ROCHESTER, Ind. (WISH) — Two teenagers, one from Fulton County and the other from Kosciusko County, died in a crash over the weekend.

Sunday at 9:40 p.m., Indiana State Police and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office both responded to a crash on State Road 114 near County Road 1600 East.

Police say that Coleton Cahill from Claypool, Indiana and Joselynn Hensley from Rochester, Indiana — both 18-year-olds — died in the crash.

Cahill was driving as 2015 Jeep Cherokee eastbound on State Road 114 when, for an unknown reason, the Jeep went off the south side of the road and crashed into a tree. Cahill and Hensley were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved, but “speed is believed to be a contributing factor in this crash,” ISP said in a press release Monday morning.

(AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation’s largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trump’s administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation.

The new order replaces a previous edict handed down by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston last week. Talwani initially granted a preliminary injunction specifically blocking the government from cutting Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood members that didn’t provide abortion care or didn’t meet a threshold of at least $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in a given year.

“Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable,” Talwani wrote in her Monday order. “In particular, restricting Members’ ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs.”

A provision in Trump’s tax bill instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023, even to those like Planned Parenthood that also offer medical services like contraception, pregnancy tests and STD testing.

In its lawsuit, Planned Parenthood had argued that they would be at risk of closing nearly 200 clinics in 24 states if they are cut off from Medicaid funds. They estimated this would result in more than 1 million patients losing care.

“We’re suing the Trump administration over this targeted attack on Planned Parenthood health centers and the patients who rely on them for care,” said Planned Parenthood’s president and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson. “This case is about making sure that patients who use Medicaid as their insurance to get birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment can continue to do so at their local Planned Parenthood health center, and we will make that clear in court.”

The federal department of health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Previously, the department said it strongly disagreed with the judge’s initial order that allowed some Planned Parenthood members to receive Medicaid funding.

“States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,” said the department’s communication director, Andrew Nixon. Doing so, he said, “undermines state flexibility” and “concerns about accountability.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Back-to-school season is here, and while parents are busy grabbing supplies and organizing routines, health experts say it’s also the perfect time to focus on sleep and nutrition.

Amanda Pantone, a registered dietitian with Community Health Network, joined News 8 Daybreak to share ways families can set their kids up for success both in the classroom and at home.

“It’s important to get the right amount of sleep to help with mental and physical well-being,” Pantone said. “If we’re not getting enough sleep, it can increase our risk of chronic conditions like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and decrease attention and cause behavior problems at school.”

While many assume eight hours of sleep is the magic number, Pantone says it depends on age.

• Children ages 3–5 need 10–13 hours.
• Kids ages 6–12 need 9–12 hours.
• Teens between 13–18 need 8–10 hours.

“It’s all to do with growth,” she said.

Pantone also encouraged parents to start dialing back screen time in the evening, especially as the school year starts. “Reducing screen time around bedtime is a big indicator of helping your kids fall asleep,” she said. “Because the blue light emitted by screens actually decreases our body’s natural release of melatonin, which is the hormone that helps us fall asleep.”

As for those kids who insist on keeping their iPads or want to read in bed? Pantone says the type of activity matters.

“I think reading at night would be okay, because we’re not getting that blue light,” she said. “But try to set limitations, like, ‘Okay, these are the expectations an hour before bedtime.’ Let’s reduce that screen time.”

She also had a few practical suggestions for helping kids part ways with their devices at night.

“I love an old-school alarm clock rather than using phones as the alarm, just to help encourage putting devices away. Let’s keep them in the living room or in the kitchen,” she said.

And when it comes to food, Pantone says the key is balance, giving kids what they want and what they need.

“My husband’s actually a teacher,” she said. “School lunches can be really early, he told me yesterday his lunch was at 10:30. So when kids get home, they’re quite hungry. It’s important to have snacks that include both protein and fiber, which come from our fruits and vegetables.”

Pantone recommends preparing simple snack options that travel well and give kids fuel for the day, “If you’re sending them with snacks to school, I encourage packing a cold bag with some ice packs. That allows for more options, especially if they have after-school activities.”

