Jordan Smith
@jordanaccidentally.bsky.social
Journalist at The Indianapolis Star. Purdue graduate. Purdue Exponent alum. “If the accident will.”
Find my latest stories here: https://www.indystar.com/staff/7132859001/jordan-smith/
Find my latest stories here: https://www.indystar.com/staff/7132859001/jordan-smith/
Here's the latest on when Indianapolis plans to clear unplowed residential roads and how well they've done plowing neighborhoods so far:
Many neighborhood roads unplowed as storm strains Indy's snow-removal effort
Contractors called out to plow snow still hadn't reached many residential streets by noon Monday. Here's how long the effort will take.
www.indystar.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Here's the latest on when Indianapolis plans to clear unplowed residential roads and how well they've done plowing neighborhoods so far:
While Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett may not seek reelection, his 2025 fundraising totals suggest he could play a major role in upcoming races.
Read what his numbers, as well as those from other top contenders, reveal about the state of the 2027 mayor's race:
Read what his numbers, as well as those from other top contenders, reveal about the state of the 2027 mayor's race:
Mayor Hogsett is still raising a lot of money. What will he do with it?
While Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett may not seek reelection, his 2025 fundraising totals suggest he could play a major role in upcoming races.
www.indystar.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:37 PM
While Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett may not seek reelection, his 2025 fundraising totals suggest he could play a major role in upcoming races.
Read what his numbers, as well as those from other top contenders, reveal about the state of the 2027 mayor's race:
Read what his numbers, as well as those from other top contenders, reveal about the state of the 2027 mayor's race:
BREAKING from @indystar: Andrea Hunley, who’s expected to run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027, won't seek reelection to the Indiana Senate this year.
Andrea Hunley, eyeing run for Indianapolis mayor, won't seek Senate reelection
Andrea Hunley, a first-term Indiana senator and former IPS principal, won't seek reelection to the Statehouse as she eyes a run for Indianapolis mayor.
www.indystar.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:51 PM
BREAKING from @indystar: Andrea Hunley, who’s expected to run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027, won't seek reelection to the Indiana Senate this year.
Today’s big news: Councilor Vop Osili will run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027, becoming the first big name to enter the race.
Here's a rundown of everyone else who we think could run at this point.
Here's a rundown of everyone else who we think could run at this point.
Vop Osili to run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027. Here's who else could run
Long seen as a potential successor to Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Vop Osili announced his bid for mayor in 2027. Here's who may challenge him.
www.indystar.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Today’s big news: Councilor Vop Osili will run for Indianapolis mayor in 2027, becoming the first big name to enter the race.
Here's a rundown of everyone else who we think could run at this point.
Here's a rundown of everyone else who we think could run at this point.
Indianapolis police chief Chris Bailey says he didn't see his new job as the mayor's No. 2 coming.
The two-decade law enforcement veteran sat down with IndyStar to discuss how he'll try to influence city policy, Statehouse politics and more.
Read here:
The two-decade law enforcement veteran sat down with IndyStar to discuss how he'll try to influence city policy, Statehouse politics and more.
Read here:
How IMPD Chief Chris Bailey will center public safety as Hogsett's new chief of staff
In a sit-down interview with IndyStar, incoming Chief of Staff Chris Bailey discussed how he'll emphasize public safety and navigate city politics.
www.indystar.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Indianapolis police chief Chris Bailey says he didn't see his new job as the mayor's No. 2 coming.
The two-decade law enforcement veteran sat down with IndyStar to discuss how he'll try to influence city policy, Statehouse politics and more.
Read here:
The two-decade law enforcement veteran sat down with IndyStar to discuss how he'll try to influence city policy, Statehouse politics and more.
Read here:
Meeting little resistance, the Democratic supermajority on the Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday pushed through the leadership changes it announced late last year.
What to know about who's in charge for 2026:
What to know about who's in charge for 2026:
Here's which Democrats will lead the Indianapolis City-County Council in 2026
At least one of three new Indianapolis City-County Council leaders has proven willing to butt heads with the mayor this year.
www.indystar.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Meeting little resistance, the Democratic supermajority on the Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday pushed through the leadership changes it announced late last year.
