INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Looking for a unique way to get your steps in this weekend? The 42nd annual Bop to the Top stair climb is happening Saturday at the iconic OneAmerica Tower in downtown Indianapolis.

This beloved tradition, hosted by Tuxedo Brothers Events, invites participants of all fitness levels to climb the 36 floors of the tower while supporting a great cause. For more than four decades, the event has partnered with Riley Hospital for Children, raising significant funds to support their critical work.

“Forty-two years ago, we started this as something fun and competitive to do indoors during the winter,” Don Carr, owner of Tuxedo Brothers and the event’s host, said. “We quickly realized it was the perfect opportunity to tie in a charity component. Riley Hospital has been a part of this from the beginning, and it’s been an incredible partnership.”

Participants can sign up as individuals, families, or teams, with categories to match any level of competitiveness. There’s even a “triple step” option for those brave enough to tackle the climb more than once. And, yes, everyone who completes the climb will be rewarded with a long-sleeved T-shirt—perfect for the chilly Indiana weather.

Registration costs $30 to $35, depending on the category, and you can sign up online or in person on the day of the event. The climb starts at 8:30 a.m.

“Whether you’re fast, slow, or just there to have fun, everyone is welcome,” Carr said. “It’s all about making it to the top, enjoying the experience, and supporting an amazing cause.”

For more information or to register, click here.

Councilor Jared Evans, who grew up in Indianapolis, described the city’s response to recent snowstorms as “the worst that I’ve seen” at Thursday night’s meeting of the Public Works Committee.

He wasn’t alone. Officials representing districts throughout the city said their constituents were left frustrated and concerned after residential streets went unplowed in the aftermath of early January’s snowfall.

‘This will be a long fight for our crew’ Indy officials discuss plans ahead of Winter Storm Blair

Indianapolis once hired private contractors to plow residential streets following 6 inches or more of snowfall. That rule was scrapped in 2020 in favor of a new policy requiring plows to clear busy connector streets. Officials totals from the National Weather Service in Indianapolis show parts of the city have received more than 15 inches of snowfall since Jan. 5.

The concerns were so abundant that the committee’s chair, Kristin Jones, invited leaders from the Department of Public Works (DPW) to address the issues.

Indianapolis snow plowing: How long will it be before your road is finally plowed? The answer may be ‘never.’

Sam Beres, DPW interim director, delivered remarks for the committee alongside Natalie Van Dongen, deputy director of policy and planning.

Before taking questions, Beres and Van Dongen shared a presentation emphasizing crews’ relentless efforts to clear major thoroughfares and their connecting streets — a round-the-clock effort that’s so far required more than 13,000 overtime hours.

Despite a challenging battle against the snow, contractors weren’t brought in to help with residential streets. Beres said that the decision wasn’t based on financial constraints, instead citing concerns about property damage on narrow streets and the potential for further icing.

That explanation didn’t suffice for Councilor Brian Mowery.

“Now all of those neighborhoods are a sheet of ice anyway, because they didn’t get plowed, and they were driven on top of, and it just compacted the snow into ice,” Mowery said.

Councilors emphasized that they appreciated the efforts of the city’s crews — more than a dozen of whom were sitting in the audience — but they were unhappy with the department’s lack of any clear plan for the city’s residential street.

“You will see this council at least have a discussion — and a vote — on changing this policy,” Councilor Josh Bain said.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@gannett.com or (317) 800-2956.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Unless the United States Supreme Court steps in, a ban on the social media platform TikTok will take effect on Sunday.

The court has yet to rule on whether it will pause the law banning TikTok from taking effect. As of Thursday morning, the court has not scheduled any other dates to release opinions.

The uncertainty is leaving Indianapolis TikTokers, like Summer Hudson, bracing for impact.

She’s a realtor and goes by @findalottolove on TikTok. A licensed agent for eight years, she’s been posting tours of Indianapolis-area houses for sale since the pandemic.

“When I heard about the TikTok ban, I immediately panicked,” Hudson said.

Four years — and more than 220,000 followers later — the relator says TikTok has opened many doors for her. She’s seen so much business come in that since she started posting, her agency has grown significantly.

“I was actually unprepared for how much it impacted my business,” Hudson said. “I was almost scrambling because people were reaching out to me in a way that I hadn’t had (before). I now have a team of eight.”

On top of the boost to business, Hudson says she’s made up to $4,000 in a month simply by uploading videos through the platform’s creator fund.

She feels the ban is a double standard since other social media apps have been shown to store and use people’s data the same way TikTok does.

“There’s so much to lose if we ban TikTok,” Hudson said. “It’s a huge community. I think there’s so much support that you get from other TikTok users.”

The frustration created by a potential ban goes beyond businesses. For many creators, like Tommy Barrett, making content is about giving others a platform.

He’s known as @itstartswithaquestion on Tiktok.

Barrett’s page focuses on food reviews of Indy-area businesses, many of which he posts from his car.

“[Making videos] has really grown my appreciation for the city,” Barrett said.

The content creator also is part of TikTok’s Creator Fund.

According to Barrett, he’s not paying any bills with the money he makes posting videos. However, it’s enough to fund his lunches, which then become content.

Reaching almost 30,000 followers, the platform by far makes up the TikToker’s largest social media following. He says it’s enough to make a real impact on the local businesses he reviews.

“I had an unreal bagel. I went posted it, tons of people watched it,” Barrett said. “The owner texts me, ‘I’m running out of bagels — every single Saturday, I’m very busy, and I thank you so much,’ That’s what that means to me.”

He’s worried that a looming ban on TikTok could have devastating effects on local economies.

“I’d be really frustrated,” Barret said. “It’s about showcasing the people that really need it the most, and especially in the city that I love the most.”

Both Hudson and Barret still plan on making short-form content on competing platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.

While the fate of the ban is still up in the air, President-elect Donald Trump says he is considering an executive order which would allow ByteDance — TikTok’s parent company — more time to find a potential buyer.

Although, it’s unclear whether Trump could actually do that if the new law takes effect before he takes office.