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Welcome back to Meatless Monday, where we try to find the best meat-free meals in Indy.

Y'all. I'm going to get right to it because this is, hands down, the best thing I've eaten in the last five months of writing Meatless Mondays.

The place is perennially veg-friendly La Margarita in Fountain Square. Most of their menu can be made with a variety of seitan options, vegan chorizo or seasonal veggies.

Yes, but: While that's all good, the chipotle is great.

What to order: Chipotle, with the seitan strips. The star of the show is the most succulent seitan strips cooked with tender cactus in a creamy, chipotle sauce. It is so, so good.

It's served with rice, beans, guac and tortillas.

The intrigue: La Marg uses seitan from Three Carrots, which closed yesterday. The restaurant says it has enough for a few weeks while it figures out a replacement. They assured me, though, that they'll keep their meat-free friends happy.

Meatless Monday: Chipotle seitan at La Margarita

The creamy chipotle sauce and the tender seitan strips are a winning combination.

Can you see how good that sauce is?! Photo: Arika Herron/Axios

Indianapolis, Indiana

Welcome back to Meatless Monday, where we try to find the best meat-free meals in Indy.Y&#x27;all. I&#x27;m going to get right to it because this is, hands down, the best thing I&#x27;ve eaten in the last five months of writing Meatless Mondays.

Food and Drink

For the first time this election cycle, Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett and his Republican challenger Jefferson Shreve appeared onstage together last night.

Driving the news: During an hourlong question-and-answer mayoral forum hosted by Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis and Indiana Landmarks, the candidates answered questions about the most pressing concerns of neighborhoods and residents.

In front of a crowd of approximately 250, each took questions on residential roads, affordable housing, pedestrian safety, crime, the city's struggling animal shelter and whether or not to close Monument Circle to traffic permanently.

Yes, but: It wasn't quite a debate as they were instructed not to address each other.

Yes, but (but): Shreve did address the mayor in his opening remarks, taking issue with "sharp-elbowed" ads that Shreve said have "reduced me to edited sound bites."

Quick take: The biggest applause of the night went to Hogsett, following a comment from Shreve about people telling him they don't go downtown because of real or perceived safety concerns.

"While there have been people who have said to me that they're afraid to come downtown, they don't live downtown," Hogsett said.

The intrigue: When asked about continuing the SPARK program that has temporarily closed a portion of Monument Circle, Hogsett said he supported the temporary park and will use the results of its run to consider the future of the Circle, leaving open the door for a more permanent closure to traffic.

Shreve said he would not close the Circle to traffic.

What we're watching: Compared to the Republican presidential debate the night before, the forum was downright friendly but there were a few pointed moments that make us wonder if those "sharp elbows" will emerge during next month's first true debate.

Hogsett, Shreve share a stage in mayoral forum

Three men on a stage in front of a crowd. 

The first time Jefferson Shreve (right) has appeared on stage with Mayor Joe Hogsett (seated, left) during the campaign. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios

For the first time this election cycle, Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett and his Republican challenger Jefferson Shreve appeared onstage together last night.Driving the news: During an hourlong question-and-answer mayoral forum hosted by Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis and Indiana Landmarks, the candidates answered questions about the most pressing concerns of neighborhoods and residents.

News

Politics

Whats Next

Axios What's Next

Data: U.S. Census; Note: Includes women ages 16 to 50; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios

The share of new moms in the Indianapolis area participating in the workforce — higher than the national average — is particularly at risk with an impending child care affordability crisis.

Why it matters: Motherhood often knocks women out of the labor force, at least temporarily — often slowing their career and earnings growth and contributing to the gender pay gap.

By the numbers: 71.3% of Indy women who gave birth in the previous 12 months were participating in the labor force as of 2022, per the latest American Community Survey data.

That's compared to 71.5% in 2021, and 63.9% in 2010.

The big picture: Nationally, the percentage of women who recently gave birth and are participating in the workforce reached a decade-plus high last year, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.

66.6% of U.S. women who gave birth in the previous 12 months were participating in the labor force as of 2022.

That's compared to 66.5% in 2021, and 61.6% in 2010.

Driving the news: Remote and flexible work is making it easier for new moms to juggle both parenting and their careers, Axios' Emily Peck has reported.

