🌱 Indy Tourism Bounced Back In 2021 + WonderRoad Music Festival

Welcome back, Indianapolis! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything going on around town today.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with snow, 2-4". High: 24 Low: 14.

Here are the top three stories in Indianapolis today:

1. An Indianapolis man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to murdering his long-time friend in 2020. 49-year-old Ronald Collins was arrested for the murder of 46-year-old James Hayden after his body was found in the back bedroom of Collins' home, restrained with duct tape and electrical wiring. Collins' sentencing is scheduled for March 9, where he will likely face 45 years in prison. (Fox 59)
2. According to Visit Indy's annual State of Tourism, Indianapolis tourism made a comeback in 2021. Following a year of pandemic event cancellations and delays, the city saw many big shows come back in 2021, along with March Madness in March and April. President and CEO Leonard Hoop remains optimistic that tourism will stay strong in 2022. (WFYI)
3. This summer, the WonderRoad music festival will be headed to Indianapolis. Notable acts on the lineup include Vampire Weekend, Lord Huron, Bastille, Mat Kearny, and Indianapolis’ own The Palace. The two-day festival will take place at Garfield Park on June 11 and 12. (Fox 59)

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Today in Indianapolis:

• English Conversation Circle, At Indianapolis Public Library Virtual (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, yesterday the Indianapolis Indians treated the incredible women in their front office to a photoshoot. Meet the powerful women behind the organization and what they have to say about being a woman working in sports. (Facebook)
• Did you know the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites has actively collected works by artists with an Indiana connection for more than 100 years? Explore 26 recently acquired historical and contemporary artworks in the museum's collection when their newest experience, "Collecting Indiana: Recent Art Acquisitions," opens Saturday. (Facebook)
• Meet Halo! This handsome guy is hanging out with Pet Palace on a Royal Recess! (Facebook)
• During the upcoming winter storm, the National Weather Service predicts travel could become "impossible." Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett urged drivers to stay off the roads from Wednesday afternoon on. (Instagram)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.