Latest News & Updates

Man and woman found dead at northwest side apartment in apparent murder-suicide

IMPD officers were called to Colonial Square Apartments in the 4400 block of Moller Rd., just south of W. 46th St., shortly after 8 a.m. Thursday on a report of a person shot. They found a man and a woman dead inside. IMPD spokesperson Tommy Thompson said the man had a gunshot wound and the woman had trauma injuries. Two guns were recovered.

WISH-TV reports investigators believe the man killed the woman and then shot himself. The woman's family told the station she was 26, a mother of two who was studying nursing, and that the man was her former boyfriend. The coroner has not released identities. Two young children were in the apartment and ran to a neighbor for help. Victim assistance staff and the Department of Child Services responded.

Danyette Smith of the Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation told WISH-TV this was the ninth domestic violence homicide in the city in the past week. City-County Council President Maggie A. Lewis issued a statement urging residents to check on one another.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For domestic violence help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Sources: WISH-TV, WISH-TV (initial report) · Oct. 22

DPW to begin removing temporary traffic calming installations ahead of winter

FOX59 reports the Department of Public Works will start removing several temporary traffic calming installations this weekend before winter weather. The installations were always meant to be temporary, and the city's stated goal is permanent safety changes at those intersections. One site is E. 16th St. and the Monon Trail, where the neighborhood group 16xMonon says the measures cut crashes and near misses by 73%. The full list of affected locations was not available at publication.

Source: FOX59 · Oct. 22

Cultural Trail tests new wayfinding signs on Washington St.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail has installed pilot wayfinding signs along its Washington St. stretch, from West St. to Alabama St. The signs show trail maps, nearby attractions and public art. The roughly $50,000 pilot is funded by a READI 2.0 grant; signs for the rest of the 10-mile trail would cost about $500,000.

A public feedback survey is open through Dec. 15. Director Kären Haley told WFYI the group hopes to finish the remaining signs by the end of 2027, though that could slip to 2028.

Source: WFYI · Oct. 22

Sahm Park reopens as city nears end of $80 million Lilly Endowment park projects

The city reopened Sahm Park, 6801 E. 91st St., on Thursday with a new playground, shelter, pickleball courts and a renovated tennis pavilion. WRTV reports 39 of the 40 projects funded by the $80 million Lilly Endowment grant are complete or on track to finish by early 2027. The last, at Lt. Graham Edward Martin Park, is expected in late 2027.

The 2027 city budget includes a 20% increase for parks facility maintenance and $2.1 million for playground and court improvements. Mayor Joe Hogsett called the reopening an important milestone in upgrading public spaces.

Source: WRTV · Oct. 22

Truck repair company withdraws rezoning request for south side wetland

Mirror Indy reports Punjab Property Inc. has withdrawn its petition to rezone about 10 acres of wetland near 8600 Combs Rd. in Franklin Township for a semi-truck repair business expansion. The wetland connects to Pleasant Run Creek. City planning staff had recommended denial, and neighbors had opposed the request for months.

The company may file a new petition starting in January 2027. Its attorney did not respond to Mirror Indy's requests for comment.

Source: Mirror Indy · Oct. 23

City says it will clean, not close, Fall Creek Trail homeless camp

The city plans to clean the homeless encampment under the Monon Trail bridge near Fall Creek Pkwy. starting around Oct. 27, Mirror Indy reports. Jamia Dinkins, a spokesperson for the Office of Public Health and Safety, said earlier reports that the camp would be closed were not accurate.

It is not clear how many people live at the camp. The city referred questions to Horizon House, which did not respond. Trail users have reported debris on the trail.

Source: Mirror Indy · Oct. 22

Developer outlines resort plan for Washington Square Mall site

BRC Commercial Properties held a community meeting in Warren Township on its plan for the Washington Square Mall property. CEO Britt Wagner said the company has a purchase agreement and expects to close a deal with the property's 12 owners in three to four weeks. The plan calls for tearing down the mall and building the Washington Square Grand Resort and Conference Center, with about 2,000 hotel rooms.

Proposed features, which are not final, include senior housing, a kids zone, a spa, rooftop dining, an upgraded theater and a Ferris wheel. The company hopes to start construction by late 2027. Residents who spoke to WRTV said they support the project.

Source: WRTV · Oct. 23

Justice Department to send election monitors to Marion County on Nov. 3

The Marion County Election Board was notified Oct. 21 that the U.S. Department of Justice plans to send monitors on Election Day to check compliance with federal law. Marion and Lake are the only Indiana counties designated. Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said the board has not been told what prompted the designation or what the monitors will do beyond observing. The board recently approved a policy for poll workers on interacting with federal officials, and poll workers have been trained on it.

U.S. Rep. André Carson said the counties were chosen because of their concentrations of Democratic, Black and Hispanic voters. The Justice Department's reasons have not been reported.

Sources: WRTV, WFYI · Oct. 22