INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — This year’s Indiana State Fair will feature the Indiana Grown Marketplace, offering over 500 products from 110 local businesses, giving fairgoers a chance to stock up on items produced right here in the Hoosier state.

The marketplace, hosted by Indiana Grown, provides fairgoers with a unique opportunity to support local businesses by purchasing products grown, processed, packaged, or produced in Indiana. Located in The Mercantile building — formerly the Ag/Hort building — this event showcases the diversity and quality of Hoosier agricultural products.

“The Indiana Grown Marketplace is a one-stop shop for Indiana consumers that want to support their state,” Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in a release.

Shoppers at the Indiana Grown Marketplace can find a wide variety of products, including bison jerky, popcorn, milk, cheese, barbeque sauce, spice blends, body care items, candles, fiber products, and more.

Samples of these products are available every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting at 11 a.m., allowing visitors to taste the local offerings before making a purchase.

Additionally, customers can purchase Indiana-themed apparel and merchandise.

“The increase in the amount of products at the Indiana Grown Marketplace over the years speaks to the dedication of Hoosier producers and the growth that this industry has seen in our state,” said Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

The Mercantile building is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located to the right of the Midway on the west side of the fairgrounds.

Click here for more info on The Mercantile and other shopping options at the Indiana State Fair.

The Indiana State Fair returns Aug. 1 – 17 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Related Coverage

• Serving sweet little lies at the Indiana State Fair’s Liar’s Contest
• Try these new treats at the Indiana State Fair Dairy Bar
• Enjoy $2 Tuesdays and special deals at the 2025 Indiana State Fair
• What’s new and poppin’ at the 2025 Indiana State Fair

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation is getting ready to welcome students back from summer break. District leaders say they are looking forward to some changes as they continue to see growth.

Superintendent Dr. Jack Parker joined WISH-TV live for Daybreak’s Morning Bell, Wednesday morning.

Parker told News 8’s Britney Noble that the district has seen steady growth.

“We’ve been growing a little over 100 students for a handful of years or so,” Parker said. “This year we’re going to grow at least 250. That’s likely going to be our new trend for a bit.”

This year, the district opened a new school — Fortville Elementary. It also reconfigured its buildings into four levels: Elementary (K-4), intermediate (5 and 6), middle (7 and 8) and high school.

According to Parker, it will cause changes to schedules and bus routes. He says it’s part of the plan to handle the increase in enrollment.

“We collaborated with our community a few years ago to develop a future growth plan,” Parker said. “We’re seeing the fruition of that…that’s pretty exciting. A lot of teachers and staff are moving among five different buildings to get ready for the school year.”

The superintendent also took note of the district’s emphasis on STEM subjects. Teachers are certified at all grade levels.

Parker says its programs utilize project-based learning, like a “walk on water” assignment for middle school students.

He adds hi staff wants to ensure students feel like they have a community at school

“Our schools are developing plans to make sure that every child is connected with something,” Parker said. “Whether it be a program, an affinity group, a sport, a teacher. So we’re really leaning into that because we feel that’s important.”

The district is also enhancing its preschool program, introducing a new program for children from birth to three years old, aimed at supporting staff members’ families.

Students at Mt. Vernon Community Schools go back to school on Aug. 6.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A scrap fire near Speedway kept dozens of firefighters busy Wednesday morning and created a large plume of black smoke that was visible from downtown Indianapolis.

Just before 9:30 a.m., multiple fire departments responded to a fire at Zore’s Inc., a tow yard and metal recycling business at 1300 N. Mickley Ave. That’s a mostly residential area off of West 16th Street and North Lynhurst Drive, about 2 miles west of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It’s not clear what started the fire, when it began, or how long firefighters will be at the scene.

Police have blocked off several roads in the area and drivers and pedestrians were asked to stay away.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Steve Allee and his big band are set to release a new album this year, following up on their previous release “Naptown Sound.” The album, called “Full Circle,” was recorded in May 2024 over three days and will be celebrated with an Aug. 9 release party at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis.

The new album is the result of a productive recording session where the band recorded 16 songs in just three days. Instead of releasing a double album, they chose to split the material into two separate albums.

