Indiana

Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, which starts earlier than usual, is in full swing

Published

1 year ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, which starts earlier than usual, is in full swing

The Summer Celebration is on.

The Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration 2024 kicked off Thursday with an ecumenical service at Kingdom Apostolic Ministries, 4900 E. 38th St. and is in full swing through June 30.

That means films, art exhibits and concerts celebrating Black American culture, along with conferences and summits focused on business, health education and youth leadership.

The Summer Celebration is one of the major events produced by Indiana Black Expo, a nonprofit organization that promotes social and economic advancement of African Americans through year-round initiatives, including its Black Business Training Institute, Scholarship Fund, Performing Arts Academy and Community Learning Hub.

If you think it seems early for Black Expo, you’re not wrong. Normally Summer Celebration takes place in July but this year it’s a few weeks earlier because another large event is coming to town next month.

Here’s what to know about the 53rd Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration:

The 2024 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration is in June

This year’s events, including a three-day exhibition at the Indiana Convention Center, take place June 20-30, to accommodate the National Eucharistic Congress being held at Lucas Oil Stadium July 17-21.

Indiana Black Expo will go back to its traditional July dates next year.

2024 Indiana Black Expo: Summer Celebration will come early this year

Celebrities appearing at the 2024 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration

Notables are appearing at various conferences, receiving awards and performing throughout the Summer Celebration. Look for:

Atlantic Starr, recording artists
Kid Capri, DJ and producer
Morris Day and The Time, recording artists
Rick Fuson, recently retired Pacers Sports & Entertainment chief executive officer
Johnny Gill, recording artist
Ed Gordon, broadcaster and BET/CBS Special Correspondent
Ginuwine
Lalah Hathaway, recording artist
Joe Hogsett, Indianapolis mayor
Edgerrin James, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Indianapolis Colt
Next, recording artists
Soledad O’Brien, journalist and documentarian
Leon Robinson, actor
Karyn White, recording artist

IBE Film Festival

4 p.m., June 22

Indiana Black Expo, 601 N. Shortridge, Indianapolis

The annual fest has IBE screening independent films produced and written by African American and African filmmakers. The event is free and features discussions about selected titles and filmmaking in general.4 p.m. – Opening Remarks and Welcome4:05 p.m. – Short film screening: “Rasheeda’s Freedom Day”4:40 p.m. – Short film screening: “Black Girls Play”4:58 p.m. – Panel discussion5:28 PM – Feature film screening: “Black Barbie”

IBE Business Conference

June 24-25

Indiana Convention Center

This conference allows business owners to hear from key decision-makers about business development initiatives and multi-million dollar contracting opportunities as well as learn tips on doing business with public, private and international companies.

It includes a mayor’s breakfast and a governor’s awards reception.

IBX Youth Entrepreneur Series

9 a.m., June 25

Indiana Convention Center, Room 236-238

The IBX Youth Entrepreneur Series (YES) introduces middle and high school students to the basic concepts, activities and skills necessary for launching, leading, and growing a successful business. Workshops will help participants develop comprehensive business plans and prepare pitches that will be presented in competitions for prizes.

IBE Education Conference

June 27

Indiana Convention Center

The educational summit provides a platform for educators to explore innovative strategies and learn best practices to create a more equitable and impactful educational system.Keynote speakers are journalist O’Brien and Dr. Kymyona Burk, the senior policy fellow for early literacy at the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Black & Minority Health Fair

June 27-30

Indiana Convention Center

The annual health fair aims to increase minority awareness of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer, and how to prevent them.

It offers free health screenings and services; wellness resources; and engaging fitness activities for the Black and minority communities.

June 27 is a special night for seniors.

Admission is free.

Mental Health Symposium

June 27, June 29

Indiana Convention Center

The Indiana Black Expo will introduce its Mental Health Symposium to the Summer Celebration this year.

The two-day educational series, in partnership with the Indiana State Department of Health, is part of IBE’s new year-round mental health educational series meant to boost knowledge of and address the stigma about brain health, particularly among Black Indianapolis residents.

Journalist Ed Gordon will host the event.

Part one of the symposium will take place 4:45-5:30 p.m. June 27 during the Black & Minority Health Fair, when expert panelists will discuss the importance of self-care and how to seek mental health support when needed for seniors and senior caregivers. Part two will take place 12-2 p.m. June 29 in the 500 Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center. Topics will include the basics of brain health; lifestyle choices; cognitive decline and dementia management; and navigating healthcare systems and resources.

