Indianapolis, IN
Animal Care Services out of space, asks people to adopt to ‘save more lives’
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Indianapolis Animal Care Services announced Dec. 6 that they are out of space at their 2600 South Harding Street animal shelter, urging people in a post online to adopt pets.
Adopting a pet makes room for the next animal that comes into the shelter, officials said. Same-day adoptions are an option, according to the online post, and foster-to-adopt options are also available.
“That’s the truth. We are completely out of kennel space, and animals are continuing to come in,” the post read. “The only way we can save more lives is if pets leave the building today.”
The situation is particularly dire for dogs, according to an updated post on Facebook. There were 227 dogs in the shelter and 210 kennels, putting the shelter at 108% capacity. There were 61 cats and 91 feline kennels, putting capacity at 67%. Shelter officials said they try to operate at about 80% capacity to ensure they can provide quality care and be prepared for emergencies.
The post said that short-term fostering of animals still helps make room and space needed at the shelter.
Kelly LaRoche with the shelter told IndyStar that they are over capacity, “which unfortunately has become our normal operating state.”
“At this point, we have no open kennels available for incoming animals,” LaRoche said. “When we say we urgently need adopters today, that is not an exaggeration. Without adoptions or fosters creating space, we have nowhere to safely house the animals still coming through our doors.”
LaRoche said they only put animals in the same kennel if they come to the shelter as a bonded pair or if they were previously living together. As long as their behaviors are calm and neither is sick, they can share one kennel.
Placing animals that don’t know each other together creates a risk of fighting and injury, according to LaRoche, as well as the possibility of spreading disease.
“We anticipate needing adopters and fosters not just today, but every day for the foreseeable future,” LaRoche said. “The pressure on space does not let up, and our intake as an open-admission municipal shelter does not stop.”
Here’s how you can help
If you have questions about adopting, you can email the shelter at adoptions@indycares.org.
You can find out more about individual animals at the shelter by checking out their posts on Facebook.
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
Indianapolis Sports Calendar 2026: Final Four, Indy 500 & More
Following a banner year in 2025, Indianapolis has solidified its reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events.
The city demonstrated exceptional capacity for hosting diverse competitions, from professional leagues to collegiate championships, setting a high standard for hospitality and logistical execution.
As the calendar turns to 2026, the “Circle City” is not slowing down; instead, it is gearing up for another year of world-class athletic showcases.
The success of 2025 was not accidental.
It was the result of decades of strategic planning that transformed Indianapolis into a hub built specifically for large-scale events.
The city’s compact downtown, connected by skywalks and anchored by top-tier venues like Lucas Oil Stadium and Gainbridge Fieldhouse, allows fans to navigate easily between hotels, restaurants, and arenas.
In 2025, the city hosted a series of high-profile events that brought significant economic impact and cultural vibrancy to the region.
Local businesses, from Black-owned restaurants on Indiana Avenue to downtown hotels, thrived on the influx of visitors.
The seamless execution of these events proved once again that Indianapolis is capable of managing the complex infrastructure required for national and international sports.
Looking ahead, 2026 promises to elevate this legacy further. With a calendar featuring the NCAA Men’s Final Four, the historic Indianapolis 500, and the return of the NFL Scouting Combine, the city is prepared to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors.
These events are more than just games; they are community gatherings that celebrate competition, diversity, and excellence.
Take a look below at Indianapolis Sports Calendar 2026: Final Four, Indy 500 & More.
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February 23 – March 2: NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL universe descends on Lucas Oil Stadium as top college prospects showcase their skills for professional scouts, coaches, and general managers.
This annual event remains a staple of the Indianapolis sports calendar.
March 2: WWE Monday Night RAW
Gainbridge Fieldhouse will host the drama and athleticism of the WWE, bringing global superstars to the city for a night of high-energy entertainment.
March 4–8: Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament
Gainbridge Fieldhouse welcomes the best women’s teams from the Big Ten Conference.
As women’s basketball continues to surge in popularity, this tournament is expected to draw significant crowds.
March 8–10: Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament
The action shifts to the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, where the Horizon League crowns its champions and determines automatic bids to the NCAA tournament.
March 18–21: NCAA DIII Men’s and Women’s Swimming Championships
The IU Natatorium at IU Indianapolis, known as one of the fastest pools in the world, will host elite swimmers competing for national titles.
April: The Road to the Championship
April marks the climax of the college basketball season, with Indianapolis serving as the epicenter of the sport.
April 2 & 5: National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Semifinals and Championship
Hinkle Fieldhouse will host the semifinals, followed by the championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, showcasing top-tier programs battling for the historic NIT title.
April 3: College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships
Hinkle Fieldhouse hosts this fan-favorite event, featuring the nation’s top shooters and high-flyers in a showcase of individual skill.
April 4 & 6: NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship
The eyes of the sports world will turn to Lucas Oil Stadium for the conclusion of March Madness.
Hosting the Final Four is a prestigious honor that underscores Indianapolis’s elite status in the sports world.
April 5: NCAA DII & DIII Men’s Basketball National Championships
In a celebration of collegiate athletics across all levels, Gainbridge Fieldhouse will host the title games for both Division II and Division III men’s basketball on the same day.
Spring and Summer: Racing and Golf
As the weather warms, the focus shifts from the court to the track and the links.
May 9: Sonsio Grand Prix
The month of May kicks off at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Sonsio Grand Prix, setting the stage for the weeks of racing ahead.
May 24: 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500
The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
This iconic event is a cultural touchstone, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans for a day of speed and tradition.
Coaches and players from the expanded Big Ten conference gather to preview the upcoming college football season, bringing media attention from across the country.
July 26: Brickyard 400
NASCAR returns to the oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for one of the most prestigious races on the Cup Series schedule.
