AGP Executive Report

Constitution Day School Visits: Judges from 23 Indiana counties will fan out to classrooms and campuses in September to mark the Sept. 17 signing of the U.S. Constitution, including stops in Newton and Lake counties and multiple schools across the Indianapolis region. Putnam County Health Department Grand Opening: The Putnam County Health Department will unveil its new home at 309 Medic Way on Sept. 19 with a “HealthFest” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., plus a ribbon cutting, community partners, and Rowdie appearances. Gas Watch (Indiana prices, week ending Sept. 5): Diesel hit lows like $5.19 in Holmes County and $5.59 in Benton County; regular gas dipped to $3.15 in Madison County and $3.19 in LaPorte County; E85 deals included $2.22 in Kosciusko County and $2.25 in Johnson County. Travel Tech Update (TSA): TSA’s “Gateside” program lets some trusted travelers meet at airport gates without a plane ticket, with more airports expected to join in early October. Local 9/11 Remembrance (Michiana): Events across Michiana on Sept. 11 include memorial ceremonies, free museum admission for veterans, and memorial wall dedications.

TSA Travel Perk: TSA is reviving “gate-side” send-offs with its new Gateside program, letting eligible TSA PreCheck members (without tickets) pass security at select airports to meet loved ones sooner—good news for Indiana travelers flying through major hubs. Indiana Community & Arts: Crawfordsville Art Walk returns 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday with an added scavenger hunt, plus local art across downtown and handy maps at libraries and visitor spots. Hoosier Football Tradition: IU’s NIL-backed rally towels are now a collector item, with eight players featured on the 2026 towels as fans line up for the stadium atmosphere. Nature Getaway: A look at Hall Woods Nature Preserve offers an easy local outing idea for fall walks. Safety on the Road: An eight-year-old Girl Scout, Amelia Freeland, helped rescue children after a deadly crash on State Road 64 near Stendal—an Indiana reminder to slow down and stay alert. Policy Watch: Indiana lawmakers heard testimony on sexual assault response gaps, including rape-kit backlogs and shortages of trauma-informed staff.

TSA Airport Access: TSA PreCheck is bringing back “gate-side” goodbyes at Indianapolis International Airport through its new Gateside by TSA PreCheck program, letting approved non-flyers pass security to meet arrivals or walk someone to a departing flight at select airports. Caves & Nature: The U.S. Forest Service extended Hoosier National Forest cave closures to protect bats, shifting the yearly shutdown to Aug. 16–May 14 (with fines for violators). Road & Safety: A 45-year-old woman faces felony charges after a drunk-driving crash in Fort Wayne killed a man using an electric wheelchair. Travel Disruptions: INDOT announced a U.S. 36 closure, and downtown Indianapolis has ongoing Lucas Oil Stadium/Convention Center street closures that may affect game-day travel. Local Travel Picks: A new look at Madison, Indiana highlights Clifty Falls State Park and the town’s Hollywood connection from the 1958 film “Some Came Running.” Gas Watch: GasBuddy reports show Boone County midgrade at $4.09 and multiple Indiana-area diesel deals around $5.19–$5.39 in the week ending Aug. 29.

TSA Airport Access Change: TSA is piloting “Gateside by TSA PreCheck,” letting approved non-ticketed visitors enter select airport terminals (including Indianapolis International) to greet travelers and visit shops/restaurants—though they still must pass security screening. Indiana Outdoor Recreation: Indiana state forests will host public open houses Sept. 29–Oct. 1, including Clark State Forest and Greene-Sullivan State Forest, with guided hikes and updates on recovery from the June tornado damage at Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Road Safety for Cyclists: A memorial gathering in Indianapolis followed the death of 20-year-old Darrion Pate, killed after a crash while biking to work; organizers are pushing for safer routes around construction areas. Travel Costs Watch: Gas prices stayed high after Labor Day, with AAA reporting the national regular average at $4.15 per gallon—an ongoing squeeze for late-summer travel budgets. Accessibility Travel Data: A major U.S. study finds 17% of travel parties include someone needing accessibility services, highlighting growing demand for inclusive tourism options.

