INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Time and time again, people keep bringing up the idea to stop changing our clocks twice a year. If this were to finally happen, and Indianapolis had to make the choice, what would be the difference between permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time?

Here is what each would look like in Indianapolis:

Permanent daylight saving time would mean we “spring forward” and stay there.

Being on the western side of the eastern time zone, Indianapolis’ sunrise in permanent daylight saving time would be after 9 a.m. on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year.

On the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year, our sunrise and sunset times would be unaffected since we already are in daylight saving time in the current system.

Permanent standard time would equate to not “springing forward” at all.

In this case, the summer solstice sunrise time would change to 5:16 a.m. in Indy with a sunset of 8:16 p.m. The winter solstice would not be impacted since standard time is already used in the current system.

Basically, this boils down to if you are more of a morning or evening person. Sunrises and sunsets would both be earlier in standard time in the summer. Daylight saving in winter would result in later sunrises and sunsets.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We are finally seeing the end of a construction project that started in 2019. Lanes will be re-opening lanes and restrictions will be lifting on I-465.

As of Dec. 16, the Finish Line I-69 project is complete.

Long-term restrictions have been removed from lanes of I-465 between I-65 and I-70 on the southwest side of Indianapolis. Also the U.S. 31 SB to I-465 WB ramp, that closed in spring of 2023, is reopening.

“This milestone marks the end of major traffic disruptions on the I-69 Finish Line corridor,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith.

With only minor construction changes left in the coming weeks leading to Christmas, the corridor officially opened to traffic with the opening of the new I-69/I-465 interchange in August 2024.

“We anticipate having all mainline movements open prior to Christmas, with minor construction activities occurring this week and early next”, Smith said.

The construction targeted disruptions on I-69 allowing for many openings. Harding Street, within limits of I-465 and Elper Avenue at S.R. 37, are scheduled to open by the end of the year.

There will be additional minor additions and fixes to I-69 and I-465 including guardrail and drainage installations.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis nonprofit aims to make the holidays more accessible this season.

According to the BOSMA Center for Visionary Solution, nearly 160,000 people in Indiana are blind or visually impaired.

Marsha Egan, vice president of program services at Bosma Enterprises, says the key to an accessible holiday gathering is safety.

People planning to host this winter should make sure to clear pathways of tripping hazards like loose rugs or decorations that stick out from the wall, ground or ceiling.

It’s also a good idea to close cabinets, push in chairs and keep things off of stairways.

“Those type of things are just common courtesy,” Egan said. “It can help somebody with very low vision or no vision prevent falls or (avoid) things that they might bump into. Other than that, help identify where things are.”

If a potluck or buffet is part of the plan, she suggests labeling dishes with braille and large fonts.

It’s still okay to decorate your house for the season. Egan says to think creatively and engage all of the senses when getting into the holiday spirit.

Bells and textured ornaments are a good place to start.

“Things that might be tactile for the person to experience is good,” Egan said. “The use of colored lights can be really helpful as well, because sometimes people do have some light perception. [They] may be able to see the different colors are changing along the way.”

When it comes to gifts, Egan recommends going for tangible items, like food or accessible games. The person giving the gift should, however, make sure it is easy to unwrap.

“[Any type of] audio type of engagement…there’s cards that have music.” Egan said. “Those are the things that somebody with low vision can really fully experience, along with whoever they’re celebrating with.”

BOSMA suggests labeling gifts with Braille or using a QR Code that’s linked to a voice-to-text app. This step could make gifts easier to find.