governments will set their own income tax rates, within state limits.
Fishers City Council will establish its 2028 income tax rate during a three-month window between July 1 and October 1, 2027, and will set the rate annually going forward. Fadness urged council members not to shy away from the new responsibility, arguing it will give Fishers greater control over its financial future. “I think this will be a good thing for Fishers residents long term,” he said.
One potential complication, according to Reuter, involves credit rating agencies. Firms such as Standard & Poor’s may be cautious about debt backed by income tax revenue if city councils can later reduce those tax rates, which could prompt further action by state lawmakers.
Fishers’ end-of-summer tradition returns this Labor Day weekend as the 13th Annual Fishers Blues Fest takes over the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. The free, two-night festival is set for Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, featuring a mix of local talent and nationally acclaimed blues artists.
Organizers describe the event as one of the most accessible blues festivals in the country, with no admission charge and free parking in the areas surrounding the amphitheater. The event is open to all ages.
Saturday, Aug. 30 Lineup
Ruthie Foster, 8:30–10 p.m.
TBD, 7:15–8:15 p.m.
Danny Garwood, 6–7 p.m.
Tommy Baldwin, 5–5:45 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31 Lineup
D.K. Harrell, 8:30–10 p.m.
Solomon Hicks, 7:15–8:15 p.m.
Gordon Bonham Blues Band, 6–7 p.m.
Rebekah Meldrum, 5–5:45 p.m.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and coolers, though outside alcohol is prohibited under state law. Food, drinks, and alcohol will be available for purchase from on-site vendors.
The closing act Sunday night, D.K Harrell, is known as an up-and-coming young blues artist who writes many of his own songs. Released on June 20, 2025, via Alligator Records, his Talkin’ Heavy album marks his debut with the legendary blues label. The album features 12 original songs showcasing his stinging single-note string bending, emotive, church-rooted vocals, and a balanced fusion of traditional blues with contemporary lyrical flair.
Saturday night’s closing act features Ruthie Foster. Born in 1964 to a family steeped in gospel music, Foster’s powerful voice and unique blend of blues, gospel, folk, soul, and jazz have drawn frequent comparisons to legends like Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin.
The Fishers Blues Fest has been a Labor Day staple for more than a decade, drawing blues enthusiasts from across central Indiana and beyond.