She pointed to a healthy snack duo as an example: apples and trail mix.

“The trail mix is going to be more of the protein and healthy fat,” she said. “And then the apple, I always use snack time as a way to bridge gaps on a food group you may not have hit yet that day, whether that’s a whole grain, a fruit, or a vegetable with your protein.”

Pantone says pre-packing snacks for the week makes it easy for parents to stay consistent. “You’ve actually got it in the bags already. That way parents can really set this out for the week and get things going,” she said.

And even if your child is getting school lunch, she recommends sending them with a little something extra.

“The big thing with school lunch is, with it being so early, they might be really hungry come dinner time,” she said. “So I would recommend offering a midday snack just to help bridge those gaps, especially if they have after-school activities. If dinner’s not going to be until 6:00 or 7:00, it’s really important to make sure that by dinner time they’re hungry and ready to eat, to help with portion control, but not so starving that portion control becomes difficult.”

For tips on picking healthy snacks for kids, click here.

(INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — Federal immigration authorities have arrested increasing numbers of people suspected of being in Indiana illegally — but have yet to deputize officer nominees from at least two Hoosier counties in President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

And Indiana’s state police agency has no plans to seek such U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement duties for its officers, despite a directive from Gov. Mike Braun promoting participation.

Nearly 1,400 people in Indiana have been subject to ICE administrative arrest since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, as of June 26. That’s almost an 80% increase over the same period last year, according to ICE records obtained by the Deportation Data Project and published July 15.

About a quarter of those apprehended in June had no criminal convictions or charges, prompting Braun to remark, “If that data is correct, I’d say that should raise eyebrows. Because I’ve been clearly on record: the worst, first. And there are many of them out there.”

The tally comes as the Hoosier State is tapped to bulk up the nation’s deportation infrastructure.

Amid a capacity crisis in federal immigration facilities, Camp Atterbury will be used to hold immigrant detainees. The federally owned military installation is licensed to and operated by the Indiana National Guard.

Meanwhile, the crusade has revealed cracks among Trump’s Hoosier backers and forced immigrant advocates to adjust.

Enforcement-boosting agreements idle

More than 866 state and local law enforcement agencies have entered formal partnerships with ICE to help identify and remove people in the U.S. illegally, particularly those with criminal histories — but only four are Indiana agencies.

The program, authorized in Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, lets ICE delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state or local officers. There are three active program models: jail enforcement, task force and warrant service officer.

Although available since 1996, the first memorandum of agreement wasn’t signed until 2002, according to a 2021 Congressional Research Service report. The total increased to 72 in 2011, declined to 35 by the end of former President Barack Obama’s administration, and shot back up to 150 in late 2020, near the end of Trump’s first term in office.

As of Friday, ICE’s records of 287(g) participants listed four Hoosier law enforcement agencies.

All signed up this year, after Braun issued an executive order in January directing Hoosier law enforcement agencies to “fully cooperate with ICE, and, to the maximum extent permitted, enter into (287(g)) agreements.”

They include sheriff’s offices in Hamilton, Jasper and Noble counties, as well as the town of Greens Fork’s police department.

But officers nominated by at least two of them haven’t yet been activated.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office turned in a jail enforcement agreement dated Feb. 24. ICE signed it March 3.

Under that model, select officers would be able to serve and execute administrative arrest warrants for immigration violations; interrogate and process suspected arrestees; serve warrants of removal; prepare charging documents; transport arrestees to ICE-approved detention facilities; issue immigration detainer requests and more.

But before officers are conferred those powers, they must complete delegation of immigration authority training and score at least 70% on related exams. 

Five members were identified for training, which has been scheduled, Hamilton County Sgt. Bryan Melton said Thursday; they’re “waiting to attend.” ICE has also granted access to its systems and software.

“We have a good working relationship with ICE,” Melton added. His office has held 74 people for transfer to ICE custody so far this year, after holding just 77 across the entirety of 2024.

