Taken at the Indiana Dunes State Park at sunset

Several times per year I drive between Bloomington and Chicago, usually on I-65 (although occasionally on US-231 or other parallel routes). Typically I'll stop around the halfway point for fuel, food, etc.

Rather than eating at Subway or McDonalds, what are some good quick places to stop for food that aren't a major chain? Ideally they should not involve a significant detour and offer some kind of counter service instead of sit-down.

Just saw a commercial for a Senate race in Florida. It's not the first out of state election commercial that I've seen, it may be the first while I was holding my phone. Why are any political agents spending money in Indiana for a Florida election?

Edit: thanks I did not make the connection to the world series, but with all the Brewers fans on the stands I forgot that a Florida team was playing.

Where can I find information on candidates who are not listed by party? I’m thinking of judges, school board etc.

Join the Indiana House Democrats, the Indiana Senate Democrats and the Jessica Bailey campaign on election day to help push voters to the polls statewide!

WHEN: Tuesday November 3, 2026 from 9AM to 7PM ET

WHERE:  309 W Washington St (Floor 6), Indianapolis, IN 46204 OR Join Virtually!

WHAT:  Join us to Get-Out-the-Vote as we call voters to elect Jessica and flip seats!

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Interesting where they are spending - the article cites 4 races, and 3 of them seem to be in the same region of the House race (Spartz, challenges by Ford) that Trump was "truthing"/boosting - being discussed as well.

$ coming to

- Chris Jeter (R- Fishers)

- Danny Lopez (R - Carmel)

- Becky Cash (R- Zionsville

Also to Dave Hall in a largely rural district from Brown County to Lawrence County that edges a little into Bloomington.

I'm near the Dave Hall district. In 2024 he had yard signs blanketing the region. This time, at least between Brown and Monroe, just a sprinkling of signs - matched by the number of his opponent.

Any insights?

Looking for a wedding venue in north Indy/hamilton county are for about 150 people… in the 10-20k range… every place we went to visit feels way over priced in some manner… trying to find something that isn’t so expensive but has that green house/gable look to it… any suggestions?

Picking 🌽 near Muncie, Indiana USA 🇺🇲

I am moving to Indiana - near from Rensselaer, Fair Oaks - and I am looking for tips of where to live. I was thinking about a city maximum 1h from work, but at the same point where I can have safety, social life, good gyms and etc. I am 35F and I am moving alone. I have visited Crown Point, Valpo, West Lafayette, Lafayette...

Hey folks, as many may know, the only remaining dedicated and consistently stocked homebrew store in the entire Indianapolis area closed at the end of September. This was a huge disappointment for many who had been buying ingredients and equipment as well as receiving advice and guidance from the great employees there for over 30 years. However, homebrewing is still alive in Indy and there are folks that are dedicated to keeping the hobby accessible to those in Central Indiana and beyond. The seeds are being laid for what a future sustainable business or organizational model could be for a homebrew and fermentation cooperative hub in Indianapolis.

The craft beer revolution sprang up from the large increase and passion of homebrewers all around the country. Many of the biggest brands and styles in craft brewing were born because one or more homebrewers had a passion for the hobby and believed it could be something more. Homebrewing accessibility, education, and excitement directly correlate to a better ecosystem for small independent brewing across the city, state, and beyond. If homebrewing struggles, so does craft beer and vice versa.

If you are a homebrewer, are interested in homebrewing, or simply love beer and want to see the industry reverse the struggling trend we all see in the news, I invite you to fill out the linked form below. The form is a general membership interest form to gauge what kind of support there would be around the city for supporting the formation and launch of a homebrew and fermentation cooperative here in Indianapolis. As I said before, the seeds are just being laid for this cooperative and everyone that is interested in getting involved will have a voice in how it is shaped.. This is not simply a plea for financial support from a few folks that think they have everything figured out, the co-op will need people with skills, ideas, and a passion for beer and community. There are many details still to be ironed out for what this co-op will be and the folks that are involved are hoping to find more folks that love beer and want to be a part of building something exciting and new for Indianapolis.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdH81Usbi8WWNGhudT5ve5ger3pqwNiihfYm4mh-OkvbQo-gw/viewform

I don't have a ton of details as there are still many items to figure out, but if you do have general questions, feel free to leave them below and I will try to answer them the best I can.

