NEW YORK, May 01 (IPS) – Press freedom is no longer a given in the United States 100 days into President Donald Trump’s second term as journalists and newsrooms face mounting pressures that threaten their ability to report freely and the public’s right to know.
UNITED NATIONS, May 01 (IPS) – The Trump administration’s on-again-off-again threats against the United Nations, and US withdrawals from several UN agencies aggravated further by financial cutbacks, have left most staffers with growing apprehension and uncertainty about their future— and their mental health.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Nonprofits across the state, like We Bloom in downtown Indianapolis, are bracing for the impact of state budget cuts.
The group says the cuts account for about 50% of its operating budget.
Most of those funds go towards running the Recovery Café Indy, which connects people with resources for mental health, substance use and transitioning for life after prison, among other things.
It’s part of a greater network of 20 other Recovery Cafés in Indiana. In total, they are all slated to lose $2 million.
We Bloom Human Resources & Operations Generalist Te’Naia Jackson says they now turning to the community to help keep their programs going.
“We want to make sure that we can continue to grow,” Jackson said.
The Recovery Café is on the first floor of the nonprofit’s recently acquired building. It hosts workshops, peer-led “recovery circles” and other programs for people to get on that road to recovery.
Rhiannon Clayton manages the café and says it doesn’t matter what a person is going through, they can help connect them to the right resources.
“We believe everyone’s recovering from something,” Clayton said. “Our number one priority is getting to know you as a human, not necessarily you as any mistakes or things that have happened to you.”
Reggie Scruggs started his journey to recovery last February.
“Everybody welcomed me,” Scruggs said. “They didn’t ask, ‘Where you come from? What do you want?’ They just said, ‘Sign in.’”
He first came to the group after spending nearly 40 years in prison.
Scruggs is now a leader in the group, looking to inspire others who were once in his shoes.
“Coming here allowed me to take my focus off of that situation,” Scruggs said. “And turn my focus into giving back because I’ve all my life I took … all the recovery cafe staff that’s here play a pivotal part in who I am right now.”
The funding cuts come as We Bloom is in the middle of renovating its new building just southeast of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Eventually, it will also have space for other nonprofits on the second floor and youth programming on the third floor.
Jackson says it’s a pivotal time for the group.
“We’ve been trying really hard and working hard to build new relationships,” Jackson said. “So that even though we are having that deficit from our government funding, that we can continue to operate.”
Jackson is hopeful the community can help them get through the snags in funding, allowing them to continue to bloom.
“(We want to) reach everyone who wants to be a part of this program,” Jackson said. “Everyone who wants to be in recovery.”
The Recovery Café Indy is hosting an open house for people who work with others in need of recovery services and who want to support their mission.
It will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday. For more information, click here.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – More muggy today with showers and thunderstorms possible on and off throughout the afternoon. Some of the thunderstorms may be on the stronger side. Cooler with some showers over the weekend.
TODAY: Mild and muggy this morning. Mostly cloudy skies through much of the day today with on and off showers and thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms especially south and east of Indianapolis could be on the stronger side. Indianapolis is under a marginal risk that’s a level 1 out of a level 5 and southeastern Indiana under a level 2. Better chance of stronger thunderstorms south and east of Indianapolis some of which could contain some gusty winds and maybe a little bit of hail. Looks like the tornado threat will stay east of Indiana and more into parts of Ohio.
High temperatures today will climb into the lower 70s. It will be a bit breezy throughout the afternoon and we could see winds gusting at times near 20 to 30 mph.
TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy conditions tonight a few spotty showers or storms. Low temperatures fall into the upper 50s.
TOMORROW: Mostly cloudy skies on Friday with on and off showers and thunderstorms possible. High temperatures will be into the lower 70s.
7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: We have some changes to the weekend forecast. A low pressure system will be cut off from the main flow. This means that this area of low pressure will sit and rotate across the Great lakes. As it does it will bring lots of cloud cover on and off showers and cooler conditions to the state. Scattered showers possible on Saturday mostly cloudy with highs only near 63. On Sunday look for mostly cloudy skies with some scattered showers highs only around 61.
Temperatures for the mini marathon will be into the upper 40s and lower 50s early Saturday morning. It looks like there will be cloud cover and maybe a slight chance for a few spotty showers or light drizzle.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis police on Wednesday say they located possible human remains in an industrial neighborhood on the city’s southeast side.
Online police reports show IMPD officers were dispatched to the area of Lexington and South Irvington avenues around 10:20 a.m. on a report that possible human remains were found.
That intersection is in a neighborhood off Brookville Road near a USPS warehouse and CSX train yard.
Police arrived with a cadaver dog, and soon located the remains “believed to be human.”
Homicide detectives responded to assist. The Marion County coroner will make final determination if they are human remains and later determine cause of death.
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — Community leaders and supporters got a first look at the newly renovated 4-H Exhibition Center and Llama Barn on Monday, marking the first major upgrades to the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in more than 25 years.