What to know about who's in charge for 2026:
What to know about who's in charge for 2026:
An appellate court ruled that a 2024 state law can retroactively kill Gary's longstanding lawsuit against major gun manufacturers.
Here's why the court overruled a lower judge who said the case must be heard to "avoid manifest injustice":
Here's why the court overruled a lower judge who said the case must be heard to "avoid manifest injustice":
New Indiana law can kill Gary's decades-old lawsuit against gun industry, court rules
An Indiana court ruled that a 2024 state law can retroactively kill Gary's lawsuit against gun manufacturers. Critics rebuked the state law as a "power grab."
www.indystar.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
An appellate court ruled that a 2024 state law can retroactively kill Gary's longstanding lawsuit against major gun manufacturers.
Here's why the court overruled a lower judge who said the case must be heard to "avoid manifest injustice":
Here's why the court overruled a lower judge who said the case must be heard to "avoid manifest injustice":
I got the assignment to round up IndyStar's Top 10 storylines of 2025, along with some of the best visuals of the year.
A new governor and a new president reshaped public policy. Indy's sports teams showed incredible promise and incredibly bad luck.
See what else made the list:
A new governor and a new president reshaped public policy. Indy's sports teams showed incredible promise and incredibly bad luck.
See what else made the list:
See Central Indiana's Top 10 stories of 2025
The year in sports brought unlikely rises and dramatic falls. The year in politics shook Indiana's foundations. Here are the Top 10 stories of 2025.
www.indystar.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:28 PM
I got the assignment to round up IndyStar's Top 10 storylines of 2025, along with some of the best visuals of the year.
A new governor and a new president reshaped public policy. Indy's sports teams showed incredible promise and incredibly bad luck.
See what else made the list:
A new governor and a new president reshaped public policy. Indy's sports teams showed incredible promise and incredibly bad luck.
See what else made the list:
Indiana Republicans could approve a map splitting Indy into four House districts, drowning out neighborhoods of color that lean Democratic with Whiter areas of the state.
We analyzed the maps and talked to Indy residents to understand the consequences:
We analyzed the maps and talked to Indy residents to understand the consequences:
Why Indy residents fear redistricting would mean 'erasure' of their voices
If Republicans pass a new congressional map, Indy residents in diverse urban neighborhoods could be drowned out by heavily White suburbs and rural areas.
www.indystar.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Indiana Republicans could approve a map splitting Indy into four House districts, drowning out neighborhoods of color that lean Democratic with Whiter areas of the state.
We analyzed the maps and talked to Indy residents to understand the consequences:
We analyzed the maps and talked to Indy residents to understand the consequences:
Indy's first DORA in Irvington cleared a major hurdle Tuesday and could open in early 2026.
But ahead of a final vote, the idea is opposed by residents worried about public safety issues. What have other cities with DORAs found?
Find out here:
But ahead of a final vote, the idea is opposed by residents worried about public safety issues. What have other cities with DORAs found?
Find out here:
As Indy councilors back Irvington DORA, some neighbors fear safety issues
An Irvington DORA is moving forward despite residents' safety concerns. Here's what other Indiana cities with DORAs have seen.
www.indystar.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Indy's first DORA in Irvington cleared a major hurdle Tuesday and could open in early 2026.
But ahead of a final vote, the idea is opposed by residents worried about public safety issues. What have other cities with DORAs found?
Find out here:
But ahead of a final vote, the idea is opposed by residents worried about public safety issues. What have other cities with DORAs found?
Find out here:
Ahead of the new legislative session, Statehouse insiders are looking into possible changes to Indiana law that could give National Guard troops more power to enforce laws in local jurisdictions.
Read the IndyStar exclusive:
Read the IndyStar exclusive:
As Trump pushes deployments, Indiana insiders privately consider changes to National Guard
National Guard troops do not typically enforce local laws and make arrests. But Statehouse insiders are considering changes to give guardsmen more power.
www.indystar.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Ahead of the new legislative session, Statehouse insiders are looking into possible changes to Indiana law that could give National Guard troops more power to enforce laws in local jurisdictions.
