Not to mix literary metaphors, but since Crawfordsville won the Stellar Communities competition a few years ago, the Ben-Hur building has been a bit of a white whale for Mayor Todd Barton. It was sold as a cornerstone of the way Crawfordsville would look when the Stellar projects were complete – but it’s been plagued by delays and confusion ever since. Now the state has given another $100,000 for the building’s renovation, so will that kickstart development? We put that question to Mayor Barton

As a former police officer himself, it would seem to make sense that Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski supports a new income tax to fund public safety. His city saw a crime spike just a few years ago, but it’s been easing off the last couple years. So with crime on the decline under the current budget, why is now the right time to raise taxes to fight it? We put that question to him today on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor. Also on this week’s show, why has Mayor Roswarski decided not to go on an annual trip

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor, West Lafayette residents dig into the details on the city’s most recent plan for downtown development. With a month of public comment underway, listeners want to know about everything from infrastructure improvements for bicyclists to affordable housing options. How will the city respond to all the feedback it's gathering? We’ll also discuss the potential debates slated for next month as political candidates—including Mayor Dennis—get ready for November

This coming weekend is the biggest of the year in terms of visitors to Crawfordsville. With the annual Taste of Montgomery County overlapping with a big, nationally-televised motocross race, many more eyes than usual will be on the city. This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor, we attempt to suss out what kind of opportunity that presents. Can it help Mayor Todd Barton lure more young professionals to live in the city, or does he have to be happy with just the once-a-year influx of cash into the local

This week on WBAA’s Ask The Mayor, with the opening of Prairie Creek Park in Frankfort on the horizon, special events are on the way—including the Hispanic Heritage Festival in October. How is the community responding to this first-ever event? And how else is the city reaching out to its Latino members?

Last month, we asked Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski about an unusual step his city's Board of Public Works took -- rejecting all the bids for a road repair contract on Beck Lane. This month, we talk about not just the re-opening of those bids, but the awarding of a contract for a little less than the original amount the city had planned to spend. But here's the catch -- not as much is going to get done for the same money.

Purdue students planning to vote this year have new ID rules to contend with. And with about three months to go until Election Day, what can the city of West Lafayette do to help ensure these voters make it to the ballot box?

Montgomery County is searching for ways to improve travel and roadways, and Crawfordsville is at the center of that discussion. Intercity train travel took a hit late last month with the loss of the Hoosier State Line. So how is Crawfordsville working to improve transportation and travel for residents?

The Frankfort Police Department has released its numbers for the first half of this year, and arrests are down. Is that number reflective of a drop in crime in the community, or a change in the Frankfort Police Department? What is law enforcement doing differently?

Lafayette city officials argue historic preservation is good for economic development. But not every building can be protected. The city plans to redevelop Five Points – but there’s a debate over whether to restore historic properties or build something new. How will the proposed demolition of the E.M. Weaver building change plans for Five Points development? What effect might it have on the timeline for developing the area? And what role does preservation of similar historic landmarks play in