ICE signed the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office’s warrant service officer deal on March 17.

“To date, that training has not yet occurred,” Chief Deputy Jason Wallace said Wednesday. “As such, we currently have zero deputies/jail officers participating in the program, and it is my understanding that we are not considered active participants until the required training is completed.”

“I am unsure why the training has not yet taken place,” he added. “All necessary paperwork was submitted; however, we have not received any follow-up or communication from ICE regarding next steps.”

His agency has recorded 14 transfers to ICE custody so far this year.

The Noble County Sheriff’s Office and Greens Fork Police Department didn’t return requests for comment on their participation in the 287(g) program. They have memorandums of agreement effective March 25 and April 10, respectively.

ICE also maintains a log of pending partnerships. As of Friday, it listed no Hoosier agencies.

The Indiana State Police indicated that it won’t be among those seeking ICE powers.

“ISP has no plan to enter into a 287(g) agreement of its own,” Capt. Ron Galaviz said.

He directed the Capital Chronicle to Braun’s order, adding, “The Indiana State Police works very closely with all its law enforcement partners at the local, county, state, and federal levels.”

Conservative dissent

As the Trump administration pushes for a daily arrest quota of 3,000, splinters have emerged among the president’s supporters.

“I have people they call me. They’re like, ‘I’m not sure if my crew is going to show up for work Monday morning, because if there’s a raid, or something like that, right?” U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana said last week, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“If you try to deport all of them, you’re gonna crash the economy,” Stutzman, a rancher, continued. He represents the Third District in northeast Indiana.

The House Freedom Caucus member later wrote on X that he’d “never support giving someone who crossed our border illegally citizenship, amnesty, or the right to vote.” Then, he quoted Trump: “If a farmer is willing to vouch for these people, in some way, we’re going to have to say that’s going to be good.”

Stutzman’s office didn’t return interview requests. But his remarks — and cosponsorship of a bipartisan immigration reform bill — prompted hundreds of critiques from conservative commenters and others.

Micah Clark, the executive director of the American Family Association’s Indiana chapter, called on Stutzman to “remove his name” from the bill while the “national security risks, criminals, traffickers, and other problems facing us from 4 years of an open border are addressed first.”

“This congressional majority should govern with the mandate voters gave them on this issue and set aside what some special interests seem to want — cheap labor,” Clark wrote in a Wednesday newsletter.

When asked about any impacts of the deportation push on Indiana Farm Bureau members, National Affairs Director Brantley Seifers emphasized the value of a temporary agricultural worker visa program, particularly to specialty crop growers.

“The workers our members employ via the H-2A program are essential to that goal, and INFB will continue to advocate against the overregulation that continues to burden farmers who participate in the program,” he continued.

The Indiana Farm Bureau “ha(s)n’t heard of any of our members being impacted by raids, but that’s not to say it hasn’t happened,” spokeswoman Heidi Gant added.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce declined to provide an interview or comment.

• Click here to view ICE detainer requests across Indiana

State-level officials have largely applauded stepped-up immigration enforcement.

“For too long, Hoosier communities have borne the burden of open-border policies, facing increased crime, human trafficking, and strain on our schools, hospitals, and other taxpayer-funded resources,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a statement last week. “Using Camp Atterbury to securely detain illegal aliens pending immigration proceedings or deportation sends a clear message: Indiana will not tolerate lawlessness.”

Rokita said his office “stands ready” to back up federal efforts.

Advocates mobilize

The Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus began as a way to encourage political participation but has pivoted to “coordinat(ing) a statewide response to the emergency needs of the Latinos,” according to organization President Karla Lopez-Owens.

“Everybody feels it: this is different,” she said. “It’s unforgiving. It’s cruel.”

The group published a bilingual “Find an ICE detainee” guide, she said, and in the weeks since, they’ve been printed out and distributed to churches, coffee shops and other community spaces.

Lopez-Owens is also a cofounder of the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance, which recently launched a rapid response team. About 250-300 volunteers have been trained on best practices when encountering or spotting ICE officers, she said.

