Indianapolis, IN

Thank you, Indianapolis! – Indianapolis Recorder

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2024

Thank you, Indianapolis! – Indianapolis Recorder

Aleesia Johnson

The recent 2024 NBA All-Star game demonstrated to many Indianapolis residents and a national and global audience the positive attributes of Indianapolis Public Schools. I was honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, composed of community and civic leaders determined to have Indianapolis make an indelible mark as the host of the NBA All-Star game.

Throughout the weekend, IPS alumni helped make the event memorable. Our proud alumni — including Mike Epps, George Hill, Trey Lyles, Vivica Fox, and Oscar Robertson — all contributed to a weekend of events that truly placed Indianapolis front and center for the state, the nation, and in fact, globally. Each gave their time and talents to support various events that reflected our community’s diversity.

Thanks to Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds — a supporter of Indianapolis Public Schools — for speaking with our students at Carl Wilde School 79 and surprising them with gifts of musical instruments through the national Music Will program. His words of encouragement did reach our students and will make a positive impact on their futures. Thank you to the NBA Moms (mothers of NBA players) for donating shoes and other items to support our students at Anna Brochhausen School 88. The Christamore House, where IPS School Board member Diane Arnold devoted countless hours to make a difference, was the beneficiary of remodeled facilities and a visit by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Pacers owner Herb Simon and countless community supporters and advocates for IPS.

From the very beginning, IPS was involved. Hundreds of our students participated in the “Love Letters to Basketball” initiative, writing postcards that greeted our guests upon arrival to our city. More than one hundred students, staff, and alumni attended the NBA Opening Ceremony event on Thursday, where our Crispus Attucks High School was highlighted. This event also included a performance by our IPS All-City Band (supported by students from our schools) and the unveiling of the Oscar Robertson statue that’s being created and will be placed outside of Crispus Attucks High School (his alma mater) upon its completion. On Friday, we participated in honoring Oscar Robertson during a tribute to “The Big O” hosted by Radio One.

During NBA All-Star weekend, we held a special showing of “A Touch of Glory,” a play about the 1955 state championship team from Crispus Attucks. Written by Laura Town and produced by GangGang and Deborah Asante & Artists, the play — which had a multiple-week run — was attended by a record number of attendees. That 1955 state championship team from IPS’s Crispus Attucks High School was the first all-Black basketball team to win an Indiana state basketball championship. Those team members, which included Oscar Robertson, overcame considerable societal odds to perform with class and competition on the court. They remain role models in overcoming adversity and are a tribute to diversity.

In addition, our students participated in an e-sports program at Butler University to get first-hand experience with the program and to consider majoring in that area. Students at Arlington and Harshman Middle Schools participated in the NBA G League Sneakerverse PL(AI)GROUND event, where they had the opportunity to create sneakers using artificial intelligence (AI), an awesome STEM opportunity for these future alumni. Our students also participated in basketball clinics and camps while our coaches received additional training on techniques and successful coaching. Finally, throughout NBA All-Star weekend, we received numerous surprise donations from companies and organizations to support our students.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” He is right. We are proud to be a part of creating a special All-Star weekend and grateful that, in turn, our Indianapolis community embraced our students and showed why we are proud each day to say, “I am IPS!” Thank you, Indianapolis for believing in and investing in the 31,000 students enrolled in our Indianapolis Public Schools. That is a true Return on Investment (ROI) for Indianapolis’ and Indiana’s future.

Dr. Aleesia Johnson

Superintendent

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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

Published

1 hour ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Indianapolis, IN

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”

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