TSA Gateside (PreCheck) expands airport access: TSA is rolling out “Gateside by TSA PreCheck,” letting approved PreCheck members enter participating airports beyond security to meet loved ones at the gate, shop, or dine—no flight ticket needed. It’s free, but you must apply 1–3 days ahead and use it only at select airports, including Indianapolis International. Gas prices check (Indiana): GasBuddy reports the week ending Aug. 29 brought some of the lowest local regular prices in Sullivan County ($3.29/gal) and steady Indiana averages around the mid-$3 range, while diesel and midgrade pricing varies widely by county. Road & travel planning: INDOT is shutting down a key stretch between County Road S. 100 W. and Ivy Street for a full bridge replacement, with drivers routed via SR 44, I-74, and SR 9. Storm recovery support: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is adding $100,000 to help with housing stabilization and relief after the state’s mid-August storms and flooding.

State Park Spotlight: Clifty Falls State Park in Jefferson County (near Madison) is a classic Indiana camping-and-hiking stop, with 10 trails and waterfalls like Big Clifty (60 feet) and Tunnel Falls (83 feet), plus a reminder that the best plans are built around the outdoors, not the calendar. Local Learning & Youth Finance: The Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women is seeking volunteers for its Oct. 12 Reality Store at the Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County, where 8th-graders “earn” a monthly salary and pay real-life expenses through hands-on booths. Indiana Travel & History: Dixie Denier brought 1940s WWII-era music and style to the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes during Labor Day activities. Airport Tips for Hoosier Travelers: TSA’s “Gateside by TSA PreCheck” lets approved non-flyers with TSA PreCheck/KTN enter security at 13 airports (including Indianapolis) to meet loved ones at the gate. TSA Carry-On Reminder: Peanut butter is treated as a liquid at security, so large jars may need to go in checked luggage. Community & Skills Training: Greene County Historical Society toured Wagler Education & Training Center in Lyons, highlighting welding, HVAC, heavy equipment, and other adult trade programs.

Indiana Travel & Tourism: Jeffersonville’s Vintage Fire Museum is bringing back its annual “Muster” on Saturday, Sept. 19 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) with a vintage fire truck parade, family activities, a bucket-brigade skills competition, and a free riverfront water-pumping demo at 2 p.m. Road Safety: Indiana State Police are investigating a deadly one-vehicle crash in Carroll County near Springboro Road and Tecumseh Bend Road; one person died and a second was taken to a Lafayette-area hospital. Local Fuel Watch: GasBuddy price reports show Indiana drivers seeing a mix of deals and higher costs heading into late-summer travel, including the lowest E15 in Johnson County at $3.26/gal and the lowest diesel in Warrick County at $5.19/gal. Health & Outdoors: Researchers report a newly described tick-borne virus in China, carried by a tick species already found across 21 U.S. states—separating “tick presence” from “virus presence” as the key risk detail.

TSA Gate Access Update: TSA’s new “Gateside” program lets some non-ticketed visitors get past airport security to the departure gate at 13 U.S. airports, but only with TSA PreCheck/KTN and online approval ahead of time—good news for Indiana travelers planning Labor Day-style meetups. Youth Sports Costs: A national survey finds many parents are skipping or delaying youth sports due to rising fees, gear, and travel costs, with families feeling the pinch right as fall schedules ramp up. Indiana Travel & Local Life: Blue Meridian Dive Center in Owensboro is celebrating 25 years of scuba experiences—an easy reminder that Midwest water adventures can be a real getaway. Indiana Spotlight: Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance hired Spenser Kersey as director of financial planning and analysis, a local business move that signals continued investment in the state’s insurance sector. Hoosier Sports Tie-In: Indiana soccer’s Coach Rodgers Day matchup drew attention as IU topped Ohio 3-2, a reminder that weekend sports road trips can double as quick destination outings.

