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Volume 131Number 10Two SectionsINDIANAPOLIS RECORDER USPS (262-660)Published weekly by: The George P. Stewart Printing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 18499, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Indianapolis Recorder, P.O. Box 18499, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46218.Subscription price by mail or carrier: $39 per year; $19.50 for 6 mos.,75 cents per copy. National advertising representative: Amalgamated Publishers Inc., 45 W. 45th St., New York, NY 10036. Member: National Newspaper Publishers Association, Central Indiana Publishers Association, Hoosier State Press Association. SUBSCRIBERS BY MAIL: We are not responsible for replacing issues missed due to change of address or late renewals. Please allow two weeks when placing a new subscription or change of address order. Call (317) 924-5143.Scan for Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper 130th Anniversary VideoPREPARING A CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY TODAY AND BEYOND WWW.INDIANAPOLISRECORDER.COM FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026 OUR NEWS YOUR VOICEFRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026 SINCE 1895 75 CENTSAngela Brown, soprano and internationally acclaimed opera singer, will perform %u201cPhenomenal Queen: Coretta Scott King%u201d with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra March 13-14. (Photo/Thomas Mueller)See SAFETY, A2FAMILYNIGHTFRIDAYMAR 27Pacers.com/FamilySee BROWN, A5 See BILL, A7By NORAL PARHAMnoralp@indyrecorder.comMayor Joe Hogsett joined IMPD Chief Tanya Terry and OPHS Director Andrew Merkley on March 10 to outline youth safety plans ahead of spring breaks and the arrival of warmer weather, including activation of a Connection Center during peak evenings.The initiative brings together city agencies and community organizations to create what officials described as %u201clayers of support and accountability%u201d for young people downtown. A Connection Center will be activated during the evenings of March 13 and March 14, providing a safe, secure location where community partners will offer resources, food and support services.%u201cThis time of year is meant to be a fun and exciting time for our city%u2019s youth. As Mayor of this City, I take the safety of our kids very seriously,%u201d Hogsett said. %u201cParents play a vital role, but so do we as a community, and that means it is on all of us to uplift and support our young people when they need it most.%u201dIMPD will enforce Indiana%u2019s curfew law for those under 18 when necessary. Under state law, children ages 15 to 17 may not be in a public place between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays or Sundays, after 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or before 5 a.m. Monday through Friday.Children younger than 15 may not be in a public place after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day.Exceptions include juveniles accompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian, as well as those participating in, going to or returning from work, school-sanctioned activities, religious events or exercising the right of assembly.%u201cOur goal is always prevention first,%u201d Terry said. %u201cBy increasing our presence downtown, reinforcing curfew expectations, and partnering with community partners, we are creating layers of support and accountability for young people.%u201dShortly before curfew, officers will make announcements over patrol car public address systems to any large groups of juveniles present. Announcements will occur 30 minutes Mayor Hogsett, IMPD announce youth safety plans ahead of spring breakchloegm@indyrecorder.comBy CHLOE McGOWAN%u00a0The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) will debut a piece this month honoring Coretta Scott King alongside works by Beethoven and Brahms.Under the direction of Anthony Parnther, the ISO%u2019s latest program takes place March 13-14 at Hilbert Circle Theatre, including Beethoven%u2019s 8th Symphony, %u201cXian shi%u201d with ISO Principal Viola Yu Jin and the newly commissioned %u201cPhenomenal Queen: Coretta Scott King%u201d with Hoosier soprano Angela Brown returning for the world premiere.%u00a0%u201cIt%u2019s always wonderful to sing at home because it%u2019s home,%u201d Brown said. %u201cI%u2019ve been blessed enough to have a built-in fan base, so as long as they love me, I love them back, so I%u2019m excited to be coming back home.