Exciting news for Indianapolis travelers: Spirit Airlines is set to introduce a nonstop flight option between Indianapolis International Airport (IND) and New York-LaGuardia Airport (LGA), starting September 5.

Operating four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, this new route is perfectly timed for those planning a fall getaway to the vibrant city of New York.

Flight bookings are already open on Spirit’s official website.

Latest Headlines | March 26, 7am

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis has been recognized with a Smart Cities North America Award for its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into city operations, a project initiated by the city’s AI Commission in December 2023.

The award is from the International Data Corp.

The AI Commission was proposed by Republican Minority Leader Michael Paul Hart, who works full-time in information technology. The commission’s goal is to explore ways to use AI to enhance government functions, and since its inception, the city has been gradually incorporating AI into everyday tasks.

“Everything started to come quick and fast with generative type of technologies and the concern I hear from my constituents a lot is what does that mean for Indianapolis,” said Hart, highlighting the impetus for the commission’s formation.

So far, Indianapolis has implemented AI in small ways, but there are considerations for larger applications, such as using AI to identify potholes.

“How do we take one of these cameras, face it down, so it’s looking at roads and not people, because that is a big concern, and catalogue where these things are,” Hart said.

The city plans to train employees on generative AI, hire a chief privacy officer and chief data officer, and try out Microsoft Co-Pilot to improve efficiency in tasks like writing emails and managing spreadsheets.

The IDC told Hart, “The way that you’re moving forward as a city and handling this type of work is a very prudent approach to the implementation of technology and we want to award you the smart cities award for the administration of artificial intelligence.”

While there are no concrete plans for future AI implementations, the city and its commission are exploring approaches to responsibly integrate AI into municipal operations.

The Indianapolis-Marion County Information Services Agency is leading the AI implementation efforts. Collin Hill, the chief information officer, said in a statement, “This IDC Smart Cities Award reflects our commitment to understanding and implementing AI with thoughtful and responsible approaches.”

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A man was arrested for stealing an ambulance, then crashing it into another vehicle and trying to run away.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department got the call of a stolen ambulance on East 21st Street and North Shadeland Avenue around 11 a.m. Tuesday.

On the scene, officers said that the ambulance was unoccupied and parked in front of a business when it was stolen.

Just then, IMPD got a call saying someone found the ambulance abandoned one mile away.

On the 2100 block of Arlington Avenue, officers arrested the suspect trying to flee the scene on foot. IMPD says that the man crashed the ambulance into another vehicle, but there were no injuries.