Airport Access Update: TSA’s new “Gateside by TSA PreCheck” lets eligible non-flyers pass security at Harry Reid International Airport to meet travelers and visit shops/restaurants, with a free application and limited approvals. Gas Watch (Indiana): GasBuddy reports show Indiana drivers seeing a mix of prices heading into Labor Day—regular as low as $3.49 in Benton County, diesel as low as $5.39 in Monroe County, and midgrade lows like $3.79 in Whitley County. Hoosier Sports (Travel-Friendly): Indiana men’s soccer continues its early-season slate with a home match against Denver at Bill Armstrong Stadium, part of the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. Family Nature Moment: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s Flutter Into Fall event in Chicago drew families for hands-on monarch tagging and release—an easy add-on for Indiana weekend trips. Local Governance/Recovery: State Rep. Jeff Thompson joined Gov. Mike Braun to assess Indiana storm recovery sites in Fayette, Hamilton and Lake counties.

Airport Access Update (Indiana): TSA is piloting “Gateside by TSA PreCheck,” letting approved, non-ticketed PreCheck members with Known Traveler Numbers pass security to meet loved ones sooner—now including Indianapolis International (IND) among 13 airports nationwide. Road Trip Planning (Indiana): US 30 in Marshall County gets a new traffic pattern starting Sept. 8 (two-way shifts to the westbound side; SR 17/Michigan Street ramp detours). Fall Getaway (Indiana): Brown County is leaning hard into autumn travel—leaf-color tracking via its “Leaf Cam,” plus camping, hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and lots of shops and galleries. Nature & Family Fun (Indiana/Region): The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum hosted “Flutter into Fall” to celebrate monarch migration with education and butterfly releases. Travel Costs (Indiana): AAA says Labor Day gas prices are headed toward record highs nationally, while Indiana’s average is still among the lowest in the country. Safety Note (Indiana): IMPD reports a fatal motorcycle crash on the city’s south side after a rider tried to pass two vehicles.

Labor Day Fuel Watch: AAA says the national regular gas average is about $4.15 and could hit a new Labor Day record above $4.03, with Indiana notably lower at about $3.43. Road-Trip Reality Check: GasBuddy spotlights Indiana diesel pricing too, including Madison County’s $5.19 lowest diesel price (week ending Aug. 29) and statewide diesel averaging $5.62. Indiana Travel Disruption: INDOT plans a State Road 5 closure north of Huntington for bridge and culvert work starting on/after June 6, with detours via SR 114, SR 9 and U.S. 24 through early November. Weekend Fun, On the Road: Indiana’s season opener drew big attention after a 52-16 win over North Texas, with the heat in Bloomington part of the story—good reminder to plan for weather when you’re traveling for games. Family Safety Story: An 8-year-old Indiana Girl Scout, Amelia Freeland, is being praised for helping other kids escape a deadly crash after a police chase near Holiday World.

Nature & Conservation: Central Indiana Land Trust closed on 67 acres next to Portland Arch Nature Preserve near the Wabash River, adding protection for Bear Creek and Rattlesnake Creek canyons and boosting a major Indiana hiking destination. Historic Tourism: Elkhart’s “The Mohawk” steam locomotive is headed to Fort Wayne for a major multi-year restoration, with organizers saying it will support tourism and education. Local Events: Fortville’s Harvest of Talents returns Sept. 12 with a car show, homemade goods, food, and a silent auction benefiting disaster-response and feeding programs run by Noblesville-based IDES. Road-Trip Safety: Gov. Braun and Indiana State Police are stepping up Labor Day patrols and urging sober driving, seat belt use, and hands-free compliance. Weekend Travel Costs: AAA reports Labor Day gas prices are near record levels, with Minnesota regular averaging about $3.98 and diesel about $5.73—expect higher pump stops on the road. Family-Friendly Culture: Fort Wayne’s Rivergreenway trail will see intermittent closures as crews seal cracks, plus Allen County Public Library hosts a Star Trek 60th Anniversary marathon.

