Indiana News & Current Events | Public News Service

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms reported in 2021, Indiana exported guns at more than twice the national rate. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

IN 'Moms Demand Action' Group Backs More Responsible Gun Ownership

Grassroots organizations created to address gun violence are on the increase, in Indiana and across the country, in the wake of more mass shootings …

A new measure in this year's report shows many older adults spent more than 30% of their income on housing. (Adobe stock)

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Report: IN Struggles Turning Around High Early Death Rate

Indiana ranks closer to the bottom of U.S. states where you will find healthy seniors living than the top, according to a new report. …

Late-stage Alzheimer's patients generally need around-the-clock assistance with daily living tasks like eating and bathing. An estimated 6.7 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Alzheimer's Diagnoses Expected to Rise as IN Population Ages

Stress and normal aging often are blamed for a misplaced cell phone, car keys or the words to a familiar song. But these also could be the warning …

Sarah Van Loon, Midwest regional director for the American Jewish Committee, said it is incumbent upon all of us to teach children about the Holocaust. (Adobe stock)

Midwesterners Have Pivotal Role in Countering Antisemitism

Hoosiers could play a pivotal role in pushing back against a surge of hate and violence against Jews in America. Nearly two-thirds of all …

Either the Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokia or Dr. Caitlin Bernard can appeal the Indiana Medical Licensing Board's decision in Marion County Superior Court. (Adobe Stock)

Board Fines Indiana Doc for Speaking about 10-Year-Old's Abortion

An Indiana licensing board has fined a local physician $3,000 and handed her a letter of reprimand after she went public about a 10-year-old Ohio pati…

CDC data from 2020 reveals about one in 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana School Tailors Program for College Students with Autism

College is the opportunity to gain some independence, learn time management and make new friends. But high school graduates with autism spectrum …

Advocates say Mental Health Awareness Month helps fight the stigma that is often associated with mental illness. (Adobe stock)

May in Indiana About More Than Racing

Ask Hoosiers to describe May in Indiana, and you'll likely hear about the Indianapolis 500, but this month is about more than racing. May is Mental …

An environmental advocate says nature and quiet spaces are important to businesses looking for new locations to expand or build. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Scores Record Conservation Funding in Polarized Statehouse

As dust settles from the 2023 Indiana legislative session, Hoosiers may discover lawmakers made some decisions with which members from both sides of …

According to Indiana Small Business Statistics, between 1994 and 2018, Indiana small business employment grew by 4.2%, reaching 1.2 million employees in 2018. (Adobe Stock)

IN Small Businesses Thrive Despite Challenges

Starting a business is fraught with decisions ranging from defining the type of business to start, choosing whether to be a home-based, online…

Teamwork, games, craft making and science projects create fun and learning activities for children. (Adobe stock)

IN Camp Pairs Children with Differences and Similarities

Summer day camps are a welcome break for kids and parents when the school year ends. One camp wants to make activities such as craft making, …

A student advisor said students are moving the climate change debate forward because it is very difficult to ignore kids talking about their future. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Group Amplifies Student Voices on Climate Crisis

An Indiana-based environmental group is amplifying the voices of high school students who write about the environment and climate change. Earth …

According to Indiana Suicide Prevention, the state's suicide rate in 2017 was the highest rate observed in over five decades. (Adobe Stock)

Hospital Network Collaborates to Boost Suicide Prevention

Indianapolis-based Community Health Network is part of a new group of hospitals working together to stop suicide. Research shows half the people who …

Women of color, both in Indiana and nationally, experience higher rates of stillborn births and infant mortality. Experts say there are multiple factors, including stress and economic, racial and gender discrimination. (Adobe Stock)

IN Minority Health Coalition Works to Lower Infant Mortality Rates

Indiana ranks eighth in the country for stillbirth and infant mortality numbers, as many counties lack access to obstetric care. One out of every 16…

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Indiana ranks third in the nation for total coal consumption. (James Phelps, Jr./Adobe Stock)

Indiana Governor Ignores Environmental Group's Plea

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ignored pleas from environmental advocates who were asking him to veto a bill that gives lawmakers more power over state …

The last time the Indiana General Assembly

Big Raises for Top Indiana Officeholders Lacked Public Debate

The Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly flexed its muscle while approving the state's next budget. Tucked away in the $45.5 billion two-…

Intimate partner violence can have long-term emotional, physical and economic effects, and research shows more incidents are being reported against men and people who are transgender. (Adobe Stock)

IN Group to Create Strategic Plan to Prevent Domestic Abuse

A grant has been awarded to a Central Indiana group to increase awareness about domestic violence and its traumatic effect on survivors. Indiana …

Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, said he disagrees with those who said the GOP actions to add book-ban language to House Bill 1447 were

IN Lawmaker Calls School Book Ban Bill a 'Joke'

The Indiana House and Senate approved legislation Thursday designed to ban school library material some might deem "obscene" or objectionable…

According to a new report, there is no certainty of when, or how, colleges and universities might return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels. (Adobe Stock) According to a new report, there is no certainty of when, or how, colleges and universities might return to pre-pandemic enrollment levels. (Adobe Stock)

Over 40 Million Americans Started College, But Didn't Finish

A new study shows the number of students who "stopped out" before getting a college degree is higher - and fewer former students are re-enrolling…

Planting trees, updating streetlights to LED bulbs and installing

Initiative Helps Hoosiers Get Environmental Resilience Funding

A funding hub has launched in Indiana, designed to help small communities pursue federal funding for climate, energy and resilience projects…

The Indiana Department of Health says people should properly store products away from children if labels contain these words: toxic, irritant, corrosive or flammable. (Adobe Stock)

Spring Cleaning Priority: Prevent Accidental Poisoning at Home

It's the time of year when people start thinking about spring cleaning and lawn care - which also means more exposure to health risks from products th…

Operation Charlie Bravo operates from a 13,000-square-foot building and provides a safe place for veterans to go and hang out with other veterans. (Jay Hurd Photography)

Indiana Veterans' Group on Mission to Combat PTSD

A group of veterans is fighting back against mental-health problems and the plan for their mission is not only designed to rescue them but also other …

As the nation faced another mass shooting on Apr. 16, resulting in four fatalities, debate continues about whether enough is being done to address gun violence in America. (Adobe Stock)

Pro, Con Gun Groups Assess NRA's Indy Convention

The annual National Rifle Association convention in Indianapolis wrapped up Sunday. Those in support of -- and against -- increased gun rights were …

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine looked not only at their own data, but at other research indicating connections between adverse psychiatric behaviors and the full moon. (Adobe Stock)

IU Research Finds Suicides Increase During Full Moon

For hundreds of years, sky gazers have speculated the full moon affects human behavior and mental health, and it turns out our ancestors were onto …

In today's economy, new research suggests families making less than $75,000 annually may sometimes struggle to feed their families. (Adobe stock)

Research: Tech Opportunities Could Reduce IN Food Insecurity

New research by an Indiana nonprofit coalition reveals areas for innovation which could help minimize food insecurity. The report showed technology …

Delayed speech and language skills in children could suggest an autism spectrum disorder. Left undiagnosed, a child can struggle in school and lack important socialization skills. (Adobe Stock)

IN Parents Urged to 'Act Early' to Help Detect Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month, and Indiana has made early detection a priority. According to the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana …

Indiana News Now! debuts this week. The weekday newsbreaks are part of the Indiana Local News Initiative.

Indiana News Service: New Programming Fills Gaps in Rural Areas

Indiana News Service: New Programming Fills Gaps in Rural Areas Indiana radio stations and online media will have free access to high quality…

Circle Up Indy says it plans to accomplish its ambitious goal of building 2,000 3D-printed homes in Indiana within the next five years. (Adobe Stock)

Is 3D Printing Key to Solving Indianapolis Housing Shortage?

A plan to build 2,000 homes using a robot could hold the key to unlocking one solution to Indiana's affordable-housing shortage. The differences …

According to PEN America, 138 school districts in 32 states enacted some form of book ban or restriction from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Possible Children's Book Ban in Indiana Draws Concerns

Indiana lawmakers are still debating a bill that would ban some books in school libraries. Senate Bill 12 passed the Indiana Senate at the end of …

The last decade has seen 27% fewer degrees earned in science and math education, and 44% fewer degrees for people teaching foreign languages, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (Adobe Stock)

Supply of IN Teachers Not Keeping Up with Demand

The number of educators in Indiana is dwindling, which means thousands of students every day, for at least some part of their school day, do not have …

The report outlines ways that higher education could be creative and flexible with how schools are using their platforms to reach students. (Adobe stock)

Survey: Over 50% of College Students Stressed to Breaking Point

New findings confirm suspicions about the top reasons many students considered dropping out of college over the last six months. The Gallup and …

Some IN Communities Resist Dollar-Chain 'Invasion'

New research claims the discount retail chains known as "dollar stores" are not having a positive impact on the communities where they are sprouting l…

More students are seeking apprenticeships to match their career choices and boost employment chances. Indiana hit a milestone in 2020 with its 100th SEAL program for apprentices. (Adobe Stock)