The alliance also plans to publish a list of reputable immigration attorneys to combat scams. And it maintains a legal defense fund, which Lopez-Owens dubbed a “very small lifeline.”

“The need far exceeds what’s available, and it wasn’t like this before,” she said. “… It’s not even about preparation, because we’re way past that point. It’s about mitigation and supporting the needs on a day-by-day basis.”

The alliance isn’t the only group struggling to meet need.

Immigrant Welcome Center Executive Director Gurinder Kaur said some clients who are self-deporting have requested travel aid, but there is no funding to support them.

Capital Chronicle Reporter Madelyn Hanes and Senior Reporter Whitney Downard contributed.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) –  The high heat will continue for the beginning of the work week. We will see highs into the ’90s with feels like temperatures into the triple digits. 

We have had five 90 degree days in a row today. Today will be the 6th 90 degree day. So far this season we have picked up 19 days of highs in the 90s.

TODAY: Heat Advisory in place for today through Tuesday evening. Areas in southwestern Indiana under an extreme heat warning with heat indices at 110 +

 We will see a sunny and hot day today along with very humid conditions. A spotty shower or thunderstorm possible into the afternoon hours. High temperatures today near 93 with heat indices topping out between 100 and 105.

TONIGHT: Partly cloudy skies tonight warm and very muggy with lows near 76.

TOMORROW: Heat Advisory still in place for Tuesday. Heat indices between 100 and 105 across much of the state. We will see mostly sunny skies. It will be hot and incredibly humid for the day on Tuesday. High temperatures will be climbing into the low and middle ’90s. A spotty shower or thunderstorm could be possible heading into the afternoon hours.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Another hot day on Wednesday with highs approaching 90 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible heading into the evening hours as a cold front moves across the state. 

Behind the front we are going to look for much cooler conditions and less humidity. It is going to feel fantastic to end the month of July and begin the month of August. A few spotty showers early on Thursday otherwise highs near 80. For the weekend Friday and Saturday temperatures will be into the upper 70s with sunshine. Highs on Sunday return back into the lower ’80s. Night time lows will be falling into the ’60s and even upper 50s early Saturday morning.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana native Lilly King will not compete for a medal in one of her signature events at her final world championships before her retirement.

King, 28, failed Monday morning to qualify for the finals of in the 100-meter breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. She finished 9th out of 16 swimmers with a time of 1:06.26 seconds.

King was .09 seconds behind 8th place swimmer Kotryna Teterevkova of Lithuania. The top 8 swimmers in the semifinal round move on to tomorrow’s event final. Another U.S. swimmer – Kate Douglass – finished first in the semifinal round to advance to the final.

King, a native of Evansville who also starred at Indiana University, announced in May that should would retire from competitive swimming after this year’s World Championships. She will have at least one more chance to pick up a medal at her final international event, as she is scheduled to compete in the 50-meter breaststroke on Friday.

King could also compete in the mixed 4 X 100-meter medley relay tomorrow and the women’s 4 X 100-meter medley relay on Saturday, though the United States has not yet set its relay rotation for either race.

King has won 11 gold and 2 silver medals at long course world championship meets in her career. She also has a total of six career Olympic medals – three of them gold – in three total Olympic games as well as seven career gold medals in world short-course swimming championships. Her only individual Olympic gold medal came during her freshman year at IU when King won the 100-meter breaststroke at the Rio de Janeiro games in 2016.

The four-time All-America selection in college was only the second swimmer in NCAA history to sweep the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke titles in each of her four years, as she helped IU maintain its status as one of the top college swimming programs in the country. King was awarded the Honda Sports Award after her senior year with the Hoosiers in 2019 as the nation’s outstanding female swimmer.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Twenty days after it left the Hoosier state to help with flood recovery efforts in Texas, Indiana Task Force 1 is returning home.

On July 8, nearly 50 members of IN-TF left Indianapolis for Kerr County, Texas, to assist with search, rescue, and recovery efforts along the Guadalupe River after catastrophic flooding claimed the lives of at least 135 people.