Labor Day Travel Safety: Indiana State Police and local agencies are stepping up patrols for the holiday, urging drivers to buckle up, slow down, put phones away, and never drive impaired. College Football on the Road: Week 1 is here, and Indiana’s North Texas matchup is set for Saturday at noon ET on FOX—plus a full streaming guide for where to watch games. Indiana Community Remembrance: Indiana Fallen Heroes is bringing its traveling display of servicemembers who died from 9/11 to present day to the Marshall County Blueberry Festival this weekend. Local Events: Englewood’s 70th Pioneer Days kicks off with Cardboard Boat Races Saturday and runs through a parade and Family Festival Monday. Fuel Watch: AAA reports record-high diesel pressure nationally heading into Labor Day, with diesel costs likely to hit travelers hardest. Politics & Access: Democrats are questioning Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s planned town hall at a private residence tied to a former GOP congressional candidate.

Indiana Travel & Tourism: Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana (part of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Northern Indiana) is ranked No. 15 on Pollstar’s 2026 Top 25 U.S. Casino Venues list, a boost for live-music fans planning Hoosier weekend getaways. Road Trip Planning: AAA is flagging Labor Day gas prices as poised to hit record levels, with drivers urged to plan stops and routes ahead of the holiday rush. Local Culture & Dining: Magdalena in Indianapolis is settling into its second-anniversary groove despite construction detours, with rotating special events and crowd-pleasers like seafood towers and comfort-food plates. Sports Road Trips: A new list of 20 must-see college sports destinations for 2026-27 includes major matchups that can anchor multi-day Indiana-area road trips. Outdoor & Nature: A national look at dam removals highlights how river restoration projects can reopen habitat—good news for anglers and nature lovers planning future trips.

Indiana Travel Spotlight: A Crawford County Historical Society talk revisited the “Hermit of the Wabash,” tracing how a teen’s discovery of cabin ruins led to the legend’s ties to real-life figures along the Wabash River. Local Branding & Identity: Bloomington City Council reviewed a proposed logo rebrand built around a stylized “B,” with council members raising questions as the city’s branding work moves forward. Parks Funding: Madison leaders outlined a $7.525M bond proposal to invest in parks and recreation, including upgrades at Rucker Sports Complex and Sunrise Golf Course. Courts Meet Campus: Indiana Court of Appeals’ “Appeals on Wheels” returned to DePauw University for a live argument session tied to medical malpractice questions. Road-Trip Reality Check: GasBuddy reports show Indiana pump prices shifting week to week, with notable lows like $3.25 regular in Madison County and $5.25 diesel in Madison County for the week ending Aug. 29. Travel Tech: TSA’s “gateside” pass program expands approved meet-and-greet access at Salt Lake City International Airport for PreCheck users.

Hotel Wellness Upgrade: Signia Hilton Indianapolis is rolling out “Signia Restore,” a new wellness concept blending recovery tech, high-performance fitness, curated retail, and a wellness concierge—reservations open for January 2027. Luxury Renovation: Conrad Indianapolis announced a $25 million renovation for its 20th anniversary, updating guestrooms, suites, and common areas while the hotel stays open. Indiana Travel Culture: Bloomington’s New Horizons Orchestra is welcoming adult string players for a fall session starting Sept. 7, with rehearsals Mondays and an optional retreat Oct. 30–Nov. 1. Local Tourism Spotlight: TRACES in Indiana History Magazine looks back at the 1998 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, when surviving Enola Gay crew members reconnected with Auburn residents. Travel Safety/Drive Planning: Michigan is temporarily lifting lane restrictions on many road projects for Labor Day travel (Sept. 4–Sept. 8), but drivers are urged to still expect active work zones. South Bend Event Buzz: AC/DC fans packed a PWR UP pop-up in South Bend for exclusive merch and stage-history photo ops ahead of the Notre Dame Stadium show.