Apprenticeships Give IN Students a Job-Market Edge

High school graduates have the option before taking their next academic step to choose a gap year - for traveling, relaxing, or researching different …

Trained service dogs are used in classrooms to support students facing emotional or learning difficulties. (Adobe stock)

Service Dogs Help IN Children Thrive at School

Some Indiana elementary students are getting an extra dose of emotional support in the classroom from service dogs. Trained by the Indiana Canine …

The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act was signed into law in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. (Cliff Booth/Pexels)

Disability Rights Group Focuses on Employment in Indiana

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year's theme is "Beyond the Conversation". In Indiana, that could mean 'less talk and …

In Indiana, 6% of the workforce is employed in transportation and warehousing. (Adobe Stock)

Booming Trucking, Warehouse Businesses Need Indiana Workers

The transportation and warehousing industry continues to lead as Indiana's fastest-growing business sector, and has been for over a decade now…

Indiana House Bill 1186 would give officers the authority to ask anyone to step back at the scene of a police investigation. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Lawmakers Consider 'Buffer Zone' for Police Investigations

A proposal to create a perimeter around working police investigations has made it through the first half of the 2023 Indiana legislative session…

This year has seen one mass shooting so far in Indiana, at an Indianapolis gas station on Feb. 19, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The state sees almost 1,100 firearm deaths each year. (Adobe Stock)

Group Plans to Counter Indiana Gun Violence with Education

As the National Rifle Association gears up for annual events next month in Indianapolis, another group is speaking out about rightful handgun …

Some buyers who purchased houses during the pandemic are learning the hard way that home inspections are an important part of the process. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Housing Market Struggles with Affordability, Demand

The spring home-selling season is here, but in some parts of Indiana, homeowners seem reluctant to put their houses on the market. The inventory of …

Researchers hope a blood test which detects anxiety will soon have wider use by physicians. (Adobe Stock)

IU Researchers Make Medical “Breakthrough" with Anxiety Blood Test

A new blood test developed at the Indiana University School of Medicine may shake up how doctors treat patients who suffer from anxiety disorders…

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, the type of fraud with the highest losses involving older people is the confidence or romance scam, gaining someone's trust and then finding ways to drain their bank account. (Adobe Stock)

It's 'National Slam the Scam Day'

Today is National Slam the Scam Day, created to heighten public awareness of scammers who impersonate agencies. A scammer behind a telephone call or …

Norfolk Southern freight trains are common sights along Indiana highways. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Pauses Moving Train Derailment Material to Indiana Landfill

Putnam County residents are closely watching developments after learning multiple truckloads of waste from the train derailment site in East Palestine…

The latest data from the nonprofit Feeding America finds one in seven Indiana children experiences food insecurity, and one in nine people overall in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation, Benefit Cuts Spur Demand at IN Food Banks

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will reduce benefits by almost $90 per person at the end of March, but the change does not …

Central Indiana students begin their Modern Apprenticeship work as high school juniors, and they are paid for learning on the job in high-demand career fields. (Ascend Indiana/EmployIndy)

Indiana Apprenticeship Initiative Win-Win for Students, Employers

An Indiana program is helping high school students find more pathways to high-paying jobs by bridging the gap between education and employers…

Crowded highways are one of the main producers of soot and particulate pollution, according to EPA data. (Sergey Sendeck/Adobe Stock)

Environmentalists; EPA Needs to Go Further in Setting Soot-Pollution Standards

Environmentalists are calling a new air-quality standard from the federal government a good start but say it does not go far enough to protect the pub…

According to USDA data, more than 33% of SNAP beneficiaries are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled. (Adobe Stock)

IN Legislature Advances Bill to Improve Seniors' Access to SNAP Benefits

The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to simplify access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for people older than 60 or those with disa…

The 2018-2023 Farm Bill is projected to cost around $428 billion, according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana Family Farmers Want More Say in Federal Farm Bill

Agriculture advocates in Indiana say the upcoming reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill should emphasize serving community needs, not corporate …

The renewable-energy industry is expected to create more than 9,800 clean-energy jobs over the next five years, according to the Clean Grid Alliance. (Franco Lucato/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Indiana Communities Can Benefit from Clean Power Grid

As the economy has changed with the pandemic in the past few years, Indiana's small communities have seen an exodus of jobs and people. However…

CDC research shows that proper gun storage could help prevent an estimated 26,000 firearm-related suicides that occur annually in the United States. (vectorass/Adobe Stock)

Gun-Safety Advocates Face Uphill Battle with Indiana Lawmakers

Advocates of gun-law reform face an uphill battle to push their ideas through the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly, but say public …

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