“This is our interpretation of moving the music forward,” Allee said, noting the influence of Indianapolis jazz heroes like Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard. Allee also mentioned the contributions of young musicians such as Rob Dixon and the Tucker brothers.

The album includes a suite of pieces called the “Naptown Suite,” which Allee describes as “more serious in nature while still maintaining a swinging rhythm.” He says these pieces honor the mentors who guided him, with deeper harmony and rhythm.

The project features a roster of local musicians, including John Clayton, who conducted the album. The album release party will be held at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. The project received support from the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation and contributors, with Rob Dixon and David Ali playing key roles in bringing the album to fruition.

The album release party for “Full Circle” is Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis.

Shows are set for 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $45.

Click here to find out more.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The Greenwood Fire Department (GFD) is currently responding to a fatal plane crash that killed one person.

The department said in a social media post just after 11 a.m. that the scene of the crash is at Main Street and South Park Boulevard, just by I-65.

GFD confirmed that one person is dead. Their identity has not been released.

GFD public information officer Tyler Swardson said the plane that crashed was a small 2-4 passenger plane, but there was only one occupant at the time of the crash. He also has not confirmed what airport the plane was taking off from or landing at.

“Initial reports indicated that a small plane had crashed behind the Circle K gas station at 1183 E. Main Street in Greenwood,” Swardson wrote. “Upon arrival, firefighters found a small aircraft that had gone down directly behind the gas station. The pilot, the sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.”

News 8 reached out to the Indy South Greenwood Airport, but they will not comment on the plane crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board is on the way to the scene to investigate.

This marks the second plane crash at the same area in Greenwood. May 11, two people survived a passenger plane crash with only minor injuries.

This story has been updated with new information from the Greenwood Fire Department.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As schools across Indianapolis begin their new academic year, parents are encouraged to support teachers by providing essential classroom supplies.

Kate Baumgartner from Indianapolis Moms, and former teacher herself, emphasizes the importance of helping educators with items like tissues, sanitizing wipes, and hand soap to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of germs.

“What I like to do is before school starts, I’ll go on to the teacher’s Amazon wish list and just kind of send them little welcome gifts from my family,” Baumgartner said.

Baumgartner suggests checking teachers’ Amazon wish lists to help with classroom décor and supplies, as many of these items come out of teachers’ pockets. Basic supplies like pencils and glue sticks are always needed since students often forget or lack these essentials.

Celebrating classroom successes is also important, Baumgartner said, as many school districts lack budgets for parties and celebrations.

WISH-TV’s Gr8 Paper Push, in partnership with Teachers Treasures, is collecting school supplies to support local educators.

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) — If you’re feeling overwhelmed by credit card debt, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are in the same boat, swiping cards to cover basic needs and struggling to keep up with growing balances. But financial experts say there are ways to regain control, and it starts with a few small but strategic steps.

Jennifer Paez knows the struggle firsthand.

“I started to feel the crunch when I started to use credit cards for just daily essentials,” she said.

Like many families, rising costs and shrinking income forced Jennifer to rely on credit cards just to stay afloat.

“I knew that that was a big red flag,” she admitted.

She’s not alone. Americans owe more than $1.18 trillion in credit card debt, with the average household balance hovering around $6,000. And with many cards carrying interest rates above 20%, making a meaningful dent can feel impossible.

Consumer Reports expert Lisa Gill says one of the first things to do is hit pause on using your cards, and start where it hurts most.

“Take any extra money and pay down the debt on the card with the highest interest rate,” Gill said. “Doing that helps you save more in the long run because you’re tackling the most expensive debt first.”

If your credit score is in decent shape, consider transferring your balance to a card that offers 0% interest for an introductory period, often 12 to 18 months. Just be sure to pay it off before the regular rate returns.

Another pro tip? Line up your payment due dates with your payday to keep things on track. Some credit card companies will even let you choose your due date. And setting up auto-pay ensures at least the minimum is covered, helping you dodge costly late fees.

If you’re still struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out to your credit card company and ask for help.

“The credit card company may temporarily lower your interest rate, reduce your minimum payment, or even waive certain fees, usually for a few months up to a year,” Gill explained.

You can also turn to a nonprofit credit counseling agency. These organizations work with creditors on your behalf and can often consolidate debt into one manageable monthly payment. That’s exactly what helped Jennifer get back on track.