Thanks all!

When the Grand Kankakee Marsh was destroyed, it’s estimated that as many as one fifth of the migratory birds of North America were lost. It contained the largest lake in Indiana, Beaver Lake, which had the colorfully named Bogus Island in the middle of it, a notorious hideout for ne’er-do-wells and outlaws. If you've ever been the the Kankakee Sands Nature Preserve (where you can see bison roam Indiana like they once did, albeit behind fences) to see the Bison, you've stood on the remains of Bogus Island, which was once surrounded by a lake significantly larger than Lake Monroe. Towns and train stations sprang up along the edge of the marsh to pump the region's birds out of it, stuffed to the brim in barrels, to places like Chicago where they were sold on the market. Conrad Station was one of these, the remnants of which you can now hike in at Conrad Station Savannah Nature Preserve in Newton County.

Indiana used to be incredibly wet (<--links to map of Indiana's former wetlands); decades of state and federal policy aligning with the engines of capital hid all of the wetlands. I say “hid” because they still reappear from time to time after heavy rains like this summer in much of Indiana. Unlike the loss of buffalo, passenger pigeons, and carolina parakeets, which were largely lost to overhunting and ignorance-you cannot shoot a swamp. this took decades of effort, millions of dollars, and coordinated state, local, and federal policy to destroy the underlying hydrological architecture and basic DNA of our state, all so that we could plant endless fields of ecologically barren monocrops that largely go to high fructose corn syrup, ethanol, animal feed, or exports.

Another major wetland that veered into Indiana was the Great Black Swamp (<--links to map). French explorers said that there were so many birds on it that it was impossible to sleep in its vicinity. Today it’s been almost entirely drained and is now one of the most polluted areas in the Midwest.

I have an entire chapter on the lost wetlands of Indiana in my new book, Once and Future Indiana, check it out here.

I came across this post on Facebook yesterday from a nearby county to mine. I really would like some advice as to who should be contacted about the situation there. The director seems to be in completely over his head. It seems obvious from just a little investigation on my part, that things like this keep happening under his watch. Some of the comments from past employees and volunteers make the situation seem quite dire.

Hi all,

Live in Bloomington and am heading out today to photograph some fall color. Anyone have a recent report on where it's best? Was either thinking east to Brown county or NW to Turkey Run/Shades.

Don't want generalizations, but anyone actually have recent data on where is currently best this year?

Thanks.

I think Indiana is one of those states that people either underestimate or have very strong opinions about, and neither side always captures what it's actually like to live here.

There are things I genuinely appreciate about the state. You can find smaller communities with a strong sense of local identity, plenty of places to get away from the busiest parts of the country, and some surprisingly good local restaurants if you're willing to look beyond the familiar chains.

At the same time, I think it's fair to talk about the frustrations, too. Depending on where you live, public transportation can be limited, some areas feel disconnected from major opportunities, and getting around often means relying on a car for almost everything.

I don't think Indiana needs to be portrayed as either an underrated paradise or a place everyone should leave. Like most states, the experience depends heavily on your town, your circumstances, and what you value in everyday life.

What I find interesting is how different people's experiences of the same state can be. Someone living in Indianapolis might have a completely different perspective from someone in a small rural community, and both experiences are valid.

For those who've lived here for years, what do you think Indiana genuinely does well, and what is one thing you'd change if you could?

Phone Bank for Jessica Bailey for Comptroller!

We're in the final stretch, so help Team Jessica turn out the vote and make our voices heard across Indiana!

Whether you're a seasoned phone banker or brand new, welcome to the team! Sign up for whatever shifts you're available and stay for as long as you're able. We're excited to have you on Team Jessica!

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Gas prices seemed to go up over 60 cents a gallon over the weekend. Is this just in my area (south central region) or is it the whole state?

I saw this on Twitter and thought it was neat

Our phone number is on the Do Not Call Registry, but we are bombarded with nuisance calls all day long. Isn’t the Attorney General’s office not responsible for this? Do I complain to them directly? And how do you do it?

I've been on the job hunt for about 7 months. Have a journalism degree and 7 years experience in a behind-the-scenes role.

Anyone have any advice or anything? Just feeling lost at the moment.