Caregivers, friends and family members of individuals who have experienced mental health challenges, medical professionals, policymakers, community leaders and mental health advocates are encouraged to attend.

The symposium is free to the public.

Attendees can register for the symposium at tinyurl.com/2cu8a7f4 or visit eventbrite.com for the Cherish Your Mind: Understanding the Importance of Brain Health Symposium.

2024 Corporate Luncheon

11 a.m., Friday, June 28th

Indiana Convention Center, Sagamore Ballroom

The Pacers Sports and Entertainment Corporate Luncheon will honor contributors to African American culture, progress and achievement.

Among the feted will be O’Brien, James, Fuson and Robinson.

Tickets are available at summercelebration.net.

Indiana Black Expo awards: 2024 honorees in African-American culture

Youth Leadership Summit

June 28

Indiana Convention Center

This three-day annual summit helps Indiana middle and high school students become more aware of STEM-related careers and better understand leadership, advocacy and civic responsibility.

Exhibition Hall

June 28-30

Indiana Convention Center

Vendors will offer food and merchandise throughout the Exhibition Hall. Visitors can check out Indiana and regional companies and organizations.

Also in the Expo Hall:

Cultural Arts Pavilion with exhibitions of the works of local and national artists and authors, including the Art Speaks Café, platforming local visual and performing artists. Expect live music; spoken word performances; free paint nights; and interactive art installations and sessions. June 28-30

The Indiana Black Expo Midwest Invitational Boxing Showcase, a competition between top amateur boxing teams from across Indiana, Ohio, Texas, and Missouri. 12 p.m., June 29-30

Textures Institute of Cosmetology Hair Show with beauticians and barbers competing. 1 p.m., June 29

IBE’s Fashion Show, with dozens of models of all ages highlighting top brands in the industry. 4:30 p.m., June 29

Man Made Improv teen-focused variety show hosted by J. Bland Made Man and featuring unscripted improv games, comical sketches, interactive crowd participation and music by DJ Boogie Bang. 6 p.m., June 29

Gospel Explosion, featuring choirs and entertainers. 4 p.m., June 30

Music Heritage Festival

6 p.m., June 28

IU Michael A. Carroll Stadium, 1001 W. New York St., Indianapolis,

The traditional Outdoor Concert gets a new location and requires tickets, starting at $10 each.

Doors open at 4 p.m. with food trucks on-site. Kids ages 2 and under are free when seated on a parent’s lap. Ages 3 and up must have a ticket. To avoid Ticketmaster fees, purchase at ticketmaster.com.

The 2024 Indiana Black Expo outdoor concert lineup:

The Black Expo summer concert: The lineup and changes for 2024

The 2024 All White Affair and Concert

10 p.m., June 29

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Guests in all-white attire will experience live music and networking opportunities with celebrity guests and artists. Tickets, available at Gainbridge Fieldhouse or ticketmaster.com, are required.

2024 All White Affair and Concert Lineup:

Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X: @cherylvjackson.

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Indiana

Indianapolis City County Council member pulled into pattern of swattings

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Indianapolis City County Council member pulled into pattern of swattings

Democrat Nick Roberts was the youngest Indianapolis City-County Council member when elected November 7, 2023. - Jill Sheridan / WFYI News — Democrat Nick Roberts was the youngest Indianapolis City-County Council member when elected November 7, 2023.
*Jill Sheridan / WFYI News*

Indianapolis Democratic City-County Council member Nick Roberts is one of the latest Indiana officials dragged into threats targeting state lawmakers. Roberts is unique in that he is a local official and a Democrat.

In a statement on social media Friday, Roberts said the “multiple threats about bombings and a swatting attempt” came Thursday, shortly after he denounced similar threats against state lawmakers.

“While it is unclear exactly why I was targeted, these came shortly after I made posts on social media condemning the threats against some of the Indiana State Senators. Most importantly, thankfully, my family and I are safe and no incident occurred,” he wrote. “I greatly appreciate the Indiana State Police and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for their alertness during this scary situation and taking these threats very seriously.”

He continued that he cannot provide more details because of ongoing investigations and said, “I want to condemn these criminal acts and again call publicly for an end to political violent rhetoric from the top down.”

