Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana built the facility to manufacture medical devices for Bloomington-based Cook Medical. Sydney Dauphinais/WFYI Less than a year ago, the corner of 38th Street and Sheridan Avenue offered a mostly empty parking lot and a bus stop. There were no grocery stores within walking distance. Arlington Woods residents worked hard to address food insecurity and other results of historic disinvestment. The bus stop is still there, and now it sits next to an almost 50,000-square-foot medical device manufacturing plant.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/closely-watched-corporate-community-development-plan-launched-in-indianapolis

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Ivy Tech Community College is the most affordable higher education options in Indiana for resident and non-resident students. ( / WFYI) Ivy Tech Community College is offering in-person or virtual college courses at no cost — including free tuition, fees and books — for high school students this summer. Students in grades 9-12 are now eligible, including eighth graders entering ninth grade, graduating seniors, homeschool students, and students at adult high schools. Rebecca Lynn Rahschulte, vice president of K-14 and statewide initiatives at Ivy Tech, hopes eliminating the financial barrier will help more people pursue higher education and prepare people for more sustainable, well-paying careers.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/ivy-tech-offers-free-college-courses-for-high-schoolers

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As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers Indiana pharmacies face a shortage of pharmacists. Butler University's College of Pharmacy and Life Sciences Dean Bob Soltis said pharmacists do more than just fill prescriptions. 'They are the first line; they are one of the most accessible health care professionals out there and that a patient can go see a pharmacist without an appointment,' Soltis said. 'They can get expert advice on medication therapy, the best ways to use their drugs or most economical way.' During the pandemic, pharmacists have also taken on COVID testing and vaccinations.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/butler-university-pharmacy-school-dean-talks-pharmacist-shortage

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Penrod Arts Fair Chairman Ronan Johnson.Taylor Bennett/WFYI The Penrod Arts Fair returns to the Newfields campus on Saturday, Sept 10. WFYI's Taylor Bennett spoke with this year's chairman Ronan Johnson about what visitors can expect at the 55th annual event. WFYI's Taylor Bennett: The Penrod Arts Fair is a local tradition for so many families. What can visitors expect this year running? Penrod Arts Fair Chairman Ronan Johnson: Oh, man, if you've been before, I would say, take all the good things that you've had in the past, but then also take any of the items, you know, last year was one of our was our most successful fair financially.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/penrod-arts-fair-returns-to-the-newfields-campus

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Data can help identify trends that can better inform communities on how to reduce overdoses in their area. Jake Harper/Side Effects Public Media Overdose deaths in Indiana have reached record highs. Indiana University researchers hope to improve prevention efforts using a new federal grant.  The $5.4 million grant comes from the National Institutes of Health's Helping to End Addiction Long-term – or HEAL – Data2Action Initiative. Over the course of five years, it allows researchers to work with overdose fatality review teams in 19 Indiana counties to measure harm reduction efforts.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/researchers-hope-to-prevent-overdose-deaths-with-better-data

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Therese Humphrey Ball walks along the hilly and tree lined streets of her neighborhood in Ogden Dunes, Indiana, on Oct. 25, 2022. Therese walks daily, rain or shine, up to seven miles, and believes exercise is one of the most important ways to keep healthy when dealing with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis.Jamie Kelter Davis / For Tradeoffs Multiple sclerosis was a one-two punch to Therese Humphrey Ball's life. She had to deal with the disease – and the cost to treat it. Symptoms like loss of vision and weakness in her legs forced the 68-year-old former nurse from Indiana to retire early, and high drug costs forced her to move out of her nice apartment.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/how-a-major-medicare-change-could-help-seniors-with-high-drug-costs

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One in 175 pregnancies ends in stillbirth and about 21,000 babies in the United States are born stillborn each year. Pathways to Hope director Rebekah Delaney said she has helped about 500 families receive bereavement support in the past year. olia danilevich/Pexels Indiana ranks in the top 10 states with the highest infant mortality rates. Perinatal and infant loss can increase a mother's risk of depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder. A bereavement program at Riley Maternity Tower at Riley Children's Health, called Pathways to Hope, aims to meet the emotional needs of grieving families after the loss of a pregnancy or  child.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/riley-program-guides-families-though-grief-after-pregnancy-loss

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An Environmental Protection Agency civil engineer shows how corrosion control treatments can affect lead pipes. The one on the left was treated, the middle one was not, and the one on the right is a new pipe.Lauren Chapman/IPB News Indiana will receive about $127 million in water infrastructure funding over the next five years from the federal infrastructure law — about half of it will go to disadvantaged communities. The funding will pay for things like lead pipe replacements, septic repairs, and cleaning up PFAS contamination.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/black-brown-communities-in-indiana-may-not-get-priority-in-funding-lead-pipe-replacements

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Carmel Clay Schools' central office in Hamilton County.Eric Weddle/WFYI A new Indiana law went into effect at the start of the month that requires school boards to have a public comment period at all public meetings. Under the new law, public comment must be allowed at public meetings regardless of whether it is a regular, special or emergency meeting. The only school board meetings that don't require public comments are executive sessions, which are closed to the public and the media. Last year, school board members across the country experienced an increase in aggressive behavior from public commenters who interrupted meetings to voice concerns about critical race theory, mask mandates, social and emotional learning, and other school policies.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/new-indiana-law-requires-public-comment-at-school-board-meetings