August 20–23: LIV Golf Indianapolis
The Club at Chatham Hills will host LIV Golf, bringing many of the world’s top professional golfers to the area for this unique team-based competition.
Fall and Winter: Football Focus
The year concludes with major football events that celebrate both heritage and championships.
September 2–7: NHRA U.S. Nationals
Known as “The Big Go,” this drag racing event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park is the most prestigious drag race in the world.
Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the Circle City Classic, a celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
This event is a cultural highlight, featuring not only the game but also the renowned battle of the bands, a parade, and community festivities.
The college football regular season culminates at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the Big Ten champion is crowned, often with College Football Playoff implications on the line.
Indianapolis approaches 2026 with a proven playbook.
For residents and visitors alike, the 2026 schedule offers opportunities to witness history and participate in world-class experiences.
Whether it is the roar of the engines at the Speedway, the buzzer-beaters of the Final Four, or the pageantry of the Circle City Classic, Indianapolis is ready to deliver another magnificent year in sports.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis will challenge 60 degrees multiple times to close this week. How frequent are 60-degree days in the month of January?
Over the last 5 years, Indianapolis has hit 60 degrees in January only twice. Bloomington did it four times in this same stretch.
Our last time hitting the 60-degree threshold in this month was in January 2023 in Indy. Temperature records for the city have been kept since 1872. On average, Indianapolis has around one day of making it to 60 degrees in January since record keeping began.
1880 is the year with the most January 60 degrees or higher days on record at 8 days. In 2017, Indianapolis had 4 days make it to the threshold. This is the last time we had multiple days in the 60s in January.
For the latest 7-day forecast, visit our weather blog by clicking here.
Indianapolis, IN
Between Springfield And Indianapolis Is Illinois’ Cozy City With A Buzzing Main Street – Islands
Resting between the United States’s pulsing coasts and among its inland cities-du-jour (lookin’ at you, Austin, Texas), lies an embarrassment of bite-sized riches. Small, intimate locales that offer a counterweight to New York City’s megawatt pulse, or San Francisco’s erudite cool. Places like Monticello, a cozy Illinois city with a lively Main Street that may be the exact opposite of the Instagram-worthy destinations drawing masses of visitors. Sandwiched between Springfield and Indianapolis, the small city of about 6,000 instead offers a big dose of small-town charm and humility.
Monticello holds an underappreciated place in history. Abraham Lincoln, still a young lawyer, spent time in the local Tenbrook Hotel as he traveled the Eighth Judicial Circuit, cutting his teeth as an aspiring legal mind. He also had a knack for turning social events inside out. One infamous scene involved Honest Abe persuading children to heat an inflated pig’s bladder in a fireplace. The ensuing explosion sent hot coals all over the room, with Lincoln setting a broom on fire trying to clean up the mess.
You won’t find any bouncy pig bladders or flaming brooms, but his time in the area is commemorated with “Looking for Lincoln” plaques scattered at places he frequented during his time there and the rest of Illinois. Monticello gladly embraces its history, offering a perfect counterbalance to Urbana-Champaign, a trendy college town with thriving arts and vibrant culture that’s 30 minutes away. It’s an idyllic weekend getaway for travelers tired of slapping hashtags on everything.
Check out Main Street, dine, and ride the rails
The cozy city offers a Baby Bear’s porridge version of a big-ticket destination: not so overwhelming that the average traveler burns out from the heat, yet also not so chill that it leaves visitors twiddling their thumbs. The town’s downtown area, which orbits around Main Street, gives visitors a chance to see the small city’s best offerings and spend a little cash. There’s No Place Like Home, just off Washington Street, has a delightful collection of antiques, jewelry, and upcycled tchotchkes that make splurging a guilt-free exercise. Mary, Maude & Me, an antique store just two blocks away in a charming little brick house, has a similarly eclectic, well-curated inventory of vintage wares. Next, it’s time to chug along to the town’s biggest draw.
Any visit must include a stop at the Monitcello Railway Museum. Its weekend train rides offer a time portal back to an era when rails and steam engines helped small towns like Monticello expand. Bookended by two depots, the museum’s dozens of historic trains reward passengers with a sense they’re on the set of a “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Afterward, your stomach will likely grumble. Thankfully, Monticello offers plenty of dining options.
The smattering of small eateries covers a wide breadth of humble food options, sans white tablecloths. Hankering for some Mexican? Casa Real and Las Marias have you covered. Those in more of a lunch pail and hard hat mood can hit the Brown Bag Deli. Its mix of wraps, sandwiches, and full-on meals will satiate exactly the ravenous hunger one feels after spending time on a railroad.
The ins and outs of visiting Monticello
No matter where you’re traveling from, you’ll need a car to reach the city. Despite its proximity to several larger metropolises, Monticello’s closest airport is the University of Illinois Willard Airport, a comparatively small hub that often requires a transfer at Chicago O’Hare to reach. The closest major transit hub, Indianapolis International Airport, unfortunately, is two hours away. The drive in, however, offers plenty of worthwhile pit stops. About halfway between the airport and Monticello, you’ll find Danville, an underrated Illinois city that’s a peaceful lakeside retreat.
Monticello’s diminutive size limits your available accommodations. A single chain hotel and a smaller inn are the only available options, costing between $75 and $200. Decatur, itself an underrated Midwest gem with trails, public art, and a zoo, sits about half an hour away and offers some more places to overnight.
While there’s no wrong time to visit Monticello, the muggy summers and chilly winters mean the weather’s most pleasant during the shoulder season. If you’re in town between June and October, include a stop at the city’s farmers’ market. Local vendors offer everything from baked goods to flowers, along with the usual smattering of fresh produce. No inflated pig bladders, though.
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