“They offered me a lifeline in that aspect,” she said, referring to her experience with Money Management International.

And here’s one more habit that can go a long way: carve out a few minutes each week to review your finances. Take a look at what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what’s due. It’s a simple step that can help you avoid surprises, and make smarter money moves in the long run.

For more information, click here.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Operation Indy Animals has received a $50,000 grant to expand affordable spay and neuter services for pet owners in underserved areas of Indianapolis.

The funding, provided by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, will help OIA to provide spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and microchipping for an estimated 144 dogs and 67 cats over the next year, helping to reduce pet overpopulation and ease the burden on local shelters.

“We are deeply grateful to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for their dedication to animal welfare,” said Darcie Kurtz, co-chair of Operation Indy Animals. “This funding allows us to reach more families and make a lasting impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them.”

Procedures can be scheduled through partners including FIDO Indy and Indy Neighborhood Cats at three veterinary clinics, including:

• IndyHumane Downtown Clinic
• FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic
• West Michigan Street Veterinary Clinic

Those in need of assistance can visit OIA’s website for income eligibility information and application forms.

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) — A woman hit by a vehicle near Crown Hill Cemetery on Wednesday did not survive, Indianapolis police said.

Around 5:30 a.m., Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck at 38th Street and Boulevard Place.

Officers arrived and found the woman in the road. She was taken to a hospital in critical condition but died of her injuries, according to IMPD Public Information Officer Thompson.

Investigators think the woman was walking in the road, not using the crosswalk, when she was hit.

“We believe the driver tried to avoid this collision at all costs, striking a pole. It was just too late,” Thompson said at the scene.

The man driving the vehicle stayed at the scene and spoke with police.

“Think what that driver is going to have to go through, thinking about this loss of life and something that they were involved in,” Thompson said. “You also think about this victim. It’s just tragic. There’s got to be family out there thinking about this loved one.”

Thompson says it’s important to be aware when you’re on the road, whether you’re walking, riding a bike, or driving.

“We’ve continued to speak on being careful and, as a driver and as a pedestrian, it’s all parties. Bicyclists, bikers, everybody has to do their part and keep their heads up.”

Drivers should avoid the area of 38th Street and Boulevard Place until police have wrapped up their investigation.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Literal waves of water and figurative waves of fear have dominated the early morning hours on July’s penultimate day. A massive earthquake and the tsunami warnings it has spun off lead today’s edition of the Daybreak Drive-IN, Indiana’s first and fastest morning news podcast. Subscribe to have news, sports, and weather delivered to your device every weekday morning before 5am.

• The overnight and early morning hours have been full of fear and tension across the Pacific Ocean, after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded rocked Kamchatka in Russia. Experts put it at an 8.8 magnitude and immediately issued tsunami warnings from Japan to Hawaii to America’s Pacific coast. In Hawaii, many resorts moved guests to upper floors for the night.
• Indianapolis police say they are trying to find the last of four people pulled over in stolen car – touching off gunfire that left an officer and one of the original suspects wounded. IMPD says when officers pulled over the car and went to arrest the driver, two passengers ran – and one fired shots… prompting officers to fire back. As of the most recent update, one suspect is in custody in the hospital, two others are in jail, and the fourth is on the run.
• A federal judge has sentenced a man to eight years in prison for setting an IndyGo bus on fire. It happened in April of 2024. Prosecutors say Demarcus McCloud started the the fire near 38th and Meridian, destroying the bus and damaging the stop. All passengers and the driver made it out safely.
• The Trump administration is using Indiana as the launching point of a plan to repeal most major emissions regulations. The head of the EPA spoke at the Kenworth plant in Indianapolis to announce an end to a 2009 declaration that has served as the basis for rules limiting engine emissions. The proposal would also eliminate electric vehicle mandates and greenouse gas rules across the country.
• Caitlin Clark is out again for the Indiana Fever for tongiht’s game against the Phoenix Mercury. It’ll be the shooting star’s fifth straight game sidelined with a groin injury. Kelsey Mitchell has stepped up in Clark’s absence, pouring in at least 20 points in the last three games.
• We’re seeing patchy morning fog and expect another sunny, hot, and humid afternoon. High of 94°.