Indianapolis, IN

Lead poisoning affecting literacy rates in Indianapolis

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2024

Lead poisoning affecting literacy rates in Indianapolis

A new report by the Paramount Health Data Project shows that lead poisoning in Indianapolis schools is affecting children’s literacy rates.

For the last five years, the organization conducted a longitudinal study across three schools in Indianapolis – Ascent Collegiate School, Brilliant Central School and Catalyst School.

NAACP addresses lead poisoning, Testing students for elevated lead levels

Due to federal research guidelines, the three Indianapolis schools were given pseudonyms in the publicly released research. Named, the ABCs of Academic Health, the report shows an issue with school readiness due to lead.

“We recognized that the impact of lead in the water had drastic impacts for the Catalyst school. They were in the NAACP report several years ago, and they had devastating levels of lead in their building. So, I think the impact of lead on literacy rates in Indianapolis, we can’t separate those two issues,” said Dr. Addie Angelov, CEO and co-founder of Paramount Health Data Project.

“I think what is also important is that the number of African American males who are getting a daily medication in schools, remember these are K through eighth grades with kids under the age of 13, are shockingly high.”

Lead poisoning report for schools

Paramount Health Data Project is an Indiana-based nonprofit incubated out of an elementary school on the east side of Indianapolis.

The nonprofit completes research that correlates academic achievement with student health.

It completes reports for schools two to three times a year and publishes peer-reviewed research.

“In School 42, there was a kindergartner who was picking paint off a wall and was eating it. We found out that we could call the Marion County Health Department to come in and test the child because we didn’t know if the paint had lead in it,” said Garry Holland with the Greater Indianapolis NAACP.

The Indianapolis NAACP began testing all kindergarten and first-graders in the school in 2017. It also tested the soil on the playground.

“There wasn’t any lead there, but there was an indication of a pipe behind the wall that may have had lead in it. Then we asked for the water report,” said Holland.

The NAACP asked the Marion County Health Department to test 13 school districts for lead.
Lead in drinking water should not exceed 15 ppb (parts per billion), according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Lead testing water in schools

The American Pediatrics Society recommends that schools keep lead concentrations in water no greater than 1 ppb.

The health department found that daycares had 1,893 ppb coming out of water fountains: Lawrence Township had 2,743 ppb; Warren Township had 6,118 ppb; private schools had 8,630 ppb.

The lowest ppb other schools had was 73.65 ppb, with some districts and schools being in the hundreds.

“What that means is that some of these schools had straight poison water coming out of their faucets and sinks. We had a press conference with the mayor, a doctor and City-County Council,” said Holland.

“Lead poisoning causes comprehension problems, behavior issues, not being able to see the board and not being able to read. That was a factor in most urban schools. If the environment is toxic, then we needed legislation to combat that.”

Holland said Indianapolis, like many modern urban cities, suffers from a historic legacy of lead pollution.

Solutions to address lead in schools

House Bill 1138, proposed and passed in 2023, requires daycares, preschools and childcare facilities to test for lead by 2026.

New federal rules also require utility companies to test water at schools and daycares connected to public water systems starting in 2025.

“We also know that schools in Indiana have definitely struggled, especially in Indianapolis, to get school nurses, and they are not provided support with that endeavor because hospitals and medical professionals are paying top dollar for nurses right now,” said Angelov.

“So, we believe that telehealth with a certified nursing assistant option would be the most economical as well, making sure that schools could continue to provide health care even during the nurse shortage.”

At the end of the day, Angelov said healthier kids learn and perform better.

Coming out of COVID-19, she said they are seeing major issues with mental health, literacy and absenteeism for students.

Paramount’s research provides quantitative data to inform policy and support and obtain fiscal flexibility to provide school support.

“If we do not respond to these things, if we do not start helping schools navigate health issues, we are going to continue to see the same results we have right now,” said Angelov.
“The reality is, we have to do better, or we will continue to do the same things and expect different results.”

If parents or guardians are concerned that a child has been exposed to lead, they can request a blood test from a doctor or their local health department.

In Marion County, call the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at (317) 221-2155.

Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at (317) 762-7853 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.

Source link

Click to comment

Indianapolis, IN

New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections

Published

12 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is officially open.

It was being touted Friday as a major milestone for central Indiana’s growing trail system. The street is the Fishers-Indianapolis border.

Leaders called the project a critical connection point for the Nickel Plate Trail. The new bridge helps move the nearly 17-mile trail closer to its goal of connecting multiple counties through one continuous path.

The bridge also came with a 1.3-mile trail extension. A $4.5 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made the bridge possible.

Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, talked about the state’s Next Level Trails grant program. “Currently, we have 89 trail projects that that were funded with that money. Fifty-nine of those are complete. We’ve got 12 under construction. As of this opening, we have 167 miles of trail that have now been opened with that grant money.”

People who frequently take the trail for their daily exercises say they’re excited the bridge is finally open.

Alan Errichiello of the Fishers Running Club said, “Extending this down south into Indianapolis is a big game changer for us. It’ll add a lot of miles that we can easily get into.”

Resident Tracy Mundell said, “Trying to get to the other side was nearly impossible, so I think most people didn’t even attempt it. It’s going to be great, we can get over to the other side, and I’m anxious to see what’s over there.”

The final portion of the project, called the Clear Path project, remains under construction.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, a Republican, said, “We need to double-down on that investment, and we know time and time again here in the city of Fishers that trail systems, the ability to get up and get out and get active, is such an important part in our culture of health, that an investment like this is critical.”

Once complete, local leaders say the goal is to provide a more safe and connected routes between Noblesville, Fishers, Indianapolis and other surrounding cities.

Resident Steve Mundell said, “It’s lovely. It’ll be real convenient to get across too.”

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades

Published

24 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades

What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?

The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.

In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.

So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?

Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.

Treatment of Families: B
Home Game Field: D
Food/Dining Area: B
Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
Locker Room: C+
Training Room: B
Training Staff: B+
Weight Room: B
Strength Coaches: A
Position Coaches: B
Offensive Coordinator: B
Defensive Coordinator: B+
Special Teams Coordinator: B+
Team Travel: B-
Head Coach: A-
General Manager: A
Team Ownership: A

Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.

Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.

The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.

Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.

The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.

Source link

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis police search for 3 people after shooting, stolen vehicle crash

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a shooting, Indianapolis police were searching for three people who fled on foot following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and its crash on Thursday afternoon.

No information was provided in the notification about the three people being sought. News 8 reached out to IMPD by email to find out details about the three people. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the people who fled the crash was asked to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The stolen vehicle was linked to a Thursday shooting, prompting the lockdown of a nearby child care center, IMPD said in a media notification. No information was provided about where the shooting happened, what may have led to it, or whether anyone was hurt.

IMPD, however, said the stolen vehicle and crash were not related to a shooting reported at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a gas station and restaurant at West 38th and Meridian streets.

IMPD officers found the stolen vehicle around 12:45 p.m. Thursday near East 38th Street and Post Road. When a detective attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled westbound before crashing a short time later near Whenner Drive, the notification said. It did not say what type of vehicle was abandoned in the crash.

Three people from the crashed vehicle fled southwest on foot. IMPD established a perimeter with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — using specialized resources, including a state police helicopter, a special weapons and tactics team, and the IMPD’s police dogs — but did not find the three people.

IMPD said a firearm was found in the crashed vehicle, and a man detained at the crash scene was later released once investigators determined he was not directly involved in the incident.

Police have since lifted the lockdown on the child care center.

IMPD’s public information office can be reached at 317-327-3424.

Source link