Indianapolis, IN
Fix Indy’s potholes with state support, not tax increase | Letters
How potholes form and how they’re fixed
Rain and the freeze-and-thaw cycle wreak havoc on Indianapolis’ streets. Here’s how potholes form and how they’re fixed.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
As a taxpaying citizen of Indiana, I am outraged to read in IndyStar that House Roads and Transportation Chair Jim Pressel wants Marion County to address our potholes and maintain the county’s nearly 8,500 lane miles of roads by allowing us to raise taxes to meet funding needs.
Pressel and his fellow rural Republican legislators support a lane-mile funding formula that gives as much money to a one-lane county road as to six lanes for a street such as Keystone Avenue. Our county receives about half the lane-mile funding as most other counties. We also get 11 cents per every dollar our taxpayers generate for the state’s Community Crossings program, while other counties receive $1. Pressel says, “I’m trying to help them help themselves.” He rounds out his subterfuge by saying, “They know they have a problem.”
Yes, we know we have a problem: It’s the Republican-dominated state government with its anti-Indianapolis bias. Don’t they notice the discrepancy when they are in town spending their $196 per-diem staying at our hotels or eating at our restaurants courtesy of corporate lobbyists? Why wouldn’t they want their state’s capital city to thrive and serve as a magnet to attract businesses and new residents to Indiana? Instead, they spend their time trying to dismantle our public school system, put roadblocks in the way of efficient public transportation, prevent us from banning right turns on red, and take our money to prop up their backwoods towns.
When the legislative session is over and Pressel is driving back to Rolling Prairie, let’s hope his mega truck doesn’t hit a pothole, bend a rim and destroy a tire when he hits a pothole within our city limits.
Michael Nolan lives in Indianapolis.
The return of Creekend and the Phish triple-header can mean only one thing: It’s summer concert season in Indiana.
Old favorites will fulfill their time-honored obligations to the Hoosier state, big names will bring new tours to town and Indiana’s own rock star will unload all of his hits in what promises to be a sprawling set.
Even with the full power of the IndyStar arts staff, there are simply too many summer concerts to capture in one story. Two stories (check out our guide to free shows around the region) doesn’t cover it either.
The highlights will have to suffice. These are the top, can’t-miss shows headed for the Indy area this summer.
Dave Matthews Band
June 26 and 27. Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3wh7vhrc
DMB is back for another summer double-header at its time-honored “Creekend” tradition.
Phish
July 10, 11 and 12. Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/yc5v4a8u
Also holding up its end of the annual Ruoff pilgrimage, cult favorite jam band Phish is back for a three-show stint.
Death Cab for Cutie
July 12. Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3vk6y7j9
The 2000s alternative group is hitting the road and headed to downtown Indianapolis on the heels of their latest album.
‘They Call Me Genêt’
July 16-19 and 23-26. District Theatre, 627 Massachusetts Ave. Tickets: indydistricttheatre.org
Indianapolis actress Jen Johansen will play Janet Flanner in this play about her life by D. Paul Thomas. Flanner, the daughter of a well-known Circle City family, helped shape “The New Yorker” as its Paris correspondent for 50 years, chronicling the Nuremberg trials, cultural movements and more.
‘Extreme Home Makeover’
July 16-Aug. 2. Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St. Tickets: phoenixtheatre.org
In this American Lives Theatre production, a Latino family auditions for a popular home decorating show as a step toward resilience and healing after their patriarch dies.
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
July 16-Aug. 23. Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 Michigan Road. Tickets: beefandboards.com
The Cornley University Drama Society is struggling with its newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” thanks to actor mishaps, an unconscious leading lady and a corpse who appears unable to remain deceased.
Rock the Ruins
July 17-Sept. 12. Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road. Tickets: https://www.rocktheruins.com/
The outdoor concert series returns with headliners Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (July 17), Jesse Welles (Aug. 4), Big Thief (Aug. 11) and Indigo Girls (Sept. 12).
John Mellencamp
July 18. Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/f4t4s3ky
Indiana’s native son returns to Noblesville’s Ruoff Music Center, where he promises all the hits (some for the final time ever) on his Dancing Words Tour.
Indy Dance Festival
July 18-19. Tobias Theater at Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road. Tickets: indydancecouncil.org/indy-dance-festival
Companies from across Indiana will perform Indian classical dance, contemporary dance, Africanist dance and more.
Benson Boone
July 19. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/2u5rteue
In one of the only Gainbridge Fieldhouse concerts of the summer, Grammy-nominated Benson Boone will backflip his way into Indianapolis on his Wanted Man Tour.
Harry Connick Jr.
July 20. Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets: thecenterpresents.org
The TV, Broadway and film star will deliver jazz standards, New Orleans classics and popular hits.
Indy Shorts Film Festival
July 21-26. Tickets: heartlandfilm.org/events/indyshorts
The festival that focuses on short-form film storytelling will return with program announcements to come June 25.
Audrey Hobert
July 25. Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/msdw7ap5
With performances at Bonnaroo and Governors Ball under her belt, singer-songwriter Audrey Hobert is embarking on her solo Staircase to Stardom Tour.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and Foreigner
Aug. 7. Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3n8r5cya
Not one but two classic rock acts are hitting the road on the Double Trouble Double Vision tour.
American Football
Aug. 13. Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/4xztm3kc
Fresh off their first album in seven years, the math rock favorites are slated for Old National Centre.
IndyFringe Festival
Aug. 13-23. Venues on and around Mass Ave. More information: indyfringe.org/festival
The experimental theater and performing arts festival will be back for its 21st year, with shows and venues to be announced.
TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue
Aug. 20. Ruoff Music Center, 12880 E. 146th St. in Noblesville. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/34x2vp8x
The powerhouse R&B triple bill hits Noblesville on the It’s Iconic tour.
Gala: Opus 2026
Sept. 19. Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. Tickets: indianapolissymphony.org/event/26-27-iso-gala/
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto, called the “Emperor,” under the baton of Maestro Jun Märkl with pianist Denis Kozhukhin.
.jpg?environment=live&width=1200&height=630&fit=crop&ssl=1 "Meza takes Trans Am TA2 victory at Indianapolis")
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Sunday’s edition of “All INdiana Politics,” WISH-TV Government Reporter Garrett Bergquist weighs in on Max Engling winning the nomination for secretary of state from Indiana’s GOP.
Later, Bergquist breaks down United Way’s 2026 ALICE report, which found that 40% of Indiana households can’t afford cost of living.
Last but not least, Bergquist sits down with Democrat Lindsey Haake and Republican Whitley Yates to discuss the race for Indiana secretary of state, the ALICE report, and the fragile peace deal between Iran and the U.S.
“All INdiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sundays on WISH-TV.
-
Lifestyle2 minutes agoContributor: ‘The Fast and the Furious’ took the Asians out of an Asian American story
-
Politics10 minutes agoSupreme Court says ex-LAPD officer may be sued for excessive force in street shooting
-
Sports17 minutes agoRams QB Ty Simpson embracing an unusual bedtime routine to spur his development
-
World28 minutes agoLebanon Latest: Israeli attacks surge despite ceasefire efforts
-
News55 minutes agoSupreme Court allows a ruling that ends a tool to protect minority voters in 7 states
-
New York2 hours agoHow a Security Guard Lives on $46,000 a Year in the East Bronx
-
Los Angeles, Ca2 hours agoL.A. Tenants Union trying to save business owner given eviction notice ‘without reason or discussion’
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoGrace Hanke crowned Miss Michigan 2026