In fact, the workplace gender gap is at a record low.

That's true for new dads, too — but women tend to bear the brunt of work/life priority changes brought on by parenthood.

Between the lines: One complicating factor is the skyrocketing cost of child care, which is driven in part by a lack of supply and low caretaker pay.

As care gets more expensive, more and more families are put in the difficult position of deciding whether it makes sense for both parents to work, or for one to stay home and watch the kids.

Often, it's mothers who wind up staying home — in part because they likely make less to begin with.

What we're watching: Whether the loss of federal funding for child care facilities reverses the trend of more moms in the workforce.

Plus: Some employers are desperately trying to drag workers back to the office, but are finding mixed success as many employees embrace a lifestyle that affords better flexibility — whether to raise a family, pursue a hobby or simply avoid a stressful commute.

an impending child care affordability crisis.

Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report

New moms are working at record rates

As child care centers face closure, it could reverse a decade-long trend.

The share of new moms in the Indianapolis area participating in the workforce — higher than the national average — is particularly at risk with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an impending child care affordability crisis." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2023/10/02/indiana-child-care-centers-closing" data-vars-content-id="34f740d5-5b1b-4605-a23f-49d4ea70b8bc" data-vars-headline="New moms are working at record rates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2023/10/02/indiana-child-care-centers-closing" target="_self">an impending child care affordability crisis.</a>Why it matters: Motherhood often knocks women out of the labor force, at least temporarily — often slowing their career and earnings growth and contributing to the gender pay gap.

An impending federal government shutdown could impact services and paychecks for thousands of Hoosiers as soon as this weekend.

Driving the news: Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government. Deals can — and do — come together quickly, but it's not looking good.

The big picture: If a government shutdown takes place, federal functions deemed nonessential could be suspended, affecting health programs, government assistance, Food and Drug Administration inspections, and small business loans, Axios' Sareen Habeshian writes.

Paychecks will be paused for all federal employees, whether they're deemed essential or not.

Zoom in: More than 20,000 Hoosiers are employed by the federal government, per WFYI.

Hundreds of thousands more rely on federal aid programs — including nearly 150,000 women, children and infants at risk of losing WIC benefits, according to the White House.

Zoom out: Mail delivery, Social Security payments, and health care for veterans and Medicare and Medicaid recipients will continue across the nation.

Commercial air travel will also continue, though TSA and air traffic controllers will be working without pay, which could lead to staffing issues if people decide not to show up for work.

Yes, but: The Small Business Administration, the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture will stop processing some new loans, per a memo from the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, an advisory arm of congressional Democrats.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding will continue through October, but a federal program that offers food aid and other services to low-income mothers would be reduced immediately.

The Social Security Administration would pause benefit verifications and earnings record corrections and updates, and Medicare would be unable to send replacement cards.

Plus: National park facilities that require staff, including restrooms, visitors' centers, and campgrounds, would be paused during a shutdown.

That could mean reduced access and services at the Indiana Dunes in northwest Indiana.

What we're watching: Gov. Eric Holcomb told reporters at an event this week that the state was preparing for a shutdown while hoping that "cooler heads prevail."

What they're saying: Paul Helmke, professor of practice at the IU O'Neill School, said most people probably won't feel the effects of a brief shutdown.

"If the shutdown goes for more than a few days it could end up impacting the economy significantly," he said. "It could affect the nation's credit rating. It means there's going to be lost productivity, lost buying power and that could end up impacting all of us."

How a federal government shutdown impacts Indiana

While essential services will continue, some benefits are at risk.

Illustration of the Capitol dome opening up to reveal an emergency button with a hand hovering above about to press it. 

Indiana

An impending federal government shutdown could impact services and paychecks for thousands of Hoosiers as soon as this weekend.Driving the news: Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government. Deals can — and do — come together quickly, but it&#x27;s not looking good.

Indiana is teetering on the edge of a "child care cliff" after pandemic-era federal relief funding for the industry ran out over the weekend.

Driving the news: Without intervention, nearly 50,000 Hoosier children are expected to lose child care, according to an analysis by the Century Foundation.

The national think tank estimates more than 1,000 Indiana child care programs could close.

