In The Mirror Newsletter Feb. 26, 2024

Dear Indy,

Rep. Rita Fleming, a Democrat from Jeffersonville, is playing a lot of defense right now.

Against some in her own party.

It has to do with the birth control bill that we first told you about last week. If you missed it, here’s the quick version: A seemingly straightforward bill that would expand birth control access to people covered by Medicaid is now caught in the crossfire over abortion politics in the Indiana Statehouse.

Fleming wants to make sure that patients, after giving birth, have guaranteed access to arm implants that prevent pregnancy. Senate Democrats and some medical professionals, though, were incensed that Fleming’s bill didn’t also include IUDs.

And some of them are saying the only reason the bill does not include IUDs is because of misinformation from an anti-abortion group that conflates IUDs with abortions.

So on Friday, Fleming penned a letter to several lawmakers, including Senate Democrats.

“This should not be politicized,” she wrote in the letter. “It is the optimal way to help women who need it most.”

But at least one Senate Democrat doubled down on her concerns.

Read more here.

Know someone who might like this newsletter?
Click here to forward this email to them.

In other news

David Stockton (pictured) and his wife Lily have run Just Cookies inside Indianapolis City Market for 35 years, where they say fellow business owners have become family. On Feb. 29, the market will close for two years for renovations and it is not clear if businesses currently housed there will be able to return. The Stocktons plan to liquidate their business assets and work part-time elsewhere. Credit: Jenna Watson / Mirror Indy

This week marks the end of City Market as we know it. A two-year closure will enable the city to begin renovations. Owners of the current vendors there, however, say they probably won’t be back. “They made it abundantly clear that current tenants are not coming back and they’re going in a different direction,” said David Stockton, 65, who owns Just Cookies. “What that direction is, I don’t know.” Hear from other vendors here.

It’s (almost) official: Wayne Township officials voted to approve a merger with the Indianapolis Fire Department. There are more details to work out — and the City-County Council must ultimately approve the plan — but township officials are optimistic. And they say township residents are going to save on taxes.

Last week we told you about the House Republican lawmaker’s decision to postpone a vote on the bill that could kill the Blue Line bus project. Today we have a new article explaining what could happen next. And if you thought it was as simple as “Schoolhouse Rock!” — well, you might want to read this.

What’s going on around the city

Tuesday, Feb. 27: Show off your knowledge of music and celebrate community with a night of Black Music History Trivia at Inspire Music Collective, 525 S. Meridian St. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. and is free.

Wednesday, Feb. 28: At 6 p.m. the Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W Washington St., will unveil three works from Ivan McClellan’s “Eight Seconds: Black Cowboys in Rodeo series.” A public talk about McClellan’s work photographing Black cowboys in rodeos will follow the unveiling. Free, but registration required.

Thursday, Feb. 29: Journalist Masha Gessen, author of the National Book Award-winning “The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia,” will read from her works and answer questions at Schrott Center for the Arts, W 46th St., 7:30 p.m. Free.

— Jennifer Delgadillo, arts and culture editor

Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.

Support Journalism
Be part of a local initiative to increase coverage of the
diverse needs of people living in our community.

Donate Today

What else we’re reading today

Fox59: As Keystone moves forward with its Indy Eleven soccer stadium development, Fox59 examines the history of the site, which includes the Greenlawn Cemetery. Spotty recordkeeping has prevented anyone from knowing just how many human remains are still buried at the site, but years of development and utility work have uncovered remains again and again.

IndyStar: Here’s your near-annual reminder that the Indiana General Assembly may profess to believe in “local control” but lawmakers’ actions almost every session suggest otherwise.

Chalkbeat: New FAFSA glitches had prevented children of parents who do not have a Social Security number from filling out the form. Now there’s a workaround.

Notes from our Documenters

This week, we have seven meetings on our schedule.

Today, we will cover the City-County Council’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, the Indianapolis Public Library board and the Decatur Township Civic Council.

Tomorrow, we will cover the City-County Council’s Information Technology Board.

And on Wednesday, we will cover the City-County Council’s Community Affairs Committee, Washington Township School Board and the Indianapolis Public Schools board.

I’ll share what we learn in those meetings. What other meetings should we cover? Let me know.

— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director

Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.

Reflections

Want to have a voice in what might become the next “Ann Dancing”?

A new survey is asking for Indy residents to offer suggestions for public art along the Cultural Trail. We have more information here.

See you tomorrow.

Ryan

P.S. If you liked something about today’s newsletter, or didn’t, let me know at ryan.martin@mirrorindy.org. It helps us serve you better.