Indianapolis' 2026 road construction season is in full swing, promising safer streets and overdue infrastructure upgrades.

Why it matters: That push for progress is disrupting daily life, detouring drivers and disrupting businesses in some of our most prominent neighborhoods as multiple projects reach their peak simultaneously across the metro.

Driving the news: The city's most controversial construction fight is reaching a boiling point on the west side.

• One week after the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, the 16th Street Bridge over the White River will close for up to two years.
• The bridge connecting downtown to Speedway and Haughville has not been significantly rehabilitated since it was built in 1946.
• More than 1,300 residents signed a petition asking for one travel lane to be kept open because of the negative impact on safety, emergency response and businesses in the area.

Yes, but: During a Tuesday night town hall, Indy DPW Director Todd Wilson told frustrated neighbors that a full closure is the only way to protect the bridge's structural integrity while the $15 million project is completed.

In downtown Indy, Georgia Street's $9.1 million redevelopment into a park-like plaza resumes this week after being paused for the 2026 Final Four.

• The project was supposed to be done in time to host the event's Tip-Off Tailgate, but missed deadlines meant the incomplete work had to be completely paved over so the city could honor its commitment to the NCAA to host an outdoor fan fest.
• Officials now say it should be ready to go this fall.

In Irvington and Fountain Square, residents are raising concerns about the impact of ongoing Washington Street closures tied to IndyGo's Blue Line construction and major infrastructure upgrades on Shelby and Prospect streets.

• Blue Line work in the Irvington area will last through late 2027, and the Fountain Square work should be complete this summer.

More projects to watch

An AI-powered local news network shut down after Axios' questions about copied content on one of its sites grew into a broader plagiarism scandal.

Why it matters: The collapse of Nota News shows the growing risks of using AI to scale local journalism without clear editorial standards and oversight.

The big picture: The 11-site, county-based network that launched in September covered localities from California to Virginia, including Hamilton County, Indiana.

• Nota CEO Josh Brandau told Axios every story was "fact-checked and written by our editorial staff" and that reporters used an internal AI dashboard to work more efficiently.

Catch up quick: Axios first reported that Nota's AI-powered sites in Virginia were posting "stolen" versions of another local news outlet's reporting and that staff photos had been used without permission.

• Four days after Axios asked the company about those allegations and a day after Axios Richmond published its story, Nota had shut down all 11 sites in the network.

The intrigue: Despite Nota saying it used Northwestern University's news desert data to pick the "first wave of counties" in the network, we noticed that most of Nota's sites were not in counties identified by Northwestern.

• HamCo, with multiple dedicated outlets, is not only not a news desert — it's one of the state's communities least at-risk of becoming one.

Brandau didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment after the sites were taken down.

Go deeper

⚖️ Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is being sued in federal court by Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté over Senate Enrolled Act 76, legislation requiring local law enforcement agencies to comply with ICE detainer requests. (WRTV)

📚 The Indianapolis Public Library's Central Library will reopen on Monday after a broken glass panel in the building's atrium led to an extended closure. (WISH-TV)

💰 President Trump's 2027 budget proposal includes nearly $2 billion to replace the city's Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center with an 840,000-square-foot tower housing a veterans hospital. (FOX59)

💊 Eli Lilly and Co. has announced that Foundayo, its new oral GLP-1 weight-loss pill, is now available in retail pharmacies across the nation. (IBJ)

🚨 The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is warning the community of a social media scam offering people loans, immigration services and other support through Catholic Charities. (WTHR)

🏀 Mt. Vernon star point guard and 2026 Purdue University commit Luke Ertel has been named 2026 Indiana Mr. Basketball. (IndyStar)

The Indiana Fever will be training in style.

The latest: The team released new renderings yesterday, offering a first look at the $78 million, 108,000-square-foot, three-story facility.

• Located at the corner of Maryland and Delaware streets, just half a block north of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the venue is expected to open ahead of the 2027 WNBA season.

Zoom in: The renderings show more than just a practice facility.

• Alongside the expected practice courts, strength and conditioning equipment and sports medicine spaces, there's a "comprehensive recovery suite featuring hydrotherapy pools, infrared sauna, red light therapy and dedicated massage and treatment rooms."
• The locker room is luxurious, with individual player studios and a lounge.
• There's also a full-service kitchen, smoothie bar and indoor-outdoor dining spaces.

Plus: There are lifestyle amenities — a content production studio, podcast room, hair, nail and makeup salon, golf simulator and childcare spaces.

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Enjoy two afternoons of free live music, dance classes and hands-on arts experiences in Indy's historic Meridian-Kessler neighborhood.

Driving the news: The all-ages Basile Opera Center Music Fest goes down this weekend with a slate of Family Day events from 12-4pm tomorrow, and a performance showcase from 2-5pm Sunday.

• Organizers say the goal is to highlight local arts organizations while giving Indy residents a low-cost way to enjoy a spring day out in the city.

Zoom in: Family Day programming includes a Children's Opera with the resident artists of the Indianapolis Opera, Bollywood and West African dance classes and string performances featuring local students.

• Sunday's performance showcase includes music from Indy saxophone quartet the Sunset Syndicate, singing from a Butler University a cappella ensemble and a presentation from the accessibility-focused Relevations Dance Theatre.

If you go: View the schedule and register here.

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