Why it matters: Hoosier families stand to lose more than $100 million in earnings as a result of being forced to cut work hours or leave the workforce, and employers could lose even more from employee productivity, according to the report.

The big picture: Indiana has already a gap in capacity.

There are more than 500,000 Hoosier children age 5 and under, according to Early Learning Indiana, and two-thirds of them need child care so their parents can work.

40% of those kids live in a child care desert, where there are only enough seats for one-third of them.

Plus: Child care is already expensive, and the loss of federal funding for providers could make it more so.

In Marion County, the average cost of full-time child care is more than $10,000 a year, according to Early Learning Indiana.

By the numbers: According to Brighter Futures Indiana, more than 3,300 Hoosier child care programs received stabilization grants through the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and 2022, totaling more than $540 million in assistance.

More than $132 million went to providers in Marion County.

Nearly $50 million went to Hamilton County providers.

Reality check: The federal funding amounted to a $24 billion Band-Aid patched over an industry that's long struggled across the nation.

What's next: If the dire forecasts prove true, millions of parents — particularly mothers — are going to be left with some hard choices.

Hundreds of Indiana child care centers at risk of closing

Pandemic-era federal funding has expired.

Illustration of a child guiding a green toy train with dollar sign wheels off the edge of a table

Indiana is teetering on the edge of a &quot;child care cliff&quot; after pandemic-era federal relief funding for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="industry" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32854496.83/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjMvMDYvMTUvY2hpbGQtY2FyZS1kYXljYXJlLWNvc3RzLXN0YXRlcy1wYXJlbnRzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/640f7c5c36086bd62b01053cBf1bdbaaa" data-vars-content-id="e54fae67-4102-4d4e-a0df-6f081141a2c0" data-vars-headline="Hundreds of Indiana child care centers at risk of closing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32854496.83/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjMvMDYvMTUvY2hpbGQtY2FyZS1kYXljYXJlLWNvc3RzLXN0YXRlcy1wYXJlbnRzP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zZW5kdG9fbG9jYWxuZXdzbGV0dGVydGVzdCZzdHJlYW09dG9w/640f7c5c36086bd62b01053cBf1bdbaaa" target="_blank">industry</a> ran out over the weekend.Driving the news: Without intervention, nearly 50,000 Hoosier children are expected to lose child care, according to an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/32854496.83/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly90Y2YtY2NzLW1hcC5uZXRsaWZ5LmFwcC9hc3NldHMvZmFjdHNoZWV0cy9DaGlsZCUyNTIwQ2FyZSUyNTIwU3RhdGUlMjUyMEZhY3QlMjUyMFNoZWV0JTI1MjAtJTI1MjBUZXhhcy5wZGYmcz0xMjUwMjUmbj05MjVkNGJhYiZ0PTYyOTk4OTAyN2YxMTFlM2RiZTlhY2NlYWU1OTQyYzk0MDY0ODAwYTAmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/640f7c5c36086bd62b01053cB3225d8ac" data-vars-content-id="e54fae67-4102-4d4e-a0df-6f081141a2c0" data-vars-headline="Hundreds of Indiana child care centers at risk of closing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/32854496.83/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2JyaWRnZT91cmw9aHR0cHM6Ly90Y2YtY2NzLW1hcC5uZXRsaWZ5LmFwcC9hc3NldHMvZmFjdHNoZWV0cy9DaGlsZCUyNTIwQ2FyZSUyNTIwU3RhdGUlMjUyMEZhY3QlMjUyMFNoZWV0JTI1MjAtJTI1MjBUZXhhcy5wZGYmcz0xMjUwMjUmbj05MjVkNGJhYiZ0PTYyOTk4OTAyN2YxMTFlM2RiZTlhY2NlYWU1OTQyYzk0MDY0ODAwYTAmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/640f7c5c36086bd62b01053cB3225d8ac" target="_blank">analysis</a> by the Century Foundation.

Arika Herron

Featured stories

Hundreds of Indiana child care centers at risk of closing

New moms are working at record rates

Meatless Monday: Chipotle seitan at La Margarita

How a federal government shutdown impacts Indiana

Hogsett, Shreve share a stage in mayoral forum