Indianapolis, IN

New Indianapolis statue memorializes Richard Lugar. What it looks like and where it’s going

Published

2 years ago

September 3, 2024

New Indianapolis statue memorializes Richard Lugar. What it looks like and where it’s going

Few Hoosier public servants are lauded more than the late Sen. Richard Lugar, who died in 2019. He lay in state at the Indiana Statehouse, has a downtown plaza named after him and, come Tuesday, he will be memorialized in the unveiling of a larger-than-life statue, christened in the company of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The Indianapolis-born Republican served two terms as mayor and 36 years as Indiana’s U.S. senator. On the national stage, he’s best known for his bipartisan work with Georgia Democrat Sam Nunn on the Nunn-Lugar Act, which launched a program to dismantle weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union ― present-day Ukraine ― after its collapse.

But perhaps more saliently today, say the civic leaders who pooled half a million dollars of private donations to make the monument possible, Lugar is a model for civility.

“He always listened. He always lifted people up. He never demeaned other people. He was always there with a keen intellect but an empathy that you had to you had to respect,” said Charles Richardson, a retired partner at Faegre Drinker law firm. “We don’t have to have a situation like we have now. We can look at the example of Dick Lugar and have a better way to think about public policy and the common good.”

The unveiling will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Bicentennial Unity Plaza outside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where Rice will give a keynote address. The monument will later be moved to a permanent spot on Lugar Plaza outside the City-County Building, along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

Op-ed: Richard Lugar is the single most important public servant in the history of Indiana

What is Lugar known for?

Lugar is often credited with transforming Indianapolis into a modern city and earning a national spotlight as mayor.

He was mayor during the adoption of UniGov in 1970; the ensuing economic growth propelled Lugar to the top spot on the National League of Cities in 1971.

While he’s best known for his work on nuclear disarmament during his Senate tenure, he also led efforts to override President Ronald Reagan’s veto of economic sanctions on apartheid South Africa, and he supported Democratic transitions in the Philippines and elsewhere.

After leaving the Senate, Lugar created a nonprofit, The Lugar Center, which conducts research on global issues Lugar often confronted during his time in office.

In 2013 ― the year Lugar left office ― President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Who organized the Lugar monument?

The late Jim Morris, the vice chair of Pacers Sports and Entertainment who died in July, got the ball rolling on this effort shortly after Lugar died in 2019.

He mobilized dozens of other civic leaders to raise money from private donors and asked Indianapolis architect Jonathan Hess to design a monument that would represent Lugar’s expansive career.

“When Jim would call, you always said yes,” Hess said.

What does the monument look like?

The entire monument spans 14 feet wide, including a sculpture of Lugar standing on a base, surrounded by five free-standing plaques that describe the breadth of his half-century career, from Rhodes Scholar to Navy man, from mayor to U.S. senator. Lugar himself stands 9-and-a-half-feet tall, including the base.

The figure of Lugar is leaning on a column cap that tops the base of a walnut tree. His posture is inspired by a picture of a relaxed, affable Lugar following his second Senate win, Hess said; the column is symbolic of his time in Congress; and the walnut tree represents Lugar’s favorite place in the world: the grove of walnut trees he planted on his family farm. The bronze contains some bark peeled off one of these trees.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

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Indianapolis, IN

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

Published

4 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

Press Room

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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