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East side Wawa rejected under transit-friendly Indianapolis laws, but fight could continue

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East side Wawa rejected under transit-friendly Indianapolis laws, but fight could continue


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Indianapolis laws that promote dense, walkable development along the city’s three bus rapid transit routes survived their latest test against a formidable opponent: Wawa.

The beloved Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain has been wrangling with the city for months to continue its recent expansion into Indiana with a new store on East Washington Street near Shadeland Avenue. The Metropolitan Development Commission hearing examiner on Oct. 23 sided with city planning staff, who objected to Wawa’s plans to build a car-centric site in the corridor where IndyGo’s Blue Line bus route will open in 2028.

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City planners and east side neighbors criticized Wawa’s plans to build more than 60 parking spaces and a dozen gas pumps, saying they would only add to the unsightly sprawl that dominates East Washington today. Planning staff pushed Wawa to follow transit-oriented development laws the city passed in 2021 to limit the number of gas pumps and parking spaces allowed within 1,000 feet of BRT routes.

“It’s my opinion that the standards of (transit-oriented development) do need to be upheld, so for that reason I am going to recommend denial,” Hearing Examiner Judy Weerts Hall said Thursday afternoon.

Wawa supporters argue that it’s absurd to turn away a renowned company at a site that’s currently an underused parking lot. The company sought to build a gas station and convenience store at 7140 and 7142 E. Washington St., next door to the Get Fit Athletic Club and an auto shop.

Wawa has a week to appeal the hearing examiner’s ruling before a vote by the full MDC on Nov. 19. Barnes & Thornburg attorney Joseph Calderon, who is representing Wawa, said his client has not decided whether to file an appeal.

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Why transit-oriented development turned away Wawa

Indy’s transit-oriented development laws discourage buildings with spacious parking lots set back far from the road, like gas stations and chain restaurants, and require that storefronts be closer to the street with plenty of windows. Gas stations are generally banned within 600 feet of a bus rapid transit stop.

The proposed Wawa store would sit about 1,000 feet from the Sadlier Drive Blue Line station, so it could have been built with certain restrictions. But Wawa refused to meet the city’s demands to build only eight gas pumps and half the number of parking spaces. Wawa representative Patrick Moon said those demands were not “financially viable.”

Wawa critics say the Indianapolis City-County Council enacted the transit laws to keep a promise to Marion County voters, who approved a higher income tax for themselves in 2016 because they wanted fast, reliable public transit that passes close by their homes. Allowing developers to bypass those standards now would undermine the voters, they say.

“We need more housing density and mixed-use development, and all this gas station is is more of the same kind of development that has been bankrupting and blighting the area,” said east side resident Jakob Morales, a Central Indiana Cycling advocate who opposed Wawa during the hearing. “It does not contribute to (solving) the housing and homelessness crisis.”

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City-County Councilor Andy Nielsen, who represents that strip of East Washington Street, also spoke in opposition to the Wawa. While acknowledging that Wawa is a quality company with popular hoagies and specialty drinks, “at the end of the day it’s another fueling station,” he said.

Nielsen’s east side constituents oppose that because there are already about two dozen gas stations within a two-mile radius of the site, according to city staff. Other groups who filed opposition letters to Wawa included IndyGo, the Irvington Community Council and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The case in favor of Wawa

Wawa supporters said it’s unrealistic to hope that strict development laws will spur more investment along East Washington Street. The proposed Wawa site sits between a cloverleaf interchange and Interstate 465, an area replete with huge parking lots that holds little appeal for pedestrians.

Calderon noted that an average of 21,000 vehicles drive down that section of Washington Street each day, according to state traffic data. Daily IndyGo ridership on Route 8, which travels the same path, pales in comparison. He said that disparity shows a clear demand for a gas station and convenience store concept — not walkable development.

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“This is a suburban area that happens to be planned to be served by bus rapid transit. Fantastic. We are not trying to fight that, we’re not arguing with it. We want to serve those customers,” Calderon said. “But here’s the deal: No matter what anyone says about this degrading the Blue Line, it does not.”

Ron Phillips, president of the Warren Township Development Association, supported the Wawa because he expected the store to bring 24-30 good jobs in an area where business investment has lagged for the past four decades. Wawa is known to pay for continuing education for its employees, Phillips added.

