Indianapolis, IN

Hogsett could win a fourth term as Indy mayor. He shouldn’t try. | Opinion

Published

1 year ago

March 11, 2025

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Hogsett could win a fourth term as Indy mayor. He shouldn’t try. | Opinion

Amid ongoing successes, there are constant signs that the Hogsett administration is fraying.

Mayor Joe Hogsett said he wouldn’t run for a third term. Then he did. So, he doesn’t have much room to be annoyed that some people are asking whether he might run for a fourth term despite saying he wouldn’t.

Mirror Indy last month asked Hogsett why he’s still holding fundraisers during a Tarkington Park groundbreaking. “I don’t want to answer a political question at a city event,” he said, even though he spent much of 2023 holding city press conferences for the benefit of his reelection campaign.

Hogsett might not want to talk about it. But people in and around city government are increasingly getting the sense that he is considering running again in 2027. It’s his right to do that if he wants — and he’d probably win again.

But it’d be a really bad idea.

Hogsett’s chase for legacy

Nine years into Hogsett’s tenure, I maintain my view that he’s been an above average big-city mayor.

You can break Hogsett’s tenure so far into three parts: the early years, when he sought financial stability above all else; the middle years, defined by a once-in-100-years pandemic, riots and crime spikes; and, more recently, a chase for legacy.

Hogsett’s early obsession with fiscal discipline put Indianapolis in position to weather an unforeseeable pandemic and come out the other side better positioned than many other big cities. Downtown is returning to normal and the crime that skyrocketed during 2020 and beyond is trending downward.

The mayor has since pivoted to a more aggressive approach. He’s building a city-owned hotel, overseeing the long-anticipated redevelopment of Circle Centre and chasing a Major League Soccer dream that many, if not most, people thought was insane almost a year ago.

These efforts mark a departure from Hogsett’s early, cautious years and return us, at least to some extent, to the Greg Ballard era, when the former Republican mayor was using creative financing schemes to build projects, including 360 Market Square and CityWay.

Hogsett’s MLS pursuit also bears obvious resemblance to former Mayor Bill Hudnut’s deals to build a stadium and land the Colts. Hogsett is closing in on landing an MLS club and that could very well be what he is remembered for above all else.

Hogsett has been through three elections now in which his critics have failed to articulate a strong case against him and, more importantly, failed to persuade voters to reject him. I remain convinced that Hogsett has governed more or less like a moderate big-city Republican and that, if you put an R next to his name, Republicans would be generally happy with the job he’s done — as are most Indianapolis residents.

Hogsett’s effectiveness is waning

Amid ongoing successes, though, there are constant signs that the Hogsett administration is fraying.

Hogsett’s record is stained, at the very least, by last year’s revelations that the mayor failed to protect women on staff from men who were abusing their power. An ongoing investigation could reveal even worse information, further altering how we view Hogsett.

A third term would be harrowing even under the best of circumstances. But the sexual harassment scandal has cast a pall over the City-County Building, exhausting staff and making the Hogsett administration an even less desirable place to work.

Staffing issues are showing up at the highest levels within the administration. The Democratic-controlled City-County Council last month pushed back on Hogsett appointees to lead Indianapolis Animal Care Services and serve as deputy mayor of public health and safety.

Both cases are complicated, with blame to spread around, but Hogsett at the very least mishandled the politics surrounding those appointments. It is stunning for a Democratic-controlled council to reject two routine appointments by a Democratic mayor.

Filling leadership and staff positions is part of the nuts-and-bolts job of being mayor. Hogsett’s effectiveness is waning.

Hogsett likely will achieve his goal of serving long enough to reshape Indianapolis in ways that will be visible for generations to come. He’s also served long enough to bring about scandal and test the patience of those around him.

He might get to go out on top. That seems much less likely if he runs for mayor again.

Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.

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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

Published

3 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

Published

16 hours ago

April 18, 2026

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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Indianapolis, IN

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”

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