Five days later, 35 additional team members deployed to Texas.

“The historic flooding that occurred between July 4 – 10 has left the area muddy, wet and debris-filled with rough terrain,” IN-TF 1 said in a July 20 Facebook post. “The team reports that members are healthy, remain focused on the mission and are thankful to be lending a hand to the Kerr County community.”

The task force said Friday it was beginning the trip home after 18 days of flood recovery efforts. The team is expected to arrive in Indianapolis sometime Monday afternoon.

(CNN) — By the time an employee in the checkout area yelled about a man with a knife, it was too late. Nearly a dozen people had been stabbed at the busy Walmart in Traverse City, a tourist town on the shore of Lake Michigan, by a man who appeared to have attacked people at random, the sheriff said.

The suspect, 42-year-old Bradford James Gille of Afton, Michigan, had entered the store at 4:10 p.m. and waited inside for 35 minutes before carrying out the attack using a foldable knife, officials said.

All the victims – who are between the ages of 29 and 84 – are expected to survive; one was treated and released from the hospital, two are in serious condition and the rest are in fair condition, said Dr. Thomas Schermerhorn, chief medical officer at Munson Medical Center.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea praised bystanders who cornered the suspect in the parking lot and held him until law enforcement arrived.

Gille faces one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder, Shea said Sunday. He is set to be arraigned early this week and faces life in prison, officials said.

Bystander used grocery cart to help stop suspect

Two of the bystanders who intervened Saturday were Matt Kolakowski and his brother-in-law, Chris O’Brien, who were in Traverse City for a family vacation and shopping at the Walmart for supplies for weekend.

The men were there with Kolakowski’s 13-year-old daughter and her friend. As they were checking out, they heard a frantic warning.

“He’s got a knife!” Kolakowski heard a store employee yell. Seconds later, he said, the store erupted into panic as the attacker, who had just stabbed several people near the checkout, was still on the move.

Kolakowski, a 39-year-old former Marine, said his instincts kicked in. He told his daughter and her friend to stay put, and he and O’Brien took off after the suspect.

Kolakowski didn’t have any kind of weapon on him, but he grabbed an empty grocery cart. He said he saw the attacker stab another man in the shoulder and an elderly woman in the back while fleeing the store.

In the parking lot, Kolakowski said he rammed the attacker in the ankle with the cart. He lifted the cart over his head and attempted to slam it down onto the man, who scrambled away before he was hit.

Kolakowski said he and others pursued the man as he weaved between large poles and cars in the parking lot.

“He was screaming something about him being a soldier, and that everybody in Walmart were bad people,” Kolakowski said.

Another bystander, who Kolakowski later learned is also a Marine, drew a gun on the attacker.

“The other Marine told me that he just went shooting at a range, and he forgot to take his pistol off his hip,” Kolakowski said. “That’s what it all came down to.”

Finally, the attacker dropped the knife, and Kolakowski – who told CNN he served in Iraq nearly 20 years ago – held him down until help arrived.

“I just turned into somebody that I haven’t been in a long time and just stayed on top of him until the deputy ran up and jumped on top of him with a rifle in his face, and I helped the deputy arrest him,” he said.

When Kolakowski told the officer he was a former Marine, the officer handed him some first aid supplies and asked him to help. He assisted police in treating the wounded, applying tourniquets to stabbing victims who were still in shock.

“It was just mass panic in the parking lot – ambulances, lights everywhere, sirens everywhere, blood everywhere, people getting loaded up on carts, put in ambulances,” Kolakowski said. “It was quite the rush.”

In the meantime, O’Brien said he ran back into the store to find the girls, who were frightened but safe.

“What they did was amazing,” Shea said of the people who stepped in.

What we know about the suspect and motive

The motive behind the attack is unknown, but the stabbings appeared to be random, Shea said.

“It appears that these were all random acts,” Shea said “The victims were not predetermined,” and there’s no indication of additional suspects, the sheriff added.