Read the IndyStar exclusive:
Read the IndyStar exclusive:
In debates over where to relocate one Indiana casino, the numbers seem to favor a downtown Indianapolis location.
But objections from local "racinos" and the horse-racing industry make it a tough sell for top state lawmakers.
But objections from local "racinos" and the horse-racing industry make it a tough sell for top state lawmakers.
A downtown Indy casino could be a jackpot for Indiana. Here's why it's a tough sell
A new report names downtown Indy as the most lucrative site to relocate a casino. But smaller casinos and horse-racing advocates take issue.
www.indystar.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
In debates over where to relocate one Indiana casino, the numbers seem to favor a downtown Indianapolis location.
But objections from local "racinos" and the horse-racing industry make it a tough sell for top state lawmakers.
But objections from local "racinos" and the horse-racing industry make it a tough sell for top state lawmakers.
DORAs have taken Indiana by storm in the two years since state lawmakers legalized the outdoor alcoholic beverage districts.
But Indianapolis had been a holdout until now, with Irvington poised to host the city's first. Other neighborhoods say not so fast.
But Indianapolis had been a holdout until now, with Irvington poised to host the city's first. Other neighborhoods say not so fast.
Irvington could be home to Indy's first outdoor drinking district. Will other areas follow?
Irvington leaders hope to bolster big events by setting up Indy's first designated outdoor refreshment area. Other neighborhoods are more cautious.
www.indystar.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
DORAs have taken Indiana by storm in the two years since state lawmakers legalized the outdoor alcoholic beverage districts.
But Indianapolis had been a holdout until now, with Irvington poised to host the city's first. Other neighborhoods say not so fast.
But Indianapolis had been a holdout until now, with Irvington poised to host the city's first. Other neighborhoods say not so fast.
The city gave early approval to a developer's plans to tear down about a half-dozen buildings to make way for a 300+ unit apartment complex along the Monon Trail in midtown.
300-unit apartment complex along Monon Trail in midtown Indy moves forward
A developer plans to tear down about a half-dozen buildings for a major apartment complex along the Monon Trail in midtown Indy.
www.indystar.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The city gave early approval to a developer's plans to tear down about a half-dozen buildings to make way for a 300+ unit apartment complex along the Monon Trail in midtown.
Wawa's 2025 expansion into Indiana hit a rare snag today as a city official rejected a planned store and gas station on Indy's east side for being too car-centric. Here's what to know:
East side Wawa rejected under transit-friendly Indianapolis laws, but fight could continue
Wawa tried to replace an empty parking lot in east Indy with a store and gas station. City staff rejected the plan for being too car-centric.
www.indystar.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Wawa's 2025 expansion into Indiana hit a rare snag today as a city official rejected a planned store and gas station on Indy's east side for being too car-centric. Here's what to know:
The Nickel Plate Trail is (mostly) finished. Here's when it will connect Hamilton County to Indianapolis:
Nickel Plate Trail is (mostly) finished. Here's when it will connect Indy to Hamilton County
There will soon be a second rail trail connecting Indianapolis and Hamilton County. How long do bicyclists have to wait?
www.indystar.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The Nickel Plate Trail is (mostly) finished. Here's when it will connect Hamilton County to Indianapolis:
A quarter-million households were chosen to partake in this travel survey. Too few people are responding, and the lack of data could jeopardize millions in federal funding for Central IN transit projects.
How to help:
How to help:
Central Indiana transit funding at risk due to low survey response. Here's how to help
Funding for major projects in Central Indiana are at risk because too few people are responding to a transit survey.
www.indystar.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A quarter-million households were chosen to partake in this travel survey. Too few people are responding, and the lack of data could jeopardize millions in federal funding for Central IN transit projects.
How to help:
How to help:
In Indy's Franklin Township, the debate is underway over what should be built on the site where neighbors turned away Google.
The farmers and neighbors differ in how they’re confronting growth that seems inevitable.
