Peter Blanchard

Indianapolis

Local Government Reporter at Mirror Indy (US)

Journalist keeping an eye on Indianapolis @mirrorindy | 📧:[email protected] | Signal: 317-605-4836

Articles

How the Marion County Jail became a ‘pit stop’ for 400 ICE detainees

3 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Mary Claire Molloy |Peter Blanchard

The sheriff of Marion County is an elected Democrat serving in an overwhelmingly blue city. But he says his politics and values cannot affect his decision to allow U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents to detain hundreds of people in the local jail. “My personal beliefs and religious convictions do not override my sworn duty as it relates to immigration matters,” Sheriff Kerry Forestal wrote in a May 14 letter to Mirror Indy, in part.
Marion County Jail is ‘pit stop’ for hundreds of ICE detainees in Indianapolis, advocates say

3 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Mary Claire Molloy |Peter Blanchard

The sheriff of Marion County is an elected Democrat serving in an overwhelmingly blue city. But he says his politics and values cannot affect his decision to allow U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents to detain hundreds of people in the local jail. “My personal beliefs and religious convictions do not override my sworn duty as it relates to immigration matters,” Sheriff Kerry Forestal wrote in a May 14 letter to Mirror Indy, in part.
Monon Yard neighbors have big ideas for 16-acre site

3 weeks ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

A grocery store. A dog park. Apartments. Those are some of the possibilities for a prime piece of real estate — colloquially referred to as “The Bulge” — located immediately west of the Monon Trail between 25th and 28th Street in the Monon Yard neighborhood on the north side. After years of being vacant and going through a cleanup effort, the 16-acre site of an old railyard is ready and ripe for development.
Here’s what’s happening in Center Township in May

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

The Center Township Trustee’s Office is offering assistance programs to residents who qualify. Individuals in need of assistance can go to the Center Township Trustee’s Office at the Julia Carson Government Center, 300 E. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive or call 317-633-3610. Residents can also sign up for the Center Township Trustee monthly calendar by emailing [email protected]. Here’s a list of events happening in May. 🗓️ 6-8:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 13📍 Julia Carson Government Center, 300 E.
Mapleton Fall-Creek neighbors fought bike lanes and lost

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

After 30 years of living on Washington Boulevard, Portia Jackson is finally seeing some street improvements in her northside neighborhood. The new sidewalks and redone streets are part of a project to improve drainage between 29th Street and 40th Street in the Mapleton Fall-Creek neighborhood. That would seem like good news to Jackson, who has congestive heart failure and carries around oxygen tanks.
Watch: How will Indiana lawmakers and the state budget impact you?

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard |Jenna Watson

Trying to make sense of hundreds of legislative bills and a 178-page state budget is hard work. To help make sense of it all, Arika Herron from Axios Indianapolis recently came by the Mirror Indy studio. She discussed with local government reporter Peter Blanchard how this year’s legislative session could impact Indy residents. It was a busy 2025 legislative session. Indiana lawmakers crafted legislation aimed at giving Hoosiers property tax relief at the expense of revenue for local governments.
Get to know Center Township Trustee LaDonna Freeman

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

Every weekday morning, LaDonna Freeman asks her clients at the Center Township Trustee’s Office a simple question: How can we help you today? It’s an example of Freeman’s people-first approach to the job. Freeman, a Democrat who was elected Center Township Trustee in 2023, is responsible for making sure township residents have access to basic needs like food and housing. She earns an annual salary of $128,000.
Indy is about to get a lot more money to build and fix roads

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

A bill that would allow Indy to receive $50 million in additional state road funding is slated to become law. The Indiana House and Senate both agreed this week on changes made to House Bill 1461, which will allow Indianapolis to access the money so long as it provides new funds to match that dollar amount. The Hogsett administration will have access to the funds, which can only be used for construction and reconstruction of local streets, beginning in 2027.
U.S. Rep. André Carson's webinar on immigrant rights - Indianapolis News

1 month ago | wishtv.com | Peter Blanchard |Ashley Fowler

INDIANAPOLIS (MIRROR INDY) — Immigrant families who are wondering about their rights can attend an April 16 informational session led by U.S. Rep. André Carson’s office. The Indianapolis Democrat’s webinar will provide information about public benefits and financial and guardianship considerations should a family member be detained by federal law enforcement.
Indianapolis immigration services subject of Rep. André Carson's webinar

1 month ago | mirrorindy.org | Peter Blanchard

Immigrant families who are wondering about their rights can attend an April 16 informational session led by U.S. Rep. André Carson’s office. The Indianapolis Democrat’s webinar will provide information about public benefits and financial and guardianship considerations should a family member be detained by federal law enforcement.