INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A fatal crash happened Saturday afternoon at the intersection of North Meridian Street and East 91st Street.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was called just after 12:30 p.m. Saturday to the first block of East 91st Street, an area with businesses and offices on the city’s north side.

IMPD said in a news release that at least one vehicle was involved and at least one person died, but provided no additional details as its investigation continued.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) — The mayor of Fort Wayne on Wednesday will host a community discussion on youth violence.

The meeting comes after a 16-year-old was killed and three people, from age 15 to 18, were injured in a mass shooting hours after Fourth of July celebrations in downtown Fort Wayne.

Democratic Mayor Sharon Tucker wants to hear from the public and get feedback as a presentation is given on the roles and responsibilities of her office and the Fort Wayne Police Department are explained, said a news release issued Thursday.

In a statement, the mayor noted “the recent senseless actions centered around youth violence and guns that are having a negative impact.” She also posted a video on Facebook about the meeting.

The meeting will be 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at downtown Fort Wayne’s Allen County Public Library Main Branch in The Theater on lower level. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. People can go online to register and submit questions. The meeting is limited to 190 people, but City TV will record the meeting for later airing.

The release said that, in addition to the mayor, the discussion will include Police Chief Scott Caudill; Roderick Parker of Big Hearts Community Project; and a representative of Foundation One of Unity Barber Shop. Andrew Downs, the city government’s director of intergovernmental affairs, will be the moderator.

Statement

“This is a critical time for our community. I want every area of our great city to be safe and enjoyable and for business owners, residents, and neighborhoods to not have to deal with the recent senseless actions centered around youth violence and guns that are having a negative impact. I’m hopeful that through open dialogue and trust we can move forward in a positive manner. It’s not going to be easy but I’m not one to back down from challenges and having difficult discussions to find lasting solutions.”

Fort Wayne Mayor Sharon Tucker, a Democrat

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) — The starting lineup has been determined for Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The driver leading the field to green will be Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe.

Briscoe, a Mitchell, Ind., native, captured the pole for Sunday’s race with a qualifying lap of 183.165 mph.

His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin was last to qualify and was tracking to have a better lap than Briscoe, but Hamlin crashed off Turn 2 on his qualifying run.

Bubba Wallace will starting alongside Briscoe on Row 1 for Sunday’s race.

The 2025 Brickyard 400 will begin just after 2 p.m. EDT Sunday.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Purr Prom, a cat-themed prom event organized by Pet Pals TV, is set to take place on Saturday, August 9, benefiting Indy Neighborhood Cats.

The event aims to support trap-neuter-return programs, which are crucial for managing the population of community cats and reducing the number of kittens entering shelters.

“By raising money for Indy Neighborhood Cats, we’re going to be helping them relieve that stress,” Patty Spitler, host of Pet Pals TV, said.

Purr Prom will feature a VIP experience where attendees can take prom pictures with kittens, offering a unique and fun night out for cat enthusiasts. While attendees are encouraged to submit photos of their cats for the King and Queen nominations, organizers advise against stressing cats by dressing them up for the event.

The event will not host on-site adoptions, but some kittens present may be adoptable, allowing attendees to follow up with applications later. The fundraiser highlights the importance of trap-neuter-return programs, as 80% of kittens entering shelters come from outdoor cats, emphasizing the need for community action to manage this issue.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — During a routine annual surveillance of mosquitoes, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) confirmed that Delaware County has mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus.

“With West Nile Virus (WNV) showing positive across the state annually, WNV is here in Indiana and it’s most likely here to stay,” the Delaware County Health Department wrote on Facebook.

People of all ages can be infected with WNV and have had a severe reaction, but those over the age of 50 are at a greater risk for serious infection or even death. However, IDOH says most who get WNV do not develop symptoms. Those who do can suffer “inflammation in the brain, spinal cord, or other parts of the nervous system,” IDOH reports.

News 8 previously reported that the first person in 2025 to have a reported case of WNV is a Vanderburgh county resident. IDOH says 56 mosquito samples have tested positive for WNV.

In 2024 there were only 11 cases of WNV in humans, a slight increase from 2023. Overall, yearly cases remain in the upper single-digit or lower double-digits numbers. Though, IDOH says less severe cases are more likely to be underreported.

Typically developed in birds then transmitted to humans through virus-carrying mosquitoes, a person infected with WNV may show symptoms 3 to 15 days after the bite.

A mild form of WNV includes “fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands, or a rash. However, a small number of individuals can develop a more severe form of the disease with encephalitis or meningitis and other neurological syndromes, including flaccid muscle paralysis. Some individuals may die from the infection,” the Delaware County Health Department said.

The Delaware County Health Department says to stay safe, you should reduce breeding sites — such as stagnant water — avoid mosquitoes, dress to protect yourself from bites, and wear insect repellent. You can do this by removing standing water in gutters, flower pots, pool covers, and whatever else in your yard that can keep standing water.

