"They pay their taxes. You get a Pacers suite." Hogsett promised to 'renounce all perks of the office.' He's used them to entertain donors who fuel his campaign machine www.indystar.com/story/news/i...

'Dreamy' suite views and a Corvette: Here's how Hogsett uses mayoral perks

Hogsett promised to 'renounce all perks of the office.' He's used them to entertain donors who fuel his campaign machine.

indystar.com

An unusual political situation is playing out in Indy over $56 million in tax breaks for a proposed data center. A top city official disagrees with the tax break while a development group created by Mayor Joe Hogsett recommends it. https://bit.ly/4x0qmEW

City leaders spar over $56M in tax breaks for data center

In a surprise move, a member of Hogsett’s cabinet spoke against the tax breaks.

bit.ly

Mirror Indy reporters Peter Blanchard and Emily Hopkins will join IndyStar reporter Hayleigh Colombo to answer questions during a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) at 3 p.m. July 9 on the r/Indiana subreddit. https://bit.ly/4wCJKI9

To report this story, we digitized more than 10 years of Hogsett’s campaign finance records. We’re making that data available to the public. Find something interesting or have questions? Email me: emily.hopkins@mirrorindy.org. www.datawrapper.de/_/nvKd9/?v=5

Hogsett Campaign Donations | Created with Datawrapper

Search a donor to see who is donating money to Hogsett's campaign. You can also sort by donation amount or date.

datawrapper.de

Emily Hopkins reporting for Mirror Indy@emilyhopkins.bsky.social · 2mo ago

During his first mayoral campaign, Joe Hogsett said he would take on “downtown insiders.” Over a decade in office, his campaign has worked behind closed doors to advance donor interests. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

The state agency that audits local governments is taking a closer look at the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety for potential financial improprieties mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

State agency probes city’s Office of Public Health and Safety

The Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety is the subject of ongoing scrutiny.

mirrorindy.org

Kelvis Williams, who is running for Marion County sheriff, sent out a flyer that encouraged residents to vote for him and five other Democrats in the May 5 primary.” Critics say the ad falsely implies that the candidates have the support of the Marion County Democratic Party. https://bit.ly/4tdzCTU

One of the two Democratic candidates for Marion County sheriff is taking heat for a campaign mailer that critics say is misleading mirrorindy.org/kelvis-willi...

Marion County sheriff’s candidate accused of ‘shady tactics’

Kelvis Williams is taking heat for a campaign mailer that critics say is ‘misleading’ and ‘a last-minute trick.’

mirrorindy.org

An internal audit of the city’s Office of Public Health and Safety is prompting calls for funding freezes to the agency. The review found that several contracts were awarded to companies with significant connections to current OPHS employees: https://bit.ly/420aNQb https://bit.ly/420aNQb

Sen. Andrea Hunley, one of the most outspoken Democrats in the Indiana Senate, will not be running for a second term. That leaves her seat up for grabs. As of right now, there are three candidates running – Allissa Impink, Clif Marsiglio and Sam Glynn: https://bit.ly/3O3aUav

Today is Local News Day. This is a national day of action with a simple ask: Find your local news, subscribe, and help the people around you do the same. Make sure you’re connected to Indianapolis news by signing up for our free newsletters and texts mirrorindy.org/sign-up/

15 acres of green space, an extended walking trail and a “river theater.” These were the promises of the White River State Park expansion — an expansion that state officials have now scrapped due to lack of “available funding.” https://bit.ly/4bphtf5

State quietly scraps plans for expanded White River State Park

‘We kind of got the wrong end of the stick over here,’ said a westside resident.

mirrorindy.org

State officials are abandoning plans to expand White River State Park. Reporting w/ @enriquesaenz.bsky.social

State quietly scraps plans for expanded White River State Park

‘We kind of got the wrong end of the stick over here,’ said a westside resident.

mirrorindy.org

Several tech companies want to build data centers in Indianapolis. Mayor Joe Hogsett has taken a neutral position on data centers, but a letter from his economic development organization in support of a proposed data center in Indianapolis sends a different signal 📡

Hogsett’s economic development org supports Metrobloks data center

The mayor chairs the board of the organization backing a proposed data center in Martindale Brightwood.

mirrorindy.org

Gov. Mike Braun will have greater influence in the process for picking Marion County judges under a Republican-backed bill that is set to become law. Critics say the move will weaken the independence and diversity that helps define Marion County's justice system mirrorindy.org/indiana-gove...

Bill gives governor greater influence over Marion County judge selection

House Bill 1033 also removes a requirement to consider diversity.

mirrorindy.org

"Many of the candidates, some of whom worked for Democratic politicians or remained active in party politics for decades, unsuccessfully appealed their cases to the election board." by @peterblanchard.bsky.social mirrorindy.org/marion-count...

