Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis councilors making decisions on $1 million in funding ahead of deadline
INDIANAPOLIS — A million dollars that comes with a deadline. Each of the 25 city-county council districts in Indianapolis will get $1 million to spend on infrastructure or parks projects, and they have until Friday, November 1st to decide.
“Where can we put our best money forth to really improve our environment,” said Mark Demerly with the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA). “I’m just hoping this is not a one-time opportunity.”
“Try to convince John [Barth] to spend all that money in Butler-Tarkington,” said Stephanie Patterson-Cline, President of the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association. “We have, like, a lot of things that are coming in, but not like this, not like a million dollars for a project.”
“I got a lot to think about,” Councilor John Barth of District 7 said.
A choice all 25 city-county councilors are facing: which projects— parks or public works— will get a million from the city’s 2025 budget.
Each councilor came up with their own method to decide how to spend the million dollars in their community. Some used surveys, data, or emails. Councilor Barth felt like meeting with his constituents Monday evening at the Broad Ripple Family Center, allowing them to see the projects and vote on their own was what he needed to do to make that decision.
“One of the most important things is to make sure that constituents feel heard,” Barth said. “I wanted to try to highlight areas in my district that hadn’t had as much investment to make sure that I’m equitably trying to spend money around the district.”
Demerly said he’s pulling for parks to get the funding, like Canterbury Park.
“Our parks department is at the bottom of the national list of funded systems and whatever we can do,” said Demerly. “I think parks are where we can make the best improvement.”
While Cline hopes the money will go towards infrastructure.
“If you want to have a kid-centric neighborhood. You need to have streets that a kid can ride their bike on. But the streets are in such disrepair that if a kid wanted to go from one part to the other, even though it’s only four blocks, it’s really rough. You know? It’s just like they probably lose their teeth just going over the road,” Cline said.
Councilor Barth said he knows a million dollars will only stretch so far, but he wants to make the most out of the resources.
“If I could, I would do all of these things that do them tomorrow. But the truth is, we have limited resources, and we have to make tough choices, but if we make tough choices together, then we’re all in this together,” Barth said.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) provided each councilor with data on local complaints, to help them decide what areas they want to prioritize.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
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