Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis City-County Council updates: Data center concerns and internal leadership changes – Indianapolis Recorder
The Indianapolis City-County Council has remained active in recent weeks, advancing discussions on major development issues, addressing leadership changes within the Council administration and preparing for a slate of committee and full council meetings scheduled for next week.
Council revisits data center development
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the City-County Council’s Environmental Sustainability Committee continued discussions surrounding data center development in Marion County, an issue that has generated sustained public attention and community concern.
Residents and subject-matter experts raised questions about the environmental impact of large-scale data centers, including water consumption, energy usage and long-term strain on local utilities. Councilors heard testimony related to whether existing zoning and regulatory frameworks adequately address these facilities or if additional safeguards are needed before future projects move forward.
The committee discussion follows heightened scrutiny of data center proposals over the past year, particularly after a high-profile rezoning request for a data center campus in Franklin Township was withdrawn in 2025 ahead of a planned council vote. That proposal sparked months of neighborhood opposition centered on infrastructure demands and limited economic benefits relative to land use.
While no ordinance was introduced at last week’s meeting, council members indicated the issue will continue to be evaluated through committee work and potential policy recommendations. Councilors have emphasized balancing economic development with neighborhood impact as Indianapolis continues to attract interest from technology-related industries.
New chief of staff and policy officer named
In January, the City-County Council announced a leadership update within its own administration. Doran Moreland was named Chief of Staff and Chief Policy Officer for the Indianapolis City-County Council.
Under the leadership of Council President Maggie A. Lewis, Moreland will lead the Council office in providing strategic and operational support to all Council members.
Moreland began his public service career in the offices of former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and U.S. Senator Evan Bayh. He has since held administrative leadership roles at Ivy Tech Community College and worked across the nonprofit and private sectors, bringing a broad, cross-sector perspective to public policy and governance.
He studied at Indiana University Bloomington and is currently pursuing a PhD in American Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis. Moreland resides on the north side of Indianapolis with his family.
Upcoming meetings next week
The City-County Council and several of its committees are scheduled to meet during the week of Feb. 9–13, with agendas expected to include zoning matters, appointments and routine legislative business.
According to city schedules, the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee is expected to meet on Monday, Feb. 9, where members may review development-related items and appointments tied to economic growth and land use.
Additional meetings scheduled throughout the week include hearings from planning and zoning bodies, such as the Metropolitan Development Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals, which handle technical reviews of land use proposals that often later come before the council for final consideration.
The full City-County Council is also expected to convene for its regular Monday evening meeting, where councilors will consider ordinances, resolutions and appointments.
Agendas for council and committee meetings are posted in advance on the city’s website and meetings are open to the public.
For more information visit us-east-1-indy.graphassets.com/ActDBC5rvRWeCZlNNnLrDz/cmjhjpxuh0msq07lk2calb3go.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
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.
(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.”
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis is getting ready to welcome spring with its annual St. Benno Festival this Saturday.
Organizers say it’s one of the longest-running cultural festivals in Indianapolis.
St. Benno Festival is based on the German tradition of “Frühlingsfest,” the springtime version of Oktoberfest, Athenaeum Foundation President Craig Mince says.
“It would always be the festival that would open up the beer garden,” Mince said. “So that was kind of their kickoff of the spring and that warmer season. “
The Athenaeum’s celebration focuses on St. Benno, the patron saint of anglers and the city of Munich, Germany.
There’s a lot of folklore surrounding St. Benno. He’s said to have created Bach beer. He also had a sidekick, “Einbeck,” which means “billy goat” in German.
Legend has it that when the invaders were coming to Munich, he threw the key to a church into a body of water. Years later, he caught a fish that had eaten the key and retrieved it.
“When the German immigrants came here to central Indiana, Indianapolis in particular, they started to organize,” Mince said. “They celebrated Benno. They celebrated Bach beer. So that was kind of the beginning of this institution.”
St. Benno Fest will include lots of beer, pretzels, and Gomez BBQ’s doner kebab.
Francene Thomas, the Athenaeum’s event and festivals manager, says there’s a lot of thought that goes into the menu.
“We want to definitely bring the tradition of this festival and continue that, but also, just bring some fresh flavor to it, too.”
The celebration serves as a fundraiser for the Athenaeum. Money raised will go back into maintenance and other events that promote German culture.
Tickets are $25 and can be bought in advance on the Athenaeum website. St. Benno Fest is a 21+ event and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Connecticut3 minutes agoOvernight Forecast for April 19
-
Delaware9 minutes agoState Police Arrest Dover Man for Assault and Aggravated Menacing in Dover – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
-
Florida15 minutes agoSNAP benefits will be changing in Florida starting Monday
-
Georgia21 minutes agoGeorgia on nobody’s mind: The Dawgs are under the radar, and that’s a compliment
-
Hawaii27 minutes agoLarge section of Aloha Stadium demolished as project proceeds – West Hawaii Today
-
Idaho33 minutes ago
Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on April 18, 2026
-
Illinois39 minutes ago5 tornadoes confirmed in Illinois from Friday’s storms
-
Indiana45 minutes agoAn Indiana district turned to voters to fund more preschool seats. Here’s what happened next.