A growing list of Indiana officials have announced they were targets of similar threats, which so far includes Gov. Mike Braun and many state lawmakers who were undecided or against redistricting in Indiana.

Contact WFYI reporter Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org.

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Indiana

Indiana RB comes up short of Derrick Henry’s high school rushing record

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Indiana RB comes up short of Derrick Henry’s high school rushing record

FORT WAYNE, IN – Myles McLaughlin needed 364 yards to break the high school national career rushing record held by Derrick Henry, one of the NFL’s most dominant running backs. The Friday night lights were shining, the stands were packed, and the crisp November air was drizzling rain.

But on this night, it wasn’t meant to be for Knox High’s McLaughlin, who recorded just 78 yards in the 3A semistate game against Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, which beat Knox 35-0. With McLaughlin’s high school career over, Henry’s 13-year record of 12,124 yards stands.

McLaughlin, who averaged 367 yards this season, rushed for 52 yards in the first half of Friday’s game. Bishop Luers’ defense was too much for him as he finished with 78 yards in what was his lowest game in Knox’s 13-1 season. His longest carry of the night was 11 yards for a first down in the second quarter.

Before Friday’s game, McLaughlin had 4,768 yards for the season, which is the Indiana record. He rushed for 2,830 as a junior, 2,584 as a sophomore and 1,579 as a freshman.

In last week’s regional championship game against Angola, McLaughlin set the Indiana and national record for touchdowns in a season with his second score, passing the 68 scored by New Palestine’s Charlie Spegal and Albemarle, N.C.’s T.A. McClendon.

In that game, McLaughlin had 372 rushing yards and four touchdowns, giving him 11,761 yards for his career and leaving him 364 yards short of Henry’s all-time mark.

Myles McLaughlin is ‘truly special’

Knox coach Russ Radtke talked to IndyStar before Friday’s game about his star player who he says has an intense work ethic and is a true leader of his team.

“His competitiveness drives him to elevate not only his own performance but also the standard for everyone around him,” Radtke said, “and his football IQ allows him to anticipate plays, read defenses and make adjustments that give his team an edge.”

Radtke, who’s coached for 40 years, says McLaughlin stands out.

“What makes him truly special is the rare combination of competitiveness and intelligence. He’s not just playing the game, he’s thinking it through at every level,” said Radtke. “His ability to balance intensity with composure makes him someone teammates want to follow.”

But McLaughlin’s athletic prowess — he plays varsity basketball and baseball — is not the only thing that stands out, says Radtke. The Knox star plans to major in special education in college, though what school he will play at is still undecided. McLaughlin has received several college offers, including Division I offers from Ball State, Valparaiso and Murray State.

Outside of football, McLaughlin spends time with and mentors children with special needs.

“He has always taken care of what he needs to off the field as well and helps out with the younger kids,” Radtke said. “He is always looking to lend a helping hand.”

A day before McLaughlin went for his record, Henry talked to IndyStar, saying he was happy for the success McLaughlin has had.

“Records are meant to be broken. I’ve had it for 10-plus years, so somebody is going to come around and do something special, and it’s him this year,” Henry said. “I’m happy for him.”

Henry also offered some advice for the player chasing his record.

“Don’t put any pressure on yourself. Go out there and do what you’ve always done, and that’s ball out, be the best player on the team and be a leader,” he said. “Go out there and get the ‘W,’ get the record and go win your state championship.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on X: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.

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Braun administration pushes to enhance National Guard’s policing role during riots

Published

2 days ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Braun administration pushes to enhance National Guard’s policing role during riots

The state is considering a program to train some National Guard members in local policing.
National Guard members typically do not make arrests or conduct local law enforcement, but Indiana law carves out some exceptions.
A state Democrat says he filed legislation to restrict guardsmen’s policing power in response to Republicans who want to strengthen it.

The Indiana National Guard wants to enhance some guardsmen’s role as police officers during times of civil unrest, as debates about the military’s role in policing play out nationwide amid President Trump’s deployment of federal forces in Democrat-led cities.

National Guard spokeswoman Lauren Houck confirmed the state is pushing a program that would offer Indiana law enforcement training to military police so those federal troops can “add value,” rather than merely add bodies, when working alongside local police during situations like the 2020 riots. Military police typically enforce federal laws on National Guard property, but governors can call guardsmen out to support local law enforcement and first responders during emergencies.

