I am James Beard, a journalist from Indiana. I grew up in Madison and live in Indianapolis now. That gives me two views of the state: river towns and county roads on one side, city neighborhoods and state politics on the other.
My work covers local news, history, travel, public safety, culture, business, and everyday life in Indiana. I write about town festivals, local government decisions, old landmarks, crime trends, roadside stops, lakes, restaurants, and places people talk about at the barber shop, in diners, after church, or after a school board meeting.
IndianaHub.org is where I put the notes I keep gathering from living here, driving around, reading records, watching meetings, and talking with people who know their towns better than any press release ever will.
Chicago Bears officials are considering Northwest Indiana as a possible home for a new stadium after years of delays tied to their efforts in Illinois. Hammond has become the center of Indiana’s push. Located about 28 miles southeast of downtown Chicago, the city would allow the franchise to cross aContinue Reading
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 426 people across Indiana during a five-day enforcement action centered largely on the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Operation Safe Community-Indiana ran Aug. 30 through Sept. 3, 2026, with arrests also reported elsewhere across the state. ICE did not publicly confirm the operation until Sept. 16,Continue Reading
A tornado in Marion, Indiana was confirmed after severe thunderstorms swept through Grant County on July 27, 2026, leaving downed trees, damaged buildings, blocked roads, and power outages across several communities. National Weather Service investigators determined that a tornado traveled between the northeast side of Sweetser and the southwest sideContinue Reading
Caitlin Clark is back with the Indiana Fever after adding a world championship to an already eventful 2026 season. Team USA defeated France 97-79 in the FIBA Women’s World Cup final, securing a fifth consecutive title before Clark shifted her attention back to the WNBA. Indiana resumes its schedule atContinue Reading
Indiana welcomed about 83.3 million visitors in 2024, setting a new high for statewide travel. Visitor volume rose nearly 2% compared with 2023, while total spending reached a record $16.9 billion. Average spending came to about $203 per visitor. Tourism spending also surpassed pre-pandemic levels after increasing by 4.7% inContinue Reading
Costumed adventurers, armored warriors, wizards, superheroes, and characters carrying oversized props fill downtown Indianapolis each August. Convention badges hang around nearly every neck, gaming merchandise fills shopping bags, and packed sidewalks create a scene closer to a fantasy festival than a typical Midwestern weekend. Gen Con brings tabletop gaming cultureContinue Reading
Moving to Indiana can look like an easy financial win. Housing prices are lower than in many coastal and fast-growing states, commutes are often manageable, and many communities offer more space for the money. Daily life, however, depends heavily on location. Indianapolis, Carmel, Fort Wayne, Gary, Bloomington, and small ruralContinue Reading
Indiana became the leading destination for Illinois residents who moved to another state in 2024. About 25,700 people relocated across the state line, placing Indiana ahead of Florida and Wisconsin. Proximity plays a major role in that decision. Northwest Indiana gives households access to lower housing costs and a differentContinue Reading
More than 2 million people reportedly visit Parke County each fall for Indiana’s largest festival. Yet many travelers outside Indiana and nearby states have never heard of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. Historic bridges, bright fall colors, local cooking, craft markets, and small-town traditions fill ten busy October days.Continue Reading
David Letterman became one of America’s most recognizable late-night hosts, appearing in more than 6,000 episodes during his television career. Long before national fame, he worked in Indiana as a radio announcer, television anchor, reporter, children’s-show host, and weatherman. Each position gave him room to test jokes, experiment with awkwardContinue Reading
James Dean’s face appears on Fairmount’s municipal water tower. At Park Cemetery, lipstick marks cover his gravestone, left by fans who still travel to Indiana to honor him. Hollywood presented Dean as a restless rebel in a leather jacket. Fairmout remembered “Jimmie,” a farm kid who attended school, played basketball,Continue Reading