Detectives, with assistance from the FBI, have interviewed Gille at length, and determining a possible motive will be part of the investigation, the sheriff said.

Gille’s history “shows prior assaultive incidents, as well as controlled substance violations,” the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Sunday.

It is unclear what Gille was doing in Traverse City, but there were indications he may have previously lived in the county and was “somewhat familiar with the area,” Shea said. “I’m not immediately aware of exactly why he came back here, or why he went to Walmart,” the sheriff added.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the attack’s impact on the community, rather than one individual.

“Obviously (the victims) are most affected but it is, we believe, in some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis,” Moeggenberg said.

Video shows the standoff with the attacker

CNN obtained video of the confrontation with the attacker in the parking lot, showing several people yelling at him to “throw the knife” away and lie on the ground. The video also appears to show several people attending to a victim nearby.

Outside the Walmart, part of a larger shopping complex, emergency vehicles lined the parking lot as first responders secured the scene, according to video footage obtained by The Associated Press. Authorities were seen speaking with employees, many still clad in their blue vests and name tags, as the response shifted into an active investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, told the AP she was in the parking lot when the chaos around the attack erupted.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out. … This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living,” she said.

Outcry over random attack in small community

Residents of Traverse City, a small community on the shore of Lake Michigan, are now left grappling with what the sheriff called a “very uncommon” act of violence in the area.

Walmart corporate spokesperson Joe Pennington condemned Saturday’s attack, saying in a statement to CNN, “Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders.”

Officials and residents are expressing shock that such an attack happened in the community of about 16,000 that’s known for its beaches, wineries and annual cherry festival.

“We’ll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation,” he added.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lamented the “horrible news” of the attack and said, “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

O’Brien, one of the bystanders, said he still can’t understand what would drive someone to commit that kind of violence.

“The guy that had the gun showed great restraint, because I think everyone else would have pulled the trigger,” O’Brien said.

“Thank God the other Marine didn’t pull the trigger, because now the families can actually get justice,” Kolakowski said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

INDIANAPOLIS (W(SH) — Alex Palou dominated the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, solidifying his lead in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES standings.

Palou, in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, led 84 of the 95 laps to secure his third win at the California road course in four years, extending his lead to 121 points with just three races remaining.

“It’s been an awesome weekend, an awesome year (and) today was something else,” Palou said after the win. “It’s super fun to be here – one of my favorite tracks for sure. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

Palou’s victory at Laguna Seca marks his eighth win in 14 races this season. Only A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti have won more races in a single season.

Palou’s closest competitor, Pato O’Ward, finished fourth, leaving him with a slim chance to challenge Palou for the championship. O’Ward would need to win all remaining races to pose a threat.

The race also featured a notable performance from Arrow McLaren’s Nolan Siegel, who led the first 11 laps of his career. Team Penske’s Will Power briefly took the lead during pit stops but did not officially lead a lap. Christian Lundgaard finished second and Colton Herta took third.

The next race in the series is the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 10.

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.

(MIRROR INDY) — The land in front of the eastside Get Fit Athletic Club has been available to lease for 20 years, but the property owner said it never attracted much interest — until he received a call from someone associated with a convenience store chain.

Roy Switzer, who owns the property on the corner of Washington Street and Shortridge Avenue, said he was initially against the idea of a gas station on his property.

Then the caller revealed themselves to be from Wawa.

“They just do a phenomenal job,” Switzer said. “And, it’s something East Washington really, really needs and has been asking for.”

But, that conversation was about a year-and-a-half ago. Switzer, who lives in Kentucky, blames delays on the city’s transit-oriented zoning restrictions, which he says are making it harder for development to be approved.

Andy Nielsen, the city-county councilor for the area, said it’s not that the city is opposed to the project. It’s that Switzer is seeking approval for more gas pumps than would ordinarily be allowed.

Plus, there are at least seven other gas stations within a mile radius of the property. Once there, Nielsen said, it would take a lot of time and money to remove the Wawa and turn it into something else.

