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Construction snarls traffic, slows business between Indy and Carmel

Phase 3 of the ongoing Level Up 31 project has clogged up one of the most common corridors connecting Marion and Hamilton counties.

News

If you&#x27;re making the trip between Indy and Carmel anytime soon, leave early — because part of Meridian will be a mess between now and November.Why it matters: The six-month closure is disrupting one of central Indiana&#x27;s busiest commuter routes and creating new headaches for businesses that rely on passing traffic.

Chaos gardening helps native plants take root

Local advocates say the social media trend is booming and that's great for biodiversity.

Things to Do

Chaos gardening — the viral<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" TikTok" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chaosgardening" data-vars-content-id="b2afb48c-4e7a-4aea-9163-b387f1de72a2" data-vars-headline="Chaos gardening helps native plants take root" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/chaosgardening" target="_blank"> TikTok</a> trend of scattering seeds and &quot;letting nature decide&quot; — is taking root as demand for native<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" plants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/08/backyard-pond-plant-care" data-vars-content-id="b2afb48c-4e7a-4aea-9163-b387f1de72a2" data-vars-headline="Chaos gardening helps native plants take root" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/08/backyard-pond-plant-care" target="_self"> plants</a> is rising.Why it matters: Native chaos gardens appeal to homeowners seeking lower-maintenance yards that also support local wildlife.

How Indy's rising electricity bills stack up

Indianapolis residents already paying about 27% more than they were five years ago are facing another rate increase.

The average Marion County electric bill has gone up by more than 25% over the past five years.Why it matters: More than 500,000 Indy-area AES customers will find out this month whether their bills will get even higher as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rate hike requested one year ago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/12/15/aes-customers-opposition-rate-hike-settlement" data-vars-content-id="af4feed7-de74-4341-ac42-1b88b7bcc4d9" data-vars-headline="How Indy&#x27;s rising electricity bills stack up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/12/15/aes-customers-opposition-rate-hike-settlement" target="_self">rate hike requested one year ago</a> nears the decision deadline.

Chicago Bears move forward with Indiana stadium

The Bears announced Friday they are advancing their stadium project in Hammond.

Sports

The Hammond Bears are happening, people! Well, maybe.Driving the news: It&#x27;s unlikely the team will be renamed, but the Chicago Bears board of directors voted Thursday to advance <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a stadium project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" data-vars-content-id="09ae9493-b975-402a-97af-6465790a0f20" data-vars-headline="Chicago Bears move forward with Indiana stadium" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" target="_self">a stadium project</a> in Northwest Indiana.

Breathing new life into Lugar Plaza

An effort to shift the energy around the troubled downtown space is ramping up this summer.

The ongoing reclamation of Richard G. Lugar Plaza <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="after years of hardship" data-vars-click-url="https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/city-reclaiming-lugar-plaza-for-lunchtime-crowds/" data-vars-content-id="adf1c878-afa9-4b8d-a35b-b0c1874e2c14" data-vars-headline="Breathing new life into Lugar Plaza" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/city-reclaiming-lugar-plaza-for-lunchtime-crowds/" target="_blank">after years of hardship</a> is ramping up this summer with programming designed to bring buzz back to Indy&#x27;s newest park.Why it matters: Unlike changes that aim to make Indianapolis <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a more attractive tourist destination" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2024/06/07/indiana-convention-center-expansion-gen-con-tourism" data-vars-content-id="adf1c878-afa9-4b8d-a35b-b0c1874e2c14" data-vars-headline="Breathing new life into Lugar Plaza" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2024/06/07/indiana-convention-center-expansion-gen-con-tourism" target="_self">a more attractive tourist destination</a>, Lugar Plaza&#x27;s revitalization is focused on creating a better experience for denizens <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="who depend on downtown daily" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/09/30/state-of-downtown-indianapolis" data-vars-content-id="adf1c878-afa9-4b8d-a35b-b0c1874e2c14" data-vars-headline="Breathing new life into Lugar Plaza" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/09/30/state-of-downtown-indianapolis" target="_self">who depend on downtown daily</a>.

Meet The Maker: Kyng Rhodes

Meet a prolific Indy visual artist with a growing list of accomplishments.

Meet Kyng Rhodes, a prolific Indy visual artist on the rise who will add two more major accomplishments to his resume this month.The inspo: A member of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eighteen Art Collective" data-vars-click-url="https://www.18artcollective.com/artcollectivellc" data-vars-content-id="d788b42d-edc1-44b3-a165-017c0377d739" data-vars-headline="Meet The Maker: Kyng Rhodes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.18artcollective.com/artcollectivellc" target="_blank">Eighteen Art Collective</a> formed amid pandemic-era protests, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rhodes says" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kyngrhodes.com/about" data-vars-content-id="d788b42d-edc1-44b3-a165-017c0377d739" data-vars-headline="Meet The Maker: Kyng Rhodes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kyngrhodes.com/about" target="_blank">Rhodes says</a> the essence of his work is &quot;bold and captivating colors&quot; that reflect the emotions that inspire him as he creates.