The renovations are part of phase one of a three-phase redevelopment project aimed at modernizing the 40-acre campus and expanding its use for large-scale events and year-round programming. The updated facilities are scheduled to open to the public June 1.
“These improvements will provide accessible public space for more community events, support the Hamilton County Extension, agricultural and life science industries, provide world-class learning space, and act as a catalyst for economic development for the City of Noblesville and Hamilton County,” said Susan Peterson, director of Purdue Extension Hamilton County.
The $15 million project was funded by the Hamilton County Council and Board of Commissioners. Upgrades to the 24,000-square-foot Exhibition Center, overseen by Skender Construction, include a new roof, flooring, restrooms, and enhanced audio-visual systems.
Hagerman Construction led improvements to the Llama Barn, adding 2,117 square feet, restrooms, a catering prep area, heating and cooling upgrades, large fans, and AV enhancements.
“The county understood the need for a long-overdue investment in this vital community asset,” said Sue Maki, president of the Hamilton County Council. “We saw this as an opportunity to not only support 4-H, but to create a high-impact venue that brings lasting value to Hamilton County residents.”
A key feature of phase one is the Bicentennial Pavilion, expected to open in time for the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, scheduled for July 17–21. The new pavilion replaces the O.V. Winks and Annex buildings, which were removed to accommodate the Pleasant Street expansion. Details on a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.
Future phases of the redevelopment depend on additional funding, and could include construction of a 20,000-square-foot show arena, two entryway silos, and replacement of aging outdoor structures.
Supporters of the project are currently seeking donors to help fund the next phases. For more information, contact friendsofhamcoextension@gmail.com.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Homicide detectives are investigating a Thursday morning shooting on the south side of Indianapolis.
Just before 12:30 a.m., officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a shooting at a strip mall at the intersection of Madison Avenue and East Stop 11 Road.
IMPD says officers found a man with gunshot wounds behind one of the businesses.
The man, whose name and age were not provided by police, later died at a hospital.
IMPD has not said what led to the gunfire or if there are any suspects.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Known for hosting Final Fours and legendary auto races, Indianapolis continues to solidify its status as a national sports hub.
But as the city gears up for a packed 2025 calendar, including the WNBA All-Star Game, leaders say the sports scene is doing more than drawing crowds. It’s also paving new paths for young women.
WISH-TV contributor and former NFL player Emil Ekiyor joined News 8 at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a conversation, speaking about an initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of female leaders through sports.
Ekiyor said the timing aligns perfectly with broader national conversations about women’s sports and representation in leadership roles.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Cooking at home is a great way to eat healthier and save money, but here’s the catch: some of the tools you’re using could be sneaking toxic chemicals into your food. Consumer Reports explains how to reduce risks without breaking the bank.
There’s no need to toss everything—just start with the items you use the most.
At the top of the list is plastic. Try to limit it wherever you can. Recent studies link microplastics to some serious health concerns, including a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and even certain cancers. Researchers have found these tiny particles throughout the body, even crossing the brain and placenta barriers.
Another red flag is nonstick pans. The coatings are often made with PFAS—so-called “forever chemicals” that stick around in your body and the environment. Swap them out for safer options like stainless steel or cast-iron.
Ignore marketing words such as “eco,” “green,” or “nontoxic” that have no legal definition. Even “PFOA-free” and “lead-free” may not mean what you think. Buy products made of safe materials instead of those that may be made from questionable materials that a marketing team claims are safe.
And don’t forget your water. At least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water is estimated to have PFAS. A good filter can make a big difference. In Consumer Reports’ tests, the ZeroWater ExtremeLife ZFM-400CR Water Filter is a standout for reducing PFAS.
Even your kitchen tools could be culprits. Plastic cutting boards can shed microplastics straight into your food. Swap them out for a wooden board to avoid glue and chemicals.
Finally, cleaning up your kitchen doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals. Occasionally, using a stronger cleaner is fine, but you can mix up simple ingredients like vinegar and water for everyday messes. It’s a simple way to keep your kitchen sparkling clean and a little safer.
Another tip – some plastic baggies might shed microplastics into your food. A glass container is a better storage option.
WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Tickets are on sale for the LIV Golf Indianapolis 2025 event from Aug. 15-17 at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield.
News 8 first reported in November on the event coming to Hamilton County.
Multiple tickets packages are available. Special ticket offers include complimentary youth tickets and discounts for college students, teachers, and first responders.
On the ticket sales website, one-day tickets start at $305.28 for the Fanstand on Friday, and up to $50,706.52 for 40 tickets in the Suite on 17 on Sunday.
Three-day tickets start at $136.49 for a grounds pass, up to $144,537.10 for 40 tickets in the Suite on 17.
LIV Golf say it’s increased capacity for Premium Hospitality packages due to overwhelming demand, which initially sold out in three days during the early-bird reservation window.
Golf course architect Pete Dye designed The Club at Chatham Hills. The event will feature 13 four-player teams, including major champions Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson. A Fan Village will provide a family-friendly experience with live music, interactive challenges, and kid-focused attractions, LIV Golf says in a news release issued Wednesday.
