INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Lucas Oil Stadium is now home to a sensory room, making one of the city’s largest venues accessible to all.
The room was created by nonprofit KultureCity, the “nation’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities,” according to their site. KultureCity worked alongside the stadium and the Capital Improvement Board to make the room possible.
Tucked away near the stadium’s southwest entrance, the room turns chaos to calm with sensory-friendly components. The room features bubble walls, adjustable lighting, calming visuals, comfortable seating and Yogibo bean bags.
“It’s all in an effort to give guests the best experience possible and be able to come to events that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to events that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to,” Mike Rogers, a member of the Lucas Oil Stadium’s Guest Services team.
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The room is open during every event at the stadium and families are free to use it after checking in with the room’s attendant. They can also download the nonprofit’s app before the event to see all available features.
“Every one of those families, they were in here for 15 or 20 minutes, and you can see the kids were calm as they walked out, and so you can see that it really works,” Rogers said.
Lucas Oil Stadium opens sensory room. (WISH Photo)
Rogers says aside from the excitement the room brings professionally, it also has a personal impact.
His grown son is on the autism spectrum and would have benefited hugely from a sensory room at the stadium.
“We had Colts season tickets for a while and every time we came, we did the best we could to give him headphones and so forth, so that he could take the environment, but it still wasn’t working,” Rogers said. “We knew the best thing to have would have been a room just like this.”
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The stadium also offers sensory safe bags, which include a weighted blanket, fidget toys, headphones, and verbal cue cards.
Attendees in need of a bag can check one out at guest services.
INDIANAPOLIS — A shooting that injured a woman at a hotel on Indianapolis’ south side Saturday night is under investigation.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers were called to the Motel 6 in the 4300 block of Southport Crossings Way just after 9:30 p.m. on a report of a person shot.
Arriving officers found a woman who had been shot. She was reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators believe there was an altercation between the woman and a man in a hotel room that led to shots being fired.
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No other information about the incident has been released by police.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis City-County Council president explains her desire for a data center moratorium.
Council President Maggie Lewis wants to put a pause on new data center developments. The proposal comes after months of public pressure from residents and environmental groups who say the city needs stronger rules before allowing more data centers. Now, Lewis says it’s time to hit pause while those questions are answered.
“I’m not saying that we’ll never have a new data center in our community. That’s not what this is about. I understand the importance of economic development in our community, but it is important that we hit pause, do that deep dive, and allow the community and the experts to have an honest conversation about the topic,” Lewis said.
Lewis says she isn’t trying to stop economic development. Instead, she says the city needs more time to fully understand what data centers could mean for Indianapolis before approving additional projects. Lewis says residents have raised questions about the potential impact on utilities, the environment and quality of life, and she believes those concerns deserve a more thorough public discussion before the city moves forward with additional developments.
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“The community really is feeling as if their voices haven’t been heard. I believe it’s important that we bring all the stakeholders to the table and have that honest dialogue,” Lewis said.
Councilman Ron Gibson, who supports bringing data centers to Indianapolis, and he says these projects can bring investment to neighborhoods when they’re built in the right locations.
“This land where they’re going to actually develop it has been vacant for more than 43 years,” Gibson said. “It’s zoned for industrial use. This is really going to enhance our neighborhood. It’s going to bring back life, create more businesses that want to move into our area, and create more opportunity.”
(WISH Photo)
One of the biggest concerns raised by opponents is whether increased demand for electricity and water could create additional costs for taxpayers.
“I believe strongly that the data centers must uphold total costs. I made sure the developer, in writing, is responsible for all utility costs, so none of that rolls over to constituents,” Gibson said.
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Across Indiana, at least 17 counties have approved temporary moratoriums on new data center developments. Marshall and Cass counties have gone even further, banning new facilities altogether.
The committee meeting begins Monday at 5:30 p.m. inside the City-County Building, where members will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning rules and consider Lewis’ amendment for a temporary moratorium. If approved by the committee, the proposal would move to the full City-County Council for further consideration.
INDIANAPOLIS — An investigation is underway after a woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash in downtown Indianapolis Saturday morning.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, at around 3:15 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of East Maryland and South Pennsylvania Streets after hearing a loud crash in the area.
Photo of IMPD investigating a hit-and-run crash in downtown Indianapolis on July 11, 2026, captured by a FOX59/CBS4 crew.
When officers arrived on scene, they were flagged down by several people stating a pedestrian had been struck. Officers located an adult female who had been on a scooter in the crosswalk of the intersection.
She was transported to an area hospital in critical condition but later died from her injuries, IMPD said.
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Investigators said the striking motorist did not stay on scene.
Police are encouraging those with information on the crash to contact Detective Adam Jones at (317) 327-3475 or call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477.