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Guests visit Dawson's on Main in downtown Speedway, Ind., Wednesday, May 25, 2022, Customers are flooding into the popular local restaurant night after night and not a penny is pinched.AP Photo/Darron Cummings Delaney Hill sees a difference this May. Customers of the Dawson's on Main she manages are flooding into the popular restaurant night after night — and not a penny is pinched. It's a welcome change for Hill and her family, which opened Dawson's in 2006 a short walk from the southwestern corner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/with-indianapolis-500-at-full-throttle-business-is-booming

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Don Hibschweiler is WFYI's local host of Morning Edition, but he will officially retire this week after more than five decades in radio.WFYI Don Hibschweiler is WFYI's local host of Morning Edition, but he will officially retire this week after more than five decades in radio.  WFYI's news anchor and reporter Taylor Bennett sat down with Don to talk about his long career behind the mic. WFYI news anchor and reporter Taylor Bennett - You're actually retiring, officially retiring this week. WFYI Morning Edition Host Don Hibschweiler - Yeah, it's on Friday.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/don-hibschweiler-wfyi-local-host-of-morning-edition-retires-after-more-than-5-decades-in-radio

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Democrat Destiny Wells, left, and Libertarian Jeff Maurer, right, sat down for interviews with IPB News about the Indiana secretary of state race. Republican Diego Morales refused to participate.Alan Mbathi / IPB News Lies and disinformation about the 2020 election have put a bright spotlight on secretary of state races across the country this year. And Indiana is no different. Thanks in part to controversies with the Republican candidate, Democrats here likely have their best chance at retaking the office in three decades.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/republican-morales-wont-engage-as-democrats-look-to-take-secretary-of-states-office

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When VirSarah Davis' 10-year-old son was released from detention, she thought it was the end of the ordeal for their family. But he was in and out of detention and commitment for almost a decade.Dylan Peers McCoy/WFYI VirSarah Davis' son was held in juvenile detention so many times the reasons blur together in her memory. He had an 'outburst' at school. He was caught with a gun. He fled house arrest.  But she knows one thing for certain: He was 10 years old the first time police took him from their home in South Bend to detention.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indiana-detains-commits-at-a-rate-40-above-the-national-average

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Protests erupted across the nation the day after the Supreme Court announced the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Thousands demonstrated at the Statehouse in Indiana, which is among the states where abortion is expected to be banned or severely restricted.Eric Weddle / WFYI People who are pregnant in rural areas generally have a harder time reaching a doctor. Dr. Anne Banfield saw this firsthand when she worked as an OB-GYN in rural West Virginia. 'We have a lot of mothers in our country who are suffering, because potentially in many cases, there are breakdowns in the prenatal care system,' Banfield said.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/states-cracking-down-on-abortion-have-high-maternal-mortality-rates-and-gaps-in-rural-care

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A school bus outside Penn High School in Mishawaka advertises the need for bus drivers. The high school is part of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, one of many districts trying to hire support staff for the upcoming school year. Jakob Lazzaro / WVPE Matt Shockley needs two math teachers and has zero applicants.  Shockley is principal of Avon High School, located 14 miles west of downtown Indianapolis. Avon students return to school at the end of this month. If Shockley can't fill those positions, class sizes could increase, or students might be left with a long-term substitute who may not be qualified to teach the subject.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indianas-teacher-shortage-has-some-schools-scrambling

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Indiana schools were required to post plans for how they will use some of the federal pandemic stimulus they received. (Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI) The pandemic upended education for about 50 million American students, and U.S. lawmakers responded by giving schools an unprecedented surge of federal funding — including nearly $3 billion for Indiana schools.  The aid has few restrictions, so districts can decide what they need to operate during the enduring crisis and what will help make up for the instruction students have missed out on.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/database-indiana-schools-plans-covid-stimulus-esser

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Indiana has drafted plans for where to place electric vehicle chargers in the state as part of a federal program to create a nationwide charging network. But a coalition of gas stations and other retailers said we won't have enough fast chargers to make the transition to EVs without the help of private businesses — and right now many can't afford fast-chargers. The Charge Ahead Partnership said when funding for the federal program runs out, businesses like gas stations and other retail stores may not be able to afford paying up to $200,000 per charger — including equipment and installation.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/businesses-cant-afford-electric-vehicle-chargers--that-could-threaten-indiana-ev-adoption

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Starting June 3, the pools will be open Tuesday through Sunday with varying hours. Indy Parks/Facebook Indy Parks will open nine of its pools Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 27 through May 29. The pools will then close for additional lifeguard training and reopen for the official start of the summer season on Saturday, June 3.  'I am grateful for our team and all of their efforts to hire and train new and returning staff as well as their commitment to get our pools ready for a safe and fun summer,' said Phyllis Boyd, director of Indy Parks.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/here-are-the-indy-parks-pools-opening-memorial-day-weekend

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Snow on one day followed by summer-type temperatures the next may be seen as typical Indiana weather. But one organization studies how climate and other seasonal changes affect the state. WFYI's Terri Dee speaks with the Indiana University Resilience Institute Managing Director Sarah Mincey about the long-range effects of climate change on government, business and agriculture and public interpretation of information about weather extremes. WFYI Reporter Terri Dee: The state has seen instances of extreme flooding and very hot, dry summers with smaller occurrences of rain over the past few years.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/insitute-studies-effects-of-climate-change

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Kewanna Heard, a mother of seven, helps her children pick out shoes while at a back-to-school event in Indianapolis offering free school clothes and supplies.Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI News Hundreds of families recently withstood the sweltering July heat to stand in line at a free school supplies event in Haughville, a neighborhood on the Near Westside of Indianapolis. It was nearly double the number of families compared to last year who showed up to the Christamore House community center. Parents said the surge in inflation makes it harder for them to afford back-to-school items.

https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/families-feel-pinch-of-back-to-school-spending

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