Dear Indy,
Lawmakers yesterday spent a lot of time on two bills targeting Indianapolis efforts to address quality of life.
House Bill 1199, which initially would have repealed the city’s new downtown funding district, received a pretty big change in a Senate committee that resulted in a bipartisan, unanimous vote.
But Senate Bill 52, the Blue Line bill, faced a delay after three hours of testimony in a House committee. The committee chair decided to wait until next Tuesday to discuss possible amendments and potentially hold a vote.
It was a busy day. We have a new story breaking it all down.
Know someone who might like this newsletter?
Click here to forward this email to them.
In other news
- It’s not just a shark. Batman, too, has made an appearance in a revived pothole photo series because Chris Bucher is not the photographer Indy deserved, but the photographer we needed.
- Every pregnant Indiana woman who was tested in a study was found to have been exposed to an herbicide linked to lymphoma, kidney damage and potential birth defects. Read more about the study here.
- If you haven’t already finished your (or your kid’s) FAFSA, please consider this your friendly reminder that free help is available. The latest is College Goal Sunday, scheduled for 2-4 p.m. this Sunday at six Marion County schools. Learn more here.
What’s going on around the city
- Friday, February 23: Local punk rockers Dana Skully and the Tiger Sharks open for Pennsylvania-based folk punk band Apes of the State and the Colorado-based Doom Scroll at Healer, 3631 East Raymond St. Doors open at 7 p.m., tickets are $17 before the show, $20 at the door. 21+
- Saturday, February 24: The Indianapolis Public Library will launch its Spring 2024 Nonprofit Workshop Series at the Central branch location, 40 St. Clair St. The program, which runs through March 30, is open to members of the public interested in learning more about building a nonprofit organization. Free.
- Thursday, February 29: Phiri Art, 120 E. Market St., will host its weekly Rhythm & Poetry open mic night. On the last day of Black History Month, attendees can expect to hear poems and works about Black excellence and Black history. Tickets are $10.
— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter
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.
What else we’re reading today
- Indiana Capital Chronicle: Saying cities like Indianapolis “stepped out of their lane and encroached on the state’s authority,” State Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, urged his colleagues to support a new bill that would overrule local laws that prevented the commercial sale of dogs. One example of a local law that would be overruled is Indy’s ordinance which aimed to stop puppy mills and ease overcrowding in animal shelters. State senators approved the new bill, though, and now it heads back to the House.
- Side Effects Public Media: A colonoscopy is typically considered a preventative screening that should be free for patients. But when a woman received care at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, she was surprised with a $765 bill. Her experience is a good example of the ways that patients are forced to navigate a complicated exchange between hospitals and health insurance companies.
Notes from our Documenters
Last week, Indy Documenter Bréone Dupree covered the Indianapolis Airport Authority board and Helping Others Prosper Economically (H.O.P.E.) Team meetings.
During the airport board meeting, we learned that the terminal parking garage is being expanded for a more convenient on-site rental car experience and more public parking.
During the H.O.P.E. Team meeting, Founder Kim Boyd shared recent wins from her team. Their 2023 Christmas initiative focused less on toys and more on homeless adults and children in need. They also supplied food, clothes, school supplies and bus passes during the holiday season.
“We’re all busy people trying to change the city and improve the life of the residents of this city,” Boyd said.
— Ariana Beedie, community journalism director
Interested in being a Documenter? Here’s how.
Reflections
That’s it for today. 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.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