There are at least 19 other gas stations within a 2-mile radius of the proposed Wawa

“We need to be really certain that’s what we want to put in there,” said Nielsen, a Democrat. “Even with something as high quality of a development like the Wawa, it’s still seen agnostically as another fueling station.”

Meanwhile, word is getting out about the proposal, and opinions on the east side are divided. Some are supportive while others say they don’t want another gas station on Washington Street.

“You’re not going to see people from downtown coming out to the Wawa,” said eastsider Jakob Morales. “We need to be building more places that are enjoyable for people to spend time in, rather than just stop by, fill their gas tank, maybe grab a burrito and then leave.”

Wawa did not respond to Mirror Indy’s request for comment.

City zoning a hurdle in bringing Wawa to the east side

The Pennsylvania convenience store chain is known for its made-to-order sandwiches and devoted fans — people have Wawa tattoos and the convenience store has even been the set for wedding pictures.

The company entered the Indiana market in May with a store in Daleville. Three more locations have since opened, including one on the north side of Indianapolis.

The proposal for an eastside location is along the path of the future Blue Line, IndyGo’s third bus rapid transit route. Construction is already underway in front of the property and a bus stop will eventually be placed within view of Switzer’s land.

Switzer believes riders would appreciate a Wawa being so close to the forthcoming Blue Line platform.

“The bus stations are wide open,” Switzer said. “They’re not heated. If I were a bus rider, I would want a Wawa right beside my bus station.”

But because the property is near the Blue Line, it falls under a transit-oriented development overlay, which is a zoning district that holds development to standards that encourage walkability and bus use.

Switzer first brought his proposal to a city zoning board in the fall. But, city staff raised concern about the project’s fit in the overlay. The property owner withdrew his petition in November.

He told Mirror Indy in July that he thinks the city is using the overlay to be restrictive. His business conducted a study of walkability in the area and found no more than a couple people crossed the intersection near his property each hour on average over the course of a week with nice weather last fall — though that also took place before the installation of the Blue Line.

The site plan has since been revised, resubmitted and is set to be heard at the Metropolitan Development Commission hearing examiner meeting Aug. 14. But, Switzer feels compelled to rally support after the city’s past reception to the proposal.

“Rather than following the planning and zoning guidelines,” he said, “this transit overlay has given them the ability to say yes or no to anything they want.”

But Nielsen, who has been in contact with Switzer and Wawa representatives, said that’s not entirely true.

The councilor said the overlay doesn’t restrict the type of development in the area. Instead, it restricts what can go there without a request to change or amend what is allowed.

For example, a recent petition submitted to the city on behalf of the project detailed plans to open a Wawa station with 16 pumps — eight more than the number of pumps generally allowed for one station in the area.

Niesen said he doesn’t dislike the Wawa brand, but he has to follow the requests of his neighbors.

“I listen loud and clear to my district,” Nielsen said. “What I’ve heard overwhelmingly is that we have enough gas stations.

A community divided

The project gained the backing of the Warren Township Development Association and State Sen. Michael Crider — a Republican who represents a district near the proposed store — who wrote supportive letters.

And, posts have been circling social media to drum up interest. Their graphics encourage community members to email city officials.

“They say we don’t deserve a Wawa,” one graphic reads. “We say we need better.”

Many comments support Wawa coming to the east side. Some say a Wawa would attract more development. Others say it would be better than other gas stations in the area.

Irvington resident Eric Farrell said the other gas stations nearby have “somewhat depressing selections when it comes to snacking and overall vibe.” He said he can’t imagine a better fit for the property.

“I’ve lived in different parts of the country and always appreciate gas stations that are big, clean and have hot food options,” Farrell said. “I would definitely go to the Wawa for lots of snacks and just good vibes in general.”

Morales, the eastsider opposed to the development, worries that building a Wawa could bring pollution and traffic to an area that needs intentional development. He’d like to see mixed-use housing or community-focused development instead.

Morales grew up in New Jersey, where there are a lot of Wawa locations.

“It is just a convenience store,” he said. “It is just a gas station.”

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Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.