The biggest and most critical aspect of keeping Muncie and Delaware County safe from getting sick lies in the hands of our individual citizens,” the health department said. “Eliminate and/or report breeding grounds and protect yourself from being bitten.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Dr. Danielle Henderson, a clinical psychologist from IU Health, emphasizes the importance of celebrating small victories to enhance joy in daily life.

Henderson suggests shifting focus from pet peeves to positive peeves, such as finding joy in simple experiences like feeling the sun on your skin.

“It’s so important that it comes from internal,” she said.

Henderson discusses how mindfulness can play a crucial role in increasing happiness. She encourages being present and focused in the moment, such as savoring the taste of water or the aroma of coffee. She also suggests incorporating elements of vacation into daily life, like enjoying foods or activities that bring joy during holidays, to maintain a sense of happiness.

For those seeking further support, Henderson recommends resources from the American Psychological Association and local mental health organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Indiana.

By focusing on small joys and practicing mindfulness, individuals can enhance their daily happiness, according to Dr. Henderson’s insights.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Local author Abigail Perry-England joined Daybreak to discuss her debut novel, “Escaping You,” and to share some tips for the aspiring writers in your life.

Perrey-England’s novel released last year is targeted at new adults, particularly those aged 18 to 30, and explores themes that resonate most in that age group.

“I always tell people it’s a new adult novel,” she explained, noting that the book covers some heavier topics suited for readers in their late teens to early thirties. Perrey-England shared that her inspiration for the novel came from a “crazy dream” she had, where an old friend kidnapped her.

Perrey-England emphasized the importance of dedicating time to writing, advising aspiring authors to set aside even just 30 minutes a day to write or research. If that’s a little too much for your writers block, “just write a page and see where it lands you,” Perrey-England said.

Abigail also mentioned the supportive community of authors on TikTok, which she finds inspiring and helpful for writers looking to start their own projects.

Abigail Perry England’s journey to publishing her first novel highlights the dedication and creativity required to bring a life-long dream to life.

INDIANAPOPLIS (WISH) — It’s a big weekend for sports on WISH-TV this weekend because the Xfinity Series Penzoil 250 is happening Saturday at 4:30 p.m. On Sunday, The Savannah Bananas will be on WISH as well with first pitch at 3 p.m. 

With the collaboration of NASCAR and The Savannah Bananas, one driver is driving the 99 Savannah Banana Car.  

Matt DiBenedetto will be the man behind the wheel promoting the collaboration.

This is one of the coolest weekends. I mean, Indianapolis Motor Speedway doesn’t need any kind of introduction. It’s the Brickyard,” DiBenedetto said. He says the partnership with The Savannah Banas is extra special to him. “I actually come from a baseball family, ironically. So that’s my dad was a scout for the Mets. He was a coach of Scouting League for the Mets, so we have a baseball passion in our family.”

DiBenedetto says his wife and team are a big fan of the Savannah Bananas.

“My wife loves them and it’s neat to do this cross promo with the CW network. They do such an awesome job with our series and being able to promote that the game is live on the CW network tomorrow — which is also my birthday,” DiBennedetto said.

DiBenedetto says he loves racing with the Xfinity Series. He says this weekend and the car on the iconic oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway makes this birthday weekend special. 

Don’t forget you can watch the race this afternoon on WISH-TV beginning at 4:30 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Think you’re a good liar? Can you tell tall tales and enrapture the audience with your storytelling skills?

The 16th annual Liar’s Contest will take place at the Indiana State Fair on Friday, August 8, at 6:30 p.m., inviting storytellers of all ages to share their tall tales.

Organized by Storytelling Arts of Indiana, the event will be held in the Pioneer Village Main Building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Participants can compete for state-fair ribbons and cash prizes in both adult and youth categories.

The contest encourages creativity and storytelling, with judges awarding the top three contestants in each category. First place winners will receive $100, second place $50, and third place $25.

The event is free to participate in or watch, with ticketed entry to the fair. Contestants must register at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the event, and their stories should be between 3-5 minutes long. Judging criteria include technique, story development, originality, and effectiveness.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.

This week, the owner of Kayak Coffee, Ben Larson, joined Daybreak to share how he decided to start his own coffee roasting business.

Larson says he started roasting coffee in 2018 with a popcorn popper from the 1980s. Since then, he’s expanded to buy a 5 kilogram Diedrich commercial roaster and launch his coffee roasting company.

The name Kayak Coffee comes from Larson blending his two passions, coffee roasting and kayaking. He sources coffee from small family farms. By roasting in small batches, Larson makes sure that fresh and consistent coffee is the priority.

Larson sells his coffee at retail outlets, farmers markets, and online stores.