‘Rules are rules’: Indy Democratic leader rejects dozens of candidates

Among those rejected: the Marion County Young Democrats’ leader, a U.S. Army soldier, a former Democratic governor’s spokesman.

mirrorindy.org

Dozens of Indy residents who applied to run for Democratic Party positions are having their candidacies challenged by the Marion County Democratic Party because of their voting history. Some pulled Republican ballots in the '24 primary to vote against Mike Braun mirrorindy.org/marion-count...

Indy Democrats leader files challenges to Democratic candidates

Critics say the practice discourages everyday people from getting involved in politics.

mirrorindy.org

Westfield, where the median income is more that 2x Warren Township’s, got a new YMCA. Meanwhile, Ransburg is closing, shortly after the closure of the Athenaeum. We sought answers from Y leaders. They declined to provide them. Here’s what we asked: mirrorindy.org/ransburg-ymc...

Westfield just got a new YMCA. So why is Ransburg closing?

We sent the YMCA questions about finances. The organization didn’t answer them.

mirrorindy.org

City-county councilors could lose the ability to handpick projects that benefit their districts after a state lawmaker criticized the process. It comes after I reported last year that some councilors used taxpayer dollars to fix roads in front of their homes mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

State could close ‘loophole’ that lets councilors pick projects

The practice is under scrutiny after reporting from Mirror Indy.

mirrorindy.org

This is beautiful journalism. The mayor of Indianapolis failed on his promise to deliver a "one-stop shop" for public records such as ethics filings, campaign finance reports and city contracts. So journalists with IndyStar and @mirrorindy.org built their own. A link is in comments. Just wow.

We made a one-stop shop for city transparency after the Hogsett administration failed to. While reporting, we noticed years worth of missing reports. Since we contacted the city, they've updated their website. Updates to ours coming shortly. mirrorindy.org/disclose-ind...

Hogsett hasn’t delivered a ‘Disclose Indy’ ethics portal. So we built one.

We also obtained records not previously made public as promised.

mirrorindy.org

We've compiled our Mr. Clean series with our previous investigations into the Hogsett administration. You can read it all here: mirrorindy.org/mr-clean/

Mr. Clean

Mirror Indy investigates ethical concerns within Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration.

mirrorindy.org

"There is a wealth of knowledge, ideas and passion in public service. But a maze of self-instituted processes and an engrained culture of deflection has led to an inability to make simple, incremental improvements for the betterment of our city" www.indystar.com/story/opinio...

Have you thought about how you can get involved in local politics, but aren't sure where to start? Have you ever, like me, wondered what a precinct committee member is? I put together a guide for Mirror Indy on how to get started mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

How to get involved in local politics this year

It may be easier than you think to get civically engaged.

mirrorindy.org

There are so many ways you can get involved in the political process. @peterblanchard.bsky.social lays out what's coming this year. Deadline to file is Feb. 6. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

How to get involved in local politics this year

It may be easier than you think to get civically engaged.

mirrorindy.org

Vop Osili is running for mayor of Indianapolis. He has effectively fired the first shot in what is expected to be a highly contested and expensive Democratic primary election. Osili will have a head start in fundraising, having reported over $300,000 in cash on hand at the beginning of 2025.

A barista at my local Starbucks is wearing an Amelia's Bakery hat and I am here for it

Standing in front of Monument Circle with an “Abolish ICE” banner behind him, Johnny Hall called on Indianapolis leaders to loudly and publicly oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown: “You do not get to sit on the fence" mirrorindy.org/ice-protest-...

Protesters demand Indy leaders take stronger stance against ICE

His comments come as protesters demand Indy leaders take a stronger position against ICE.

mirrorindy.org

Mayor Joe Hogsett has named IMPD Police Chief Chris Bailey as his new chief of staff. Bailey has led IMPD since January 2024: https://bit.ly/4pzS2fM

Hogsett taps Indy police chief as top adviser

Chris Bailey has led the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department since early 2024.

bit.ly

Nearly 18 months since the city committed to eliminating traffic deaths by 2035, there are few concrete details on how the city will get to Vision Zero. Advocates say it’s possible — if Mayor Joe Hogsett and city-county councilors live up to their promises mirrorindy.org/vision-zero-...

Vision Zero is possible. Advocates say Indy lacks ‘political will.’

Supporters of the plan to eliminate traffic deaths worry leaders aren’t invested enough.

mirrorindy.org

The City-County Council will have different leadership in 2026. The Democratic caucus said they plan to elect Maggie Lewis as council president. This would be her second time in the role: https://bit.ly/4sakqYh

Democrats plan to elect Maggie Lewis next Indy council leader

Lewis, a Democrat who represents parts of the northwest side, previously served as council president from 2012 to 2017.

bit.ly