Indy News

NOTRE DAME, Ind. (WISH) – Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered a chemical linked to a range of harmful health effects in reusable feminine hygiene products. 

Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are widely used, human-made chemicals used to make consumer, commercial, and industrial goods. PFAS take a long time to break down, leading to the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Recent research increasingly suggests exposure to PFAS has negative health impacts, including a decreased fertility in women, developmental defects in babies including low birth weight, and an increased risk of some cancers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Notre Dame researchers discovered high levels of PFAS present — “intentional fluorination” — in nearly a third of reusable feminine hygiene products, including 33% of period underwear and 25% of reusable pads tested. This includes options that are marketed as “eco-friendly,” researchers said. 

Study author Graham Peaslee said in a news release, “This means these products are both a risk to the wearer as well as to the rest of us when they are eventually disposed of, since we know that these forever chemicals persist when they end up in landfills, contaminating irrigation and drinking water systems for all of us.”

The research included testing on more than 70 products, the university said, including period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear.

Due to the limited scope of the research, the published results in Environmental Science & Technology Letters suggested more comprehensive studies were needed. 

“There’s still a lot we don’t know about the extent to which PFAS are being used in the manufacturing of these products,” Peaslee said in the release. “And too much we don’t know about the potential for these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin by the consumers who wear them.”

Peaslee and the lead author of the study, Alyssa Wicks, intentionally chose to not identify the brands tested, but they hope the research can help people ask whether PFAS are present in their purchases and inform the conversation around legislation to create labeling requirements. 

Peaslee has led a number of research projects involving the presence of PFAS in feminine hygiene products. The university said his discovery of PFAS in unused menstrual underwear in 2019 was used to litigate a $5 million lawsuit against the brand Thinx. 

Health concerns circling around the use of PFAS have caused federal bans, and recent regulation in Indiana to track its effects on firefighters.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Multiple people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said Saturday.

The Michigan State Police said the local sheriff’s office is investigating the incident and details were limited. The agency asked that people avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing.

A Walmart corporate spokesperson, Joe Pennington, said by email that the company was “working with police and defer questions to them right now.”

Messages seeking comment were left with police and the mayor.

Traverse City is about 255 miles (410 kilometers) northwest of Detroit.

WABASH, Ind. (WISH) — The Oak Ridge Boys will return to the Honeywell Arts & Entertainment stage in December for their annual Christmas tour.

The country music band’s limited-run American Made Christmas Tour will start Dec. 4 in Sarasota, Fla., end Dec. 20 in Midland, Mich., with stops in between including Wabash’s Ford Theater at the Honeywell Center at 7 p.m. Dec. 18.

The band’s Christmas show made its first stop in Wabash in 2016, according to online information. The show is known to Oak Ridge Boys’ fans for featuring falling snow and decorated Christmas trees as the musicians perform their hits and holiday favorites.

The band recently announced all of its Christmas tour dates, although the Honeywell Center began on June 13 selling tickets for the December appearance. Tickets start at $37 and are available on the Honeywell Center website.

The band has won five Grammy Awards, four CMA awards and 12 GMA Dove awards. The band’s music video for “Come on Home” recently won a Telly Award.

TONIGHT

A few evening storms remain possible, especially north of I-70 as lingering energy drifts through the region. While most storms should fade by late evening, downpours and isolated gusty winds are still possible early on. Otherwise, expect a very warm and muggy night with lows in the upper 70s. Winds light from the southwest around 5 mph.

TOMORROW

Heat and humidity remain locked in, but a nearby boundary could help spark another round of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, especially near and just south of I-70. Expect highs in the upper 80s to near 90, with heat index values again nearing 100. A few storms could bring localized downpours and gusty winds. Winds west-southwest around 5 mph.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Any leftover storms should fade early, leaving behind partly cloudy and sultry conditions. Lows hold steady in the mid to upper 70s. Winds remain light out of the southwest near 5 mph.

MONDAY

Oppressive heat continues with mostly sunny skies and only a slim chance of a stray afternoon shower. Highs soar into the mid-90s, and heat index values may top 105 in spots. Winds remain light and variable, becoming west near 5 mph by afternoon.

MONDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear to partly cloudy with another very warm and humid night on tap. Lows hover in the upper 70s. Winds from the northwest near 5 mph before calming down overnight.