Gov. Mike Braun extends gas tax suspension to July

Every month that the gas use tax is suspended costs the state about $50 million.

Gov. Mike Braun has again extended tax suspensions, giving Indiana the cheapest gas in the country.Why it matters: Those suspensions can only be extended one more time and will expire for good this summer, which means <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher gas prices driven by the Iran war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/02/oil-economy-iran-china" data-vars-content-id="6d7cc086-b889-4ac2-9be3-2dd4ddf150b6" data-vars-headline="Gov. Mike Braun extends gas tax suspension to July" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/02/oil-economy-iran-china" target="_self">higher gas prices driven by the Iran war</a> could come back if a solution isn&#x27;t reached.

Cultural Trail considers how to thrive into its next 20 years

A new report describes how the Indianapolis trail drives value for downtown.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is growing up.Why it matters: Annually, more than 1 million people use at least a portion of the 10-mile trail that connects downtown&#x27;s cultural districts, institutions and destinations.

Paying for IndyGo rides will change this summer

The revamped fare system will let riders do everything by phone, with tap-to-pay coming later.

IndyGo is changing the way patrons pay for rides starting next month.Why it matters: The revamped fare collection system continues a year of transformation for IndyGo that started with the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="company&#x27;s first rate increase" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/41246061.20336/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5keXN0YXIuY29tL3N0b3J5L25ld3MvbG9jYWwvdHJhbnNwb3J0YXRpb24vMjAyNS8wOC8yMS9pbmR5Z28tYXBwcm92ZXMtZmFyZS1oaWtlLW5ldy1idXMtZmFyZS1jb3N0cy84NTc1NjQwNzAwNy8_Z250LWNmcj0xJmdjYS1jYXQ9cCZnY2EtdWlyPXRydWUmZ2NhLWVwdGk9ejExNzI0OHAxMTg0NTBjMTE4NDUwZTAwNDQwMHYxMTcyNDhkMTE2NDI4JmdjYS1mdD0xNDAmZ2NhLWRzPXNvcGhpJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfaW5kaWFuYXBvbGlzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/659482ca1b0dac2d460460ccB0a07c10f" data-vars-content-id="3523ef89-68ac-4daf-9141-0a3b5ecf3a19" data-vars-headline="Paying for IndyGo rides will change this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/41246061.20336/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5keXN0YXIuY29tL3N0b3J5L25ld3MvbG9jYWwvdHJhbnNwb3J0YXRpb24vMjAyNS8wOC8yMS9pbmR5Z28tYXBwcm92ZXMtZmFyZS1oaWtlLW5ldy1idXMtZmFyZS1jb3N0cy84NTc1NjQwNzAwNy8_Z250LWNmcj0xJmdjYS1jYXQ9cCZnY2EtdWlyPXRydWUmZ2NhLWVwdGk9ejExNzI0OHAxMTg0NTBjMTE4NDUwZTAwNDQwMHYxMTcyNDhkMTE2NDI4JmdjYS1mdD0xNDAmZ2NhLWRzPXNvcGhpJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1uZXdzbGV0dGVyX2F4aW9zbG9jYWxfaW5kaWFuYXBvbGlzJnN0cmVhbT10b3A/659482ca1b0dac2d460460ccB0a07c10f" target="_self">company&#x27;s first rate increase</a> since 2010.

Hogsett, council leaders divided over road funding

Council leaders want to raise vehicle taxes but Hogsett is opposed.

A debate over how to fund improvements to the city&#x27;s crumbling roads is dividing city leaders.The big picture: Council Democrats introduced a plan to raise the vehicle excise surtax and wheel tax for the first time in more than 30 years at Monday&#x27;s Indianapolis City-County Council meeting.

30 Over 30: The Workingman's Friend serves more than flawless smashburgers

Indy's best burger joint always feels like home. No matter how long you've been away.

Welcome back to Axios Indianapolis&#x27; &quot;30 Over 30,&quot; a series celebrating the icons that have shaped our city for 30 years or more.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Workingman&#x27;s Friend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Workingmans-Friend-100045842066302/" data-vars-content-id="185a4998-a9b1-4103-bfae-06747c39449b" data-vars-headline="30 Over 30: The Workingman&#x27;s Friend serves more than flawless smashburgers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Workingmans-Friend-100045842066302/" target="_blank">The Workingman&#x27;s Friend</a> isn&#x27;t just the best burger in town — it&#x27;s a piece of Indianapolis&#x27; working-class soul amid an era of trendy chains and fast-casual concepts.The big picture: The family of a Macedonian immigrant who became a legend for showing goodwill to hungry railroad workers more than a century ago still runs one of Indy&#x27;s most beloved burger joints.

News 🗞

Chicago Bears move forward with Indiana stadium

Breathing new life into Lugar Plaza

Meet The Maker: Kyng Rhodes

Gov. Mike Braun extends gas tax suspension to July

Cultural Trail considers how to thrive into its next 20 years