%u201dJames Lee III composed %u201cPhenomenal Queen: Coretta Scott King%u201d as a commission for the ISO and Brown%u2019s foundation, Morning Brown, Inc. %u201cPhenomenal Queen%u201d is a 20-minute piece, featuring four movements, each By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comThe City of Lawrence, Indiana has been selected to participate in a statewide environmental initiative aimed at strengthening urban forestry and sustainability efforts.Mayor Deb Whitfield announced the city has been awarded a climate fellow through the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute as part of the McKinney Urban Green Fellowship program. Lawrence is one of four Indiana communities selected for the 2026 cohort, joining Richmond, Evansville and Dearborn County.The fellowship places undergraduate and graduate students interested in climate, sustainability and community resilience with local governments to gain real-world experience while supporting environmental projects.Officials say the fellowship will provide the city with a skilled climate fellow and project deliverables valued at more than $80,000. The fellow assigned to Lawrence will begin May 18 and work full time throughout the summer. During that time, the fellow will assist the city in developing an urban forest and arbor program along with other environmental initiatives. %u201cWe are honored to have been selected by Indiana University%u2019s Environmental Resilience Institute for this prestigious Fellowship,%u201d Whitfield said in a statement. %u201cThis is one of several environmental initiatives that our city has recently embarked upon, and initiatives such as this effectively support our Live Longer in Lawrence campaign. A cleaner, more resilient environment means a healthier community, leading to longer life expectancy.%u201dThe fellowship program is part of the Urban Green Governance Grant initiative led by the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University. The effort is funded through a $150,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Community and Urban Forestry program.According to organizers, the initiative is designed to help Indiana communities strengthen their urban forestry programs and increase their competitiveness for future tree-planting grants. The program also aims to help the state secure additional funding for local community forestry projects while improving environmental resilience across Indiana communities.City officials say the fellowship will support Lawrence%u2019s ongoing sustainability goals and expand efforts to enhance green spaces and environmental health for residents.Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.%u00a0ISO welcomes Angela Brown to debut piece honoring Coretta Scott KingBy HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comOpening an electricity bill can be a shock for many Indianapolis residents this time of year.As temperatures begin to rise and air conditioners start running more frequently, energy usage climbs %u2014 and so do monthly bills. For customers of AES Indiana, that financial pressure is coming at a time when the utility company is also seeking to raise rates, leaving many households worried about what they will pay in the months ahead.The company, which provides electricity to more than 500,000 customers across Marion County and surrounding communities, filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission seeking approval for a two-phase rate increase. If approved, the proposal would raise residential bills by about%u00a013.5% overall, or roughly%u00a0$21 more per month for a typical household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, according to AES Indiana.Utility officials say the request is tied to rising operational costs and investments in infrastructure designed to improve reliability and modernize the power grid.%u201cAES Indiana%u2019s rate review addresses rising operational costs and future investments to serve our customers reliably,%u201d the company said in a statement announcing the filing.But for many Indianapolis residents already dealing with inflation and rising housing costs, the possibility of higher energy bills has sparked frustration and renewed debate about energy affordability.Summer usage can drive bills higherEven without a rate increase, electricity bills often rise significantly during warmer months. Cooling systems are one of the largest sources of energy use inside a home.According to AES Indiana, heating and cooling can account for%u00a0up to half of a household%u2019s total electricity use, meaning seasonal temperature swings have a major impact on monthly bills.%u201cIf your bill is higher than usual, it%u2019s often because you%u2019re simply using more energy,%u201d AES Indiana explains in its customer guidance materials, noting that seasonal changes and HVAC use are common drivers of higher bills.In Indianapolis, where humid summers often push temperatures well into the 80s and 90s, air conditioning systems can run for hours each day %u2014 particularly during heat waves. That added usage quickly translates into higher electricity costs.SHOCKED BY YOUR AES BILL? Here%u2019s how Indianapolis residents can lower costs before summer heat drives them even higherLawrence selected for Urban Green Governance Cohort(Photo/City of Lawrence)Photo (Getty Images)