TUESDAY

Likely the hottest day of the stretch, with highs in the mid-90s and heat index values again exceeding 105. Storm chances remain minimal through sunset. Winds will be light and variable.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy and still steamy. Lows in the upper 70s with a hint of a breeze from the north around 5 mph.

WEDNESDAY

The pattern begins to shift as a cold front approaches. Expect scattered afternoon thunderstorms, some of which could be strong with heavy rain and gusty winds. Highs settle back into the low 90s, but it’ll still feel hot and sticky ahead of the front. Winds becoming north-northwest around 5 mph by afternoon.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Storms remain possible into the evening and overnight hours as the front slowly presses south. Some storms may produce locally heavy rainfall and strong winds. Lows finally fall to the upper 60s. Winds north-northeast around 5 mph.

7 DAY FORECAST

After another sticky Sunday with scattered storms, intense heat ramps back up to start the workweek. Monday through Wednesday will feature highs in the 90s, heat indices pushing 105–110, and only slight storm chances until a front approaches midweek. That front brings a better shot at storms on Wednesday and early Thursday. Behind it, a refreshing drop in temps and humidity arrives just in time for next weekend, with highs closer to 80 and cool, crisp mornings in the 50s, potentially our most comfortable stretch since early June. Expect warm and gradually more humid conditions to return early the following week.

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Two brothers from Indianapolis are facing high-level felony drug charges after one of them was stopped more than two weeks ago while traveling in Westfield, police said Saturday.

A social media post from Westfield Police Department said its officers and others from Fishers Police Department arrested arrested Anthony Castillo, 22, following the July 10 traffic stop in which a police dog detected narcotics in the vehicle. The post did not say where Castillo was stopped in Westfield or what type of vehicle he was driving. In the vehicle, investigators found psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a Glock handgun with an extended magazine.

Police from Fishers, Indianapolis and Westfield later executed a search warrant at the home of Anthony and his brother, Alexander Baldemar Castillo, 21, on Broken Bow Trail at the 10 West Apartments of Indianapolis, leading to significant drug and weapon seizures. The apartment is located south off West 10th Street between Country Club Road and North Girls School Road. Inside, police found 11 pounds of marijuana, 1.5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms as well as other drugs, a loaded revolver, an AR-style pistol, and $5,000 in cash.

The Westfield police’s post shared photos of what was seized and the police dog.

Anthony was formally charged July 17 in Hamilton Superior Court 1 with three high-level felony counts of drug dealing; a mid-level felony county of possession of a narcotic drug; a low-level felony count of dealing in marijuana; a low-level felony count of possession of a controlled substance; and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

Alexander was arrested Tuesday with the help of Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, although the Westfield police’s post did not say where the arrest happened.

Alexander was formally charged Friday in the same Hamilton County court with two high-level felony count of drug dealing; a mid-level felony count of possessing a narcotic drug; a low-level felony count of dealing marijuana; a low-level felony count of possessing a controlled substance; and a low-level felony count of possessing marijuana.

While some U.S. states have decriminalized marijuana sales, Indiana is not among them. Indiana does allow the sale of CBD products.

The brothers on Saturday remained in the Hamilton County jail. Anthony and Alexander were being held on separate $150,000 bonds, online jail records showed.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) — A 25-year-old was in jail on Saturday awaiting a Monday court hearing on a murder charge.

Draylon M. Crutchfield was arrested in connection to the fatal stabbing Thursday night of Muhammad A. Williams, 18, the Fort Wayne Police Department said in a news release issued Friday.

The stabbing was reported just after 9:35 p.m. Thursday in the 2700 block of Stardale Drive. That’s at the Village Park Apartment, located southwest of the intersection of East Paulding Road and Hessen Cassell Road on the city’s southeast side.

Williams was taken in critical condition from Stardale Drive to a hospital, where he died, the Allen County Coroner’s Office said in a news release issued Friday. He died of stab wounds.

Police did not provide details about the motive of the stabbing in their release. Court documents were not immediately available to News 8. Crutchfield will have an initial hearing on Monday morning in Allen Superior Court 4. He was being held in the Allen County jail without bond.

The stabbing was the 24th homicide in Fort Wayne and Allen County for 2025, the coroner’s office said.

• Fort Wayne mayor to host community talk on youth violence

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.