Local gov't reporter at Mirror Indy | 📧:peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org | 📲 317-605-4836 | https://mirrorindy.org/author/peter-blanchard/https://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mltaewte7k2tThe state agency that audits local governments is taking a closer look at the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety for potential financial improprieties https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-office-public-health-safety-ophs-audit-city-county-council/14 May 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltaewte7k2thttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mkqfsspecc2eOne of the two Democratic candidates for Marion County sheriff is taking heat for a campaign mailer that critics say is misleading https://mirrorindy.org/kelvis-williams-marion-county-sheriff-democrat-candidate-campaign-mailer/30 Apr 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqfsspecc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mj3ip3p43223Today is Local News Day. This is a national day of action with a simple ask: Find your local news, subscribe, and help the people around you do the same. Make sure you’re connected to Indianapolis news by signing up for our free newsletters and texts mirrorindy.org/sign-up/09 Apr 2026 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3ip3p43223https://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mgs2ti74js2fState officials are abandoning plans to expand White River State Park. Reporting w/ @enriquesaenz.bsky.social https://mirrorindy.org/white-river-state-park-expansion-indianapolis-iedc-elanco-westside/11 Mar 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgs2ti74js2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mgfij3osk227Several tech companies want to build data centers in Indianapolis. Mayor Joe Hogsett has taken a neutral position on data centers, but a letter from his economic development organization in support of a proposed data center in Indianapolis sends a different signal 📡 https://mirrorindy.org/mayor-joe-hogsett-indianapolis-economic-development-data-centers-martindale-brightwood-metrobloks/06 Mar 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgfij3osk227https://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mg3z422tqc2rGov. Mike Braun will have greater influence in the process for picking Marion County judges under a Republican-backed bill that is set to become law. Critics say the move will weaken the independence and diversity that helps define Marion County's justice system https://mirrorindy.org/indiana-governor-mike-braun-marion-county-judges-house-bill-1033/02 Mar 2026 19:40 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3z422tqc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mf5f7h2nmk2gDozens of Indy residents who applied to run for Democratic Party positions are having their candidacies challenged by the Marion County Democratic Party because of their voting history. Some pulled Republican ballots in the '24 primary to vote against Mike Braun https://mirrorindy.org/marion-county-democratic-party-candidate-challenges-2026-election-2026-election/18 Feb 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf5f7h2nmk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3meobs2cri224City-county councilors could lose the ability to handpick projects that benefit their districts after a state lawmaker criticized the process. It comes after I reported last year that some councilors used taxpayer dollars to fix roads in front of their homes https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-city-county-council-road-projects-state-lawmakers-senate-bill-179/12 Feb 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3meobs2cri224https://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3md3wuuq4ts2x"There is a wealth of knowledge, ideas and passion in public service. But a maze of self-instituted processes and an engrained culture of deflection has led to an inability to make simple, incremental improvements for the betterment of our city" https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/2026/01/23/indy-dpw-pedestrian-safety-vision-zero/8830345900723 Jan 2026 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3md3wuuq4ts2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mczh2dl2u22sHave you thought about how you can get involved in local politics, but aren't sure where to start? Have you ever, like me, wondered what a precinct committee member is? I put together a guide for Mirror Indy on how to get started https://mirrorindy.org/indianapolis-local-politics-precinct-chair-elections-2026/22 Jan 2026 14:56 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczh2dl2u22shttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mcfep7jf7c24A barista at my local Starbucks is wearing an Amelia's Bakery hat and I am here for it14 Jan 2026 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcfep7jf7c24https://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mbzilngafs2gStanding in front of Monument Circle with an “Abolish ICE” banner behind him, Johnny Hall called on Indianapolis leaders to loudly and publicly oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown: “You do not get to sit on the fence" https://mirrorindy.org/ice-protest-indianapolis-mayor-joe-hogsett/09 Jan 2026 21:59 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbzilngafs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/peterblanchard.bsky.social/post/3mbyxtffnz22hNearly 18 months since the city committed to eliminating traffic deaths by 2035, there are few concrete details on how the city will get to Vision Zero. Advocates say it’s possible — if Mayor Joe Hogsett and city-county councilors live up to their promises https://mirrorindy.org/vision-zero-2025-indianapolis-pedestrian-safety-action-plan/09 Jan 2026 16:59 +0000at://did:plc:vnj7e344rmydowh7rtfutyq5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbyxtffnz22h