Despite the setback, Wawa has already opened eight locations in Indiana this year, with plans to build up to 60 statewide.

Wawa’s lone Indianapolis location, on 96th Street near Keystone Avenue, opened this summer. New Central Indiana locations include those in Cumberland, Brownsburg, Plainfield and Westfield.

Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

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Circle City Orchestra wraps up season with ‘Sound Bites’ fundraiser

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Circle City Orchestra wraps up season with ‘Sound Bites’ fundraiser


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Circle City Orchestra will close its 2025-26 season with a special “Sound Bites” concert on Sunday.

The concert begins at 4 p.m. at the Athenaeum’s Basile Theatre. Admission is free, with a suggested donation to support the nonprofit, all-volunteer orchestra and “keep the music going.”

Craig Mince, president of the Athenaeum, said the venue has been home to the orchestra for several years — a connection that runs deeper than most might expect. The Athenaeum once hosted a full-time orchestra of its own, and welcoming Circle City Orchestra back into the space has felt like a natural homecoming.

“We love having them,” Mince said. “It harkens back to an old Athenaeum orchestra that used to be in the building full-time. We’re happy to have music back in the building again.”

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Phil Kranyak, principal cellist with the orchestra, started playing cello in third grade but stepped away from the instrument for 17 years before joining Circle City Orchestra. He said the group’s welcoming culture made the return feel seamless.

“We are inclusive in every sense of the word,” Kranyak said. “Whether you’re picking up an instrument for the first time or coming back after a long pause, it is so easy to step into this orchestra.”

Andrew Wu, an oboist who joined about a year ago, had a similar experience. Wu played violin, saxophone, and oboe through graduate school before taking a roughly 10-year break. He said the orchestra gave him a meaningful way to reconnect with both music and community.

“Music is such an important part of people’s lives,” Wu said. “Being able to express yourself through music and connect with a greater audience — and within your own orchestra — is just wonderful.”

The orchestra says it is always looking for new musicians.

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Rehearsals are held every Wednesday at the Athenaeum, and new faces are always welcome. Mince said nearly every rehearsal brings at least one first-time attendee, and the orchestra embraces that.

Musicians do not need to commit to a full season – the orchestra asks only that members participate in rehearsals for the concert cycle they plan to perform in.

Concert Details

  • ❓: Circle City Orchestra “Sound Bites” End-of-Season Concert.
  • ⏰: 4 p.m. Sunday.
  • 📍: The Athenaeum’s Basile Theatre, 401 E. Michigan St.



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Top seeded West Chester cruises to 12-3 win over University of Indianapolis in the Division II championship

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Top seeded West Chester cruises to 12-3 win over University of Indianapolis in the Division II championship


CARY, N.C. — One big inning was all the West Chester baseball team needed to get off to a winning start at the Division II championship.

The Golden Rams put their first five batters on base in the first inning and all eventually came around to score in a 12-3 opening round victory against the University of Indianapolis at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Friday.

Ace Julian Costa didn’t have his best stuff on the mound, but he battled through seven innings while his offense pounded out 14 hits to earn a date against UT Tyler on Sunday (6 p.m., ncaa.com) in the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament.

» READ MORE: Kyle Lazer aims to finish what he started with West Chester baseball in Division II championship

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“Our guys all do our homework, so we knew what we were getting and were just looking to be aggressive early,” said catcher Caleb Strawhecker, who in addition to going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored at the plate, threw out two would-be UIndy base stealers. “Putting up a lot of runs on the board was the goal and luckily we were able to do that.”

The Rams (45-10) wasted little time establishing their dominance against the overmatched Greyhounds, who advanced to Cary, N.C. by winning the Midwest region.

Carter Rust hit a leadoff single in the first inning and scored on a double by Strawhecker, who then came around on a single by Austin Stalker. After Hunter Smith walked and a perfectly placed bunt single by Patrick Gozdan loaded the bases, Tanner Donati made it 3-0 with an RBI single before two more runs scored on a double-play grounder by Harry Middlebrooks and a single by No. 8 hitter Christian Michak.

“It was a good complete game effort,” West Chester coach Mike LaRosa said. “Jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first. Give Costa a five spot and I think everybody feels confident from there on that we’ve got an opportunity to take that game.”

As it turned out, the first inning outburst was enough for the Rams to win the game. But it wasn’t as easy even with their best arm on the mound.

