INDIANAPOLIS — Two men were hurt Wednesday night after a shooting on the near-north side of Indianapolis, police said.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to the 3500 block of North Kenwood Avenue just before 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Shortly after they arrived, they found two men who’d been shot. One was reportedly stable while the other was in critical condition. Both were taken to a local hospital.

IMPD Capt. Richard Ray said investigators believe one or more people got into “some sort of altercation” with the two men, shots were fired, and the suspect or suspects fled the scene.

Ray urged anyone with information to contact IMPD through the non-emergency line at 317-327-3811 or leave information anonymously at 317-262-8477.

INDIANAPOLIS — Fire investigators are searching for whoever is responsible for a string of six arsons in a roughly two-square-block area east of downtown since late 2025, the Indianapolis Fire Department said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Battalion Chief Rita Reith, the department’s media relations director, said in the release that investigators want the public’s help to identify the people responsible for the arsons. They happened in the 200 block of Walcott Street and the 200 and 300 blocks of North State Avenue since October 2025. Those blocks are between East Washington and East New York streets, about a dozen blocks east of downtown’s I-65/I-70.

Investigators on Friday will go into those neighborhoods to talk with residents about those six arsons and three other fires in the same area.

The most recent arson happened at 1:38 a.m. Monday at 230 N. Walcott St. Flames destroyed the vacant residence and damaged three neighboring homes, two of which were occupied at the time. One resident required medical treatment for smoke exposure, though officials did not say whether the person was hospitalized.

Investigators asked residents and business owners in the area to check security camera footage for any activity between midnight and 2 a.m. Monday. They are specifically looking for video showing people walking or riding bicycles and for any vehicles moving or parked near 230 Walcott St. during those hours.

The other five arsons happened at 221 N. State Ave. on July 27 and 206 N. State Ave. on June 2. Earlier in the year, a fire happened at 307 N. State Ave. on March 30. Late last year, fires happened at 226 N. State Ave. on Dec. 1 and 222 N. State Ave. on Oct. 20.

The department also revealed Wednesday that roughly 21% of 390 fires investigated in the city through August of this year were intentionally set.

Anyone with information should contact fire investigators or use the available tip lines. Information that leads to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a cash reward.

Good infrastructure policy should account for the community that has to live through its construction projects.

There is no argument against investing in infrastructure in Indianapolis.

However, there is a difference between accepting that the construction is necessary and believing the businesses in an affected area should absorb the consequences.

The Fountain Square Area Drainage Improvements Project is a $14 million public works project, and the Indianapolis Business Journal reported in August that it had closed streets in the district since January. This project cuts through one of the city’s densest independent commercial districts.

Fountain Square has barely survived that construction. Streets and sidewalks have been excavated or restricted; Americans with Disabilities Act infrastructure has been inaccessible; access has changed frequently and businesses have spent many hours explaining to customers that, yes, we are still open and, yes, there is a way to get down here.

Magdalena, the restaurant I own in Fountain Square, suffered another consequence.

During two rain events this summer, water entered the restaurant through the floor. The first time we removed 120 to 140 gallons of water and debris and had to turn away several dozen guests. Later that week, we removed 200 gallons of water, losing our Saturday night of Gen Con.

It took a week to receive a response from the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, which finally directed us to the contractor performing the work to “investigate” the issue. We were at the mercy of the contractor, Eagle Valley, with no assistance from the city.

Magdalena will close permanently on Oct. 6.

Empty restaurant seats tonight can’t be made up next year. Payroll still happens. A guest who has to deal with getting to a place through difficult construction may not return when the orange cones disappear.

In 2011, during the building of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the IBJ reported that Fountain Square businesses were struggling for the same reasons we are now. Three businesses closed.

Fifteen years hence, we should have a better system.

Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works created its Support of Business Program in 2010 when a wave of infrastructure projects affected commercial districts. That city integrated business support into DPW project development and construction.

New York City takes it even further with its Department of Design and Construction assigning community construction liaisons to infrastructure projects. These agents proactively work with engineers and project managers to gather information about how businesses will be affected.

And some cities have gone beyond communication.

San Antonio has provided grants of up to $1.45 million to businesses suffering revenue losses during extended public projects.

Los Angeles established a Business Interruption Fund, which provides millions of dollars in financial assistance to businesses in the path of major construction. In 2024, LA Metro reported that 95% of recipients remained open for six months, 88% open after one year and 75% after two years.

Indianapolis should establish a small business construction mitigation program for commercial districts undergoing significant public works projects. Each project should have a dedicated business liaison who understands the construction schedule, the businesses in the affected area and how commerce flows through the area. They should provide meaningful advance notice of disruptions and coordinate with contractors and project managers while remaining easily reachable by small business owners in the affected district.

The city should consider a fund for independent businesses that can demonstrate substantial losses.

Good infrastructure policy should account for the community that has to live through its construction projects. Independent restaurants, bars, music venues, record shops and vintage stores are all a part of Indianapolis’s infrastructure, too.

We don’t have to choose between fixing our streets and protecting the businesses that make Indianapolis unique. Many other cities have demonstrated just that, and Indianapolis should join them.

Nick Detrich is the owner of Magdalena.