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Carmel's worst flood damage may still be coming

Carmel officials are monitoring a flurry of flooding unknowns around the clock to determine how disruptive recovery efforts could become.

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Carmel officials are monitoring a flurry of flooding unknowns around the clock to determine how disruptive recovery efforts could become — including a potentially dangerous connection between the White River and a southeast-side quarry.Why it matters: Despite falling water levels, the most consequential effects for Carmel could still unfold as floodwaters reshape the landscape, threaten critical infrastructure, and create new public safety risks for residents.

How to help Indiana flood victims

Hundreds of Hoosiers have been displaced as homes and businesses have been damaged and destroyed by floodwaters.Why it matters: While many are looking for help, many more are looking for ways to help.

Danger remains as Indy's historic floodwaters fall

Emergency officials say some of Indianapolis' hardest hit areas remain unsafe for the Hoosiers who call them home.

Central Indiana’s historic floodwaters are receding, but emergency officials say some of Indianapolis’ hardest-hit areas remain unsafe for the Hoosiers who call them home.Why it matters: The weekend flooding broke a 113-year record on the White River and has been linked to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multiple deaths statewide" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/flooding-indiana-severe-weather-aa3624a3ff1a0d241f62ec980a23e856" data-vars-content-id="e613548d-edb2-4777-a361-2b722cab0270" data-vars-headline="Danger remains as Indy&#x27;s historic floodwaters fall" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/flooding-indiana-severe-weather-aa3624a3ff1a0d241f62ec980a23e856" target="_blank">multiple deaths statewide</a>, prompting local disaster response and a federal emergency declaration for Indiana.

Carmel weighs rewriting housing rules

Carmel leaders are working to make room for more housing choices while protecting the character and privacy of existing neighborhoods. in the process.

Carmel residents urged city leaders to make room for more housing choices while warning them not to sacrifice the character and privacy of existing neighborhoods in the process.Why it matters: The fast-growing suburb is nearly built out, and officials say its housing stock increasingly doesn&#x27;t match the needs of the people who live there or desire to move there.

Indianapolis mirrors nationwide violent crime decline 

Indianapolis is one of the major U.S. cities contributing to a historic drop in homicides over the past three years.

Indianapolis is one of the major U.S. cities contributing to a historic drop in homicides over the past three years, and an overall decline in violent crime that now spans two presidencies.Why it matters: Experts warn that progress won&#x27;t last without the right blend of funding, policing and community support.

How SERVE Village is turning Hoosier hospitality into critical flood relief

The nonprofit is turning an extraordinary wave of volunteerism into aid for the people who need it most.

As Central Indiana digs out from historic flooding, a Hamilton County nonprofit is turning an extraordinary wave of volunteerism into organized aid for the people who need it most.Why it matters: The White River crested at a record 24.6 feet in Noblesville over the weekend, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leaving residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/18/help-needed-ravenswood-flood-cleanup" data-vars-content-id="8f1b64ba-cfe9-4f5d-8f27-5e7e322c2b97" data-vars-headline="How SERVE Village is turning Hoosier hospitality into critical flood relief" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/18/help-needed-ravenswood-flood-cleanup" target="_self">leaving residents</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="critical infrastructure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/19/historic-flooding-strains-carmel-infrastructure" data-vars-content-id="8f1b64ba-cfe9-4f5d-8f27-5e7e322c2b97" data-vars-headline="How SERVE Village is turning Hoosier hospitality into critical flood relief" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/19/historic-flooding-strains-carmel-infrastructure" target="_self">critical infrastructure</a> across the region facing a long, difficult recovery.

Meet the Maker: The 2026 ARTI Award winners 

Meet the creators and organizations being honored for pushing arts and culture forward in Indianapolis.

Meet the six creators and organizations being honored this week for moving the arts and culture needle in Indy.The inspo: Since 1987, the Indy Arts Council ARTI award winners have been recognized during the council&#x27;s Start With Art Celebration that launches the fall art, gallery and cultural season.

