Welcome back! It's Monday.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with a high near 72.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Richard Dole!

🍎 Situational awareness: It's World Teachers' Day. Thanks for all you do, educators!

Today’s newsletter is 1,124 words — a 4-minute read.

Today is the deadline to register to vote in next month's election.

Why it matters: Missing today's deadline prevents you from voting on a ballot topped by the secretary of state race and dozens of other state and local races — from congressional seats to school boards.

State of play: Early voting starts tomorrow with Election Day four weeks away (Nov. 3).

• Here's what you need to know about how to vote this year.

Zoom in: Early voting begins tomorrow in Marion County at the City-County Building and is open weekdays from 8am to 5pm.

• Weekend voting, from 11am to 6pm, begins and eight additional early voting centers open Saturday, Oct. 24.
• Early voting ends Sunday, Nov. 1, at the satellite centers and at noon on Nov. 2 at the City-County Building.

How it works: Polls are open from 6am to 6pm (local time) on Election Day.

• Marion County uses vote centers, rather than location-specific polling places, and registered voters can cast a ballot at any of them.
• Voters in other counties can find their polling location at indianavoters.in.gov.

The fine print: Mail-in ballots must be received by or dropped at an official vote center by 6pm (local time) on Election Day to be counted.

• Request a mail-in ballot by Oct. 22 from indianavoters.in.gov.
• You'll need a reason to vote by mail in Indiana — such as being out of the county or at work the entire time the polls are open, if you are 65 or older or have a disability.

The bottom line: If you're not registered yet, there's still (a little) time.

• You'll need a valid Indiana driver's license or state ID card and you must be a citizen of the United States and at least 18 years old on or before Election Day.

Early voting in surrounding counties

This week's news from around the region includes Costco's plans for Westfield, HamCo's transition to vote centers and an early award for a Zionsville nature preserve.

🛒 Westfield's proposed Costco is moving into the next stage of city review, but the project's access plan is already drawing some pushback.

• The 166,739-square-foot warehouse and fueling facility planned for 191st Street and East Street could attract up to 9,000 customers on a typical weekday, plus additional Saturday traffic.
• Costco wants a left-turn entrance from 191st Street, which company officials say is important for shoppers approaching from the west. But some council members have called that access configuration a safety concern.
• A public hearing for the proposal is set for tonight at 7pm inside Zionsville Town Hall.

🗳️ Hamilton County is moving to a countywide vote center model beginning with the 2027 municipal elections.

• The election board unanimously approved the change last week, joining 72 other Indiana counties. So instead of being restricted to an assigned precinct, voters will be able to use any of 57 designated vote centers around the county.
• Most of the sites will be schools and will operate from 6am to 6pm on Election Day. Officials say rolling out the system for the 2027 elections will give them a chance to work out the process before the higher-turnout 2028 presidential election.

🚜 Zionsville Parks and Recreation could take over daily operations at Maplelawn Farmstead next year, potentially giving the historic property a broader role in the town's park system.

Keep reading

🏛️ Democrats selected Lawrence Township Schools board member Shaila Mulholland to replace Ali Brown on the Indianapolis City-County Council. (FOX 59)

🗳️ Marion County adopted a new protocol that directs poll workers to call the election board if federal law enforcement officers, such as ICE or FBI agents, show up at polling places during the upcoming election.

• Federal interference at the polls is illegal and local officials say this is a very unlikely scenario, but they want to assure the public a plan is in place. (WFYI)

🩺 Two dozen measles cases have been reported across Indiana so far this virus season and local health officials say they expect that number to rise. (WRTV)

✈️ Indianapolis International Airport expects a record number of travelers during fall break. Travelers over the next three weeks should expect heavier crowds and longer lines. (WISH-TV)

🚨 Two children were shot and injured when gunfire erupted outside Warren Central High School after a football game against Lawrence North Friday night.

• Both victims were in stable condition by Saturday morning, according to IMPD. (WTHR)

If you envision tiptoeing through tulips or dancing among daffodils next spring, it's about time to get those bulbs in the ground.

Why it matters: Spring-flowering bulbs need cool soil but also enough time to establish roots before the ground freezes. Planting too early or too late can hurt their chances for a strong bloom.

Zoom in: The timing largely follows climate, according to Axios' analysis of Cooperative Extension, a nationwide network of state university-based programs that provides research-backed local advice.

• October and early November are the main spring-bulb planting times around Indianapolis, according to the Purdue Extension.
• With a forecast of nightly temperatures in the 40s for the next week, ground temperatures should be nearing the 60-degree target.

Yes, but: Planting windows can vary widely within states that have big differences in elevation, coastal influence or winter temperatures.

• Bulb type matters, too: Daffodils generally tolerate warmer climates better than tulips.

The bottom line: It takes more than April showers to bring May flowers.

The Indianapolis Colts improved their 2026 record to 2-2 yesterday with a commanding overseas victory over Washington.

Driving the news: Running back Jonathan Taylor punched into the end zone and the record books twice, powering the Colts to a 30-13 win in London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

• He rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries.
• Taylor now holds NFL records for both rushing yards and touchdowns in international games.

Zoom in: Indianapolis led 10-6 at halftime despite two early turnovers.

• Linebacker Jaylon Carlies' first career interception helped set up Taylor's second TD, and the Colts' defense pressured Washington's rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmani after Marcus Mariota left with a knee injury.

What's next: The win gives Indianapolis three straight victories in international games, following wins in Frankfurt in 2023 and Berlin in 2025.

• They take on the 2-2 Steelers in Week 5.

💧 Arika had such a fun time at Canal Days in Metamora. First time visiting, but not the last!

⚾ Justin is praying the Guardians get a win tonight to back up the trash he was talking to White Sox fans before Game 1 went south on Saturday.