The Indiana National Guard approached Gov. Mike Braun’s office to make the request for the change. Houck would not say whether this training will give guardsmen broader authority to act as police in Indiana, enforcing local laws and making arrests, or if National Guard leadership just wants its troops to be better prepared for emergencies.

The news come days after IndyStar reported that Statehouse insiders are researching legislation that could grant more policing power to guardsmen in local jurisdictions. While some Republicans push for an expanded role for the National Guard, at least one Democratic lawmaker wary of military intervention in policing has filed legislation to restrict its power.

The new program would ultimately need to be approved by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board, the body that creates training requirement for all Indiana police officers. The state’s basic training for new police officers requires more than 600 hours of coursework in criminal and traffic law, emergency vehicle operations, human behavior and de-escalation. It’s unclear how quickly the proposed program would train military police.

“These preliminary discussions have been about creating a fair and efficient process, while ensuring proper certifications and training are in place,” Houck said in a statement.

Houck said the new training has been discussed for months, but the need for it stems from the 2020 protests and riots that swept through Indiana cities after the police killing of George Floyd. At the time, Gov. Eric Holcomb stationed National Guard to defend state property, but their role in actively policing protesters was limited.

Braun said in a statement he supports the new training program because “law enforcement deserves every tool and partner they need to keep Hoosiers safe.”

Braun has so far declined to use the National Guard to intervene in local policing, even after violence in downtown Indianapolis this summer prompted calls by Republicans and the local police union for the state to step in.

But this week the governor showed his willingness to help the Trump administration by agreeing to deploy about 300 National Guard troops to Washington D.C. next month, after the president declared a public emergency over crime in the nation’s capital in August.

Meanwhile, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita earlier this month called for Trump to deploy National Guard troops to address crime in Indianapolis.

What Indiana law says about the National Guard

Trump’s National Guard deployments in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland have been stalled by lawsuits and court rulings, igniting a debate over whether the president is violating federal law that generally bars military troops from doing civilian law enforcement.

Indiana law gives the governor broad authority to call out guardsmen, who are part-time, ad-hoc military members, in extreme situations such as war, invasion, natural disaster and rioting. National Guard troops do not typically enforce local laws or make arrests but rather conduct patrols and provide logistical support to keep the peace.

During a state emergency, however, Indiana law does grant guardsmen some authority to disperse participants in an “unlawful assembly” and arrest those who refuse. Another portion allows guardsmen to arrest someone who knowingly or intentionally enters a street that the National Guard has closed off.

Even when a governor declares an emergency, local officials can challenge their deployment to cities. A Tennessee judge on Nov. 17 temporarily blocked the Republican governor’s deployment of the National Guard in Memphis, ruling that crime rates in the southern city were not a “grave emergency” or “disaster” warranting an emergency response.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has rejected the idea of National Guard intervention in local law enforcement. The mayor noted that criminal homicides and non-fatal shootings in Indianapolis have fallen by roughly 50% after they soared to record highs in 2021, according to IMPD data.

Democrat files legislation to restrict National Guard power

While some state Republicans seek to broaden the National Guard’s power, a state Democrat who works in law enforcement has filed legislation to restrict guardsmen’s ability to enforce laws and make arrests.

State Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, filed House Bill 1015 Nov. 18 to prevent the governor from ordering any National Guard member “to perform any law enforcement duty that may result in the surveillance, apprehension, detention, or arrest of an individual” without formally declaring a state of emergency for one of three situations: “a natural disaster, a riot, or an act of terrorism.”

A captain at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in his day job, Gore told IndyStar he sees a need for the bill because some Republican state lawmakers have asked his opinion on allowing National Guard troops to function as police officers.

House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, did not respond to a request for comment on his party’s position on enhancing the National Guard’s policing power.

Gore said federal intervention in policing undermines a community’s trust in local law enforcement. He called such action “fundamentally un-American,” invoking the longstanding belief that troops on American streets are a threat to democracy and personal liberty.

“As a cop, I know that it just a practically stupid thing to do to use the Guard in this way,” Gore said. “Modern policing relies ultimately upon a trusting relationship between the public and the police.”

He said deploying guardsmen to Indiana cities without a serious emergency “will make community members feel once again like colonists felt back in the 1700s: like they are subjects to be ruled over by force, rather than we are neighbors all trying to achieve the same goal.”

Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.

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