Indy data center moratorium unanimously approved

Data center protesters cheers as the pause on new development was approved. But the meeting wasn't all smiles.

Wednesday&#x27;s Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission meeting ended with loud applause and the unanimous approval of a moratorium on all new data center development in the city of Indianapolis.Why it matters: Strong community pushback and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="demonstrations during previous public hearings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/07/01/data-center-rules-vote-protest" data-vars-content-id="a09c0a22-5b05-4c36-afde-d30e257c8e83" data-vars-headline="Indy data center moratorium unanimously approved" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/07/01/data-center-rules-vote-protest" target="_self">demonstrations during previous public hearings</a> are some of the key factors that contributed to the result.

Old News: Indy's last historic flood 

The Great Flood of 1913 was unlike anything Indianapolis had ever seen. Until last week.

The Great Flood of 1913 drowned West Indianapolis, destroyed the Washington Street bridge and forced 7,000 families from their homes.Why it matters: Floodwaters that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tore through the Hoosier state" data-vars-click-url="https://www.weather.gov/ind/march_1913_flood" data-vars-content-id="82849fe3-7ea6-4e13-83ce-9df09f42249b" data-vars-headline="Old News: Indy&#x27;s last historic flood " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.weather.gov/ind/march_1913_flood" target="_blank">tore through the Hoosier state</a> 113 years ago provided a benchmark for every subsequent flood.

Help needed in Ravenswood as cleanup begins

The north side neighborhood has a long road to recovery after devastating flooding.

Everything. That&#x27;s what several residents of the Ravenswood neighborhood told volunteers they needed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="help" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" data-vars-content-id="da8a5b02-80a1-44ea-9411-3017141ac81a" data-vars-headline="Help needed in Ravenswood as cleanup begins" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" target="_self">help</a> with when cleanup efforts began Tuesday morning.Why it matters: The north-side neighborhood was one of the hardest hit by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last weekend&#x27;s disastrous floods" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indy-s-floodwaters-are-falling-but-the-danger-isn-t-over" data-vars-content-id="da8a5b02-80a1-44ea-9411-3017141ac81a" data-vars-headline="Help needed in Ravenswood as cleanup begins" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indy-s-floodwaters-are-falling-but-the-danger-isn-t-over" target="_self">last weekend&#x27;s disastrous floods</a>, so inundated that some areas are still inaccessible.

Indiana State Fair starts final week in the wake of severe storms 

This year's Indiana State Fair run has become a real-time test of Hoosier grit.

The Indiana State Fair rolls into its closing week a little soaked but still standing after severe storms turned this year&#x27;s run into a real-time test of Hoosier grit.Why it matters: The fair absorbed repeated closures and a historic regional flood, forcing an emergency declaration for the state even as the fairgrounds themselves largely stayed open for business.

Indiana Black Legislative Caucus calls Braun's order ending MWBE programs illegal

Last month, Gov. Braun ended a program that gave preference to minority- and women-owned businesses in state contracts.

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus says it will fight back against what it says was an illegal action by Gov. Mike Braun, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ending programs that gave preference to minority- and women-owned businesses" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/07/16/braun-ends-indiana-programs-supporting-minority-and-women-owned-businesses" data-vars-content-id="2c272074-5bfb-4932-85a4-b72baaebd966" data-vars-headline="Indiana Black Legislative Caucus calls Braun&#x27;s order ending MWBE programs illegal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/07/16/braun-ends-indiana-programs-supporting-minority-and-women-owned-businesses" target="_self">ending programs that gave preference to minority- and women-owned businesses</a> in state contracts.Catch up quick: Indiana&#x27;s race- and sex-based spending goals for most state contracts pushed state agencies and government contractors to allocate a minimum percentage of state funds spent on contracts to businesses owned by minority groups or women.

News 🗞

Indianapolis mirrors nationwide violent crime decline

How SERVE Village is turning Hoosier hospitality into critical flood relief

Meet the Maker: The 2026 ARTI Award winners

Carmel weighs rewriting housing rules

Indy data center moratorium unanimously approved