Indiana
Retro Indy: Five years ago Covid confined March Madness to Indiana
Just three days before Selection Sunday in March of 2020, the NCAA announced that March Madness, like so many other events that spring, would be cancelled due to the new virus upending life. The decision marked the first time in tournament history that the final weeks of the college basketball season would not be played, squashing Atlanta’s plans to host the Final Four.
When the following year rolled around, the NCAA decided that March Madness would not succumb to the virus once more.
With a vaccine only on the horizon and hundreds of Americans still dying each day, the organization announced in November of 2020 that while the tournament would go on, it would certainly not be business as usual. All 67 games, NCAA officials said, would be held in one location. Central Indiana was the first choice as Indianapolis had been on tap to host the Final Four April 3-5.
The plan, said NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt in a November 2020 IndyStar article was to present “a safe, responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we’ve experienced.”
In January the NCAA made it official: All games would be played in and around Indianapolis in a modified version of a bubble.
Holding the tournament in one place just made sense, NCAA officials told IndyStar. Unlike in a typical year when a winning team would travel multiple times before the championship, this system would minimize travel, which could inadvertently expose players and coaches to the virus.
Two months later when the tournament kicked off on March 18, 55 of the 67 games were scheduled to be played in Indianapolis venues, such as Gainbridge (then Bankers Life) Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse. Purdue’s Mackey Arena and IU’s Assembly Hall also hosted games.
While the first Covid vaccine had arrived a few months earlier, few people outside of first responders and the most vulnerable had been immunized, so in an effort to avoid large crowds, the Indianapolis sites all capped tickets at 25% capacity. That meant only 17,500 people could attend games at the largest venue, Lucas Oil Stadium. The college arenas allowed far smaller audiences, with IU limiting attendance to 500 people.
A week before the tournament began Marion County Public Health Department officials and Mayor Joe Hogsett asked attendees to make smart public health choices, such as social distancing and obeying the face masks mandate. Referees donned masks as much as possible as did coaches and players on the bench.
The NCAA regularly tested athletes, administering 28,311 tests Covid tests during the tournament, 15 of which came back positive.
Post-mortems after the tournament asked whether the NCAA had made the right call. Two high profile deaths occurred in the aftermath of the tournament — one a University of Alabama superfan who had traveled to Indy for the games and the other a St. Elmo bartender. But proving a direct link between their deaths and the tournament would prove impossible, and some public health experts said the NCAA had done everything it could to protect athletes and fans short of canceling the event.
A study conducted by IU, Regenstrief researchers and others that appeared in August 2021 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that while mask wearing had theoretically been compulsory, about a quarter of attendees at the games were either not wearing masks or doing so inappropriately. Still, in an IndyStar article about the study Indiana Sports Corps president Ryan Vaughn termed the event “a resounding success.”
The following year, with a vaccine widely available and far fewer daily deaths from the virus, the tournament returned to a typical schedule, concluding in New Orleans’ Ceasars Superdome. More than 69,00 fans attended the final games, according to the NCAA. Local authorities had lifted the mask requirement by this point.
“Last year was about survival. Just having championships in any way, single site, keep everybody safe and be successful,” Gavitt said in an NCAA news release in late April 2022. “I think this year was about advancing.”
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana State Fair is hiring hundreds of seasonal workers for its 2026 run.
The fair returns August 7 through August 23. It’s closed on Mondays.
Officials are looking to fill about 800 positions. They include parking attendants, gate staff, security personnel and operations team members.
The fair is also hiring tractor shuttle operators, information booth assistants and education exhibit guides.
The 18th Annual Indiana State Fair Job Fair happens Thursday, June 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event takes place inside the Agriculture/Horticulture Building at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center at 1202 E. 38th Street in Indianapolis.
Job seekers can complete applications and participate in on-site interviews. The fair says people who attend the job fair will receive priority consideration during hiring.
“Every great Fair experience starts with great people,” said Mark Anderson, Director of Human Resources at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center. “Our seasonal team helps create the energy, hospitality and memories that guests look forward to each summer.”
Anderson said the fair offers opportunities for people seeking their first job or extra income. It’s also good for those wanting to stay engaged with the community.
Applicants should bring a resume if they have one. They should also bring a positive attitude. Previous fair experience is not required.
People who can’t attend the job fair can apply in person starting June 8. The Employment Office is inside the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.
Walk-in applications are accepted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information about employment opportunities and the 2026 Indiana State Fair is available at www.IndianaStateFair.com.
THORNTOWN, Ind. (WISH) — Residents of Thorntown were asked to evacuate Tuesday following an anhydrous ammonia spill.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said the spill happened in the northwest part of rural Thorntown.
“If you are at the Old Mill Run trailer park, please evacuate,” the alert from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said.
Anhydrous ammonia is widely used as a fertilizer and a refrigerant.
Thorntown Sugar Creek Fire Department posted to Facebook Tuesday night, saying that Thorntown Fire Department and Thorntown police are currently “on scene of an anhydrous tank leak Northwest of Thorntown.”
“It is currently settling in low areas and drifting towards town,” the post read.
TFD says if you notice “an ammonia odor,” leave the area.
“We expect a mild odor to extend to town however it is safest to leave if you start smelling it.
Anhydrous is attracted to water and low areas. If you observe a fog/cloud or strong odor immediately exit the area. If you begin experiencing any concerning health issues we have additional Witham Medics staged in town.”
TFD says that with any hazmat incident, it can evolve. Residents are asked to “be ready to leave if needed.”
Officials said if you or a loved one is experiencing breathing issues or any other symptoms, call 911 for treatment.
INDIANAPOLIS (CNN/CNN Newsource/WKRC) – The Indiana Rangers said they’re seeking overdue recognition for their service during the Vietnam War.
Surviving members of an Indiana National Guard unit that served in the Vietnam War are seeking long-awaited recognition for the group’s service.
(WISH/CNN/CNN Newsource)
Company D, 151st Infantry, was deployed to Vietnam in late 1968. The unit received airborne and ranger training and became known as the Indiana Rangers. The soldiers were the only National Guard combat unit deployed to Vietnam as one intact group.
During their year-long tour, members of the unit earned more than 500 medals, including 175 Bronze Stars and 110 Purple Hearts. Despite those honors, the Rangers say the unit has never received recognition as a collective group.
Now, that could change.
The office of U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz has notified the Rangers that paperwork for the Valorous Unit Award has been submitted. The award is one level below the Presidential Unit Citation.
“We lost six people during the conflict of ’69 and today I’ve been the treasurer for about 35-40 years I guess, and now we’ve lost 124 deceased,” one Ranger told WISH.
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Spartz told the Rangers she is also working to secure a Presidential Unit Citation for the unit.
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