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The senior left-hander Costa wasn’t as sharp as he was when he held Millersville without a hit into the seventh in last week’s NCAA Atlantic Super Regional. While he gave up 10 hits and walked two, he always seemed to make the right pitches at the right times to wiggle out of trouble.

» READ MORE: Rowan baseball drops opening game vs. Adrian in Division III championship, face elimination on Saturday

The only runs he allowed were a second inning homer to Brayton Bowen and an RBI single by Austin Bode in the fourth.

Not only did Costa leave the bases loaded twice on the way to his 13th win in 14 decisions this season, he started the game by picking off the first two UIndy runners to reach base in the top of the first. Strawhecker also helped him out by throwing out two more runners trying to steal second.

“It was a little [difficult] location-wise at the start of the game,” said Costa, who struck out seven. “Around the third inning was when I started extending my legs and worked on the mound, and everything came together.”

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West Chester added to its lead with a run in the fifth, then broke the game open late with two in the seventh and three more in the eighth on a three-run homer to left center by Rust. UIndy (39-23) got its final run in the ninth off the Rams’ bullpen.

“After the pickoffs happened [in the top of the first], we all just laughed to ourselves and said ‘We’re good now,’” Strawhecker said. “Then it was just getting back to business, getting outs and playing our game.”



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Indianapolis police shoot homicide suspect following pursuit

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Indianapolis police shoot homicide suspect following pursuit


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  • The suspect was wanted in connection with the shooting death of a woman earlier in the evening.
  • The suspect was taken to the hospital in stable condition after being shot by officers.
  • Two firearms were recovered at the scene of the police-involved shooting.

This article will update. Get breaking news alerts on your phone → download the IndyStar app.

Indianapolis police shot a homicide suspect after a vehicle pursuit that ended west of downtown near Interstate 70.

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Just before 8:30 p.m. May 28, 2026 Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to a shooting in the first block of North Rural Street. Arriving officers found Patricia Wieber, 65, with gunshot wounds. Wieber was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.

Witnesses were able to give police information about the shooter and officers tracked the suspect to the 7500 block of Bullock Court on the city’s south side. The suspect, identified by police as Ronald Cross, 75, got into a different vehicle with another man. While tracking that vehicle officers attempted a traffic stop near West Southport and Bluff roads. The driver, who is not implicated in the homicide, got out of the vehicle without incident and was taken into custody.

Police said Cross then slid into the vehicle’s driver seat and fled. Officers used stop sticks and then in the 1000 block of South Harding Street near I-70 a SWAT officer used a vehicle to perform a PIT maneuver to stop the SUV, said Kendale Adams, IMPD deputy chief of criminal investigations.

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After the vehicle was stopped officers shot the suspect, Adams said. Cross was taken to the hospital in stable condition. No officers were injured.

Adams said two firearms were located at the scene.

During a news conference at the scene, Indianapolis police chief Tanya Terry extended her thoughts to the family of Wieber who was killed in what police believe was a domestic violence situation. She also praised her officers’ handling of the situation.

“[Our officers] did exactly what our community expects them do to in situations like this,” Terry said. “Our officers worked with bravery, coordination and precision in their attempts to safely bring the suspect into custody. I’m extremely proud of them for the work that they’ve done.”

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The chief added that Cross would be facing charges in the case and police confirmed hours later that Cross was arrested on a murder charge.

The shooting involving police was among a string of shootings across the city, including one downtown roughly two hours before that left a man in critical condition.

“It’s been a difficult night for our city,” Terry said.

The officers involved in shooting Cross have been placed on administrative leave, per department policy. The Civilian Use of Force Review Board will have a hearing on the shooting and body and dash cameras were activated during the shooting, Adams said.

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It is unclear whether Cross fired at officers and what makes and models of firearms were found by police.

Asked those questions by IndyStar, an unnamed IMPD spokesperson did not provide additional information and instead referred to a press release that did not contain the answers. 

This is the fourth shooting involving Indianapolis police since the start of the year.

📩 Start your morning with the top Indy news delivered straight to your inbox with IndyStar’s Daily Briefing. Sign up for free at indystar.com/newsletters.

Get more information of shootings involving Indianapolis police here.

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After an IMPD officer-involved shooting, what comes next?

From investigations and reviews to public updates and department procedures, this is what happens after an IMPD officer-involved shooting.



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