The farmers and neighbors differ in how they’re confronting growth that seems inevitable.
In fight over future of Indy's Franklin Township, neighbors reckon with inevitable growth
A farmer eager to retire had his plans thwarted by neighbors who opposed Google's data center. But debate over the farmland's inevitable reuse has resumed.
www.indystar.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM
In Indy's Franklin Township, the debate is underway over what should be built on the site where neighbors turned away Google.
The farmers and neighbors differ in how they’re confronting growth that seems inevitable.
The farmers and neighbors differ in how they’re confronting growth that seems inevitable.
NEW: Indianapolis has found a new west side building to convert to a temporary homeless shelter this winter, as a rising number of people are sleeping outdoors.
Read more to see where it is and other details:
Read more to see where it is and other details:
Indy plans to convert west side building into winter homeless shelter. Here's where
The city has started providing winter shelter in recent years as homelessness rises and Indy's largest shelter scales back its overflow capacity.
www.indystar.com
October 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
NEW: Indianapolis has found a new west side building to convert to a temporary homeless shelter this winter, as a rising number of people are sleeping outdoors.
Read more to see where it is and other details:
Read more to see where it is and other details:
Over the next 24 hours, the CEO of Indy's largest homeless shelter will sit outside on a bench downtown and livestream conversations with past or current homeless guests and others.
(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)
Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...
(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)
Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...
Conversations On A Bench
YouTube video by Wheeler Mission
www.youtube.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Over the next 24 hours, the CEO of Indy's largest homeless shelter will sit outside on a bench downtown and livestream conversations with past or current homeless guests and others.
(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)
Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...
(I'm told he'll at least use the bathroom indoors.)
Worth tuning in: www.youtube.com/live/nmqBoxF...
After Indy passed its 2026 city budget Monday night, here are the biggest winners and losers from months of debate:
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
Indy passed its 2026 city budget. Here are the biggest winners and losers
As new state policies force belt-tightening among Indianapolis leaders, here are the causes that won and lost in the 2026 budget that passed Oct. 6.
www.indystar.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
After Indy passed its 2026 city budget Monday night, here are the biggest winners and losers from months of debate:
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
A new report shows how downtown Indianapolis has changed over the past year. Here are five takeaways from the data that explain the evolution of the capital city's core:
The evolution of downtown Indianapolis in 2025, explained in 5 data takeaways
A new report shows how the growth of downtown's residential population, changing perceptions of safety and major events are shaping the city's core.
www.indystar.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A new report shows how downtown Indianapolis has changed over the past year. Here are five takeaways from the data that explain the evolution of the capital city's core:
For IndyStar's Meet the Staff column, I wrote about why I do journalism, my favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote and my old self-given nickname in high school -- "J-Buckets" -- among other miscellany:
Meet IndyStar Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith
Meet IndyStar journalists who bring you the news from around Central Indiana. Up this week is Jordan Smith.
www.indystar.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
For IndyStar's Meet the Staff column, I wrote about why I do journalism, my favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote and my old self-given nickname in high school -- "J-Buckets" -- among other miscellany:
The beloved chain Wawa wants to build a store in east Indianapolis. But the city could block it for being too car-centric.
The latest on that debate:
The latest on that debate:
Wawa wants a store in east Indianapolis. The city could block it for being too car-centric
The convenience store chain Wawa's expansion into Indiana has hit a snag on Indy's east side because of a design that the city deems too car-centric.
www.indystar.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The beloved chain Wawa wants to build a store in east Indianapolis. But the city could block it for being too car-centric.
The latest on that debate:
The latest on that debate:
Where Indy Republicans and Democrats agree: AES rate hike must be stopped
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
Indianapolis councilors make bipartisan push against AES Indiana electricity rate hike
Top council Republicans and a self-identified Democratic socialist are backing a push to disavow AES Indiana's proposed 13% residential rate hikes.
www.indystar.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Where Indy Republicans and Democrats agree: AES rate hike must be stopped
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...
www.indystar.com/story/news/l...