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Hey Kokomo, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: A $10k founder pitch, student research on autonomous drones, and a 300-job battery plant + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Kokomo protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Revamped timeline for founders: The Drive, Inventrek Technology Park’s pitch competition, returns with $10,000 in seed funding for Howard County entrepreneurs. Applications are open, due March 31, with the final Oct. 15, 2026 — get deadlines and event details.

Campus scholars take center stage: On February 18, ten IU Kokomo students took their research to the Statehouse for Regionals at the Rotunda, sharing projects with lawmakers on autonomous drones, literacy, and community impact — see highlights from the showcase.

Indiana clean energy boost: South Korea’s Hanjung America will open a battery support plant in Huntington, bringing 300 jobs. The factory will make cooling and fire safety parts for batteries used by Kokomo plants — see what’s planned for Indiana.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Laminate pressed flowers into stained glass
• Sing for United Way at SUTE
• Melt stress with stretching and aromatherapy

🫶 We got your back

Serious sandwich vibes: Brick Street Deli stacks hearty, chef-y sandwiches (think the RUST BELT, the BRICKLAYER, or a build-your-own toasted sub) with craveable sides like pasta salad, perfect for a midday win. When you want real lunch energy, not another drive-thru detour, this spot delivers flavor and satisfaction.

Stroll, play, repeat: Whether you want a quick lap with the dog, set the kids loose on the big accessible playground, or finally introduce them to Old Ben, Highland Park delivers easy Kokomo joy, with creekside paths, the Vermont Covered Bridge, disc golf, and picnic-ready spots under shady trees.

Nostalgia, assembled: Your inner kid is grinning as Kokomo Toys & Collectibles fills nearly 5,000 square feet with vintage and new action figures (G.I. Joe, Star Wars, Marvel, TMNT). Buy, sell, or trade to thin the ranks… or boldly expand those shelves.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

✒ Pen Turning Demonstration for Veterans @ SHAK Makerspace | Tuesday (3/10) at 6:00 PM – If you’ve been itching to trade small talk for wood shavings, veteran Brian Lyles is hosting a free pen turning demo at SHAK Makerspace. Veterans only, donations appreciated, closed-toe shoes, because we like all our toes. Non-veterans, hold your horses, a public class is coming.

❓ The Office Trivia Night! @ The Coterie | Tuesday (3/10) at 8:00 PM – Clock in for The Office trivia at The Coterie, free to play with teams up to six, $300-plus in prizes, and a shot at tickets to see Rainn Wilson. Dress up, order a burger, flex your obscure Season 2 knowledge, or win Best Team Name.

💉 Love Bus Vaccination Clinic @ Alliance Event Center | Thursday (3/19) at 5:00 PM – Take a break from people errands and give the pets a tune-up at the Kokomo Humane Society’s Love Bus clinic at Alliance Event Venue. Rabies shots 20 bucks, core vaccines free, microchips 10, walk in, bring cash, like it’s 1998, and expect a Kokomo line.

📚 Bookmobile Stop @ Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Main | Monday (3/23) at 3:45 PM – The library on wheels is rolling into Chippendale, so skip doomscrolling and climb aboard for fresh reads, holds, and that new-book smell. It’s the ice cream truck for people who prefer plots, plus neighbor chatter and kid joy.

👥 Volunteer Orientation @ Kokomo Humane Society | Tuesday (3/24) at 4:00 PM – The animals at Kokomo Humane Society are hiring hearts. Join a March volunteer orientation, ages 10+ welcome, with a guardian for ages 10 to 16, and trade screen time for leash time, hair on your sweater, and that I did something good glow.

🤝 Weekly Networking Meeting @ Cross America Community Center | Wednesday (3/25) at 9:00 AM – If your idea of networking is more handshake than hashtag, hit the Wednesday roundtable sponsored by Narrow Gate Horse Ranch for some real horse sense. Usually at Cross America with Doubting Thomas coffee, but on 3/25 they are at Vision Studios, and guests attend free.

🩺 Medicare & You @ Russiaville Lions Club | Thursday (3/26) at 6:00 PM – Take a breather and get free, unbiased Medicare answers from Samaritan Caregivers folks trained by Indiana’s SHIP, not salespeople. If you’re single under $2,433 monthly, or a couple under $3,281, you might snag help with prescriptions and medical bills, finally retiring your guesswork.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Kokomo report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 74°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 20%

Isolated rain showers before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Scattered showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 11pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 60, with temperatures rising to around 65 overnight. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 66°F – Low: 30°F – Precip: 98%

Showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 66. West wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Later: Rain showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Indiana but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This 3-bed, 2.5-bath updated ranch in a quiet country subdivision pairs a bright open great room with a fully equipped kitchen featuring a large island, plentiful cabinetry, and a generous pantry. A dedicated office and separate family room add flexibility. Outside, a full privacy fence frames a patio with pergola and a new storage building.

Take a peek inside →