Indianapolis, IN
Broncos a Possible Legacy Clash for Colts’ Richardson, Steichen
The Indianapolis Colts are approaching a must-win scenario against the 8-5 Denver Broncos to keep playoff hopes afloat. While head coach Shane Steichen and quarterback Anthony Richardson are in year two with a handful of games together, this would be the biggest victory of either’s career if a road win can be achieved at Mile High.
Given the implications surrounding this AFC tilt and how far Indy’s chances fall if they lose, winning at a place like Mile High with so much pressure mounting would be considered an incredible feat. However, the Broncos will make life difficult for Steichen and Richardson to obtain the biggest victory of their tenure.
Since Sean Payton took over as the head coach, Denver has built and acquired a lot of vibrant talent. Names like rookie quarterback Bo Nix, veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton, linebacker Nik Bonitto, and cornerback Pat Surtain II surface prominently. These players will likely test Indy the most whether it’s against Steichen or defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.
Also, the altitude and atmosphere at Mile High is likely something neither Steichen nor Richardson have experienced in their respective NFL positions/careers, putting a new, and arguably the biggest challenge before both. While Indy is an understandable underdog heading into this clash, they have the players to win on Sunday afternoon.
Richardson is starting to take shape as a weapon for Steichen, which opens up opportunities for the rest of Indy’s playmakers. Richardson has 102/215 completions (47.4%) for 1,511 passing yards, seven touchdown tosses, and nine interceptions. These numbers aren’t pretty but don’t tell the entire story of Richardson’s issues getting consistent support from his offense.
The good news is Denver must account for Richardson’s legs, which can ruin any NFL defensive game plan. The second-year signal-caller has 70 carries for 383 rushing yards (5.5 average) and four rushing scores and will need to be a factor against Denver’s top-level run defense to gather offensive momentum. Also, it will help jar loose running back Jonathan Taylor if two players are an issue to defend.
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Steichen will likely want to implement the quick-passing attack to rival Vance Joseph’s tough defense. If the Colts’ leading receiver Josh Downs can return, it’s a huge addition given Denver won’t have cornerback Riley Moss on the field. Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce must also provide Richardson with opportunities in the passing game, both intermediate and deep.
However, none of Steichen’s firepower matters for Indy if the offensive line doesn’t show up against Denver. While there was a bounce-back performance from the protection against the lowly New England Patriots, Indy can’t use that as much motivation given the lack of resistance. Denver will be much stronger up front, meaning winning in the trenches is paramount.
Look for Tony Sparano Jr. to have Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, and the rest of Indy’s offensive line polished against defenders like Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and Malcolm Roach. If Indy’s offensive trenches can get the better of Denver, it will make life far easier on Richardson, Taylor, and the rest of Steichen’s game plan.
The Bottom Line
Steichen has had an up-and-down tenure as Indy’s coach, but things are starting to align with how he envisioned when taking the position in 2023. Richardson is making positive strides as the field general while the rest of the offense works through the kinks to find the potential.
The Colts can’t afford miscues against a team as sound and surgical on both sides of the ball as Denver. The Colts are staring their playoff dreams in the face and don’t want to see those depart from Mile High. Winning in the NFL cures all; this victory can help solidify the Steichen-Richardson era in Indianapolis as the postseason approaches.
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IndyGo serves 22,000 riders daily who rely on it for jobs and healthcare. The funding is voter-approved and separate from road budgets.
IndyGo paratransit services have possible 57% rate hike
Ryan Malone appreciates IndyGo paratransit rides. He has vision impairments and MS. He talks about the rides and the proposed 57% fare increase.
The April 14 letter titled, “Indianapolis doesn’t prioritize pothole repairs” raises a fair frustration shared by many drivers, but it misrepresents priorities, ignores dedicated funding streams, cherry-picks numbers and overlooks how IndyGo delivers broad, measurable value that helps roads and the city overall.
