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🌧️ Today's weather: Cool! Chance of showers and mostly cloudy, with a high of 58 and a low of 40.

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Jane Herndon and Jason Bean!

Today’s newsletter is 1,016 words — a 4-minute read.

The race for Indiana's next secretary of state remains a real toss-up.

Why it matters: A new poll from Free Press Indiana gives a slim advantage to Democrat Beau Bayh, making the top of Indiana's ticket one of the most interesting races to watch.

Driving the news: Bayh leads Republican Max Engling by 8 points in the open race, with 11% of likely voters still undecided, according to a poll released today.

Context: The race is more unpredictable than usual for Indiana's statewide offices — a Democrat hasn't won since 2012 — due to a crowded field of lesser-known candidates.

• Republicans turned away from embattled incumbent Diego Morales at the state's GOP nominating convention.
• Engling has worked as a congressional staffer but isn't well known by the general public. Nearly half of those surveyed in the FPI poll had never heard of him.
• Bayh's last name is giving him an advantage. Just 27% of surveyed voters said they've never heard of the third generation of a powerful Hoosier political family.
• Libertarian Lauri Shillings and independent Greg Ballard, a former Republican mayor of Indianapolis running on the Lincoln Party line, are polling in the single digits but still have the ability to sway the outcome.

By the numbers: Bayh and Engling are essentially tied in their unfavorability ratings — 18% and 17%, respectively. However, Bayh's name recognition pays off in favorability, 35% to just 12% for Engling.

The fine print: Bellwether Research surveyed more than 800 likely voters in Indiana for Free Press Indiana from Oct. 8-11.

• The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

The bottom line: Midterm woes, a president whose approval rating is underwater and an enthusiasm gap benefiting Democrats could upset Indiana's deep-red apple cart.

Go deeper

There are two public questions on Indiana ballots this year.

Why it matters: Passage would change the state's constitution, allowing more people to be denied bail while awaiting trial and loosening residency requirements for local judges.

How it works: The proposed amendments have been approved twice by the Indiana General Assembly, a requirement to appear on the ballot.

State of play: Indiana's constitution says people can only be denied bail if they're charged with murder or treason when there is strong evidence against them.

Public Question 1 would provide courts with more opportunities to deny bail to defendants who pose a significant risk to the public.

• Voting yes would make the change. Voting no keeps current bail rules.

What they're saying: Advocates say it's necessary for public safety but opponents argue the definition of who poses a risk is subjective and could lead to people who haven't been convicted of a crime spending significant time behind bars.

• The Marion County Sheriff's Office also said bail changes could exacerbate jail crowding.

Public Question 2 would loosen requirements that city and town judges live in the city or town they preside over, giving smaller communities a broader pool of judicial candidates.

• A yes vote would allow them to reside in the same county or a bordering county; a no vote would leave the constitution unchanged.

What's next: Early voting is underway. Election Day is Nov. 3.

⚖️ Secretary of state candidate Greg Ballard has sued the state's election commission, pushing it to meet ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

• Ballard wants the commission to address campaign finance complaints against Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling. (WFYI)

🛒 Super Jams is expanding 24-hour grocery shopping in Indianapolis neighborhoods with two existing stores and plans for three more. (IndyStar)

🌳 A "microforest" will be built near The Children's Museum as part of a larger project to create new opportunities for local kids. (Indianapolis Recorder)

🤝 Margarette Webb is the city's next chief equity officer, pending approval from the City-County Council. Webb comes from Indy Parks to lead the office in charge of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. (Mirror Indy)

IU and Notre Dame face their biggest tests of the 2026 college football season Saturday.

Why it matters: The defending national champion Hoosiers and the red hot Fighting Irish are among just nine undefeated FBS teams still standing.

Zoom in: The No. 5 Hoosiers (6-0) host No. 4 Ohio State (5-1) at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.

• Indiana has won 22 straight games dating to its flawless title run, including beating the Buckeyes 13-10 in last year's Big Ten championship game.
• Saturday's game will be the first top-five matchup in Memorial Stadium history.

Meanwhile, No. 2 Notre Dame (6-0) heads west to face another unbeaten team in No. 8 BYU (5-0).

• Notre Dame is coming off a 58-7 rout of Stanford, and has a 7-2 all-time record against BYU.
• The team's last trip to Provo ended in a 20-17 loss in 2004.
• Its last road win against a top-10 opponent was beating No. 8 Oklahoma in 2012.

How to watch: Indiana vs. Ohio State starts at 12pm Saturday on FOX.

• Notre Dame vs. BYU is 7:30pm on ABC.

Fall fun takes over Indy this weekend with a new downtown festival, a renovated ArtsPark and a big day for a Colts legend.

What to expect: Downtown Fall Fest makes its debut Saturday with a free, family-friendly celebration packed with pumpkin and flower displays, seasonal photo spots, yard games, jack-o'-lantern carving and bouquet-making.

• The kids corner will offer face painting, pumpkin decorating and balloon activities, while a fall-themed vendor market features local businesses like Tinker Coffee and Dolce Vita Crepe & Gelato.
• Live music throughout the event includes Keith Beatty, the ISO Metro Youth Orchestra and Akustiko featuring Liz Gomez.

If you go: 10am-1pm Saturday at Lugar Plaza.

More weekend picks

🤯 Arika finally finished "Yesteryear" and is soooo ready to talk about it!

🚂 Justin hopes Purdue football can secure its first three-game winning streak since 2022 tonight against Washington!