The 2026 Indianapolis city budget directs unprecedented funding to roads. The Department of Public Works’ most recent capital plan included $218 million for transportation infrastructure in 2026, in addition to key investments in additional snow removal and road maintenance equipment. DPW’s transportation capital funding has nearly tripled since 2016. Since that time, the city has resurfaced 1,279 lane miles and strip-patched 1,169 more.
The city is prioritizing basics; roads got a massive boost even with tighter revenues.
The state funding formula has disadvantaged Indianapolis by using two-lane road mileage and ignoring urban complexity. But House Enrolled Act 1461 shifts to a lane-mile formula and provides $50 million extra annually to Marion County — and state law restricts those funds to construction and reconstruction of local streets.
There are several points aimed at IndyGo that are worth correcting and adding important context the public should understand about this critical city service.
The claim that IndyGo’s $432 million budget “could go a long way toward streets” is the most misleading. The 0.25% income tax was voter-approved in 2016 — with nearly 60% voting yes — specifically and exclusively for public transit. These locally raised dollars leverage up to a 400% federal match, multiplying their impact several times over and ensuring Indianapolis captures funding that would otherwise go elsewhere. Diverting them would break a voter promise.
The “less than 2% uses the bus” stat is a classic distortion. IndyGo’s 2025 ridership included 6.7 million trips, or nearly 22,000 riders Monday through Friday. Transit serves disproportionately low-income, senior, disabled and car-free residents who rely on it for jobs, healthcare and school. It isn’t a luxury — it’s mobility infrastructure.
Public transit isn’t in competition with roads; it complements them. Every $1 invested in public transit generates $5 in broader economic activity. The Red Line alone delivered more than $7 per $1 invested, and IndyGo’s BRT network has already attracted more than $1.2 billion in corridor development.
By completion of the Blue Line, IndyGo will have paved more than 90 miles of Indy streets and built or repaired more than 1,300 ADA ramps. Nearly 7 million riders take cars off the road — fewer vehicles mean less congestion and less wear-and-tear on pavement, directly reducing potholes.
Potholes are real, but scapegoating IndyGo distracts from the actual balanced progress underway. Indianapolis is a world-class city with a great future, and the best is yet to come.
Richard Wilson is treasurer of the IndyGo Board of Directors.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) — Purdue University has received a $20 million commitment from the Ricks Family Foundation to establish the Purdue Institute for Healthcare Systems Innovation at the Indianapolis campus.
The institute in the Mitch Daniels School of Business aims to improve health care efficiency and effectiveness, the university said in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.
Dr. Christina Ricks and her husband, David A. Ricks, the chair and CEO of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., are the primary leaders of the foundation.
James “Jim” Bullard, a dean for the Daniels School of Business, said in the release, “Considering the health care situation in the U.S. today, there is a clear need for rigorous, market-informed research that challenges conventional thinking and drives new solutions. This institute will allow Purdue to lead that work and make a lasting difference.”
As Purdue works to develop its relatively new Indianapolis campus, the university recently announced that plans for a 12-story apartment building on recently acquired canal property in Indianapolis are now on hold as the university develops its campus, Mirror Indy reported.
This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.
INDIANAPOLIS — A woman was critically injured in a shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis Tuesday night.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the 5500 block of East 41st Street around 8:45 p.m. to investigate a shooting. When police arrived at the scene, they located an adult female with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
Per IMPD, the victim was transported from the the scene to a local hospital in critical condition. Police reported that hospital staff later provided them with an update that indicated the victim remains in critical condition.
Investigators believe the shooting occurred inside a residence on 41st Street. One shell casing was found in the front yard of that residence near its driveway. Police do not believe that stray shell casing is related to the shooting in any way.
Law enforcement detained a person of interest during its investigation of the shooting. IMPD has not yet provided any of the detainee’s identifying information like sex, age or name.
Police do not believe the shooting poses any ongoing threat to the public. Investigators are, however, still encouraging area residents to call IMPD at (317) 327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 to pass along any information they may have on the shooting.
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